Bleak Devotion (18 page)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jessica admired the way Blade's fingers locked with hers. Her hand never felt as right as it did when they were wound together. Something she wanted to make happen every day. She also wanted to snuggle closer beside him on their usual spot on the couch but didn't. Whether it was because she didn't want to push his limits or because of the gathered group surrounding them, it was hard to say.

Everyone, except for Vivian, who had opted to go lie down, listened intently as Blade explained how he had hidden her. When he got to the part she wanted to hear, she focused in. The whole time she enjoyed the feel of his arm next to hers, his hand gently brushing against the back of her hand.

“
They found me in the greenhouse before I could leave. I was hoping to stay out of there because of Jessica hiding.” He glanced at her and then turned his attention back on the group. “They inspected the greenhouse. I should have realized they would. They were pleased with everything, but then I made the mistake of telling them what I thought of their treatment toward humans. Don't know why I couldn't keep my mouth shut.”

Ben snorted and Blade frowned. “None of them agreed with my opinion, but they were all respectful, save for one. He accused me of loving humans too much and having some human pets stashed away.” Blade's shaking increased as he continued with the story. “He started opening up cupboards looking for them. It was supposed to be a joke of sorts, but obviously I didn't find it funny. When I tried to divert his attention, I was more emotional than I should have been. I'm too used to being around you all.

“He changed, which caused the others to shortly follow. I thought maybe if I didn't they would see how it can be controlled, at least to a point, but with them changing so close to Jessica I couldn't manage. I was too afraid for her.”

“
With good reason,” Zach retorted.

“
What happened then?” Deborah prodded.

Blade rubbed his arm just below the wrist while still holding Jessica's hand. “I managed to stay in control enough to lead them out of the house. I never knew it was possible to find so much control while transformed. Usually we have to attack whatever is before us, with the exception of anyone that looks like us, which we have a bit more control over. We ran across the valley until we were all exhausted and returned back to ourselves.

“We agreed to keep our tempers. No more discussion of humans. The one still seems captivated by it though. We spoke for a while. The others came back and loaded up all the food that was ready for them to go. Once everything was loaded, they left.”

“
Good riddance,” Ben muttered.

“
I can agree to that one,” Deborah said. “Any idea when they will be back?”

Blade's face tensed. “The group as a whole won't be back for a while. They will give time for the plants to grow. The one, though, I don't know what to think of him.”

Jessica went rigid. Once she figured what the aliens were like, they had always been predictable. If Blade didn't know what to expect from one of them, what could possibly be in store? Deborah's face was drawn. Their natural leader looked just as worried as Jessica felt.

Deborah stood and walked over to the counter. “What can we do about him?”

“I don't know. If he decides to come, he'll most likely come alone. I think. Hopefully, I can just let him poke around and he'll be satisfied.”

“
Let's kill him instead.” Ben pounded his fist with his hand. “I don't want scum like that running around our house just waiting to find us.”

Julie sprang up. “I will not be a party to doing to them what they did to us. Just because they did it doesn't make it right. There's got to be a better way.”

“I don't know,” Zach chimed in. “I think Ben may be right this time.”

“
Not only do I think Julie has a point,” Blade countered, “but if you kill one, they will come looking. Our communities are close. If one of us goes missing, we will search until we find them. Dead or alive. This will be the first place they come, knowing we argued.”

“
We'll just have to kill them all then. I'm sick of hiding.” Zach glared at Blade.

“
You know we can't.” Deborah stood. “We will have to set up some type of audible alternate system attached to our current warning system in case someone is hiding.” Deborah looked pointedly at Jessica.

Heat rose to her face. “I'm sorry. I was working on something and I didn't want to be bothered. I'll be more receptive in the future.”

“I think we all will be,” Deborah added. “But an audible warning is still a good idea. We should have thought of it before. And we had better do something about the light showing through the door. I'm sick of groping around in the dark. It's idiotic.”

Zach sighed. “I'm sure we can come up with something.”

“I still say we should kill the buggers, but if not I'll do what I can to help.” Ben brushed his hand along his jaw, deep in thought.

“
We'd appreciate it.” Deborah moved around the counter as she spoke. “I'm hungry. Let's get some dinner going and see what ideas we can come up with.”

The group shifted. Some moved toward the kitchen, working on the counters, some left the room. Erin and Julie muttered quietly to themselves.

“Come here,” Blade whispered in Jessica's ear.

Wondering what this could be about, she let Blade lead her from the room, ignoring the scowl from Zach. They twisted through the hall until they came to the front room. The sun was just setting, casting a golden light on the trees on the mountainside and the reawakening grass.

“Jess,” he said as he pulled her close. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

“
But you didn't. I'm right here.”

“
If I had though… I can't live without you. The moment I met you something inside me just clicked.” His hands trembled on her shoulders. “I feel so much.”

