Page 5 of Daemonium

CHAPTER TWO

There was another stretch of silence as the revelation settled over us. No one seemed all that shocked by it other than me. I never would’ve guessed that was his connection to all of this, but it made sense. Dion was quick-witted and thus far a riddle guru. I could picture him in his father’s same position, behind the scenes and away from all the bloodshed.

“Sorry, man,” Brody remarked, sounding as if he meant it.

Dion lifted his broad shoulders in a lazy shrug. “Why would you be sorry? I already started piecing it together.”

Maverick cleared his throat.

“If you need a moment to break down or anything, take it when we aren’t getting ready to go back out there.”

I frowned at the same time Lana and Mel turned toward him with nearly identical glares. We had somehow unanimously decided that Dion was ours for the long haul. Maverick took in our expressions and had the decency to look somewhat apologetic. It was more than the other three offered.

“That came out wrong. I meant to say take all the time you need.”

“Better,” Mel sniped. “Even if it lacked any sincerity.”

He shook his head, causing a few strands of dark hair to fall onto his forehead as he stalked off towards the Mustang. Lana circled the table and walked to where Dion was sitting. I moved closer to Mel and went with her to join them.

“Please don’t lie to me,” I implored in a hushed tone. “How bad is it?”

Her gaze met mine, a flicker of vulnerability shadowing her usually unyielding eyes. She was tough, always the one to shoulder pain of every kind without a whisper of complaint, but this time, even she couldn’t completely hide the truth.

“It’s not great, Grace,” she admitted, her voice tinged with a rare hint of weariness. “But I’ll survive.”

As she spoke, I could see the subtle signs of her struggle she was doing her best to conceal. There was a slight tightness around her eyes and a barely perceptible grimace that appeared every time she moved. The severity of her injury was a grim reminder of the harsh reality we were facing. None of us were invincible. We could die just like anyone else.

“It was at the school?”

We reached the sofa, and I caught the tail end of Lana’s question, seconds before a sudden wave of dizziness crashed over me.

It hit with such an unexpected force that for a moment, the world around me--the dimly lit warehouse, and the faces of my friends--all blurred into a disorienting swirl of colors and shapes. I managed to steady myself, ensuring my expression remained as normal as possible. They didn’t need to see this; I wasn’t ready for them to know. There were so many other things to worry about, like staying alive.

With a forced casualness, I murmured about needing to use the restroom. No one stopped me, but I could feel their eyes on my back, their unvoiced concerns hot on my heels. In my heart, I hoped they’d simply think I needed a moment alone--a small reprieve consistent with my usually sunny disposition. Once inside the tiny bathroom, I shut the steel door and leaned against it, my hands dropping to my knees as the room seemed to spin.

Something warm and wet began trickling down my face. With a shaky hand, I reached up to touch it. The sight of red smeared across my fingertips sent a jolt of alarm through me. Moving unsteadily, I grasped the edges of a lone porcelain sink, my gaze lifting to the small, circular mirror directly above it. My reflection confirmed my fear-- a thin stream of blood was flowing from my nose, colliding with my lips, and forcing me to taste it.

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, realization gripping me. This had to be another aftereffect of Helios. The knowledge wasn’t comforting. I had no idea what this drug was doing to my body, what horrors it might bring next. Would I be reduced to the same state those people being held at the asylum were in? With another deep, steadying breath, I turned on the sink and attempted to clean myself up, dabbing at the blood with tissue, thoroughly disgusted.

The bleeding eventually subsided, but the dizziness lingered along with a rushing sound in my ears. My hazel eyes seemed darker than usual; the pupils slightly dilated. I ran my fingers through my wavy hair and bowed my head, closing my eyes again, wishing it to pass. I couldn’t walk out of here like this. I wasn’t sure I should leave the room at all. If this happened in the middle of the Playground, I would be nothing but a burden on the others.

Lost in a chaotic limbo, I didn't hear the bathroom door open and close. It was his dominating presence that drew my attention as he filled the small space. He closed and locked the door before taking two long strides towards me. Slowly, I turned to face him. He didn't speak, but his hand firmly gripped the back of my neck. Before I could even form words, he pulled me closer.

Instinctively, my hand reached out to rest on his solid chest as he leaned down toward my ear.

"I believe it's time for you to admit you remember me."

I swallowed hard and leaned onto him for support. "I don't know what you mean."

He spoke in a low, husky voice that sent shivers down my spine. "You don't want to lie to me, Sunshine."

"I don't,” I replied, my words sincere.

His fingers gently glided up to weave into my hair, and he tilted my head back. I placed my other hand against him, taking advantage of the closeness between us to steady myself. This was a tame gesture compared to how he usually touched me when we were alone. He never hesitated or held back; instead, he pushed past any boundaries I had set, and there was no stopping him.

His actions were becoming increasingly hands-on, with no regard for restraining himself in front of others. He squeezed a little tighter, moving his face closer to mine. I knew he wasn't going in for a kiss - that would be too gentle and proper for him.

As I expected, his lips grazed over mine and brushed against my jawline. "That's all I needed to hear.”

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