Persephone’s Curse

by Sandra Bats

  “I’m not a weakness,” she pointed out.

  I smiled softly. She took the hand I held out to her.

  “You’re my weakness,” I said quietly, then gently pulled on her hand.

  Elin moved forward, kissing me the moment she was close enough. I lay down on the bed as she straddled me. Her hands slipped under my shirt and I only broke the kiss to let her push it over my head. The moment she dropped it to the floor I pulled her close again. I hated having so much room between us. I also hated the fabric of her shirt getting in the way of touching her, so I stripped it off her a second later.

  Elin sighed into my mouth. I snuck a hand around her back, opened her bra. I couldn’t get close enough to her. Elin arched into my touch. She pressed against me, her body rubbing against mine. I couldn’t help the groan that escaped me.

  A smirk crossed Elin’s face and she did it again. Tilted her hips at just the right angle. My hands flew to her hips, grasped at the soft skin there. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to slow her down or pull her closer.

  “Damn, Elin.” The words just fell out of my mouth. Almost embarrassing how little control I managed to keep of the situation. Elin pressed closer and I ran my lips down her throat, repeatedly kissed the soft spot beneath her ear. The sound she made as I did traveled through my whole body.

  Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I’d need to leave soon. But I still had time, so I pressed closer to her. I kissed her with my eyes wide open because I didn’t want to miss the look on her face. Hushed words and sharp breaths were the only sound. I was so close to losing my mind.

  Elin froze above me. It took a moment longer for me to register the knocking on the door. I motioned for her to be quiet. When she bit her lip and moved her hips over mine though, it was me who groaned lowly. I ignored the second knock.

  On a third, angrier knock, Cam called out: “You better open the door, or I’ll kick it in. I know you’re in there.”

  “Give me a minute,” I called out. I squeezed my eye shut for a second. Elin giggled above me, then moved off my lap. I already missed her warmth as I got up and snatched my shirt from the floor.

  “You’re going to be the death of me,” I uttered, making my way to the door and I knew she was smirking on the bed.

  I slipped out the door, knowing I looked a mess. My shirt was probably on the wrong way around and I was barefoot. Cam gave me a withering look.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.” He sure did. Didn’t even look sorry about it.

  “What did you want?” I asked, not acknowledging his horrible timing.

  “Just thought I’d let you know Josh and Pablo are ready to head out. If you’ve got the time you know, seeing as you’re busy and all.”

  I made a face. “I’ll meet them out back in five.”

  I slipped back into the room and Elin was grinning at me. For a moment I contemplated letting them wait a little longer. Instead I sighed, finally turned my shirt the right way around and got dressed.

  I kissed Elin softly before we left the room. People still didn’t know about us. It wasn’t always easy to hold back around them, to not reach out and touch her when I wanted to.

  “You know, it’d be easier if I could just kiss you goodbye out there,” I said thoughtfully. She tensed a little and I tried to casually defuse the tension. “I think I’m doing a pretty bad job of pretending I don’t want to kiss you anyway.”

  She met my eyes for a moment but didn’t say anything. Maybe I’d pushed too far too soon. I sighed. I hated how hard it sometimes was to find the right words. Seemed to stumble over them a lot.

  “Just maybe give it a thought?” I said. I ran a hand through my hair and awkwardly fumbled with the zipper of my jacket.

  Elin smiled softly. “I’ll consider it.”

  Maybe they hadn’t been the wrong words after all.

  ◆◆◆

  I threw a glance at Josh and Pablo. “Whatever Rowan says, don’t let him get to you.” Keeping a clear head was a complicated thing when our main reason to be there was revenge. We also wanted to prevent people getting hurt by Rowan’s recklessness in the future but it would’ve been a lie to say that we weren’t there to avenge Chris.

  The rebels functioned in loosely organized cells. Some bigger, some smaller. Rowan’s was one of the bigger ones. They organized their funding through all sorts of sketchy deals and some even through the government’s direct opposition. It was no surprise that somehow they’d managed to find that warehouse as their hideaway.

