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More Than Darkness	By : SaMe Category: M through R > Once Upon A Time In Mexico Views: 4591 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the movie that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-1
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9
- 10-10
- 11-11
- 12-12
- 13-13
- 14-14
- 15-15
- 16-16
- 17-17
- 18-18
- 19-19
- 20-20
- 21-21
- 22-22
- 23-23
- 24-24
- 25-25
- 26-26
- 27-27
- 28-28
- 29-29
- 30-30
- 31-31
- 32-32
- 33-33
- 34-34
- 35-35
- 36-36
- 37-37
- 38-38
- 39-39
- 40-40
- 41-41
- 42-42
- 43-43
- 44-44
- 45-45
- 46-46
- 47-47
- 48-48
- 49-49
- 50-50
- 51-51
- 52-52
- 53-53
- 54-54
- 55-55
- 56-56
- 57-57
- 58-58
- 59-59
- 60-60
- 61-61
- 62-62
- 63-63
- 64-64
- 65-65
- 66-66
- 67-67
- 68-68
- 69-69
- 70-70
- 71-71
- 72-72
- 73-73
- 74-74
- 75-75
- 76-76
- 77-77
- 78-78
- 79-79
- 80-80
- 81-81
- 82-82
- 83-83
- 84-84
- 85-85
- 86-86
- 87-87
- 88-88
- 89-89
- 72
- 73
- 74
Salida knew the exact moment that her husband awoke. She'd
gotten a considerable amount of work done while he slept, but apparently the
shock of her mouth on the inside of his thigh was too much for him.
Jeffrey quickly blinked himself to awareness, not entirely
sure what had awoken him�oh�my delightfully
naughty vixen�he rewarded her efforts by letting loose a soft moan, knowing
she liked to hear just what she was doing to him. It wasn�t faked. He had a
fleeting wish to be woken up like this every day. �Much�better than an alarm
clock,� he murmured to this effect.
"I love you," she whispered against his skin.
"I wanted to show you."
�I know you love me, vixen,� he whispered. �But I do
appreciate the display.�
"You want this."
�Very much,� he agreed. �Always.�
"Because you love me." Her hand stroked his rather obvious arousal.
He gasped, arching his hips a little off the bed at the
sensation. �I do. More than anything,� he answered her.
"And that's what makes it good." Her breath ghosted over him next.
�Good.� He agreed, needing more. �Special.� He lifted is
head off the pillow, wanting to watch her head move over him.
"How special?" She rested her head on his thigh
and let her fingers do the walking.
�Very.� It was all he could think to say at the moment.
"How
special?" she asked again, not removing her fingers, but stilling them.
He moaned at the loss and struggled to continue. �Worth�everything. You make me feel�alive. Whole. Loved.�
His
answer satisfied her and she rewarded him. Stretching her neck out a bit, she
nuzzled him. Kissed him. Suckled
him.
I must have said
something right. The thought dashed through his mind as he took the
long-denied pleasure his wife was giving him. It had been too long. They had
been apart from each other for too long. As mind-blowingly
amazing as this was, it was somewhat bittersweet. He knew he couldn�t have
more, and that splintered him. Suck it up
and enjoy this, you fucking pansy. She�s doing this for you. He knew. And
he would try.

She was gentle. Persuasive. As much as he tried to
hide it, she could tell he was holding something back. And that hurt. But she
was doing this because it was as close as they could be for weeks still, and
she wanted so desperately to be close to him. That desperation wore away at her
gentleness until she was no longer persuasive but demanding.
A moaning gasp clawed its way out of his throat as she
shifted gears on him, and his hands practically leaped into her hair, trying to
force her head where he wanted it. His throat was dry from heavy breathing and
his hair was damp with sweat. And all he wanted was more. �God�I�love�you,� he moaned.
"Then don't hide from me."
�I�m not,� he argued feebly.
"Yes you are," she whispered against his length
even as her right hand slipped between his legs.
�I�m not trying to,� he moaned, arching into her touch. He
didn�t want to upset her, because some part of him knew that if she got upset
then she would stop. And he couldn�t take that.
"But you're not fighting it either." She let him
think about that as her mouth became busy with other things.
He tried to think on that-it sounded important-but damnit he
couldn�t really be asked to concentrate with her lips latched onto him like
that, now could he? But he did try, for her sake. He had a vague thought-it
might have been a thought-that this was about him
being selfish for her touch. That was as far as he got before his thoughts
slipped away into feelings.
Salida
didn't stop. She was doing this for him
after all. Because she loved him. He hadn't asked for
it. It had been her choice. And just because he was holding back -
�I don�t like being taken for a fool -"
Screams
. . .
Blood
. . .
Salida
cried out and threw herself backwards, needing to put distance between the
before she hurt Jeffrey.
�What? What is it? What�s wrong?� Jeffrey asked frantically,
ignoring his now steadily throbbing arousal as best he could in light of this
sudden change in his wife.
"I'm
sorry...I can't...not ever." So saying, she got up and fled to the
bathroom where she promptly lost her lunch to the plumbing.
He
slumped back to the bed, painfully aroused and horribly confused. Fuck. What the fuck did I do to her? Why the
fuck did she stop? He could hear her retching in
the bathroom and that only added to his hurt and confusion. What had he done?
What had caused this? With slow movements he pushed himself off the bed and
walked awkwardly to the bathroom, straightening his boxers as best he could in
case he would somehow make things worse by his nakedness. He honestly had no
idea what he had done to her.
She
heard him coming. "Don't," she called hoarsely. "Don't. I'll
hurt you."
�Why do you say that, Salida?� he asked softly, staying
where he was out of respect for her near begging plea.
"Rivers," she whispered miserably.
He understood. �And you think that you�ll somehow do that to
me?�
"I didn't mean to do it to him. I didn't. I couldn't
stand it if I did it to you."
�Would it help if I said I don�t believe you ever would?� he
muttered, leaning his forehead against the wall and taking some solace in its
coolness against his skin.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
He just nodded.
"I'm sorry," she repeated, burying her face in her
hands.
�How do we fix this?� It was a selfish thing for him to ask,
but he couldn�t help but feel that way given his present situation.
She shook her head, not daring to look at him.
Jeffrey just grunted and sank to the floor against the door
frame, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the wood. They had been
doing better. Not quite good, but better. And now that as all ruined. �I don�t
know what to do, Salida,� he whispered. �I don�t know how to make things
better. And I hate that. I hate it more than anything.�
"I would suggest something, but you'll say no."
�Do it anyway,� he murmured. What did he have left to lose?
"Make
sure...do what you have to to make sure I can't hurt
you."
His eyes clenched shut as a frown marred his features. She
was wrong. He wouldn�t say no, but he sure as fuck didn�t like it. He settled
for a curt nod, not trusting himself to speak. He needed to make things right.
If that was what it would take, then so be it.
Salida watched him, unsure of what to do.
�Would it�be better if I left you alone for awhile?� He sure
as fuck didn�t want to, but he couldn�t just stay here if she was going to be
like this. He just couldn�t.
"No. I want...I want to finish...what I started."
�But I thought�� he trailed off with a confused frown
although his eyes showed intense relief that she wasn�t just leaving him like
this.
"I am,"
she whispered, assuming that he'd been about to say that she was too scared to
resume.
�Then why?� He wasn�t going to say that she didn�t have
to-he was feeling far too selfish at the moment to do something monumentally
stupid as that-but he didn�t want to make her worse by forcing her to deal with
this.
"You won't let me hurt you."
�I don�t think I�ll have to stop you from hurting me,
vixen,� he breathed. He truly didn�t.
"But you might."
He frowned, but he was really in no position to argue. He
was far past the point of no return and now all he wanted was relief. The fact
that it wasn�t fun for either of them anymore occurred to him, but he didn�t
care. Either she gave him what he needed or he couldn�t stay with her. He
couldn�t trust himself not to take what he wanted from her with force if need
be if he stayed, so he wouldn�t stay. But he�d much rather find a measure of
peace in his wife�s arms than have to go through all that.
She stood, although she didn't move any closer to him.
"It's just...I can't hurt you. I
can't."
�You won�t,� he assured her, not moving from his place in
the doorway. He was getting to the point-strike that, past the point-where he didn�t care if she hurt him or not. Well,
almost.
"You have to make sure," she whispered, edging
closer to him.
�I won�t let you hurt me,� he promised. He would agree to
anything if it only meant she would continue.
