City of Fire

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Ilona"

Ilona stared out her window, her eyes trained on the catacomb. She knew she wasn't going to sleep, not with the information Tidus had given her about Zane still buzzing inside her brain. All he'd told her was that Zane had been Cursed, that he'd committed some horrible act but he'd refused to say it, that she didn't need to know. She'd watched him as he'd talked about Zane, watched as fear, anger, disgust and seemingly millions of more emotions cross over his face.

Zane had come from a long line of descendents from the first Ice Dweller, but his people had nearly been wiped out by Stangmar. He and a few members of his family had managed to survive, but then their lives had ended tragically, and that Zane was Cursed. That was all anyone was seemingly willing to talk about and Ilona blew out a frustration breath.

She wanted answers...

No, needed them...

She turned, not bothering with a jacket and quietly crept out of the small room she'd been given. It was at the back of the church and she peeked out to see Tidus snoring on a pier. Erin was a few feet away from him, curled quietly on his side as he slept. Adrian was in the back room, having been given his own room and Ilona waited. Nothing happened besides a random twitch and snort from Tidus. Stealing out into the room she headed to the kitchens and through the kitchens to the graveyard. It was surprisingly quiet and it left a prickle of fear sliding across her skin, making her quicken her footsteps.

She reached the catacomb and pushed the door open. Zane lay on the cold stone, his body bathed slightly in moonlight. He was moaning, thrashing slightly, and Ilona halted when she heard the name.

"Ella," it was a soft cry, "Ella," he said it again, seemingly to reach for something and Ilona walked quietly forward.

"Zane? Zane, wake up your having—" She knelt down and reached out to touch him but his eyes snapped open.

Then suddenly he was on top of her...

And his hand was around her throat...

He hovered above her, his legs pinning her own and his hand, surprisingly cool, pressed against her flesh. She swallowed, something racing up her spine as she looked up at his face. His long, dark hair had partially fallen over his eyes, only letting her see glimpses of them but that was all she needed.

They shined with a dangerous, sharp light. The look in them was feral, as if he were a wolf and she his prey. She felt her body clench and she suddenly couldn't breathe. He looked down at her, his face revealing nothing as his eyes bore into her own. It was if his gaze was searing her, scorching her with a knife, but she didn't flinch. She looked back, unwavering.

Then he spoke...

"What the hell are you doing here?" He demanded softly and she blinked. Her heart was beating rapidly and she knew that he could feel it. His thumb brushed at her atoms apple, causing her to shiver and it was a moment before she answered him.

"You were having a nightmare," she murmured and wanted to reach up and grasp his wrist but didn't. "Who's Ella?" The question was out of her mouth before she realized what she'd asked but she'd asked it. He looked at her, his eyes glittering coldly.

"I killed her." It was if someone else was talking, not him, but Ilona knew that he'd said the words. "I killed her with the very hand that's wrapped around your throat." His voice was a low, arctic whisper that held a sharp menace to it, as if it were a finely sharpened sword. He leaned down and she stopped breathing. She stared up at him and he watched her face, his fingers squeezing slightly. "You're frightened, I can see it." His voice dropped lower, "Feel it," his gazed seared holes through her, "Good." He withdrew, standing to look down at her. Half of him was bathed in moonlight, the rest in shadow. It was as if a demon, no the devil himself, stood above her, "Never forget what I am, and what I'm capable of. Never," his eyes shined with malice, "forget who the monster is." He turned away from her and she sat up.

"Bullshit." She'd said it calmly because she was calm. She'd realized out in the graveyard that she wasn't afraid of him, couldn't be, and she stood. "I don't know what you came from, what happened to you, but I know one thing." She'd crossed over to him and he turned to watch her approach. Ilona halted in front of him, looking him squarely in the eyes, "Whatever did happen," she reached up and placed her hand over his heart, her palm tingling when she felt his heart beat, "it's hurting you, right here." She kept looking at him, "You don't show it, but I know it. Feel it." She mimicked and watched as his eyes darkened, "Just know one thing," she felt her hand shaking but kept talking, "we're a team. A family and family won't let each other suffer. I won't let you suffer by yourself anymore, no matter what you did, it doesn't matter. I'm here for you." She couldn't believe she'd just said those words, but she had, and he stared at her for a long moment.

His voice lashed out at her, "How pathetic." He pulled away from her. "No one trusts me, as they should."

"I do," she replied softly and he looked at her, his face unreadable.

"You shouldn't," he whispered and a hint of a smile touched her lips.

"But I do." She turned away from him, still smiling over her shoulder at him before leaving, closing the door quietly behind her as she did.

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