Demonic Saint (The Second Novel in the Avenging Angel Series)

Chapter Four

The dull sound of footsteps across linoleum echoed in Daryl's ears, pulling him from his deep slumber. His left arm instantly tightened around the form lying on top of him while his right hand tightened around the crossbow on the floor beside him. The footsteps grew closer before suddenly stopping. Daryl's breath steadied as he subconsciously listened to the slight rustle of clothing as a constant intake of air filled the silence. A hand touched his shoulder. Daryl's hold on Alexa increased as his muscles tensed, pulling her closer as he brought his crossbow up. His eyes flew opened, blinking, as they tried to focus on the physique before him.

"Hold it, Daryl, its me!" Rick said in a hushed whisper, arms raised in surrender.

"What the hell, Rick?" Daryl whispered as he lowered his crossbow.

Alexa shifted her body to a more comfortable position between his legs. Her bandaged arm curled to her chapped lips as it rested on his chest. Her tattered shirt revealed cleavage that looked very enticing, and Daryl couldn't help being reminded of the time he saw her in her bra back at the CDC. Those ample mounds... Daryl looked away from the woman sleeping on top of him as the blood rushed to his groin and a bulge to begin pressing against her flat stomach. Instead, he turned to face the cop who hadn't said a word since waking him. He was caught off guard by the fact that Rick was staring at his sister, shoulders slumped like a weight had been lifted. Daryl turned his attention back to Alexa. Her entire body looked completely relaxed as her once waist length brown hair draped over her back, having grown several inches longer. Her skin had darken a shade from being exposed to the sun, enhancing the dark circles that had formed around her eyes from the lack of sleep she had experienced. Her already small frame had grown smaller from the weight loss Daryl was now aware of. He cursed himself for not noticing that sooner.

"I was worried." Rick's gruff voice broke the silence claiming Daryl's attention once again. "She hadn't been sleepin' and nothin' I did seemed to help any."

"What do you want?" Daryl demanded more harshly than he intended.

Rick glanced at Daryl before he sighed. The reality of their current situation weighing anew. "We're low on supplies."

"How's that my problem?"

Rick rubbed the back of his neck. "I need you to go on a run."

"You fuckin' serious?" Daryl snapped, feeling a bit irritated.

"Yeah I'm fuckin' serious," Rick snapped back before taking a deep breath and walking to the sink. He stared out the window a few minutes before turning back to face the redneck. He leaned on the counter, using it for support as he spoke, "Look, I wouldn't be askin' if I didn't need you to go. I would but with Lori..." Rick shook his head. "If anything, do it for Alexa. I'm sure you've noticed. She's lost an unhealthy amount of weight and there isn't enough for all of us."

Daryl turned his gaze back to Alexa. Of course he noticed, how could he not have? The thing that irritated him the most was the fact that he didn't know how bad it was. He didn't know how much she was actually suffering. Last night was a moment of clarity for him. The tormented look that was full of disgust and self-loathing, it was just a start for him. He had finally managed to get her to open up to him. It wasn't much, but it was a start. She didn't tell him what had happened to her while she was captured, but she did tell him about how she felt. It was hard for her to allow others to touch her, and when they looked at her, she knew rationally that it wasn't nothing but curious looks, however, she couldn't help feeling that they were judging her. To her, it felt like the others were telling her she asked for it. That it was her fault, and she should have paid better attention. Naturally he protested, but she wasn't convinced. What tore him up the most was her convincing herself that he wouldn't want her. Alexa meant everything to him, but how could he satisfy her worries?