Supernatural Taskforce Academy: Mission One, Scorpion Blood

by J. L. Weil

  “Tricksy!” I snapped, finally calling her attention to me. She was still glancing at Catina, shocked by her powers and her statement, but I only cared about one thing. Renna. I gently rested Renna’s back to the couch, removing her boot.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t.” She blinked, focusing on the injury.

  “What do you mean, you can’t? You are a witch. Serenity is a witch and she healed me.”

  “You call the High Witch by her first name?” she asked, appalled, and my nostrils flared. We had no time for this. “Sorry. Not all witches can heal,” she added startled. “Our magic is diff—”

  Before the last word left her lips I was on the move.

  Pulling my shirt off, I ripped it, making a tourniquet above Renna’s ankle to stop whatever toxic was affecting her from going up her bloodstream, and carrying her in my arms, I shot to my feet. “Out of my way!” I growled at the supes surrounding us, fire flaring in my chest.

  The crowd might have been more powerful than I, but they saw something in my eyes that told them not to test me, because they parted an instant later, letting me pass. I rushed out of the commons, on my way to Ambrose’s office without bothering to look back. Something was wrong with Renna. I could feel it, and my insides twisted with anxiety.

  Yes, I was royally pissed off about this morning. I couldn’t understand how, after sharing something so fucking amazing like what happened between us, she had pushed me away, literally, and left.

  Had she not felt what I felt while I had her in my arms? And I wasn’t talking about the carnal experience of making her mine. No. It had been so much more than that. The mind-blowing connection we shared had made it far more than just sex, until my every cell, my mind, my chest, my heart claimed her.

  I’d never felt that before. With anyone. Not once. And I was well aware things were happening fast, but I didn’t give a rat’s ass. Some things shouldn’t be explained or rationalized. Granted, it hadn’t exactly been silk sheets, strawberries, and champagne, the truth was, we hadn’t even made it to the bed, but oh my God, did she steal a part of me in that moment.

  A part she had unceremoniously thrown back in my face the instant it was over.

  Like a slushy.

  Still, the second I saw her slip into a void—when Catina touched her pendant—my heart lodged in my throat, all the anger and hurt forgotten.

  “I’m fine,” Renna slurred, just as I kicked the headmaster's door open.

  “What is this?! You can’t just barge—” Ambrose began to rage, but the second his gaze fell on a half conscious Renna his words faltered, eyes filling with horror. “Serenity!” he yelled, flashing to a door on the far wall of his office and disappearing inside.

  My arms gently lay Renna on the sofa, and I noticed nausea paint her face. Quickly reaching for the trash can, I placed it next to her and turned her, just in time for the sickness to overwhelm her. Holding her hair, I gently stroked her back as she heaved.

  “Dear Goddess!” Serenity gasped, stepping out of the door with Ambrose, and rushed toward us. “What happened?”

  “Why isn’t she healing?” I asked at the same time, laying Renna back on the sofa when she finished. “Vampires self-heal, right?” I added, showing Serenity Renna’s torn ankle.

  “Always,” Ambrose answered, distraught by his daughter’s state, but proceeded to dispose of the dirty trash can while Serenity knelt beside me.

  “What happened?” she insisted, sweeping her long strands to one side—unlike every other time I’d seen her, her hair was loose, and she looked stunning.

  “I have no idea.” My gut tightened with the admission. “One moment she was showing her necklace to Catina, and the next they both seemed to… fall into an abyss. It was like their bodies were there, but they were both gone. Renna wouldn’t respond to my call, and suddenly the slashes tore through her boot, and she began to bleed.”

  “What necklace?” Serenity asked.

  “This one.” I reached for the cord between Renna’s breasts and lifted to her eyes.

  The instant Serenity focused on the pendant she gasped. “The Awen of Light. That’s impossible. It’s the necklace of the first Fae Queen. How did she get that?”

  “I don’t know.” I swallowed, while Ambrose returned with a wet hand towel and placed it on Renna’s sweaty forehead.

  Serenity reached for the Awen, but stopped an inch before she could touch it, as though she knew better. “Did Catina touch it?” she urgently inquired.

