Page 16 of Worse Fates
This unexplained pull isn’t a comfort, however. Stepping back until I’m against the wall, I glance around, panic setting in as air saws in and out my lungs. Another dizzy spell tries to shake me, but I fight back.
“Why do I know your name? Are you in a gang? Is that how I know you?”
“Golden.” He starts towards me. “Please, calm down.”
“This is a trick, right?” The edges of my world fuzz, and creep inwards like a TV screen slowly shutting off. “Jace is behind that door, right? He’s going to drag me back?”
Rage twists his face and I flinch until I’m huddled in a corner, my chest tightening with each breath.
“I’m sorry,” Lucero rushes out, face smoothing. “I didn’t mean to scare you, Golden, I promise. You’re safe with me.”
“What’s going on!” I scream, my fists twist in on themselves, until my nails dig into my flesh, and even biting pain isn’t enough to stop my rising panic. “Because fuck you, I won’t go back!”
“I don’t know this Jace person, but if I did I would tear his heart out for scaring you.” Lucero takes one step closer, and when I don’t react he takes another until he’s in my space. “I will never hurt you.Never. Now, you asked me if monsters are real. Ask me again, beautiful.” He cups my face, and I realise I’m crying again, I have no idea why. He wipes away each drop.
“Lucero…” I move into his chest, that safe floating feeling taking me over. But this time I’m scared, scared there’s a part of myself I never knew I had that belongs to him. I unclench my fists and lay them on his hard chest. The act makes me feel vulnerable, safe, and his.
Something is happening, a shift in fucking time and space that steals my breath and replaces it with his.
I hate it. I love it. I don’t understand it.
“Lucero, are monsters real?”
“Yes,” he whispers, his breath a caress across my lips.
“Are you one?”
He leans closer and I’m lost. Captured in his eyes, floating and safe and his name on repeat, a song in my ears becauseI know him.
“Yes, beautiful. I’m a monster.”
The dizziness I’ve been fighting swells high enough to swallow, no longer willing to be ignored, and my legs give out. But I trust I won’t hit the floor, Lucero will keep me safe. I’m stupid for trusting him, but I do. And the moment his arms capture me, all I feel is home.
Then…darkness.
Chapter Six- Lucero
His name is Golden.
It’s funny, how unoriginal fate appears to be. Or maybe she simply wishes I’d finally take note and make this one into a vampire, tired of bringing my soulmate back.
I carry his small unconscious body to the plush king-sized bed and lie him gently on the mattress. The only thing I remove is his scuffed boots before draping a white cover over him.
My soulmate, so much has happened to him today and it was simply all too much after Rurik’s bite. Everytime I reencounter my love the experience is …overwhelming.
I kneel beside him, laying my head on the same pillow. His face is sweetly curved, lips soft and dusty-rose. Eyes at a slight tilt, lashes thick and eyebrows full. As always, I’m drawn to him; a flower to sunlight, parched soil to rain. A source of life for my soul.
However, he's a whirling storm. I’m not sure yet if he needs help to quell it, or feed it. It doesn’t matter to me.
I twine one of his curls around my finger.
I will be whatever he needs.
Already the apathy is slipping away. I can’t remember the last time my heart was filled with lightness and not bogged down by the dullness immortality brings. Once he knows we’re soulmates I can fully live again by his side. His love, in whatever form, will be a gift and one I’ll return tenfold.
How I want to pull myself next to him, whisper words of love and comfort. Then find out who this Jace person is and remove him from the earth.
But now isn’t the time.
