The Edge: (Ignite, Book 1) (Ignite Series)

by Fleur Camcho

  “Just take her away. We have business to finish.”

  Laura tried to resist but he threw her over his shoulder. She threw up again and clear liquid ran down his shirt. “Stop ruining my uniform.” He gripped her tight and zipped out of the building.

  “I think that last time was your fault. Besides, your friend’s blood ruined my coat.”

  He flew to the edge of the field and threw her on the ground. He grabbed her black, oily, blood-stained coat and ripped it off her. It took her shirt with it, and she stared defiantly at him in her pink bra. He clutched her clothes in his hand and shook it at her. “This is her blood you’re disrespecting. And it’s your fault she’s dead.”

  “It’s not my fault she’s dead. If she didn’t try to kill me, then Jace wouldn’t have killed her.”

  “See? It is your fault. Jace would never have killed her if it hadn’t been for you.” The fire danced in his eyes as he studied her face. And then they deliberately lowered to her lips, and then her breasts. She wanted to cover herself but instead she stared defiantly at him.

  “You have a stupid name, by the way.”

  He smirked. “Oh, that’s not my real name.”

  “Why do they call you Cherry then?”

  He leaned in close, caressed her breast with his thumb and licked her face. She scooted back in horror. “Cuz I like to take them. Cherries.” He stared, triumphant, into her horrified face, and then his eyes darkened. “You’ll pay for this one day.” There was a loud roar and he glanced towards the building, then looked back at Laura, taking in her half-naked body. “If I’m lucky, maybe that day will be today.” And then he was gone.

  Laura knelt on the ground, retching and shaking from emotion and horror. A crash came from the building, and Laura tried to stand.

  “I wouldn’t go in there.”

  Laura spun and her mouth dropped. Kayla stared at her.

  ❦

  Laura couldn’t believe her eyes, but things clicked into place. “That’s how they found us.”

  “Of course. I brought them here. You shouldn’t be with him. He could hurt you.” Kayla’s eyes stared, glossy and dazed, at the building.

  “What about you? You promised to stay away from Alex — Urban.” His pain and rage flooded over her again and she felt dizzy. She gripped Kayla for support.

  “And you promised to stay away from John Doe.”

  Laura took a deep breath and steadied herself. “Touché.” The sky was heavy with clouds and a cold wind blew through them. Laura shivered but focused on the building; she was worried about Jace. “Kayla, we can’t trust Urban.”

  “And I don’t think we should trust your guy. So what are we going to do about that?” The words were exactly what Kayla would say but she said them in a strange monotone voice.

  “Kayla, what did Urban tell you about my guy?” Laura forced herself not to run into the building.

  “He said that he was a killer. That he’s killed a lot of innocent people.”

  Laura grabbed Kayla’s arm, horrified. No wonder Kayla brought them here. “Kayla, that’s not true. He’s good. Trust me. It’s Urban that we can’t trust.” The ground shook beneath them and Laura tried to get up again. “We have to save him.”

  Kayla’s hand shot out, gripping Laura’s arm. Her eyes stared, wide-eyed and afraid. “No. You can’t.”

  “Why?”

  “You don’t understand. I need him. I need Urban.” Laura’s mouth dropped open and she stared at Kayla, speechless. Snow began to fall and Laura wrapped her arms around herself.

  There was a loud squeal and a boom. The noise of raining bricks hitting pavement pushed Laura forward but Kayla’s grip was tight. Laura stared into Kayla’s eyes; they revealed her desperation. “Laura, please. I need him.”

  Anger fired within her. “Kayla, look at me. That guy dropped me off here, ripped my clothes off, and then licked my face. And Urban hangs out with him. What does that say about him?”

  The wind brought more snow and Laura rubbed her arms. She wished Kayla would offer her coat.

  “Why did you do it, Laura?” Kayla’s eyes were soft now, pleading. Laura was confused. “Do what?”

  “Why did you leave me?”

  Laura was speechless. “Kayla, you were the one who left me. You went off to college while I stayed here.”

