Reviving Aspen

Part 9

I woke up to the light snores escaping Eli's throat. I turned to look at him. His face was smooth and calm, his lips parted. He was sprawled out in all directions and he didn't really fit on my bed. I giggled to myself. Jet black curls fell in every direction above his head. He was so beautiful and he was mine. My angel.

Remembering my curiosity from the day before, I took a peek at the tattoo on his arm. It was a compass and I could tell that there were words wrapped inside of it but they were not English.

"Rise above and conquer." Eli's low, sleepy voice startled me.

"What?"

"Thats what it says, rise above and conquer. My mom used to tell me that every morning." He rolled over and took me into his arms. "Mine." He whispered through my hair, taking a deep breath. When he exhaled, I could here his satisfaction and it made me smile. Please let me be enough. I wanted him to be satisfied with me because I could not bare it if he were to leave. Loneliness was my biggest tormenter. Nothing good ever came from me being alone.

~

My mom had gone back to rehab. I hated when she left me. I had no one when she was gone. But I knew she needed to go. My heart twisted with sadness. I wished I could help her.

"Hello, babydoll."

The sound rolled across my ears that night. When I turned around a tall lean man stood just feet away from me. He was stunningly beautiful in the most terrifying way. Long blond hair was tied at the nape of his neck. His body was covered completely in black and grey lines and drawings. They began at his knuckles and danced up until the disappeared behind the sleeves of his black shirt, reappearing at his collar. Dark jeans covered his legs and beat up boots covered his feet. My eyes flickered back to his face, a scar cut through one eyebrow, separating the hairs. I assumed he had probably been in many fights.

"Do I know you?"

The corner of his mouth twitched, "You will."

What was that supposed to mean? His black eyes were pinning me to the ground and I was intrigued and frightened. This would not be good. I knew it, but when

he held out his hand I took it.

~

I snapped myself back to the present. I needed him.

"Yes Eli, all yours."

He tucked my head under his chin and I wanted desperately for my words to be true. His hand was tracing my skin when he suddenly stopped, right at the center of the soft skin between my hips.

Oh no...

I watched him squeeze his eyes closed in pain before he leaned up on his elbow and pushed the sheets away, exposing the scars of my past.

"D. E. Z." Eli read each of the letters out loud. His hands curled into fists, the muscles of his arms rolling and flickering a reflection of the anger in his eyes. "What is his name?" He seethed through his teeth.

"Dex Ember Zellar." The name caused me pain.

"I'll kill him." Eli growled, his body shaking with rage.

My heart became heavy with grief and guilt.

"Eli, please. Don't do this to me. Please, I can't stand it." I took his face between my hands and forced him to look into my eyes instead. "Please." I whispered. His face crumpled, and he buried his head into my shoulder.