Forgotten Curse

by Owens, C. M.

  He feels the shift in the air, and I hear him huff out his immediate regret for having said that aloud.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push… I shouldn’t have said that. I just… I don’t really know where we stand right now. This is unfamiliar territory. I still want to marry you.”

  I’ve heard those exact words from Hale, and then he left me again.

  “I’m just starting to see a whole new side of you, and I’m having fun exploring it. Let’s just stay here for a little while and let it happen naturally.”

  I’m hoping my kind explanation will cushion the unintentional blow. The steam from the shower begins swirling into the room, and he glances toward it before leaning down to kiss me.

  “We’ll do this your way. You and I are as natural as something can get though.”

  “Thank you, and we are pretty damn natural. I just like our pace. I’m not ready to sprint to the end just yet.” It’s so much easier with Brazen.

  Brazen. Definitely Brazen.

  “I’ll sprint, walk, crawl… whatever you want to do, that’s the way we’ll play it. I love you, and I sure as hell don’t want to lose you again.”

  I grin my girly grin, and then I kiss him lightly before grabbing my purse to throw over my shoulder.

  “I’ll see you in just a little bit.”

  He puckers his lips as if he’s pouting, and I giggle while running out the door when he starts chasing me. He stops when the door closes, and I’m still laughing when I reach the elevator. The tall building tries to scrape the sky, and the glass shaft of the elevator offers a full city view as it descends proudly.

  It stops, but I don’t even bother to look at who has just joined me as I continue staring out into the vast mass of people shuffling through the city. It’s so much different than compounds in places like these. There’s no order, no discipline, and there’s very little attention to anything other than one’s self.

  The scent of sexy and heartbreak invades my nose, and I’m sick at my stomach when I feel the hot breath on the back of my neck. I slowly turn to face Hale who has forgotten how to respect someone’s personal space.

  “You’ve been hiding out,” he murmurs softly while taking another step too dangerously close to me.

  “I haven’t been hiding, Captain. I’ve been deliberately enjoying my time away before going back.”

  His hands perch on the railing behind me as his body stands just inches away from mine.

  “Please stop referring to me so formally. It’s starting to piss me off,” he grumbles, and his lips beg mine to touch them.

  Brazen. Brazen. Brazen. NOT HALE.

  “I’m sorry, Sir, but I’m merely showing your title the respect it deserves. I think it’s inappropriate for us to be standing this close,” I shiver out, and his hand rises to dust the hair from my shoulder despite my objection.

  “It would be inappropriate if I hadn’t seen every inch of your body, if I hadn’t let my lips touch every inch of your body, and if I hadn’t fucked you in more positions than most people have ever thought to try… but I have. Stop treating me like I’m not someone you know inside out. Stop calling me Captain Banner. Stop saluting me. You and I may not be together right now, but you can’t treat me as though I’m a stranger. We have too much history,” he smolders out while leaning in even closer.

  Oh damn you foolish, wobbly knees.

  I almost wish I could double over and grip them to keep them from rattling together as I stare into those eyes which know how to seduce me all to fucking well. Hale is… Holy fucking hybrid he’s hot when he’s like this.

  Please stop, Hale. I can’t fight you when you do this, and you don’t want me.

  Why can’t he just let me be happy?

  Swallowing hard against the nerves wadded in my throat, I respond with a hoarse, crackly tone.

  “We do have history, and it’s just that… history. It’s nothing more than a rather tragic tale of a girl in love with a man who never loved her. I’m not willing to give you an inch ever again no matter how much you tempt me, Sir.”

  “Am I tempting you?” he asks with coy innocence, his breath finding my lips. Damn him. “I’m merely making a request for you to nix the formalities, nothing more.”

  His body is touching mine now as my back presses against the railing and the glass. The heat of his touch forces a throbbing I can’t handle right now, and I see the numbers almost reaching my destination as they count backwards a little slower than I want them to.

