by Allison, J
I saw surprise register in her eyes but it was too late, I closed my own surrendering to the sleep that tugged at my core and waited for the impact that would drive Allison into me, the impact that would crush me against the log and complete Wills mission.
There was a whoosh of warm air, a loud grunt, and then nothing.
I relaxed, pleased only to be able to surrender to the dark.
I must have slept, everything was black and I felt as though I had no body, unfortunately it didn’t last. I vaguely became aware of myself once more, and the heat, burning me, burning my face. A sudden gust of wind blew my dripping hair from my shoulders and I shivered. A loud bang of thunder sounded directly overhead, my eyes popped open with a start. A dark shadow was reaching towards me, I cowered, pressing myself back against the log, causing more pain to shoot down my side, my ribs felt like they had been replaced with hot irons.
The hand withdrew quickly and I heard him inhale in shock. I looked again, squinting to make him out, my vision clearing slowly.
Was I dreaming? Was I dead?
He was here, standing in front of me, his eyes a mixture of agony and fury.
“Ava?” his hands were everywhere, my face, my arms, running down my ribs, his eyes taking in my cuts and bruises, I watched him tense in anger. Leaning forward slowly, his mouth hovered next to my ear.
“I’m so sorry.” he breathed, his voice warm on my skin, before pulling back, his dark eyes searched mine. The look of pain that crossed his features broke my heart. His gaze shifted, fixing on something over my shoulder, before returning to me again.
His gold brown eyes burned into mine, just as his hand burned against my cheek.
“Ava,” he whispered again, his voice full of fear as he reached out to me once more.
“Ava, are you okay? Can you hear me?”
Something warm ran down my cheek and it took my mind a moment to clear itself of its fog and realise I was crying.
“I’m so sorry Ava.” he gathered me gently, holding me against his warmth.
“I’m so sorry,” his voice broke in pain, sending another wave of tears cascading down my checks.
“Rob…” I whispered, his touch, his voice, the most exquisite thing I had ever heard.
He sat back again, his smouldering hands cupping each side of my face,
“You’ve never called me that before,” his smile was strained, “I like it.”
His eyes searched mine, “You’re really alright?”
“I don’t…”
“Rob…” Allisons voice broke through from behind, lowering me back with exquisite gentleness he went to Allisons side, some thirty yards away, in the blink of an eye.
I saw then the reason behind the urgency in her voice. Allison had Will pinned to the ground, but he was struggling, Robert said something to Allison, I couldn’t hear him over the rain, but a look of disbelief came over her and she shook her head frowning. Robert continued to argue with her and then, finally, she dropped her grasp and stood back. Will was on his feet in an instant, but Robert was faster, slamming his fist into Wills abdomen, causing him to curl over in shock.
“Why?” Robert demanded, his voice so cold and so full of authority it struck me to my bones.
The fog was creeping in again and I blinked trying to clear it, my body was desperately seeking sleep, I willed myself to stay awake, blinking slowly, feeling as if all my movements where in slow motion.
Will spoke to Robert, a smirk on his face, Robert tensed further and Allison grabbed Wills hands, locking them tight behind him. Robert shook his head, anger was radiating so clearly from him that I feared for Will, poor, stupid, jealous, evil Will. So cut up with envy that it had driven him to recklessness.
The two of them continued to speak, Roberts determination and Wills calm arrogance growing with each exchange.
Then reaching forward Robert took Wills head in his hands, cupping it gently, one hand under his chin the other on the back of his head. Will thrashed but Allison held him tight, I noticed through the fog in my vision that her eyes were tight, she looked resigned to some terrible fate, her jaw set square.
Slowly, with what seemed like extreme calm, Robert pushed Wills chin up further and further until I realised what he was going to do, my vision blurred, hot pins and needles covered my body but I couldn’t let this happen, I couldn’t let Robert do it.
I opened my mouth and willed every ounce of strength I had left to come to me,
“No…” I was barely audible over the rain, but Robert heard, he stopped, his head swinging instantly towards me.
“No Robert,” I breathed, feeling exhausted, “You won’t be able to live with yourself if you do that.”
Confusion and indecision flashed across Roberts features, Allison looked to him, questioning.
My world began to spin and this time I let go, seeking the oblivion of the unconsciousness, unable to watch any more.
Everything was silent, even the rain had stopped, I waited for it, the sound that would signal the end of Wills life, sure that Robert wouldn’t listen to my plea, his fury was too strong. He would avenge me.
There was a grunt and I flinched. Allison screamed.
My eyes snapped open, Robert was gone, Will was staring in the direction of the trees, I followed his gaze to where I could see Robert lying in a heap at the base of a large spruce.
My heart stopped beating. I tried to yell his name but nothing came out, my mouth too dry with fear, I let out a sob and slammed my hand against the dirt.
“No, no no!” I cried, my body shaking in fear and shock.
Let him come for me, I thought, my mind suddenly clear. I would go too, if Will was going to kill Robert then I would go too, I couldn’t be here without him, not when I had just caused his death.
Take ME Will! I screamed in my mind, his head swinging instantly in my direction, a slow grin spreading across his face. Allison was across the field bent over Roberts still form but her head flew up as she heard me too, terror crossed her features as she saw Will, reading his thoughts.
