Eric - Part 6
Enough
"Here's the report on the instigator serum," Blaze said walking into my office.
"Thanks," I said. "You can put it right there," I nodded and then turned back to my computer.
"Since when did you take over weapons development," Blaze questioned.
"Since two initiates were poisoned," I stopped typing and looked back at him. "And I did not take over weapons development. I just want to see their reports on the items they keep down there."
"It seems like much more than that."
"What are you trying to insinuate Blaze?"
"You think Abigail isn't doing a good job," Blaze shrugged.
"Is that what you're questioning me on?"
"Do you believe she's failing," he questioned.
"No," I shook my head.
"Then why…"
"I asked for the report because weapons development has to be held accountable for the poisoning of two initiates. I can't allow dangerous poison that wasn't authorized to be stored here to fall in the wrong hands. Part of my job is to make sure the initiates are safe. They will be future members one day. Our future as a faction needs to be protected," I explained. "Not that you needed to know what I do."
Blaze chuckled. "Always trying to be a Dauntless," he mocked.
"I am not trying, I am succeeding. At more things than one I might add," I stated as I stood up from the desk.
"You talking about the Amity," he eyed me out.
"That's for me to know and you never to find out," I smirked.
"I'm going to take over weapons development," Blaze crossed his arms. "Just so you know."
"I highly doubt that."
"Max and Deacon will approve."
"All four leaders have to approve," I reminded him.
"We'll see about that," he turned. His hand grabbed the door knob and he looked over his shoulder. "We'll see about the Amity, too."
After he left, I called Dillon. "Get over here."
"What do you need now," he asked as he entered my office.
"Find me Ana," I said.
"She doesn't like being summoned."
"Just go and get her. I'll deal with her," I sighed.
"You've been calling her up here a lot lately haven't you?"
"Go and get her," I yelled.
I was greatly stressed trying to figure out what Jeanine was doing with our guards, figuring out who was poisoning Ana and then Blaze had to come along and wreck things more than what they already were.
It's not that I had trust issues with Ana. Maybe I did. Maybe we both did. But I didn't like the fact that Blaze challenged me. He did it more than Four. Four hardly bought it up anymore. But Blaze, I shook my head. He was going to be a leader soon and that meant that he would have an equal say in things like me. I didn't like it. I didn't like that he had his sights on Ana either.
A knock at my door pulled me out of my reverie. I walked over to open it and sighed.
"Ana."
She turned and put on a smile. It wasn't big but it was enough to make her eyes shine. It was enough to make me feel better. Ana took those three steps between us with her pleasing smile and wrapped her arms around me.
I bought my arms around her. I had never held a girl like this before and though I didn't want to admit it now. There was nothing compared to the feeling of being held like this.
"Thank you," I whispered into her hair. "I know you don't like being summoned."
She pulled away and smiled up at me. "For you, I don't mind," she stated before leaning up to kiss me.
When she walked into the office I forget everything that was bothering me and let her presence calm me. She had started filing paperwork as she usually did while I completed my work at my desk. We rarely said anything to each other, satisfied just by having the company of the other. Every now and then, she would start humming a song and I couldn't resist pulling her over to me.
I sat on my desk and pulled her to stand between my legs, giving her a kiss. We would look into each other's eyes and I was a goner. Her touches were always soft. She'd let me hold her for a moment before returning back to her work, only to have me pull her back to me a few minutes later. These were peaceful times and I enjoyed them. I never thought anything could be this way.
After a couple hours, I turned to see that it was dinner time. Ana was still filing things and I had to remember to thank her later. I was able to find information quicker than before. She changed the filing system in my office to something that truly proved to be efficient and practical. Something else that I knew sort of showed her Erudite ability. I had that to worry about too. I needed to keep her safe from my Aunt and Mother.
I reached my arm around her waist and leaned down to gently bite at her shoulder. "I'm about to lock up."
She turned in my arms and graced me with another one of her heavenly smiles. "I'll see you later."
Her hand went behind my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. I had a feeling the second our lips touched that she wanted more. But right now wasn't the time. I pulled back to see her holding back a pout. It made me smile.
"Go to dinner and be safe," I kissed her forehead before walking her to the door.
Confront
"You kept attacking one of the initiates, Elsa," I yelled.
"What do you care if I am? Is it because she's the one you're banging now?"
"I care about every single one of those future members of Dauntless," I said as she huffed and rolled her eyes. "They don't need you out there wanting to take them out like that. And for your information, I didn't bang the initiate. It's against the rules for me to show partiality."
"You know what, I don't care, Eric! Do what you want with whoever you want. That's fine with me. But I'm just participating in the initiate missions because I was asked to," Elsa pouted, crossed her arms and sat back in the chair.
"Your actions during the mission were uncalled for! You..."
"Uncalled for? Isn't the point of this to make them work for their spot in Dauntless? It's not my fault that she's weak."
"Weak?" I started to laugh. "You seriously think that she's weak?!"
I turned the computer around and played the video for her.
"Does that look like someone who is weak?"
"She looks innocent, too innocent to be with you," she replied.
"Well that innocent initiate was able to take away your only weapon."
"So she disarmed me, that don't mean anything."
"She basically handed your ass to you," I laughed again. "And you're calling her weak?!"
I couldn't believe the excuse Elsa was trying to come up with. It really got to me. For a moment I wondered what I ever saw in her.
"That's just it, isn't it Elsa? There's nothing but a piece of ass in front of me," I stopped and looked over at her. That's all it was for me with Elsa.
"That's all she is too, Eric. She is just some new girl that captured your interest. Give it time and you'll get tired of her too," Elsa stood up and leaned over the desk. "Because there are a lot of things I'm sure she can't do, that you'll come to me for."
"You make it seem that that's all I want."
"It is," she said as she walked around the desk. "Isn't it? Once you get her, you'll just throw her away and be wondering where did Elsa go? Well, Elsa is right here, baby. Right here and..."
