Chapter 26
"Considering, my dear, that Randy will probably live, with considerable pain, and I have a very strong chance of dying...tell me where the sadism comes into my brilliant plan?" Taker asked sardonically, completely serious despite his choice in words, sounding tired.
"You told me you weren't going to die and, even if you did, you wouldn't stay dead. Are you going back on your word now, Taker?" She retorted swiftly, trying not to let the fact he might die bother her.
Even though, deep down inside, her heart was slowly turning to stone. Brooklynn couldn't feel anything for him, even though she still did, because more than likely she was going to lose this man. Whether he died destroying Nemesis or afterward when they all parted again. Taker considered that, staring at Brooklynn intently, apparently trying to determine something.
"Would you care either way?" He asked curiously, wondering if it would matter either way to her if he lived or died. Taker knew damn well she didn't care for him, just Mark, which, he loathed to admit it, irritated the hell out of him.
"I'm not answering that."
Brooklynn refused to meet his eyes, swallowing past the lump that suddenly formed in her throat, trying not to show any emotion. It was a trick question; Brooklynn simply knew it and wasn't in the mood for any more mind games from Taker. He told her how he truly felt about her, calling her a little princess and an egotistical bitch, so she was finished and just wanted to get as far away from him as possible.
"Yeah, I didn't think so either." He sighed, standing up and walked over to the bed, stooping down to pick up his bag. "I'll sleep somewhere else since I'm obviously not wanted here." Taker snorted, tossing his black hair over his shoulder and headed for the door.
Brooklynn was battling with herself, half of wanting to say 'you do that' and the other wanting to get off the bed and stop him. Her brain and heart were at war and she felt as though she was being completely torn apart. "I didn't think you cared what I thought and I really don't want to give you any more emotional ammo to use against me, Taker." Her voice was low and quiet, finally letting a few tears slip down her cheeks, resting her head back against the headboard. "Do whatever you want, but I DO care whether you live or die, and I hate myself for it."
Now she was just being a pain in the ass, making Taker sigh exasperatedly as he halted, turning to stare intently at her. "You hate yourself for caring about whether I live or die...has it ever crossed your mind that I don't HAVE to be here? I don't HAVE to do this, Lynn. Did you ever stop to think WHY I'm doing this when I don't have to?"
"Yes, it's crossed my mind a few times, and I'm sure you're going to enlighten me on why you're doing this." She snorted, wiping her tears away angrily, hating to show weakness toward him. "I hate myself because, no matter what you say or do to me, I still fucking love you." Her teeth gritted, jaw tightening, knees bent up with hands clenched so hard, her knuckles turned ghostly white.
"Just what I was hoping to hear." He murmured, the bag dropping from his hand.
In a matter of seconds, Taker had crossed back over to Brooklynn and yanked her into his arms, flush against his muscular body. Without giving her time to speak or perhaps even slap him, his lips were descending on hers in an almost feverish kiss. Brooklynn was really confused, but the feeling of his lips against hers completely made every thought vanish from her mind. Her arms instantly wrapped around his neck, burying her fingers in his black locks, kissing him back with every ounce of feeling and love she had inside of her, not caring about breathing. The only thing that mattered was this moment with his lips against hers and Brooklynn feeling a piece of Mark with her.
As he deepened the kiss, he realized it was all too possible that Brooklynn could've been envisioning him as Mark. After all, they were technically the same person, in a manner of speaking and that annoyed him, and possibly...hurt his feelings for the second time in the same 10 minutes. Taker wanted her to know it was 'Taker, not Mark, she was kissing and would do what it took to make her see the truth. She knew who it was with her, who was kissing her, but Brooklynn also knew somewhere deep inside Mark was there too.
She also knew deep down she fell in love with Taker first, not Mark, though Brooklynn had tried hiding that fact for a very long time. Though she knew this sounded crazy, but she felt she was betraying Mark by wanting Taker, wondering if that even made sense since technically, they were one in the same. He broke the kiss first and instantly attacked her jawline, causing Brooklynn's eyes to drift shut as she clung to him for dear life, becoming completely lost in his touch.
It was when he went to move Brooklynn to the bed, and he probably could have gotten her there too, he actually felt guilt pricking at him. What was it about her...scratch that, he already knew. It was Brooklynn, and she was in love with…Mark, his alter ego, other self, whatever the hell it was. Grunting, he guided her down onto the bed, his lips never leaving her skin, needing to taste her, touch her, have her.
