Cutting through the crowd, I stopped in front of what was once my boyfriend.
“Uriah, look who’s here!” Jedediah called from beside me. Hearing his father’s voice, my ex’s blazing gold eyes instantly cut to me. The rage that had turned his face to ice appeared to melt. He stared at me for a second as if trying to remember who I was.
“It’s me, Aaron,” I said anxiously, my eyes taking in the shocking scene. He had a firm grip on his mother’s wrist and tears were streaming down her face. She looked battered and tired. I wasn’t sure how long this ordeal had been going on, but she clearly couldn’t take much more. Despite his recent issues with her, I knew he’d never forgive himself if he did any lasting harm.
Uriah mouthed my name, recognizing dawning on his face. He said something else, but I couldn’t understand him as he lips moved wordlessly and his free hand flailed wildly. When it was clear I couldn’t understand him, my ex’s irritation began to grow. His grip on his mother’s wrist moved back to her neck and I became worried. Her face was becoming increasingly flushed. If she could still breath, she wouldn’t be able to much longer.
“Uriah, let her go,” I said, trying to sound as calm as possible. “Come on, man. Let’s talk, just the two of us.” I’m not skilled at lip-reading, but the next words from his mouth were painfully clear. I can’t talk. Thanks to her, I have no words.
“You were born a Flyer. Regardless of what she’s done, that was always the case. Please, don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
Whose side are you on? my ex mouthed through gritted teeth.
“Yours! I’m always on your side which is why I don’t want you to do anything that will separate us forever.”
Not your concern, he signed one-handed. You dumped me, remember?
“That was a mistake. I was confused and scared. I acted impulsively.”
To my relief, Uriah’s face softened. Even better, his grip around his mother’s throat loosened.
“Come on,” I said, holding up the three vials. “I have a new genetic suppressant. It’ll make all this better.”
His golden eyes zeroed in on the different colored liquids. For a moment, I thought he would release his mom, but the sound of a snapping twig caused him to spin around and lash out at the Flyers who were trying to sneak up on him with the other ball and chain. He lunged at them, his mother like a rag doll in his grip. The two men just barely managed to escape his reach. When they were no longer a threat, he turned back to me, newfound anger glistening in his eyes. Only now there was a generous dose of paranoia.
Lie! he signed, his chest heaving. You lie!
“No!” I shook my head. “I’m trying to help. You’ve been waiting for this for ages. It’s finally here!”
It was his turn to shake his head. I don’t believe you, he signed one-handed.
This was not at all the Uriah I remembered. The deterioration of his genetic suppressant had clearly done a number on him. How would I ever introduce the new one if he didn’t trust me? As I tried to decide what to do, my ex made another attempt to escape, his wings beating the air as he struggled to drag the large lead weight. This time he made it a good five feet into the air before it became too much and he touched back down, looking more frustrated than ever.
“Surely we can work something out,” I said, moving forward so we were only feet apart. This close, I noticed a large dark spot on the from of his pants. Had he wet himself? “You trusted me once. Some part of you must remember that.”
Uriah looked down at me, his face hard. When he made no attempt to respond, at least none that I could hear, I continued. “At least let your mother go. She looks like she’s been through enough.”
He shook his head again, continuing to sign one-handed. She stole my life! She must pay!
I didn’t like the sound of that. “Pay how?”
She must pay! was his only response. This time, the Flyers with the ball and chain managed to snap it around his ankle before he noticed them. Hearing it click into place, Uriah released his mother and rounded on them. The one with brown wings managed to get away, but he friend wasn’t so lucky. My ex grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back. Not knowing what he was going to do and not wanting to find out, I leapt onto Uriah’s back. Releasing his victim, he immediately flipped me over his shoulder. He seized me mid-air and brought me up to face him. My feet were literally dangling in the air. For the briefest of moments, I saw a look of desperation flitter across his face, almost like he was begging for help, but then it was gone and the mask of rage was back. The look in his eyes was pure hatred and it broke my heart. I could only hope he didn’t remember any of this when he snapped out of it… if he ever snaps out of it.
