The bed in the cell went slamming into the wall. A crash sounded as the bedframe smashed into the cement floor. The flat screen TV that was bolted to the wall flew across the room. It hit and broke into a million fragments above Jedrik’s head.
Delara still trusted him. Trusted that no matter who lives inside him now, Waleron would never hurt her.
“Giving you five minutes then we call Scars,” Keir said. He was sitting up and rubbing the back of his head when he looked at her. He looked grief-stricken—the corners of mouth down, the lines in his forehead deep and accentuated. “Doesn’t work, we call Wraiths.” Keir shook his head sighing. “You understand?”
Yes. If Waleron continued down this path they’d have no choice. The Wraiths would incarcerate Waleron and he would never walk as their Taldeburu again. There also was the possibility that they’d kill him.
Ryker stood in the corner, arms crossed as if he was just there to keep watch. She’d seen that look before. He knew what would happen if they failed to bring Waleron back. Ryker had lost the one woman who made him whole; he’d never let Waleron be taken by the Wraiths to live without Delara. Ryker would kill Waleron first.
She was his only chance.
He won’t hurt you. He has sworn to protect you, she said repetitively to herself. “Pez,” she said. God, what was she doing? His nickname was a way to keep him distant. It no longer felt right slipping from her tongue. “Waleron, baby.”
Nothing. A high-pitched screech pierced the room and both Jedrik and Keir covered their ears. Delara grit her teeth as she attempted to fade out the sound. It was his Scar.
“Waleron, you’re hurting us. You’re hurting me.” The sounded halted and Waleron spun around. Delara gasped as she saw the tattoo swirling in deep red all across his neck. His stare was blank and his eyes were no longer blue, but bright red. Jesus, what the hell happened to him? She took a step back, legs trembling at a man she failed to recognize.
“Slowly Delara,” Ryker warned.
“Jesus friggin’ Christ, you see his eyes, Ryk? Man that’s some freaky shit.”
She did. And it terrified her. “Waleron, please. I know you can hear me.” He remained transfixed on her. She wasn’t certain if he even knew who she was. “I never left you.” He closed his eyes for a second and shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. “Waleron, I’m here. I won’t ever leave you.”
He was staring at her again, his expression filled with fury. She could see his jugular pumping madly. There was nothing recognizable about him, except his body was the same. It was standing before her, taken over by his Scar.
Suddenly he began walking towards her. She stood her ground. Five steps. Four steps. Three steps. Her breath sucked in. One step. He grabbed her around the throat and squeezed.
Oh god. The pressure was enough to allow her to breathe, but it would bruise her flesh. She put her hands up on his and curled them around his wrists. If he killed her, they’d both die. She knew it. They all did.
“Delara?” Keir asked. “Wraiths?”
“No, don’t,” Delara ordered. “He isn’t hurting me.” “Waleron,” she whispered. “You don’t want to do this. Look at me, baby.”
He flinched but the pressure around her neck didn’t increase. “Remember me. Feel me, breathe in my scent.” His Scar stopped moving, which was a damn good thing since it was creeping her out. “Stop hurting us.”
For a second the pressure on her neck increased. She almost called out to Keir and Jedrik, but suddenly he eased up, although he didn’t let her go. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Keir nod his reassurance.
“Waleron, look at me.” She touched his cheek and the moment she did, she knew it was a mistake. He reacted as if she were a demon, a fierce hatred coming down over his face, as if she was something he abhorred.
“Fuck, Delara move. Now!” Ryker ordered.
She raised both arms and knocked Waleron’s hands from her neck, but he’d been ready and grabbed her arm before she could run, swinging her towards him. His words brought a cold chill over her body and she knew it was possible that this would be the end. “You broke my will, Jasmine. You killed me. You destroyed what I lived for.”
“Waleron. No, she didn’t. I’m here, baby.”
“Please Delara. Let me call them,” Jedrik said.