"Elsa is going to go and sit back down in that damn chair over there," I said sternly which made her stop and turn on her heels. "There are some things that only certain girls are good for, Elsa. And some things that, well, they never will be good at."
She started to laugh. "You're telling me that I wasn't good enough? Is that what this is? Because I didn't turn you on enough? I told you that we could new things. I told you that I willing," this time it almost seemed like she wanted to cry.
"Well, it was good, some of the time," I chuckled again. "But that is not what I was talking about. I am a man, so I won't deny that I want some. But that's all that you're good for. I need something more."
"I can't believe you would choose her over me."
"It's not that I'm choosing some other girl above you. I think it's finally me choosing myself and what really makes me happy."
"What could make someone happier than sex?"
"The fact that you need to actually ask that question, makes me realize where I went wrong. Well," I said standing. "Don't pull that little stunt you did again. You are not, and I repeat not, to antagonize the initiates further than need be. Is that clear?"
"Don't mess with them during the missions, it's understood," she said standing. "Just to let you know, Eric, I'm the last person you want to reject."
"I think I've already done that, though. Many times, if you remember," I smirked at her as I saw her face boiling with anger. "Don't fucking ever come back to my office again."
She screamed and ended up running outside.
Confidence
I saw how reluctant Blossom looked with the axe. To be honest, I knew that Ace and Kenny would catch on quickly. Ana repeated the motions and I knew she was a fast learner but something was holding Blossom back.
"Alright, so are you folks going to work this," I asked. They all turned to look at me confused. "Getting the box that is."
"You're letting us plan it out ourselves," asked Blossom.
"Yes."
"But," she paused and looked around. "You really think we can do it on our own?"
I walked up to her, staring her down, challenging her. She was Peter's sister after all. Peter had a drive, motivation and focus. It seemed that she only had that with her brother around. Well, she was on my team today, so she needed to have that now, without him.
"You saw the warehouse didn't you?"
"Yes but…"
"Not to mention that I have a couple strong initiates here," I grabbed onto Kenny's shoulder and nodded to Ace. "Their strength is more than just brawn and physical power. I have a couple initiates who are calculative and discerning," I pointed towards Ana and Apollo. "Despite their differences," which are many, I thought. "I know you'll collaborate well together especially with you as the final member of this team."
"But, I..."
"You are the underdog. The girl who was last but still was able to capture the flag at the end of the game. The girl who was beaten unconscious more than once but still was able to overcome that and move on to stage two. There was a saying that my father told me once back in Erudite. It's not about the size of the dog in the fight it's the size of the fight in the dog. You may be the underdog here among your initiates but you have a determination that drives you more than they do. You have all the odds against you, yet for some reason, you beat those odds. You have that fight because you want to prove everyone here wrong. I've been taught after being here for so long that you should never underestimate the underdog."
"We're your underdog team," asked Blossom.
I shook his head. "No, I got a top notch team here who can come up with the plan themselves."
She must have understood and that discerning look in her eye was part of her Candor upbringing trying to read my emotions. She couldn't appear weak right now and I wasn't about to let anyone on my team look weak. She turned to Ana and I saw her eyes burn.
"Are you ready, Blossom," Ana asked.
"Hell, yeah," she replied and gave me a high five. "Kenny, you're team muscle."
"As always," he said flexing his arms with a smile.
"We're going to get in quick. Keep an eye out for another," Blossom advised. "We need to be quick at getting to the back. Don't let anything stop us. Ace," she turned to him.
I listened to their plan and it was like everyone else's plan. The only ones who caught on quickly were of course those two Erudite-born initiates. Other than that, no team was going to outdo my plan. Four told me that was wrong of me to do so but we had to train them not just to use weapons but to use their brains as well.
"Wait," Ana's voice spoke up. "I don't think we should go to the back."
I turned to look at Ana. How did she?
"Tell me that I'm wrong," she smiled.
She wasn't. I looked away, wondering how she could have figured it out.
"You think the box isn't going to be there, don't you," Kenny asked.
"Come on, think about it," she explained. "I haven't gone in Four's building yet. But I know that Blaze and Uriah's were hidden in the back of the building. It seems practical for them to make us work so hard to get to it. But Eric," she looked over at me and then lowered her voice. "Eric came from Erudite. He just said so himself. It's logical for him to hide it in the front."
"What are you getting at," asked Ace.
"I know," Apollo nudged Ana. "It's logical for Eric to hide it in the front."
"But then we would find it quicker, right," asked Kenny.
"No offense to Dauntless, Kenny but Ana is right," Blossom stated. "Naturally, where would you put the box?"
"I would hide it in the back, make people work for it. Place a strong front and take them out as they got close," Kenny answered Blossom.
"Exactly," Blossom said. "I get where you're going with this Ana."
"Well I don't," Kenny said.
"It's like this..."
As Ana started to explain I stared at her in awe. This girl really did have a brain on her. She didn't just pick up things from her brothers when she went to visit them during visiting day. She truly learned to use her mind. It was in that moment, watching her work the plan out with her team that I came to truly appreciate my feelings for her.
In a sense she was just like any other girl here, cute face, pretty smile, burning eyes and a sexy body. A lot of girls were like that. But to compliment her cute face, it had a calculating brain. Behind that pretty smile was an opinionated mouth. Those eyes also held an unending search for answers and a desirous physique was put together with compassion for those around her.
That's what made her different. That's what made her stand out to me. She had hit me hard. Yes, she truly was something else.
"We need to be able to think out of the box so to speak, like Eric," Blossom finished.
"So new plan," asked Kenny.
"New plan," Ana confirmed.
"Five minutes," I yelled to everybody else.
I turned to Ana and saw her smile brighten. The only downside to all of this was that if she truly was divergent, as I suspected earlier, I had a lot to do in order to protect her from my family. Ana was mine.
