Estelle

24 | We are okay

Red.

Blood.

Chunks of...

I gut wrenching nausea builds in my stomach as I watch the chunks of skull and brain mix with a growing pool of blood seeping from Accelius's neck.

My eyes are frozen over the scene. Not a single person on this bridge, no matter how much they try to talk to me, not a single person can get me out of this zone I'm in. All I see is his blood.

Never did I ever consider that he would be the one dead in front of me. I always thought I would be dead first.

I don't hear anything, feel anything, see anything other than the growing image of gore forever printed into my brain. A damn memory I will never be able to forget.

"Jane."

I feel a warmth caress my hand and for the first time, my eyes look to the gun I'm still pointing at Accelius. I'm shaking but as that familiar hand places itself over the gun and my hand, I stop.

I feel a breath against my ear and I instantly feel safe. "I'm going to take it out of your hand, okay?"

I try to nod but my body won't listen to me. My hand just goes limp as I let him slide the weapon out of my tight grasp.

My eyes snap back to the body once the gun is gone. "Look away, my heart. Don't look at it."

I feel a rough hand touch my cheek and I let it pull my face towards him. Adonis's hair is very messy like he had run his hands through his hair and tugged at it out of stress. His eyes are full of fear, concern, relief, and love.

"adonis?..." I whisper.

He nods slowly and I feel his arm wrap around my waist slowly, pulling me into him to comfort me. "It's me, Jane. I'm here. You are safe. Everyone is okay."

"N...not the men in the other cars. Not Blue."

I feel him pull me away from the scene and we slowly start to make our way towards his car. "My men made it out. They knew how to exit a sinking vehicle. They only have a few broken bones."

"Blue... she is still gone."

"We found her. Your father was right, Jane. I know I was mad that you left the house but," he places his hands on either side of my face and forces me to look into his gray eyes, "Jane, you saved her. You were brave and even though I wish you didn't put yourself in danger, I am proud of you." He leans in and kisses my forehead.

"You are proud?"

"Mhm." I feel his grip on me tighten. He pulls me closer and holds me tight. It is as if he was convinced that he would never hold me again.

I pull away and look into his eyes. I see a new emotion in their gray depths.

Guilt.

"Adonis." I pull his face towards mine and give him a light kiss. His lips feel like home. "Don't feel guilty. I'm okay. We are okay."

I see the love and recovering fear in his eyes as he kisses me back. He was terrified. I can feel it in how his fingers dig into my waist as he holds me.

He pulls away and opens the car door for me. "We have to have you checked out at the hospital. Then we will go home."

I climb in and eagerly wait for him to enter on the other side. I hold one of his hands the entire drive, terrified that we would be separated again.

"Adonis."

He glances at me in worry and acknowledgment as he drives.

"I need to find my dad. Accelius, he..." I pull out the picture of my mom from my pocket, "he said he hurt my dad."

He pulls his hand away and reaches into his pocket, pulling out his phone before calling someone.

"Here." I look at the phone as he hands it to me and I slowly take it.

"Hello?"

"Jane, honey."

"Dad? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just a little beaten up. Are you okay? Accelius told me he was going to hurt you. Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine dad. He didn't hurt me."

He must have left my dad alive, wanting to make him live with my death. I am incredibly relieved that he is okay.

"Jane, I'm so sorry. You and your mother deserved so much better. I promise to be better."

I can hear the tears in his voice. "Let's meet for lunch tomorrow, okay?"

I hear him sniffle. "Yes, I would like that."

"I love you, dad."

"I love you too, honey. I'll see you tomorrow."

I end the call and soon after we arrive at the hospital. After a quick check, the doctors tell us that I am completely fine other than some minor cuts and bruises. After that, Adonis drives me straight home.

We walk into the silent house and he closes the door behind us. I don't hear him follow me so I pause and turn to see him standing still in the center of the foyer, his haunted eyes on me.

I take a step towards him, sensing his feelings. "Jane, I..." I slide my hand into his and wrap my arm around his neck, pulling him towards me as I try to comfort him. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to see that and I want you to know that I have seen things like that too." His eyes search my face as he speaks without pause, pouring his heart out to me.

"I'm here to talk if you need to. I wish you never had to see that and that I could have seen it for you."

"Adonis." I smile weakly at him. It will always haunt me but I know this won't be the last thing to haunt me. This life is dangerous with ghosts haunting us no matter how much we run.

Before I can say anything, his hand tightens in mine and he begins to pull me towards his office. "I need to show you something."

I follow him, or more like let him drag me, into his office. As soon as we enter, he begins to search through his desk for a paper which he pulls out and hands to me.

I take it and look down at the document. It has his signature at the bottom and as I read the line I realize it is a contract for

"A garden?" I look up at him in disbelief.

"The back yard is huge and it has always just been grass. I want you to use that sketch book of yours."

I quickly close the distance between us and I wrap my arms around him. "Thank you," I whisper to him before smiling. I pull him closer and kiss him.

I feel his hand slide to my back and pull me flush against him. I feel him bite my lip gently and I let him in. We both moan into the kiss and I let him do what he wants with me. The images stuck in my mind dissolve away and all I see is him.

Adonis Irey.

Adonis Vallorani.

Black, curly hair. Storm gray eyes full of so much intensity. Tan, olive skin rough but sculpted with muscles. A voice so deep and calming that I can't help but melt to the sound of it.

He is all I need and all I see. He loved me three months into knowing me and he protected me. He let me decide to love him, keeping his feelings from me and even trying to push me away all to protect me.

It wasn't until I stubbornly demanded that he let me stay that he gave in. Never will I ever doubt my trust for him. I am willing to dive head first into this life with him.

So long as I am with him, I will feel no fear.

He is my strength, my peace.

My tranquility.