by Janie Marie
“What do you want, Death?” Lucifer asked, turning his attention to him.
Death shrugged, unconcerned with the glare Lucifer was giving him. “Did you order her attacks?”
Lucifer sighed. “Are you going to bother me until you find out what you want?”
“I only gain their memories when they die. She makes it like I have a Christmas present all wrapped up, but I can’t open it until Daddy says. Do you want me to open her early?”
“Child,” Lucifer muttered. “Fine. I have had no knowledge regarding her past. Something is wrong with her memories, but I only came to her when I felt her power surge during her fight with Lancelot’s wolves. I cannot tell who is responsible for her torment, but I assure you it was not me. Then, at least. Now tell me what you are doing here. I have no desire to be in your company.”
“We’re on a deadline, Luc. I was curious about how things were progressing.” He watched Lucifer carefully, noting his rising anger. “It bothers you to not know who harmed her, doesn’t it?”
“I prefer to have background on any pawn I seek to acquire or destroy.”
“I see. You look uncertain of your plan now. If you want her, you should up your game.”
“Why would I listen to anything you have to say? You are out to acquire her yourself.”
“I am,” Death admitted. “But if you plan to use David, you will fail. If you fail, I stand no chance. He was chosen for a reason, Luc. He’s too good. Do you think he would wait all this time only to hurt her?”
Lucifer gazed at the couple in question. David was rocking Jane as she cried. A brief lapse in the fallen angel’s controlled features allowed Death to witness the twinge of guilt that flashed through Lucifer’s gray eyes.
Jane whimpered, and Death turned to look at her tear-stained face. She looked pitiful, but he showed no reaction to her sorrow. “Not feeling guilty, are you?”
Lucifer scoffed. “You are very aware I feel no guilt over tampering with her mind. Besides, I only seduced the lust she already has for the knight. Her emotions make her unstable.”
“Hm... I believe there’s more to it. Have you developed a soft spot for the girl?”
“I have work to do,” said Lucifer, ignoring his question. “I would imagine you do as well.” He sent a sinister glance at Death before disappearing.
Death glanced back as David lifted Jane into his arms. He let out a tired breath as he watched them leave the room, then vanished.
Jane caught sight of Gawain sitting on a sofa as David carried her into the living area.
Gawain jumped up, and she hid her face in the crook of David’s neck. “What’s happened? Is she all right?”
“I have to go see Arthur,” David told him. “I thought she could stay with you while I am gone.”
Gawain nodded. “Of course.”
David pulled Jane close and whispered in her ear. “Sweetheart, I want you to stay with Gawain. I need to speak with Arthur so we can figure this out. I’ll get updated on everything that has happened and bring him back.” She whimpered and squeezed her arms around his neck. David shushed her before he turned his back to Gawain. “I will be back. I promise. Gawain will keep you company.”
She shook her head in protest and held him tighter. “Don’t leave. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
He turned his face toward hers and kissed her cheek. “I know you’re scared right now.” His lips did not even leave her skin. They burned her in the most pleasant way. “That is why I must go speak with Arthur. I need to find out how to help you. I swear I will return.”
She bobbed her head and received another kiss to her cheek. David was scared. All that she’d done wasn’t clear to her, but she knew enough. She could still feel the tingling between her legs and taste his skin on her tongue.
Loosening her grip on him, she tried her best to smile. David looked between her eyes. His worry over leaving her was obvious, but he quickly placed another kiss on her forehead and carried her back to Gawain.
Gawain held out his arms, and David passed Jane to him. “Hi, Gawain,” she said, not caring about the cheerful knight’s presence.
“Hi, love. I’m so glad you are healing.”
She nodded and turned to David as he placed his palm against her cheek. Always so warm.
“I will be back,” he promised. “Gawain, why don’t you tell her about your visit to see Nathan and Natalie.”
Jane smiled, remembering what David had told her. She wanted to know how they were.
“I will see you two later,” said David, giving her a final glance before he left the house.
Gawain smiled and carried her out to the backyard. It seemed silly to be carried, but she didn’t have it in her to be rude. She’d seen how guilty he looked, and she knew this was his way of taking care of her.
After he sat them down on a bench, he gave her a gentle hug. “I’m so happy you are going to be all right. I felt terrible for letting you get hurt.”
“Gawain, I could never blame you or anyone for what happened. I didn’t know what to expect, but me getting hurt definitely wasn’t yours or David’s fault. If you guys hadn’t fought as well as you had, I’m sure I would’ve died.”
Gawain smiled. “It wasn’t us that saved you. You saved yourself.” She looked back at him confused and waited for him to explain. “Do you remember what happened?”
“I remember the attack and receiving my injury, then everything is hazy until David came.”
“You don’t remember the blast you created?”
“No. David hasn’t said anything about a blast.”
“When you got separated from all of us—well, none of us actually saw how you did it—but you threw out some sort of energy blast. It was amazing. You completely destroyed the one who hurt you, by the way. None of us are sure what to make of it yet, but it was really impressive.”
He had a proud smile on his face, but Jane was horrified.