I scanned the room. Jeanine could have them all but I didn't want her to take Ana from me.
Sacrifices
"None of this was discussed with me, Jeanine," I looked at her on the screen.
"What are you getting upset for? I was merely thinking of your Mother and Eve's safety as well," she straightened out. "Aren't you the least bit concerned about the daughter of your deceased sister? The granddaughter of your deceased father," she questioned.
"Don't talk to me about their death like you had nothing to do with it!"
"It was all in the name of science, Eric. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made for the greater good," she narrowed her eyes at me.
"Sacrifices? Is that all that my father was to you?! Your sister's own husband? You practically spoon fed him serum after serum, for your own goals! And don't you dare bring Eve into this," I stood up.
"You remember Eric, everyone serves a purpose. You have a purpose there in Dauntless. As much as you think you're a leader there, you still answer to me," she stood up on her end with anger radiating off of her. "I put you there and I can take you out of there, so you will do exactly as you are told. Find those divergent and bring them to me. I need their data in order to..."
"They're people too, dammit!" I slammed my fists on the desk.
"Well," she said smiling. Jeanine walked around her and disappeared from sight. "They are people, too," she mimicked mockingly.
She laughed and then appeared to sit down by another screen.
"It's her, isn't it," Jeanine questioned and interlocked her fingers while sitting at the desk. I didn't respond but simply sat back down. "Caleb, bring up the communication file 645."
An email appeared on the screen. It was a locked message but it had copies of Ana's files attached to them. It was sent to someone in Erudite.
"Where did you get that from," I questioned.
"We intercepted it. As smart as she is, we were to get around the code she used. In the end we linked it to a specific location in Dauntless. I hate to admit it but it took us a while. Like I said she's smart, intelligent perhaps. But it was amateur work. Her mind could have been of great use here in Erudite," Jeanine concluded. "All of that untapped potential."
"Well, it's a shame she choose Dauntless, then. Considering that you just admitted to breaking into our security system at Dauntless, I could..."
"You could what, Eric? I have something against you, so I wouldn't make idle threats."
"You have nothing...
"This girl that you seem to care so much about..."
"You tried that already, my dear Aunt. It didn't work."
"Or did it," she titled her head. "Does she truly care about you Eric? You may have made sacrifices for her but is she willing to do the same? Has she said the same to you?"
I opened my mouth to respond but quickly closed it. Ana said she would stay away from other guys but she did it more out of obedience than anything. I had made her submit to my authority. But what Jeanine said had struck a nerve and she knew it. She had sowed a seed of doubt in me. Did Ana truly care or was she just going along with it for the ride?
"Ah, I see you have no response."
"She does care," I stated, yet still felt a bit uncertain.
"If you are going to risk challenging me Eric, you better make damn sure you have a good reason to fight me! Until then, I will continue to use the guards here at Erudite to protect me. Your security computers will still be under surveillance by Erudite technicians. You and the leaders will continue to look for divergence for me and that nonsense rubble of a contract that Max sent to me, I will have thrown into the fire. You work for me Eric. Everyone does and you remember that well."
"Eric," Dillon burst into my office.
"Not now," I snarled at him.
"It's important!"
"I'm in the middle..."
"There was an attack in the dormitory. One of the initiates is really hurt," he emphasized a couple words and I knew already that it was Ana.
"I need to go. We'll discuss this later," I told Jeanine.
"Don't come to me again with your little tantrums Eric," Jeanine replied. "I'll call you when I decide when to talk with you."
She shut off the communication.
"Bitch," I muttered.
"Family problems," Dillon chuckled.
"You have no idea," I responded putting on my jacket. "Tell me how bad is it, Dillon?"
"It's really bad, Eric." I took off towards the infirmary hoping for the best.
Safe
"Eric," Six said watching me walk down the hallway. "She's stable but I think it's best if you didn't..."
"Get out of my way, Stiff."
"Eric," Four stood in front of me.
"Honestly, I am not in the mood to deal with either of you." Four took a couple steps back and I walked into the infirmary. "Where is she?!"
The sounds of my voice caused Blossom, who was sleeping on a nearby chair, to jump up. She looked towards the bed in front of her that was lightly blocked by some hanging curtains. I marched over there, which made Marlene walk my way as well. Why did everyone want to stop me?
"She's really badly hurt. She needs her rest," Marlene said but I ignored her and went to Ana's bedside anyways.
Marlene and Dillon had sugarcoated it for me. Ana looked like she took a beating. The treatment she was given was slowly erasing the bruises but they still remained. Ana was more than just attacked. This looked like an attempted murder. I ran my fingers lightly over the wrap on her stomach. Whoever did this was going to pay.
"What the hell happened," I yelled as Blossom and Marlene cringed. "Well," I stared at Blossom.
"The girl from the missions attacked us," Blossom answered meekly.
"The girl from the missions," I questioned. "I need more information..."
"It was Elsa," Marlene answered. I turned to her. "Ana said that it was her. Claire was there," Marlene added which made me scoff. That was another past whore who just had made my life hell right now. "They had with them..."
"Wait, how many girls were there," I asked in disbelief.
"You honestly didn't think just Elsa would have done that to her," Blossom chuckled. "That girl is nothing but a Barbie."
I glared at her.
"Now is not the time to making jokes, initiate."
"But with all honestly, Elsa knew she was no match for Ana alone. That's why she called for backup," Blossom muttered.
I had to agree with that. And that made me smile. My girl was a fighter. Wait, did I just call her...
"There were eight total," Four said walking towards me. "Three of which were your past indiscretions," Four smirked. "An action of jealousy on their part, if you ask me," he mumbled so everyone else wouldn't hear.
It didn't matter anymore, though. I was in way too deep with Ana.
"You said eight," I turned to Four who nodded. "So no one came to her aid? No one thought to back her up?"
"Blossom and Mina fought alongside Ana," Four explained.