The words whirled through her mind, her own thoughts jumping and dancing in response. She struggled to find a way to express her feelings without making his control harder. Nothing was possible. It was why she wanted to write them down.

“Something clicked with me, too,” she said. “The fact that I should be running as fast and as far away from you as I could.”

His lips tugged upward. “Good thing you didn't. The disappointment of such a beautiful woman fleeing might have made me morph, and then where would be?”

“That's not funny to even joke about.” Still, she couldn't help but laugh-.

Her laughter died as his face went back to its neutral expression. “You're right. I'm sorry.”

“Nonsense. If we can't laugh about it, what can we do?”

His chest rose with a deep inhale. When she did the same, the familiar woodsy scent of him filled her. He scooted closer, his breath warm on her lips. Her own breath swept from her. Soon they'd be parted. They always were. But for now, it was so good. Her heart drummed against her rib cage. She longed to reach up and press her lips against his. They were so close. If it wasn't for who he was, she would.

She reached up to brush his arm to make some sort of contact, but he grabbed her hand, stopping her. He put her arms firmly down at her sides. Even after his touch left, she didn't move, despite the overwhelming urge to. His own arms moved to his side, trembling violently. White fists appeared at the end of his arms. Any second he'd run off.

But he didn't. Not yet. Instead, keeping his eyes on her, he slowly leaned even closer. Anticipation leapt in Jessica. This wasn't running.

Her breaths came in quick short gasps. His lips hovered over hers momentarily as he gazed into her eyes. It ached to be so close, to see the intensity she felt mirrored in his eyes. His body shook violently and for a moment she thought he was going to pull away. Despite being inevitable, a deep throb clenched through her chest.

Blade took a deep breath, his words shaky but clear. “I love you.”

There wasn't time to think on what he said, other than to enjoy the surge of joy. Instantly, the distance between their lips vanished. He pressed his lips against hers with a deep intensity. The kiss was hard, new and unsure, but after a moment turned soft. Soft and perfect.

She closed her eyes and marveled at the way his lips melded with hers. An electric warmth stirred in her chest and tingled through her entire body. The waiting, and aching, and yearning was worth every second. Here and now, this was perfect. This is what she wanted. What he wanted. It was finally happening.

She reached up and stroked his cheek with a single finger. A horrid metallic ringing flooded her ears. A white-hot searing pain ripped across her stomach. With a gasp, she opened her eyes to see Blade's fleeing form, metal jutting out of his arms, glinting crimson in the sunlight.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Agony rent Jessica. The torment centered on her midsection, radiating out to fill her entire body. Her vision darkened. When it lit back up, everything was blurry. Shapes hovered over her as her sight continued drifting through the blackness. Their voices sounded muffled and slurred. She couldn't tell who was speaking.

“
Hold this against her wounds.”

“
I got it.”

“
It's not too deep. Do you think she will be okay?”

There was a pause. Jessica struggled to make her mind work past the pain to understand what they were talking about. Thoughts were so fuzzy. She couldn't seem to get the information to process correctly no matter how hard she tried. It was like she was trying to walk through a swimming pool of pudding while her insides were being torn from her.

“Doubtful.”

An angry growl reverberated through the room. “I'll kill him.”

There was a shuffle of movement and the pain grew.

“
Why does she keep saying his name?” a voice hissed.

The torture intensified, wracking her body with millions of hot pokers intent only on destroying. She screamed, trying to find a place to escape. There was nowhere to go. No release. The pain roasted and charred her body.

“I think you should go.”

“
I won't leave her.”

“
She doesn't even know you're here.”

“
But I can help.”

“
This will kill her. There's no escaping whatever comes with these wounds. Leave.”

She thought of Blade. She concentrated on him. Then she started to float. Further and further. Her mind detached from the pain. She knew it was there and that it was slashing her apart, but it didn't matter anymore. All she wanted to do was something…

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Time meant nothing as Jessica drifted in and out of the darkness. The searing pokers jabbed harder and harder inside her. Sometimes she found relief in Blade's image or the darkness, but too often she was pulled back in by the baking agony shredding through her. When it first started she thought it was the worst thing she had ever felt. That first pain was now insignificant.

The boiling heat festered. Her abdomen hurt the worst. It felt like someone sliced her open and poured acid on the wounds then struck her with a lightning bolt. From there the pain shot out, leaving nothing free from torment. Bile filled her throat and she gagged on it. Something cool dabbed against her forehead and cheeks, but all too soon the coolness would give way to the heat of her body.

“
She's still saying his name?”

“
Get out! There's enough problems here without you carrying on like that.”

Jessica's head split apart as she tried to make sense of the words. The voices sounded so familiar, but she couldn't place them. The pain overlay the part of her mind that understood anything. The burning hot fire pokers jabbed farther inside. She withered against their staggering force, feeling her willpower being sucked from her.

