Zoe's only wish is to be able to run barefoot through grass, but she knows it'll never happen. Ever since she was born, she's been unable to touch anything living without it instantly dying. It's a curse she would do anything to get rid of, but that...
Felix was the one to close the door. I was too engulfed in my fear to do that. As soon as I heard the door close, however, I threw my arms around him and held him tight. I wanted to hold him and never let go to make sure, make absolute sure, that he would always be safe. But I couldn't and he wouldn't be.
"Zoe. She's gone. Calm down. Talk to me," he whispered, and I then felt his hand stroking my hair.
Scarlet's illusion flashed in my mind, and I jumped away from him. The terror must have been evident, because he raised his hands for me to see.
"Gloves," he said gently. "Thought it was a good idea."
I felt my lips shake and tears filled up my eyes. I wanted to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him. Instead, I took his right hand in my hands and moved it to my lips. Kissing his gloved hand because that was all I could do.
He looked at my action in fascination, or so I thought, until he moved his hand to take hold of my left hand. The one without a glove. My fear had made me forget about it, but that didn't make me feel anxious or worried like normal. Instead, the way Felix looked at it made me happy that I had.
Felix held my hand gently. He first looked at the top, then turned it around. It was as if he had never seen a hand before, as he studied every single part of it. He then let it lie in his left hand as he caressed it softly.
When had my skin ever been touched with such care and love? Even though there was leather between, that was the most real touch I had ever felt. And it sent shivers down my spine. How could such a simply thing make me feel so calm and excited at the same time?
He moved his hand away from mine and to my cheek. He wiped away the few tears that had fallen before cupping my face. I closed my eyes and leaned into his hand. My nostril was filled with the smell of leather, but also faintly of nature, of Felix.
Still with my eyes closed, I took a step closer to him and leaned my head against his chest. The leathery smell was all gone and that wonderful scent of nature surrounded me. He held my waist with one hand while the other went back to stroking my hair.
"Can we stay like this forever?" I whispered, and he chuckled.
"I wouldn't mind."
I took a few more deep breaths, let his presence calm me, before I moved away. I held his hand and led him into the main room. There were two armchairs, and I sat down in one and indicated to him to sit in the other.
"Who was she?" he asked once we were sitting down.
I sighed and decided that I had to tell the truth. If nothing else, to protect him. Or well, as close to the truth as was possible.
"She's my boss's righthand person," I said. "I don't think I told you, but I actually came to Hartford for a mission. And she came to check on my progress because... Because I'm stalling it. Or not really. I'm not working on it at all. I don't want to do it. I know I'll hurt people if I do it, and I don't want to, but... I don't know how to not do it."
The calmness was gone again, and the tears were back. That really was the truth. I just knew that no matter what, I couldn't kill Harry Jackson. I couldn't put Felix through that and I had known that since the first time I met Felix. It just was an impossibility.
"If you don't do it. What will they do to you?" he asked.
"They... They've threatened to have my father killed."
Felix reached over and took my hand. "You should go to the police!"
I shook my head and closed my eyes. "The police won't be able to do anything. They are too powerful." I opened my eyes and looked straight into Felix's. "Let's run away! Just the two of us. We can build a cottage and live off the earth."
He smiled. "I would love that. But..."
"But it wouldn't solve anything," I finished for him.
"What is it they want you to do? Maybe I can find a solution."
I shook my head. "No! I want you as far away from them as possible. The fact that they know your name is already too much. They will look you up. Find out everything about you and then... It won't just be my father's life that's in danger."
He moved my gloved hand up and kissed it.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine. Let me help you instead."
He talked in a mellow voice, an obvious attempt to calm me down, as well as to persuade me. But I just closed my eyes again and shook my head because I couldn't tell him the truth. It was true though, if he knew they were witches, he probably would be able to protect himself. He was a witch hunter's son, after all. They had amulets protecting their entire house, for Goddess' sake!
The amulets...
If he always wore one, he should be protected from their magic. They wouldn't be able to touch him. The only witch that could then hurt him would be me.
"This... This might be silly," I started, choosing my words carefully. "Or I know it's silly. When I was outside your house, I couldn't help but notice what looked like amulets by the entrance. Something your father's company sells, right? Call me superstitious but... Do you have more? Could you wear one? I know it's silly, but it would calm me."
I opened my eyes again and saw the suspicion in his. But it quickly disappeared. Probably he wrote my request off as me being slightly paranoid. As he smiled, I sighed in relief inwardly.
"Yeah, we have more. And if it would make you feel at ease, of course I'll wear one." He laughed. "It would make my dad happy as well. He also thinks I should always wear one. Better safe than sorry, as he puts it."
I smiled. "I couldn't agree more."
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