Jeremiah placed a cup of steaming cocoa in front of her, and she wrapped her fingers around it. But even the warmth couldn't stop the cold-the fear. Jeremiah slowly sat across from her, keeping his eyes directly on hers. Steady eye contact-always a good sign.
Meggie brought the cup to her lips and sipped, waiting expectantly. He exhaled and she straightened. How good of a story teller was he?
"Roxanne had a son with my father. I have a younger sister, and although I love her very much, and will protect her, it could not quench my thirst for a brother."
Meggie interrupted.
"If you love your sister-why didn't you think of Brianna?" Her eyes were hard.
He held up a hand.
"I'll explain. Do you promise-no more interruptions?" She nodded.
"Yes." She whispered. "I promise."
Though she did not know how long she could keep it.
"He was only my half brother, yes. But I loved him." Jeremiah's voice was fierce now.
"He was five when he died, still a baby."
"How?" Meggie could barely speak. "How did he die?"
"Oh she claims it was an accident," he said bitterly.
"But Brianna and I know it wasn't."
Meggie's eyebrows shot up.
"Brianna?" Try as she might she could not bring herself to like Brianna.
"We connected over it. We both shared him-we both felt the loss."
"But how?" Meggie pressed.
"Roxanne was a fearful person."
Once again Meggie's eyebrows shot up. She could not visualize Roxanne ever being afraid.
"She didn't feel safe from my father-because she was his youngest son's mother. Roxanne developed a hunting habbit. She had a gun and would practise. The stupid bitch took Jared-his name by the way- and says she accidentally shot him. Twice," Jeremiah sneered. Meggie gasped, hands flying to her mouth in horror.
"I found her there, we argued. And then I found her sick daughter coughing. Roxanne was nowhere to be found. I took her to Brianna and Rosanna asked us to take the pain away. Brianna was sobbing, and even I was crying. I shot her in the head-and she died instantly.
Meggie could taste her sour tears everywhere.
"I'm not sorry." He said firmly. Blindly Meggie reached for his hands, pulling him towards her.
"It's okay." She breathed. She brang Jeremiah's head to her chest as she hugged him, not sure who's tears were who's.
"Do you still want to be with me?" he asked, voice muffled against her sweater.
"Yes, yes I do. Kiss me." Meggie pleaded. Needing, wanting his lips on hers.
Hungrily he ate her up, and they were kissing with such a passion that it scared Meggie, yet excited her too.
And suddenly she was ripped away, and familiar warm hands had pushed her back behind it's build. Meggie felt herself go cold. Dread trickled through her but Jeremiah was the picture of calm. He stood up, looking bored.
"Can I have her back." Itw as not a question. Dustfinger's voice was quiet, but it scared her more than shouting every could.
"You may certainly not. If you think I'm letting you anywhere near her, you're not as smart as I thought."
"Jealous?" Jeremiah asked. From behind, Meggie saw Dustfinger's entire body tense.
"I have a wife. One you seem set on destroying."
"She-"
"I don't want to hear it now. I'm taking Meggie and if I ever see you near her again I will not hesitate to kill you." Meggie's eyes popped open at the threat, though Jeremiah just smiled lazily.
"You can't keep us apart."
Dustfinger took a menacing step forwards, and Meggie took one back, as if he were advancing on her.
"I can and I will. Do you understand?"
"Eh," Jeremiah shrugged.
Dustfinger smirked and Meggie took another step back, eyes on Jeremiah. He nodded slightly to the door and she backed away to it.
"This tough guy act you've got going on? Yeah well, it's only an act. I'll be back later." Meggie turned on her heel and walked out, heart slamming against her chest as dread and fear carefully tossed it between them.
She heard footsteps and was about to run when she was picked up and swung over Dustfinger's shoulder.
"Hey what are you doing?" she cried. She tried to shift, tried to move, but he had her firmly perched there.
"You will try to run. I know you Meggie."
"I've been wanting you near me for ages-why would I run?" she let slip slyly. Dustfinger said nothing.
Meggie hung there, bored, before she spoke, tossing her words carelessly. Words had done too much damage for her to care about them.
"He told me, you know. I also overheard you and Roxanne, first. But I know. Everything."
Dustfinger halted in mid step and shoved Meggie off. She fell on the ground, hard.
"Ow!" she said, as a slight sting shot up her spine.
Dustfinger hovered over her, furious, and she cowered back.
"You may know it by words but you don't know it by feeling!" she opened her mouth.
"Ah!" he cut her off, holding up a hand.
"And you will no longer see Jeremiah, do you hear?" Meggie rolled her eyes.
"I can see whoever I want."
"No, you can't. You can't be with him Meggie!" He was almost pleading with her, however hard he tried to hide it, Meggie could see.
"Why?" she cried, outraged. "Because he's 'dangerous'?"
"Yes!" Dustfinger bellowed. Meggie crawled away from him.
"Well no. This is my life, I choose to see who I want and you can't stop me!" A part of her wanted him to so badly that it ached.
"I can! I'm sure your father would love to hear about him." Meggie, who'd been on the verge of standing up, slowly sunk back down.
"You wouldn't." she squeaked. That was low, extremely low.
"Try me." He breathed. The words were so inviting.
Dustfinger smiled when she said nothing.
"So it's settled." Meggie glared up at him. He was like a cat who'd finally gotten his bird.
"You will stay away from Jeremiah." She took a deep breath as she asked what Jeremiah had asked. It had only been a good few minutes before, but it seemed like lifetime ago. Dustfinger had that effect on her, all time stood still with him.
"Are you jealous?" She smiled as the grin was wiped from his face.
"No." He siad roughly. She stood up and walked over to him.
He stood his ground, though not as composed as he was before, and she stared up at him.
I dare you, Meggie. Voices sung to her mind, her heart.
I dare you…
She gave into temptation, and into the voices .
She kissed him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meggie: I...uh, I. . . . .
Dustfinger: . . . .am speechless.
Me: For once you both are. This is amazing.
Meggie: I can't. . . . .
Dustfinger: Woah. . ..
Me: No comprehendo?
Dustfinger: Wow, Rewrite-An-Ending-That-Fits, you actually kept to your word.
Me: Eh?
Dustfinger: You promised she would be worth it. . .
Me: (looking insulted) I do keep to my word you know. Just because I don't do it straight away. . . .
Meggie: I want to know what happens next!
Me: Ask the readers to review then?
Meggie: Damn it readers, review because that was hot!
Me: Ahaha
Dustfinger: . . . . . .
Me: And you did all that denying. . .
Dustfinger: (weakly) I love Roxanne
Me: (patting him on the back) It's okay, it's okay
Meggie: Review!!!!!
