TAINTED RED

Part 7

Jewel's POV

Fenris left to pack and I just stood in my room. With a shake of my head, I quickly pull out a bag and rummage through my things. I only packed a few books and special items like photographs of my family. I had plenty of clothing stashed in each of my safe houses, so I didn't bother with them. Except for the black leather jacket; it had once belonged to my brother and I would never leave that behind.

I was waiting for Fenris in the hallway when he appeared. In his hands, he held two large suitcases. He gave me a smile as he followed me up the hidden staircase. When we emerged, his eyes almost popped out of his head. I make sure to enter the code that would secure my hidden apartment below. "You know," he starts as we leave the rundown house, "I've been by this place a lot of times. Never would I have imagined that below it laid a modern hideout."

I laugh softly and shake my head. "That's the point Fen. I chose places like this because no one would be poking around it much. I would be free to come and go as much as I wanted, as long as I knew it was safe." He nods and falls silent. By the time we reach the edge of town, I can tell that he had something to say. "It'd be faster if you told me where we were going. I could blink us both there."

"I know, but I like flying." He sticks his tongue at me and I laugh. We made it to the airport undetected and I bought two first class seats to England. When he saw our destination, his eyes lit up. The wait for our plane wasn't long, and before we knew it, we were sitting in our seats, flying thirty thousand feet above the ground.

"How often do you visit this house?" Fenris spoke softly, leaning closer to me. "I have never set foot in this house. No one knows that I own it. I bought it under my mother's maiden name. I guess you could call it my last resort safe house." He chuckles softly and I watch as his eyes close. Leah had grown quiet, but I knew that she still longed for Darius. And she would until I marked another, if I chose to do so.

I haven't met anyone except for Fenris that I would want my mark on. But what about him; surely he had someone out there, waiting for him to return to her. But, he hadn't hesitated to come with me when I spoke up. He was the only one on this Earth that I trusted. And I knew that it wouldn't be that hard to grow to love him.

With a sigh, I let my eyes close, but I didn't fall asleep. No, sleep would come once I was in my safe house. The flight was over before I knew it and we were landing in Heathrow. Fenris rented a car for us, and I let him drive. The most important reason why, was the fact that I didn't have my driver's license. I had always walked or ran to where I was going. After giving him the address, I leaned my head on the window and closed my eyes. As long as we were moving, and I was with Fenris, I would be safe.

He woke me several hours later and I noticed that it was dark. "We're here Jewel." We leave the car and I carry my bag to the door. By the time that Fenris managed to get his out of the boot, I had the door unlocked and the lights on. Looking around, I smiled. It was just like I had been told it would be. Fenris entered the small cottage and shut the door.

"There are three bedrooms, two baths, a basement, and a half of an attic. The basement holds a gym, weapons locker, and a few other things. You can pick what room you want. It doesn't matter to me." He gave me a smile and disappeared down the hallway. I turned and locked the door before setting the alarm for the night. Slowly I make my way towards the rooms and I see that Fenris was already stretched out on a bed.

A smile worked its way on my lips as I chose the room across the hall from him. Leaving the lights off, I quickly unpack my bag and pull out a pair of shorts and a tank top. Once I was dressed for bed, I slip under the covers and let the sounds of the waves lure me to sleep. That night I slept peacefully for the first time since the deaths of my family.

When I woke that morning, the smell of bacon was the first thing I noticed. Getting out of my bed, I hurry towards the kitchen only to find Fenris cooking, and singing under his breath. I smiled when I noticed that he wore an apron. "I could get used to this every morning." I spoke softly, not wanting to startle him.

He didn't turn around as he laughed. "I thought the smell of bacon would wake you up." It wasn't long until he had everything finished and we were eating. "Where did the food come from?"

"I walked to the store. It's not that far from here." We ate in silence but it was nice. When he was finished, I took our plates and started washing them. "I could have done that." He said as he crossed his arms and I noticed that the muscles on his arms tightened. I made myself look away. "I know, but I wanted to." I was almost finished when he spoke again. "When we first met and I tried to access your memories, you blocked me. How did you know what I was trying to do?"

Drying my hands, I turn to face him slowly. "When I was eighteen I fell in love. At the time, I was taking a break from hunting Rico's family down because I was recovering for a serious injury. I had run into this guy a few times and he asked me out on a date. At first I said no. I would just disappear soon and I didn't want to hurt him.

"But he kept asking for just one date, and then he'd leave me alone if that's what I wanted. At that time, I had no clue that fairies existed, or that they could access your memories or learn everything about you from one touch. I had found it strange that he wouldn't hold my hand or anything, but I just brushed it off. Leah had tried numerous times to warn me, but I blocked her out.

"After the first date, that's when I fell for him. I stayed around for several months and we kept dating. It was just the eve of our fifth anniversary when he touched me for the first time. He kissed me." I close my eyes, letting the memory surface. "That was the best and worst night of my life. The last thing I remembered seeing was the look on his face. When I woke up, I was tied to a wall and he was sitting across from me.

"I don't know how long he kept me there, but he had planned on killing me. He thought that I was just toying with him until I killed him. Over and over I tried to explain that what I had chosen to do with my life was because of what happened to my family, but he wouldn't listen. He told me everything about your kind; well, he left out a few secrets.

"One day, he made a mistake. He forgotten to tie me back up and I managed to get my hands on his knife. The fight was long, hard, and bloody. Most of my silver scars I received from him. But in the end, only one of us walked away. It killed the rest of my heart that day. I had to kill a guy that I had fallen in love with." I shook my head and looked up at Fenris.

His face was unreadable, and I wondered if he too would do me the same way. Suddenly, a light flashed in his eyes and I found myself wrapped tightly in his arms. "I would never, ever do anything that would hurt you Jewel. I would die protecting you." His voice was thick with emotion and I felt tears burning my eyes.

Suddenly, my mind was made up. I knew that while I would never fully be over Darius, I could move on. Fenris was the best choice for me, and both Leah and I knew that. "Fenris?" I spoke softly, not moving from where I was. "Yes?"

"Do you have a special girl waiting for you?" He grew quiet for a while and I felt my heart drop with each passing minute. "No." He finally answered, and I could hear the truth in his voice. "I have no mate or promised if that's what you're asking Jewel. My heart belongs to only one woman, and that's you." My eyes find his and I force the question out of my lips before I could chicken out.

"May I mark you?"