Big mistake! he mouthed, his fingers coiling around my neck.
“Don’t do this!” I pleaded as his grip steadily tightened. “You cared about me once, remember? I still care about you. Please let me help you!”
It’s too late, he signed, the anger suddenly giving way to despair. It’s too late!
“So long as we’re still breathing, it’s never too late.”
If only. The anger was back and once again his grip began to tighten. My vision started to tunnel. I don’t know if he was trying to kill me or just incapacitate me, but it didn’t matter. Before he could succeed with either, his mother was pulling desperately at his arm, her voice shrill.
“Sweetheart, stop! You don’t know what you’re doing! If anyone deserves to be punished it’s me! Let Aaron go!” When he ignored her, she turned to the Flyers. “Please, you have to stop him. If he hurts Aaron, he’ll never bounce back. It will destroy him. Please, help me!” An answer to her pleas came in the form of a blow dart. I don’t know where it came from, but it embedded itself in Uriah’s neck. He instantly released me and I crumpled to the ground, just moments from unconsciousness. My ex soon followed, his giant body going slack and hitting the ground hard. I thought maybe he was out cold, but his eyes were still open. He looked out of it, but he appeared to be awake. Massaging my neck, I scrambled over and placed his head in my lap. His mother was right beside me, his hand in hers as she gazed sadly down at him. Trying not to look at the wet spot on the front of his trousers, I quickly pulled out the three vials.
“I have the new genetic suppressant,” I said, prying his mouth open. “This will all be over soon.”
Pouring the red liquid into his mouth, I prayed he didn’t spit it out or choke. Much to my relief, he swallowed, his Adams apple bobbing.
“There you go,” I soothed, running my fingers through his hair. “Just relax.” After counting to sixty, I gave him the blue liquid. Once again, he obediently gulped it down, his eyes still unfocused. Not wasting a second, I administered the third and final dose. Meanwhile, his mother smoothed out some of his feathers that had been rumpled during the incident. Despite everything he’d just put her through, she gazed at him with all the love and affection in the world.
“Now what?” she asked anxiously.
“Now I guess we wait.”
I was completely focused on Uriah when I felt a gentle tap on the shoulder. Looking up, I found a surprisingly youthful face peering down at me. He had dark eyes, blond hair and wings to match, though they looked a little scraggly. My heart skipped a beat. Is this Uriah’s new boyfriend? Why am I surprised?
“Are you two…?”
The Flyer shook his head and mouthed just friends.
Immense relief flooded my chest. Studying him closer, I realized he was familiar. “Are you… are you the Alleyway Flyer?” He nodded. “Wow! You look good!”
He gave me a shy smile while mouthing thanks. I could see in his eyes that there was so much he wanted to say, but couldn’t. If he’d spent any time with Uriah, I’d really like to get caught up; what has he been doing? Is he sleeping with anyone? I was contemplating the odds my wanna-be boyfriend had found someone new when Mrs. Smith started to speak.
“I’m worried. He’s been out of it too long. This didn’t happen with hi
s first genetic suppressant.
“Give it time,” Jedediah said. “This is hardly the same. By the looks of him, I’m guessing that dart contained Hunter venom. That on top of his pre-existing condition? He’ll probably be out of it for a while.”
“In that case, we should move him back to the house,” she suggested, looking up at her husband. “He’ll be more comfortable in a bed.”
At this, Theodora stepped forward looking anxious, but her husband held her back. She was gazing at Uriah with just as much love and devotion. He was lucky to have so many people who cared about him.
Lenora looked from her son to his would-be mother. “I’m thankful for everything you’ve done for him, but he belongs with me.”
