Burnt Lies

High Waters

Alara

"Should we have really left them by themselves back there?" I asked cautiously as we made our way out to the forest clearing. 

"For what they were going to do with you, they deserve worse," Cameron replied a muscle in his jaw feathering with anger. 

"I'm fine, really, I am," he paused for a moments and grasped my hands in his. His eyes were a flurry of emotion, so stormy so complicated. Ever so green. 

"And for that I am eternally grateful," his words hit deep, the care that was laced in them something I couldn't fathom until now. 

"We're still not out of the woods yet, "Leo added, "We don't know who the masked attackers were, Dane and Cole aren't going to stop looking for you, and I'm sure there's many more people who have the knowledge that you are what they need to get this Blood Diamond."

I pursed my lips at his words, "I think, I think we're going to need to ask my Grandfather about this," part of me wanted to find another solution. As Pops' memory had slowly been deteriorating over the years, it might be detrimental to ask him about this coveted diamond, but what choice did we have?

"That can wait, let's just get home first," Cameron asserted. 

I nodded slowly, wading my way through the trees until we got to the end of the forest. The clearing was quite wide and I wasn't expecting to see Mel there, hanging out of helicopter, who's blades were furiously spinning picking up loose leaves in its wake and twirling it through the air. 

"Mel!" I couldn't hold back my excitement as I rushed towards her. 

"Hey Alara," she wrapped me in a tight hug, "I'm so glad you're ok,"

I broke from the hug and looked up towards the helicopter, awe on my face. 

"I didn't know you could pilot a helicopter, that's so cool," Mel laughed at my comment. 

"You know Cameron said the same thing, I guess I'm a girl full of surprises," she glanced through our group before her eyebrows furrowed, "Where's Laurier,"

Cameron was the first to respond, "We left him back there, it seems his intentions weren't that innocent,"

"Who would've guessed," Mel laughed, "And good riddance."

With that we all climbed into the helicopter, fastening our seatbelts and covering our ears with headphones to block out the deafening shriek of the helicopter blades. 

"You all ready," Mel called out behind us.

"Yeah," we all responded in unison which gave her the signal to gun the throttle and pull us into the sky.  

The ride in the helicopter was peaceful, just looking down at how the small the world appeared from all the way up here in the sky, it put things in perspective for me, that the world was so big that sometimes we forget at what little impact we have, but then again for the world be such a vast expanse of everything it had to be made of tiny little pieces, each one just as important as the other. 

It didn't take us too long to get away from the forest and back into town, in an almost abandoned air space, Mel lowered us to the ground. I let out a breath of relief when we were finally close to home. 

Being in the comfort of Cameron's car was something that I didn't know I needed until I was curled up in my seat after bidding goodbye to Mel and Leo. 

The whole car smelt like him a distinctive scent of cinnamon and smoke. I was far more tired then I had realised as I laid back against the seat. 

"Is everyone else ok? At the ball I mean, were there any injuries?"

Cameron pressed his lips together before answering, "Yes, there were some casualties especially since it was a large scale attack but Owen and Kayla were quick to act they got most of the women and children out and the rest of us defended the hall for a while until we could fight them off. From what Owen told me they were able to make them retreat not shortly after we left to find you."

"I'm glad you did," I whispered softly.

"You really need to stop disappearing on me," Cameron's grip on the wheel tightened as he spoke, the whites of his knuckles peaking out under strained skin. 

"Like I do it on purpose," I rolled my eyes and laughed lightly. 

"Sometimes I feel like you do," he spoke with a slightly solemn tone, to which I responded by intertwining my hand with is. 

"I promise you I don't, and that doesn't matter, I'm here now,"  I paused to gaze deeply into those evergreen eyes, "With you."

He tightened his grip on my hand slightly, "And that's where you'll stay."

I smiled back at him and repeated the same words he had spoken to me a couple of days ago, "Come hell or high water."

"Come hell or high water," he affirmed with a distinctive nod of his head. 

The rest of the drive home was peaceful as I stared out of the window noticing the blur of the suburbs around us before we got into town. I was so glad to be home, to be somewhere I felt protected and safe. Somewhere I knew. 

I stepped out of the car just as Cameron was about to open the door for me, but I had unfortunately beat him to the action. 

"I was going to open it for you," he stated a little disappointed that he couldn't. 

"I'm just getting used to when the chivalry runs out," I quipped back which elicited a chuckle from him. 

"Sure."

Passing over the threshold of our house was something I didn't know I would need after days of being away, but the familiarity of everything made me feel safe. It was a wonder how I had survived in an unknown location with so many people coming after me. I needed this sanctuary more than anything at the moment. 

"Are you hungry?" Cameron called out behind me. 

And as if on queue my stomach rumbled, "Starving actually."

"Come sit at the counter, I'll cook you something," he offered as we both entered the kitchen. 

"Who would've known Cameron Grayson cooks," I stated as I climbed on the kitchen counter, my legs swinging beneath me as I saw him take out a pan and ignite the stove. 

"Only for you, darling."

He expertly poured just enough olive oil in the bottom of the pan, a hiss and sizzle of heat as he tossed in perfectly cut vegetables. 

"Is a stir fry alright for you?" he said as he began to cook rice to later add to the dish. 

"A stir fry sounds amazing," the aroma of cooking filled my nose and I could almost taste the frying vegetables. He began to chop some chunks of chicken to add to the mix so there would be a balance of fibre and protein. 

It didn't take him long to finish cooking, he pulled out two plates and placed a generous portion of stir fry on each. He also pulled out two tall frosted glasses and took out some ice water from the fridge, pouring equal amounts in each.

I jumped off the counter and sat at the table, taking the fork into my hand, "This smells divine," I picked up some of the stir fry and placed it in my mouth and it took everything in me not to moan at how good it was. 

I knew Cameron would tease me to no end if I did, "I'm glad you like it sweetheart, you deserve it after everything that has happened over the past couple of weeks. 

"Thank you so much, genuinely I don't know what I'd do without you," at this Cameron stilled. His gaze burning into mine, so stormy and full of unquenched desire. 

"You won't ever have to know, what it's like without me and that," he got up from his seat and wrapped his arms around me pulling me closer and resting his chin on my shoulder before whispering, "And that's a promise."

"I'll hold you to that Cameron Grayson," I breathed out leaning back into him and being engulfed in his warmth. 

"I wouldn't expect anything less, sweetheart."