  “Yes, that’s when it happened. They mentioned something about a broken seal.”

  Her alarmed eyes flew to Ambrose’s, and the dread that fell over them filtered into me. “They went to Infernum…” she whispered cryptically, and he squeezed her shoulder, as though sharing the secret burden with her.

  “Can you heal her?” I urged. “Please.”

  “Yes, of course!” She stood. “But I don’t have any healing vials right now. Step back.”

  Ambrose and I pulled away a few paces, seeing Serenity’s hands ignite with her golden magic. The next moment, two strands of gold shot out of our chests, connecting with her palms. Her silky brown hair began to lift from her shoulders, as the magic coursed through her, dancing in the air. She manipulated the energy into a ball, then pressed it against Renna’s injury.

  Threads of light burst along her leg, like veins of electricity, and a fizzling sound reached us. The darkened gashes became soft flesh again, and they closed, leaving behind red lines as though the venom had been singed out of her.

  “Her ability will heal the burns,” Serenity offered, letting go of our energy, and she glanced at us with amber glowing eyes.

  “Wow,” I whispered unable to help it. “That was…. mesmerizing.”

  “It was,” Ambrose added just as awed.

  Her eyes dimmed when she grinned at us and winked. “I know.” Then, all humor vanished. “Scorpion, please take Renna to your room, and watch over her until I come looking for you both. Ambrose and I need to meet with the rest of the Aereum, immediately.” As she spoke, the golden energy engulfed her hair, lifting it up, and tying it into her usual tight ponytail.

  “Why are you always without a shirt?” Ambrose asked, clearly perplexed, while the High Witch turned, opening the portal.

  My gaze fell to my abs, then to the scraps of my shirt now discarded on the sofa. “Beats me.”

  “Take care of her for me,” Ambrose pleaded, grasping my shoulder. “We’ll be back as soon as we can, but it might be a while.”

  “I will, Sir,” I promised, watching as the floating staircase appeared on the side of the magical opening, and they disappeared through it. Renna was only half conscious when I carried her in my arms again, and I stepped out of the office.

  Closing the door to my room behind us, I walked to the bed, and gently laid her there. She seemed exhausted, like fighting the toxin had drained her vampire essence. What the hell had done that to her? Serenity's words returned to me. Catina and Renna had gone to Infernum? How the hell had they managed that? But if they had, it meant a higher demon had done this, one of the ones trying to escape.

  My attention went to the pendant, and I removed it from her neck, placing it on the nightstand. Frankly, I was a bit scared of that thing. Taking off her other boot, I allowed my fingers to run over the burns Serenity’s healing left on her, they were already vanishing.

  I noticed her chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm, and I realized her body had given in to the exhaustion. Pulling the desk chair to her side, I grabbed a few colored pages from my stack, and began to fold while I waited.

  Vivid images from what we shared that morning flashed in my mind over and over, replaying each scene, lifting me with every kiss, with every touch of our bodies, then plunging me into darkness with her retreat. But I couldn’t stop them. She was everything I thought about from the moment I met her, and being with her had only enhanced that.

  Then again, I always knew brunettes were going to be the end of me.
>
  My lips twitched as I finished one paper crane and began another.

  Almost an hour later, I had a rainbow of colors on my lap, and I began to place the little birds along her long hair, like flowers, interlacing with her strands along the sides of her head, shoulders, and down her chest.

  She looked beautiful... but then again, she always did.

  Taking a deep breath, I stood, returning the remaining papers to the desk. When my attention refocused on her, I found her looking at me and my chest clenched. The hurt from before seared my insides once more as we stared at each other.

  She didn’t speak, and I really had nothing else to say. I’d said more than enough already, and it didn’t seem to matter to her.

  Her gaze shifted, escaping mine, and wandered around the space. “Is this your room?” She asked confused.

  “Yes, but don’t worry. The only reason I brought you is because I was instructed for us to wait here until Serenity came for us. They went to talk to the council about what happened.”

