by Rose J. Bell
Then everything was quiet.
Rosa heard only heavy breathing and the rushing of her blood in her ears.
“Rosa!” someone called her name, but she didn't know who it was. Feet stopped in front of her face.
“Rosa, are you alright?”
When Rosa looked up, she saw the face of Tamara. Concern was reflected in her eyes.
Rosa managed a nod. When she straightened up, she felt a violent pain in her back.
“Call the ambulance,” she croaked. “Colin’s hurt.” Tamara nodded and took her cell phone from her pocket.
Rosa was happy that nothing happened to Tamara. She sat up. Hunters and some angels were lying on the ground. Some of them groaned in pain, some of them were still, and maybe dead.
Suddenly she heard voices. She looked to her right, and saw silhouettes in the moonlight.
“Watch out for Colin,” Rosa said to Tamara, and stood up. Her world was spinning, and she waited until the dizziness disappeared.
Then, slowly and quietly, Rosa approached the shadows. She recognized the voices. They belonged to Jason and Lord Constantine.
Oh no! He caught them! Damn it! I must help him. We’d come this far.
Rosa made a detour around the destroyed house, so they wouldn’t see her and she could hide behind a tree.
“Let us go,” Jason growled and held his sister protectively behind him.
Rosa couldn’t see their faces, but she heard their voices clearly.
Lord Constantine laughed. “And if not, Nephilim? Will you kill me then?”
“Of course,” Jason said. “I will tear you apart.”
Lord Constantine only laughed, then he asked, “Does your sister know why she was kidnapped?” Lord Constantine’s voice had taken something threatening in itself. If he used that voice then it couldn’t mean anything good.
Rosa pressed against the tree. Her heart beat wildly in her chest.
“I don’t know it myself,” Jason replied.
“Really, Nephilim?”
“Really.”
“Do you remember the Thursday three years ago?”
Suddenly it became very quiet. Rosa didn’t dare to breathe for fear they would hear it.
“Yes.” Jason’s voice had changed. It was dark, and something else was in it that Rosa could not pinpoint.
“Why should you not remember it?” said Lord Constantine and laughed. “Your scar reminds you daily.”
Rosa frowned. She had a feeling Jason had met Lord Constantine. He knew of Jason’s scar. This was not surprising. Everyone could see his scar.
But what had he meant by his last sentence?
“What is going on, Nephilim? Have you lost your voice?” Lord Constantine sneered. “Or do the memories of the day when your girlfriend had died come back?”
Rosa caught her breath. Girlfriend? Died? What did all this mean? And how did Lord Constantine know of it?
“I will avenge her death,” Jason replied threatening. “I will take my revenge on you that you’ve stolen her from me and defaced me.”
Rosa felt open. She forgot to breathe. Jason and Lord Constantine knew each other, Jason having a scar from him? How? Why? When?
Lord Constantine laughed out loud. “It’s been three years since that. Why did you not already avenge it?” he asked.
“Jason, what is he talking about?” Jasmine’s voice was so quiet that Rosa had to strain to understand what she said.
“Nothing important, Jasmine,” Jason replied.
“Of course not! Why should she know about it? After all this was the reason behind her abduction.” Lord Constantine sounded amused.
“Shut up,” Jason hissed.
“Jasmine, my love,” Lord Constantine turned to her. “The reason why you have been abducted is because of the mistake that your brother had made.”
“I said, shut up!” Jason growled. Rosa saw that he stepped forward. “If you say one more word, I’ll kill you.”
“You want to kill me anyway, so I can tell her the truth. She has the right to know.”
“Jason, I want to hear what he has to say,” Jasmine said, and her voice sounded a little louder and stronger.
“No, you don’t!”
Rosa could feel the tension, which increased. She bit her lip. She also wanted to know the reason.
“You see,” Lord Constantine replied. “She wants to know. Either you tell her or I do.”
For a while, there was silence. Then Jason said, “You won’t tell her.”
