by Heather Linn
I could hear his thoughts. He was so close to letting go that it would take only one more image to make him believe that he could truly end the bond between us forever.
I had no other sins or betrayals to show him. He had seen me at my worst and still he was there. Other than visions of Kira, he had seen all I had hidden. The last thing left for him to see was my heart springing to life when I saw him in back in the cave; how I wasn’t afraid of dying, how I was more afraid of seeing hate fill his eyes when he realized that I was nothing but human.
He saw in my eyes that I loved him so, that the thought of disappointing him was what pushed me towards closure. He saw that I wanted to give him the chance to be free of me; that I believed he would better off without me. And then suddenly he had seen everything, ever horrid thought and action, and I had nothing left to hide.
As soon as I had given him all he needed to see, he broke our kiss. I didn’t even know it was happening, but somewhere along the line I had started sobbing again. I wasn’t feeling my pain but feeling his instead. There were no words for the pain that I’d caused him and I had never realized the depth of it. I was walking through life missing him, yes, but I was moving on while he was just stuck in the motions of living, doing anything and everything that he could to get just a second of me back. How had I let this happen?
“Please stop crying Kitten.” His hands were shaking as he wiped away my tears. “I don’t know what to do now. All I know is that I am in love with you and you are a human that is in love with two others. I saw straight into your tender heart, I saw your confusion so there is no denying it, and right now if that is the best I can do, to live with those two others in your heart, then I will accept it. It is a glimmer of hope to work with; something I can hold dear and cherish.”
“Please stop Akia,” I whispered in soft soothing tones, “How can you not see that you have to let me go? There is no us. There can’t ever be. I am not risking your life to be with you, you must understand that!” But he paid me no attention. I He slammed his fist down on the night table and the room seemed to shake.
“All I know is that right now I am going to find that son of a bitch and I am going to tear him apart for what he has done to you.” And with that he turned his back to me and was gone. I was left there alone, tied to the bed and hoping that he had been talking about Drake and not one of the other two men in my life.
Chapter Thirty-Six
With the door shut securely behind him Akia was finally free to let his guard down. He wanted blood and he didn’t care whose it was. Not only had he let a human female taint his judgment, but worse, he had let this pathetic human claim a piece of his heart. He had let himself get sucked in and now action had to be taken to make up for his loss of control. Damn these emotions! He knew what had to be done. He had to kill his way out of it. He had messed things up and there was only one way to fix it and the burden was his to bear. If anyone found out about the dirty little secret lying in the bed behind the closed door in front of him, his life would be savagely ended along with hers. He was many things, but ready to die was not one of them.
Akia spent the next twenty minutes roaming his castle creating a blood bath of proportions that would never be forgotten. One by one he killed the guards that had devoted their lives to protecting him. These men were more than friends; they were the only family that he knew. He had grown up with them from childhood and now he was coldly ripping them apart, one by one. Most of them never fought back, they stuck to their training and protected their King from harm by standing at attention while he slaughtered them; they refused to defend themselves and went willingly to their death. It was the most bizarre thing he had ever seen and it made him almost happy to end their stupid lives. He knew that as of late his behavior had been so erratic that no one would bother to question a temper tantrum that lead to the deaths of the twelve guards that formed his personal guard. They were the only people beside him and Drake that knew that Cat existed. Just the thought of Drake’s name made the blood run hot and fast through Akia’s half dead veins. He would get his revenge. He would give Drake a chance to beg for his useless life and then he would kill him slowly, savoring and remembering every pain filled scream. When Drake teetered on the line between life and eternal darkness, Akia would relish the fear in his eyes.
By the time Akia approached the last guard the blood was dripping from his face. The redness of their blood against his flawlessly tanned skin made his raged filled eyes glow and pop with the promise of another fresh kill. Animal instinct had taken possession of him right around kill number eight. That was when he had gone from numb to loving every minute of the mass murder he was committing; an illusion of Godhood filled him and he smiled and strutted and licked the blood from his hands. He alone was the strongest. He alone had the strength to live while lesser beings died by his hand. He would prevail.
He knew for a fact that it would take a day or two to put a new staff into place. That would give him just enough time to get a tighter grip on the situation, and more than enough time to figure out what to do with Cat. Her name no longer made his blood boil, instead her image dancing in his head made him want nothing more than to go to her and kiss her again and again. He needed to invade her deepest thoughts like an addict needs a fix. Before he realized it he was on the move again. His mind was transfixed in an endless cycle of one emotion fighting then fleeing the next and suddenly in a burst of insight, he clearly saw himself as she did; he saw the monster that she was so convinced he was! Whatever the truth, it mattered little now. He knew that he would go back to her soon enough just as he was.