I could tell the elderly Flyer wanted to object and maybe she did, but she made no attempts to stop us as we lifted Uriah off the ground. The Alleyway Flyer gave me a little wave as I helped haul his friend away. With his wings out, Uriah wasn’t that heavy so the three of us had little trouble carrying him the few yards back to his parents’ log cabin. When he was situated on the mattress in his childhood bedroom, his mother hovered over him until Jedediah urged her away. In their absence, I sat on the bed. Placing my ex’s head back in my lap, I stroked his hair as I waited for him to recover. He still looked pretty out of it. Noticing the wet spot on the front of his pants, I decided to get him into something clean. I didn’t want him to be embarrassed when he woke up. After finishing the long and arduous task of getting Uriah into some fresh pants, I returned to the head of the bed. Looking at him now, it was clear the last ten weeks had been rough. His face was gaunt, he had dark shadows under his eyes and his hair was even longer.
I started fantasizing about us getting back together. With his new genetic suppressant there was nothing standing in our way. I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment of desperation in his eyes sandwiched between all that anger. He had wanted me, needed me. Is that still the case? I was just allowing myself to get lost in the idea of happily ever after when the bedroom door burst open. I expected to see Uriah’s mother. Instead it was a girl about my age with long black hair and an hour-glass body. She had heart-shaped lips and massive breasts. No kidding. Her busier looked like it was in the fight of its life. When she saw me sitting on my ex’s bed, his head in my lap, she rushed over.
“Oh, my god! Is he okay? What happened?”
“I’m sorry. Who are you?”
“Sabrina, his girlfriend.”
“His…?” It felt like the floor had fallen out from underneath me. This was the infamous Sabrina? She wasn’t a bleach blond, but she was just as hot as I’d feared. Maybe more so.
“And you are?” she asked, her brown eyes going to my fingers which were still in his hair.
“Uh, no one.” I quickly removed my hand. “Just a friend.”
“You’re human,” she noted, searching my face. “He knew you on Earth?”
“Yes.”
“You were lovers?”
“Why do you ask?”
She smiled an unsavory smile. “It’s obvious you have feelings for him and maybe once he felt the same way, but we’re together now. We’ve been dating a while. In fact,” she added, her hand migrating to her stomach. “I’m carrying his child.”
“What?!”
“That’s right. He spent the last ten years with you humans, but this is where he belongs.”
I didn’t move a muscle, too stunned to speak. Is she really carrying Uriah’s baby? I didn’t want to believe it, but he had been here a while. Right when I was about to accuse her of lying, my ex shifted on the mattress. Looking down, I saw his lips forming a word. A name. Sabrina.
“I’m right here,” she said, rushing to his side. His eyes remained unfocused as he reached out to her. She took his hand and my heart broke seeing him relax. Biting back the tears, I slid out from under my ex and hurried from the room. I should’ve known better than to believe in happily ever after. Of course Uriah wants a woman. Someone who can give him babies. He certainly didn’t waste any time knocking her up. He probably couldn’t wait to have a litter with his busty girlfriend. When I arrived in the visiting center parking lot, I realized I didn’t have my car. In a state of despair, I didn’t bother calling anyone for a ride. Instead, I started the long and slow journey back to the city.
Chapter 35
Uriah
After my mother grabbed me, I don’t remember a thing. All that registered was the rage. The crippling, mind-numbing rage. At one point, I thought I heard Aaron’s voice, but I couldn’t latch onto it. I was suspended in mid air and there was nothing holding me down. When I woke up, I was lying on my bed in my childhood room. I felt light-headed and groggy. If the memory of Aaron was real, he was gone now. Without thinking, I tried to retract my wings and to my surprise, they easily slipped away. Weird. Crawling out of bed, I noted that my whole body ached. Man, I feel like I past through a meat grinder. Leaving my room, I entered the main house where both my parents were talking. They abruptly cut off when I appeared.
“What day is it?” I asked, massaging a sore spot on my side. I felt like I’d been out for eons.
“Sunday,” my mother replied. Looking at her, I was reminded of how I’d grabbed her near the portal. Did I hurt her? She looked okay.