"Promise?" Finally reaching him, she slipped her hands
into his grasp.
�I promise,� he assured her, grasping her hands tightly in
his own.
Using
his grip to steady her, Salida sank back down to her knees, simply resting her
forehead against his stomach for a moment. Once she was composed again, she
looked up into his eyes.
His eyes were almost black with lust and he met her gaze
hungrily. There was love and passion in them as well, but desire took
precedence.
Taking strength from his gaze and his need, she rubbed her
cheek against him before once more enclosing her mouth over him.
A low moan ripped its way out of his throat before he could
think to stop it, and his fingers intertwined with hers tightly. This was what
he wanted. This was what he needed.
His
grip hurt, but Salida didn't mind. She blocked the pain and set about making
her husband happy. That was all she wanted. She wanted him to be happy. She
wanted to love him. She wanted him to be able to feel her love.
God he needed this. The fire that licked through his veins
had only been getting worse and worse without her touch and now that she was
giving herself to him the fire still got worse and worse but the knowledge that
there would be relief and peace at the end gave him solace; gave him a hold on
sanity again. �I�love you�� he gasped as he arched into her touch.
She hummed, letting that speak for her.
He groaned again, his hips bucking up off the ground towards
the source of the sweet relief she offered as much as she allowed. More, god he
only wanted more. He was dizzy with sensation and feeling, but that thought was
clear. His eyes had clenched shut in pleasure ages ago and now his head was
pressing hard against the doorframe as he moved with her.
The
foremost thought in her mind was to drive him crazy, and she was careful to do
everything she could to do exactly that. She took him in as far as she could.
She'd withdraw almost as far as she could before stopping for as much as a
minute at a time. She let out the occasional hum of approval. And finally, she
employed her teeth in her careful campaign.
Jeffrey�s speech was now a series of inarticulate moaning,
frustrated mutterings and garbled pleas. He was begging and cursing her in the
same breath. He growled at her presumption to stop and then whimpered for the
very same reasons in his next breath. She was fucking torturing him. He had
been painfully aroused when she had stopped, and now under the full force of
her calculated teasing he was practically screaming for relief. If she really
enjoyed hearing him as much as she said she did, she was certainly getting her
fill now. He had given up all pretense of silence along with self-consciousness
eons ago and there his begging and cries were unfettered. Each time she moved
her hot lips or teeth or tongue over him, he simultaneously felt his was going
to explode or go mad at the sensation. And then when she stopped�god, he wanted
to strangle her then. He would have had it not meant she would stop for good. A
part of him still realised this and stilled his hands before they could
throttle her graceful neck. But he couldn�t fucking
take it anymore. �Please, vixen. Enough. Please,� he
begged. She was driving him insane.
She groaned as she took him as deeply as she could...and
then she waited.
Jeffrey let out a whimper/curse/moan as her mouth stopped
moving on him, trying to make her move once more by bucking his hips. Their
joined hands pressing down on him quickly put a stop to that. �Please, vixen.
Please,� he begged again. If she would only move, only a little, he could find
relief. He could feel it. He was so fucking close he was practically shaking
under the pressure.
Her tongue danced along the underside of his arousal.
He yelled as his climax ravaged its way through him,
rendering his mind completely useless against the overwhelming demands of his
body. He was without control; lost in the abyss. Amorphous shapes danced before
his eyes as he jerked inside her mouth, his jaw set against the strain of the
feeling of his whole body being pulled and twisted out of shape and the hastily
reformed again. His hands clenched hers desperately as he fought to hold on,
and he would later be grateful that he hadn�t placed his hands around her
throat earlier in his frustration for he surely would have strangled her now.
Finally, after what had seemed like decades, he slumped away
from her, panting harshly. He remained upright only because he was pressed
against the doorframe. If that hadn�t been there he would have fallen backwards
in a heap of limp and sweaty limbs.
Salida
moved until her head was resting against her thigh. She was comfortable
there. Her eyes slipped shut as a smug
smile of satisfaction came to her lips.
Jeffrey couldn�t talk. He couldn�t move. He could hardly
think. All he wanted to do was to surrender to the all-enveloping peace and
contentment that surrounded him and never come back. His brow was unlined with
worry; the dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep seemed to have
vanished, and his thoughts-what few thoughts he had-were of contentment.
"I
love you," she whispered a bit later when she thought she might have his
attention.
He murmured something in return which might have been �I
love you too,� or just a sleepy contented sigh.
"Let's go to bed, lover."
He grunted at that, not wanting to move.
"The floor isn't very comfortable."
�No, but I don�t wanna move,� he
murmured.
"I'm going to." She painfully pried her hands from
his and pushed herself to her feet.
He didn�t want her to go more than he didn�t want to move so
he sighed and regained his footing. He was a sweaty, sticky mess and probably
could benefit from a shower, but he just wanted to collapse on the bed with her
in his arms and sleep the sleep of the utterly relaxed and contented. The
tension would return; the worry, the sleepless nights, but for now he was good.
He had needed that. �Are you alright?�
She gave him a lopsided smile. "I'm fine."
�Are you sure? Because, once I�m more able to govern my
thoughts again I will return the favour. If you like.
Thank you for that, by the way.�
"It wasn't a favor."
�Well whatever it was thank you.�
She
didn't stop moving towards the bed or show in any way that she was upset, but
her voice was cold. "If you
couldn't tell what that was, I might as well have kept to myself."
He frowned, trying to think fast. �You did it�you did it to
show that you loved me.�
"You sound sure of yourself."
He said it again, this time sounding assured. �You love me.
You wanted to show that love. That�s why you did it.�
She climbed into her side of the bed and turned as far over
onto her side as she could.
�Salida please, I didn�t mean to upset you. My thoughts were
just a little slow going after that. I�m sorry. I know you love me. I love you
too.�
"Yes. They were slow."
�I�m sorry,� he said again, not wanting to end things like
this.
She was quiet for a long time before she nodded. "I
know." Her voice was just tired now. "I shouldn't have overreacted.
No one is at their best after...that."
What is that supposed
to mean? �Alright,� he said with a frown.
"You're right. I
wanted to do that because I wanted to show my love."
�I know.�
"Alright."
Awkwardness set in and he felt the contented feeling she had
given him slip away. What had she meant by that? Was he just being paranoid and
looking too much into it? He wanted to think so, but it was hard. Especially now that his peace had been shattered.
"Don't worry," she murmured, able to feel how
tense he was beside her.
�About what?�
"Anything. I love you. I want you to know. That was the
way I chose. You don't need to read into things any farther than that."
�That was the way you chose what?�
"That I chose to show you."
He nodded. �I understand. Thank you for letting me know.�
"You're welcome," she replied softly.
�And do you? Know?�
"Of course I know.
But that doesn't mean I don't forget.
And it doesn't mean that I don't love hearing it again and again."
�I love you, Salida. Te quiero. Ich
liebe dich. Je t'aime. Ti amo. Я люблю
вас. Lian ai. Ego diligo vos.�
"What were those last two?" she asked, turning
onto her back.
�Chinese and Latin,� he answered her.
"Did I know you knew Chinese and Latin?"
�I don�t know. I don�t remember. I don�t know Mandarin as
well as some of the others, but I know a little.�
"Just the important phrases, eh?"
�I guess. I�ll still write it on your cast if you like.�
"If you want. It's not something I would force you to
do."
�It�s not exactly something I�d mind doing for you either,
vixen.�
"Then you're free to."
�Then I will. Soon. For now I just
want to lie here with you for awhile. If that�s ok.�
"It's fine."
He nodded. He felt extremely tired all of a sudden, and he
didn�t really feel like moving. He didn�t feel like sleeping either; he wouldn�t sleep, but just lying here next
to her would be nice.
Salida didn't know what to do. Before she
would have been content after making him come like that. But now she was
vaguely...dissatisfied. And not in some sexual way. Just dissatisfied.
As he was already watching her like a hawk for signs of pain
or distress, he picked up on this new bout immediately. �What�s wrong, vixen?�
"Nothing." Nothing that being pain-free
and independently mobile wouldn't solve.
�Are you sure? Is there something I can do for you?�
"You can love me. That's enough."
�I do love you, vixen,� he said softly, his voice trailing
off a little at the end as if he didn�t fully believe her about that being
enough.
"I know."
He reached over and brought her hand to his lips in a soft
kiss, not answering her statement otherwise.