  “I’m sorry it pisses you off, but I see you as nothing more than my superior now, Captain Banner,” I snark, and the elevator dings out like the sound of my saving grace when it allows me to escape his steamy gaze.

  What the hell is he trying to do to me? What the Hale is he trying to do rather? Stupid, arrogant, obnoxiously confusing, son of a bitch.

  My inner rant is stunted when Grayson pops around the corner. I stumble slightly when I see him, and he tosses a set of keys in my direction to be caught by Hale behind me.

  “I brought your car back,” he chirps.

  “Thanks,” Hale grumbles while walking by me.

  His arm grazes mine as he passes, and his eyes catch mine for a brief moment before he skulks away.

  “Please tell me you’re not back with that guy,” Grayson murmurs in distaste once Hale is just out of earshot.

  I have to take a minute to compose myself and stop trembling before answering, “No. We’re not together at all. What are you doing here?”

  “I came to get you guys. I talked to Commander Jude earlier, and he said you’d be coming home today. I thought I would just come grab you up before they convinced you to stay another day.”

  I laugh a little before asking, “Why are you in such a hurry to get me back?”

  “Captain Hawkins and Angelica had a falling out, but she won’t tell me what it was about. She’s barely spoken to me since shortly after her change, and I’m not sure why. I want you to talk to her.”

  “Oh,” I say with surprise. “Yeah. I’ll talk to her, but I don’t know she’ll confide in me anymore than you. The two of you have a much stronger connection than she and anyone else. I’ll try though.”

  “That’s all I’m asking,” he sighs. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  “I was going to go grab some phones, but I suppose it can wait. Let’s go get Brazen.”

  “Good. The sooner she talks to someone, the better.”

  Angelica and Nicholas have an incredibly close relationship, so I can’t imagine why she would suddenly be angry with him. Her bond with Grayson should make her feel as though she’s able to trust him, so why not tell him? I suppose my mini vacation is over.

  The dust inside Hershian twists like miniature cyclones with ankle-high altitude as the contradicting winds violently collide from every angle. I smile when I see the tiny twisters trying to pick up items far too heavy for their grasps, and then I see Angelica sitting near the pool.

  The water sloshes as the strong winds attack it with a dusty coat, but she doesn’t even flinch when the wind sprays her with the pool’s mist. Her eyes look to be drained of life as she stares insipidly at the tired, cracked concrete beneath her.

  I gingerly make my way over to her, but she doesn’t acknowledge my approach. I’m confused as to how to speak to a girl having parental issues considering I myself have never had to deal with such a thing. Brazen would be better at this. Why in the hell didn’t I enlist him for this detail?

  “Angelica?” I softly prompt, and she sighs out upon hearing my voice while cutting her eyes farther away.

  “Grayson sent you, didn’t he?” she mumbles, and I can tell she’s been crying something terrible.

  “He did, and your father seemed pretty worried about you too,” I murmur gently while taking a seat beside her.

  “My father,” she scoffs. “How dare he send you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I retort.

  “Nothing, Araya. I pro
mise you don’t want to know. I’ll be fine, I just need a minute. I already told Grayson I’d talk to him when I was ready. Do you not ever just need a minute to yourself to work through something?” she whimpers.

  I sigh out understandingly, and then I lean back.

  “Quite often actually. You have something I never did though, and that’s a father who loves you enough to help you through things,” I counter.

  Tears brim her eyes instantly, and then she shakes her head.

  “You should have had a dad, but it might have a good thing didn’t, Araya. You belonged somewhere that way. I don’t.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask with bemusement. “Everyone loves you.”

  She rolls her eyes before pulling her knees to her chest.

  “You sound like my dad now. No one loves me, everyone just respects the captain too much to say what they feel. The hybrids don’t consider me a forgotten, so they treat me like I’m an outsider even though I’m just like them. The full bloods don’t accept me as their own either. Everyone talks to me, but no one really cares about me. The only reason anyone showed up to my party was because I was the captain’s daughter. Now… Now it’s all the worse.”

