Chapter 34
Exton didn't come back the next day.
Rye sat waiting for him at the breakfast table, but he never showed up.
Xavier held her hand as he sat next to her.
"Baby," he said, moving the hair out of her face. "You have to give him some time."
Rye's shoulders dropped in a deep sight. With clumsy fingers she picked up the fork and poked the eggs on her plate.
"He should be here," she said. Her voice shook and Xavier could tell she was trying not to cry again.
"He needs to be where he can handle himself right now," Xavier explained gently. "This place is filled with her memories. If I were him, I would have gone off the rails by now."
Rye gripped Xavier's hand.
"I'm sorry, love," Xavier kissed her head. "But please, stop beating yourself up."
"I can't stop thinking about him," Rye finally turned to look at her husband.
Xavier gave her a small smile as she pouted in sorrow.
"He'll be back soon," Xavier assured her. "He's going to think up some hellish idea and come looking for Caspian."
"You think?" Rye asked hopefully.
"Yes," Xavier nodded. "He has your psychotic blood and my stubborn genes.... I don't think he's going to give up this easily."
Rye couldn't help but chuckle at his words. She fanned the unshed tears away from her eyes and focused on her eggs again.
"Please eat," Xavier pleaded. "I hate seeing you like this."
Even though she didn't want to, Rye took a bite of her eggs to please Xavier.
"Happy?" She asked as she chewed.
"Happy," Xavier smiled at her.
Rye set the fork down and sighed once again.
"Oh come on," Xavier teased. "We were doing so well."
Rye shook her head. "Xavier, what's going to happen to Mavi?"
Xavier's mood fell. He was doing well hiding his stress and worries from Rye but he couldn't keep up the facade when she talked about Mavi.
Rye watched as her mate rubbed his forehead and then his chin.
"I don't know," he said defeated. "Tobias can't tell what kind of effect the dagger's wound might have on her."
"It's not healing," Rye pointed out quietly. "Her wolf DNA should have healed her by now."
"I know, I know," Xavier hung his head.
Neither of them spoke for the remainder of breakfast. Xavier watched Rye toss around her eggs as her mind wandered. After the staff cleared the table, he pulled her out of her chair and tried to make her laugh by twirling her.
Rye chuckled for his sake and gave him a tired smile. Xavier pulled her into his arms as she wrapped her arms around his midsection.
"Let's go wake up the princess," Xavier said kissing the tip of Rye's nose.
Rye nodded. She followed Xavier through the halls and up to Mavi's room. As she turned the doorknob and stepped inside, she wasn't prepared for who she was inside.
Gemma.
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The cold hard ground beneath Gemma's face sent shivers down her spine. She tried to move away but her body ached. With great effort, she peeled her eyes open.
The bright white light was blinding. Gemma quickly placed a aching hand over her face to shield her.
"Don't worry," Azazel's voice spoke. "You're not dying and this isn't the light at the end of the tunnel."
Gemma sat up in confusion. She lowered her hand and dared to peak.
Everything around her was a blinding white mess. She couldn't tell where one wall ended and another began. In front of her, Azazel's translucent figure stood gawking at her. Her dark hair was tamed and pulled back into a bun.
"He didn't save you." Azazel moked Gemma.
Gemma grunted as she pulled her body up to a sitting position. She leaned back against the white wall and tried to catch her breath. Every cell in her body was in pain.
"He tried," Gemma said breathlessly. "That's all I could ask for."
Azazel rolled her dark eyes.
"Where are we?" Gemma asked. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her legs around them.
"Pandora's dumb box," Azazel said as she lightly tapped the wall with her feet.
Gemma didn't know what to say. She tried to hold herself together and not think about Exton.
She would never see him again....
Her heart felt numb and cold. She couldn't bare the hollowness in her chest. She felt as if the oxygen inside swirled around aimlessly.
A stubborn tear fell down her face as she stared at the floor. Her fingers trembled as her insides shook.
"Tobias came to see us," Azazel said examining her fingernails.
Gemma didn't answer. She was now stuck here for eternity with this freak....she needed to start learning how to drown out her voice.
"He offered me a deal," Azazel continued.
Gemma remained silent.
Azazel watched her for a few minutes. Other than the occasional blink, the girl did not move. Her hollow eyes stared at nothing. There were no more tears. She was done crying....there was nothing left of her.
Azazel huffed in annoyance. She stormed over to Gemma and looked down at her.
"Get up," she demanded.
Gemma ignored her.
"You look pathetic," Aazael rolled her eyes. "Now get up."
When Gemma refused to move, Azazel stomped her feet.
"Tobias was here," Azazel said again. "Don't you want to know why?"
Gemma blinked.
"He wants to bargain for you," Azazel crouched down to look Gemma in the face. "He offered to send Hector in here in exchange for your release."
