Darkness Light

Do Not Touch

New chapter

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-Jake P.O.V-

Jake caught Ani's limp form before she hit the ground. She was warm in his arms and he suppressed a shiver as electricity shot through him where he touched her. Her skin was so soft. It seemed like years since he had last held her.

Jason watched him lift her into his arms. "I know you don't want to hear this Jake but it would be best if you did it here and now." He sounded hesitant.

Jake nodded but didn't look at him. He had wanted to spend a little more time with her, at least give her a day of happiness, before he had to do his job. He looked at her, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. She always smelled of a fresh spring morning after a light rain. A beautiful smell.

Slowly he leaned in close to her, just as he was about to kill her Samuel appeared. "Jake, wait. Don't do it." He stood a few feet away.

Jake growled, but relaxed. He was slightly glad Samuel had stopped him; he hated what he had to do. "What is it Samuel?" he tried to keep the excitement at not killing her at the moment out of his voice.

Samuel looked short of breath and was taking deep breaths. "We're in a very open place. If the Demons even start to look they'll find us. If you reincarnate her now you'll be vulnerable and Jason and I won’t be enough to protect you."

Jake opened his eyes. Samuel was right. A small smile tugged on the corners of his lips. Maybe he could give her a day of happiness after all. Maybe he could make her smile and say how deeply sorry he was for ignoring her and making her feel isolated while at school.

Jason narrowed his eyes. "You still have to do it Jake. You can't delay this one. She knows too much, it's like her first few lifetimes all over again."

Jake flinched back from the memories of Anibeth’s first few lifetimes. He had been a terrible guardian back then and could never keep her alive for very long. She would normally only live to six or seven. The youngest was three, the oldest seventeen.

He turned and glared at Jason, masking his emotions. "I do not need to be reminded of those times. I know my job." He tightened his grip on Ani. "I know the rules." He whispered softly.

Samuel looked at him sadly. "You know Jake....I'm sure no one would mind if you kept her alive for a few days. It wouldn't harm anyone, and you could make her happy before you, well...you know."

Jason looked at him like he was crazy. "Wouldn't harm anyone? It would hurt all of us. Anibeth is our friend and it kills us to have to do this, it almost does kill Jake. If we took a few days we would want a few more, then a few more. We wouldn't be able to give her up."

Jake breathed in Ani's calming sent again and looked at both of them. "We'll take her back to base. I'll reincarnate her there." He forced himself not to flinch as he thought of the pain he was about to put both of them through. The pain that would kill almost anyone else.

Jason nodded. "That seems fair." He looked at Samuel. "Would you like to hold a funeral for her or just hide away this time?" he sneered.

Samuel growled. "You demonic slim." He marched towards him. "I've been with her for almost every lifetime." He was very close to Jason now.

Jake hissed and wished he could set Ani down. "Stop it. You are both on the same side. You should not be fighting." He cursed himself as his Italian accent slipped through.

Samuel chuckled and gave a nervous smile. "You must be really upset. Your accent only comes out when you’re upset." He stepped away from Jason.

Jason's shoulders slumped. "You're right Jake. We shouldn't be fighting. We're not only on the same side, we're friends."

Jake relaxed slightly. Things always got tense between his team when it was close to the end of Ani's lifetime. He knew Jason and Samuel wouldn't be the only ones he finds fighting. He looked down at Ani's sleeping face; it was so hard to concentrate with her so close. His mind just wanted to turn to mush and press his lips to hers. Even for a moment.

A small smile formed on his face as he thought of all of his classes with her, it had been so hard to leave her. He remembered just sitting and listening to her heart beat or listening to her mumbled to herself the math problems her gift could so easily give the answer to. It had been stupid of him to help her that first day, but worth it.

He squeezed his eyes shut. "It isn't fair." He whispered. "It's just not fair."

Jason and Samuel looked at him; they had been speaking about something and hadn't realized Jake wasn't listening. "What isn't fair?" Samuel asked.

Jake sighed and looked at both of them; they were the only ones that knew his secret. "It isn't fair that I can't touch her. Not in the way I want to."

Samuel sighed. "Jake I'm really sorry. I know this is hard for you; you gave up everything to protect her. I...I just think....maybe its best if you forget how you feel about her."

Jake stared at him in shock, Jason spoke before he could. "I agree. As you just said, you can never touch her, never kiss her. You can't give her anything physical, or you'll kill her. You can barely hold her now; can't you feel the fire trying to burn both of you?"

Jake looked away from them, yes he could feel it. He was just ignoring it. He couldn't believe his friends were telling him this. He couldn't believe that they were right. He was breaking the rules feeling this way; they were just trying to help him.

Jake was about to open his mouth to speak when Ani shifted in his arms. "Jacob?" She called out softly. She sounded frightened.

They all froze; Jake hadn't been called Jacob in a very long time, with the exception of one person that wasn’t her. Jake pressed his forehead to hers, ignoring the slight pain, and forced himself inside her head.

He nearly dropped her as he ripped his head away from her. "No. It's not possible." He whispered.

Jason looked at him worriedly. "What did you see Jake?" Samuel nodded in agreement. "Tell us, please Jake."

Jake swallowed and lightly shook his head, then he looked at them. His eyes were filled with pain, horror, and worry. He whispered two words that changed everything.

"She's remembering."