by Tara Brown
Aimee frowned, "Shane I wont change my mind about you."
"What about Giselle?"
Aimee paused, "I don’t understand?"
"What if you never went to the party, you wouldn’t have gotten sick and then instead Giselle would have died from drinking the whole drink and he never would have been caught."
She looked down, "Oh yeah." She sighed, "Yeah you're right. I could have stayed home, stayed believing I was in love with Blake, he and my sister would never have hooked up and I wouldn’t have died in the hallway and seen Aleks." She shook her head feeling tears starting to form, "That wont work at all."
She winked herself and Shane from the house back to Port Mackenzie, they were standing outside his house.
He shook for a second, "Aims, come on that is nasty."
She couldn’t smile, she couldn’t be joyful.
"Aimee we need to talk about this. You can't just show up after not speaking to me for a year and half. Are you seeing Aleks still? I want to know what's going on." His eyes turned serious, "Now."
She shook her head, "No I'm not seeing anyone. I haven’t since you and I, well for a while." She looked up at him seeing his face change, "Are you mad?"
He laughed bitterly, "Mad? What? Why ever would I be mad? Oh you mean because my girlfriend was secretly dating some kinda dead dude and then she sorta died and we never really broke up she just vanished leaving me, her family and everything. Oh but I guess you never really vanished, I mean we did see each other that one day where you were murdering that man in the alley. I mean that counts right?"
She swallowed hard looking at him, "I'm so sorry."
He shook his head, "Save it Aims, maybe it wasn’t all your fault but you’ve handled this badly. You can't just cut me out and then show up and expect we aren’t going to talk about it."
"I know."
"You have to let me in. You have to tell me what it all is. There cant be an us if it's only me here ripping my heart out and handing it to you to crush over and over."
A tear dripped from her eye, "I know." It ran down her still cheek falling to the ground below. The sound resonated across the open space.
He stepped towards her but she stepped back. Her back hit the garage door. He grabbed her hands and pulled her into him, "No matter what happens I will find a way to be with you Aimee, even if it means death but you need to be honest with me."
She felt anger raging inside her. She pushed him slightly knocking him back a few steps, "No Shane."
"What is it you do exactly? I saw you in that alley Aims, the man was dead but it was like he just fell asleep, no marks, no wounds. Just dead."
She slumped against the garage door, "I'm death. I'm an idiot actually. I wanted to live." She looked up into his eyes feeling hers glistening and her lip trembling, "I wanted to be with you Shane, that’s all."
He nodded, "I know Aims that's what I want too."
She rubbed her forehead, "I'm a reaper, a grim reaper. I touch you and my fingers pull your soul out and free it from your body. They don’t have any choice, they just do it."
He took a step closer, "Can you control it?"
She shook her head, "Not completely. It's only been a year and a half."
"Why are you so strong?" He took another step closer.
She could feel him in the air around her. She savored the smell closing her eyes breathing it in. After a few seconds of imagining the life they could have had she spoke flatly, "Demon blood."
"What?"
She sighed letting him walk the whole way back to her and wrap his warm arms around her.
"Demon blood, I drank it. It killed me but at the same time made me, well this. I told you this all last year, none of you believed me remember."
"I remember. Have you killed innocent people or only criminals like the guy in the alley? Do you eat food? Do you sleep? So if you're dead are you like a vampire?"
She laughed realizing how annoying it truly was and how badly she must have driven Aleksander crazy when she quizzed him about every detail constantly.
She opened her eyes and smiled at him, "Yeah. But I don’t drink blood like them, I eat off of the tiny spark that happens when a soul is set free. It's like a tiny whisper of energy that happens as they die and their soul is freed."
He cringed, "Kinda sick and yet somehow I still want to rip your clothes off."
She laughed but he bent his warm face into her neck sending chills roller coasting up and down her spine.
He stepped back looking at her, "We can find a way."