She shook her head, knowing the Wraiths would have no choice but to kill Waleron.
A quiet stillness settled over the room. No one breathed or moved.
Delara closed her eyes and tilted her head back, releasing her fear. She fought his coldness, his pain, his rage and she remembered a day just like this, when they were standing in one another’s arms. She let every limb relax and soaked in the feeling, the hope and the thought that surrounded her at that moment centuries ago. “Remember. Please remember, my love. Come back to me.”
Her breath came in short gasps as his arm tightened around her chest. She blocked out Ryker, Jedrik, and Keir, who were watching with indecision.
If she couldn’t reach Waleron—no one could. She’d not give up on him. She promised him. She’d never let him go no matter what the cost.
And she trusted that he’d never hurt her.
She whispered to his mind, “I’m never leaving you. I won’t. If they kill you, then they will have to kill me.” He suddenly threw her away from him and she landed in a heap on the floor. Ryker started to come towards her but she held up her hand to stay him. He growled with frustration, but remained where he was.
Her lip was bleeding from biting it when she landed. She could feel the tension rising and soon they would ignore her and call their Scars, who’d kill him or capture him so the Wraiths could.
“You destroyed us. For that I will cause you more pain than is imaginable.” Waleron still spoke to Jasmine as he approached Delara, his long strides eating up the floor.
He grabbed Delara by both shoulders and hauled her to her feet. She heard Jedrik’s roar and instantly told him to back off again. Ryker was inching closer on one side and Keir on the other. They were going to blast Waleron at the same time. It would either kill him or really piss him off. Either way was unacceptable.
Waleron had been in control of his emotions for centuries, never once faltering until now. She knew it was bound to happen one day, complete chaos destroying him because of the years he was subjected to torture of mind and body.
“Don’t even consider it,” Delara warned Ryker and Keir.
“If we all blast at the—”Jedrik said.
“No! It will kill him.”
“Not happening, Delara. He thinks you’re Jasmine. He’ll kill you. This shit has to stop. Now.”
“I can get through to him, Keir,” Delara insisted. “Please. I promised him.” She couldn’t free her arm to wipe the tear that escaped. Maybe he was too far gone. Maybe his mind had snapped and there was no saving the man she once knew.
“Give her more time,” Ryker said.
Jedrik and Keir both stared at him like he’d lost his marbles, but Ryker of all people knew what it was like to love and lose. He’d fight for something to hold onto, he’d protect the love that Delara and Waleron had found again. Ryker also had experienced what losing Waleron would do to Delara. He understood risking one’s life for the one you loved, because living alone was far worse than dying.
Push him to break, she thought. Push him to fight against his Scar.
There was one thing that Waleron would abhor. He’d fight against his Scar in order to stop it from happening. The problem was if she was wrong—the Scar could kill her.
She met Waleron’s blazing red eyes and tensed her body, ready for the backlash that could come from her words. “Then destroy me, Waleron. Kill me if that’s what you want.”
“Delara no!” Jedrik shouted.
“That’s what you want, isn’t it?” She was talking to his Scar now. “To kill the most precious thing in his life? Destroy the love. Kill it. Well now is your time.” She punched Waleron in the chest and
his hands dropped from her shoulders.
“Delara, needing to end this shit. Not telling you again, get the fuck out,” Keir said. He started calling to his Scar.
Waleron’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, the blue surfacing for mere seconds before turning back to red. “Hit me damn it.” Waleron raised his arm and took a step towards her. She heard the warriors coming near them, Keir’s voice in her head telling her to get out of the way. She had seconds. “Goddamn it, do it!” she screamed.
His arm swung towards her. Her body tensed waiting for the blow, but she refused to move, knowing he had no one who would trust him except her. His fist came at her in a blur then suddenly stopped inches from her face.
The room was quiet. Even the snake Scar had settled on his neck, curled into a tight coil. She watched Waleron’s eyes as they changed back to an ice-blue and widened with pure horror at what he was about to do. One powerful hit from his fist could have ended her life.