In a flash he was outside of her room and more confused than when he had left. He was tempted to break through the door and press his pretty sin to his blood soaked body. She was stubborn that one, the most stubborn bitch that he had ever met and he knew his life would be a lot less complicated if he disposed of her quickly and forgot her. He was shaking. He devoted every ounce of willpower that he had to stopping himself from breaking through that door and snapping her pretty little neck. He longed to hear the crack. She had all but begged him to do it. Catalina the actress he thought and an evil grin filled his mind. She was such a good actress that she had fooled even the King. But being good wouldn’t be enough to save her this time. She couldn’t keep her mouth shut, she had more than proven that, and her loose lips made her a deadlier loose end. If he let her live, his life would depend on how she reacted to the fact that he knew what she was and that scared the hell out of him. It meant that he was giving her the power to hold his life in her lying human hands.
The only people that he had ever considered family were gone now, reduced to frayed body parts strewn about dimly lit hallways. He had slaughtered his guards to save the woman tied down in his bed, tied because she would run away if her bonds were loosened! Was everything lost? He quietly traced his fingers down the door to the room that held her and he studied the red streak he had inadvertently painted. Then suddenly a decision flashed in his mind and he quickly turned and vanished into the dark of the corridor, walking rapidly through the blood of his fallen guards. As he put more distance between himself and Cat, he looked down at the dark stains beneath his boots and he shuddered, helpless and lost; as the feeling that he had just signed his own death warrant grew stronger with each step he took.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
I don’t know how long I laid there but it seemed like forever. I was really starting to think that maybe Akia had meant Jace and not Drake. The worst part was that I was pretty sure that I wasn’t going to feed on anyone and Akia must have sensed that, so why had he left me here tied down? I tugged on my restraints as hard as I could and they didn’t budge. I really was trapped.
“Well baby girl, I would be lying if I said the tied position that you are in right now didn’t turn me on.”
At first I wasn’t sure if I had really heard him or if it was all a fragment of my overactive imagination.
“Jace, is that really
you?” I needed more than I needed a walk in the park to hear him answer me back.
“Of course it’s me, did you really think that I was just going to die back there and leave you to fend for yourself? I’m not that kind of guy. Besides it isn’t so bad here as long as I stay out of fang boy’s way. He lets me wander around this wing of his kingdom for some reason I can’t comprehend.”
When Jace walked into view my tears started to flow again. Talk about a sight for sore eyes. He looked so worn out and so tired. Had I done that to him because I drank from him? Had I almost killed him? Had things really gotten that far out of hand back in the cave?
“Why are you crying baby girl? Everything’s OK. We made it! I promised you that we would and we did. This is a good thing.” He smiled but something dark lurked behind his grin.
“You have to tell me everything! Please? Why am I tied down Jace? I almost killed you didn’t I? That is why Akia hit me with the rock. I am so sorry. I never meant to lose control. I wouldn’t blame you if you just left me here, and went and started all over by yourself.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you talk way too much?” That made me smile, though I felt guilty for doing it.
“At least once a day, and that is on a slow day.” Sadly that was more truth than fallacy.
“That’s my girl. Ok, yes, you took a lot of blood out of me and no, I am not going to abandon you. In fact, I am going to do just the opposite. I am going to let you decide what we do from here.” And with that I knew he didn’t care that I almost killed him. It was forgotten and gone, a fresh slate back between us.
“What are my choices?” I wasn’t sure what he had in mind nor was I used to thinking things out before leaping into action.
“Well, do we stay here with lover boy and see what comes of that or do we get out of here and I deliver you to the other lover boy? Either way it is a decision that you alone have to make.” Something bothered me just a little about the fact that Jace didn’t sound more upset about just handing me over to one of my other two men. Besides that, there was something else on my mind haunting me.
I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone about the dream that I had just yet. I wasn’t proud of myself for kissing Trāves dreaming or not. Meeting Trāves in a dream was something that I needed to think about. I needed to decide how much of the dream had been real if any, but I needed to do it on my own time.
“Jace, I bumped my shoulder in the cave I think, and it is really hurting me. Do you think you could have a quick look and tell me how bad it is?” There, at least maybe I could find out what Trāves was looking for on my shoulder.
“What are we going do with you, kitty Cat? No one gets to bang up your pretty little body but me.” His voice gave me chills that quickly doubled in intensity when his hands started working to turn me enough to see the part that was hurting.
“Cat, what is that? That wasn’t there before the cave. I am positive of that.” He sounded completely unsettled and puzzled.
Maybe it wasn’t as bad as it seemed, maybe he was looking at a nasty purple bruise, or maybe my shoulder had been sliced open and was swollen and red. I could deal with painful injuries. Painful injuries heal and go away.
“How bad is it Jace?” I was silently wishing that the next words out of his mouth would be him telling me it was the worst cut or wound that he had seen for a while.
“It isn’t bad at all. The rose is beautiful and the flames are amazing, but where did it come from?” Damn it! No chance for simplicity now.
“Oh that old thing? I’ve had that forever. It must have been too dark in the cave for you to see it. I guess you were so caught up in the moment that you didn’t notice the rose Jace.” Did I sound convincing enough? Maybe.