"Jeffrey?" Her voice trembled. "Please
don't."
He froze, dropping her hand quickly as if it were crawling
with spiders. �What? What did I do? Did I hurt you?�
"No. No you didn't." She swallowed. "But
that's not enough. So don't do that unless you intend to soothe what your
teasing starts."
�Oh, Salida. I wouldn�t tease you.
Not now. Not like that. I would do anything for you. I will give you love and
passion if that is what you want, for that is what I have to give. I will give
you peace and solace if you only ask it from me. I would do anything for you,�
he repeated, his voice soft but solemn.
"I'm scared. What if I can't...? What if I can't feel
anymore?"
�Let me help you feel, vixen. Please, let me do that for
you,� he whispered. �Let me worship you.�
"Yes. Please yes."
He was gentle, oh so gentle. He kissed again where he had
before-the back of her right hand-and continued on from there. His lips
lingered on her skin long enough to go beyond teasing to tasting. He wanted to experience her. He wanted to show her
such love and passion and joy again that he practically ached with the demand
of it. He kissed his way around her bandages and casts without difficulty,
never once letting any of them get in his way as if he knew without looking
where each and every one was. He did know. He had seen. He had remembered. His
hands remained at his sides for now, letting his lips do the touching. That
was, until he reached her neck. As he kissed that graceful arch he couldn�t
help but run his hands through her hair. He loved her hair. It was thick and
black and beautiful and he loved it. And then he kissed her lips. Gently at first, almost hesitant, then with growing confidence and
passion. Not his own; passion for her. He breathed in her soft exhales
as if the very breath inside her body was precious, nuzzling her skin with his
nose as he kissed her. He loved her. He worshiped and adored her. He truly
would do anything for her.
Salida had started trembling from the moment he kissed her
hand, but as he explored beyond that, she felt everything inside her - her
heart, her soul, whatever - unfolding. It was as if she'd been in a very tight
place for a very long time and he was setting her free. And she was helpless to resist. Just as she
was helpless to return his soft kisses. It was only him. Only
him keeping her alive.
�I do love you, Salida,� he breathed, putting so much
attention into each kiss that it was like for those few seconds no other part
of her existed except what his lips touched. He truly was worshiping her.
Nothing but her pleasure and passion filled his thoughts. He only wanted to
make her happy. He was completely selfless with her in a way that he never had
been before. He knew she needed this. In many ways, he needed this too. He
needed to reestablish the bond of intimacy between them as well. Missing her
when she was only mere feet away tore at him like an festering wound on his
heart, and had it not been for today, he didn�t think he could have endured it
much longer. But such thoughts passed. This wasn�t about him. She had given him
much of what he had needed earlier. Now it was her turn to receive in kind.
He kissed the curve of her swollen belly, feeling a warm
surge of arousal go through him as he did so even though he was doing his best
to ignore his own needs. He couldn�t help it. It seemed that every time her
belly got a little fuller than it had been before, it made him want her that
much more. She was beautiful. She was sexy. God he loved her.
"Jeffrey," she murmured over and over as she lay
quietly beneath his kisses. "Jeffrey." If she moved she split open
with the rising tide of emotion inside her. The only way she could save herself
was to be still. But he couldn't stop. He had to know that she liked this. That
she wanted this.
He knew. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her
breathing. She didn�t have to move under his ministrations for him to know
that. He liked it when she did, but
he didn�t need her to. With that reassurance of her desires in his mind
however, he kissed on. Around the curve of her belly that
enveloped and protected his son and daughter, over the tops of her thighs and
still onward. With delicate gestures, he gently pulled her panties down
as slowly and easily as he could over her remaining casts. He didn�t want to
ruin everything by hurting her now. He never wanted to hurt her. Not really. So
he wouldn�t. It was as simple as that. With infinitely slow movements-not
deigned to tease but to arouse-he laid a gentle open mouthed kiss on the source
of her desire, and waited. For permission, for encouragement, he didn�t really
know. He simply waited.
She gasped sharply and threw her head back on her pillow,
moaning his name.
He would have smiled smugly had this not all been for her.
As it was, he began moving his tongue around her supersensitive bud, suckling
on it one minute and delving his tongue and fingers into her depths the next.
He didn�t move with the frantic abandon he might have otherwise had he been a
slave to his own desires as well, but at a slow pace designed to please her.
Salida was most definitely pleased. It showed in her ragged
breathing. In her restless hands. In her soft,
sometimes encouraging, sometimes pleading voice.
Jeffrey only continued, his dark head moving between her
legs in various rhythms, first slow and sensual, then quick and passionate and
back again. He was doing everything he could to bring the passion out for her,
wanting her to have her fun but also the relief that came at the end as well.
She had given him a taste of that peace, and he wanted her to taste it as well.
It
wasn't enough Salida thought in something akin to panic. His touch alone wasn't
enough. She needed something else. She needed...
"Please.
Talk to me, Jeffrey."
He let his eyes slip shut slowly, inexplicably pleased that
she had asked him this. Her plea meant everything to him. It meant that
someday-not soon, but someday-they would be alright. They would be better. He
didn�t know if they�d ever be whole again, but things would be better than
this. �You always ask me to talk to you, vixen,� he said softly, lying his head
on her thigh as gently as he could while continuing to touch her. �You say you
like my words. You like what they do to you. Well I love the way you ask. I
love the thought that my very words are enough to make you want me. That
hearing how much I love and adore you arouses you. That means everything to me,
Salida. I would bring you the stars, and all you want are my words. I love you
for that.� He kissed her thigh gently and went on. �I love how you find joy in
the smallest of things. I�m not like that. I sometimes wish I was, but I�m not.
I don�t take time to stop and smell the roses, I buy a bouquet. It�s how I am.
But you�re not that way. You move through life like everything is a precious
gift for you alone. Do you know that? And you do feel. Sometimes you feel too
much. But I wouldn�t have it any other way. I love you so much, vixen. You give
me reasons to get up in the morning. You give me reasons to not just give up
and tell the world to go to hell. I wouldn�t be here if it wasn�t for you. I
love you.�
Salida
shuddered at his words. If not for them, his touch never would have brought her
the release she craved. It was only by combining those two senses - touch and
hearing - that she was able to relax enough to make her climax possible.
It
was only a shadow of her former responses; a tightening of her muscles, a long
shudder, a drawn out moan... But it was release, and it let her mind shut down
so that she could simply feel, and the feeling brought about another � less
showy � release. At long last she was
satisfied and complete, unwilling to move even so much as her little finger.
Jeffrey smiled, and kissed her thigh again, content to keep
his head there as long as she could stand it. He was mildly aroused himself
after all that, but it didn�t matter. Her peace was all that mattered. �I love
you, vixen,� he breathed.
She moaned and reached down to stroke his head.
He smiled at the feeling of her hands moving through his
sweaty hair, sighing in contentment. This was it. This was the surest peace he
had felt in a long time. It wasn�t pure, but it was enough to get him through
the night.
"Come up where I can reach you," she murmured
softly once she could think again.
He didn�t really want to move, but he couldn�t deny her
that. So with silent gentle movements he crawled up the bed and settled himself
down close beside her.
"Thank you," she murmured as she rolled onto her
side and tucked her face into her neck.
�You�re welcome, vixen,� he murmured with a soft kiss to the
top of her head. Unfortunately, he was now of a split mind with what to do with
himself. One the one hand, he�d like nothing better than to melt into the
mattress with her and let the day slip by, but on the other he was quickly
filling with nervous energy. He hadn�t been out on the town in weeks. He hadn�t
killed anyone in weeks, and he missed
it. He needed it. He needed the thrill; the quick sharp release of tension in
taking someone else�s life. It kept him balanced. But it could wait. It had to
wait.
"Just stay until I fall asleep," she murmured.
"Then you can go. I can feel that you want to."
�It�s alright. It can wait. I�ll be fine,� he answered her
softly.
"No. If we're leaving soon, you might as well have fun
while we're here."
�Are you�are you sure?�
"Yes. Just promise to be careful."
�Always vixen. You don�t have to
worry about me,� he whispered into her hair.
"I don't, but I do."
�I know you do. I will try not to give you further cause to
worry, alright? I promise I�ll be careful.�
"Thank you."
�You�re welcome. I�d stay in�.but I don�t think I can.� He
frowned, hoping she wasn�t taking this the wrong way. �I�d take you with me if
I could. It�s not that.�
"I understand. Go work it off."