Gemma quickly crushed the little bubble of hope that tried to float in her heart. Knowing the sick and twisted being that Azazel was, she could be faking.
"I don't know how I feel about it," Azazel pondered. "I mean I love him....but to be with him 24/7?"
"You don't know the first thing about love," Gemma couldn't help but answer.
Azazel giggled, "Such a classic line."
"What would you know about love? Your own mother used you as a ladder to climb to Olympus," Gemma said looking Azazel into her eyes. "You're so damned you couldn't even be with the only man who ever tried to understand you or love you."
Gemma expected Azazel to fly off the handle but the small smile that spread across her lips was unsettling.
"And what about you Gemma, darling?" Azazel leaned forward. "Didn't your parents try to kill you? What do you know about love?"
Gemma looked away.
"Exton would have never loved you if you couldn't raise the dead. The only man who ever tried to show any kind of compassion towards you, you ripped his heart out ...."
Gemma flinched at the bitter memory. She knew deep down it was Azazel that had been the one in control, but Gemma had let it happen....she was just as guilty.
"Don't you see, little bird," Azazel said slowly. "You and I....we're the same. The Faiths never gave us a chance ...."
Gemma looked away, turning her head.
"But I care for you more than the faiths ever will," Azazel said.
Gemma snorted.
"It's true," Azazel took a seat in front of her. "I'm letting you go. I will not let you be separated from your only chance at love."
Gemma turned back to look at the gril and glared. "You're a sick freak .... the only reason is because Tobias offered Hector. Don't try to make yourself the hero."
Azazel shrugg. "Whatever helps you sleep better at night."
Gemma wanted to punch the smug look on her face.
"Tobias will be here in a few minutes," Azazel sighed.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Gemma spat out.
Azazel shrugged again and moved away. Gemma used her hands to cover her ears as the psycho started to hum elevator music. She had no idea how much time passed before a panel on one of the endless walls opened.
Tobias walked in and looked at Azazel and then at Gemma.
"She's yours," Azazel said motioning towards Gemma with her hands.
Tobias turned to Gemma.
"Let's go," he said, holding out his hand.
Azazel jumped to her feet, "Not so fast! Where is Hector?"
Tobias' cold expression turned towards the door. Gemma watched in horror as a bounded and gagged Hector was pushed through. Her eyes moved back to Tobias who held out his hand towards her.
Gemma quickly climbed to her feet, despite the pain she felt. Her numb hands gripped Tobias's hand tightly as he pulled her towards him. She had no strength left. Her body slumped against Tobias as he hooked an arm around her waist.
Gemma looked up at Azazel who watched her with a strange expression on her face. She couldn't understand what it was....but somewhere in her mind she knew Azazel had been right about the two of them being the same.
Gemma closed her eyes tightly as Tobias carried her out of the box. The last thing she saw before her lids closed was the small tear that rolled down Azazel's face.
As soon as Tobias had Gemma out of the box, he portaled her to the world above. They emerged in Mavi's room.
Tobias gently sat Gemma down on one of the chairs and kneeled down in front of her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Gemma nodded, "Yes."
She couldn't help the tears that sprang to her eyes. Tobias reached out and wiped her face.
"I....I can't marry you," Gemma sobbed.
Tobias suddenly laughed.
"I think the moon goddess will break my bones if I take you for myself," he touched the side of her face and smiled sadly.
"Just promise me one thing?" Tobias asked.
"Anything," Gemma said.
Tobias turned his head to look at the little girl sleeping in the crib. Gemma followed his gaze.
"Keep an eye on her," Tobias said.
Gemma didn't understand what he meant. She looked at Mavi and then back at Tobias.
"The dagger....it did something to her, I can feel it."
Gemma's heart sank, "Will she be okay?"
"Yeah," Tobias looked back at Gemma. "She'll figure it out."
Gemma wanted to ask more, because she knew Exton would want to know more.
Exton.
Gemma's heart perked up.
Tobias chuckled. "I should get going."
He leaned forward and placed a kiss on Gemma's cheek, "Goodbye, Gemma."
"Thank you," Gemma whispered as Tobias slipped back out through the portal.
Just as the portal closed, the door to Mavi's room opened and Rye walked in.
Rye's puffy eyes landed on Gemma at once as a small cry left her lips.
"Oh thank the heavens," Rye rushed forward and pulled Gemma into a hug.
Gemma winched at the tight hug. Her body was still sore from the beating it took on the field.
As much as she wanted to stick around and tell Rye of her adventures, there was something else she mind craved more.
Gemma looked at the relieved Xavier over Rye's shoulder.
"Where is he?" she asked.
Everything is coming together :)
What did the dagger do to Mavi?