City of Fire

Chapter Twelve

"Ilona"

"So why I am here again?" Ilona asked as she stepped into the nurse's office. She'd been called earlier that morning by Adrian, saying that Tidus would be at her house to escort her to the school. It was a Saturday and the beginning of Spring Break, she shouldn't be here.

"You'll see," Tidus said behind her and Ilona rolled her eyes. She kept on walking and was surprised to see Adrian step out from behind a closed curtain. He pulled it back and Ilona's eyes widened when she saw him.

Zane sat on a stool, his shoulders bowed as Erin attended his back. His whole entire torso was covered in bandages, wrapped so tightly that Ilona could see the muscles. Half of his left arm was covered and his black hair hung down around his face. The morning light played over his exposed, bruise covered skin and Ilona swallowed, emotion clogging her throat.

Who had done this?

She stepped forward, prepared to run to his side when he looked up. His silver eyes seemed to be filled with cold fire and halted her in her tracks.

"Wh-what happened?" She asked while turning towards Adrian. His eyes were tuned in on Zane and she was surprised to see the irritation in them. As if he was disappointed about something.

"You should ask him," Adrian's tone implied that he'd already tried and Zane hadn't given him any information. Ilona whirled, opening her mouth to ask the question when Zane cut her off.

"Forget it." His words showed that he wasn't going to talk and Ilona's fingers curled into a fist.

"Why? Who did this to you?" Ilona didn't want to admit it, but she'd seen Zane fight and if his opponent had nearly shredded him she didn't know if she actually wanted to know about it. Zane didn't reply and Ilona fumed.

"Why didn't you defend yourself?" Ilona asked and Zane's eyes snapped to hers and she felt her legs grow weak underneath his penetrating glare. He looked away and set his jaw.

"If we use our powers outside your vicinity, Dominus, then we risk draining your energy." Erin said as he finished with Zane's back. He gently draped a black silk shirt over Zane's bandaged shoulders and Ilona saw his lips thin ever so slightly with pain.

"What do you mean?" Ilona looked back towards Adrian who was still watching Zane.

"Now that you have shown yourself to us, we as your Guardians are linked to you. However, if we should use our powers for an extended amount of time or at great expenses, we may drain your life energy." Adrian's eyes finally came back to hers and she saw that same sentimental glow enter them. Reaching out he snared her hand to bow over it. "And none of us would dare waste such a wonderful gift bestowed upon us. You're eyes are like shining pieces of topaz, while you're hair—" She yanked her hand from his grasp and glared at him.

"That's enough, Adrian." Ilona snapped and looked past him towards Zane. One of his hands, his right one, was also bandaged and she saw how his fingers wouldn't button the buttons. Guilt and pain erupted inside her heart and before she realized what she was doing she was in front of him. Reaching up she brushed his hands away and keeping her head bowed she started to button the buttons up herself.

Her eyes silently devoured his sculpted torso, his deep, strong chest. She wanted to reach out and touch him, to run her fingers over the hard, iron muscles but she bit her bottom lip, glad that she'd left her hair down so that it could cover her face. Silence engulfed them as she buttoned up his shirt and as she reached the collar she halted. Her fingers brushed away the soft strands of his black hair and her breath hitched inside her throat when she touched his skin.