  “You knew how I felt. After my dad left us and my mom died, you knew I needed you. Why didn’t you come with me?” Her voice was so pathetic; it broke Laura’s heart.

  “Kayla, you know why I couldn’t go. You know.” She was shaking now.

  “I think I know, but we’ve never talked about it. Not once.”

  “I don’t need to tell you Kayla. You’ve seen it ever since fifth grade. Day after day after day.” Her heart hammered and her breathing increased. “You see it on my face and arms. You see it when you come into my work and watch my dad get drunk every night at my own bar.” Her emotions burst free as tears poured down her face. “I don’t need to tell you Kayla. You already know.”

  “You’re right.” Kayla was crying too but her voice was low, menacing. “I do know. I don’t need you to tell me. I know that you stayed home to protect your mom, who you don’t even respect, and your brother. That you get in fights with your dad when he’s drunk so he’ll hit you instead of them. That you don’t have money for an online college because you pay for the electricity and food while your dad drinks it away at Rico’s.”

  Laura blinked at her. Kayla’s voice was a slap with every sentence. No one ever said these things out loud. Ever.

  “But, you never ever told me for sure, Laura. And what I needed...” Kayla studied her coolly. “Was for you to trust me. To trust me enough to just talk to me. But you never did. And because of that, I didn’t really have anyone, until Urban.”

  Laura’s mouth dropped open. “I trusted you with everything! I trusted you with my brother. When I had to take him away, where did I take him?”

  Kayla was silent, staring off.

  “I didn’t take him to Matt’s house, or Carl’s, or Kara’s. I took him to yours.”

  Kayla stared at her, eyeing her shrewdly. “I needed you to come with me. And you chose your brother over me, your sister.”

  Laura was silent, unbelieving. Kayla had never been so cruel. She studied Kayla’s eyes, glazed over with menace.

  The snow was beginning to thicken and a cold wind blew from the mountains. Laura felt her fingers growing numb as she stared at Kayla in silent shock.

  A loud scream exploded from the building and Laura jumped to her feet. Kayla grabbed her hand and pulled her back. A sharpness pricked her and blood dripped from her cheek.

  Kayla’s eyes were feral as she pointed a bloody knife in Laura’s face. “I need him.”

  “I need him too, Kayla.” She punched Kayla in the face and Kayla squealed. Laura wrenched her wrist out of Kayla’s grip and ran towards the building.

  Just as she was about to enter the building, Urban raced out of the building, his sword in hand and dripping with blood.

  Laura, startled, stopped and stared at him, affected by his presence. Her feet were heavy and she couldn’t move. He gazed at her and his face grew white, afraid. He backed away from her and raced towards the open field. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kayla get up and run towards him.

  The force holding her down suddenly released her and she zeroed in on the blood on his sword. “What did you do to him?” She screamed after him, desperate.

  Urban stopped running and turned, staring at her. Vast grey wings appeared behind him and he shot into the air, his gaze fixed on her. Then he was only a black speck in the orange sky and Laura stared, dumbstruck, after him.

  ❦

  A rumble caught Laura’s attention and she whipped her head towards the building. She raced inside and stopped, amazed at the scene before her. The whole back wall was crushed into rubble and two of the four columns were ripped from their places and smashed in pieces all over the floor. Laura
frantically scanned the dusty room for Jace. He had to be here somewhere.

  She saw a bulge lying in the rubble and she raced towards it. He had a knife sticking out of his chest and was deathly still. A lump formed in her throat.

  No. It couldn’t be him.

  Relief poured over her as she recognized Captain. Jace must have killed him. Hope blossomed in her chest and she scrambled to find him. “Jace, where are you?” She couldn’t see him or Cherry.

  Finally, she saw him lying on the ground. She sprinted to Jace. He had a gaping hole in his gut and she could see the cut up muscles and fat of his shredded stomach. His blood, gushing in time with his heartbeat, ran silver and black.

  She fell to his side and tried to put her hands over the wound and pushed down. “Jace, no.”

  He opened his eyes and his blue eyes were now grey. “Laur—” He choked, spewing sterling and ink.

