Flutter by, Butterfly

Chapter 27

We spent several sleepless, passionate nights together. We had no need for words. We only wanted to escape into one another's embrace.

I did not see Hugo in any of this, or Romeo and Carlos, or even Lobo or the master. It was just me and the tortured soul. I was his new addiction. I wanted to be his last.

Eventually, he asked me about it.

"You have never asked for anyone else."

"I could never choose. I'm in love with each and every one of you."

"You wouldn't rather have Carlos or Romeo?"

"Only if you wish to be."

He played with my hair a little, staring up at the ceiling. I knew that nobody had given him this unconditional acceptance before, seeing them all as one person and wanting them all. "When I am with you, I feel like I am healing from the inside out."

"And I you," I said. "What's going to happen to me? Am I eventually going to jail?"

He crawled back on top of me, using his whole body to caress me, warming me body and soul.

"I will never let anything happen to you."

Our bodies began to join as one.

"I believe you.... oh...... I trust you."

I didn't have to think when we were like this. There was only sensation and feeling. To hold him was my escape. We danced our lover's dance until our bodies succumbed to exhaustion, and slept a deep, dreamless sleep....if only. The nightmares began for me again.

I could see him all tied up to a chair, held prisoner in a place I didn't know. They were hurting him. I dreamed it so vividly, I could feel his every breaking bone. They untied him, fastened his body to that dreaded machine I had to stand in so many times, and they turned on the electricity. I woke up screaming in the bed we lay in. Alejandro held me tight. He knew. As I looked into his eyes, I knew he dreamed the same dream as me. We held one another close. Blackness claimed my mind once more.

I woke up. It was morning now, or some other part of daylight. I was alone in our bed. I found a silk robe my size nearby. It felt good putting it on. I went to the living room area. I could see Alejandro talking with someone. Was that somebody of military personnel? Al looked very upset. He was hanging onto the wall, as if he did not want to hear what was said at all.

"Al?"

The soldier said nothing. He just looked at me, took it as his time to leave. Alejandro approached me, pain in his eyes.

"Jani."

"What's wrong?"

"They want me to go on another mission."

I began to cry.

"Why?"

"The woman we killed was sent to fetch me for it. She overstepped her boundaries in trying to reclaim me again, and she had no business in trying to involve you in any way; but there is no getting out of this."

"Noooooooo," I wailed. I did not want to let him go. I clung to him. He held me tight. How did this man come to mean so much to me? I did not know this kind of love was possible. I did not want to lose him.

"I need you to go stay with your friends until I return. I do not want you to be alone."

"Please don't go."

"I don't have a choice."

I held onto him and cried.