I turned to Blossom to see some scratches and minor bruising on her.
"But when we walked into the scene," Four continued. "Two girls had Mina pinned down, another girl had Blossom in a headlock while four or five girls were on Ana."
I growled and ended up gripping the side of Ana's bed. Elsa and four other girls beat Ana.
"Did they say what they wanted," I asked.
"Elsa, the main one, who chain whipped Ana..."
"She whipped Ana with a chain?!"
"More than once, I'm afraid," Blossom answered quietly. "You should have heard her screaming."
"I don't want to," I growled and kept gripping my hand tightly, calming myself down.
"She whispered something to Ana but I didn't hear what it was."
"Do you have somewhere to go, Blossom," I asked her standing up.
"I was going to stay here with Ana..."
"I'm going to take Ana someplace safe, so I suggest you find some where to go as well."
"Someplace safe? What's safer than..."
"Is Elsa still in the compound, Four," I ignored Blossom and turned to him.
"You're going to need to see Abigail on that one. She had some guards take them down to the docks," Four answered.
"Dillon," I said as he stepped forward. "Take Blossom somewhere safe that she wants to be, probably her brother's apartment. Make sure everything is okay before you leave her there alone," I ordered.
"Why do I have to leave," Blossom asked.
"I don't know exactly where Elsa and her group are. Who's to say Elsa won't come back to finish the job? I can't leave Ana here. And because I know that she'll be thinking about you, I can't leave you here either."
I scooped up Ana in my arms.
"Where are you taking her," Blossom started to cry.
"Someplace safe," I answered. "Four, meet me in Abigail's office."
I walked out of the infirmary with Ana in my arms.
The walk to my apartment was slow. I wanted to be sure not to hurt her further. I placed her on my bed and pulled up the sheet slowly as she stirred.
I must have been an evil person. I was definitely heartless, cruel and cunning. But I wasn't one to believe in karma. Right now though, the saying of what comes around goes around was fresh in my head. I was definitely an evil person.
No one who did the things I did like murder innocent people, hand over unsuspecting divergent to Jeanine or torture and threaten those around me would have good things happen to them.
Someone was off laughing somewhere, thinking that I was fool. I was fool for believing that something good could happen to me. That someone bright and happy would walk into my life because right now here she was hanging on after a damn beating and I was basically the cause of it.
I wasn't good enough. I was presented with this angel, yet I didn't deserve her. After all the things I did, I didn't. It was bliss to think that she could be mine. It was cleansing me to think that I had been given my second chance. When in actuality there was none for me.
I was about ready to let her go. I had to, in order for her to be safe. She would be safer with someone like Scott. I just... I just couldn't have her. I couldn't enjoy her. People like Elsa and Jeanine wouldn't stop at trying to hurt her. I felt my heart literally snap in half at the realization.
I was going to let this angel go. I raised one of my hands to stroke her cheek. She sighed and turned her head more into my hand.
"Eric," she breathed out and I had to smile. She said my name. Even in her unconscious state, I was still fresh in her mind.
I leaned down and kissed her cheek softly. "Ana," I whispered.
"Even in darkness," she mumbled. I pulled back to look at her. "Even in darkness, there's always light," she barely said audible.
That little sentence gave me hope. Hope that she was still mine.
"Eric," she whispered one last time. With that I was more determined than ever.
I locked up the door behind me and headed down to Abigail's. I had things to take care of and now nothing was going to stop me.
Mine
"Um…" Ana released a breath.
I continued to hover over her, teasing her.
"I..." she tried to talk.
Had this really left a bigger impact on her? All this teasing that I was doing?
"I..."
Ana began to whimper from under me. Oh yeah, she was more addicted to this than anything else. I could tell she was expecting me to kiss her, so if I dragged this out any longer, she would totally be mine.
"I know you're upset but physically," I moved my fingers lightly across her face, kissing her cheek. "Are you okay?"
"A little sore but I'm okay," she whispered.
I knew how to get her like putty in my hands. As much as she liked things heated, this, going slow, was going to drive her insane. She was hooked. I lightly kissed her other cheek, then down towards her chin, avoiding her lips. She could tease me all she wanted in the hallway the other day, well, now it was my turn. She was in my apartment, in my bedroom. This was my kingdom, my domain. And in here, I am ruler.
"I'm okay," she repeated as I left open mouthed kisses on her neck.
I could tell her breathing had increased. The mere feeling of her body whimpering under my body was starting to drive me crazy though. I could feel it deep down inside. I just wanted to take her already. I tried to slowly kill the desire that was burning, by even more slowly kissing her. But all the more so, she continued to purr softly under me. It was making me ache.
Her hands moved around my neck and pulled me closer until I was resting right on top of her. Did she just have to feel so warm? It didn't help any that I felt her core teasingly close to me. I tried to slow the kisses down more on top of her body, but this just seemed to excite her more. With her fingers running lightly down my back, it took everything in me to not take her right here. I was like a man possessed. A man addicted to a drug. I wanted nothing more than to belong to Ana and only her.
"Would it be wrong to ask you if we could have sex right now?"
Did she just? Or was I just fantasizing that she wanted me to? Either way, I gave her an answer.
"Technically, I'm not supposed to touch you," I said continuing to kiss her body. And all of that was... "Because you're an..."
"Initiate, I know," she moaned when I nipped at her. "But we are breaking rules right now, aren't we?"
She felt so good, like it was illegal but I had to remember that she was. I pushed myself off from her. Everything was saying to just do it. Break the rules already. She was right. We already were. Then I took her in, as welcoming as she was, I remembered how she looked last night when I laid her down to sleep. She was just beaten yesterday.
"We're both going to have to wait until after initiation is done," I can't believe that I'm following the rules on this one. "Besides, you're not one hundred percent right now. In fact, Ana, I'd feel much better if we cancelled training for today and you'd take this day to rest."