She nodded letting him pull her in kissing her, she let the dream be real for a moment. She winked them into his bedroom.
Shane shivered slightly for a second trying to ignore the flash of travel. He kissed softly along the side of her mouth. He kissed her cheek pressing his soft lips against her face, almost sucking slightly with every touch of his lips. He kissed her lower lip only making her tremble. His hands slid up and down her back caressing her but also massaging deeply. She closed her eyes feeling her breath increase. Her mouth watered thinking about his tongue sliding into her mouth again.
He bent slightly and began kissing down her throat and collarbone. He kissed her shoulder pulling her shirt to one side. His hands came around the back of her tracing the lines of her torso and waist. His warmth against her stomach made her ache. He lifted her shirt off. She remained motionless terrified to touch him. A tear found its way from her right eye and slid down her cheek.
He bent kissing the tear away, "We'll never be apart again Aimee."
She nodded letting herself go. She put her hands on his strong chest undoing the buttons of his uniform. She smirked thinking about how hot it was seeing him in it.
He smiled back at her, "Like the uniform?"
She nodded touching the fabric, tracing the pockets in the shirt and nametag. She finished undoing the buttons to find a white cotton t-shirt underneath. He pulled his work shirt off letting it fall to the floor. His arms looked bigger with the thin white cotton stretched across them. His chest flexed under her scrutiny. She ran her hands across his body as if daring herself to touch him even though she could take it all away with one slip. His life lost for the need filling the pit of her stomach.
She smirked as her fingers found their way to the button of his pants. She looked up into his face watching his response as her fingers undid his pants.
He watched her as if daring her to do it. The moment the pants were undone he grabbed her cupping her ass with his strong hands pulling her up into him. She wrapped her legs around him as he carried her to the bed. She could smell him in the sheets as he laid her down gently. His lips finding their way to hers. His tongue caressing hers as his lips gently sucked. She bit her teeth into his lower lip pulling it slightly. His hands fumbled with her pants undoing the black tight skinny jeans. He cursed slightly at the difficulty he had getting them off. She laughed knowingly.
She lay on his bed in nothing but her white panties watching him stand to remove his police pants and cotton t-shirt. She smiled at the site of him. He looked like an underwear model with muscles in places most guys didn’t have. His golden skin rippled in the muted light of his room. He lay down beside her pulling her into him, she loved the feel of their chests crushing into each other as his hands and arms encompassed her. The warmth of his body pulled her into him making her forget everything about the last year and a half. It seemed as if it were only yesterday she had lost her virginity to him. His touch was more needy this time, he wasn’t rougher just more desperate to touch her. He kissed along her neck caressing her breasts, pinching her nipples. His hot touch sent shock waves through her body. His mouth made its way to her breasts. She shivered in anticipation as he finally closed his mouth over her nipple. She cried out in pleasure. His magical touch brought every nerve ending back to life as he paid homage to every inch of her. She forgot everything in her life and swore if she lived only moments longer she would die complete. He pulled her panties off kissing his way along he
r thighs.
Suspense nearly killing her as she watched him remove the last of his clothing, his white boxer briefs. His arousal was magnificent. He moved over top of her sliding between her legs kissing her intensely. His mouth devoured hers as he found his way inside of her. Pleasure filled her driving her to move against him.
His hands lifted her into him as she pushed back writhing in ecstasy. They moved together rocking against one and other until each of them was overcome with ecstasy.
Aimee had never been loved until that moment of that she was certain.
Chapter Eight- The Kiss
Ari
He bent and picked up firewood carrying it in the house. His muscles were unbelievable for a guy his age. She watched him like a stalker, she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. As he passed by the window he looked up and smiled directly at her winking. She stepped back blushing, she'd thought she had been covered by the thick black curtain that hung in the window.