I could tell by the look on his face that he wasn’t 100 percent sure that he believed me. The logical part of him realized that there was no way that I could have gotten a tattoo after the cave. I could sense that the part of him that was good at reading people was screaming at him right now, telling him that I was hiding something. I had to make the situation seem as dire to him as it really might be without giving away too much. Then I had to get to Walker. Whether I trusted him fully or not, Walker would know more about the rose. He would also hold something back, of that I was almost positive.
“I am not feeling so good Jace. I don’t know if it is all the Dominus blood, of if maybe I hit my head....” Ok, another lie. Actually, I felt especially great, but right now I needed him to believe that something was wrong and I needed help to get well.
“OK, nothing to worry about. I promise you not one bad thing is going to happen to you on my watch. So I am thinking the best move for us to make would be to flee this joint.” That a boy! He was catching on quickly. If he thought we were leaving because I was ill, than I wouldn’t have to explain the real reason to him.
“I think I need to go home, back to Walker, he will know what’s wrong with me. I am sure that it will be another huge scientific adventure to him, but I would rather be his lab rat than spend God knows how long tied to this bed.”
“I agree Cat. Now we have to plan how to get you out of here and get you back to your Doctor friend without anyone catching us, killing us, or trying to stop us.” I could see the worry creep over his face before he quickly coved it up with his sunny smile.
“I am scared Jace. I never asked for any of this. I don’t want to be a science experiment or a perpetual prisoner. I want to go back to being plain old Cat.” I sought out a glimpse of Jace. Something about his look let me know it was normal to be fearful in our predicament. Jace was afraid too, so at least so far, we were on the same jittery page. I was hoping he I could deal with it.
“Baby Doll, let me tell you a little something about greatness. People that have it don’t get to choose it, it chooses them. Some of the lucky few smart ones get to take their gift and run with it, but for most greatness is more like a curse that was thrust upon them like a prisoner’s hood. I am not going to let greatness curse you Cat. I am going to do whatever it takes to make sure you fulfill your destiny. Are you hearing me Cat?” He sounded so protective, so stern and fatherly, that I didn’t think it would be wise to disagree with him.
“Thank you Jace,” I said and I meant it. For the first time in a long time I had hope that maybe things would fall into place after all.
“Don’t thank me yet Kitty Cat. Thank me after I get us out of here and we are back with your family, safe and sound.”
Jace set to work. It didn’t take him long to free me of the bounds that Akia had tied to keep me captive. I felt my cheeks flush a bright red when the thought crossed my mind that Jace was just as good at untying knots as he was at tying them.
“I don’t know for sure what you are thinking right now Cat, but I am going to pretend it’s thoughts of me that caused you to turn that lovely shade of crimson.” His voice oozed sexual promise and even with the danger that we were both in, it was all that I could do not to taunt him into taking me there and then.
“No need to pretend at all Jace, you are the only thing on my mind, you and these ropes,” I whispered daringly back, teasing him as he freed me and helped me stand up.
“I promise you Cat, I fully intend to make you pay me back for saving you.”
My body protested when I stood up, but just for a second. Then I was overcome by a sudden surge of strength. There is no other way to describe it. I felt like I could move mountains and lift cars off people and all that adrenaline induced stuff. Yeah right, adrenaline. That is what I would keep telling myself for now, that it was the thrill of escape that was making me feel like superwoman and not all of the Dominus blood that was currently flowing through my veins.
“Ok, first and foremost we have to get you out of this room. You are a sitting duck as long as you are in here. At least let’s make lover boy work to find you.” I was OK with letting Jace take the lead. It was nice not having to think. All I had to do was obey and follow.
Chapter Thirty-E
ight
It was strangely quiet in the hallway when we opened the door. Part of me was a little disappointed that Akia wasn’t there to stop us. I never got good closure with him; there had been no satisfying heartfelt good-byes between us. Though haunted by that lack, it took me just a second to remember my way around his palace. I was a little shocked when Jace told me that we were not back in California after all, but instead in Maryland, somewhere deep in the mountains of Allegany County. How easily I forgot that Akia was the master of the planet, of course he would have castles in every state. It was to my advantage that Akia was a simple man and had used the same blue prints for each. Fifty identical homes was a little boring if you ask me but no one was asking. I hated to admit it but I felt at home inside the walls of Akia’s castle no matter where it sat. A little piece of me would always remain here with him where I felt I belonged. Body and soul could function separately when given no other choice I thought, and then the hollow feeling that followed spurred me straight into escape mode. Jace had been right. I needed to get away from here as fast as I could. I had more to fear then losing my heart given the circumstances. I had the hardcore fact that Trāves was coming to find me. Part of me wondered if I should have brought Akia up to speed about the dream and the beautiful flaming black rose that had magically appeared on my shoulder, but I guess another part knew that confessing that could be my worst idea ever. Akia would be forced to choose sides if he knew the whole story I and I doubted whichever side he chose would please me. I would be dead if he toed the line and sided with his father and I would be scared to death if he betrayed his father to save me. I really was a hard woman to please.