"I said I'm fine, Eric," Ana pushed me back a little and we both sat up. I knew she wasn't going to like that I told her to sit this one out.
"Look, I know I took a beating. But if I don't get back to training and moving around, Four said..." I quickly put my fingers against her lips.
"Don't say another man's name while in my bed."
The memory of Elsa crying out someone's name while I banged her didn't sit well with me. I wasn't going to have Ana do that too.
"Let alone in my apartment," I added remembering that someone else had whispered Four's name while giving me a blow job on my couch.
I moved my hand away.
"Do you understand?"
She nodded and I saw her thinking of how she was going to rephrase her sentence.
"I was told if I don't get back up, they'll know that they've won, Eric. And I don't want her to think that she's won."
"She's supposed to receive her punishment tomorrow, so what does it mat..."
"She's going to think that if I let this get to me, then she won't stop later on. She'll continue to be there and haunt me, trying to take what isn't hers anymore. I need to get back out there, Eric," she did have a point.
Elsa was pretty driven. Once she set her mind to getting something, she usually got it. That's how she got me after a couple years.
"I need to go to finish stage three today. I need to show her that she can't have it, any of it. She can't take what's mine."
I had to smile, because this wasn't just about completing stage three or passing her initiation. This was about me, too. But of course I wanted her to say it.
"And what is yours, exactly," I asked her.
"You are," she said with seduction, veneration, and even a bit possessiveness as her body crawled into my lap. "You are mine."
Hit
"There," said Will as he pointed to a screen. "She's out."
I let out a sigh and shook my head. Will glanced my way, but I waved him off. Ana was attacked, but I couldn't tell who did it or if she was okay, but the second Will said she was out, I was able to relax.
"Well, what do you know," added Six. "Looks like someone's team is on their way back already."
"Fifty credits says it's my team," called out Uriah. "I saw them get their box."
"Well, I double or nothing that it's mine," challenged Four. I turned to him, since when did he get like that? Uriah shook his hand.
"Congratulations, Four," Lauren replied as his team entered. Blaze, Will, and I chuckled as Uriah swiped his card to transfer Four the credits. "Your team came back again fir... Ana?"
At the mention of her name I turned around.
"Ryan, what happened," asked Four walking over.
"She got shot," Ryan answered, but I didn't hear the rest. My heart was pounding once again. I should have commanded her to sit out today. I saw Lauren go over and pull out... What the hell?
"Will, pull up the cameras again," I ordered him.
"She got shot more than once," said Will as we looked at her footage once more. "According to this feed, it looks like her body was shot four times."
"Can we enhance that shot right there," said Six.
"Still nothing," answered Will. The feed was blurry, not to mention cloudy due to the smoke bombs that not only her, but also Ryan and Noah had set off.
"How the fuck can there be nothing," I asked slamming my fists into the computer. It seemed so deliberate this attack on Ana. Not to mention that needle! Who the hell did this?
"Eric," called Four walking up to us. "Why don't you go and check on the initiate, I'll finish up here with Will."
"I don't..."
"Go and see her," he whispered to me. I nodded this time. Perhaps it would set my mind at ease.
Six walked over with me and asked Lauren to see the dart. I saw Ana's eyes widen at it. She was thinking that she was poisoned again. I saw Noah sitting off into the distance staring at her, still worried.
"Ana," I brushed my hand across her face as she laid there. She took in a deep breath and I saw the pain laced in her eyes. "The pain is going to pass okay? It's just a neurostim dart," I lied. This was much more than just a regular dart. I saw Six look my way but I shook my head at her.
Ana wanted to argue, I knew that much.
"Just breath through it and the pain is going to be gone. Just breathe." She closed her eyes and I saw her relax a little. "Six," I motioned to Ana's legs.
"Perhaps we can reverse the process," said Six to which Lauren nodded.
"How is she," asked Will coming by.
"Her body is still trying to calm down but I think Eric was able to get her relaxed," answered Lauren.
"What is this that she was shot with? This isn't the darts that were given to the participants," he held it up.
"It allows the toxins to spread quicker, thus the design," pointed out Six. "That's why we're massaging her muscles. Her nerves are receiving an extra dosage. We need to keep her body from going into shock."
"It's that serious," asked Ryan.
I growled and he turned to look at me. I stared him down. Ana was stubborn enough to come out for the last day of stage three. I didn't need her to get overwhelmed again. She finally was relaxed. But before I could open my mouth, the initiate looked back down. He would listen for now.
"I'm telling you we shouldn't have let you run the route today," said Lauren in a serious tone.
"Today was the last day of stage three," Ana remarked. "I had to. I had to."
I swear to God this girl was so stubborn, headstrong, impulsive, opinionated... Hell with it though. I wouldn't have her any other way.
"Oh my god, you got shot," Peter's sister came running up.
I looked up and noticed the other teams were starting to come in. I would have to go back to keeping my distance. Lauren looked away from Ana and up at me. I lifted an eyebrow at her and noticed who she was looking at. Her damn brother was making his way over cautiously.
"Neurostim dart," he asked Lauren who nodded.
He took a couple steps closer but when he had gotten too close I saw him look up at me and I just stared him down, telling him that was close enough. He cleared his throat and then looked back at Ana.
"They say it wears off after a couple minutes. You should be okay soon, Ana," he told her.
"Thanks Scott," she said softly as Scott looked around nervous. Then I saw him glance towards his friend.
"Was it friendly fire?"
Ana started to laugh a little and Scott smiled. I gripped the table that they had Ana lying down on. Everything in me wanted to break out right now and slam this kid into the ground.
"I don't see how that's funny," replied Peter's sister.
"Neither do I," I gritted through my teeth. But only Six heard me, which I was thankful for. Six moved over Ana's ribs, which put her in the path between me and Lauren's punk idiot brother.