Gawain’s smile dropped off his face once he realized she was upset. “It’s all right, Jane. You did nothing wrong. We will learn the extent of your power and help you harness it.”
Jane’s eyes watered. “No. You don’t understand. I did do something horrible.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s just like the blast or whatever—I don’t remember what I did, but I used some sort of power.” She looked away. “I attacked David.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Is that why you were crying?” She nodded. “What happened with him?”
“I’m too ashamed to say.”
He turned her head to look her in the eye. “Love, you have nothing to be ashamed of. I won’t judge you. There is something unstable about your power, but that is not surprising. I have seen many immortals with great power; it takes time to learn proper control.”
“I don’t think that’s the same as what happened.”
“Explain it, then. I will do my best to offer help.”
She sighed and debated whether or not to tell him anything. She still didn’t know all that happened, but she decided to confide in him. “There are times when I feel overly attracted to David. I mean, I’m always attracted to him; I’m not blind, he’s hot. But I can ignore it, you know? I’m married, and that’s not me. But there are times when it feels out of control. I feel like I’m not completely there, like I’m someone else. I sort of know what’s happening, but it’s confusing. It’s like I’m looking in from the outside, but I’m obviously right there. I feel hot and like everything is happening really fast but at the same time, in slow motion. I feel everything around me, too. Then it’s like I wake up or I’m allowed to see. I don’t know what’s real. But I can feel what’s happened to my body.”
She breathed out. “I told David about my past. I haven’t had anyone to talk to in so long. When I’ve gone to psychiatrists, they were cold; I didn’t want to talk. Jason used to listen, and Wendy was willing to, but I don’t know, I just couldn’t stop telling him.”
; “That’s called trust, love. Your heart trusts in him.”
She shrugged. “Did you hear?”
He clenched his hand into a fist. “I did, but I do not want you to recount it so soon. I’m here to listen if you wish to let it out, though. It’s good to talk to someone.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Well, after I told David everything, I guess I cried myself to sleep. I had a horrible nightmare that Lancelot killed him right in front of me. It felt so real. But David woke me up. I thought he was the dream.” She almost sobbed, but carried on with her story. “I was touching his face, trying to make sure he was really there with me when I started to have that out of control feeling again. I wanted to touch more of him. I heard him telling me to stop. His voice was muffled like I was under water. When I looked at him, it was like looking through a tunnel or a small window. I didn’t feel like I was the one he was talking to, but I knew he was. I knew I needed to stop, but I didn’t. It got darker, I could barely see him, but I felt him.”
Gawain rubbed her arm. “What do you mean? Like you couldn’t see but feel?”
“Yes and no. I felt like I couldn’t move, but I was. I could feel his body heat, then it was like I could touch everything around me, but I wasn’t touching anything but him. I knew I needed to let go, but I didn’t.
“He kept telling me to stop and when he tried to move away, somehow, I kept him there. I could feel him struggling against me, but I was able to hold him there.” She looked up at him, worried. “Gawain, I wasn’t holding him there with my hands—I was using my mind. Only it felt like there were two sides to my thoughts.”
His forehead crinkled up as he frowned. “You used your mind to hold him?”
“Yes. I don’t know how, but I did it.” Jane paused, breathing in deeply before she rushed out. “I could taste him and feel him. I was turned on, but it was so dark around me. I kept hearing my voice, but I didn’t know what I was telling him. I heard David, but he was still muffled. He sounded stressed, though. And it’s like all I wanted was for him to make the ache go away. I’ve never—” She looked down, ashamed and embarrassed.
“I’m sure David understands you are under a lot of stress right now,” he soothed. “It is not that bad, Jane.”
She shook her head repeatedly and whined. “I think I had an orgasm.”
He cleared his throat. “Love, there’s nothing wrong with that. Well, there is, but it’s not unexpected. You two have a connection and are more stimulated by each other than most.”
“I’ve never had one,” she whispered. “I don’t even know if that’s what really happened, but I felt him.”
Gawain sighed. “Not that it’s okay, but David is going to have a hard time not reacting to you. If you are touching him, especially in a sexual way, his control is going to be tested. Did you—”
“No. It was over our clothes. But it’s not his fault. It’s always my fault.” She wiped her face, realizing she was crying. “I anticipated him giving into me, and I was excited. He stopped me. I felt him kiss my cheek. He looked blurry, but I felt him closer than before, and his voice was clear. He reminded me about my family. I felt hate—hate against them. Intense hate. Then it all snapped. I could see, and the hate against my family went away. He was so worried, and I felt what I’d done. My body, you know? I still feel him. What if Jason finds out?”
Gawain rocked her. “Your husband will not know. I don’t judge you, and David still loves you.”
“He said that. It’s the first thing I heard when I snapped out of it.”
“That’s not the first time he has told you.” Gawain gave her a little squeeze. “When you got hurt, he told you more than once.”
“I thought that was a dream,” she muttered, vaguely remembering the sweet words in the dark.