  I hadn’t been to that specific spot but the last few times I’d met Rowan, I learned that there was a meticulous structure to his hideaways. Like all of his compounds the one we were at was surrounded by a large wall so you couldn’t see inside. As we approached, I still was sure they saw us. The large front gate didn’t open. We approached it nonetheless. An armed man watched us from behind it. He was lanky and pale. Didn’t really look like he had a lot of experience as a guard.

  “What do you want?” He watched us sharply.

  “A word with Rowan. He kinda knows me. I’m Jayden Quinn.”

  I didn’t know what Rowan had told his men about me but they’d surely heard of me. The young man eyed me a second longer, then glanced over his shoulder at somebody. The gate opened just enough for us to roll the motorcycles inside.

  The guard motioned for us to follow him. He chattered on, introduced himself as Smitherson. I paid just enough attention to keep him from noticing that I was surveying our surroundings.

  The large warehouse in the middle would hold their sleeping quarters. Smitherson led us around it to a smaller building behind. It was where Rowan would be. Smitherson told the guard out front we were there to see Rowan. Then we waited for that guard to inform Rowan. The man really liked his theatrics. It was like asking for an audience with a politician.

  “So how did a guy as good looking as you get wrapped up with the boss’s business?” Smitherson asked. He looked at me. I knew that look. Hell, I’d perfected that look. Scanning the person opposite you to figure out what to say next. Find the right line or compliment to get them to like you. How odd to suddenly be the one subjected to that look.

  “Rowan and I are old acquaintances. I worked with him before he joined the rebels. He taught me a couple things at the labs.” I kept it vague. It was best to not give Rowan’s men too much information.

  “Huh,” Smitherson uttered. “So no romantic feelings? Cause I gotta admit some of us were wondering if he was swinging both ways considering how much he wants you to work for him.”

  “Nope. He just likes me for my mind,” I joked. “Besides, I don’t swing that way.”

  “Shame. I would’ve treated you to a nice dinner,” Smitherson said. Josh was snickering next to me like the immature teenager that he was. I nudged Josh with my elbow but admittedly I couldn’t keep from smirking myself. I surely hadn’t expected to be hit on while waiting for Rowan to give us the time of day.

  The door in front of us opened. The guard from earlier led us inside, Smitherson following suit.

  Three of Rowan’s men were in the room, plus Smitherson and the guard that led us inside. Rowan stood behind his desk. He was focused on a map in front of him. Since we’d been announced, I assumed he wasn’t so much focusing on than just pretending to. Even held a finger up in a gesture for us to wait.

  “You gonna have the decency to pay us the time of day or are you gonna stick with your theatrics,” I called out, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

  “Theatrics?” Rowan looked up, then around the room. In addition to the desk, he also managed to have two plush armchairs in the room. I scoffed at their velvet extravagance. “I take it you don’t like my interior design,” Rowan said.

  He stepped around his table, watching me cautiously. “Fine, let’s cut right to the chase. What do you want?”

  I glanced at the guys in the room. Raised an eyebrow at Rowan. “How about some privacy for starters.”

  “I’
m a wanted man, Quinn. You know I can’t just tell my people to leave. They’re here for my protection.”

  I moved over to the armchair and dropped into it. Made a show of being casual about it. “Come on, Rowan, you’re the one always calling us friends, right? This how you treat your friends?”

  Rowan glanced around the room. I did too. For other reasons though. While Rowan calculated the threat we posed, I tried to memorize anything I could use as weapon. The knife on his desk, holding the map in place. The gun probably stowed away in the drawer. The rifle leaning against the wall behind the desk. The motorcycle helmet next to the second armchair. I could go on with the furniture, slamming someone against things always made for a good impromptu weapon. So many ways to finally get rid of Rowan.

  “Fine. One of my guys stays though. We might be friends but I’m also the one who trained you.”

  As if I needed a reminder of that. Rowan’s job had been to train me as a sniper but he loved to teach me about war strategy as well. After all that was exactly why I wasn’t surprised when he asked me to hand over my gun. I handed it to Josh. Stated that if one of Rowan’s men was staying I wanted Pablo to stick around as well. Rowan went for it. Of course he did. Josh followed Smitherson and the other guys outside. I already knew he’d sneak away and around the side of the building to hotwire the motorcycle. Easy as that.

