Midnight CEO

47

We had a report that Leon was assembling his troops in the forbidden part of the forest. My whole body was starting to ache from walking in the hideous cold, but I kept going, I kept pushing myself to go forward even though Henry kept insisting that we should stop for a while and had carried me on his back but I found not moving and not being able to get my blood pumping was making me even more freezing. The atmosphere in the forbidden forest was dense and it was becoming harder to breathe in the air. I found myself taking quick breaths which sounded really loud. I knew the caves were not far from here and I had to make it if I was going to survive.

"Ebony, you look tired. We can stop for a while and rest." Henry said beside me.

"I'm fine, Henry, let's just get there," I put on a fake smile and kept walking. To be perfectly honest, I was scared if I stopped walking, I wouldn't be able to keep going.

"It's not much further," he said, taking my hand and squeezing it tightly. "Just through this clearing and over that hill."

"Great, another hill," I said under my breath.

"I know it's a long way, and you have declined my offer to carry you again more times than I can count now. I don't like seeing you like this, Ebony."

"Like what? Weak, a human? Apparently, I'm no good to anyone when I'm human." I snapped at him abruptly. He turned away from me and shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Henry, I didn't mean that. I'm just tired. Sorry."

"Do you wish to be something other than human?" Henry said calmly, still not looking at me.

"Right now? Yeah, this kind of sucks. Before I was bashing heads and taking names, and now I'm just walking and feel like death. Besides, I'm sure you would rather be doing something else than babysitting me."

He stopped suddenly and looked deeply into my eyes, his hair falling onto his face. "Never ever doubt my loyalty to you, Ebony. That day I found you wandering in the forest by yourself changed my life in so many different ways, and I'm sure it will again in the future. I think you are the most beautiful, funny, amazing, caring, and loyal soul I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in my very long existence. I would do anything for you, and if that means that I must walk with you very slowly over miles of dark forest, then so be it. I am more than happy to be here with you," he smiled sweetly. "It is an honor to be at your side."

"You really mean that, don't you?"

"Of course, I would never lie to you," he looked shocked at my question.

"You are the sweetest thing. You really are one in a billion, aren't you?" I smiled, touching his cheek as the wind blew around us.

"Sweet, I have never been called that before," he almost whispered as he closed his eyes and let me rub my thumb against his cheek.

"Well, you are," I said, suddenly hugging him tightly. His body froze at my touch, but eventually, I felt his arms around me.

Ebony,"

"Yes?"

He fell silent for a minute as I kept hugging him. "I like hugs," he almost groaned on my shoulder.

I chuckled, "I know. Vampires don't hug enough I feel. When I get home I'm going to insist that vampires hug more."  He held me closer as the cold wind nearly blew us over. "Who knew a simple body contact could make you feel so many different things."

"Hey, get your hands off her," I heard a familiar voice yell from behind me. "If I don't get to touch her fun bits, then nobody does," Jake yelled as he suddenly appeared next to us with a scowl on his face. "No fun, no bits, your highness."