Hushed talking and low whispers circulated the crowd as little by little the group and the men blocking the road dissipated. More than a few glowered at him as they passed, but Jarod expected no less. He understood that fifty years of hatred was going to be a hard thing to unlearn, and he definitely didn’t hold any grandiose expectations of it happening in one dramatic afternoon.
“Well now that all that is finally settled,” Dirik chirped, clapping his hands together and successfully capturing everyone’s attention. “Are the two of you going to stay or not?”
Uncertain of what to say, Jarod glanced down at Maya as she stared up at him. “It’s up to you.” She said softly, “but whatever you decide, just know I am going with you. You’re not leaving me behind Jarod, and if you try, I will not stop looking for you until I find you.”
Fierce determination stared back at him through pale gray depths, proving her words to be true. Finding himself with no other option, Jarod sighed, “Then I guess I am staying… for now.”
Maya beamed and wrapped her arms around his waist, instantly melting the tension from his body. No longer willing to deny himself the comfort of her presence, Jarod laid his hand gently on her back and pulled her in closer.
“I am also glad that everything has worked out for the best.” Janil said, smiling as she watched the pair embrace. But her expression became much more serious as she turned her attention back to Jaron, “But don’t you think we need to update them on what all has happened in the last month?”
“Yes, we do.” Jaron answered quietly, “But let’s give them some time to get settled and work out whatever is going on between them.” Glancing back at the pair, Jaron then turned his attention to Citera and Dirik, “I need to go to the Pit and talk with Tyran, would the two of you mind showing them to a tent? Then, if it is all right with everyone, I would like all of us to meet at the medical tent in an hour or two to go over a few things.”
“I would love to!” Citera exclaimed excitedly. Taking a few steps in the direction of one of the trails, she motioned for Maya and Jarod to follow. “Come on you guys, I know the perfect place.”
***
A few minutes later Jarod and Maya were nearing the top of a hill, following closely behind Citera as she busily explained the various areas of the camp. All around them people stared and gawked. But fortunately, even though things had become a bit more tense when they passed into the crowded housing district, the majority of the people seemed to have taken Jaron at his word and continued about their work with little more than a sideways glance.
Nearing a tall tent on the edge of the housing district, Citera abruptly switched from talking about the camp to the tent itself. Holding the flap open so they all could enter, she tried her best not to giggle as she watched Jarod try to maneuver his massive frame through the narrow opening, while she proceeded to explain how this particular tent was one of the largest ones still available. Fortunately, once inside, the tent opened up into a wide, spacious room, tall enough for Jarod to stand up in without difficulty.
Satisfied she had made the right decision in choosing this tent, Citera continued to point out the various amenities, while explaining things like the rain barrels and the heating stove to Maya. But when Dirik noticed the single large bed at the back of the tent, things suddenly took an awkward turn.
“Citera, why did you pick a tent with only one bed?” He blurted out, interrupting her explanation of how the laundry system worked, “Where is Jarod supposed to sleep?”
Jarod cocked an eyebrow and Maya hid her face, trying to conceal her amusement as Citera visibly turned several shades of red. “Well, I just thought… Ummm, do you need another bed?”
“Well of course they do.” Dirik continued, ignorant to what was happening behind him. “It’s not like they are a couple, I mean that would be weird.” Dirik paused, picking that moment to turn around, he caught sight of their amused expressions and gaped. “Noooo way? Really? The two of you are like… a thing? But isn’t Jarod like over 100 years old?”
Jarod folded his arms across his broad chest and frowned down at Dirik, as Maya doubled over in a fit of laughter. Struggling to regain her breath while wiping the tears from her eyes, Maya looked up at Jarod, who despite the lowered brow and crossed arms, wore a smug grin. Shaking her head Maya addressed Dirik, “The one bed will be just fine.”
“And for the record, I am not 100 years old.” Jarod added flatly.
After that, Citera hurriedly gave them directions on how to get back to the medical tent and then dragged a dumbfounded Dirik out the front before he could say anything else that would embarrass her.
Once alone, Maya removed the leather satchel from across her chest and laid its contents out on a small wooden table. When she finished, she sighed surveying their meager supplies. All they had to their name was a set of knives, Jarod’s last trench coat and pair of pants, a few shirts for each of them, and Maya’s gray uniform.
“That’s everything we own.”
“It’s all we need.” Jarod responded casually.
Anxious to get out of his brother’s white shirt and into one of his own, Jarod grabbed the hem and pulled it off over his head. He reached for one of his black shirts only to be stopped by Maya’s small hand coming to rest on top of his. Stepping in between him and the table, she slowly ran her hand up the length of his arm and down onto his chest, causing him to inhale a ragged breath. Shutting his eyes for a moment, Jarod placed his hand on top of hers to halt its descent.
When he finally reopened them, he was staring down into Maya’s saddened expression pleading for him to not reject her again. Little did she know he had no intention of doing anything of the sort. Because after fifty years of being a slave; beaten, tortured, and brain washed into doing the Shadows’ dirty work, he was finally free. And it was all thanks to this small, unassuming girl, who despite his best efforts to push her away, had forced herself into his life.