  “Is that why you’re mad at your dad?”

  “No. I don’t want to talk about that,” she barks.

  I nod gingerly, and then I pat her on the back.

  “You’re wrong about no one caring about you. I care, Grayson cares, Brazen cares, and Nicholas does too. You’re not a forgotten, but you’re still hybrid - a gifted hybrid. You belong to an elite group where you’ll never feel like such an outsider again,” I murmur encouragingly, and a few tears of gratitude and unjustifiable guilt whelp up in her eyes.

  “Thank you, Araya.”

  “Go see Grayson. Let him hold you. You’d be surprised how much he can relieve your mind just by touch. You don’t have to talk about it. Just let him feel like he hasn’t lost you, an in turn, you might find the comfort you know you need.”

  I stand up, and then start walking away from the girl I thought had it so much better than me. I suppose every hybrid struggles whether they have parents or not. I sprint back up to the room where I know Brazen is packing. We’ve been back for five minutes, and he already has a new detail to tend to. I’m just glad Hale isn’t here anymore to confuse my already scattered mind.

  His teasing episode in the elevator fucked with my head far too much, and I don’t understand his fucked up hot-and-cold nature. It’s as if he wants me, but he doesn’t want me to know. It’s like he can’t stay away, but he doesn’t want me close. It’s so frigging frustrating, and I’m sick of dealing with it.

  I turn the door to the apartment just as Brazen zips up his bag. His beautiful smile is captivating, and his lips rush mine before I can speak.

  “I love you, baby. I’m going to miss you while I’m gone.”

  I pout playfully, and he smiles as he kisses my puckered lips.

  “At least it’s only for a couple of days,” I sigh out.

  “Call me if you need me. I don’t have to turn my phone off this time,” he says while twitching his new phone in front of my face.

  I smirk as he tugs at my hand, and I make my begrudged exit beside him to walk him to his car.

  “You can call me too,” I murmur softly.

  “I will, baby,” he coos, and he spins me around while still walking in order to kiss me a little more passionately.

  I feel the wind hitting my back as we walk out, and then I finally break free from the lingering passion and turn back around to walk forwards.

  “Why do kids fight with parents?” I ask curiously as thoughts of Angelica and Nicholas brush through my mind.

  He shrugs indifferently. “Too many reasons. It’s a complicated relationship - kids and parents. Angelica will get over her conflict with Nicholas eventually though.”

  I sigh at the lack of insight he has offered, and he tilts my face up after he tosses his bag in one of his other cars. It’s similar to the one we exploded in, and the shiver-worthy memories drench me in chills. I turn away from the memory evoker, and my eyes fall back into the soft pale ones promising to love me forever.

  “I do want to marry you, Araya. I don’t want to push you, but I want you to at least consider it while I’m gone. We had a hiccup in my opinion. I never considered it a breakup even though you and Hale resumed your relationship. I made a mistake, and I swear I’ll never forgive myself for it, but I hope you do. I love you more than anything, and I want to know I’ve got you to come home to for the rest of our lives.”

  I smile lightly, unsure of what to say while my heart and mind argue. His hands slide down to the small of my back to pull me tightly to his body.

  “I’ll think about it,” I mumble, my mind winning the war.

  His soft lips press against mine, and then he pulls back to release a shaky but content breath.

  “You’re my girl. You always will be. I think it would be a good idea to find out your life span since Clay is already experimenting on your blood. I want to know how much longer you have left so I can find a way to extend that time.”

  I frown. He knows he I don’t want to know, and we’ve fought about this in the past.

  “I don’t want to know. People make stupid decisions toward the end of their spans, and I don’t doubt I’m close to mine. I’ve been around for a while, and I don’t want to know for sure when I’ll take my last breath. I like feeling like I’ve got as much time left as I want without having an approximated date haunting me.”

