Hell Fire (Wild Fire: 2) (FINISHED)

51 - Come back to me

Ember cried out, scraping her nails onto Max's skin and she clutched onto him, scared they he'd accidentally drop her again.

"Hey-hey," he whispered. "Shhh... you're okay, my love."

She held onto him tightly as Max landed on the roof of the hospital where Mason stood, distracted as he continued playing with his dagger and balancing it on his finger.

Max set her-feet first-onto the ground, and she clutched onto his arm, holding him to her as he did the same, wrapping an arm around her form.

"Shhh..." he murmured, making Mason's head shoot up.

"Don't leave me again," she whispered to him, thoughts tumbling as her body still hummed with adrenaline.

"I won't," Max promised gently. "You'll be okay."

"Well, well, well," Mason sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "You sure ruined this for me." He gazed up, annoyed. "Why are you here? I thought Elijah took you."

Max just stared at him, eyes growing cold while the red in them returned.

"Ooh, scary." Mason flipped up his arms innocently. "So terrifying."

Max clenched his teeth, holding Ember to him as he stepped casually over to Mason.

But before Mason could react, the dagger flew from his hand, clattering to the ground hundreds of feet away from them.

Ember struggled to walk as he advanced toward his brother, Mason watching Max with dark eyes as he stopped face-to-face.

"Last time I let you go," Max hissed, eyes growing darker and darker. "Last time, I did. But you tried it again. You tried to hurt her again. And not just this, but all those assassins you sent? How many times did you plan her demise? How many times did they fail? And then you decide you're going to come out from cowering in the corner and do it yourself." His lashes lowered as the familiar anger burned him inside. "You really have a death wish, don't you?"

He was quiet, staring into his younger brother's eyes.

But Mason opened his mouth, whispering, "Evanescet."

And he vanished.

Max cursed, drawing back as his eyes still glowed a dangerous red, but he gazed down at Ember, eyes softening.

"Hey," he said gently. "You okay?"

She nodded, pulling in to give him a hug, and he responded immediately, holding her back.

But a form came from the shadows behind them, making Ember's head shoot up at his familiar orange eyes and dark hair.

She stiffened, and Max pulled away when he felt it.

He turned, locking gazes with Elijah.

Ember caught Max's hand, trying to pull him away, but he remained in place, smiling down at her.

"It's okay, Emby," he promised, eyes glittering in the light. "He's safe. He won't hurt you."

She drew back, surprised.

He was joking right?

But when his eyes shone no hint of anger or fear, she stilled.

"What are you talking about?" she demanded. "He tried to kill me!"

Max just ruffled her hair, attempting playfulness to calm her down, but it wasn't working.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Ember," Elijah told her gently.

She turned to Max. "Why do you trust him suddenly? He tried to KILL me!"

Max shook his head. "He didn't mean it."

She stopped, lips parting. "What... is going on with you? Are you insane?" She pulled him against her. "What did he do to you? What did he do?"

"Nothing," Max promised. "He's kind. Sweet. We'll both treat you right."

She inhaled sharply. "Max... this isn't you."

He looked taken aback for a moment. "Of course, it's me, silly." He smiled. "I'm the same person."

"Why would you ever trust him?!" Ember yelled.

He sighed, shaking his head gently. "At the forest, he offered to help you. I realized it then. He's not the same guy, Ember."

She turned to Elijah, eyes glittering with tears as he remained in the same position, smiling softly.

She took a step back, not understanding what was happening.

She gazed up at Max then. "This isn't you... Come back to me." She caught his cheeks, leveling his eyes with hers as she started sobbing. "Come back. Come back to me."

"I'm right here," he promised, cupping her cheek in response. "It's me, see? I'm right here. I still love you."

She started sobbing, letting go of his shirt and covering her face in her hands.

This wasn't him.

This wasn't her Max.

He just stepped up to her and lowered her hands, looking down at her tear-stained cheeks as she continued sobbing. "What did he do to you?" she demanded. "Where are you? The real you?"

"I'm right here," Max promised gently. "Everything will be alright, Ember. Everything's okay. Don't cry, Angel."

"Max," Elijah said then, and Max glanced at him.

With a nod from the werewolf, Max gazed down at Ember, inhaling deeply before exhaling.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, he pressed a hand to her forehead, making her gasp as he whispered, "Intrabit in Mentum."

Her eyes widened as her forehead glowed a bright white, making her veins shine red instead of blue, and she stared up at Max, horror-struck.

But she couldn't move, he'd entered her mind, and she couldn't get him out.

He just whispered, "Go to sleep."

And her knees buckled, vision growing black as her entire body flooded with exhaustion.

The last thing she felt was him catching her, and swinging her up to carry her, once more.

"I love you, Ember," Max whispered. "Don't forget that."

To Be Continued.