A/N: I shouldn't have said "torch-wielding", it's supposed to be the middle
of the day! Anyways, I've decided to hold a contest: Name Rainne's Muse!
I've always found it somewhat interesting when writers make light of their
muses. And I LOVE feedback from you guys, so, c'mon, show me your creative
sides. Send me your suggestion in the review, and I'll pick my fav, k? And
I'll keep that name forever and ever. In my next story (I'm not sure when
this'll end, could be this very chapter!) she'll speak up every now and
then. Okay, this may not be the best chapter ever, it'll be more or less my
first stab at true action. But I'll do my best, k? We'll keep with Jason
until my muse strikes. Here we go.
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Unlike the occasional fairy-tale whore come a-callin', threats from the population on my life were few and far between. Needless to say, I was slightly stunned.
"What?" I uttered, suddenly my feet were cemented to the ground.
Crawford's face was terrifying, well, at least to someone who'd known the man his entire life. There were cracks of actual fear splintering across his face, his eyes were dim with worry and possible panic. The thought of this man, Crawford "the Rock", panicking was enough to push me into motion. That thought would NEVER come to life. I walked swiftly and smoothly to Crawford, who seemed frozen. I took his hand and we left the courtyard, breaking into a run. I had one mission now: find Sasha, find Ivan, and find Svetlana. Then get the hell out of the castle before they find us. I didn't know where we'd go, the stables, the forest, but I knew we couldn't stay in the castle with the hunters tracking us down. I knew they'd kill every one of us if they could.
"Crawford?" I said, still running. I saw him, out of the corner of my eye, keeping up. I was impressed with the old man's stamina.
"Yes, sir," he replied.
"Do you have any idea where the others are?" We had to find them, fast. I could already smell the dirt on the hunters' clothes, the dried blood on their weapons. Did I just hear a shout?
Crawford was silent a moment, "I suppose we could find Svetlana in the kitchen, and Ivan in the stables, naturally. But, as for Sasha, her whereabouts are anyone's guess. All three may have been alerted to the hunters' presence." Something inside me doubted it. Think, Jason, think! All right, kitchen first, get Svetlana, my mind instructed me in phrases Ivan's outside, fine for the moment. Find Sasha!
"Kitchen!" I shouted to Crawford, and sent more speed to my legs, turning down a different hall, "Get Svetlana, get out! Find Ivan, go into the forest! I'm going to find Sasha, I'll find you all later!"
"Yes, sir!" Crawford answered, and sprinted down to the kitchen. Where was he getting all that energy? No time for that now, my mind chastised me, get Sasha, and get out, NOW!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
I sat in Jason's chair, in the library, head in my hands, sun on my back. If I was done crying, why didn't I feel better? Oh yeah, because Belle's gonna win no matter what I do, that's why. You don't KNOW that, my hopeful mind-voice said quietly. I could almost see another version of myself patting my back comfortingly, What you DO know is that Jason doesn't like Belle. Didn't she say he was a "dripping sap" for you? What do you think THAT'S supposed to mean? I had no idea. Well, no, I HAD ideas, but none seemed to work with the fact that he was treating me like- treating me like- like a servant! There, I said it. If he was so head over heels for me, why the HELL was he treating me like this?! My mind had no answers.
That's when I heard the door of the library crash open. I snapped out of my musings to the feeling of intense danger. Something was wrong, and that something had just invaded the library. I leapt from Jason's chair and behind the blue bookcase. I could see the door from there. I felt my body flinch as the doors jerked again barely withstanding a fresh attack. When had the doors locked? I had little time to think after the doors flew open, splinters of wood raining down. That's when I saw the men. Two were men from that night in the village, plus five more, pitchforks and even some axes and scythes ready and waiting for use. I felt a cold hatred settle behind my eyes as they fell on the florist. He was at the head of the group, he directed them to fan out, searching. Oh God, they're going to find me!