“Nooo!” Her cry was primal as she leapt towards him.
Will turned back towards me, his eyes a brilliant green glow in the dark, a terrifying scowl spread across his face as he took me in.
He crossed the field in half a second but this time I didn’t cower, I pushed myself up, my arms shaking.
I was ready.
“He thought he could stop me,” Will spoke quietly, almost to himself,
“He hasn’t had any training and he thought he could stop me.”
“He showed you mercy and you killed him.” I growled, swallowing back my tears.
His eyes focussed again, and his hand flew to my throat.
“No,” he snarled, “He showed he was as much of a pussy as his father and that it’s time for a change in the pecking order.”
His grip was like a vice as he lifted me from the ground, his fingers icy cold, my toes dangled as he lifted me by the throat. I couldn’t breathe. I choked trying to draw air, my vision blurred and everything started to lose focus.
“He has no idea how to kill his own kind.” He whispered, his voice pulling me back from the brink, his fingers tightening further.
I closed my eyes. This was it.
“But I can try.” Roberts voice was lower than a growl, he appeared as if from nowhere, materializing through the raindrops behind Will.
I watched the shock register in Wills eyes, he dropped me like a rock as Robert drove into him from behind. But Will was fast, manoeuvring himself quickly until Robert was in front of him, he used their momentum to drive Robert into the log, splitting it instantly in two.
Will was up again in a flash and bolted towards the trees, stopping just outside of their cover he turned back towards Robert who was pursuing him, an eerie ghost like figure shrouded in golden moonlight speeding across the empty field.
Will tensed waiting for Robert to reach him.
Ready to fight to the end.
> I saw her then, appear out of the trees, moving quicker than the blink of an eye, she took Wills head between her tiny hands, pulling it back in one swift violent movement.
“NO!” Robert screamed, But it was too late, there was an impossibly quiet ‘pop’ and Will went limp, falling to the ground at Allisons feet. My stomach turned, the world seemed to ebb and flow around me as if I were back on the raft, leaning over I vomited neatly onto the grass.
Then I let go, everything went black, my ears were ringing and I felt my cheek touch the cold wet dirt as I fell to the ground. A lone scream sounded in the distance, calling my name.
Everything was fragmented, it was dark and I was wet, that much I knew.
The cold was unbearable, my entire body was numb and I shivered uncontrollably until something hot was wrapped around me and my muscles began to relax. I caught glimpses of the grass, of trees, of four faces, two familiar and two belonging to old men that I had never seen before, their beards shining silver in the moonlight, their eyes glowing in that soft terrifying green that made me instinctively shy away from them.
I heard voices, dull murmurs around me, raised in anger and then lowered in worry, mumbling in conflict and then resigned in decision.
Then I saw my parents, laughing with Joel and I last Christmas, I felt tears run down my cheeks but couldn’t open my eyes, couldn’t wipe them away. I saw my grandparents, and my home in Chicago, Julia, my first car. And then all this swam in circles and I felt sick. I leant forward heaving again, feeling as if I was going to put a rib through my skin with the force of it, and grunting in pain as I finished.
My body felt heavy, as if filled with lead, and then other times light as if I flew through the air.
During one of these light times I heard his voice, soft and urgent.
“Be okay Ava, god be okay.” He took a deep racking breath, “I love you, please be okay.”
And then the voices were gone again and I was surrounded by darkness once more.
29.
I was finally dry and warm. Rain no longer fell against my skin and I realized that I was comfortable, my ribs now only emitting a dull throb. Although I had a monumental headache and my mouth felt as though filled with cotton wool. I tried to remember what was happening and where I was, my memory seemed to become a black void as I clenched my eyes shut even tighter, trying to regain some recollection of events.
“Ava?” that magical voice sounded next to me, slightly husky in its fear.
The night came screaming back in one sudden painful memory.
I jumped, jolting my body as I did, hundreds of small hurts sprung up with the movement and my eyes flew open in panic. Robert was sitting next to me, my hand cradled in both of his as he perched carefully on the edge of my bed, a look of profound relief crossed his features as my eyes met his.
“Hi,” he whispered, gently brushing a tendril of hair from my cheek.
“Hey.” my voice was ragged, the corners of my mouth split painfully as I spoke and the quicksilver taste of blood instantly flavoured my mouth.
I noticed Claire then, hovering in the background, her unwavering smile in place, but a look of stern worry tightened the lines of her eyes, she came forward and leant over me.
“You’ll be fine Hun, just a bit sore, drink this.” She passed me a small glass of something bitter and I swallowed it down with a grimace, my eyes never leaving Roberts face, was he really here?
Was last night real?
It stung the cuts of my lips but it worked whatever it was, I felt instantly drowsy again.
“Go back to sleep,” Robert whispered, “I’ll be here, I promise I won’t leave.”
I gave him a smile and closed my eyes.
“She’s fine.” I heard Claire murmur as I drifted back off to sleep.
