"You guys can stay here tonight," said Devlyn. It sounded weird with the sun starting to peak passed the horizon. He closed the front door. "Guest rooms are that way." He told Mario and Derek.
They nodded. They both pulled me into a tight hug.
"Good to have you back," murmured Derek.
"I'm glad we got you back safely." Mario embraced me tightly. He planted a kiss on my cheek. "And I'm sorry we couldn't save Z, Mar."
I smiled softly. "Thanks for trying with me."
We may not have saved Z, but that didn't mean it was a waste of time. We had stumbled across something big. Humans were working with gifted beings, performing experiments and testing each of their capabilities and limitations. I wanted to know why.
Devlyn also pulled me into his chest. Then he headed up the stairs. I groaned as I watched him. I forgot you had to climb three flights to get to my room. Haven't I gone through enough?
I felt myself being swooped off my feet. Sensing my misfortune Tori had picked me up bridal style and began to carry me up the stairs. My arms wrapped around his neck. "Are you sure you want to carry me up all these steps?"
Tori nodded, but he still didn't speak. Tori hadn't said anything since we left that place. The entire plane ride he was quiet. He didn't even rise to Derek's and Mario's teasing. He just stayed quiet; withdrawn. I couldn't tell what he was thinking because he had set up a wall. I sighed and snuggled into him.
We soon arrived at a room. It wasn't mine. It was his. He quietly closed the door behind us and carried me to his bed. He stripped off our shoes, clothes, and underwear and then carried us to the bathroom. He didn't say a word as he covered us with soap and rinsed our bodies with water. He didn't say anything when he pulled one of his shirts over my head and helped me step into shorts. He stayed silent as he laid me down in bed. He didn't say anything at all and it was unnerving.
"Tori." I watched as he silently pulled on his sweats. "Tori." I called again, but he still didn't turn to me. He just stayed standing in the middle of the floor. I kicked off the covers. "Tori, please say something already. I don't- Tori?" Shit.
Never had I ever seen Tori cry. Tear droplets escaped his glassy colored eyes and cascaded down his cheek, dripping down to the carpeted floor. With the sun peeking through the window it was a beautiful sight yet it was something I never wanted to see again. My heart broke.
My hands hurriedly wiped the tears away, but the more I wiped the more replaced them. "Shit," I muttered aloud this time. "Tori, come on. Please stop crying." I frantically kissed the tears away. "Tori, please stop." If he didn't I would break down too. "Baby..." I needed him to stop. It was killing me.
He sniffed and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry mistress. I just..." He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know what I would have done if I lost you again. I was so scared, Tomari."
I didn't cry when I was tied to that chair. I didn't cry when I couldn't feel the bond. I didn't cry when they started that test and I almost didn't find the button. I didn't cry when they locked me in the cell and told me I would never see Tori again. So why was I crying now?
Now it was Tori who wiped away my tears. He placed kisses all over my face. His kisses just made me cry more. "Don't cry," murmured my heart.
I laughed at the irony of that statement. He wiped my eyes. "You know, I wasn't afraid at all." I sniffed. "I knew from the moment I woke up that you were coming for me. You told me you would always find me, and I know you never go back on your word."
"You had that much faith in me?"
"Of course I do. Because Tori is my protector and guardian. He never stopped searching for me before. Why would he now?" I kissed him directly over his heart. "Thank you so much for coming for me again. Disappearing seems to be becoming a habit."