“Was Aaron here?” I asked, trying to catch up. My mind was a mass of confusion.
“He was here last night, but he left.”
“What happened?”
“What do you remember?”
“Nothing.”
“Well, there’s not much to tell.” As she said this the look on my father’s face caught my eye. He looked like he wanted to say something.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I demanded of my mother.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me!” When I grabbed her wrist, she winced. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said. “In fact, I was just on my way out the door.”
She tried to pull her arm away, but I didn’t let go. It was only now that I noticed that she was wearing a turtle neck. In all the years I’ve known her, I don’t recall her ever wearing a turtle neck. Certainly not in warm weather. Pushing up her sleeve, I found large, purple bruises on her wrist. Moving to her collar, I pulled it down too and uncovered more bruises. My stomach did a backflip.
“Did I do this?”
“You weren’t yourself.”
“Jesus, Mom.” When I wrapped her in a hug, she flinched. Pulling up her sweater, I discovered even more bruises scattered across her midsection.
“It’s nothing,” she insisted, pushing the material back down. “I was just on my way to see a Healer. I’ll be as good as new in no time.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“Uriah…”
“Tell me!” I hissed, tears welling in my eyes. “Please, Mom. For once in your life, tell me the truth.”
“Telling you won’t change anything.”
“No, but it will be the first step in trusting you again.”
Her whole body seemed to deflate. “Fine, I’ll tell you.”
An hour later, I arrived at Aaron’s apartment complex. His tiny sliver car was in the parking lot. Good, he’s here. My heart raced with nervous energy. According to my mother, he’d brought the new genetic suppressant and helped when I was out of control. Does that mean he still loves me? Arriving at his door, I wiped my sweaty palms off on my jeans before knocking. Within seconds, the door opened. I found myself face to face with some stud with brown hair and blue eyes. Did I have the wrong apartment?
“Can I help you?” the guy asked, wearing nothing, but a towel wrapped loosely around his waist.
“I’m sorry. I think I have the wrong apartment. I’m looking for Aaron Applegate.”
The hot stud looked me up and down. “Are you Uriah?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“You’ve got some nerve showing your face here.”
“Excuse me?”
“Haven’t you
already put him through enough?”
“I… Who are you?”
“Cameron, his boyfriend.” My heart instantly fell. Of course he’s seeing someone. What did I expect?
“He told you about me?”
“Only that you broke his heart. Repeatedly. I’ve never seen someone so messed up. I had to console him all night.” I was slammed with a tidal wave of guilt. “I mean, even after you cheated on him, he still drops everything and comes to your rescue. Have you no shame?” I opened my mouth, but Cameron didn’t give me time to reply. “I know your type. Because you’re sex on legs, you think you can treat people like shit.”
His accusatory tone was starting to irritate me. I don’t know what Aaron had told him, but I doubt that he knew the whole story. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know Aaron is too good for you.” I was just about to leave when I heard his voice in the background.
“Who’s at the door?”
“No one,” Cameron replied.
“You’re talking to no one?”
“I’ll get out of your hair,” I muttered, unable to stand the thought of this guy touching my ex. Based on the towel that threatened to fall off his hips, I could only assume they’d been naked recently together. Probably taking a showing, lathering each other up… Before I could escape, Aaron appeared at the door. Just as I feared, he was in nothing, but boxer shorts.
“What are you doing here?” He appeared genuinely surprised.
“Nothing.” I took a step back. He looked as he had when we first met. His hair was back to its original length and whatever weight he’d lost around his middle was back. He looked good. “I, uh, just wanted to thank you for helping me last night.”
“No worries.” We both stared at each other in awkward silence for a moment. “Come in,” my ex finally said, glancing at Cameron.
“Actually, I should get going. Thanks again.”
“Good luck!” his new boyfriend called after me as I hurried down the corridor. I made it to the stairs before Aaron caught up with me. Now he was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but no shoes.
The Flyer (The Flyer Series Book 1) Page 50