XII
Peace, what a strange sensation? That was the only way I could describe how it felt to sleep in this strange place. Why sleep came so easily, I'll never know. Sleep never came so easily back on the island. The air about me smelt of crisp air. There was something about it that made me feel safe. It engulfed my senses. I wrapped myself about it.
Time seemed to come to a standstill as sweet sleep consumed me. Lost in a sea of dreams my mother's scowling face flashed amongst the calm surrounding me. Her piercing gray eyes stared down at me. I watched her mouth move, but no words came out. However, I knew she was scolding me.
"You failed us, you failed me!" she shouted. "You are a failure…"
I tried to avert my eyes but my mother's face only came closer. Inches from my face her mouth continued to move cursing my very existence. All because I couldn't kill an innocent man. Through the coldness of my mother's face a sudden sensation of warmth wrapped itself around me. Everything was a blur of warmth and safety until the shrill sound of yelling pierced my senses.
"Stop trying to analyze me Bruce. I'm not something in your owl cave…"
"True enough,"
"I need you and J'onzz to look into something for me,"
Out of the sea of voices going back and forth I recognized his voice.
"Ultraman," I said as I slowly opened my eyes.
Still half asleep I felt the warmth of the something against my cheek.
"Good morning," Ultraman said.
The blur of the sun and a face appeared in front of me. It was him. He thumb brushed again her cheek. I turned my face into the warmth of the palm of his hand. I closed my eyes as I caught a whiff of crisp air. Was he what I smelt all last night? Lost in his scent I shooken up but a deep growl. It vibrated outward from his hand.
"What does Darkseid have to do with us?"
The name Darkseid sent a shiver down my spine and I wasn't sure why. The warmth from his touch turned molten in a matter of seconds. I opened my eyes and all I saw was his flaming eyes staring down at me. I felt fear take over me as I watched his flames curled up to the heavens. Suddenly I felt him pull his hand away from me. In that moment I saw something else in his eyes. As if he realized that I was frightened by him. Quickly he removed himself from my presence. He leapt from the bed and stood several feet away from me. His massive body heaved up and down.
"... You came back…" I said softly.
My voice was trembling as I watched him move. He wasn't in an aggressive stance so a part of me still felt safe. I tried to calm myself down but my heart continued to beat with increasing speed.
"This is my house," he said back. "Why wouldn't I?"
His voice sounded so harsh and cold compared to the warmth of his body. As he spoke, I brushed the blanket that was covering off my body. The large shirt J'onzz left for me slipped off my right shoulder as I walked over towards him. Something was in the air was pulling me closer to him as my feet moved on their own. I stopped moving the moment I reached him. Even from behind he towered over me.
"I didn't mean to make you…" I said.
My eyes watched his shoulders continue to heave up and down rapidly. His muscles flexed as I placed my hand on the small of his back. My fingers suddenly felt the warmth that had calmed me in my sleep. Had he been in bed with me? The warmth sensation lead my hand to spread across his back. He cringed at my touch and pulled away from me. My hand lingered in the air because of how fast he moved away from me.
"J'onzz will bring you something to wear," he said to me coldly.
There was pain in his voice. My actions last night must have hurt him more than I thought. Guilt ripped through me.
"I'm sorry," I muttered. "I'm never meant to hurt you…"
He doesn't give me a response. He merely stood there with his back towards me. I stumbled over my words in my head as I tried to think of something to say that would get a response out of him.
"... My name is Diana by the way," I said blurted out. "What should I call you?"
As the words left my mouth I regretted them.
"What was I thinking?"
After a long pause, he said, "Kal-El."
As he said the name I was told he hated he turned to face me. The flames in his eyes had subsided to a low simmer.
"Hello Kal-El," I said to him with a smile.
Like a foolish child I stuck out my hand. He stared down at it as if he wasn't sure what he was meant to do with it.
"It's nice to meet you…" I started to say but in a flash he was gone.
All that lingered was the breeze he left in his wake. My hair blow back away from my face. I let out a long sigh. Yup, I've mess this up royally.
"Don't worry about him Diana," I heard J'onzz voice come from behind me. "He's not a morning person."
I looked back towards the entrance of the room and saw J'onzz standing in the doorway holding two bags. He smiled at me which made the sadness at Ultraman leaving so abruptly subside slightly.
"I've brought you some clothes," he said as he stepped into the room.
I merely nodded at me as he placed the bags on down beside me. I looked down in the bag.
"I guess you don't have colors like this back at home?" he asked as I reached down into the bag.
My hand was met with the softest of fabrics. Clutching the fabric in my hand I pulled out a royal blue tee dress. My eyes grew wide.
"Only my mother is allowed to wear such colors," I said.
Suddenly I turned around and gave J'onzz a massive hug.
"... Thank you,"
J'onzz quickly pulled away from me. His smile faded.
"Have I offended you?" I asked.
J'onzz eyes looked up towards the sky above us.
"He's a very protective man," J'onzz answered. "Of those he cares about."
I spin around and sit back down upon the bed. What J'onzz said made no sense. There was a hint of fear in the tone of his voice.
"I doubt he cares for me," I said as I stared down at my hands. "I tried to kill him…"
The bed dipped down as J'onzz sat down beside me.
"And he knows your actions weren't your own," J'onzz replied. "He understands you better than you could ever know…"
I felt him place his hand atop my own and gave it a gentle pat. These men were nothing like my sister told me they were. They were ruthless yet kind. I didn't serve such kindness. Even if I wanted to stay here no one here would be safe.
"I can't remain here," I said interrupting him. "My sisters will come looking for me…"
"Because you didn't kill him?" he said as he raised his eyebrow.
I nodded.
"He'll protect you, you do know that," J'onzz added as he gave my hand a squeeze.
I couldn't look J'onzz in the eyes. Guilt weighed my gaze down to the ground.
"Why," I asked shaking my head.
These people had no reason to be kind to me. Why would anyone show me kindness after that I had done?
"Because we have all been in the same place," he replied.
I finally pulled my gaze off my hands and looked at J'onzz. He was smiling at me.
"Every man and woman here was once forced to do the bidding of someone else," he continued. "We all found freedom here working with Ultraman. You can too… If you wish…"
Did I want freedom? Yes. But placing these people at risk just wasn't an option.
"J'onzz…"
He placed his finger over my lips.
"Not another word," he said. " I've already found a job for you."
I pulled his finger away from my mouth.
"I can't stay here," I said.
J'onzz shook his head as he stood to his feet.
"I'll be waiting for you down on the first floor," he replied. "Be ready in 30 minutes…. Byyyeee…."
J'onzz walked clear out of the room before I could object to his suggestion. My presence here put everyone here at risk, but if Ultraman is a fearsome as they claim then maybe just maybe I might be safe here.
Writers notes: So my classes are starting back up for the spring semester. I've been testing the waters with these shorter chapters to see if I'd still be able to continue to write while I'm in school. This means that each chapter will be less than 2,000 words. I'm in the last leg of school and I like my 3.4 GPA. Schooling comes first, but writing keeps me sane.