�I�m glad you understand,� he murmured. �Just another thing
I love you for.� He kissed her again.
She smiled though her eyes were shut.
�I do love you, my vixen. I love you very much,� he
whispered, stroking her hair gently as she had his earlier.
"It's a nice feeling."
�What is?�
"Being loved."
�Oh. Yeah, it is,� he agreed with a small smile of his own,
still running his fingers through her hair gently.
"I love you."
He smiled. �I love you too, Salida.�
"You'll wake me when you come back?"
�If that�s what you want.� Of course he would. He always
did. He always wanted to share his latest conquest with her. That she didn�t
appreciate it like he did was immaterial.
"Yes. I like knowing when you get safely back
home."
He nodded, understanding that. �Then that�s what I�ll do.
You have my word, vixen.�
"Good." She sighed deeply. "I don't suppose
you would sing me to sleep again."
�If you want me to�I will.�
"Would you really?"
�What would you have me sing, vixen?� he asked, propping his
head up on an arm to look over at her.
"You don't have to sing. I was only joking."
�But I will sing if you want me too.� He wouldn�t really
like it, but he would do it for her. He would do it because he loved her.
"No, it's okay. I'm nearly asleep as it is."
�Oh. Then perhaps I should stop keeping you awake,� he said
with a small smile and another gentle kiss on her forehead. �Get some rest,
vixen. I�ll wake you up when I get back.�
"Alright."
He nodded and began lightly running his hand through her
hair, encouraging her towards sleep. He would have been more then content to
watch her throughout the night, but he couldn�t. He needed to go out. He needed
something-someone-to take the edge
off. He needed to kill again. He needed to hear someone scream; to feel hot
blood on his hands. He needed to take a life and he needed to do it soon. He
longed for that power again. He loved it. He was addicted to it. �I love you,
Salida,� he whispered.
"Love you," she breathed back, her body relaxing
as she lost her grip on consciousness.
Jeffrey kissed her again on the cheek gently, and got up to
have his fun.
***
Aida
was rudely awakened by the sound of running water. She must have been at the
end of a sleep cycle anyway, because normally she was a heavy sleeper. But
since she was awake, she figured that she might as well go see what her husband
was up to. Especially since it was a little after midnight.
Padding
into the bathroom, quiet enough to be a wraith, she started to ask what he was
doing...but then she saw the blood on his hands. Not again
Sands hadn�t noticed her approach and therefore didn�t stop
his frantic washing. He wasn�t trying to hide the blood from her-not really-but
if she never saw it then he wouldn�t be too upset. He didn�t quite know what
Jeffrey or whoever had been up to tonight, only that he felt exhilarated. He
felt the near high after a good kill swelling through his veins, and he wished
he had been around for more of it. He knew it had been a woman. He had a flash
of long blonde hair and blood floating past the backs of his eyes, but that was
it. Oh well. Maybe next time I�ll get to
have a little fun, he mused with a sigh.
"Did you...did you, um, cut
yourself?" Although she couldn't imagine what he'd been doing that would
have resulted in an injury. But she had hope
nonetheless.
He jumped at the sound of her voice, kicking himself that he
hadn�t heard her sneak up behind him. �Did I what? Oh. No. I didn�t,� he said,
looking down at his blood-stained hands.
"Oh." No, of
course he didn't, you ninny. He probably just came back from killing someone.
"Do you need more soap?"
He shook his head. He probably did, but he wasn�t about to
send her to go get some to clean up his mess. �I didn�t do this, Aida. I
mean�technically I did, but it wasn�t me. I didn�t betray your trust.�
She ignored his words. "Can I get you a sponge or
something?"
�Aida you�re not listening to me. I did not do this. I don�t
know who did, but it wasn�t me.�
"How about a clean shirt? I could get you a clean shirt."
�I didn�t do anything,� he murmured bitterly, throwing down
the now pink bar of soap into the similarly coloured water. �Yeah
a shirt. Fine. Thank you.�
She nodded and returned a scant minute later with a plain
t-shirt. "Are you going to come to bed?"
He changed into the clean shirt after making sure his hands
were as clean as they were going to get and nodded, following her into the
bedroom in silence.
She didn't ask questions simply because she didn't want to hear
the answers. It was simply enough to hold him - or so she lied to herself.
�Goodnight, Aida,� he murmured. He didn�t expect an answer.
He didn�t expect anything from her right now. If he was being honest with
himself, he was surprised that she even called him to bed, knowing the way she
felt about his homicidal tendencies. The fact that she was holding him also
gave him pause, but he didn�t comment upon it.
"You weren't going to tell me, were you?"
He didn�t know how to answer that. �I didn�t do it Aida. It
wasn�t me. I didn�t kill anyone tonight.�
"Why does that matter?"
�It doesn�t. Nevermind,� he murmured, staring across the
darkness with a mild scowl on his face.
"We both know that it'll be you sooner or later."
�And how exactly do we know that?� He hadn�t killed anyone
in weeks. It wasn�t that the urge hadn�t been there; he simply ignored it as
best he could.
"Because that's how it always is."
�Fine. Whatever.�
"Don't get upset with me just for stating the truth,
Sands."
�Fine. I won�t,� he murmured, still
staring off into the darkness. It wasn�t as if he�d be able to sleep anyway.
Not with his blood racing and his thoughts sharp and clear as they always were
after he had killed someone. It was decidedly ironic, but he always seemed to feel
sanest after murder. His thoughts became focused and orderly, his reasons
simple and clear. It never last, but then again he never fully expected it to.
He used to just go out and kill someone else to regain the clarity, but he
could no longer do that anymore. Not without upsetting her.
Except Aida didn't exactly feel upset. A little numb, yes,
but she suspected she'd get over that given a bit of time.
�You�re probably right,� he muttered. �No one would blame
you if you thought I couldn�t change.�
"I've never said that."
He shrugged.
"I haven't."
�I believe you.�
"I don't think you do. But that's alright."
�Fine. I don�t believe you,� he
muttered. �I don�t believe that you honestly think I can change. I can�t.
That�s all there is to it. I�ll kill again. It�s only a matter of time before I
can no longer ignore the urge. Did I tell you that? That I
constantly feel the urge to kill someone? That I feel better after
having done it? That I feel normal? I probably haven�t. It�s not something
you�d want to hear.� Although his words were harsh, the intention behind them
was nothing more than weary resignation.
"Isn't this what you want from me?"
�It doesn�t matter what I want,� he muttered.
"You don't let me say that.�
He just grunted.
"I thought you would be happy."
�It doesn�t matter,� he muttered. �Happiness is relative.�
"So I shouldn't try to make you happy because you don't
care either way. Thank you for
clarifying that."
�Of course I care,� he sighed. �I�m�not happy about it.�
"You're not happy about my attempts to please
you."
�No. I�m not.�
"Why?" It was one of the first questions she'd
asked since trying to help him with his clean up.
�Because�because when you agree with me it�s like you�re
further compromising yourself. And I don�t want that. I�ve never wanted that. I
do want you to understand, but not to agree. When you say that you�ve accepted
that I will kill again it�s like you�ve just given up. I don�t want that from
you, Aida.�
"It
seems as if you expect an awful lot of me, Sands. You say you don't want me to
compromise myself. Well, if I don't, I can't stay. Or at least I can't stay
without a great deal of pain. Yet if I try to ease that pain, you're unhappy
with me. It seems as if I'm in a lose-lose
situation."
�I�m sorry, Aida,� he whispered. �Thank you�for trying to
make me happy.�
"No. Don't thank me. I wasn't doing it for you."
�Alright,� he said with a small frown. He hadn�t wanted any
of this. He hadn�t meant to start an argument with her. God damn that bastard
Jeffrey. This was all his fault. Why couldn�t he have
just stayed with Salida? Or stayed out? Why did he have to leave? Why couldn�t
he have cleaned up his own fucking mess?
"I would have been...pleased...if you were happy, but
I'm doing this for me. I have to survive somehow."
He nodded. �I understand.� To stay with him, she had to make
sacrifices. It was a grim thing sometimes to have to do, but that was the way
it was. What sacrifices have I made? What
changes have I pushed through in order to be with her? None. Not a single one. I�ve made promises, and I�ve broken them. Either
that or she�s become so wearied by my complaints she gives up. Why does she
stay with me? What have I done to deserve her? She has sacrificed everything
from me. I have given her only broken promises and grief in return. �I
don�t deserve you,� he said dully.
