Falling To Pieces <editing>

8

Chapter eight.) ( WARNING NEW POV.)

"Tristan?" 

His eyes snapped up and he pitched forward in his chair, suddenly very much awake. 

"Em." She looked like an angel against the shark white sheets, though it was doubtful and angel would ever step foot in Tristan Cross's house. Her ropey hair was spread out around her, and her eyes as bright as jewels gazed up at him, clear and free of pain.

"How do you feel?" he asked. 

"Like an elephant stepped on me," she replied with a smile.  

"It's not so bad, but my head..." She frowned. "My head feels so strange."

He inched froward on the chair. "Do you need me to call a surgeon?" 

She shook her head, stopping him from getting his hand in hers.  

"I don't need a surgeon."

"How do you know?"

She lifted her gaze to his. "I just...know. Tristan, I think interacting with that Victorian Automation's advanced skill's might have changed me, made me faster--better."

"Bloodily hell," he whispered. "I couldn't keep up with you before. You're not going to want to talk to me at all if you're even smarter now."

She smiled at him, and squeezed his hand. "I think that's one of the nicest and dumbest things you've ever said to me. Of course I want to talk to you. There's no one I'd rather talk to then you, Tristan."

It was like someone lit a candle inside him, a small flickering flame that warmed him from inside out. 

"Not even Jasper?"  

"Especially not him. Faith, he thinks he's smarter then everyone else."

They chuckled over that and she looked around the room, realizing that they were not at home. "Where are we?"

"You'll never believe it." He leaned forward to whisper, "Eloise brought us to Jason Dandy's."

And then Tristan heard a voice in his ear, "I can hear you, you big dolt." It was was Eloise, and of course she could hear him, she had the ears of...well, he didn't know what. And he could hear her because he still had his earpiece in. 

"Stop listening," he hissed, and pulled the little metal device from his ear. He would have crushed it, if Shirley had not made it.

"How's Jasper?" Shirley asked, still smiling over his exchange with Eloise. "Did he defeat Zeklos?"  

Tristan swallowed.  

"He did, but Zeklos stabbed him. It was pretty bad. Eloise and Dandy fixed him up. She remembered to use your 'beasties' on him, as well---not in front of Dandy, though."

Shirley pushed herself up against the pillows. "How bad?"  

He shook his head. "I don't know. He's still out. He brought the whole building down, Em. I wish you could have seen it. He brought it down like it was made of toothpicks, or sand."

"I would have liked to see that." Her brow puckered. "Was Zeklos inside?"

Tristan nodded.

"Good." Her face took on a tight expression. "I never thought I'd ever say that there was a person who the world would be better off without, but Zeklos one of them. Though, if I know Jasper, he's bound to carry some guilt for it."

Before Tristan can agree with her, there was a knock against the open door frame. Tristan turned to see Jason standing on the threshold. Of course he would show up, just as he was about to tell Shirley how glad he was that she was unhurt, that he didn't know what he would do without her.

"Miss Shirley, you are a sight for sore eyes," he told her, and tipped his cowboy hat. "I'm glad to see you awake."  

"Thank you, Jason. It does me good to see you upright and looking none the worse for wear, as well."  

Shirley pinched him--hard he flashed a glance at her, she did not look impressed.

Jason shrugged. "Just thought y'all might like to know that Jasper's awake." Then he turned on his heel and left.

"You're so mean to him," Shirley scolded lightly.

Tristan made a face, but he didn't say anything. He especially did not apologize. "You want to see Jasper?"

She nodded and he stood and helped her out of bed. She had all her clothes on so she didn't have to stop for anything. They walked down the hall to the other bedroom where Eloise and Jason sat on the side of the bed and Jasper lay against the pillows, pale but awake.

"It's good to see you all," his voice hoarse. "I thought I might not ever have that pleasure again. Even your ugly mug looks pretty to me, Tristan." Tristan grinned. "Who do you thing lugged you out of there, your Grace?"

"Thank you." Jasper was serious this time. "All of you. Thank you for helping me fight, and thank you for saving my life."

"Its what you'd do for us," Jason reminded him.

"Its enough you're alive," Eloise told him. Tristan noticed that the girl was holding Jasper's hand in her own and his friends didn't seem to notice.

"As well.....I have something to say."  

Tristan looked at Shirley as she stepped forward. 

"What is it, Jasper. I'm sure were up for another challenge."  

Jasper looked into her eyes and he smiled. 

"My niece...." then he pointed at the wall with strange markings on them, but Tristan new they were Demon Markings. 

"Theresa."  

That name. Tristan looked at Jasper as he waved a hand were his sword is. 

"Prince, he came yesterday along with William. I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys. But William made it clear when he presented a jar full of Tessa's blood, so I preformed my magic and found that she in deep with the wrong people."  

Jason looked at Tristan seeing that Tristan was in some sort of trance, then Jason looked at Shirley and spoke.  

"So we have to protect her."  

"no." Jasper paused.  

"You have to kill her."

~•~ ~•~

A/n: :O Cliffy!!! Vote+Comment = vomment!! and Fan :)  

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