He flashed a cheeky grin at me, and I returned a small false smile. He wrapped his arms around me gently. It didn't feel right. It wasn't the same reassuring hug he usually gave. I shivered at the coldness of his touch both metaphorically and literally. He cupped my chin in his hand and lowered his lips to mine. This wasn't the usual innocent kiss we usually stole, it was deep, angry, full of the unknown. And it scared me.
I hadn't noticed that Mary was still sitting by the fire until she let a small cough. I blushed a little at our public display. Her eyes bore into mine. Her eyes were also red, but not quite as bright as Shane's. They were more of a deep burgundy color. I flinched away from the glare.
"We don't have forever Shane, the long fellow wants them all done tonight. I don't have enough time to wait here until you're done playing with your food."
I blanched at her words. Food? I looked to him in horror. He had lied. We wouldn't be spending eternity together. He was going to kill me. I started to shake when Mary came over and pulled me towards the bed. "This is going to hurt like hell, but it's for the best sweetheart" she warned before lowering her lips to my neck. I was hyperventilating at this stage my heart beating erratically then all went black. I was enjoying the feeling that came with being detached from my body, from the horrors of reality. I felt weightless and quite giddy. I was really enjoying myself until I realized I was no longer in an ocean of calm but in a huge pot of boiling water. I was being stewed alive. Mary hadn't been lying when she said I was to be food. I hear screaming from a distance only vaguely aware that it's me. I feel weights holding me down keeping me from thrashing about. Eventually I lay still, gritting my teeth, trying and failing to keep the wails of pain locked inside. I wasn't sure how long I was tortured for. It could have been years. Nevertheless I felt the fire fade eventually. Or maybe I was getting used to it. Either way the pain was less and I was grateful. My heart hammered loudly and quickly in my chest. Much too quickly. I sat, bolt upright gasping before feeling the very last thump of my human life fade away. I felt my mouth pop open with a little "oh" of surprise.
I looked around me. I was no longer in Mary's home. When was I moved? It was a long hall filled with bunks. On one other bed there was a teenage boy writhing around in apparent agony. I had no idea where I was, or what I was doing here. The last thing, I remembered was that awful hug from Shane.
"Oh good, you're awake" his silky voice sounded smug.
I jumped. I hadn't noticed he was sitting there. "You make is sound as if I've been having a nice little nap instead of screaming in pain for god know's how long" I glared. My voice sounded different, more fluid and melodic. But I pushed that thought to the back of my mind until later. Right now I needed answers.
He chuckled coming to my bedside and sitting down. "Silly Maggie." He caressed my cheek. He no longer felt cold but I still found it creepy being near him. I turned my face away and a hiss of fury escaped him.
I froze. "Shane, what's going on? What happened to me, to you?" I turned to face him my eyes full of anguish. His own were cold and staring, not the sparkling carefree eyes I remembered. They were haunted now and instinctively, I knew they would never sparkle again.
He sighed and stared off into the distance not looking at me as he spoke. "You should put on your uniform, training starts in ten minutes" he gestured towards the box at the end of the bunk. He rose from my bedside and left the room without another word or backwards glance.
Nothing was making sense at all. Why the hell did I have to wear a uniform? I sat on the bunk for what felt like an eternity. I would just have to trust Shane had my bests interest at heart, just like before.
I threw on the uniform. The khaki color did compliment me just a little but I was still too confused to acknowledge the implications. I slipped through the door that Shane had left through to find myself in a huge hall surrounded by young people, mostly male, who looked just as confused as I felt. I hung to the wall trying to stay invisible. I saw a trio in the corner and gasped. Not thinking I pushed my way through the throngs of people being thrown this way and that. I didn't seem to be getting anywhere and instinctively I called out for the one person who could save me from this mess.
His eyes locked on mine and he was by my side impossibly fast. He took my hand in his and seeing where I was struggling towards he smiled. It was a ghost of his human one but it was a relief to see it. He pushed through the first few people and the others parted like the red sea to let him pass. I felt a smile light up my face as confusion turned to recognition on their faces. Before I knew it, I was wrapped up in a tight embrace. I felt sobs overcome me but no tears fell. This shocked me enough to stop "crying". It was going to take a lot of getting used to.
"Little Maggie" Paul shook his head in wonder and mussed my hair. I ducked out of the way giggling and gave both him and Andrew a kiss each on the cheek. Aisling didn't ignore me as she usually would, instead she gave me a small smirk. I didn't have time to dissect this look before we were called to attention.