"You
don't know that. Perhaps I've been sent as your divine punishment."
He rolled over to look at her, not sure if she was serious
or not by the sound of her voice. It seemed as if she was. �And what if I don�t
believe in the divine?�
"It was a joke. Even God wouldn't be that cruel."
�You�re not a punishment to me, Aida. I could never think
that. You�re a treasure.�
She looked into his eyes as she thought, A cursed treasure maybe.
�I mean it, Aida. I don�t know what I did to be lucky enough
to have made you my wife, but I�m glad you are.�
"I never realized that you were of two minds about
me."
�What do you mean?�
"You say you're happy, and I believe you. But you must
be unhappy too, because I can feel it."
�I�m of two minds of everything, Aida. And yes, more often
than not I find myself feeling unhappy. But that doesn�t mean that it�s because
of something you did. I just tend towards depression sometimes,� he murmured. �I
know I�m selfish. I want everything my own way and I don�t want to compromise.
And I�m sorry for that. I�m sorry I�ve made things hard for you.�
"I don't blame you. I don't lay any guilt on your
shoulders. You do that enough without me adding to it."
�I didn�t use to,� he murmured, then cursing himself for
being such an ass for saying such a thing like it was her fault. But it was
true. He remembered the days when he was truly without guilt, when the only one
he had to look after was himself. He remembered the peace those days had
brought him. And yet�and yet he remembered that her love was better than that
ill-gotten peace could ever be.
"Then if I could ask you to change anything, I'd want
you to stop feeling guilty over my decisions. They're exactly that. My decisions."
�I�ll�try.� He would try. He didn�t like feeling this way.
He didn�t like feeling as if he had suddenly lost her with one ill-placed
comment. He didn�t like any of it. He missed those days before. He missed her
from before. �I�accept that they�re your decisions to make and I will try to
not question them.�
"I don't mind if you question them. I just don't want
you to blame yourself for them."
He nodded. �I understand.� He did; in theory. In practice he
wasn�t so sure he�d be able to manage it.
"Okay." She closed her eyes and tried to rid
herself of the image of his red hands.
�I�m sorry about tonight, Aida. I was going to tell you. I
swear I was. I promised not to lie to you again and I�m trying to keep that
promise.�
"You didn't lie to me."
�I won�t say I didn�t think about it.�
"Even after I came in?"
�I didn�t hear you come in, remember?�
"But
if I hadn't, then I would have been asleep. And no questions would have been
asked."
�And then I might never have told you.�
Aida chose to ignore that he was more than willing to be
dishonest with her. "I was asleep."
�But I was going to tell you. I would have told you had you
not woken up. I would have told you,� he repeated, sounding as if he was
reassuring himself.
"Alright." Her point had
been that she was more than willing to let this discussion go and return to her
slumber.
�I didn�t mean to wake you,� he murmured his intentions pure
that time. He hadn�t meant to disturb her rest; that was what he meant. �Go
back to sleep.�
"Stay with me."
�Alright.� He wasn�t tired, and had
wanted to wander a little in the night, but he would stay. He would be happy to
stay.

"Thank you." She spooned
against him and closed her eyes.
�I love you, Aida,� he whispered. This was better anyway. If
he stayed here with her, maybe he�d grow relaxed enough to actually sleep. He
had been getting far too little sleep lately. Upon further thought, he realised
he hadn�t been eating regularly either. So far she hadn�t said anything to him
though, so maybe he was just being overcautious. It didn�t matter. He didn�t
feel tired and he wasn�t hungry. That told him that he was fine enough.
�Goodnight.�
She hummed and moved a little closer to him, but didn't
otherwise reply.
He smiled in response and closed his eyes to enjoy her
presence. He didn�t sleep.
***
Where is she? Where
has she gone? Has she left me for good? How will I survive without her?
These thoughts raced through Quentin�s mind as he frantically searched the
suite for his love, his goddess. But she wasn�t here. There was no sign of her
and he didn�t know where she had gone or when she would be coming back. Or even if she were
coming back. �But�I have to see her. I must. I must make her forgive me
so we can be happy again. We were happy once. She must love me. She has to.�
Still he wandered, searching every room he had searched before again, still not
finding her. He saw that Jeffrey�s wife was here, but she didn�t interest him.
He only wanted to find his goddess.
Aida came in just then with a box from a bakery and two
coffees. "You're up. Good. I brought some breakfast."
�Aida,� he whispered. �You didn�t leave me.� He was fixed
where he stood, unable to go to her for fear that he was somehow dreaming.
"I told you where I was going. You grunted. You must
have been talking in your sleep or something," she sighed as she set their
meal down on the table. "Besides, I thought we talked about this last
night."
�If only that were true,� he mused. �You don�t talk to me
anymore. I wish you did. I miss you, Aida.�
"Who was I talking to last night then?"
�Sands. Not me. Never
me.�
Aida sat down in her seat and cradled her head in her hands.
"Quentin?" she asked tiredly.
He bowed slowly, still making no move towards her. �Yes,
Aida.�
"I thought I'd made myself clear. I'm faithful to my
husband."
His fragile hope shattered just like that. �Why?� he asked
softly. �Why do you love him when you know I would do anything for you? I
worship the very ground you walk on. I would never hurt you. I would never forsake
you. I would never lie to you. Why do you turn me away when you mean so much to
me?�
"Because I didn't marry you.
Would you honestly have me become an adulteress?"
�You could leave him,� he said, vainly trying to regain that
fleeting sense of hope.
"You would have me break all my promises."
�He doesn�t deserve them, Aida. He doesn�t care for you like
I do. He can�t.�
"But
I made those promises in good faith. If I broke them, how would you ever trust
me not to do the same when it comes to you?"
�I will always trust you, Aida.�
"But you don't respect me enough to believe that I know
my own mind."
�Yes�I do,� he said despondently. �You love him. I know you
do. You won�t leave him. I know you won�t. But I cannot help but try, Aida. My
love may go unrequited all of my days, but it�s all I have. Please don�t deny
me that.�
I'll deny you anything
I want, she thought as she just simply looked at him.
�You�re not even going to let me have that, are you? You
don�t care about me. You never have. You treat me as an annoyance. As something in your way to your husband. The only time
you�ve ever treated me as anything was when you thought I was him,� he said
bleakly. �You�ll never love me.�
"I can't."
He nodded, not saying a word. In truth, he couldn�t. His
throat was clenched in the agony of being alone.
Aida turned her head away, not wanting to see the pain she'd
caused.
�What am I supposed to do, Aida? I can�t go back to what I
was. I�d rather die,� he murmured. �But what�s the point in staying here? I
have no one. Sands has you, Jeffrey has Salida, even
Sheldon cares for you all in his way. But there is no one for me. No one but
you, and I can�t have you. So�there�s nothing for me here.�
"I'm sorry for that. But there's nothing I can
do."
�Of course there is. You just won�t.� He paused, his
countenance falling even more. �Forgive me. That was unkind and unjust. I did
not mean it.�
"Yes you did."
�I might have in the heat of the moment, but I do not mean
it now, Aida.�
"It doesn't matter if you did."
�Of course not,� he murmured, sinking into the couch
dejectedly. �Nothing I say means a damn thing to you, does it?�
"It does, but it can't matter."
�Please don�t humour me, Aida. I couldn�t bear it.�
"Then
leave. I bought breakfast intending to share it with my husband."
�And hearing you speak so bluntly of him is worse,� he said
with a pained smile, speaking over the initial gasp of hurt he had not been
able to fully stifle.
"He's my husband, Quentin. Am I supposed to sidestep
that fact?"
He couldn�t deny the shiver of pure joy that went through
him to hear her speak his name, nor could he deny the way it was crushed
afterwards to hear her speak of him. �It does not matter. You wouldn�t, no
matter what I said.�
"Quentin...please. Just stop.
You're not going to wear me down."
�I know,� he said dejectedly. �But what else would you have
me do, Aida? Would you give up so easily on something that meant everything to you? I know you won�t
leave Sands. In my mind I know it. But in my heart I dare to yet dream of
happiness.�
"Don't. You'll just get hurt."
�I know I will. I know I�ll probably be killed if he has his
way. But the dream is all I have Aida.�
That makes two of us.