Hours later, Brooklynn and Taker just lay in bed together silently, her hand caressing up and down his stomach, the muscles rippling beneath her soft touch. Her head rested on his shoulder, feeling his chin against the top of her head, closing her eyes as the contentment washed over her. Her leg draped over his, wanting to get as close to him as she could, amber eyes sparkling for the first time in a while. Contentment was an odd thing, Taker reflected, as he caressed the small of Brooklynn's back. He had felt content before, such as after rescuing her from the water when they had been thrown off the bridge, contentment in saving her. He had been content when he had cast a spell that had worked beyond what he had expected it. Now he felt a simple sort of contentment, one that made him feel completely at peace. He had always loved Brooklynn, it came with the territory of being Mark's counterpart.
Sadly, it had crossed past that...he genuinely loved her.
"Thank GOD...they've stopped."
"You know, we could give them a run for their money..." Trish suggested slyly, sighing when all Steve did was yawn, shaking her head with a smile. "Never mind, go to sleep, baldy." She giggled and squealed out when he lifted her from the bed, carting her off to the shower for some playtime.
Brooklynn's eyes opened sometime the following day, she wasn't sure what time it was and didn't care. Though, she did care about the empty space beside her, not the least surprised, tears forming in her eyes. Brooklynn slowly sat up, pulling the sheet to cover her bare chest, suddenly needing a shower as she slid from the bed and headed for the bathroom, the sheet still wrapped around her.
"You can't be serious; I'm getting sick to my stomach just being in the same room as you." Mickie grumbled, wishing for the love of god, Taker, Mark, whoever the hell he was, would just go put on a shirt already. He had come downstairs wearing nothing but a pair of black jeans and a smile that did not look right on his cruel, stony face. "Let alone work with you."
"If we want to end this, you'll have too." He replied, taking a bite from the orange he had just peeled, the juice running down his chin just a little bit. He glanced down at the tray he was assembling for Brooklynn. "What else?"
"She likes blueberry waffles." Randy muttered flatly.
"Morning everyone." Brooklynn greeted from behind, her hair up in a simple ponytail with a long sleeved shirt and jeans. "I know we're all going stir crazy around here, waiting to end this once and for all, and I don't blame you a bit. I've been thinking about this and need your opinions on what to do from here. Taker and I brainstormed last night, but we are a team so any input would be greatly appreciated."
"Advil, lots and lots of Advil."
"I can't work with him, he literally makes me sick!"
"Shit, if it means I don't have to listen to a corpse gettin' it on over my head..."
"You're sick, Steve."
John was lost in giggles.
Randy just kept busy at the counter where he was making blueberry waffles.
Brooklynn turned around four or five shades of red, she wasn't sure, not realizing just how loud they'd been the previous night.
"STEVEN!" Trish scolded, smacking him upside the head hard enough to make everyone wince.
"I really think you need to hand that Advil over to him, Glenn." Beth chortled, shaking her head, standing beside Randy at the counter.
"Be that as it may," Brooklynn was busy trying to get her cheeks to stop flaming, taking the glass of orange juice Melina handed her. "Mickie, if you can't work with Taker, then I wouldn't blame you if you left and went home. I don't want to force any of you to do anything, though I appreciate everything each and every one of you have done. The choice is yours, but like it or not, we NEED Taker for this to end."
Mickie frowned, going red just a little bit as Taker turned his gaze onto her. "It's not that I don't want too, I just get ill when I'm around him, working with him..."
John wrapped his arms around her sympathetically, kissing her brow. "She'd literally hurl her guts."
"Charming, John."
"You two are Witches, figure it out."
"Mickie, we really need your help with this. I don't know when Nemesis is going to pop up again, so..." Brooklynn could not believe she was actually suggesting this, setting the orange juice down. "I'm taking whoever wants to come with me to my place..."
"Lynn…" Trish walked over, placing her hand on the woman's shoulder. "What do you mean your place?"
"I mean my place, where I disappear to whenever we do finish one of our hunts." She turned around, knowing that was forbidden territory. "Nemesis contacted me there once; I just have this feeling he's going to be there, especially since I'm linked to it personally. Whoever is sticking through this until the end, we leave at 7 tonight and I have plane tickets for all of you."
