“I’m surprised you didn’t marry the girl,” Serena played the role she knew he needed; the role of the bitch. If she let on that something was wrong—let it show how much she was torn up on the inside—then she’d risk losing him to another slip into his own mind.
And she wasn’t sure if she’d ever get him back from that.
Whatever was left of Axle—the one, true Axle—was hanging on by less than a thread. If there was any hope of saving both him and Zane, then she had to play along and keep Axle from slipping away.
Axle blushed and nodded looking out at the passing scenery, “Can I tell you a secret?”
Serena nodded, “I guess. Unless you’re coming out of the closet; too many of my gay friends come out to me ‘cuz they think I’m a guy.”
Axle looked over, laughing, “They think you’re a guy?”
“Well, not a guy in the ‘traditional’ sense,” Serena let go of the wheel long enough to provide air quotes, “but they think that I have a dick and they hope that I’ll serve as some sort of emotional bridge. So, naturally, I let them fuck me, and, I’ll be honest, Axle, I’m not sure my heart can take another one of those kinds of relationships.”
Axle stared at her. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“Of course I’m joking!” Serena laughed before offering a slight shrug, “Nah, I fuck them!”
“What?” Axle started to laugh.
“Well, naturally. I mean, they just came out! They don’t want to use a chick-with-a-dick like they’d use any other woman. They want a chick who can give it to ‘em nice and hard while still providing a gorgeous feminine physique to look upon while they’re getting reamed.”
“You’re disgusting.” Axle announced, “You’re disgusting, I’m in the car with a disgusting woman, and I want to be with my pure-hearted orphan friends and the innocent, beautiful woman of my dreams and completely forget this conversation ever took place.”
“Oh stop pretending that you’re all ‘white knight’ and shit! You and I both know that you’d love nothing better than to have me looming over you with a can of WD-40 and a spork.”
Axle groaned, “What’s the spork for?”
“If you have to ask,” Serena looked over, “you don’t wanna know.”
They both laughed.
Though for outward appearances she was taking Axle to the orphanage for a long-overdue visit to both the kids he’d worked so hard to protect as well as his childhood sweetheart—something that Serena also hoped would motivate the part of Axle that was convinced he loved her, due to Zane’s own feelings melding with his lingering personality, to remember who truly held his heart—it was, in fact, an act of precaution and closure. The goal, when everything was said and done, was to get Zane’s aura moved back to his own body and to try and nurse what remained of Axle back to full strength. However, the threat of losing Axle in the process was too great a threat, and though Zoey had been insistent on acting immediately, Serena felt that it was only right that Sierra and the kids get to see Axle—the real Axle—before they risked losing him forever.
It was only right to offer them that closure.
However, there was a far greater worry lingering in Serena’s mind.
Whoever had been tracking down and killing Axle’s gang had been well informed. Well informed… and thorough. And while driving into a possible slaughterhouse with Axle was just about the worst set of circumstances Serena could imagine, the benefit that could be earned by the happy reunion far outweighed the threat of Axle’s mind slipping away forever.
From what Zoey had told Serena, hitting a pothole the wrong way might be enough for that to happen.
“Driving a little slower than normal, huh princess?” Axle teased, looking over.
Serena frowned and shrugged, “Well, you know, with gas prices what they are and all, how can you not do all you can to conserve our resources, right?”
Axle stared at her. “You’re joking, right?”
“The environment’s not a joking matter, jackass!” Serena stuck out her tongue.
“No. No it isn’t,” Axle nodded, “But you giving a shit about the environment is a matter that would only come up in jokes. So why are you really driving like an old lady all of a sudden?”
Serena sighed, “I’ve just got a lot on my mind with work and all.”
“Anything you wanna talk about?” Axle looked over, the sincerity in his eyes nearly pushing Serena over the edge.
“Nah, nothing that important. Just trying to do right for you and Sierra and the kids, while keeping the fact that I’m harboring a wanted criminal in my clan’s walls secret from the bulk of my clan mates and the very extremely nosy Council.”
Axle chuckled, “Makes sense,” he smiled, “Do you really think you’ll be able to help Sierra and the kids?”
Serena nodded, “That’s certainly the point of most of this. Which reminds me,” she nodded towards the glove box in front of him, “Can you grab me something out of there? It’s this little black box”—she chuckled—“my, that sounds cryptic when you’re in a car with me, doesn’t it?”
Axle laughed, “Like a black box would survive a crash with you driving.”
They both cackled as Axle reached into the glove box and pulled out the small, black, velvet box.
“What is this?”
Serena smirked, “Open it.”
Doing so, Axle’s eyes widened as he took in the wedding ring that Serena had picked up a short time earlier while he’d been passed out in his auric-induced sleep. After convincing Zoey to help her probe Axle’s unconscious mind for the details to his and Sierra’s history, his dreams—dreams of getting out of trouble with The Council and finally establishing himself in a role that would allow him to finally propose to the girl he’d grown up with—and to figure out what one gesture would genuinely push for the best to come of things.
Though Serena and Zoey agreed that using their mind-reading abilities to create the perfect romantic scenario between the two was pretty cheap, Serena figured that shelling out a few extra thousand dollars on the ring would balance things out.