  The door closed behind them. I glanced over at Pablo. He’d moved closer to the remaining guard. Rowan poured two glasses of some drink. Probably moonshine. It was his favorite. I was still lounging in the chair. I was ready though.

  “Now, Quinn, what’s it you came for? You change your mind about the job I offered? I filled the position of my right-hand man with Bram over there.” He pointed to the guy next to Pablo. “I could always use your skills as a sniper, though.”

  “You killed a friend of mine,” I said. I kept my voice calm. Didn’t let my hatred for him show. Tried not to think of Chris’ dead body. Of Elin almost dying.

  “I did?” Rowan had the decency to sound surprised. He handed me a glass and sat down across from me. “Was it at the diesel factory? I meant no harm. You were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Sorry about that.”

  I scoffed. “Sorry isn’t gonna cut it.” I moved forward in the chair, elbows resting on my knees. Fixed Rowan with a stare. I didn’t visibly tense yet.

  “Let me make it up to you,” Rowan said. “But first, we should drink.”

  “To my dead friend?” I asked. It was the sign for Pablo to get ready. Rowan inclined his head in agreement. He lifted his glass closer. It almost touched mine. I lifted mine, clinking it to his. Said the words that Pablo was waiting for. “To Chris!”

  The turmoil behind me happened fast. I didn’t look. Rowan barely had time to, either. I grabbed his wrist. Used my momentum to pull him forward. Slammed his head into the metal sideboard next to us. I pulled the hidden knife from my boot. He’d been stupid to think I needed my gun to harm him.

  I glanced at Pablo. He’d effectively knocked the other guard out. Wasn’t sure if he was unconscious or dead. I didn’t care.

  I pushed Rowan’s chest down onto the sideboard. He struggled and I shoved him down again. Pressed my knife to his back. From that angle, I could easily stab upwards and towards his kidney. He’d have no chance of survival.

  “This ends tonight. You’ve killed enough people.” I was about to actually kill him. He barely managed to wheeze out words loud enough for me to hear.

  “I know where they hold Abigail.”

  Thirty

  Jayden

  Time slowed. Stopped. My grip on Rowan faltered for a moment. A moment was enough. Rowan pushed back. Slammed his head into my chin. My knife slipped to the side and caught his hip. Wouldn’t be deadly though. He spun around and grabbed my arm. Slammed my hand into the wall. My knife dropped. I brought my fist up. Heard the door open. Pablo fighting someone. White hot pain as Rowan grabbed his helmet and knocked it into my head.

  Pablo barreled into Rowan. Knocked him off his feet. I saw his guys storm through the door. They hesitated a moment. They couldn’t shoot. Not when we were so close to Rowan. Pablo was back on his feet. He’d gotten ahold of Rowan’s gun. Rowan was on the ground. A bullet hit Pablo and the wall behind us exploded.

  Pablo stumbled and I got ahold of him. Josh had driven a car through the wall. He leaned out the window, shooting at Rowan’s people. I dragged Pablo over to it and into the backseat. Shouted at Josh to get us out of there.

  The tires squealed and bullets ricocheted off the exterior of the car. Josh floored the gas and ran right through the chain-link gate at the back of the facility. Kept driving, speeding up as soon as we were on regular streets.

  My heart raced. I glanced down at Pablo, blood seeping out from his left shoulder. I peeled the fabric aside, glancing at the wound. Pablo groaned when I made him sit up to check the back. The bullet had gone right through. Josh was still driving like a maniac.

  “We need to ditch the car so they can’t follow us,” I ordered Josh. They’d be on our trail soon if we kept the car. Tire tracks were easy to follow in the snow, footsteps would be concealed far more quickly by other people walking around. Josh pulled into an alley. We moved through the next two streets. Pablo was gasping and we took a short break, hiding behind a dumpster.

  “How’s he?” Josh asked, concern on his face as he peeked around the dumpster.

  “I can hear you just fine. Don’t talk about me like I can’t,” Pablo ground out. “I was shot, how do you think I am?”

