Scientific Fantasies (Wattys2015)

Chapter Thirty-Three

It hadn't been that long since she'd been here before, doing the same thing. She paced the roof of the speed centre, the only thing left after the explosion that had hidden Ingvar's body and destroyed their research, waiting for the sun to set, waiting to hear his wing beats in the air. He'd vanished soon after joining them at Maria's farmhouse, leaving only a message for her to meet him here. She didn't know what he was planning, and was scared for him. It was too dangerous for her to be meeting him here, yet he had refused to consider another place.

She was scared for both of them. She didn't know whether he was friend or foe, or more than a friend. He confused her, and she wasn't sure she liked it.

Finally, her nerves stretched thin with waiting, she heard the sound she'd been waiting for. As she looked up, seeing him, he flapped his streamlined wings once more and glided down to her, landing without a sound on the roof. She felt relief rush through her so fast that she felt dizzy.

"You came."

He snorted with laughter, but didn't make a move towards her. "Yes."

She swallowed, trying to see the emotion in his dark eyes. She didn't know what to say to him now. She took a step towards him, reaching out to him, but he took an answering one back, keeping the distance between them. Sharp hurt pierced her, and she let her hand fall.

"Talon?"

He studied her. "You've closed it down? Completely?"

She nodded. "Yes. Ingvar..." She trailed off, unsure what to say. They hadn't spoken of that day. "Yes."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Good." Then he spread his wings, as if he was going to leave her. Panicking, she stepped forward, her hand reaching out to him again.

"Wait."

He paused, watching her, but didn't speak.

She licked her lips nervously. "You're leaving?"

"I must."

"Where?"

"I cannot tell you that."

Tears pricked her eyes, and she forced them away. "Why?" she whispered.

"I must."

She couldn't stop the tear escaping. "Please..."

Slowly, almost regretfully, he shook his head. "I can't."

She risked another step forward, hoping that he wouldn't back away again. He stayed still, keeping his eyes on her. "Why?" she asked again. "It's over. The rest of here will be burnt - everything in it will be lost, destroyed. You don't need to run anymore. Dad found the deed for the valley. It's mine. There's no need for you to leave now."

Something flashed in his eyes, too fast for her to pinpoint. "I have to."

Another tear joined the first. "But why?" She stepped closer to him, close enough to touch him if she wanted to. She was trembling with the effort of not doing just that.

He seemed to see it in her eyes. Gently, almost tenderly, he ran his knuckles down her cheek and neck before dropping his hand. "Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same," he said softly.

She yearned for him to touch her again. "Please don't," she whispered, feeling the tears threaten to overflow again. "Don't leave me."

He didn't move, but his eyes were full of sympathy. "I can't stay," he said softly. "You know that."

She bit her lip to try and hold the tears back. "We'll work something out!" She knew that she was begging him, and she didn't care. "Bella is fine! The fledglings need you. Half of them won't go near me, and I can't help them. Only you can. Please stay."