Hunter

XXI

Aric forced one foot in front of the other, ignoring the pain radiating through his body.
Jade was on his back, passed out. He had wrapped her arms around his neck, trying not to let her fall. He held her legs tightly, his fingers sore.
He didn't know how long he had been walking, but at this point, he was too exhausted to even think about it.
Jade's chest bled on to his shirt and he tried not to flinch every time he felt it.
Her body jostled off his shoulders, and she slipped off.
Aric cursed, catching her before she could fall. He set her down on the ground.
She blinked, groaning. "Oh shit. What happened?"
She tried to get up, but she shrieked. "Oh my god! What happened to me?!"
Aric took a deep breath, slowly pushing her back down. "You got stabbed. And I need to get you to one of my hideouts so I can fix you up."
Jade's brow furrowed, as she winced in pain. "What about the supplies?"
Aric looked away, smiling nervously, and flinching at the pain still thrumming through his body.. "Yeah...... The thing is, I couldn't really carry you and the bag..... So......"
Jade glared at him. "You idiot. Now what are we gonna-"
She stopped talking, staring widely in the direction of a house.
"Someone's watching us." She lifted her arm, pointing down the street. She winced again, biting down hard on her lip.
Aric followed where she was pointing.
Jade looked at him seriously. "Pick me up. And carefully, my stomach's killing me."
Aric nodded slowly, bending down in front of her, feeling immensely exhausted. His body was starting to go numb.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, hooking her legs around his waist.
She relaxed, pointing. "Go to that house right there. I have this feeling..... Like a dream," she muttered the end.
Aric walked up to the house, and Jade slid off his back, wincing yet again.
She clutched his arm tightly, pushing her hair out of her face.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Knock on the door."
Aric knocked and a woman answered the door.
His cousin had once dressed up as a gypsy woman for a costume party. Her fiancé had hosted it, and he told Aric, winking, that gypsy women were some thing special.
Aric could see that now. The woman in front of him had a red bandanna wrapped around her hair, making the dark waves of her hair stand out. Golden beads were braided in her hair. Her dark skin was smooth and ageless, making her look like a goddess. Regal and untouchable. The only sharp feature was the inked patterns wrapping around the base of her neck like leafy vines.
But the most interesting thing about her were her eyes. There were blazing amber, the pupils dark brown instead if black. Dark kohl lined her eyes, making them look even more intense like golden coins.
She smiled. "Welcome venator."
Aric answered, managing a placating smile. "Thank you. Do we have your permission to enter?"
Her eyes flitted over Jade, and Jade stood up straighter, lifting her chin.
"You do."
Jade followed Aric in. The house had given her a tugging feeling in her gut, and she felt like she had to follow it.
Follow your instincts and all that.
The girl was pretty, too pretty almost, like she were more fake than real.
Her lips were too full, her eyes too bright, her skin too clear.
Jade huffed. I bet she's a monster. She has to be.
She walked closer to Aric, murmuring near his ear.
"What is she?"
He didn't turn to look at her, staring straight ahead. "I can't figure it out."
Jade lost herself in thought, trying to push back the waves of pain. She noticed Aric wrapping his hand over his stomach. Did he get hurt again? Jade cursed under her breath, feeling another wave of pain flow through her.
First her leg, now her chest. What's next? Her head?
Jade looked at the maroon walls of the house. They were lined with colorful masks, feathers and dreamcatchers accenting them. Sheets of beads covered some sections of the wall.
Potted plants hung from the ceiling, some lining the walls.
The woman led them to an airy room, where a table and a cot was set up. The kitchen seemed like it was connected through an opening in the wall. She walked into the kitchen, leaving Aric and Jade alone.
Aric sat down heavily, leaning against the table with his elbows.
"You doing ok?"
He gave Jade a tight-lipped smile. "I'll manage. It's just the wraith stabbed me where I got cut earlier."
Jade sucked in a breath. "We need to rest here, got it? Don't try to play hero and keep going. Otherwise, it's just gonna get worse."
Aric nodded. "How are you holding up?"
Jade grit her teeth. "It..... Hurts. A lot. And I think I re-injured my thigh."
Aric pursed his lips, thinking.
The woman walked back in, carrying two mugs.
She set them in front of each of them. "Drink it. You will heal faster."
Aric lifted the cup to his nose, sniffing subtlety.
All he smelled were herbs and broth, nothing potential dangerous.
Jade eyed him, waiting for his move.
He smiled, lifting his cup to drink.
"Cheers."
Immediately, he felt warmth flood through his system, the pain dulling.
Jade breathed out a sigh of relief, leaning back in her chair.
"Wow....."
The woman smiled at them, flashing pearly white canines. "Think of this like a painkiller. It will dull the pain and I will be able to help you without you experiencing anything."
Aric nodded sleepily, and the woman continued. "However, be warned, this tonic will lower your inhibitions and will make you quite drowsy. Immediately."
Jade yawned in response, rubbing her eyes. "What.... Ever."
The woman gently gripped their arms, leading them to another room. Aric could just make out some beaded decorations hanging on the wall through his now-blurry vision.
She set them down in a bed, wrapping them in warm, stocky quilts.
She walked away, closing the door.
Aric yawned, pulling the quilts over his head.
Suddenly, he felt something grip his hand.
He momentarily panicked, tensing his arm and pulling his hand away.
"Aric....." Jade's voice was low.
She squeezed his hand tightly. "You won't leave, right?"
Aric blinked sleepily with dull surprise. "What gave you that idea?"
"My dad..... He left when I was three. And he told me he wouldn't leave. Will you leave?"
Her voice muttered deliriously, her eyes closed.
"No Jade. I won't leave."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She smiled, settling down on the bed.
Aric closed his eyes, his mind thinking.
This was why Jade acted so tough. She wanted to make sure she wouldn't get hurt. She wanted people to know she was strong.
Aric could relate to that. At least, he thought he could. This tonic made thinking hurt.
"Jade?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you leave?" His voice was low, and breathless, like he was afraid to ask the question.
She moved closer to him sluggishly, resting her head on his shoulder. "No, of course not."
"Even if I'm not strong enough? Even if-"
Jade's eyes were open now, staring at him intensely.
"Aric, you're strong enough, trust me. You don't need to act arrogant, because that's not what strength is. It's being a good person when the whole world is against you. Don't think I haven't noticed the way you pause before making some douchey comment. You don't need to force yourself; you're strong. You just have to understand that." The words jumped out of her mouth, like they were running a marathon, her breathing shallow.
She took a deep breath, like it taken all her energy to say all that, and she began settling down.
Aric relaxed himself, drifting off to sleep.