She was the only person in all of Vanteria that had managed to look beyond the visage of the Enforcer to see the man he kept hidden inside. Even when she was faced with him in at his darkest moments, Maya never wavered in her belief that he was more than the monster he portrayed himself to be. And all she had ever asked for in return of her unwavering faith was his affection, an affection he would not deny her any longer.
Threading his fingers into her hair, he stepped forward, towering over her petite frame as he pinned her back against the table. Releasing a slight gasp, Maya did her best to remain calm as she stared up at him, studying his features for any sign of what he might be thinking. However, despite her calm exterior, Jarod could feel her heart rate increasing between their pressed bodies. It was only when he lowered himself down and laid a gentle kiss on her lips that Maya’s façade finally broke and she allowed a faint whimper to escape. Slowly and delicately Jarod continued to caress her with light kisses, teasing her with affection while denying her the passion she was so desperately craving.
But Maya had no intentions of playing his game. Anxious to make up for the attention he had been denying her, she took matters in to her own hands. Rising to the balls of her feet, she stretched her arms up and locked her hands behind his neck, crushing her lips against his.
A low rumble of approval rose from deep within Jarod’s chest as he removed the hand tangled in her hair and slid it slowly downward. Caressing the smooth curves of her body, he wrapped both large hands around the backs of her thighs and easily lifted her onto the hard surface of the table, while swiping its contents onto the floor. The sound of all their belongings crashing to the ground behind her caused Maya to startle and break their embrace. Confused, she glanced over the shoulder and frowned at the sight of all their belongings scattered about the floor. However when she turned her attention back to Jarod, Maya couldn’t fight the smile that formed at the site of the smug grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Your friend thinks I’m too old for you.” He teased, leaning in and nibbling on that
sensitive spot at the base of her neck.
Maya giggled, “You forget Dirik thinks I am not much older than him.”
“I think he has a crush on you,” he whispered, moving up to her ear lobe and sending a shiver down through her body.
Tilting her head to the side, she bared her neck, encouraging him to continue. “Well too bad for him, I’m already taken.”
“Damn right,” Jarod growled, returning his mouth to hers. Leaning forward, he forced her to lay across the table, while his hands crept underneath the hem of her shirt.
Together they continued to explore each other’s bodies with their mouths and hands, the heat of their emotions building. However, as their passion grew, so too did Maya’s fears and doubts.
How did she know this was real? That it would last. It felt real, of that she had no doubt. However, it had also felt real back at her mother’s inn, then for the following week, he pulled away from her any time she tried to touch him. And it had been the same back at the Tower as well. It felt like any time she had managed to break through his hardened exterior, Jarod just built it back up again, only stronger than before. Suddenly her mind was flooded with images of him pulling away from her when she tried to touch him, of him ignoring her for months on end while they were in the Tower, even the disheartening memories of him asking her to leave the room so he could be with Jade. But in the end, it was the knowledge that if the men in the Core hadn’t stopped him when they did, Jarod would have left her here, alone. No goodbye. No warning. He would have abandoned her without a second thought and never looked back.
And it was this heart crushing thought that caused Maya to push her hands against Jarod’s chest, halting his affections.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, watching the tears well in her eyes.
“Promise me you won’t try to leave me again.” She whispered, fearing her voice would break if she tried to speak any louder. With a heavy sigh, Jarod rested his forehead against hers.
“I’m sorry Maya, I can’t make that promise.” Placing a feather-light kiss on her forehead he stepped away. “I would be lying to you if I did.”
“But why?” she asked, no longer able to hold back the tears. “What did I do to make you want to leave me so badly?” Pushing herself up into a sitting position, Maya quickly wiped away the traitorous drops as she straightened her disheveled clothes.
Running a hand down his face, Jarod pulled further away. “It’s not what you have done… it’s what I might one day do to you.” Retrieving one of the black shirts from the floor, Jarod pulled it on over his head. Then returning to her side, he ran his rough thumb across her cheek, catching a tear she missed. “I care for you deeply Maya, don’t ever doubt it, no matter what I might say or do sometimes. But my desire to keep you safe and protected, far outweighs my need to keep you by my side.” Unable to hold her gaze any longer out of guilt, Jarod cast his eyes to the side. “I have already lost control around you multiple times and nearly killed you twice. And if I were... If I did do something to you…”
Maya leaned into his touch, closing her eyes, “You would never kill me Jarod. I don’t know how I know, but deep down inside, even when I have stood before you at your worst, my confidence in that belief has never wavered.” Looking up at him she smiled, “There is good in you Jarod. I have seen it and so has your brother. He told me as much while you were out. He even told me a little bit about how you were as a child and how he had asked K to save you because he couldn’t bear to watch you suffer the curse anymore.” Her grin widening, she continued, “He said you were a scrawny, little kid, even smaller than Dirik but that even back then the light shining within you was hard to ignore.”