I reviewed my options, my eyes scanning the library. They weren't as numerous as I'd have liked: out the window, or up the balcony. Well, I didn't even know if the windows opened, they were so big. And I couldn't force myself to throw my body through one, so, up the first flight of stairs I went to the black iron balcony. They really were more stairs than ladders, though they were so steep, one could understand the mistake. Reaching the top, I discovered that I could climb out onto the blue bookcase itself. There's an idea, I congratulated myself while hauling myself up off the balcony and onto the bookcase. It was dark up there, the windows were not two feet shorter than the bookcases. I watched, reminded somewhat of a bird of prey, as the hunters roamed the bookcases, in search of someone to hurt.
I watched the florist walk right past the blue bookcase, then stop, and walk down it. He must have felt my eyes on him, due to the fact that I was suddenly staring down at his too pale eyes, which were boring hateful holes into mine. Oh shit.
"She's up there!" he shouted to his cronies, "On top of the bookcase!" He immediately started climbing up the balcony stair. Oh shit!
I was trapped, I'd trapped myself. Great going, genius, my bossy mind-voice said sarcastically. I could almost see another version of myself, standing in front of me, arms crossed, shaking her head in dismay and disapproval. I glared at her, then whipped my head downward to check the florist's progress. He was halfway up, Oh SHIT!
"Go away!" I cried feebly, Yeah, that'll scare him off, "I-I didn't do anything to you!" I sounded like the poor runt of a village, being picked on by the bullies. Pathetic.
The florist just grinned, relishing my fear, "We'll have you all soon, Devil-worshipper! There will be no demon to save you now!" He was so close I could see the bruises on his throat from that night, yellow now, healing. I wished he'd died that night.
Just then, my ears were greeted to a sound I couldn't have been more grateful to hear: Jason's roar. He flew through the library door, landing soundlessly on all fours. Wow, he really WAS quite the magnificent creature. All muscle he was, and with those glowing eyes, forget about it! I was frozen in my position of belly-down, head over the edge of the bookcase. I glance at the florist. He was staring at Jason, complete and abject terror ran rampant on his face, frozen three quarters of the way up the stairs.
"SASHA!" roared Jason, I could see his fangs from my perch on the bookcase.
"I'M HERE!" I shouted in return, smiling in spite of the grime situation. Oh, was it GREAT to see him, again! The real him. It had been way too long. It was a breath of fresh air to my soul. MY voice must have been a breath of fresh air to the florist's soul, he had renewed his former mission and was scrambling up the stairs faster than before. Although, this new found devotion to killing me may have also been spurred by the beast lord himself's entrance. The smile dropped off my face like a rock as I watched in horror the florist's prodigious progress. When I glanced back at Jason, he was gone. I'd be on my own this time, no doubt about it.
I rolled onto my back and scooted feet-first closer to where I knew the florist would climb up to get onto the balcony near me. Good thing he wasn't caring any weapons, my plan would be even easier to execute this way. I waited silently for him, offering no more panicky ultimatums for him to feed on. Finally, I watched his curly black hair-covered head stalk along the balcony to where I was, heard his boots clomp determinedly. Wait for it, my mind whispered to my pounding heart, wait for it, NOW! I struck out with my left foot, soundly smashing it into the right side of the florist's head. I relished the squeal of pain from the bastard as he clung to the side of his head and the side of the balcony, upon which he had been thrown.
I dropped from the bookcase onto the balcony, tightening my hands into fists. Distantly, I could hear various masculine screams of pain. Jason was doing his job, and well. The florist was slumped over the side of the balcony, right hand gripping his head wound. Was that blood on his hand? God, I hoped so.
"You want to kill me?" I said insolently, loving the twitch of his body at my loud words. I knew they were reverberating excruciatingly in his injured cranium, "Well, you're gonna have to earn it." I delivered another kick with the toe of my shoe into his soft midsection. Who knew a moaning groan could be so damn satisfying? I threw another kick, but was caught off guard when he suddenly grabbed my foot, twisting is swiftly and painfully. Without warning I was on my stomach, ankle screaming at me, an unmistakable weight on my back. OH SHIT!