“But I want to know, Jason,” Jasmine said angrily. “I spent six months in this damn dungeon, and I want to know why!” Jason mumbled something unintelligible.
Rosa’s heart beat wildly in her chest. She had never ever expected that Jason and Lord Constantine knew each other.
“Well, my dear. Your brother will not tell you. So I am going to do it.” Lord Constantine cleared his throat.
“Three years ago, your brother had fallen in love with one of my huntress’. Of course, I do not like to see my hunters in love with the enemy, so when I had found out, I had to punish them both, of course. I killed Tasha, the girl, who was the love of your brother’s life, right in front of him. To remind him that she died because of him, I have defaced him, thus the scar. But I knew I would not let your brother go out with just one scar. Because of him, I had lost one of my best hunters, and he had to be punished more severally. So I kidnapped you, because I knew you were very important to him. A good plan, right?” Lord Constantine spoke the last words, proudly.
Rosa didn’t know what she should do. She was horrified, shocked and so much more. To learn that Jason had already fallen in love once with a huntress made her jealous, and she felt like a spare part, as if Jason wanted to comfort himself with another huntress. The thought was like claws in her heart.
“Jason, is this all true?” Jasmine asked her brother.
“Yes,” Jason said quietly. “I’m sorry, Jasmine. I didn’t know that he would kidnap you. I ...” He lowered his head. “I’m so sorry, Jasmine.”
“Oh, how touching,” Lord Constantine gushed. “It touched my heart deeply.”
Rosa despised Lord Constantine even more now. No one could be as cruel as he, as merciless and heartless.
“But why did you wait so long to take your revenge,” Jasmine wanted to know.
“Well,” Lord Constantine replied. “I wanted to make sure Jason felt safe, and that he did not suspect that I was going to kidnap his sister. So, I waited three years to do it.”
“I will kill you!” Jason growled and attacked him.
“Jason, no!” Jasmine called but Jason didn’t listen.
Rosa knew that she had to do something. Lord Constantine was an experienced hunter. He knew Nephilim, and their vulnerability. He could kill Jason.
Rosa couldn’t allow that happen. She left her hiding place, when at the same moment two other Nephilim appeared.
“Lord Constantine,” Rosa called in mock surprise and dismay in her voice and ran to him.
“Rosa,” he gasped. “Help me, my huntress.” He fought against three Nephilim. Rosa jumped on one of the Nephilim.
He immediately threw her from himself, but Rosa ducked and rammed her fist into his stomach.
The Nephilim grabbed her by the throat and pulled her up. Rosa was still holding her dagger in her hand. She reached out and tried to stab him, but he caught hold of her hand and squeezed his hand around her throat.
Rosa gasped and lunged at his hand.
Even now it seemed that the Nephilim had the upper hand in the fight, Rosa had gained the advantage to hurt him without the Nephilim being able to defend himself. His hands weren’t free.
With a wicked smile, she crashed her foot hard between his legs. The Nephilim growled, and let go of her hand. Without even a second's hesitation, Rosa’s fist crashed with his face. Bones crunched under her fists. He screamed and staggered back. Then she moved quickly, as she thrust the dagger into his heart. He slumped lifelessly
on the floor.
Breathing heavily, Rosa looked at Lord Constantine. He was still fighting against the two Nephilim.
Jason had spread out his wings, with Jasmine in his arms. He looked at Rosa. In the darkness, she couldn’t see his face. She gestured him with her hand that he should finally fly away. He obeyed, and rose into the air.
Rosa ran to Lord Constantine to help, when the Nephilim spread their wings and flew away.
“Come back, bastards!” Lord Constantine shouted angry. “I will get you for that!” His body trembled with rage.
“Are you all right, Lord Constantine?” Rosa asked breathlessly. He turned to her. If looks could kill, then Rosa would be dead right know.
The moonlight shining on his angry face, and his eyes burned like fire.
“How could you let them escape?” he shouted at Rosa.
She flinched and stepped back. “I had to fight against a Nephilim,” she said.