  Renna sat up, and as she did, the little colored birds fell from her hair, as though flying away, but landing all around her. A few remained between her strands and her eyes widened as she saw them. A smile captured her lips, and she reached for them, noticing all the different sizes and shades. Carefully, she pulled the two still nestled in her beautiful obsidian hair.

  My heart squeezed while I watched her admire them, and I scolded myself for the feeling. I’d never been this guy. I wasn’t “cute” with girls, I’d never been that way during a relationship. I was a soldier in every sense of the word. Hardened by training, by war, by what I’d seen and done, and Renna was this kick ass vampire who needed no one, not even me. Yet, everything inside me wanted to do things like that for her.

  I wanted to be sweet, soft, gentle, romantic. Renna urged everything I wasn’t out of me… and that was what irked me the most. What the fuck did I do with it now?

  “You made these for me?” She asked, placing them all in a row on the windowsill.

  “I was bored,” I told her defensibly, folding my arms in front of my chest. Being rejected sucked, and I hated feeling like this.

  “Scorpion, I… I… I need to pee.”

  Okay, so I wasn’t waiting for an apology or anything, but that was not what I expected.

  Stepping back, I gave her space to stand up, but when she put weight on her foot she cringed. It was still sore from the ordeal. I reached for her, helping her stand, fully knowing she would protest. She didn’t. She let me guide her to the bathroom, where she washed her face.

  “You can brush your teeth if you want, I have extra stuff here.” I opened the cabinet where the toiletries were, and taking one of the packaged toothbrushes, I handed it to her along with my toothpaste.

  Giving her privacy, I stepped out, and rested my back to the wall, looking out into the magnificent sky of this realm. It was truly a spectacular sight. The soothing and peaceful sound of waterfalls echoing in the background.

  When she stepped out of the bathroom, she rested her back against the doorframe, staring at me. Troubling emotions swirled in her striking blue eyes. “Scorpion, I—”

  “No need to explain,” I stopped her, I didn’t need her pity. “I got the message loud and clear. I know you prefer to stand behind your walls, and mine are back up, so no harm done. I won’t bother you anymore. You have my word.” Lies, all lies. I’d tried to pull my wall back up, but Renna had shattered it to pieces.

  I turned around to walk away but her hand gripped my arm, and I froze. Renna’s touch was everything. When my eyes connected with hers, I saw her slowly make her way to me, until she stood before me. Her neck elongated stunningly as she looked up at me. Still, she didn’t speak. It was like her pride, or whatever it was that she was battling inside her, was stronger than the part of her that wanted me.

  I could respect that.

  No. Actually, I couldn’t.

  “I just need to say one thing,” I blurted. “You don’t want me? Fine, but do you think I say those things to just anyone? I opened up to you, Renna. I told you I wanted you, and I have never in my life told that to another woman. I want you enough to forsake everything else. I want to fight for you because you are worth it.”

  I forked my hands through my hair, feeling the rampage of emotions within.

  “You are incredible, Renna. And it has nothing to do with the fact that you are a vampire. It’s your inner strength, your resilience, your beauty that shines from inside your soul, and the way you care for those around you, even when you pretend not to. You don’t take any crap from anyone, and you stand up for what you think is right. That’s sexy as hell. It’s not your cinched waist or those gorgeous breasts that pull me to you. It is all of you, Renna. Everything that makes you the woman you are. You are perfect to me.”

  Fuck, I wanted her. Why couldn’t she just give in? I knew she wanted me too. I could feel it, even now.

  Her eyes sparked with disconcerting emotions at my confession, but she stepped closer, until her palms rested on my bare chest. Her touch brought sweet life back to me. Renna’s gaze fell to her hands—they slightly trembled against my skin—but she didn’t pull away. Short breaths fanned my chest, asking me to answer her silent request, and I wrapped my hands around her waist. Bringing her fully to me.

  “I’m scared,” she breathed, tensing with her own admission, and half of me watched her stunned. When her eyes returned to me, she lifted her chin defiantly, completely contradicting her confession. She was fighting herself.