Death was welcome. She wished it would come embrace her with swift arms. It hovered close by, waiting for the right moment. Yet, something held her back from giving in completely to its summons. If only she could remember what that was. Another jolt of agony tore through her body. A jagged blade jamming its way through each pore.

A sound came from farther away. Something about it was important. She struggled to claim the words. To make sense of them. The deep voice resonated through her. For the first time since the horror had started, she recognized who was speaking. Blade.

“She can help.”

“
I won't let any more of you touch her!” an unrecognizable male screamed.

Another voice she couldn't place said, “Shut up, Zach! How can she help?”

“She can counteract the poison. Let her, I beg of you! The longer we wait, the less likely Jess is to survive.” Jessica clung to the comfort of Blade's voice. Death would be easier to bear if he was near. She screeched at the pain to leave her be and let death take hold. The hot knives diced deeper through her.

“
Why should we trust you? You're the one that did this to her in the first place!”

“
I told you to shut up, Zach!”

Jessica's heart throbbed at the sorrow in Blade's voice. “I didn't mean to hurt her. I'll never come near her again after this. I just want to save her.”

The thought of Blade never coming around her again sent a fresh wave of despair through her. Her mind shrieked in agony. He couldn't leave her. Not while she needed him around so desperately to help ease her through death. The world around her was quiet. She longed to hear his voice, she needed it to comfort her. Her body trembled against the terror unleashed upon it. A scream broke the silence until she retched.

Blade moaned and then spoke with mad fury. “Just listen to her, she is dying! You have to let us help!”

“This female seems afraid. Will she really do it?”

“
I'll make her if she refuses,” Blade spat out.

“
Do it then. Quickly!”

Jessica swam through the pain, trying to find a way out of it. To find her way to him. To touch him before the end came. She knew he was close. His touch would ease her pain. If only she could find it. She groped about wildly, struggling to find it against the cascade of terror unleashed upon her. Her grasp came up empty of comfort except for the fiery knives. Fighting to open her eyes, she failed.

“How long has she been saying my name?”

“
Off and on since it happened.”

Blade spoke again, but she couldn't understand what he was saying. She didn't care. As long as he was there she could deal with anything. If only he'd wrap his arms around her and hold her until she left. The pain heightened and her body flailed against it.

Something cool touched her abdomen and the torture eased a bit. The cooling spread, battling the fire pokers and acid as it went. She hadn't expected death to come like that. Why didn't it ease all her pain at once and take her from this broken world? She struggled to open her eyes again. This time, they responded with a heavy fluttering. Her eyes took in several blurry shapes. She concentrated on the one she knew had to be Blade.

“
Her eyes are open!”

“
It must be working.” Blade's voice soothed her more, and the pain slipped further away.

“
She wants you. Go to her.”

“
I can't.”

“
You will!”

The hot torture increased again and Jessica struggled to breathe against it. Death was cruel. It refused to take her in a quick scoop, instead taunting her with bits of relief. Why wouldn't it release her? Something brushed against her hand.

“Jess, can you open your eyes again?” Blade's voice was close to her ear. “You need to fight this. Come on, open your eyes again and look at me.”

She wanted to obey him. He was making her death as comfortable as it could be with all this pain, she would give him whatever he asked. She fought her broken eyelids until they staggered open. Blade's tortured eyes stared back at her.

She listened as he muttered something unintelligible. A female voice muttered back in the same unintelligible words. The coolness intensified, spreading across her abdomen, and the pain continued receding. Jessica grew more lucid with every passing minute. Lucid but exhausted. Death was being kinder than she expected. One pain-free moment to be with him. Realizing she was repeating Blade's name over and over again, she controlled the words.

“
Don't leave me, Blade.”

The muttering around the room she hadn't realized was there went silent. Blade shifted in his chair.

“She’s talking more!” Zach shouted from somewhere in the room.

Jessica ignored him and everyone else except Blade. His eyes no longer met her gaze. Panic rose in her chest, threatening to overwhelm her. “Please don't leave me, Blade.”

His gaze rose to meet hers. The multitude of emotions she saw there frightened her. His hand squeezed tighter. “I'm here.”

Her eyes filled with tears. The pain quieted to a stinging ache. She tried to roll onto her side so she could be closer to him, but her weak body failed to respond.

“What do you need, Jess?”

Jessica struggled to speak. “You.”

Blade shifted again and looked behind him. She didn't bother to see what he was looking at; her only thoughts were of him. When he looked back, his eyes shone with resolve. Still holding her hand, he stood up, scooted his chair as close to her as it would go, and sat back down. He said a few more words that she couldn't understand. The female voice replied with a snipped answer.

He reached up to Jessica's face and ran his fingers along her forehead, jaw, and nose. His touch was a cool breath of fresh air against the acid that had tormented her. Death was being kind indeed. She fought to keep her eyes open so she could see him until the moment came. Blade leaned close, his breath warm on her ear and cheek.

“Sleep.”

Jessica turned her head so her cheek rested against his and let death consume her.