Ari bit her lip and tried to push him out of her head. She stood in the shadows counting the minutes before she could run from the study until she heard a creak outside of the study door. Her first instinct was to hide, she could wrap herself in the curtain and not breath but she knew if it was Lucas outside her door she would be discovered. He seemed to be able to find anything. She couldn’t imagine him able to get into the house so quickly. She held her breath hearing her own heartbeat pounding in anticipation. She had watched him over the months. His senses were uncanny and when she asked Lydia what he was she always said everyone had to speak about themselves when they felt ready. Lucas had not told her anything about himself except that he was Fae, which seemed fine with New Ari but annoyed the life out of Old Ari.
The dark study was eerie which normally she would enjoy, she like dark places where she could hide. As the study door opened she realized she didn’t want to hide.
Lucas stepped through the study door. He watched her from the entrance of the door that he left ajar. He was learning about her, paying attention to the things that would set her off, closing the door would have been too much for her. He smirked taking another step, this one slow and purposeful. He held his hands at his sides, she noticed how large they really were. New Ari was planning her escape from the room but her old self shut it down. Ari took control and remained beside the window and the large curtain draping against her side.
Her face flushed as she watched him cross the room slowly in silence. He never reached for her again knowing it would be a trigger to New Ari who hated men and tight spaces. She felt his warmth close in on her personal space. He loomed over her taking up the entire room as she could see it. He bent slowly lowering his face to hers, she never closed her eyes. She watched as his handsome face was lowered to hers. She had never kissed a boy before, she had never been touched romantically before. His soft warm lips brushed against hers sending an electric shiver through her body. His lips settled for a moment as if letting her get used to the feel of him against her then they deliberately moved sucking hers in, licking and pulling. She mimicked his movements letting him sweep her up into the moment. She never knew a moment could be so delicious and soft. New Ari even conceded she had never felt a passion so soft and sweet as this one. His hands crept along her sides, holding her hands. He smiled as he kissed her putting her hands on his chest. Her face reddened burning against his. She let her hands touch his chest, she let herself feel him. He was real and he was kind. She felt a tear slip from her eye. He pulled back looking at her, "Was it too fast Ari? Did I scare you?"
She shook her head feeling silly, "No. It was perfect." She ducked her head confused. She wanted to run, both of her wanted to run, not from him but from the embarrassment until he did something neither of them expected.
He bent kissing her cheek and wiping away her tear, "Sweet Ari."
She kissed him, she pulled at him nearly toppling them both. He steadied himself lifting her off the ground. She felt her back against the wall, she felt his hands cupping her ass and she wanted to freeze but she couldn’t make herself. Her body was responding to him, sliding against his and writhing in the passion she could feel herself getting lost in. Still holding her in the air with one hand his other hand gripped her hair pulling her into the kiss. The slightest bit of pain shocked her back into reality and like any abuse victim she froze. His hands still tried to work their magic pulling her head to him. He didn’t realize for the first few seconds Ari had frozen, she had stopped moving and was letting him roam her mouth and face. She felt the anger welling inside, it scared her. She shook with building rage working out a plan in her mind. He placed her on the ground carefully and stepped back seeing the look on her face.
"Where did you just go?"
The anger was gone as his words hit her, "It wasn’t me, it’s the other me. Someone liked to pull her hair. He liked to hurt her." She winced twitching feeling lost inside herself.
"Ari I would never hurt you. Never. I, well I would kill…"
"No." She cut him off, "I know you wouldn’t hurt me but I can't do this. I'm broken Lucas. Even if the scars aren’t mine my mind remembers their pain." She trembled with fear and desperate sadness but maintained her composure long enough to leave the room.
He tried to reach for her but he stopped himself knowing her reaction would be horrid. She wanted to turn around, she wanted to fix it but New Ari was sobbing inside of her, screaming about the pain she wouldn’t let her see. New Ari kept her secrets locked behind a door that only when it opened for the briefest of seconds did Ari get a glance of how horrible it truly was for her new self.