“Delara?” He staggered back until he hit the wall.
He took in the state of the room and then looked to Keir, Ryker, and Jedrik. It was like a shield had dropped and suddenly the vulnerable Waleron had appeared with a haggard face that was distraught with disbelief.
Delara stepped towards him.
Waleron halted her with his hand. “I…what have I done? Delara I…” His eyes went to each of them then he bowed his head and closed his eyes.
“Everyone out. Now,” Keir said.
Ryker left the room while Jedrik came over and squeezed her shoulder. Keir gave a diminutive nod and then left, closing the door behind them.
As soon as they’d gone, Waleron moved further away from her. “Why? Why did you risk yourself?” Waleron placed his hands on either side of his head. “Never do that again, Delara. Promise me.”
Delara would never agree to that. If this was who he’d become then this was who she’d accept into her life. Waleron was still beneath that eruption of rage. He was the same man she fell in love with.
“I almost killed you.”
“You’d never harm me,” Delara said, moving to stand next to him. She wasn’t so certain about his Scar, but they’d work on that. She raised her hands and put them on top of his. “You stopped the pills, didn’t you?”
He nodded.
Of course he did. The pills were Zurina’s way to keep him unemotional and he wouldn’t do it any longer. He did it for her. For them. The Scar was alive in him, and would emerge if he became upset enough, but they’d manage it. In time, they’d learn how to control it.
He was silent. She waited, knowing he still was shocked and upset over what had happened. “But you saw what it did, Delara. I don’t know if I can fight this battle.”
“It’s the first time, baby. You’ve been numb to every emotion for twenty years. It’s going to take time to learn how to deal with this. For both of us. Together.”
His arms wrapped around her body, pulling her up against him. He buried his face in her neck and held her like she was his protector.
This was home. In his arms. His breath against her ear. His arms around her and her feeling the gentle touch of his fingers on her skin.
“I thought you left me.” He gripped her so tightly to him that she was having trouble breathing. She stroked the back of his neck, feeling him fall apart in her arms. “Trinity being here and then… God, I was so scared. You weren’t leaving?”
She drew back. There were tears in his eyes. “No, I told you I wouldn’t. I needed to tell Trinity...well that you were mine and to keep her filthy paws to herself. Then I had to say goodbye to…he deserved that Waleron.”
He nodded and looked away as if he needed a second to find his next words. Instead of words, though, he suddenly pulled her into him and placed his lips against her neck. And then she felt the choked sob escape his throat. “I love you baby. God, I love you. You’re all I have left. I’m begging you, don’t let me go.”
“Never Waleron.” His tortured words were so filled with relief and anguish and fear. Yes, he’d been scared that she’d left him for Xamien. Only time would mend their trust and they had eternity to do it. She placed her lips on his. “I’m not going anywhere.” She stroked the side of his face, until the lines around his eyes disappeared and he seemed to relax. “I’m here to stay. I’ve suffocated too long without you.”
Six months later
To Jasper text: Need you in. Now.
Jasper: Details?
Adrian: Ancient Senses. A Tracer. Rogue and not nice. Intel says he Traced your man Waleron a while back to some guy Tarek for a big payout.
Jasper reply: Fuck. Name?
Adrian: Nothin’ yet. But there’s another player. Girl. Max. Senses. Know her?
Jasper.: Jesus. Yeah, I know her.
Adrian: Ancient Tracer guy does too and he’s looking for her.
Jasper: Fuck.
Adrian: You on it?
Jasper: I’m on it.
THE END
Thank you for taking the time to read FALL. If you enjoyed the story, please recommend to your friends and write a review. I love to hear from my readers, so please stop in and say hello.