He waved his hand. “Do not try to explain yourself! You have failed, and all other hunters also. Look at the academy! It lies in ruins, just because I have the worst hunters in the world.”
Rosa’s patience snapped. She had enough of his allegations.
“We have not failed!” Rosa yelled. “We are not bad hunters! We work hard every day to make you happy, but what do you do? Tramping around it with your feet! How about if you would fight, and train every day instead of giving orders and criticizing us?”
She was breathing heavily. She had screamed the words, every word to him in his face. She did not regret anything she said, in fact, she felt better and stronger.
Lord Constantine responded quite differently than Rosa had expected.
He nodded. “I did not know that you were thinking like that, Rosa,” he said with quiet and daunting voice. “Thank you for sharing your opinion with me.”
Then he walked away, leaving a confused Rosa standing there.
Rosa couldn’t sleep. Dawn set in and turned the sky orange and red. Soon the sun would rise.
Three days had passed after the events. Colin was in the hospital. He had lost a lot of blood, and still hovered in critical condition. She hadn’t heard from Jason, nor had she seen Lord Constantine at all.
Rosa wondered what his calm behavior meant after she had yelled all those things at him. She asked herself constantly if she had made the right decision and behaved properly.
Yes, it was right, Rosa. You have freed a girl, who had been imprisoned without proper reason, she told herself.
But the doubts remained.
Do not think about. It’s all over. You’ll probably not see Jason and his sister ever again. You are now a full member, and are pursuing your career as a hunter. Everything is just fine.
Things were always easier said than done.
Rosa sighed deeply, and threw her blanket aside. She didn’t want to sleep anymore. When she slipped off the bed, someone knocked on her window.
She frowned and turned around. Rosa’s mouth almost fell open when she saw who stood there.
It was Jason. He waved at her.
She hadn’t expected him. Her heart made a joyful jump. Secretly, she had hoped that he would visit her. Jason knocked a second time against the window. His mouth formed the words ‘Open it!’
She stood up and walked slowly to the window. Jason stood on her balcony and rocked on his feet, impatiently back and forth.
Rosa opened her balcony door. A cool breeze blew over her face and her hair flew over her shoulders.
“What do you want?” she asked harshly. Seeing him just not only woke her feelings for him, but also her disappointment. She hadn’t forgotten that Jason’s last girlfriend was a huntress, and she could not help but feel as if she were just a temporary replacement.
“Isn’t there a good morning?” Jason questioned.
Rosa rolled her eyes. “We skip that.”
He smiled. Immediately, Rosa’s knees were weak. Don’t show how much affect he has over you, she told herself.
Jason had his own kind of smile. His smile was always something seductive, amused, sexy, and affectionate.
“Can I come in, and maybe we can talk. You know, it’s pretty fresh and it’s cold out here.” He shook his shoulder, to show her that he was cold.
“Then close your jacket,” Rosa suggested. He wore jeans, a T-shirt, and a jacket over it.
Jason shook his head. “Nope. Then my outfit would look like crap.”
Rosa had to smile involuntarily. “You prefer freezing, rather than closing your jacket, because your appearance is important to you?”
He winked. “You could say that.”
“Come in,” she sighed. As he walked past her, his arm touched her arm. Immediately, alarm bells rang in her head.
She hadn’t taken a sip from her magic potion! Inwardly, Rosa cursed her gift and wished, for the first time, that she didn’t have her gift.
Jason sat down on her bed and lean his elbows on his knees. Then he looked at Rosa.
I must certainly look awful, she thought. She was wearing sweatpants and a loose T-shirt. Luckily, she had renounced her princess Pajamas. She didn’t even bother thinking about her hair.
“So, what do you want?” Rosa repeated her question, and folded her arms across her chest.
Jason took a deep breath. “I wanted to say thank you for helping me. I want you to align Jasmine’s gratitude, too. We, also, get the book back.”
Rosa nodded.
“And I just wanted to see you,” he added.