I looked Ana over once more while she spoke to the other initiates. Elsa had taken things too far. I had to talk to Max. He had to get Deacon's decision overruled if I wanted Ana to survive the next three days.
Theory
"Each and every initiate we should view as a potential member of Dauntless," started Abigail. She was the first person I went to inform of what happened today. Four came along with me. And now, now we were in Max's office with Max, Deacon and Clark.
"We have to ask ourselves if allowing these girls to stay, despite their actions, is the right thing for not just this initiate, but the other initiates that were out there? According to the data Four and Eric gave me, she was with Ryan Reynolds, Kimber Marshall and Noah Pedrad. Those girls could have easily shot one of those other initiates," continued Abigail. "Odd thing is, aren't all those initiates' mothers close with your wife, Max?"
"Now wait just one second," said Deacon standing up. "We can't show favoriti..."
"You do not get to talk this time," stated Abigail with all seriousness. "You want to talk favoritism Deacon. Aren't three of your nieces, Bree, Elena and Tasha is it? Weren't they involved in the fight? Isn't that the whole reason why you fed us that bullshit that I was being too harsh in their sentencing?"
"It was harsh!"
"They attacked an initiate, unarmed, and while she was naked in the shower! Beat her with a chain! That could have very well been Tammi Hart in there, Max," she turned back to Max. "Weren't there," Abigail flipped through the file, until I pointed to a page. "There were two other girls who were attacked, held down, bruised up as well! That could have been Max Jr's girlfriend next to Ana in the infirmary," Abigail yelled as Max considered this information.
"If I may add something, Max," I said stepping forward. "The initiate was shot with an agitator dart. Custom fitted in weapon's development for tactical attacks. Bree, Lisa, and Rochelle are in that unit. Lisa and Bree were out there with Elsa in today's shootout. That's..."
"That's all circumstantial," excused Deacon.
I cleared my throat, but he continued on anyways.
"Look we have no concrete evidence that all these girls 'planned' this as Abigail, Eric, and Four point out."
"If so, then why did none of them show remorse for their actions," questioned Abigail. "They all had it out for this girl. There..."
"We never found out their motives did we," asked Max as he stood up and looked out the window of his office.
"We have a theory," said Four glancing my way.
"Well," said Max turning around. "What is it?" Both Four and I hesitated. "Spit it out." I let out a sigh.
"Lover's quarrel," I responded. To which Deacon stood up and slowly walked towards me.
"You're sleeping with the initiate aren't you," questioned Deacon.
"For your information, what I do with my personal life isn't any of your business. But this will settle the matter, then NO," I emphasized. "I have not had sex with the initiate."
"Lover's quarrel," Deacon repeated.
"I'll admit that the initiate has an appeal to her. I wouldn't be a man if I didn't look at her. She's attractive enough. But the lover's quarrel is not with me," I stated as Four looked confused. "I believe she had a secret relationship with Cain Banner. And if I'm not mistaken," I stepped forward to meet Deacon. "Your niece, isn't she involved with Cain Banner? If you ask me that's one motive right there."
"Impossible," Deacon said stepping back. "Tasha informed me that the girl and Cain were over with."
"So you knew about this secret affair," said Abigail. "You knew that your niece could have retaliated!"
"No, I did not!"
"If anything, this falls on you Deacon," argued Abigail.
"Now, now, that's enough," said Max calmly. "As much as we do care about everyone here at Dauntless, we need to get a hold on this situation. We shall meet with the girls to discover their true motives. As for the new evidence that Eric and Four have brought. This shows that these girls will continue to be a danger should we keep them here any longer."
"But..."
Max raised his hand to Deacon. "The punishment though harsh it may have seemed at first, will stand. If they had not acted so immediately, then I would have reduced sentence as you had asked Deacon to six months. Unfortunately, they attacked this initiate again and went as far as disobeying the rules of the game. They could have put other lives in jeopardy."
Max sighed and then nodded towards Clark.
"Clark, see to it that the eight girls that were involved are made aware of this. Tonight they stay, say goodbye to their families, friends, lovers, what have you. Tomorrow we will meet with them one last time, inform them of this. After that they are to accept their just discipline."
"Yes sir," Clark replied and left.
"You are all dismissed. Except," Max looked over at me. "Eric and Four, I want you two to stay."
We waited until Abigail and Deacon had left.
"I have a feeling that there is more to this lover's quarrel theory than meets the eye. Now, I understand that Four, you and um..."
"Six," Four stated.
"Six, yes. I understand that the two of you started a relationship the day she became a member is that correct?"
"Yes sir. I felt attracted to her but of course, knew that it wouldn't be accepted."
"You do know that Four, I highly value and respect you."
Give me a break I thought.
"Amar left a good word of commendation for you. Your work since you've come here, has made been reputable. With you becoming a leader soon, I need clarification on the start of your and Six's relationship."
I gritted my teeth. He would ask me about Ana.
"The day that she was attacked," Four replied.
"There was no record of it..."
"She didn't want to report it," Four added.
I turned to Four. Hell, I didn't even know about this attack.
"Since then I felt the need to protect her more. I found myself drawn to her. Eventually it started an attraction which a day before the final testing, I related to her and she returned."
Max nodded and went to stand.
"May I just point out Max, that you all decided her fate," Four replied. "It was all of you who ranked her first. It was all of you who administered the test and gave her score."
"As well we did," Max sat on the edge of his desk. "As I said earlier Four, I respect you. I had always hoped that you would become a leader here at Dauntless. So I will take your word for it. And I would also want your word on something else," he turned to me. "Do you believe that there is a relationship between Eric and this initiate?"
I huffed and looked away. Of course he would ask Four. Knowing Four, I would get ousted immediately.
"Eric admitted himself that he views the initiate as attractive, but Max I believe that Eric and the initiate are not in a relationship at this moment."
I turned to Four and raised an eyebrow at him. He wasn't going to turn me in?
"For one reason of course, is that Eric doesn't do relationships," Four said.