When I opened my eyes again I knew where I was, although he didn’t touch me I could feel him lying on the bed next to me, it was dark again, I had slept through the entire day. I rolled carefully to look at him, this small movement was harder then I imagined as my ribs and head all started to pound simultaneously. He was facing me, his eyes closed, his lips pulled up in a delicate smile.
I was shocked to realize he was asleep, I had never seen him sleep, he needed so little, but sleeping he was.
I watched him for a while, completely peaceful, afraid to disturb him and happy just to watch.
My soul mate, Will had said, I liked the sound of that. I wondered if Robert had known this from the beginning, I knew that he loved me, he had said so himself, but not like this. The fact that these ‘Guardians’ were drawn to someone and that someone in turn drawn to them as well explained a lot about my feelings. I smiled, perhaps that would explain how I had felt about Robert from the start, that strange engaging presence he had that I couldn’t ignore.
Thinking of Will gave me a strange hollow feeling and I quickly put him from my mind, I wasn’t ready to deal with that yet.
I reached my fingers out slowly, lowering them towards his face, trying to keep my touch light, as I stroked his cheek his lips instantly pulled back into a dazzling smile. I felt my stomach grow tight and the rest of my limbs turn to liquid simultaneously.
His eyes opened, their dark golden brown depths glowing with warmth and tenderness.
“Robert,”
“Ava,”
We laughed having spoken each other’s names at the same time.
“Ladies first,” he grinned but it was guarded.
“I don’t want you to apologize, I know you will and this wasn’t your fault, you couldn’t have known.”
“But if I had been here, I should never have left you alone, I was so stupid!”
“But I could have moved to London instead of here, we could but everything Robert.”
He looked thoughtful for a moment and then the earlier pain returned to his eyes.
“If he had done it,” he swallowed loudly, “I don’t think, I don’t think I could have gone on, Ava seeing you like that, hearing you…” he raked his fingers through his hair, “It tore my heart out, I thought I would die when I heard you scream.”
“Please, he didn’t do…it…and, please don’t talk like that.”
“Ava, you are my heart and if you were gone, I would no longer exist either.”
I smiled softly at him, trailing my fingers lightly across his face.
“I love you too.” I said, “And you’re here and I’m okay, we don’t have to worry.”
“Ava, you’ve almost died… more times than I can count since you’ve met me, all I do is put you in danger, can you honestly say you still want to be with me.”
“I can’t say I’m not afraid,” I smiled shyly at him, trying to show him I meant it, “But I can’t live without you, I won’t live without you.”
“You’re sure?” his eyes smouldered in pain and worry.
“Surer then I have been about anything, ever.”
“You don’t understand,” he started,
I fixed my eyes on him “Oh trust me I do…actually,” I tried to look smug, “I may know a little more about you then even you know.”
“Really?” This stopped him for a moment and he looked thoughtful,
“Tell me later aye,” he smiled again, “Right now I just want to sleep.”
“Robert, about Will…”
“Ava, I can’t, not yet,”
“In the morning?”
I felt him nod, in the morning it would be, no matter what we said now it wouldn’t matter, the outcome could not be changed.
He circled his arms around me drawing me slowly and carefully against him. I pushed my nose into his chest, breathing in his scent. I was so relieved and so happy that he was here that I didn’t know how to begin to even tell him. I settled instead for kissing him softly on his neck and pushing hard against him.
“You know I’ve never seen you sleep before,” my voice was muffled against his chest.
“Really? Hmm well… your about to see it again,” There was a
smile in his voice, “because I’m exhausted.”
We fell asleep again, tangled together, not knowing where one of us began and the other ended.
Claire came by again early the next morning, Robert had left me for only minutes, just long enough to ‘run’ home and change, keeping up the charade that he had spent the night in his own small hut.
“So?” Claire asked when she had finished doctoring me. “What happened?”
I glanced at Robert, what had he told her? He shook his head quickly, apparently nothing then.
“Ah well it was nothing really…” I started, trying to think on my feet, or more accurately my back.
“I wasn’t born yesterday Hun, You have broken your ribs again, badly if I might add, and split your head open, not to mention all your other cuts and bruises, ‘nothing’ aint gonna do that to you, so spill.”
I was silent for a moment trying to think quickly, I hadn’t had enough time to come up with a story yet.
Damn what could I say that would explain all this without leading to many questions? The sound of a horse neighing reached me through the window giving me the flash of inspiration I needed.
“I fell. Off Beaut… again… I mean,”
“You were riding on your own again!”
“Yeah,” I tried to look remorseful,
“Robert why in gods name would you let this girl do that?” Claire turned instantly on him, “What on earth are Fred and Norma gonna say when they see her?”
“He didn’t know,” I cut in before Robert could take the blame, Claire swung back to me.
“He told me to wait and he would take me but I got impatient and so I went without him.”
Claire regarded me for a minute, looking doubtful.
“My girl I’m going to tell Fred to sell that horse of yours, you really shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a horse, what the hell will happen next time.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” I murmured, wishing this was over, I didn’t know how to lie and I knew from past attempts I wasn’t very good at it.
Claire narrowed her eyes at me and then Robert, before mumbling something about city girls and horses while giving me some more bandages for my ribs and digging in her medical bag.