“Wh-what is this?” Axle stammered.
Serena rolled her eyes, “Well clearly you’re not a golfer.”
“Huh?”
Serena shook her head, mumbling about “uncultured therions” before she nodded towards the ring. “I got a deal for ya, stud.”
Axle bit his lip, “What would that be?”
“I’m sort of a sucker for happy endings and all, but I’m also sort of a manipulative bitch. So, what I’m going to do is move you, your lady friend, and all the kids into the Vail Clan’s headquarters as official, registered members. I’ll push all the paperwork to have your history forgiven—explaining that you were trying to care for these unfortunate children and that I’m personally taking responsibility for your rehabilitation and helping to repay whatever losses for whatever shit you and your boys made off with in all your fun-havings.”
As Serena’s explanation went on, Axle’s eyes grew wider and wider until she was certain they would fall out of his skull. “S-so what’s the catch? I… I mean, you did say this was all part of some deal, right?”
Serena nodded, “Right you are, sport. So, as you can see, I’m busting a fuck-ton of awesome, life-changing shit on your lap, right?”
“R-right…” Axle answered, obviously nervous about what was coming.
“So what I want from you—and what you’ll fucking give to me if you expect any of this fairy tale bullshit to come true—is that when we get there,” Serena looked over and nodded at the ring, “you drop on your knee in true old-skool fashion and deliver the single most heart-warming, birds singing, roses blossoming, church bells tolling, panty dropping, condom-popping speech that you can come up with and ask Sierra to marry you. If I’m going to offer a life-changing experience, you need to take a life-changing step in return.” Serena took a deep breath and offered a sidelong glance, “So we got a—boy, tell me are you not crying
all over that ring!”
“Axle! S’rena!” Fang cried out happily and charged the door as the two of them stepped inside.
Catching the little vampire in mid-leap, Axle laughed and rustled the boy’s hair, “There’s my little buddy, have you been behaving while I was gone?”
Fang smiled and nodded, “Of course!”
Axle raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Have you bitten anybody?”
Fang smiled and nodded, “Of course!”
Both Serena and Axle couldn’t hold back their bouts of laughter as they walked deeper into the building.
“So where is everybody?” Serena asked.
Fang giggled.
“What is it?” Axle looked down at the boy.
Another giggle.
“Fang? Is somebody keeping secrets?” Axle tickled the boy, earning a fit of giggles and writhes. “Come on! Fess up, kid! What secrets are you hiding?”
“Sierra and the others are in the other room waiting to surprise you!” Fang announced.
A short way’s away, the sound of all the kids groaning at their blown cover grew and they stormed out to chide their friend about ruining surprises.
“In Fang’s defense,” Serena offered, pointing a thumb back at Axle, “this one wouldn’t let him keep the secret! Fang tried; I saw!” She nodded, “I say if anybody deserves to be punished, then I’d say it’s him.” She smirked and knelt down, “And I’ve always believed that the best punishment is to return the crime that earned it, which is why I propose…” Serena stood and pointed at Axle, “… DEATH BY TICKLES!”
There was a sudden hush inside of the room, and Serena watched as the combined auras of all the children swelled into a technicolor singularity that shifted towards Axle like a tidal wave before each and every child charged forward, issuing their playful battle cries as they attacked.
Despite all the skill that Serena had seen Axle exhibit in the time she’d known him—despite all his wit and cunning and speed and claims to be elusive and uncatchable—and despite the fact that his opponents were only small children, Axle was unable to remain standing under the onslaught.
A moment later, Sierra stepped out, blushing at the sight of the mountain of kids and joined Serena at her side.
“It was nice of you to arrange this for the kids,” she blushed, looking down and stammering as though she were addressing royalty. “It really means a lot to them, and… to me.”
Serena smirked and bumped Sierra with her hip, “Come on, girl! You’re way too tense! You’re allowed to show excitement once in a while,” she nodded towards the kids. “Just look at them, they aren’t all quiet and reserved! They’re loving on life!” Serena smiled, “And they’re loving on life because of what you’ve done for them. You’ve done more for those kids than most people—no matter how long they live—can do for anybody in their lifetime! Have some pride in your work and in yourself.” Serena leaned against the wall, “Besides, Axle’s pretty much a giant, parkour-practicing five year old, so you’d better be ready to babysit that boy for, like, ever,” she smirked.
Sierra blushed and shrugged, “Aw, what the hell!”
With that she pulled her hair out of the tight bun over her head—letting her gorgeous black mane cascade over her shoulders—and joined the kids in the dog pile to tickle Axle, the first sincere rolls of laughter beginning to issue from her lungs.
It was nearly twenty minutes before Serena had even tried to dig Axle out from under the tickle-happy kids. By the time she and Sierra had successfully exhumed the beet-red and panting therion, he’d completely drenched his face in tears and his voice was raspy and hushed from laughing so hard.
At that time, Serena nodded to him and began to herd the kids into the other room, asking them to show her their toys so that Axle and Miss Sierra could have a moment alone. As the last of the orphans waddled into the other room, Serena leaned in to close the doors and offered a wink to the already nervous and panting Axle.
