Chapter Three
Blake felt a kind of sinking feeling pulling at her, taking hold of her body and her mind against her will. In some part of her mind, she was conscious of Curtis' strong arms around her body and the feeling of him holding her close. But that wasn't half as scary as what else she was feeling.
Because she was feeling what Curtis was feeling and it was similar to what she was going through. Surprise, wonder and then sheer unadulterated joy.
I didn't know it was you, Curtis thought to her.
Neither did I, Blake replied, a bit dazed.
But I'm glad that it is you. I'm glad that I found you.
Blake felt like smiling or laughing just to release some of the joy that those words had given her. It was too much. She had never expected to find her soulmate and she had never known what to expect but now she knew that Curtis was everything she had ever wanted.
What would you say if I told you I loved you? He asked, his mental voice soft and gentle.
I would say I love you too, Blake replied simply.
She knew what Curtis' was feeling and was surprised that it could almost be described as euphoric.
She knew what he was thinking and she could see images flash through the haze. A young boy at a road crossing, a pretty woman holding his hand tightly. Then there was another image of the same woman, lying on the floor in a pool of blood with the little boy kneeling by her side.
Then there was another image. An image of Curtis as he was now standing beside another man. A man with red hair and a charming smile. A man known as Hunter Redfern.
Fear coursed through her, tainting her previous emotions. She knew she couldn't hide it from Curtis'.
What's wrong? What's the matter? Worry and concern filled his unspeaking voice and Blake's heart nearly broke then. It was too hard. She couldn't let this happen, she had a mission and it came first.
So she might drive her soulmate away. She would save the world in the process and what was one person's happiness compared to the death of a world?
Nothing.
She was prepared to sacrifice her happiness for that. But are you willing to sacrifice Curtis' as well? A voice asked her. She pushed it away, trying to stay calm, trying to stay in control.
Curtis had stayed silent through all her reasoning but he wasn't completely unaware of what was happening. He knew she was hiding something and he knew that she wasn't sharing his joy anymore. Far from it.
He could feel that she wanted to put a stop to this. He knew she didn't want him.
As if to punctuate the point, she placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away.
The lights and the sounds of the Black Dahlia invaded his eyes and ears once more. But he didn't focus on them. He was too busy regarding Blake through veiled eyes.
She was breathing heavily and looking anywhere but at his face. Long, silky strands of her hair were falling across her face and before he realized what he was doing, Curtis reached out and brushed them back, gently caressing her cheek.
She looked up. Her blue green eyes were wide and Curtis' saw the pain and fear in their depths. It was a flash of a vulnerable young girl that vanished when she pulled her tough exterior back on.
Curtis saw it happen and frowned.
"Come on," he said roughly. "I'm taking you home."
He began stalking to the door, ignoring any of the greetings that he received. Blake followed beside him angrily. "I can get myself home thank you," she said angrily, hurt at his tone.
"Yeah, I'm sure you can Blake. I'm sure you can make every man alive fall in love with you too."
Blake blinked. "What? What are you talking about?"
"Nothing," Curtis snapped, his blue eyes cold and hard when he turned to look at her. "I'm talking about nothing and what happened back there is the same. Nothing."
Then he turned back and kept walking. Blake automatically fell in step with him, her head bowed as she let his words rankle within her. Nothing? That was all nothing to him? She was shocked to feel the threat of tears and angry with herself for being so weak.
So what? He was just making it easier for her. Now she could just focus on the mission. Focus on catching Hunter.
"I'm glad to hear it meant nothing to you," Blake said with a voice almost unrecognizable to her own ears. "Because I really can't stand what you're wearing."
The feeble attempt at a part joke, part insult, was all she had in her.
"Really?" Curtis replied coolly. "Is that why five minutes ago you wanted to rip my clothes off?"
Blake scowled. "Ha ha. You're funny, Curtis. A regular comedian," she snapped sarcastically.
"Only funny? I was thinking along the lines of hilarious myself." He had just reached his car and opened the doors. Blake got inside. She had a feeling it would take a lot of energy to argue with him.
"Hilarious?" she repeated. "Hilariously demented maybe."
Curtis just glanced at her before turning his head to reverse. He didn't hear her when she muttered to herself, "Or maybe I am."