Page 48 of Volt
Chapter Nineteen
Fallon
I step back and look at the canvas, a smile crossing my lips. I think it’s good. Really good. I think I might have unlocked that missing emotional component. Or at least, I think that maybe Blake helped me unlock it. But as I look at the canvas, I think it tells a story. And I think it will connect with people on a visceral level.
“Wow. That is fantastic.”
My heart leaps into my throat, and a squeal escapes me as I spin around and find Blake standing there. He’s leaning against the doorway with his arms folded over his chest, the picture of casual repose.
“Jesus Christ, you scared me,” I gasp.
“I’ll be sure to start wearin’ a bell,” he replies.
“Smart-ass. How did you even manage to get in here? The doors were all locked.”
He laughs. “Would you believe me if I said magic?”
“No. I wouldn’t.”
“Well, magic is the answer that’s more fun,” I say. “But the real answer is that I’m a whiz at picking locks.”
“Great. That’s good to know,” she replies. “So, can I expect you to turn up unexpectedly at all hours?”
“If you’re lucky.”
I laugh and step over to him, melting into his body as he pulls me into an embrace. I take a moment to relish the feeling of his strong arms around me. I turn my face up to his, and he plants a gentle kiss on my lips then I step back and turn to my canvas again, admiring the work. It’s on the darker side which probably appeals to Blake. The painting is filled with shadowy figures all around the border, but on the center is a figure down on its knees. There are suggestions of violence woven through the painting and it’s done mainly in black, dark blue, and white.
“That’s really amazing work,” he says. “This is exactly what I was talking about, Fallon. This is exactly what I told you. I can really feel the emotion in this piece. This is gut-wrenching. It’s a kick to the nuts for sure.”
I smile under his barrage of compliments, feeling my cheeks flush with color. It seems like it’s been so long since I’ve heard anything truly complimentary about my work that I’ve forgotten how to take it.
“So, aside from trying to give me a heart attack, what are you doing here?” I ask.
“I just thought I’d stop by.”
I look at him closely for a moment and can see there’s something troubling him. One thing I’m learning about Blake is that although he can be stone-faced when he wants to be, when he’s not thinking about it, he wears his heart on his sleeve. The emotions on his face are easy to see. I’ve found that unless he’s deliberately trying to be blank, I can look at him and know exactly how he’s feeling.
“What is it?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
“That’s a lie,” I say. “I can see it in your eyes.”
He smirks. “What are you, a mind reader now?”
“No, just a very keen observer of the human condition,” I say. “As an artist, it is my responsibility to see into the souls of people and get at what’s making them tick.”
He laughs softly. “And what is making me tick?”
“More than I can even say right now,” I tell him and laugh. “But there’s something going on for real right now.”
He sighs and leans his head back against the doorframe, looking up at the ceiling. He takes a minute to gather himself and frowns.
“Zavala came to the compound today. Dropped in unexpectedly.”
“My God. What happened?”
“Nothing. I think he just wanted to check us out more than anything. He wanted to see what he was dealing with.”