No sooner had the latch on the door sounded then their lips collided in a passionate frenzy that made up for every day they’d been apart with the sheer intensity of the moment. There was no question of morals or obligations or priorities; Serena—nothing short of a princess from a fairy tale—had appeared at their doorstep at their darkest hour and offered the orphans the lives they deserved.
Axle’s record. Sierra’s debt. All of their anxieties.
Gone.
And with that combined weight lifted from their shoulders by Serena Vailean, their kiss was free to rise to levels of passion and euphoria they’d have never thought possible.
It was only when their combined need for air finally became too urgent did they finally pull themselves from the other; both looking momentarily lost with the sudden shift.
That was when Axle lowered himself to one knee.
Serena winced as the sharp cry and elongated wail carried over from the other room.
“Is that Miss Sierra?”
“Do you think she’s hurt?”
“It sounds like she’s yelling at Mister Axle…”
“Oh you’ve gotta be—” Serena caught herself for the sake of the kids and smiled, “It’s alright, kids. I’m going to go check on them, okay?” Starting towards the door, Serena held back the wave of obscenities that bubbled within her.
He’d botched it?
She’d practically handed a successful proposal to the doofus on a silver platter and he botched it?
If he wasn’t already dead from embarrassment, she was going to kill him.
Stepping through the door, Serena felt her fists already clenched at her sides and spotted the two of them locked in an embrace; Sierra sobbing—her aura rolling happily over her—and Axle holding her tight enough to make her excited cries come out hoarse and, from the other room, sound like wails of misery.
Serena smirked.
Maybe she’d let him live, after all.
“You have to leave so soon?” Sierra pouted.
Axle nodded, biting his lip, “There’s something I have to help Serena with before we can get you and the kids moved over.”
Though it was clear Sierra didn’t understand, she offered a nod and absently began rubbing her left ring finger, where the wedding ring now rested happily.
Serena smiled reassuringly and gave Sierra a tight hug, “It won’t be long. Just a few final renovations and such.” She smirked, “You and the kids might want to start getting packed.”
16
Break the Spell
“Z-Zane?” Serena whispered, seeing Axle’s eyes open, “Is that you?”
“I’m… I’m back?” He looked around and frowned.
Serena’s eyes widened—tears already streaming down her face—and she threw her arms around him, “Oh my god! It’s really you!” She sobbed, burying her face in his shoulder and hooking her fingers into his back, “I missed you… I missed you so much, Zane… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to let her take you! I’m sorry… I just missed you so much!”
“Whoa, hey! It’s okay, babes. I’m here now. It’s alright,” Zane put his arms around her and held her close, whispering in her ear. “It wasn’t your fault. You did great.” As he looked around the room, his eyes fell on Raith, who was standing nearby in his body, “What the fuck?”
Serena, tears still running down her face, glanced over her shoulder and, when she saw what he was confused about, let out a fractured giggle.
“It’s me, buddy,” Raith grinned, “And if you don’t recognize this Aussie accent then you’re just as thick-skulled as you’ve always been,” he smirked, “Even with somebody else’s skull.”
“Raith!” Zane’s eyes widened and he grinned. As Serena stepped aside for the reunion, Zane rushed in to give Raith a tight brotherly hug, “Oh man, I thought you were dead! I didn’t mean to freak out there, I’ve just never seen you looking so good.”
They laughed.
“No. Not dead, my friend. Just inside you!” Raith laughed.
“That sounds
way dirtier than it should,” Nikki laughed.
“Though, given the gathering, not entirely unexpected,” Zoey chimed.
Isaac chuckled, “I wonder if he’s still got any jokes in him now that he’s in a therion’s body, himself.”
Serena bit her lip and stepped forward, “Zane… How did you end up in Axle’s body?”
“I…” He frowned, “I’ve been in his body for quite some time…” He shook his head, his eyes showed his growing confusion.
“It’s alright.” Serena smiled, “you’ll remember soon enough.”
“That’s why you felt drawn to him, Serena! You sensed Zane’s aura in him after the shift was made!” Zoey smiled.
“Holy shit! You’re right…” Serena’s eyes widened. “When I caught Axle for the second time, he seemed different—the way he moved and the way he stood! And that’s when I started to feel differently about him!” Serena turned to Zane, “Your aura must’ve gotten inside him somehow!”
“Speaking of which,” Zoey smiled and stepped over, “Now that both your aura and body are in one place, I can put you back in your rightful body, Zane.” She smiled over at Raith and nodded, “And I can transfer you into Axle’s body.”
“You can?” Serena’s eyes widened.
“I delved in some magic,” Zoey grinned, “And with Nikki at my side the energy swap will be a snap.”
Nikki smiled and wrapped her arms around Raith, “Did you hear that? You’ll get to be a therion again!”
“And none too soon, either,” Zane groaned, patting his crotch. “This thing down here is making me feel like a damn tripod!” He scoffed at Raith and Isaac, “I honestly don’t know how your kind can even stand with these ridiculous things!”
“Well, then…let’s begin!” Zane smirked.
Scarlet Night: The Complete Trilogy Page 37