The florist put his mouth to my ear, his breath running down my face like a rank mist, "Do you know how long I've waited?" he whispered venomously, "Trying to get these useless peasant folk to finally destroy this monster?" I could feel him smile against my cheek, "And now, I will finally be avenged for what he did." HE'LL be avenged? Wait, that doesn't sound awfully Christian .
"What," I croaked, dizzy from the lack of air the weight of him on me was causing, "do you mean, YOU? I thought," I took another staggering breath, "you were doing this for God." I felt a new smile on my cheek.
"Nah," he whispered, "That's just to keep the other men on my side. I've got my own reasons for destroying Lord Derrick."
"Mind," gasp, "sharing?"
"Not at all," he responded, almost cheerfully, "The day he was cursed, my father was there." Oh God. "He got cursed too, and all because of DERRICK'S greedy, gluttonous, insatiable appetite for his own pleasure. I never saw my father again after that day," I could feel the sorrow in him, his heartbeat slowed with grief, "He was too ashamed to be seen by his family! But now, it'll all end . All of it will end now." His voice drifted off. Oh no, this man was insane! I felt him lift himself off me, but an arm was still braced across my back, pinning my arms. Oh God, what the hell was he going to do to me?! It was then that I heard the instantly recognizable sound of a blade being drawn. Tears slipped through my eyes as I bit my tongue to keep from screaming from the pain of the dagger's bite in my side. I couldn't help but scream as it drew around my side to my spine. I felt the warm, wetness of my blood oozing into my dress. I still couldn't move, and was beginning to get dizzy. Wow, that quick?
I could feel the blackness drowning my vision, barely taking note of the florist, who was all of a sudden plummeting downwards. How did that happen? Did he jump? That was sure stupid of him, my mind was glazed, uncaring. Now I was floating, strange. Why did my side hurt so much? My head rolled to left, and against something warm and soft. That's when I noticed the furry arms underneath my neck and knees. Oh, I was being carried, gotcha. My eyes slid shut, the blackness even darkening the insides of my eyelids. They opened again as pain shot through my body once more from my side. I was on the floor of the library, my head and torso still cradled in those furry arms.
"Sasha?" said a voice filled with fear and worry. Aw, whoever said that must really care about me. Better find out who it is, I tilted my head backwards to meet whoever cared about me. Jason! My mind was as electrified by his eyes as they had the first time I'd seen them, illuminated by moon and candlelight in the library. They still held the fiery amber, and a glowing green that was quickly dimming. The only thing that was different was the look of utter fear and worry. Oh no, had to make THAT go away.
"Jason." I whispered, for some reason it was all I could manage. The pain had drifted away under his eyes.
"Sasha," he whispered too, "I'm so," he paused, his voice tight, "sorry. For how I've been treating you. I'd try to explain, but it doesn't really matter now, does it?" He sounded so sad, why? His eyes closed, and I saw tears disappear into the fur on his face. The pain from my side came back. Oh no, this can't be. I can't be- my mind wouldn't even let me think it. I started to sit up, nobody's gonna- still won't say it- today! But Jason kept me still.
"It's better if you stay still, Sasha," more tears slid down. I felt a boiling anger rise in my stomach and into my throat like hot magma.
"No, no!" I cried, "I am NOT leaving when I FINALLY have you where I want you!" He looked startled at my voice's sudden volume. If I was really going to- nope, nothin' doin'-, then I'm at least going to say all the things that have been running like mad through my brain.
"What do you mean?" Jason asked, still whispering, still silently weeping.
"Jason," I said quickly, feeling my strength ebb. NO! Not yet! "You were a real jackass for doing that to me, and I'm sure you have your reasons," my voice suddenly gave out. I took a swallow and kept talking before he could stop me, "But your right, that doesn't matter now. What matters is that you saved me, a second time!" Hopefully, SHUT UP! "You care about me. And no matter what you feel for me, that clinches it. That, and not treating me like a servant, but like a friend. I love you, Jason. And I always will, whatever happens." I let the tears slip out of my closing eyes. There, I said it, now I can go.