�If you truly wish for me to go�� he couldn�t finish. He
didn�t want to go so therefore he could not bring himself to say the words.
"I was intending to eat with my husband."
He gave her a sad smile. �As you wish,
Aida.�
"Thank you."
He inclined his head once, and forced himself back in to the
growing pit of despair from whence he came leaving a confused and mildly
distressed Sands in his wake. �Aida?� he asked, sitting up on the couch and
looking at her.
"I brought breakfast. We might have to heat the coffee
up though."
�Oh. Alright. That�s fine,� he
mused distantly. �Thank you.�
"This is the way things have to be. I'm sorry."
�What? Why are you sorry, spitfire?� Sands asked, blinking
confusedly at her.
"Quentin. He had his feathers ruffled. I bought
breakfast."
�Oh. Quentin was here?� he asked distractedly, rising and
following her into the small breakfast nook.
"Yes. But that's not important. I didn't know what kind
of breakfast pastry you like, so I just got a variety. But I knew to bring
coffee."
�Oh. Thank you. I�m not really hungry though.� He moved to
sit down at the table.
"Oh." Aida looked down at the bakery box. She
hadn't considered that he wouldn't be hungry.
�But I will have a cup of coffee,� he added when he saw her
look of dismay.
"I didn't bring anything for it," she murmured.
�I drink it black anyway.�
"I'm glad."
He nodded absently. �Quentin showed up? Is that what you
said earlier?�
"Yeah. He did."
�Oh. And what did you say to him?� he asked with a curious
frown, propping his head up on the table in his hands.
"I asked him to go away."
�And he did,� Sands muttered, staring off into the middle
distance. That was probably why he felt so�off right now. Quentin did seem to
leave a confused feeling in his wake. Sands didn�t like it. He didn�t like
Quentin period. He didn�t like feeling as if he had been socked in the gut and
had his heart ripped out and trampled upon. Something needed to be done about
this. And soon.
"I would have said something else, but I don't know how
to talk to him."
�You shouldn�t have to talk to him, Aida,� Sands murmured. �Ever.�
"I don't mind. He�s not that bad. I mean, yes, he makes
me uncomfortable -"
�He shouldn�t make you anything,
Aida. You just encourage him by talking to him.� You encourage him to leave me feeling like this.
"What am I supposed to do? Ignore him? He won't let
me."
�What do you mean he won�t let you?�
"He's a bit persistent. And who knows, since I'm so
gullible, maybe he'll try to trick me again. Lord knows I thought he was you
when I came in."
�Something has to be done about him.� It was unclear if
Sands was speaking to her or to himself.
"Just don't...don't hurt yourself. I don't think I can
watch you having seizures again. Not to mention they're not great for your
health."
�He can�t stay, Aida. Not�not when
he makes me feel like this,� he muttered.
"I don't want to see you sick."
�Would you rather see me so depressed I can�t even think
straight anymore? Because if the way I feel now is any indication, that�s where
this is headed. Either that or he gets it in his head that he can never have
you and just tries to kill himself,� he muttered.
"Of course I don't want that for you," she
whispered as she slipped from her chair to kneel in front of him.
�Between him and�Sheldon�� he shook his head.
"What about Sheldon?" she asked.
�He�s been�different lately. Vengeful.
Which is my fault, I know. He and Quentin are trying to bring me down.�
"Well, tell them to stop. Tell them I won't allow
it."
Sands let out a soft laugh that was anything but happy. �I
don�t think that will work, Aida.�
"Tell
them."
He shook his head. �Later. I don�t want to deal with either
of them right now.�
"Alright," she whispered as she leaned her head
against his knees.
�I�m sorry for bringing it up. And I�m sorry I�m not hungry.
I appreciate the fact that you went out and got breakfast for me though. Thank
you.�
"I wanted to do something nice for you."
�Why?�
"Because I...because of our discussion last
night."
�Oh. Thanks then. I guess,� he murmured, looking down at
her.
"I unsettled you and I didn't mean to."
�It�s alright. I don�t blame you for anything.�
That's so kind of you.
He saw her brow crease in response to his comment and
frowned. �What? What did I say?�
"Nothing. Nothing
at all. You just reminded me of someone else for a moment." The lie
came easily to her lips.
�Oh. Who did I remind you of?�
"An old boyfriend. The one I
dated in high school." She thought that was far enough back that he
wouldn't get jealous.
�Oh.� He frowned. �Why were you thinking of him?�
"Something about the way you said that sounded like
him. It was nothing. Just an out of place memory."
�Oh. Alright.� He seemed to accept
this.
"I told you it was nothing." She kissed his knee.
�I believe you,� he said with a ghost of a smile at her
gesture.
"I'm glad." She wasn't. She felt awful. But she
didn't want to start another fight between them.
�Do you�� he frowned, told his depressive other selves to
behave, and started again. �Would you like to go buy jigsaw puzzles today? You
said you wanted one.�
This brought a real smile to her face as she looked up at
him. "Yes. That would be nice."
�We haven�t done anything fun in�awhile.�
"No. We haven't."
�I think we need to,� he murmured, moving a hand to lightly
trace her cheek with his fingertips.
"I agree."
�When would you like to go?�
"Whenever you're ready to go. I'm a bit antsy."
�Why are you�antsy?� Sands asked, having never really heard
the word used in a sentence before.
She shrugged. "I've actually got energy. It's
nice."
�Oh. Ok then.� How could he tell her that he wanted nothing
more than to crawl back under the covers and sleep the day away? He wouldn�t.
He couldn�t do that to her. �Alright. Let me get
dressed and we can go right now if you like.�
Aida
looked at her watch. "Actually, it's still kinda
early. Why don't we go this afternoon and then grab some lunch while we're
out?"
He shrugged. �What do you want to do until then?� he asked,
looking down into his untouched coffee. It reflected nothing. It showed
nothing.
"What would you like to do, my love?"
�Go back to bed,� he murmured. He hadn�t wanted to get up in
the first place. Apparently that had been Quentin�s idea.
"Okay. I wouldn't mind cuddling."
�That�s fine,� he said, giving her a small smile. �Come on.�
He lifted her head gently up off his knees and rose to his feet. His coffee and
the breakfast she had thoughtfully brought him remained untouched as he made
his way back into the bedroom.
***
Susannah watched. They
don�t even know we�re here, do they? We�re been very careful. Her two
ghostly companions nodded. She grinned. �It�s not the Barillo
bitch though. Pity. I would have liked to kill her for
you, Em. No, this one�s not an innocent. I�m not
saying that. Any whore who attaches herself to him deserves to die.�
�Her name is Aida I think, Sus,�
Emily pointed out in a whisper. �Aida Grant. We had her parent�s house watched
but you can see how well that turned out. Do a girl a favor and nick her purse
for me, will you?�
�You want her to do what? Emily, have you lost your mind?
She can�t just go around stealing women�s purses because you want her to. It�s
illegal and Sands knows her face. He�ll recognise her!� Roland argued.
�Oh hush, you worrywart. Nothing bad�s
going to happen to our Sus. We�re looking out for
her, remember?� Emily reasoned.
�I�ll steal her purse,� Susannah agreed with an emphatic
nod. �It will be easy. You two wait right here. I�ll be back.� Susannah waved
to the visions of her dead friends and started walking towards the couple. She
had purse-snatching to do.
Aida
had Sands' complete attention as they walked down the street hand in hand.
She'd just finished making some witty comment when she felt her purse jerked
from her shoulder. For a moment she was stunned, but then her senses caught up
with her.
"My purse!" she yelled as she turned on her heel
and took off after her assailant.
Sands just blinked after her, not fully comprehending what
was happening before taking off after his wife and the thief. I thought purses only got snatched in
movies. He thought to himself incredulously as he ran.
�She�s chasing me! What do I do?� Susannah asked her dead
friends frantically as she ran, the stolen purse clutched tightly in her hand.
�Run girl, run!� Emily cheered.
�Turn and stand your ground! She�s an enemy!� Roland argued.
�Which one do I do?!� Susannah yelled at the disagreeing
opinions from her two friends.
�On second thought, stand your ground. He�s right,� Emily
amended. Susannah nodded, and halted so suddenly and spun on Aida she might
have been run over by her if she hadn�t been careful.
Aida stopped. "Give me back my purse."