  “No, don’t say anything. I’m going to get you some help.” She reached in her pocket, realizing too late that she didn’t have her phone with her.

  He reached for her and weakly traced the cut on her cheek, worried. It burned hot. “You’re hurt.” His words were shaky, raspy.

  Tears streamed down her face as she grasped him.

  He gazed at her. “Everything’s going to be fine.” His eyes fluttered shut.

  “Jace, what do I do? There has to be something!”

  His eyes opened and he smiled. “All you need to do…” His eyes focused beyond her and she shook him.

  “Don’t do this. Jace!”

  He dragged in a breath and the air rattled in his stomach. He focused on her. “Believe. Laura…” He breathed out the last of her name; an exhale of air escaped him and he was still.

  “Jace?” She panicked. “Jace!” She shook him again. “Jace, no, Jace! Stay with me.”

  The ground trembled beneath her and she clutched him to her chest.

  Laura looked around her, trying to figure out the meaning of his words. Believe what? The shaking increased until it was violently jerking them back and forth. Laura held Jace tight to keep him from getting hurt even worse. She couldn’t let him go.

  There was a roaring noise and the ground opened beneath Captain and he disappeared into the earth. Her mind raced, but she was so confused. All she could think of was that she had to save him, she had to do something. She couldn’t let him disappear into the earth.

  Believe, Laura.

  It was as if Jace was speaking to her thoughts. A burst of awareness overcame her and she knew what she needed to do. But it was impossible to do on the spot. How could she just change her whole belief system in one moment? She knew she really, truly had to believe.

  There was more shaking, and another hole appeared right next to where she kneeled. Laura yelped. Chunks of rock and dirt tumbled down into the nothingness and Laura gripped Jace tighter. Sulfur permeated the air and Laura knew. This wasn’t a normal earthquake.

  Laura took a quick breath, her heart pounded and she leaned over the edge, peering into the cosmic hell that awaited Jace if she didn’t believe.

  “Dear God.” The words caught in her mouth and in that moment she knew. She had to make a choice.

  She was at The Edge.

  What did she believe when it came down to it, looking over the Edge, in her heart?

  “Save him. Please. Save him.” She choked out the words; her throat swelled so that she could barely breathe. A raging heat overcame her. She leaned onto the ground, cradling Jace’s head and closed her eyes. “I do believe.” And she knew that she did. She’d never stopped.

  ❦

  Epilogue

  Laura was hot. And it was so bright, who opened her curtains? She kicked off her blanket and the ache in her gut returned in full force.

  Jace.

  She grabbed her stomach and squeezed her eyes tight, forcing a tear to slide down her cheek. Would she ever see him again? A warmth spread through her face and her eyes shot open.

  Jace sat on the edge of her bed. Her tear rested on the edge of his finger and his eyes were full of pain. “Why so sad, Laura?”

  “Jace!” Laura jumped out of her bed and threw her arms around him, crushing him to her. Her whole body flooded with warmth, safely enclosed in his arms.

  “I missed you so much.”

  His floral breath tickled her nose and her arms circled his neck. “I missed you more.”

  She stared openly at him. “Jace, you’re so bright.” She reached out and brushed his wings delicately; they glowed white.

  He laughed. “Of course I am.” She closed her eyes and kissed him softly. “Maybe a little too bright.”

  “Is this better?”

  She opened her eyes and stared into his blue eyes. “Perfect.”

  His eyes drank in her face. “You are so beautiful.” She ducked into his shoulder and he pulled her back. “I told you to stop hiding. I can’t have you doing that every time I tell you how I feel.”

  “Every time?” She was confused. “You mean I’ll see you again?”

  He nodded and her heart flew. “Every day, if you’ll let me.”

  Warmth spread through her body. “Every day, promise me. Say you promise.”

  “I promise.”

  He leaned over and she fell into the bed.

  “I have one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You learn to wear shoes.”

  He laughed and the sound was air to her lungs.