He grinned and placed a kiss on her forehead. “No, it wasn’t a dream. He loves you more than anything in the whole world.” He tucked her head under his chin before adding, “Don’t worry, Jane. We will figure this out.”
She nodded and looked out toward the yard. “What happened with my family?”
“Oh, right. It went well. We took them a good amount of food and drinks, along with some toiletry items. We told them we would check on them again.”
“Are they all right?”
“Yes, love, they’re fine. Your little Natalie is adorable, by the way. They both are.”
She smiled, relieved but filled with loss. “Thank you.”
“No problem. It was nice to meet them. We all want to make sure they are safe. Dagonet, especially, has grown protective over them.”
Jane pulled back from his hold to look at him. “Who is he?”
“You will like him. He is one of our guards, but we consider him a knight. He was attacked and changed by a cursed immortal close to the time most of us were. Do not worry, he is completely loyal to Arthur and David.”
“He won’t hurt my family?”
He shook his head and assured her. “I’m sure he would lay down his life for them without hesitation. He and Nathan took quite a liking to one another.”
Jane grinned. Her little boy hardly liked anyone new.
They sat in silence for a while before a thought occurred to her. “Gawain, how is there still electricity? In the movies, everything always goes out.”
He chuckled. “We have been working our way down from Canada since the plague broke out. We only move on once the remaining authorities can resume their duties. Obviously, we do not make contact with them, but there are still humans putting up a good fight. At least, here, that is. I am not sure about the rest of the world. It will just take some time.
“When we go to a new area, we start our attack at the energy and water supplies. I suppose it is dark because people have their lights off to keep from giving away their location. Some cities are truly blacked out, but we have cleared most power plants that can explode without operators. Lamorak’s team specializes in repairing and operating city energy systems. While we clear, they do what they can to stabilize things. Oftentimes, there are humans around, and we do make contact. We do not reveal what we are, but I’m sure they are suspicious. They seem grateful. We usually bring them supplies or locate their loved ones if we can.
“We have two teams who do reconnaissance missions to scout every nuclear reactor in North America. They check other nearby power plants and inform us of where we need to go. We make those towns priorities. The facilities in Texas have been reported operational, but we still planned to eliminate as much of the plague threat as possible. Our reports said Austin had a high concentration of undead. That is why we chose to drop here.”
“Oh, that makes sense, I guess.”
They sat in silence after that. Jane pondered a million things, and it wasn’t long before she was completely lost to the world around her. She barely even registered him speaking to her again.
“Jane, I think we should get you something to drink,” he said.
Yes, she thought but did not speak. It felt as though her body was moving, but she didn’t understand why or where she was going.
“Gareth,” Gawain called.
Jane blinked away the darkness that had surrounded her vision and noticed they were back inside the house.
“What’s the matter?” Gareth asked, coming around the corner. He paused as soon as he made eye contact with her.
“Get her blood. Fast,” Gawain ordered as he sat her on the counter. She felt his hands on her face and saw his bright eyes, but her vision grew dark. “Jane, you need to focus. Stay with me.”
Gawain seemed so far away.
She felt her lips curve up as Gareth came closer and offered her a glass. “You need to drink this.”
She looked to it and grinned before taking it from him. She did not hesitate to bring the glass to her lips, but she kept this new knight in her sights.
Disgusting! She smashed the glass onto the floor and glared.
Gawain backed away but stopped his retreat when she turned her
head in his direction. “Jane,” he said, “we’ll get David for you. I know it does not taste as good. Let us get him for you.”
She tilted her head. “David?”
“Yes, darling,” Gareth said. “David. I will bring him. He will take care of you.”
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye before turning to face him. Her gaze dropped to his rapidly beating pulse at his neck.
Everything went dark.
David arrived at the small house where he knew Arthur to be. He walked around and found Kay and Bedivere waiting with Arthur.
They all looked at him as Arthur spoke. “How is Jane?”
David was thinking over the past several hours when Bedivere suddenly said, “We are sorry, David.”
David looked at their worried faces before looking at Arthur. “They know?” he asked, referring to Jane’s past.
Arthur nodded. “I told them.”
He sighed and looked down, his shoulders dropping in defeat as he finally let his devastation show.
Kay put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I know this is difficult to take. Do not lose hope. You will get her through this.”
David’s chest ached, and he felt sick to his stomach. The awful things she had told him hurt just as much as it had when he thought she was dying, perhaps even worse. He shook his head to rid himself of those memories. He was strong enough for this. He needed to take care of her. “Have you come across Lance?” he asked them.
“Not yet,” Kay answered. “There are traces, but he is constantly on the move. We’ll find him. We have reduced the plague’s numbers considerably here, so we will be able to focus on finding him now. Did you hear our theory about him and the Zev virus?”
“Yes.” David glared at Arthur. “Do you think it’s truly possible he could create something like this?”
Arthur shrugged. “It’s possible, I suppose. It seems too great a coincidence the first victim would basically have the name Wolf Knight while Lance just happens to have infected wolves. We will only find out if we can capture him. The good news is he seems in control of them. Or he is disposing of those he loses control over judging by the attack we found before.”