I shook my head and started to chuckle. I knew what he was trying to do.
"Just jealous because I get more ass than you," I snarled, which of course Four shook his head at.
"There is something called 'love' Eric."
"Well, if you weren't with Six, the second you became leader trust me, the girls would have been lining up for you. That's love for a man right there. That is of course if your stiff ass could keep them."
"I'll have you know..."
"That's enough," Max waved his hand and lowered his head. I looked at Four and gave him a slight nod. He did so in response. Max knew that we didn't get along, so this little act was going to throw him off of questioning mine and Ana's relationship.
"To prove Eric's inability to carry a stable, healthy, mutually respectful relationship," Four continued as I smirked. "Three out of seven of those girls were Eric's past indiscretions," added Four.
"Eric you have certainly been busy haven't you," chuckled Max.
"What's amusing is that Four believes there's only three," I chuckled as well. "Again, Max," I turned away from Four. "There's no denying that the Amity transfer is physically alluring, not to mention that her fighting skills have been made widely known in Dauntless, she does present a tempting package," I almost had to shake her out of my mind remembering what she did to me this morning in my bed.
She was the tempting little cookie, stroking me like how she was.
"However," I cleared my throat trying one last time to shake the memory of her turning me on. "There are rules. And if I should pursue a sexual relationship with her, sir, I will do so well after initiation."
"Excellent," Max replied. "I have had my doubts about you Eric, but I have noticed a slight change in attitude about you. Perhaps like Four, you'd do well to find yourself a nice girl, like Six. Should it be this initiate..."
"I am to wait until after initiation, as Four did," I smirked as Four shook his head.
"Exactly, you understand well," Max added.
Of course he'd want me to be more like the golden boy, Four.
"Well, you two are dismissed."
We left the room and quickly Four turned to me. "Your welcome," he stated and then walked down the hall. "By the way," he called out. "She's in the infirmary still."
I hurried over to the infirmary. Clark would probably have sent word to Elsa and the rest of the girls about their punishment. If I knew Elsa, they'd go looking for her and the first place they'd start would be there. I had to get Ana out and take her to my apartment, yet again.
Books
This was a different feeling having her lay down with me. Yesterday morning, I felt the same type of different. I couldn't explain it. Besides the doubts that haunted my mind, there was something slowly coming undone in me and it was all because of Ana. I continued to lightly touch her. The whole experience was surreal and new. It was refreshing and I actually felt like she was here, just for me. For once, I bought a girl here and without even having sex, I felt complete. Ana was giving me something that I just couldn't name right now. Something weird that was buried deep down within me.
While I was enjoying the comfort that her presence was bringing to my mind, I felt her body move slightly.
"Honestly, I really would have been okay in the infirmary," she sassed. I wrapped my arms tighter around her, knowing what could have happened had I left her in the infirmary. Was she just a temporary item as Four had stated to Max? Or could I truly make this relationship work? Was this what we were? I buried my head in her hair, letting her presence calm me so I could reply.
"As I've mentioned to you yesterday morning, I couldn't leave you there."
"You still could have put a guard down there."
"Why put a guard there when I can bring you here with me?"
Ana snuggled even closer to me, almost wiping away all doubt that I had. This girl did have me in too deep. She was an initiate, totally off limits. She just had to be related to Peter, meaning that I had to work hard for him and his sister in order to make her happy. She was showing signs of divergence and now, now Jeanine and Jonathan wanted to meet me with today to discuss her. This girl cried danger for me. I had gone mad for her. Willing to keep her with me despite all the work I would have to do.
She slowly moved out of my arms and sat up. I watched as she looked around the room as if it was her first time here. Yet, this was her third time. Had she never looked at my room before? I saw her glance behind us at the windows that lined one wall of my bedroom. She slightly blushed, probably wondering if anyone could see us. I moved her hair away from her bare back and rubbed it slowly so that she wouldn't freak out. She seemed to relax once again and looked about the room once more.
She found something that obviously interested her, because she turned around and her eyes sought permission for something. I looked to the side and noticed my book shelves. That was one of the many things that I had not shared with others. Hell, I never kept a girl long enough in here to have her look at that. But, Ana... I rubbed her back again and noticed her eyes smiled. She wasn't just any other girl, I concluded. I smiled back and nodded. She immediately jumped out of bed and walked over to the wall.
I had to think of something to tell Jonathan and Jeanine in the meeting today. I know they would want an explanation. But I would do it. I would do it for Ana. As I watched her look at the books and run her fingers across them, I couldn't help but think that this was it. I had sentenced myself to own personal destruction. She looked like a vision and I was submitting myself over to her custody. I smiled at all these thoughts that came to my head and surprisingly very few of them were sexual. They were all full of caring Amity shit. Really Eric, be a man and think about her ass or something. She turned and looked at me.
"Did you read all of these," she asked.
"Not yet," I answered thankful for the interruption of my Amity thoughts. "I do have my favorites though."
"Once an Erudite, always an Erudite, I suppose," she teased and turned back to the shelf.
"What can I say? Old habits die hard," I responded, sitting up and watching her take out a book. "Did you find something that interests you?"
"I just found a couple of books that my brother would sneak into my bag when we went to visit him at Erudite. It was an odd thing to see an Amity in the school library, so I got my information another way."
There it was the one thing that I could use to defend her. I had to find out more information, though. I had lain back down. Part of me wanted her to come back into bed with me. Perhaps if I teased her into coming back to bed it might work.
"Were you always this eccentric?"
Ana turned and gave me a confused look. Don't act dumb with me now.
"I know you know what that word means."
"I do but that's kind of an insult," she turned back around.
"How?"
"It means," she started to explain as I chuckled.
I knew she knew what the word meant.
"Someone who is strange, crazy, or abnormal, weird even," Ana stated. "Someone who is..."
"Unique," I interjected. "I rather use that word. Or words like distinct, fresh, rare, and exceptional."