I wasn't expecting it to be like this. Suddenly, a golden light was filling my eyes. Where was it coming from? The furry arms were gone from my neck and from my side, why was I still being held? And, most importantly: where did the pain in my side go and why wasn't I dead? I felt the arms again, but they were different, somehow. My eyes opened and I looked up. Again, I was staring into fiery amber eyes, though the green had dimmed away. I didn't have a chance to study the whole face, I was suddenly swept into a hug of biblical proportions. I was on my feet, in this person's arms. It was a man, and from my position, all I could tell about him was he was tall and had black-brown hair. Okay, not enough information to be hug-worthy. I pulled back slightly, so I could see him properly. His hair was thick and dark and wavy, curling slightly at his neck. His skin was a honey-brown color, not unlike the library hardwood. He wore a gleaming smile, and his nose was a little big for his face. His eyes were awe-inspiring, to say the least. All together his face had a strange wildness to it. The smile slipped off his face, though his eyes remained in stunning joy.
"Sasha, it's me," the man spoke slowly, his voice a rumble of thunder, no two ways about it. My mouth dropped open as everything fell into place.
"J-Jason?" I stuttered, too thunderstruck to speak intelligibly.
"Yes, you did it." The smile returned to his face, illuminating his eyes.
"Oh, wow." Dammit, Sasha! What the HELL is the matter with you?! This is wonderful! Can't you SEE that?
"Thank you, I thought I-" words failed him, apparently. He kind of shrugged, a bit of a feat while holding someone, apologetically. Then time slowed down. Nothing moved, and then his lips were on mine. Oh wow, was the only thing that I could think. A hand went behind my neck, his fingers on my pulse, the other on the small of my back. I wrapped my arms around his neck, entwining my fingers in his hair, for lack of a better place. There was no more space between us. As if in an effort to make even less space, his tongue slid into my mouth, grazing my teeth and my tongue gently. Wow. He pulled back, leaving my lips tingling. He pulled me in for another hug, which I gratefully accepted, for fear of dropping to the floor in my weakened condition.
"I love you, too, Sasha," Jason whispered, "And I always will, no matter what happens." We stayed like that, locked up together, in the library, among the strewn bodies of the hunters we hadn't noticed before.
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A/N: So, what are you thinking right now. This isn't the end, I don't think. Not quite yet. Now, I must sleep, it's nearly midnight! Cya! ^^
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Unlike the occasional fairy-tale whore come a-callin', threats from the population on my life were few and far between. Needless to say, I was slightly stunned.
"What?" I uttered, suddenly my feet were cemented to the ground.
Crawford's face was terrifying, well, at least to someone who'd known the man his entire life. There were cracks of actual fear splintering across his face, his eyes were dim with worry and possible panic. The thought of this man, Crawford "the Rock", panicking was enough to push me into motion. That thought would NEVER come to life. I walked swiftly and smoothly to Crawford, who seemed frozen. I took his hand and we left the courtyard, breaking into a run. I had one mission now: find Sasha, find Ivan, and find Svetlana. Then get the hell out of the castle before they find us. I didn't know where we'd go, the stables, the forest, but I knew we couldn't stay in the castle with the hunters tracking us down. I knew they'd kill every one of us if they could.
"Crawford?" I said, still running. I saw him, out of the corner of my eye, keeping up. I was impressed with the old man's stamina.
"Yes, sir," he replied.
"Do you have any idea where the others are?" We had to find them, fast. I could already smell the dirt on the hunters' clothes, the dried blood on their weapons. Did I just hear a shout?
Crawford was silent a moment, "I suppose we could find Svetlana in the kitchen, and Ivan in the stables, naturally. But, as for Sasha, her whereabouts are anyone's guess. All three may have been alerted to the hunters' presence." Something inside me doubted it. Think, Jason, think! All right, kitchen first, get Svetlana, my mind instructed me in phrases Ivan's outside, fine for the moment. Find Sasha!
"Kitchen!" I shouted to Crawford, and sent more speed to my legs, turning down a different hall, "Get Svetlana, get out! Find Ivan, go into the forest! I'm going to find Sasha, I'll find you all later!"