  “Big whoop,” I answered, seeing her eyes widen, appalled, but my arms tightened around her, not letting her escape. “I’m terrified… Do you know how many times you’ve hit me since we met?” She smacked my chest, hard, and I chuckled. “One-hundred-and-fifty-two-thousand times... at least.”

  Her eyes narrowed on me while her lips slightly quivered in amusement, not wanting to give me the satisfaction of her smile.

  “I know you expected me to say that you being a vampire bothered me, but I’m not scared of you, Renna. I’m enticed by you.”

  A relieved breath escaped her, and I held her closer to me. My fingers reached for her skin, trailing the length of her neck, and she shuddered in my arms.

  The way she responded to me was addicting.

  “I want you, Renna. How else do you want me to say it? Even like this, your body is screaming for me,” I whispered, pressing my forehead to hers. “Your skin sings when I touch you. Your breaths accelerate until your pulse becomes unstoppable, and as you look at me now, your pupils are fully dilated.” I tilted my head as though to kiss her, and her chin lifted to meet mine. “Your lips part for me when I’m close to you like this, expecting, begging for mine to take over them, and you still find a way to fight this?”

  Our mouths brushed each other while I spoke, and I caressed my way around her neck until my fingers slipped into the back of her hair, gripping it, and tilting her head for me. My other hand shifted to her lower back, a thumb stroking the sensitive base of her spine, adoring the feeling of the skin just above her waistband.

  Her eyes fell closed.

  “Give into what you feel for me, Renna. Don’t rationalize it. Don’t question it. Just feel me like you did this morning. The way you came apart in my arms was nothing short of glorious.” My lips created a trail to her neck, gentle kisses grazing the curve, and the tip of my tongue tasted her skin as she gave me full access. “You melt for me. Can you feel it?” I whispered in her ear, sucking her earlobe.

  Pulling away, I searched her eyes, admiring how stunning she looked like this. Dazed and taken over by what she felt with me. The same way I felt with her.

  “I’m not the type of guy who plays games. It’s okay to be vulnerable with me because I’m vulnerable with you too, and I’ll never take advantage of that. All you have to do is let go. Give in to me. I want to be with you, Renna. Be mine. Be my girl. Tell me you want me, and it is done.”

  “Yes.” She blink
ed, as though part of her was surprised she actually answered.

  “No. You have to say the words. Tell me you want to be with me, that you won’t panic again and push me away. If we do this, that’s it. We are together. Who cares what we are? Let’s enjoy what we feel with each other, and let it turn into something amazing. No matter how crazy that might seem. You are mine and I’m yours, end of story.”

  Her gaze bore into mine, and I saw the moment she gave in. Her eyes sparkled just for me.

  “I’m not good with words, Scorpion, not when it counts, but here it goes. And I’m warning you now, it won’t be nearly as pretty or as poetic as yours. You make me feel things I didn’t know were possible. And I know I handled this horribly before. I’m sorry for leaving. You have no idea how much I wish I had stayed, and I can only tell you that I’m done pushing you away. I don’t want to run anymore, not from you. So, Scorpion, if you can put up with my crazy, then yes. I want this. I want you.”

  A slow smile stretched my lips. “Please, crazy is my specialty.” The back of her hand connected with my chest for the millionth time, and I smirked, yet with her admission, waves of relief rolled softly over my chest, like the sea against the shore. I didn't want to admit it, but I’d been certain she wouldn’t walk away again.

  Renna’s arms wound around my neck and she pulled me to her, our lips closing over the other’s in perfect unison. This time our coming together was mutual. It wasn’t me stealing her kisses, or her reacting to the passion of the moment. There was no desperation, no anxious need, just us, and the mind-blowing connection we shared.

  “Mmm, minty,” I whispered against her mouth, and she grinned.

  “You are such an idiot.”

  “Yes, but now I’m your idiot.”

  Renna laughed with a careless freedom that left me breathless. Something in her had changed as she destroyed her walls for me, finally letting me in, and I was captivated. Our lips danced together once more, in a deep and sensual kiss that left us naked before the other. Stripped of everything we’d carried inside us—the past, the fear, the pain, the uncertainty—leaving only what we felt together.