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Blovel
Come join me on my blog. Every Monday morning I post one chapter to “RUN,” Anstice and Keir’s story. “RUN” is the prequel to JUMP. http://cindypaterson.wordpress.com/
Acknowledgments
Without this amazing woman, I’d never have found my editor because she brought us together—Yah! Right from the beginning Michelle aka MsRomanticsReads took me under her wing and generously gave her support and advice and friendship. I’m so lucky to have her in my life. You rock, Michelle. Don’t you ever stop blogging. www.MsRomanticReads.wordpress.com
To my amazing family—mom and dad, my two brothers, sister-in-laws and my nephews. When you tried to drag me away from my computer for social time and I insisted Waleron and Delara couldn’t be left. Thank you for your patience and understanding. And most of all for your limitless support.
To my animals who give uncondional love even when I’m in eighteen hour writing binges. When I’m freaking out over a scene and you sit calmly beside me and offer your support. When I need a hug you guys are always there.
Facebook fans, God I wish I could name you all, but when you read this I think you’ll know who you are! I go on Facebook every day and am excited to be able to interact with you guys. Your support has been incredible. Right from the beginning when I first started out, you guys have been so kind to me. Really, this is a part of writing that I never expected. As I was writing Fall I thought of you guys and wanted to brainstorm with you on my posts, lol. Would’ve been great, but not sure how much you guys would like it. This book is for all of you. I hope you love it!
Oh and for those authors who need an editor—this is the chick. You saw my dedication, she’s the best. www.TheRomanticEditor.com
JUMP (The Senses book 1)
Prologue
She vomited the first time she saw him.
The sick bastard laughed.
That was hours ago . . . or so she thought. Time meshed into a swamp of leech-sucking minutes.
Her body, weak and exhausted from fighting, had become a toy to him. Clamped with steel shackles, her wrists and ankles felt like someone had poured alcohol on them and then held them over a scorching fire. Her muscles were cramped from the constant shivering, and her teeth chattered like a jack-hammer.
She gagged on the pungent smell of black licorice that permeated the air. Her sandpaper throat made swallowing unbearable and every inhalation agony, while her mind screamed in utter anguish and horror.
The terror of dyin
g had vanished hours ago. Now she prayed for it.
His long dagger-like nails crawled along her neck where he’d bitten her repeatedly. He gripped her neck, tilting her chin up and to the side. She locked her jaw, waiting for the familiar pain. She didn’t scream any longer—it made no difference—no one was rescuing her from this monster.
He hissed, the sound like a zipper being undone. She squeezed her eyes shut as the smell of licorice flooded her nostrils and his breath wafted over her skin. She groaned and jerked as his teeth sank deep into her throat.
She lay unmoving, powerless to refuse him, frozen in the nightmare that had become reality.
He drank until her vision clouded and her nails loosened from her palms as her body weakened from the blood loss.
“My sugary Danielle,” he said.
His voice was a calm melody, as if a paintbrush were running across a fresh white canvas, sweeping, rhythmic and subtle. She loathed that it was captivating. She hated that she compared his voice to something she loved, but she had no control. It was as if his voice had the ability to make her do anything.
She lay limp as the shackles released and cold fish-like hands grabbed her arms and dragged her across the damp dirt floor to the cage. Her haven. Away from him. Away from the torture.
The monster threw her inside, the gate slamming behind as she lay huddled in a torn nightshift and underwear. The cage lifted off the ground and rocked back and forth as it was cranked upwards until it settled next to two other cages several stories above the ground.
Attempting to block out the horror was impossible. It ate away at her from the inside out. Soon it would become worse as the blood he consumed slowly replenished.
Why was she here? Why her? God, what psycho’s hands had she landed in? Was he going to kill her or continue to feed off her? The questions tormented her thoughts, but there were never any answers.
Words refused to pass her quivering lips. So cold. The endless shivering, muscles aching from constantly trying to provide her body with warmth. Her throat was dry and hoarse from screaming, as if a razor blade had scraped the flesh, leaving it painful to swallow, speak and breathe.
FALL (The Senses) Page 30