"Yes, sir!" Crawford answered, and sprinted down to the kitchen. Where was he getting all that energy? No time for that now, my mind chastised me, get Sasha, and get out, NOW!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
I sat in Jason's chair, in the library, head in my hands, sun on my back. If I was done crying, why didn't I feel better? Oh yeah, because Belle's gonna win no matter what I do, that's why. You don't KNOW that, my hopeful mind-voice said quietly. I could almost see another version of myself patting my back comfortingly, What you DO know is that Jason doesn't like Belle. Didn't she say he was a "dripping sap" for you? What do you think THAT'S supposed to mean? I had no idea. Well, no, I HAD ideas, but none seemed to work with the fact that he was treating me like- treating me like- like a servant! There, I said it. If he was so head over heels for me, why the HELL was he treating me like this?! My mind had no answers.
That's when I heard the door of the library crash open. I snapped out of my musings to the feeling of intense danger. Something was wrong, and that something had just invaded the library. I leapt from Jason's chair and behind the blue bookcase. I could see the door from there. I felt my body flinch as the doors jerked again barely withstanding a fresh attack. When had the doors locked? I had little time to think after the doors flew open, splinters of wood raining down. That's when I saw the men. Two were men from that night in the village, plus five more, pitchforks and even some axes and scythes ready and waiting for use. I felt a cold hatred settle behind my eyes as they fell on the florist. He was at the head of the group, he directed them to fan out, searching. Oh God, they're going to find me!
I reviewed my options, my eyes scanning the library. They weren't as numerous as I'd have liked: out the window, or up the balcony. Well, I didn't even know if the windows opened, they were so big. And I couldn't force myself to throw my body through one, so, up the first flight of stairs I went to the black iron balcony. They really were more stairs than ladders, though they were so steep, one could understand the mistake. Reaching the top, I discovered that I could climb out onto the blue bookcase itself. There's an idea, I congratulated myself while hauling myself up off the balcony and onto the bookcase. It was dark up there, the windows were not two feet shorter than the bookcases. I watched, reminded somewhat of a bird of prey, as the hunters roamed the bookcases, in search of someone to hurt.
I watched the florist walk right past the blue bookcase, then stop, and walk down it. He must have felt my eyes on him, due to the fact that I was suddenly staring down at his too pale eyes, which were boring hateful holes into mine. Oh shit.
"She's up there!" he shouted to his cronies, "On top of the bookcase!" He immediately started climbing up the balcony stair. Oh shit!
I was trapped, I'd trapped myself. Great going, genius, my bossy mind-voice said sarcastically. I could almost see another version of myself, standing in front of me, arms crossed, shaking her head in dismay and disapproval. I glared at her, then whipped my head downward to check the florist's progress. He was halfway up, Oh SHIT!
"Go away!" I cried feebly, Yeah, that'll scare him off, "I-I didn't do anything to you!" I sounded like the poor runt of a village, being picked on by the bullies. Pathetic.
The florist just grinned, relishing my fear, "We'll have you all soon, Devil-worshipper! There will be no demon to save you now!" He was so close I could see the bruises on his throat from that night, yellow now, healing. I wished he'd died that night.
Just then, my ears were greeted to a sound I couldn't have been more grateful to hear: Jason's roar. He flew through the library door, landing soundlessly on all fours. Wow, he really WAS quite the magnificent creature. All muscle he was, and with those glowing eyes, forget about it! I was frozen in my position of belly-down, head over the edge of the bookcase. I glance at the florist. He was staring at Jason, complete and abject terror ran rampant on his face, frozen three quarters of the way up the stairs.
"SASHA!" roared Jason, I could see his fangs from my perch on the bookcase.
"I'M HERE!" I shouted in return, smiling in spite of the grime situation. Oh, was it GREAT to see him, again! The real him. It had been way too long. It was a breath of fresh air to my soul. MY voice must have been a breath of fresh air to the florist's soul, he had renewed his former mission and was scrambling up the stairs faster than before. Although, this new found devotion to killing me may have also been spurred by the beast lord himself's entrance. The smile dropped off my face like a rock as I watched in horror the florist's prodigious progress. When I glanced back at Jason, he was gone. I'd be on my own this time, no doubt about it.
