Page 8 of Cedar Edge
“I’m not rescuing you from Ace.” Law says by way of greeting, his voice fighting the storm over the speakers in the car.
“I’m on HWY 2 just past Marla’s place. There's someone in the road, they fell from the woods.” I respond, ignoring the response I really want to give him.
“Are they hurt?” Law says, his voice shifting to work mode. In the background I can hear his keys jingle before the quiet murmuring of him telling his deputy he’ll be back.
“I don’t know. I can’t tell from here.”
I know what he’s going to say before his voice echoes over the speakers and I’m moving to unbuckle. “Grab a flashlight and go check”
“Hold on.” I grumble before I’m throwing myself out into the storm.
The moment I’m outside the unease grows until it feels like electricity crackling over my body. My fingers feel itchy as I edge closer. I click the safety off the firearm, not willing to be caught unaware. I flick my flashlight on and the beam illuminates dark, shoulder length hair partially covering a slim face.
“Oh fuck me.” I mutter, creeping closer. “Hello? Do you need some help?” They don’t move. Holding my breath I edge closer. The wind whips around us and when I’m practically on top of the figure they shift giving me a sigh of relief that at least they are alive. I let the beam of light fall across her body, illuminating her face. The world seems to slow down and speed up all at once as I make out the familiar features of the female that hasn’t left my mind in years.
Dropping to my knees I quickly put the safety back on the gun, tucking it behind my back. My hands shake as I hover over her. “Thea?”
Her name is a broken sound that the wind tries to take but against all odds she seems to hear it. Her eyes blink open, glassy and unfocused as she frowns. She looks frail, broken, and almost unrecognizable. Her once blonde hair is dark and shorn off at her shoulders. I think she mouths my name before something that looks like ‘go away’.
“Sorry Tink, can’t do that.” I growl right before I scoop her up. I hold her to my chest for a split second, soaking up the feel of her against me before the world seems to come rushing back and I’m sprinting back to the Jeep.
“Law!” I cry in a rush, throwing open the door to the passenger side. Panic seems to wedge itself in my throat as I look at the blue tinge of her lips, a stark contrast against the abnormally pale color of her face, as if her soul is being drained away. “Fuck fuck fuck!” I can barely breathe as I press my ear to her chest, praying to hear a heartbeat.
“Lo? What's going on? What is it?” Law demands, no doubt hearing the panic in my voice.
A small rush of relief pulses through me when I get a faint heartbeat. I pull away from her letting out a long sigh. “It’s… fuck me you won’t believe it. Just. Just get home. NOW, Law!”
Chapter Four
Manchineel: “The sap is so concentrated that just brushing past the tree can cause blisters, and when it rains even the water that drips from the leaves and branches can cause blindness and even strip paint from cars parked beneath.”
-Fez Inkwright,Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants-
Thea
It's the smell of pine and smoke that brings me from my slumber. The scent is comforting as it twists around me like a weighted blanket. A distant part of me seems to think I need to wake up but the larger part can’t resist this sense of safety and comfort that both sleep and the scent bring me. So I allow it to drag me back, enjoying being blissfully unaware of my surroundings.
I press up to my tip toes, lips hovering close to his. Nerves rattle my bones as I slide my hands up his chest. Outside the room the party is alive and well, the music from the speakers muffled through the closed door. Ever since Ace kissed me I’vebeen haunted by the feel of his lips against mine, and pissed that he awoke a deep hunger in my soul only to leave again. . I had meandered around the apartment we all shared like a god damn ghost, simply waiting for them to come home and breathe life into me.
“What are you doing?” Ace asks. He sounds breathless and his muscles feel taught under my hands.
“Finishing what you started.” I say with less confidence than I wanted.
“Oh really?” He asks with a dark voice. “Been thinking about that have you?”
I take a deep inhale, my eyes closing briefly as I force myself to say the words. “Yes. All the time.”
Ace’s hands find purchase on my hips and drag me closer to his body, our lips now so close it would take nothing for me to kiss him. “Tell me.” He demands.
“I…. I think about your lips when I use my vibrator. I wish it was you and not a toy.” The words feel weird coming from me, and embarrassment pools in my core. But before I lose my courage I press my lips against his.
He freezes against me for a split second before he’s moving. His hands pushing me back against the wall as he kisses me back. His tongue sweeps out and forces me to part my lips and allow him entrance. My head swims from the feeling and when his hands travel from my hips to my breasts I let out a moan.
He kisses down my neck, nipping and sucking. His hands fumbling with my clothes. “I… Ace, wait. I’m a virgin.” Ace pauses, his body pulling back from mine. I reach out for him with a frown. “I just wanted you to know that I want you to take it.”
He shakes his head, dragging his hands through his hair. “Fuck! God damn it! You're killing me Cricket… I can’t… we can’t…”
I flinch from the words and embarrassment floods me. I back away from him curling in on myself. I’m almost to the door when it’s flung open, flooding the room with light. It's enough to illuminate the tortured look on my stepbrother’s face. I hate myself. So I flee. Flee from the shame and the reminder that I misread this whole situation.