  He trailed small, soft kisses on the top of her head to the tip of her ear, her jaw and neck, and she turned her head and brushed her lips to his. He nuzzled his nose against hers, opened his mouth and tasted her.

  She caught on fire.

  She opened to him… giving him her lips, tongue and breath. The air sucked in, the snow stopped falling, and time stood still.

  …Her body.

  Her mom quit worrying, her brother was happy.

  …Her heart.

  She was safe.

  He stared at her with such… such love that her heart felt it would burst. She’d never felt so much love. A wave of emotion drowned out everything and she pulled herself up on her elbows as she kissed him softly.

  Jace felt a thirst emerge, deep in his soul. He had to feel her skin, so warm and soft, feel her breath on him, and see her light, every day. For the rest of his life. Not hers, but his. He kissed her passionately, pressing into her and running his hands through her hair. Only Laura could quench his thirst. He needed her.

  She traced his shoulders until they reached his feathers, which sprung out at her touch. She fell back into the bed, surprised, and his whole body glowed bright white. His eyes were filled with passion.

  “Laura,” he whispered and then he bent over her, kissing her again.

  “Laura,” he whispered again through their kisses and then he gripped her tight, as if he didn’t want an inch of space between them and he allowed the full weight of himself onto her. She wrapped her legs around him and he kissed her harshly, greedily, as if kisses were oxygen and they were among the stars. His hands traced her arms, her hair, her stomach, memorizing the feel of them in his hands. She wove her fingers through his, pressing her palms into his palms, and then through his hair as they kissed with need and desire and passion.

  They clung to each other, feeling something and nothing. Being everywhere and nowhere. Learning. Knowing. Everything. Both hearts were beating erratically, acutely and becoming the single most important thing in the world to each other until it grew late and their eyes grew heavy as they stared at each other, saying nothing and everything at the same time.

  ❦

  Laura awoke to Jace tracing her cheek with his fingertips. “How did I get so lucky?”

  Laura’s breath was quick and she studied him studying her. “I’m the lucky one.” He traced the scar from Kayla. It was thick and harsh. “Have you forgiven her?”

  Laura grabbed his hand and held it there, and they traced the scar together. She stared
into his eyes and nodded. “Of course. I wish she would’ve told me how she really felt earlier, but I love her. She didn’t know what she was doing.”

  His eyes brightened. “Good. How is she doing?”

  Laura hesitated. “She’s going to need some time. She wanted to be left alone for a bit until she comes to terms with what happened.”

  He nodded. “That’s understandable. She’ll be okay.”

  She stared at him thoughtfully. “I think so.”

  He kissed the top of her head and held her. “Laura?” He fumbled nervously with her hand. “I have a present for you.”

  “You do?”

  He kissed the tip of her finger. “Remember when I said I was going to help you?”

  Laura swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes.” Her voice came out husky, hesitant.

  “I… I brought her here.”

  Laura stiffened. “Here? Now?”

  “Well, she’s not here, here. But she can come when I call.”

  Laura’s mouth dropped open and her breathing increased. “Are you serious?”

  Jace nodded and he let Laura wrap her mind around the idea. “Is she… does she look… ?”

  Jace squeezed her hand. “Heavens no. She’s perfect. There are no signs of where he shot her.”

  Laura breathed out, relieved. “How old is she?”

  Jace tilted his head. “She looks older, but she’s still the same. You’ll be able to recognize her. And your… your dad will recognize her too.”

  Her eyes widened. “How are you going to do that?”

  “He’ll think it’s a dream.”

  “Oh.” She gazed thoughtfully at him. “Will she be angry?”

  “At your dad?” Jace looked shocked. “No, she knows it was an accident. She has forgiven him. As will you, one day. And maybe… maybe this will help him forgive himself.”

  Laura’s heart pumped vigorously and Jace pulled her in close. “Are you sure you want this?”

  Laura didn’t say anything but nodded her head.

  “Okay then.”

  Laura immediately began crying; she couldn’t hold it in.

  “Allie.” Jace’s voice was soft but held the most important thing in the world to Laura: the power to see her dead sister.

  ❦