I rolled onto my back and scooted feet-first closer to where I knew the florist would climb up to get onto the balcony near me. Good thing he wasn't caring any weapons, my plan would be even easier to execute this way. I waited silently for him, offering no more panicky ultimatums for him to feed on. Finally, I watched his curly black hair-covered head stalk along the balcony to where I was, heard his boots clomp determinedly. Wait for it, my mind whispered to my pounding heart, wait for it, NOW! I struck out with my left foot, soundly smashing it into the right side of the florist's head. I relished the squeal of pain from the bastard as he clung to the side of his head and the side of the balcony, upon which he had been thrown.
I dropped from the bookcase onto the balcony, tightening my hands into fists. Distantly, I could hear various masculine screams of pain. Jason was doing his job, and well. The florist was slumped over the side of the balcony, right hand gripping his head wound. Was that blood on his hand? God, I hoped so.
"You want to kill me?" I said insolently, loving the twitch of his body at my loud words. I knew they were reverberating excruciatingly in his injured cranium, "Well, you're gonna have to earn it." I delivered another kick with the toe of my shoe into his soft midsection. Who knew a moaning groan could be so damn satisfying? I threw another kick, but was caught off guard when he suddenly grabbed my foot, twisting is swiftly and painfully. Without warning I was on my stomach, ankle screaming at me, an unmistakable weight on my back. OH SHIT!
The florist put his mouth to my ear, his breath running down my face like a rank mist, "Do you know how long I've waited?" he whispered venomously, "Trying to get these useless peasant folk to finally destroy this monster?" I could feel him smile against my cheek, "And now, I will finally be avenged for what he did." HE'LL be avenged? Wait, that doesn't sound awfully Christian .
"What," I croaked, dizzy from the lack of air the weight of him on me was causing, "do you mean, YOU? I thought," I took another staggering breath, "you were doing this for God." I felt a new smile on my cheek.
"Nah," he whispered, "That's just to keep the other men on my side. I've got my own reasons for destroying Lord Derrick."
"Mind," gasp, "sharing?"
"Not at all," he responded, almost cheerfully, "The day he was cursed, my father was there." Oh God. "He got cursed too, and all because of DERRICK'S greedy, gluttonous, insatiable appetite for his own pleasure. I never saw my father again after that day," I could feel the sorrow in him, his heartbeat slowed with grief, "He was too ashamed to be seen by his family! But now, it'll all end . All of it will end now." His voice drifted off. Oh no, this man was insane! I felt him lift himself off me, but an arm was still braced across my back, pinning my arms. Oh God, what the hell was he going to do to me?! It was then that I heard the instantly recognizable sound of a blade being drawn. Tears slipped through my eyes as I bit my tongue to keep from screaming from the pain of the dagger's bite in my side. I couldn't help but scream as it drew around my side to my spine. I felt the warm, wetness of my blood oozing into my dress. I still couldn't move, and was beginning to get dizzy. Wow, that quick?
I could feel the blackness drowning my vision, barely taking note of the florist, who was all of a sudden plummeting downwards. How did that happen? Did he jump? That was sure stupid of him, my mind was glazed, uncaring. Now I was floating, strange. Why did my side hurt so much? My head rolled to left, and against something warm and soft. That's when I noticed the furry arms underneath my neck and knees. Oh, I was being carried, gotcha. My eyes slid shut, the blackness even darkening the insides of my eyelids. They opened again as pain shot through my body once more from my side. I was on the floor of the library, my head and torso still cradled in those furry arms.
"Sasha?" said a voice filled with fear and worry. Aw, whoever said that must really care about me. Better find out who it is, I tilted my head backwards to meet whoever cared about me. Jason! My mind was as electrified by his eyes as they had the first time I'd seen them, illuminated by moon and candlelight in the library. They still held the fiery amber, and a glowing green that was quickly dimming. The only thing that was different was the look of utter fear and worry. Oh no, had to make THAT go away.