  “We need to put pressure on that,” I said. The bullet didn’t seem to have hit anything vital but it’d be a long trip home. We needed to keep him from losing too much blood. Josh wore a scarf that he untangled from his neck.

  “Wear a scarf, Cam said. You’ll catch a cold otherwise,” he mocked his cousin.

  “Well, good thing you did,” I said, then looked at Pablo. “It’ll hurt. Take a deep breath.”

  I wrapped the scarf under Pablo’s arm and over his shoulder, then pulled it tight and tied it off. When I was done he leaned back against the wall. His face was pale and he was out of breath.

  “Your head ok?” he managed to ask.

  It was hurting quite a bit where Rowan’s helmet had hit me. I touched my hand to it and found it was bleeding. Probably a lot. Head injuries always did. I glanced at Josh. “Time to go.”

  He didn’t need my prompt. We moved down the street, scurried through alleys. I ducked under Pablo’s healthy arm, helped him along. The sun was setting. Cam would chew me out for putting Josh in danger. Elin would be worried.

  We stumbled towards the fence. Our own guards nearly didn’t recognize us. Josh shouted that it was us, that Pablo was injured. Pablo was white as a sheet by the time we got him into Jane’s office. She sent us outside, getting ready to perform minor surgery on him. By the time we left her room there was already a crowd in the hallway.

  The cafeteria was across from Jane’s room and a lot of people had been in there after dinner. I glanced at Josh. Luckily, he didn’t have a scratch on him. I couldn’t have looked Cam in the eye if he had. I heard people talking, asking what happened. I wasn’t really able to answer yet. The adrenaline was wearing off and the pain in my head moved more into focus but the most important thing was finding Elin to let her know that I was ok.

  Josh nudged me with his elbow, inclining his head at someone behind me. I turned and found her in the crowd. She stared at me for a while, and I hadn’t thought it possible, but my heart actually stumbled. I didn’t think it could get better than that. Not with people around, watching us.

  My thoughts might’ve been a bit sluggish from the head injury. Next thing I knew Elin crashed into me and kissed me. It took me only a second to catch on. I kissed her back and wrapped my arms tighter around her. Almost lifted her off the floor. I didn’t care. She was there and she was kissing me in public and my heart soared.

  When she pulled back just enough to speak, her che
eks were scarlet. Her eyes flitted to the sides. I held onto her, didn’t let her turn around and look at all of them. Not yet. They were busy talking anyway. Maybe about us. Maybe about Pablo. Hell, I didn’t care.

  “Don’t think about them,” I murmured against her lips. It would hurt if she regretted kissing me in public. I didn’t want it to hurt. Not yet, not before I cherished that moment a bit longer. She pulled away nonetheless, but didn’t seem too concerned with them. Instead she glanced at my forehead.

  “Is it bad?” she asked.

  “I don’t think so,” I responded. “Jane’ll have a look at it later. Pablo’s been hit by a bullet. Jane said he’ll live. I took a motorcycle helmet to the head. It could’ve been a lot worse if it hadn’t been for Josh.”

  Elin’s eyes softened and she brushed a thumb over my cheek. “You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll get away with a major headache though.” My hands were shaking now that it sunk in how close things had been to going horribly wrong. How close I’d been to not coming back to Elin. How easily coming home had turned into coming back to Elin. I wanted to get to my room and hold her close for the rest of the night.

  I didn’t get to right away. First Jane informed us that she’d done what she could for Pablo and he’d live. She did mention that there was nothing she could do about his horrible sense of humor though. Then she stitched up my head wound. We didn’t have too much anesthesia and so I told Jane to not use any on me. I could’ve dealt without Elin holding my hand but it was nice and I was selfish.

  Afterwards, I had to fess up to Cam about what happened. How I’d gotten distracted by Rowan mentioning my sister. I ground my teeth at that. I knew it was all my fault how everything had gone to shit.

  Only after that I finally managed to steal away, holding Elin’s hand as we walked back to our room. With the door closed I felt the exhaustion slam into me. Still, there were thoughts on my mind, questions I needed to ask before we went to sleep.

  “So, they know now,” I started, settling into bed.