Black Daylight

Chapter 12

    I was half asleep when Connor came back in. I hear his footsteps stop briefly at the entrance before walking over and stroking Tara's head. She shifted on Zvire's neck to look at him through sleepy eyes, allowing me to see through her mind. He placed his fingers on his lips and gestured down to me. She closed her eyes, blinding me, and allowed for him to pick me up and cradle me to his chest.

     I curled my arms close to my chest and snuggled closer to him without opening my eyes, what use would it do anyway? “Are you awake Maria?”, Connor whispered softly as he walked somewhere. I grumbled unintelligibly and turned my face into his shirt. His shirt? Had he changed out of his leather suit?

     I sluggishly moved my hand to the fabric and held it between my fingers. “Not what you expected?” Connor murmured gently when he noticed what I was trying to figure out. “Did,” I coughed quietly to clear my raspy throat, “Did you change clothes? Where is your leather suit?” He chuckled at my questions and set me down on a soft surface, I assumed it as a bed.

    “We are allowed to get out of our gear when our shift is over.” He murmured as he wrapped his arms around my waist, leaning against the stacked pillows. “What were you doing?” I mumbled as I curled into his side, my head resting on his chest as I wrapped my arms around his waist. “I was arranging for your suit to be made, with new improvements to help you with your...situation. I set up some patrols around the area to try to find the hunters who did this so the can be punished.” He explained as he relaxed into the pillows.

     Suddenly, his mood changed instantly with his tone. “Oh, I also had an interesting conversation,” He said, his tone amused. I froze, knowing where this was going, but not wanting to go there. When he knew that I wasn't going to answer, he continued, “Zvire heard some pretty interesting things from Tara.”

     I buried my head into his side, muttering, “Don't talk about it.” He laughed softly, shaking me, and the bed, gently. “Where does this curiosity come from, I wonder.” He said, amusement still in his voice. My cheeks were inflames and I didn't trust my voice not to waver, so I stayed quiet.

     He gently ran his fingers through my hair. When he spoke, his voice was quiet, all humor gone, “Zvire does seem to have feelings towards Tara. He wants me to ask if the feeling is mutual on her side.” I could sense the double meaning in his words. Did I like him? Yes. Easily answered, but was I ready to get into a relationship with him? Harder to answer.

     I do not think that he would hurt us in anyway possible. I think you should say yes. Tara gently advised. Taking a deep breath to steel myself, I set my head back on his chest so that I wasn't hiding. “Yes,” I whispered, “It is.” I felt his arm tighten gently around me. “Great, that's wonderful.” He whispered emotionally, no insincerity in his voice.

     I could feel through Tara that Zvire had curled closer to Tara, emanating a deep sound that resembled a purr. I stared blankly into the darkness that I knew I would have to get used to. “What are you thinking about?”, He whispered gently as his fingers trailed through my hair. “Life,” I whispered back, “How it will be for me now.”

    He was silent as I pondered out loud. “Will I be able to go back to school? Will I have to have a cane, or a dog? Will people make fun of me when I go out in public?

Do I have to learn braille? Will my friends abandon me?” I trailed off as my thoughts turned down darker paths. “Shh,” He soothed me softly when he felt my heart start to pound quickly as I thought of what could happen, “Everything will be okay, I promise. Go to sleep and we'll figure out everything tomorrow.”

    I nodded slowly and closed my eyes, but even my dreams were filled with questions.

A/N

The next chapter will be... more mature, only in one sense, and not BAD mature, but embarrasing mature. Well, embarraing for Maria, anyway, I just wanted to say that for any sensitive readers!

Vote and comment please!!