"Jason." I whispered, for some reason it was all I could manage. The pain had drifted away under his eyes.
"Sasha," he whispered too, "I'm so," he paused, his voice tight, "sorry. For how I've been treating you. I'd try to explain, but it doesn't really matter now, does it?" He sounded so sad, why? His eyes closed, and I saw tears disappear into the fur on his face. The pain from my side came back. Oh no, this can't be. I can't be- my mind wouldn't even let me think it. I started to sit up, nobody's gonna- still won't say it- today! But Jason kept me still.
"It's better if you stay still, Sasha," more tears slid down. I felt a boiling anger rise in my stomach and into my throat like hot magma.
"No, no!" I cried, "I am NOT leaving when I FINALLY have you where I want you!" He looked startled at my voice's sudden volume. If I was really going to- nope, nothin' doin'-, then I'm at least going to say all the things that have been running like mad through my brain.
"What do you mean?" Jason asked, still whispering, still silently weeping.
"Jason," I said quickly, feeling my strength ebb. NO! Not yet! "You were a real jackass for doing that to me, and I'm sure you have your reasons," my voice suddenly gave out. I took a swallow and kept talking before he could stop me, "But your right, that doesn't matter now. What matters is that you saved me, a second time!" Hopefully, SHUT UP! "You care about me. And no matter what you feel for me, that clinches it. That, and not treating me like a servant, but like a friend. I love you, Jason. And I always will, whatever happens." I let the tears slip out of my closing eyes. There, I said it, now I can go.
I wasn't expecting it to be like this. Suddenly, a golden light was filling my eyes. Where was it coming from? The furry arms were gone from my neck and from my side, why was I still being held? And, most importantly: where did the pain in my side go and why wasn't I dead? I felt the arms again, but they were different, somehow. My eyes opened and I looked up. Again, I was staring into fiery amber eyes, though the green had dimmed away. I didn't have a chance to study the whole face, I was suddenly swept into a hug of biblical proportions. I was on my feet, in this person's arms. It was a man, and from my position, all I could tell about him was he was tall and had black-brown hair. Okay, not enough information to be hug-worthy. I pulled back slightly, so I could see him properly. His hair was thick and dark and wavy, curling slightly at his neck. His skin was a honey-brown color, not unlike the library hardwood. He wore a gleaming smile, and his nose was a little big for his face. His eyes were awe-inspiring, to say the least. All together his face had a strange wildness to it. The smile slipped off his face, though his eyes remained in stunning joy.
"Sasha, it's me," the man spoke slowly, his voice a rumble of thunder, no two ways about it. My mouth dropped open as everything fell into place.
"J-Jason?" I stuttered, too thunderstruck to speak intelligibly.
"Yes, you did it." The smile returned to his face, illuminating his eyes.
"Oh, wow." Dammit, Sasha! What the HELL is the matter with you?! This is wonderful! Can't you SEE that?
"Thank you, I thought I-" words failed him, apparently. He kind of shrugged, a bit of a feat while holding someone, apologetically. Then time slowed down. Nothing moved, and then his lips were on mine. Oh wow, was the only thing that I could think. A hand went behind my neck, his fingers on my pulse, the other on the small of my back. I wrapped my arms around his neck, entwining my fingers in his hair, for lack of a better place. There was no more space between us. As if in an effort to make even less space, his tongue slid into my mouth, grazing my teeth and my tongue gently. Wow. He pulled back, leaving my lips tingling. He pulled me in for another hug, which I gratefully accepted, for fear of dropping to the floor in my weakened condition.
"I love you, too, Sasha," Jason whispered, "And I always will, no matter what happens." We stayed like that, locked up together, in the library, among the strewn bodies of the hunters we hadn't noticed before.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A/N: So, what are you thinking right now. This isn't the end, I don't think. Not quite yet. Now, I must sleep, it's nearly midnight! Cya! ^^
