Flutter by, Butterfly

Chapter 13

I was dreaming. I had to be.

"Tell me what you want."

Were those words coming out of my mouth?

Strong hands. A gentle touch. Soft lips. A warm body. Warm tenderness mixed with.....desperation.

"Jani..."

My name sounded like a distant echo.

"Jani..."

I heard it again. It felt real this time.

"Jani."

I opened my eyes. It was Alejandro, but which one? I couldn't tell. I was....how was I feeling? Was I tired? Was I sick? Why did I feel so horrible?

"Jani, you've lost so much blood."

I looked at my hand. I still had it somewhat wrapped. It was soaked.

"Oh no," I said, at least I think I said it. It may have just come out nothing more than a whimper.

I heard him say, "Jani, we are taking you to the hospital."

Just barely above a whisper, I said, "I trust you."

The world turned black.

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed. My hand was bandaged, possibly with stitches. My arm was hooked up to an IV. I wore a hospital gown instead of my pajamas. I saw Alejandro, sleeping on a nearby chair. He looked ragged. He was here. I was safe now. I went back to sleep.

Somewhere in my dreams, I dreamed as I was listening to the news. In the report, my entire family had been murdered. There was supposedly evidence that they were tied to a sex-ring of slavery, prostitution, and murder. It mentioned my name, the sole survivor, and heir to everything they possessed. I could see my face, mask in place, on a camera surveillance system. It looked like my uncle's place, when I was walking away. You would have never guessed I had just witnessed a murder by my stone mask in place.

"So what happens to her?"

Who said that? Was it a reporter? Were they talking about me?

"I will take care of her," I heard Al say.

"Are you her legal guardian?"

"I am now."

"Are you her next of kin?"

"No."

"How did she come into your care?"

I heard him sigh. "Neither of us asked for this. Life just managed to throw us together. I know what it feels like to feel all alone, to be alone in a world full of people with no one to care for you. I will look after her as long as she needs me to."

"How long will that be?"

"However long she decides." Alejandro had already decided he was willing to let me go.

Silence.

I felt warm. Hot skin. Silken sheets. A touch. An embrace. I was dreaming again. I never wanted to wake up.

"Jani," I heard him call my name.

"Jani." Was this time real?

"Jani?" I opened my eyes. His face was just above mine, a mix of concern and tenderness.

"Jani? How are you feeling?" This was my Romeo.

How was I feeling? I had to think on that answer. I assessed my body, my over all feelings.

"I feel numb."

A look of regret shadowed his features.

"That is to be expected. You have our regrets we could not protect you more."

"Don't ever say that," I said. "My life would have been so much worse without you."

He looked away. "We have decided that it would be better for you to go to a boarding school. You will be safe there."

"Why?"

He gave me a look of pure longing and torment.

"It will not be wise for you and me to have a close proximity for a long period of time."

Maybe I was wrong about what he wanted from me, but I very much valued that he was fighting it.

I sighed. "Okay," I said with resignation.

"Jani." I liked the way he said my name. My name sounded softer coming from him.

"I understand," I said.

"Then what's wrong?"

I looked at him with longing in my own eyes now.

"I had a dream of you." I looked away, feeling shy. I preferred to look at it with logic. "I guess I'm old enough it's time I had a dream about somebody." I looked at him again, earnestly. "I hope you don't think less of me."

He smiled warmly at me. "No, not at all." He gently kissed my forehead. I felt him change. Before, he was my Romeo, but now...

"Tell me more," he said, all flirty like. This one had that devil-may-care kind of vibe. Where had I see him before? Was this the individual when we were hunting bunnies?

"It's probably better not to know right now," I said. "Who are you?"

"All will be revealed." He bent low and softly pressed his lips on mine.

Those lips of his. That mouth. So soft. So warm and salty. This was my first kiss.

A low growl issued from his throat. Hugo raised up. "Jani..." he said sternly.

"The circumstances don't allow much blame on my shoulders at the moment, don't you think?" I asked.

He looked at my body, clad in my hospital attire, and my IV dripping in my arm, along with my damaged hand.

"For now, it would appear to be so," he said. "But you do realize, I'm sure, now more than ever, that it is better to be apart from all of us."

"I know." A terrifying thought crossed my mind. "I'm not going to go to some place where they are going to use me, are they?"

Hugo's gaze softened. "We would never willingly put you in harm's way, but if it were to happen..."

"What do I do if they ever say the words?"

Hugo looked resigned. "If it ever comes to that, you must play along and do whatever you must do to stay alive, and when the time comes..." Hugo changed into Lobo. "I will make everyone pay," he said menacingly.

"Okay," I said. I turned my head to the side, already falling back to sleep, and fighting tears.

"Sleep well amante. You are safe tonight." He leaned in kissed my cheek, and whispered in my ear, as the voice of the one I have yet to know, "Dream of me."

I did.