  His lips tighten, and then his embrace becomes almost too painful upon mentioning I might be close to the end of my cycle.

  “Then tell him I want to know. I won’t tell you. It’s important to me. I’m not ready to lose you any time soon, and for all you know, we could still have several hundred years together.”

  I huff lightly, and then I kiss him again. He’s right about deserving to know, but I will kick his ass if he ever lets it slip.

  “Okay. I’ll think about it. It’s not exactly an easy decision to make right here on the spot. If I do say yes, you had better not ever let it slip because I will have you tossed out of the compound.”

  He stifles a grin while running his fingers up my spine. They tangle in my hair, and then he leans over to kiss me very hard before the gates open for his departure.

  “I’ve got to go,” he grumbles.

  “I’ll be here when you get back. Make sure you come home with a little energy.”

  He laughs lightly, and then his eyebrows dance menacingly.

  “I’ll always have energy for you, babe. I hope to find out you’ve moved into my apartment when I get back.”

  “I guess you’ll find out when you get back,” I seduce while dragging my hand over his erection.

  “Damn you,” he huffs before kissing me even harder, and then I feel his car pressed against my back as he pushes against me.

  I smile menacingly behind the kiss, and then I tug at his lower lip with my teeth.

  “Fuck,” he breathes. “I swear I’ll be home soon.”

  “Good,” I smolder. “I’ll be waiting.”

  His head flops back as he grunts out his frustration while giving me a scolding smirk.

  “Vixen,” he growls.

  I laugh lightly, and he climbs into his car. It hurts to see him leave, but Hale’s image pops into my head. Can I marry Brazen while still wondering about Hale? Can I love him enough to get over loving Hale? I’m starting to hate myself for being so confused when a few months ago, I was perfectly fine with marrying Brazen.

  Damn you Hale Banner!

  The dark rapidly descends to reveal the few stars not hidden in the sky. I’ve been swamped all day with interrogations, and I’m beyond exhausted. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I smile when I pull it out to see the number.

  “You miss me?” I proactively murmur.

  “Yes I do. Your teasing sendoff has been driving me crazy all day,” Brazen gripes. “I�
�ve thought of nothing but you, and that’s a problem considering I came here to do a job.”

  I giggle foolishly while twirling the ends of my hair like a teenage girl, and then I step into a soundproof room to avoid prying ears.

  “I’ll fuck you like a hybrid when you get home in order to make up for the teasing,” I smolder out, and I can actually hear him swallow hard.

  After holding his breath for a second, he gasps for a sharp breath, and I can almost hear him looking around to see if anyone overheard my crude, daring remark.

  “Damn it. Now I have to walk into this meeting with my pants bulging. Thanks,” he growls.

  I laugh ferociously, and he tries to suppress his own snickers. I picture him tugging at his tight, sexy jeans and hiding in the middle of the pack instead of walking out front as he normally does. I can’t hold back my grin - my hybrid torture skills still in play.

  “I have to go before your sexy mouth does any more damage. I love you,” he huffs.

  “I love you,” I snicker out, and I hear him finally letting a laugh free before hanging up.

  I stare affectionately at the inanimate object in my hand for a moment longer until I hear my name being announced on the loud speaker.

  “Araya Crush please come to interrogation room fifteen.”

  I roll my eyes at the annoying box on the wall that has bellowed for me all day long, and then I swing the door open to walk back down the hall. Sappy - a female Hershian officer - is waiting for me outside the door.

  “Ms. Crush. We found this one in a bar fight just down the road. He was sparring with some of the unaligned. He’s violent - very violent. He smashed up the bar before we could split them up. It was a blood bath in there, and it’s fortunate none of our men were hurt in the struggle.”

  “Why was he fighting?”

  “He claims the men were blood runners carrying undiluted packs of blood, but we haven’t had a chance to check that out yet.”