“That was a long time ago Maya. And I am guessing he left out the part about the blood that saved my life and gave me my strength, is also the carrier of the darkness that is eating me up inside. The very same darkness that has turned the Shadows into the deranged monsters they have become.” Brushing his shaggy black hair from his face, Jarod flinched when he accidently grazed the knot again, “Think about it Maya, if K, as powerful as she is, struggles to maintain control over it, then what chance do I have?”
Maya frowned as she considered what he was saying, “There has to be something you can do. Maybe K can teach you how she does it? I mean, you are a fighter and very powerful, surely there is something she can teach you to do to help control it.”
“Perhaps,” Jarod reluctantly agreed. Though he understood what Maya was saying and hoped it to be true, he found it hard to match her optimism. “But what if she can’t?”
“If she can’t, then we will deal with that together, when the time comes. Just for now, promise me you won’t leave without at least exhausting all the other options first.”
“I will consider it,” he responded flatly. Lifting her off the table, he set her back on her feet, “But only if you promise me something in return.” Bemused by her frown, he brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. “You have to promise me that when the time comes and I am beyond saving, you will let me go.”
Maya’s frowned deepened. She did not care for the way he had said when instead of if, or the fact that it sounded more like an agreement to kill him than a promise to allow him to leave. “But…”
“No buts Maya, that is the deal, take it or leave it.”
Studying his rigid features it was clear to see that, on this matter, Jarod would not be swayed. Not wanting to argue and risk him rebuilding his walls, Maya begrudgingly agreed. “Fine,” she mumbled. Crossing her arms, she turned her head to the side and sulked.
“Then I do as well.” Extending his hand, he chuckled at her aggravated expression, “Come on, let’s meet with the others and find out what is going on. Then afterwards we can see if K would be willing to answer some of our questions.”
Chapter 4
Hand in hand, Jarod and Maya strolled down the heavily wooded trail Citera had informed them was a short cut from the housing district to the medical tent. Their backs to the mid-day sun, they ambled along, taking the time to enjoy the sights and sounds that most of the people of Oasis had come to take for granted. Above the birds fluttered around, serenading them with their peaceful melodies, and luring Maya’s gaze up into the towering trees. A serene smile shaped her lips as she marveled at the bright color of the lush evergreen branches which served not only as camouflage from the Shadows forces, but also as a means of protection from the harsh elements that plagued the rest of Vanteria. However, when a slight breeze blew through mixing the piney scent of the forest with the aromas of something cooking somewhere in the distance, the sound of Jarod’s disgruntled stomach rumbling snagged her attention away from the serene surroundings.
Cutting her gaze up to him, Maya furrowed her brow. While he had been unconscious, she had gone to visit the donors with Jaron and fed. However, it had managed to escape her attention until just now, that Jarod had had nothing, but the very little he had taken from her, in weeks. Staring at the bruises and cuts that covered nearly every inch of visible skin, Maya suddenly felt very guilty. He had done nothing but fret and worry over her for days, neglecting himself while trying to get her away from the Shadows and to safety. And yet, when the opportunity had arisen for her to satisfy her own needs, she had walked away and left him alone, chained to a chair, and unconscious.
“Jarod…”
“I’m fine,” he interrupted.
“No, you’re not. We need to talk to Jaron and…”
With a heavy exhale, Jarod stopped walking. Placing a finger under her chin, he tilted her head up to face him. “I’m fine. There is no need to bother Jaron, I can go at least a few more days without any problem.”
“But there is no need, they have donors here and…” Maya paused. At the mention of the donors, Jarod’s gaze shifted away from hers and his brow creased. Narrowing her gaze, she pulled on the front of his shirt, “Jarod look at me.”
Reluctantly he returned his attention back to her. “Is there somet
hing you aren’t telling me?”
“It’s not important.”
Realizing he was holding out on her, again, Maya spun on her heel and proceeded down the path. “Well good, then let’s go talk with Jaron and see what we can do about getting you fed.”
She barely made it two steps before Jarod’s heavy hand fell onto her shoulder. “I said leave it alone.” He snapped. “I will handle this myself.”
Thankfully this branch path was not as heavily traveled as many of the other trails, but there were still a few people around them. One young couple in particular immediately turned around and headed back the way they had come at the sound of Jarod’s angst. Shaking her head, she faced him. “But there is no need to handle it yourself.” She snapped back, “We aren’t in the Tower anymore Jarod, there isn’t any reason why you should go hungry, I’m sure if you just talked to Jaron, he would take you to the donors…”
“I can’t go to the donors!” he yelled, making her jump. Closing his eyes, Jarod breathed through his anger. Once his nerves had settled, he stared down at her displeased expression, and softened his voice. “I know you mean well, but you need to believe me when I say I can’t feed from the donors.”
“But I don’t understand…”
“I know you don’t, and I really don’t want to discuss it right now.” He interrupted, cupping her face. “I just want to enjoy today for what it is, without worrying about what problems may arise tomorrow.” Leaning down he locked his lips with hers, catching her off guard and successfully obliterating any thoughts she might have had of continuing with this argument. Around them, what few people were traveling the desolate trail, stopped to watch them for a moment or two, then resumed their journey, many with sheepish smiles on their faces.
Forsaken (The Shadow Chronicles Book 3) Page 9