Her eyes locked on Taker's before drifting to Randy's, swallowing hard and taking a deep breath. She was NOT looking forward to seeing her parents again, especially after everything she found out regarding Julia. Randy stared intently at Brooklynn, knowing how possessive she was of her privacy, of her sanctuary, that she never allowed any of them to join her at. He had only been there in... memories, when they had touched and he had seen her soul laid bare, the curse and gift of his power.
"Are you sure?" He asked softly, unaware of the speculative look Taker was now giving him.
"Yes, my place is big enough for all of you and more in virtually the middle of nowhere. There are woods surrounding every part of it and it's...home." She sighed wistfully, staring into Randy's eyes because he was standing in front of her now, knowing he was the only one who ever saw part of her sanctuary. "Somewhere personal is the right thing to do and... I just know it's the place to go. Just... if you all do decide to come, just... don't be surprised by the decor or anything like that." Brooklynn wasn't colorful so she feared some of the things in her house would frighten the girls, cracking a hesitant smile. "Like I said, we leave at 7, please let me know if you aren't coming with no later than 5.
Melina was first to speak, as usual, looking out of place in her black leggings, sparkly off the shoulder black top and black faux furry boots. She was vain and into fashion, but essentially a nice person, usually. "Hell yes I'm going, I've been dying to see what your place looks like for YEARS!"
Glenn rolled his eyes. "Oh great, now you got her started, now I'll never hear the end of it."
"It's four stories and Victorian gothic style with each room having a balcony, a private bathroom; the works." Brooklynn couldn't wait to go home, her eyes showing it and pulled herself up to sit on the counter, chuckling as Melina started squealing with excitement. Nobody knew just how much money she had under her belt and they never would because it was nobody's business, not even Taker's.
"You damn right I'm in and so is Trish." Steve smirked when she simply rolled her eyes, kissing the top of her head. "This is gonna be great finally seein' what your like, Lynn."
"No offense, sweetie, but you've been a complete mystery to all of us for years."
"None taken. Just...please remember it might not be exactly what you think and some things might shock you." With that said, she walked out, needing to go pack for the long trip home.
"You know...someone has got to tell this girl that walking out of a room full of people after having her say is only done in movies and novels..." Melina sighed, though she was still grinning. "Gothic... somehow, I'm not surprised. I bet she has a library with a shelf devoted to Poe."
"I'm going to go be sick now."
"I think I knocked her up." John said proudly as Mickie went to go heave.
"Or maybe she's having an allergic reaction to um..." Glenn looked around. "Hey, where'd he go?"
"He followed her." Randy answered, dumping the entire batch of waffle batter into the sink. "I'm in, but I need a smoke." He slipped outside.
Bringing these people to her home was extremely hard for Brooklynn, but she knew they would never judge her intentionally. She was incredibly nervous as she dragged some bags out and began putting her things in them. Looking up when she felt a presence in the doorway, she didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
"You don't have to come if you don't want to, I meant everyone downstairs." She said hesitantly, zipping the first bag up and plopped it on the floor, trying to make sure she didn't forget anything.
"So you don't have a plane ticket for me?" Taker asked humorlessly, wondering if she really wanted all those people in her house, in her most intimate private space. "Mickie, by the way, is pregnant. That is what's been making her sick, not me." He smirked, pleased with that one. "Twins I think, it was hard to tell."
"That's a stupid question; of course I have a ticket for you, Taker." Her eyes widened at the news of Mickie's pregnancy, chewing her bottom lip, trouble suddenly entering her eyes. "I don't think she should come with us, especially when she's with child. John was nearly killed by Nemesis the last time we tried destroying him... and he's going to be a father." She was thinking out loud now, rubbing her temples, glad it wasn't Taker who was making Mickie ill. "Yeah, I definitely don't think they should come with, that's too risky..."
Taker closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating and then smirked. "Mickie is going to tell you, you can rot in hell right alongside Nemesis if you think she isn't coming. She can be placed behind a shield, away from the action." He relayed with a rueful chuckle and then frowned. "Of course, she might kill John so we'll still be one man down. Maybe we could convince her to kill Glenn instead; his headaches aren't all that useful."