"Those are some pretty big words of commendation there," she responded.
"Well," I paused and cleared his throat. "I call it how I see it."
I noticed that she got flushed with embarrassment. Probably wondering why I was saying all those things. Hell, a couple weeks ago, I never would have told a girl nice words like that unless it was something like I appreciated her breasts, or I thought she had a good looking ass. But Ana was so much more than that. So I had to show her, tell her. I shook my head, see Amity shit. I guess she wasn't coming back to bed, even with all those things I said. I saw her quickly grab a book and knew she was just grabbing it to distract her.
"What you got there?"
"Don..." she paused. "Don..." she paused again. I had to smile. I knew what book she had grabbed. Of course she wouldn't read that kind of book, but I knew that I had made her eager and a bit aroused at commending her. "Q..." she tried once more but failed miserably. I could only imagine how cute her face looked right now as she pouted about not being able to get the title down.
"Don Quixote," I stated.
"I guess," she mumbled. She was irritated. Not only did I ignite something in her, but the book left her perplexed. I had to hold back a laugh.
"Originally it's an old novel. First published," I paused trying to remember what my Dad told me. "More than 500, maybe 600 years old, I have to say," I got out of bed knowing that she would like that little fact. I grabbed a boxer from my top drawer.
"What? Are you serious?"
Three for three. I'm on a roll this morning. I was slowly learning what this girl liked. Yup, not only was she sassy, but she most definitely enjoyed learning new facts.
"I have a book that old in my ha..." she stopped and was staring at me shocked. I didn't know why though. "Hands..." she finished and then shook her head.
"Well, that one you're holding has been translated into the language you and I speak today. I think Erudite has the only original copy in the city, of course. As good as that book is, I think I have another book more suited to your style," I walked towards the shelf about to show her another book.
"Do you always sleep naked," she quickly blurted out. Is that why she was looking at me that way? I looked her over and decided to go back to teasing her.
"I'm not the only one."
I continued to walk towards Ana and saw her breathing start to pick up. This girl was mine. I had her mesmerized and hooked on me as much as I was captivated by her. I took the book from her hand which started to shake. I liked seeing her like this. It reminded me that she was thinking about and wanting me, and only me. The way she stared up at me as I wrapped my arms around her waist, she had a craving, fascination, and need for me too.
"What do you mean you're not the only one," her chest heaving up and down as she tried to control her breathing.
"You didn't look at yourself this morning?"
She looked down and then back up at me. "Where are my clothes?"
"Gone," I whispered as I pulled her closer, lightly skimming her flesh with my lips and my hands. She smelled intoxicating and to have her whimpering in my hands without me doing anything further, I knew she belonged to me. Four for four. This was what she liked, a confirmation of what I thought from yesterday. She liked things slow. They drove her insane, I could tell by the way her body reacted to every touch. But I didn't want to give her the satisfaction right now. I pulled Ana up to kiss her and right before I tasted her soft lips, I let her drop slowly and walked over to my desk.
"Tease!" I heard her run towards the bed. "Eric, I'm being serious. Where are my clothes?"
I sat down and turned in the chair to see her frantically searching for them. That was something she had to get used to. If I couldn't embrace her warm body sexually or graze in her female physique, the least I could do was gaze at her forbidden fruit. I chuckled at the thought that just came to my head, forbidden fruit. She turned to me with that fire ablaze in her eyes. I had not seen that in a while. Yet I remember those scorching glares the foundation for my passion for her.
"I washed them last night. Let's eat breakfast first and then I'll get you them when they're dry," I answered, stood up and started to walk out of the room.
I turned back only to see her not following me. When she finally appeared in the doorway, she seemed distraught and even a little frightened. She didn't even notice that she was about to walk right into me.
"What's the matter, Ana," I steadied her and then ran my hand down her cheek gently, trying to get her look at me.
"It's just..." she paused and wrapped her arms around her body.
She was frightened about something. I had seen fear in many people here at Dauntless. Her doing that was a sign of fear.
"Hey," I took her hands in mine, pulling them away from her body. She was acting like she was attacked again. "What's wrong?" She shook her head and still refused to look up at me. I was getting a little irritated. She had to tell me what was going on. We were fine just a while ago, teasing and petting. "Ana!"
"You undressed me," Ana replied quickly. Well, yeah, I thought... but she continued. "I was sleeping. I was passed out and you could have..."
Whoa!
"I didn't do anything inappropriate with you if that's what you're wondering," I promptly interrupted her.
Did she seriously think that I would? I felt angry that she would think such a thing. Had I not told her that we wouldn't until after initiation? I could feel another argument ready to explode in me but if I yelled at her now, it wouldn't help the situation any. I looked at the chair by the table and guided her there. I calmly brought her down into my lap. She still looked a bit hesitant but I was going to be gentle with her, gentler than I had ever been with not just her but with anyone.
"Ana, I would never do anything you don't want me to, okay?"
I pulled her to my chest and felt her arms land softly on my shoulders. Perhaps I went too far with taking off her clothes last night. I didn't think much about it. The first time she was here, she basically volunteered to take off her clothes, as well as the second time she was here. I didn't think... Dammit. It was then that I remembered about our encounter in the hallway. Ana was still a virgin.
I didn't know if I could do this. I had never been with one before. All those other girls, I wasn't their first. Something clicked in me as I held onto Ana and her body seemed to relax. That she was willing to let me be the first. With that thought alone, I erased all other doubts that plagued me this morning. I moved my head and lightly kissed her forehead. If Ana was going to give me all of her, than I would give her all of me.
"Are you okay now?"
I pulled her back a little and she nodded. This girl had me being all thoughtful and shit. I kissed her forehead once more and led her to the kitchen. Another thought popped up. All that teasing that she did, and yet here she was still sexually innocent. It would have made another man ran away but this kept me here. It kept me with her.