Chapter 7.
She always knew when something was wrong. The concern in her voice, in her eyes, clash with Aerions' words which echo in my head.
"Why Kyra? I've asked you before, I expect an answer this time."
"I want what you have."
My chest tightens with her words. My heart doesn't want to believe what my ears heard; what my mind interpreted.
In an instant, my shiv is released and I am on her; surprise written on her face.
How can it be that my spunky little Jack, my beautiful, feisty Kyra is planning to bring me down?
The blood rushes loudly in my ears. I'm deaf to everything; oblivious to all but the pain in my heart.
She disappeared; gone in an instant.
My beast can no longer be contained. The roar it released, hurt my lungs.
"Please Riddick."
Her calm and soft voice only pisses me off further.
I cock my head at her voice. She is still hiding within the shadows of her world.
"You don't understand;" Her voice a bit more firm, a bit loudernow, as I advance closer, following her scent.
"Don't understand? Hell I don't, kid." I roared. "I understand what I have been told, what I've heard."
I stand waiting for her to speak again, trying to pinpoint her position.
Her scent is strongest in the center of my room. Only she would, or even could, hide amongst the openness of it all.
She reappears directly in front of me. I knew she was close, but it still threw me off a bit.
Confidently, we stand, toe to toe.
I look down upon her without tilting my head. My shiv sat tightly in my hand, while I held an even tighter grasp on my beast.
Gently she touches my wrist, sliding her fingers down to mine trying to uncurl them from the hilt of my shiv. As she does, she looks up at me.
My head drops to look at her, face to face, as I hear the clinking of my shiv hitting the floor.
Her hand lingers with in mine, as she whispers, almost pleading. " I want to live Riddick. That's all."
Her other hand trails down my face, her touch light as a feather.
My eyes dart about her face, looking for something; a crack in her wall, a flaw in her plan, a sign of deceit… Something.
All I see is sadness.