She walked to her room and closed the door sighing, safety. She liked she had her own room and it felt like a sanctuary finally. She walked to look at herself in the huge mirror. She had started to look like her old self, her thick dark brown hair was long with the slightest curl to it. It was shiny and healthy looking again. Her dark brown eyes and long eyelashes shone with the glistening tears. Her nose, lip and eyebrow barely showed any signs of scarring from the piercings Lucas had removed for her. She lifted a long thin finger to her lips remembering the feeling of his touching them. The softness and the sensuality had been a first for both of her. She cringed remembering the flash she'd seen during the kiss.
"Why Miss Ari you looks a wreck, you wants I should pour you a bath?"
She glanced up at Annabelle and smiled, "Yes please." She knew she wasn’t dirty but she couldn’t help feel it.
She looked back at herself seeing the tattoos she hated poking out of her clothes in random places.
"Well I be's concerned for ya Miss Ari. You looks some awful upset. What be troubling you?"
She stood still watching her own mouth move in the reflection, "My soul is split into two people Annabelle and I can't seem to keep the bad one of me out of my mind."
"Well I know Momma Elsie could help ya's wit dat. She be a magic lady who helps Lydia sometimes. I seen her do some amazing things. Ask Lydia to takes ya there. Now I pour ya bath." She vanished.
Ari walked from the room quickly looking for Lydia. She was scared to run into Lucas but she needed to know about Momma Elsie. Lydia was in her reading room looking over a huge book.
"Whose Momma Elsie?"
Lydia sighed looking at her, "Annabelle is going to get it. No one you need to be concerning yourself with. Ari we need to learn abut your other side before we just dispel her. We don’t know a lot about you and your gifts. I know you're having a hard time with it kiddo and I know you want a normal life but you need to remember if we dispel one of you it could be old you who gets removed. Then what? You'll be in a dark place kiddo."
Ari nodded and walked back upstairs for her bath. A very large part of her didn’t want to wash off Lucas's touch and kisses but she couldn’t help associate them with the bad man in New Ari's memories.
Chapter Nine- The Cop and The Killer
Aimee
He stared at her, "You're so beautiful Aimee. I think I almost forgot how beautiful."
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She looked at him with an evil grin and flashed them into his bathroom.
He shivered with motion sickness, "Aimee Jesus that is awful."
She squeezed his hand stepping into his shower, "How's my dad?"
"He's broken. He's so sad he can't eat, he sleeps all the time. He barely leaves his house."
She looked at him feeling her face tightening, "What can I do?"
"Aimee you need to see him."
She shook her head, "I can't let him see me like this."
"I can't tell a difference in you, you look the same. If I can't see it and believe me I am looking for it, he won't either." He gripped her hand, "Lets drive over though k?"
She laughed, "Okay." Her stomach was in her throat. She didn’t know what she was about to do but she knew she couldn’t leave her father the way he was. She needed to fix things with him and she knew she was probably safe enough to see him without hurting him.
They showered quickly and changed into clothes. The thought of her father had killed her ideas of how the shower was going to go.
Aimee laughed as they walked up to his big truck, "You know I miss riding in this truck."
She climbed in and closed the door remembering how sick she had been when she rode in the truck the last time.
Her nerves didn’t improve as they drove but Shane nattering on made her smile, "Yeah so anyway I got lucky with my job. I can come home a lot and if I need to help my mom I can be here pretty fast. So my dad is marrying that girl hey."
Aimee raised an eyebrow at him.
He nodded as he drove, "Yeah, I got an invitation. I'm not even kidding. You wanna be my date?"
She smirked, "You're going to the wedding?"
"I have to Aimee, my sister is going too. Dad has spent a lot of time trying to make up for it all. I don’t like Hilary but she makes him happy and he has been trying."
"Hilary, it just sounds like mean girl home wrecker."
"Still a nerd at heart."
She laughed, "Yup. Speaking of which how's my sister and Blake doing?"