Hell's Rayne (Book 1)

Chapter 9

“Looks pretty dead to me? A little bit harsh don't you think Rayne?”

 Lucas caught up to me as I pushed my way through the thick crowd that still loitered in Execution Square. My job was done, I knew I finally had a few spare moments in which I could relax and my body had finally decided to give in. My head had begun to pound and every square inch of me ached something terrible. It felt as if I needed to sleep for a week, and desperately wanted to do so somewhere that wasn't that rat infested flat, nor under sheets that smelled of mildew.

 A sigh escaped my lips at Lucas's voice, in that moment conversation was so not on my to-do list. My brow furrowed in a frown as I picked up my pace and considered his words; finally clear of Execution square I made a bee-line for the tunnel that would lead to the Hybrid living quarters.

 “What d'you mean harsh? It was the truth.”I said with a shrug.

 Determined to badger me I knew that Lucas would keep up no matter how fast I walked, so there was really no use in ignoring him.

 “Yes, but come on, you know how the transition hits them. It was like you just had to put your own exclamation point down on him. Not enough that you had just executed him.”

 “So? Come on Lucas, what exactly did you expect? Me to offer a shoulder to cry on?” I asked, anger slowly starting to colour my voice. I turned around to face him, walking backwards slowed my pace but I didn't stop moving. “That man did not deserve a single shred of sympathy.”

 “No, no, nothing of the sort. But this is exactly my point Rayne.” Lucas gestured incomprehensibly in my direction and I frowned at him, far from understanding his meaning. He rolled his eyes at my lack of understanding and went on to elaborate. “You're normally so cold, so detached from your cases; just as we all are, it's just what we do. But that? That was anger, heat and flame to your words, you meant to burn him. What's with the sudden display of emotion?”

 It was hard not to admit that Lucas had a point. Shane's case had gotten under my skin like no other, not even those I'd worked in my very first years in the job. I was still reeling with the rage, not to mention the fear, it had instilled in me. It felt unnatural, strange, and I didn't like it.

 Another sigh fell from me and I turned my back on Lucas once again; we had reached the stone steps leading to the upper levels which were challenge enough for my weary body, backwards they would have been near impossible. But I knew I would not escape Lucas and his questioning quite so easily. A shrug lifted my shoulders as I started up the stairs.

 “I don't know, it just got to me a bit is all. The whole case felt like hard work, working behind that grubby bar while trying to do my real job at the same time. Him resisting, at every turn, to take the last step while constantly breathing down my neck so it felt I could do nothing about it. A whole week up there was a hell of a lot longer than I was expecting, and, to top it all off, I got pretty much zero sleep the whole time I was there...”

 My rant trailed off into an indistinguishable groan as I raked hooked fingers through my red hair; they came away feeling greasy. A shower and then sleep and everything would feel better again. Venting my anger to Lucas had actually helped a little, a weight seemed to have lifted and I didn't feel as if I was lugging a tonne of bricks over my shoulders – not that it eased the physical ache in my body any, but it helped some. I cast a quick look over my shoulder and bore Lucas an apologetic smile.

 “You know what it can get like up there Lucas. The human blood starts trying to take over, and without any sleep to recharge, it was starting to get the better of me. I feel better just being back, but still holding onto some residual emotion it would appear. I'll be fine, just need a rest is all...some time off maybe.”