�No,� Susannah hissed, holding the purse tightly to her
chest. �You�re the enemy. I know who you are, Aida Grant. You�re the devil�s
whore.�
"What?" Aida blinked several times and then
unwisely turned her back on the woman to look around for her husband.
The moment Aida�s back was turned, Susannah lunged at her,
producing a razor sharp stiletto from a sleeve and holding it to Aida�s throat.
�Your husband killed my best
friends!� she yelled, bringing Aida down to the ground with the momentum of the
tackle.
Sands saw all this and immediately quickened his pace,
praying that this crazy bitch wouldn�t hurt his wife. If she
did�. Don�t think about that. Just
run you goddamned fool!
Aida didn't move. Didn't breathe. Didn't do anything. She could feel the blade at her throat
and didn't dare to anything.
Susannah might have gone in for the kill had it not been for
Sands� outright bellowing of her name. �Susannah!� he yelled, causing her bones
to rattle and her heart to skip a beat. �Put the knife down or I�ll make you
wish you had died that day.�
�I already do, you son of a bitch,� Susannah yelled back,
not moving an inch. �You killed my best friends. I was the one who had to
identify Roland�s body. I saw what you did to him, you monster. He told me how
you hurt him. Emily does too. She tells me how your other whore deserves to
die. I�d rather kill her for Em�s sake, but this one will do just as well for
now.�
Still
not daring to move, Aida's mind raced through her options. She didn't want to
get hurt. She didn't want Sands to get hurt. So she shouldn't move. But if she
didn't move, Sands might think that she'd been hurt.
Very
carefully, Aida started to tap one finger over and over in a deliberate rhythm,
hoping Sands would see it.
Sands did see it. But his eyes drifted down to look so
quickly that Susannah didn�t notice. �Let her go, Agent Cartwright. She�s an
innocent. She didn�t hurt your friends.�
Susannah laughed and it was a mad sound. �Of course she did!
She�s like the rest of them. Aren�t you, hon? It�s
alright. You can tell me. Roland thought he could get to Sands through you but
he was wrong, wasn�t he? You wouldn�t give him up. They might both be alive if
it hadn�t been for you. They�re deaths are on your head as much as they are on
his hands.�
You can�t kill her.
Not without endangering Aida. Sands knew. He weighed his options. When he
decided that wasn�t doing him any good, he moved to strike. Before Susannah
could react, and more importantly before she could bring down the knife on
Aida�s neck, Sands� foot had made contact with her jaw, rocking her head back
violently. It had been a desperate gamble, and Sands didn�t know if it would
work, but seeing that it had he grabbed Aida�s hand and pulled her to her feet.
�Come on. We�re getting the fuck out of here,� he hissed, wishing he could
finish the job and use Susannah�s own knife on her now unconscious body, but
not willing to take the risk. They had already garnered too much attention as
it was. She wouldn�t want you killing her
either. Despite everything. Sands knew this too
which is why they ran.
Aida
stumbled in her husband's wake for a few moments before her legs decided to
work again. She let him lead her while she looked behind to see if they were
being followed. The woman who'd attacked
her was apparently in no shape to give chase.
Once they were far enough away to suit his paranoia, he
stopped in a narrow alleyway between two buildings and pulled her close. �Are
you alright? Are you hurt?�
She shook her head as she clung tightly to him. Now that she
was safely in his arms, the tremors of delayed panic started and she couldn't
seem to make them stop.
Sands just held her tightly, rubbing a hand over her back
and whispering comforting words in every language he knew into her ear while
silently damning Susannah for ruining their day.
"I...I should ask who that was," Aida mumbled as
she raised her head slightly from Sands' shoulder, "but I don't care. I
don't want to know."
�Are you sure?� he murmured, not really wanting to ask, but
not wanting to say he didn�t offer to tell her the truth if that was what she
wanted.
"Yes. I can't take it right now."
�Understandable,� he muttered, again cursing Susannah�s very
existence. How the hell had she survived anyway? �Do you want to go home?�
"Yes." Home. Safety. Security. "Home. Yes."
�I�m sorry about this, Aida,� he murmured with a frown,
gently tugging her out of the alley. He was especially sorry for what it now meant.
We can�t stay here any longer. It�s not
safe. She�ll find us again. �But at least we got some puzzles, right?� It
was a vain attempt at lightening the situation and he shouldn�t have bothered.
"Did we? Do you still have them?"
He held up his left hand to show that the loops of the bag
containing the puzzles they had purchased remained wrapped around his hand.
"I would have dropped them," she murmured.
�Well it�s probably a good thing I was carrying them then,�
he said as they walked back to the hotel. It wasn�t but a handful of blocks
away and Aida had wanted to walk so they had. That just means that federal bitch is sniffing close to home. You
realise that, right?
Aida made it but a few blocks before she stumbled away from
Sands. She made it behind a convenient garbage can before loosing the lunch
she'd delighted in sharing with her husband. Her nerves weren't anything close
to being settled.
Sands frowned and signed, lighting up a cigarette to calm his own unsettled nerves while using his free hand to rub
her back. He didn�t bother telling her that it would be alright, because he
didn�t know that it would be.
She reached out and knocked the cigarette from his hand; the
smoke was messing with her unstable stomach.
His eyes followed the cigarette, silently mourning its loss.
He understood her reasons though. �Are you alright?� he asked, waving his hand
in front of his face to dispel any smoke that might have lingered.
"No."
�Is there anything� Is there anything I can do for you?�
"Take me home," she whispered. "I think I
need to lie down."
�Anything,� he murmured. He almost said he was sorry for
what had happened, but he held his tongue.
"Thank you," she whispered, using his arm to pull
herself upright.
�We�re not far. We�ll be there soon. Unless�do
you want me to call a cab?�
She nodded. Anything to get home sooner,
even if it was an embarrassingly short trip.
He nodded. �Wait here. I won�t go far.� He made sure she was
steady on her feet and went to the curb to whistle for a cab. His method was a
little crude, but it did the job. He told the driver to wait while he walked
over to get Aida. Walking slowly, making sure she had a good hold of his arm,
they made it inside the cab without incident.
***
Salida
was awake, in the living room, and looking through a stack of magazines when
Sands came back to the suite, supporting Aida on one arm. She watched with some
interest as they disappeared into Sands' part of the suite, then
waited for him to appear to get an explanation.
Sands didn�t bother with pretenses. �We need to leave. As soon as possible. We ran into that bitch CIA agent
Cartwright a few blocks from here. Apparently she didn�t die. Normally I might
respect that, but as she�s interfering with my life I just want her dead.�
Her interest was piqued.
"Is she insane? Because that's what I was aiming for. She certainly deserves it."
�Since she was talking to her two dead colleagues as if they
were standing right there beside her, yeah I�d say it�s a safe bet,� Sands
muttered, taking a seat in a chair across from her.
"Oh good. What's wrong with
Aida?"
�She said she was tired. She�s shaken over this whole mess.�
Sands shrugged.
"Why? I mean, she should be used to insanity by
now."
�One would think,� he muttered. �I don�t think she�ll ever
get used to it.�
"Have you told Jeffrey yet?"
He shook his head. �But I think he already knows. There�s
been something in the air for days now. I should have been paying more
attention.�
"Yes, he said something to that effect yesterday."
�We can�t stay here, sunrise. It�s not safe.�
"So I keep hearing.
Does that mean the lovely agent is still alive?"
�Unless Aida and I were sharing a
delusion.�
"What happened exactly?"
�She stole Aida�s purse,� Sands said slowly, the incredulity
of the situation dawning on him. �She stole Aida�s purse so Aida took after
her. She caught up with Susannah and was then held at the point of a knife. I
kicked the bitch in the jaw and Aida and I took off. Oh and she wants to kill
you.�
"Hmm..." Salida was quiet for a moment.
"Well, I'm not surprised that she wants to kill me, but I'm sorry Aida was
attacked."
�Are you?� Sands asked, not sure he believed her.
"Yes. Aida didn't have anything to do with that."
�No, she didn�t. I�m just surprised to hear you say it.�
"Why?"
�Because� Because you and Aida don�t get
along.�
"That doesn't mean I necessarily want her dead."
�Well that�s something, I guess.�
Salida shrugged.
"So, where are we going to go, and you never answered if you'd told
Jeffrey about this yet."
�We have to leave. There�s really no other choice.� He
cleared his throat. �Jeffrey?�
�I heard,� Jeffrey interrupted. �I know we have to leave.