“Why?” Her heart beat faster.
He looked at her for a while in silence. His golden eyes were so beautiful and Rosa realized that she was gaping at Jason. She quickly lowered her eyes.
“I felt the desire to see you, Ice Princess. I wanted to hear your voice, lose me in your beautiful eyes.” He shrugged, and smiled innocently.
Rosa didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t very good about expressing her feelings, so she just nodded.
His desire to see her, Rosa could understand very well. She also wanted to see him.
Since Rosa said nothing, there was an uncomfortable silence between them. She bit her lower lip. There was so much that she wanted to ask Jason, but now that he stood before her, she wanted to ask him just one question.
Rosa finally cleared her throat and asked him, “When were you going to tell me that you were with another huntress?”
He winced almost imperceptibly, and pressed his lips together.
“Actually, never,” Jason replied, finally. “And I don’t know why this is important?” Frowning, he looked at Rosa.
“Hasn’t it crossed your mind that I might feel like a temporary replacement?” She cocked her head. “I am always the first prize, Jason. Never the second win.”
Jason shook his head firmly. “Don’t think something like that!” He stood up and walked toward Rosa. When he wanted to take her hands, Rosa stepped back and shook her head. Jason understood and dropped his hands.
“You and Tasha… you both are so completely different people. The only thing you have in common is that you both were hunters, nothing else.” Sadness crossed his face. “She was my first love, and losing her was the worst thing that could happen to me. She died because of me!” He shook his head. Rosa had a strong urge to take him into her arms and comfort him, but she held herself back.
“I thought I could never love again. My feelings had died with Tasha, but then I met you.” He looked at her. In his eyes, there was so much pain, love, and hope that it broke Rosa’s heart.
Suddenly, Jason laughed a bitter laugh. “It’s now just like in the movies. Man loses the love of his life, and thinks he could never love again. Then another woman shows up and he falls in love with her.” He smiled. “I’ve always laughed when I saw those movies, but the same had happened to me. I am in love again, and with a girl, who is wonderful in everything she does and says.”
Rosa’s knees were shaking. Jason’s honesty touched her and made clear his feeling
s were genuine.
She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
“I will always love Tasha. A part of my heart will always belong to her, but she’s my past, and you’re my future, Ice Princess.” Jason was standing very close to her. Only a few inches separated them. Rosa wanted a step back, but her legs wouldn’t obey her. Her breathing was fast, and Rosa just couldn’t take her eyes of Jason.
“I love Tasha, but I’m in love with you,” he continued, his eyes sparkling. “I want you. I know we have only known each other for a month, but it feels like forever. In these few weeks no woman had touched my heart like you, you go under my skin. You’ve driven me crazy, melted my heart with your beauty and strength, and the most important thing, you have showed me how love feels again, that love is worth it, even if it can destroy you.”
Tears welled up in to Rosa’s eyes. She was speechless. Never had she believed that Jason would tell her all these things.
She wanted to say so much, but the words that came out of her mouth were, “We cannot be together.”
He nodded sadly. “I know, and I hate it.” His face was hard now. “I won’t put you in danger, even if it will be painful not to see you.”
Rosa swallowed then nodded. It was best if they didn’t see each other anymore. She didn’t want to end up like Tasha.
Jason took a step back and smiled. “Another reason why I’m here, I’d like to thank you, thus fulfilling your wish.”
A crease appeared between her brows. “Wish?”
“Yes, your wish. You’d told me in Vancouver that you wished to be able to fly, and I’ve made the offer that you could fly with me.”
Rosa remembered, but with all the stress, she’d completely forgotten. But Jason remembered. She felt flattered.
“And, do you take me up on my offer?” Jason looked at her with raised eyebrows.
Say yes, her inner voice said to her. When was the last time you did something you wanted?
Yes, when was that? Rosa couldn’t remember. In her life, there was no space for her needs. Normally, her desires and wishes took back seat to the needs of the hunter clan, but tonight she would let her own wish come true.