One of the lesbian bitches is alive. Which one?�
�Susannah,� Sands answered.
Jeffrey nodded, musing to himself.
"She's insane," Salida volunteered helpfully.
�Really?� Jeffrey asked with a
smirk. �Well that does make things more interesting. She always seemed too
uptight to me. Not like the other one. Maybe a little insanity will do her
good.�
"She tried to kill Aida."
Jeffrey�s brow furrowed. �Well we can�t have that. No one
gets to kill kitty but me.�
Sands grunted, calling Jeffrey something unkind under his
breath.
"We have to leave?"
�Sunrise she found us a few blocks from here. There�s no
telling how long she�s been following us,� Sands pointed out.
�We could always just kill her. If she�s as crazy as you
claim then she�s probably acting alone on this,� Jeffrey added.
"I'm not protesting. I don't like it here anymore. Bad memories."
Jeffrey�s mouth turned down a little at the edges in a
slight frown, but he didn�t otherwise say anything.
�Then we leave,� Sands said with a nod.
"But where?"
�I say somewhere less humid,� Sands muttered. �I don�t like
the heat.�
�I don�t really care,� Jeffrey said with a shrug. �If can be
up to you and kitty if you want, vixen.�
She just shrugged.
"Something tells me Rio is out of the question.�
�Why is that out of the question?� Jeffrey asked. �If that�s
where you want to go�.�
"Too humid."
�I didn�t say I wouldn�t go there. I just prefer the cold,�
Sands murmured. He was trying to be agreeable, knowing this wasn�t easy for
anyone.
"Mexico?"
�But vixen� I thought you couldn�t go back there,� Jeffrey
pointed out gently.
She sighed. "Then I don't care where we go."
�Do you want to go back to Mexico? I�m not saying we can�t,
vixen.�
She shrugged.
"It's not exactly safe."
�And you�re not exactly healthy. And neither is Aida for
that matter,� Sands murmured. �Mexico�s fine, but later.�
�Then where?� Jeffrey asked him.
Sands shook his head. �We should wait until Aida wakes up.�
Salida shrugged again. If they couldn't go to Mexico, then
she didn't care where they ended up.
�But no matter where we end it, it�s going to have to be
soon. I�m certain that bitch knows we�re here,� Sands muttered. �So gather up
whatever you have and say goodbye to the city. We�re leaving as soon as
possible.�
***
Aida
wandered out of her bedroom. She'd woken alone again - thankfully - but she was
lonely. Since fleeing the US she'd been needing to feel others around her. Perhaps it was part
of being in a foreign country. Perhaps it was something more. But right now, now that she'd settled a stomach that'd been upset
since about the same time as the big move, she wanted her husband. That's why waking alone wasn't always a good thing.
She
found him sitting at the coffee table in the living room, blanket around his
shoulders, paper in front of him. His back was to her,
so she couldn't see much, but she didn't want to either. She simply took a seat
behind him in an armchair.
Sands heard a chair creak behind him and glanced over his
shoulder, not knowing what to expect. They had been in Ireland for a few weeks
now and the paranoia of having to leave the US still hadn�t fully left him.
�Good morning, Aida. Did you sleep well?�
"Yes." She ran her hands over the stubble on her
head. "Well enough."
He set the paper aside, cinched the blanket around his
shoulders with a free hand, and got up to walk over to her. He kissed the top
of her now peach fuzz covered head with a smile. �I�m glad. Was there anything
you wanted to do today? We still haven�t seen the entire city yet.�
"Could we...could we perhaps stop by a...by a
church?" The question was hesitant,
but Aida had some things she needed to think on, and the peace of a sanctuary
would help her state of mind.
�A church? Why? Are you feeling
naughty?� he teased gently.
She smiled weakly and shook her head. "I just...need to think."
�Alright. It�s not like this city
is short on cathedrals. I�m sure we�ll be able to find one to suit you.�
"Thank you. I know you'd rather spend your day doing
other things."
He shrugged. �I won�t lie and say going to church was the
way I envisioned my day. But it�s fine. If that�s what you want then so be it.�
"Thank you," she murmured again. "This means
a lot to me."
He nodded. �It�s no trouble. Just don�t expect me to go into
confession or anything. I�d probably be in there all day.�
This got a stronger smile from her. "I'm duly
warned."
�Knowing me, I�d be the one to turn a priest away from his
faith. I seem to have that kind of talent with people.�
She didn't like the sentiment behind part of that statement
so she laid a finger across his lips. "Shh."
Sands shushed, but his eyes were still darkened with
mischief. He smiled a bit behind her finger before taking it into his mouth and
suckling it gently.
Aida slowly pulled her finger free. "Not this morning,
my love."
He shrugged good-naturedly. His mood was unspoiled. �Can�t blame me for trying.�
"No. I can't." She stroked his cheek softly,
keeping her own thoughts behind masked eyes.
He knew that look. He had seen it often enough in the mirror
to know that she had something heavy on her mind. Heavy
enough to warrant a trip to church. Something she wasn�t sharing with
him. �When did you want to go? Did you want any breakfast?�
"Some cereal. That'll be
fine." She leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "We'll talk
tonight. I promise."
�Alright. Cereal.
I can manage that. I don�t have to cook anything, do I?� he teased with a
crooked smile.
"No. I want Cheerios with banana slices."
�Oo, feeling
adventurous this morning? Are you sure you can handle the banana
slices?�
"Ha-ha. Just don't cut yourself, Sir Laughsalot."
He bowed. �I shall try my best, my lady.�
"You'd better. I'm not in the mood to tend ignobly won
wounds this morning."
�Would it really be ignoble if gained in your service, Lady
Aida? I think it hardly so.� He grinned, handing her his blanket so he could go
into the kitchen to get her cereal.
"If
it was earned whilst cutting bananas, I certainly think it would be." She
moved into the dining room to watch him.
�Perhaps. I guess I�ll just have to
not cut myself then. I think I�ll manage,� he murmured with a grin as he began
to unpeel bananas to lie out on the cutting board.
"I thought you would."
�Good to know you yet retain faith in my ability to not
injure myself,� he said as he filled up a bowl with cheerios and started
tossing in banana slices as he chopped them.
"You usually
don't injure yourself," she said pointedly.
He shrugged, allowing her the point. After a few more
slices, he determined the product finished and brought it to the dining room
table and the milk. He then went back for the remainder of the banana he had
sliced and decided that would be good enough for breakfast.
"You're not hungry either?" she asked between
bites as she watched him eat the remaining banana.
�Not really. I�m not much of a breakfast person. I usually
sleep through it.�
"Yes. You do." She shook her head and turned back
to her breakfast bowl.
�Not today though. I couldn�t sleep.�
"Why not?"
�I don�t know. I just couldn�t,� he said with a shrug,
folding up his banana peel on the table in front of him.
"Bad dreams?"
He shrugged again, not answering one way or another.
"You could tell me."
�I don�t want to talk about it. Maybe later,� he said with a
weak smile.
"Alright," she murmured,
a little hurt. It was hypocritical and she knew it, but that didn't seem to
affect how she felt.
�It was bad, alright? I�ll tell you when I�ve gotten to the
point where it isn�t replaying itself whenever I close my eyes.�
His tone was a bit waspish, so she apologized. "I'm
sorry. I don't mean to push. If you don't want to tell me...
It's alright. You're entitled to privacy the same as anyone else."
He sighed. He had been trying hard to keep up a good mood
this morning despite the events of last night, but it was becoming even harder
now. �It�s alright. I�m fine. It was just a dream.�
"Okay."
She ate her cereal, but moved her feet so they were in his lap.
His hands moved to massage her feet while he stared off into
the middle distance as if were seeing something there.
"I'm fine, my love. And I'm right here. Don't let it
take you away from me."
He blinked at her. �What? Oh. Sorry. Was there anything else
you wanted to eat?�
She shook her head, not sure he'd heard her reassurance.
He nodded and just kept massaging her feet, keeping his own
counsel.
She finished her breakfast and stood. "I need to
change, but we can go then. If you're ready."
He looked down and saw that he had actually bothered to get
dressed this morning-he had been cold, which is why he had the blanket as
well-so he guessed he was fine. �Ready when you are, spitfire.�
Aida was back again scant minutes later. "Okay, I'm
ready."
He nodded and offered her his arm after having grabbed the
essentials-wallet, keys, knives, and gun. �Then off we go.�
***
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More Than Darkness