Code Name: Draconis [Ace Draconis - ON HOLD; see my updated profile for info!]

Chapter 13: Shadowed Suspicions (Part 2)

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Clarissa:

 "Oh knock it off," I laughed as Ace and I walked through the park.  It was a beautiful Friday night, and the moonlight danced across the snow like a thousand tiny ballerinas.

 "Knock what off?" he joked, trying to tickle me again. 

I rolled my eyes, and walked up to him.  He smiled, staring down at me.  Just as he leaned in to kiss me, I pushed him backwards into the snow and took off running.  It took him a few seconds to realize what was going on, and then he jumped up and ran down the hill laughing after me.

 I ran down the hill and flopped down into the snow, glad I'd worn my snow pants and boots.  A soft thump beside me announced Ace's arrival.

 "You fight dirty," his eyes twinkled, "you know that?"

Shrugging, I looked back up at the moon.  We stayed like that for a while, and I remembered the first time we'd walked around the park after our date at the movies.  We'd stayed like this that night too...but so much had happened since then.  I sighed softly. 

 The night was peaceful, nothing out of the ordinary.  Birds flew home to their nests under the midnight blue sky; squirrels began scurrying back to trees.  I even saw some rabbits hopping around.  The wind whistled softly and I closed my eyes.  It doesn't get much better than this.

 A grunt sounded beside me. 

I opened my eyes in alarm.  "Ace?"

 "Fine," he managed, clutching his shoulder again. 

"I thought the wound was healed?" I asked, leaning over to him.  "Anything I can do to help?"

 "Go home.  Now," he all but growled at me.

I realized he must be in a lot of pain, which would explain his sudden hostile demeanor, but I sure as hell wasn't going home and leaving him out here. "No, let me see," I said, reaching over to unzip his jacket.

 He jumped up faster than a rabbit caught in a rifle's crosshairs. "Don't.  Home.  Now."

I stood up, concerned now, "Ace, this is ridiculous, let's get you to the nurse at school."

 "Don't need," he said through gritted teeth, still clutching his shoulder.

I took a step closer to him, "Then let me see."

 He stared at me, and seemed to be fighting with himself.  Finally he gasped, "Fine."

 I walked in front of him and took off his jacket.  Then walked behind him and slid his shirt up on his back, letting him hold the jacket in front of himself to keep warm.  I looked at his shoulder.  There was a wicked orange coloured scar running across it.  His entire shoulder was red, but there didn't appear to be any blood. 

 I looked near his arm for any indication of what was going on, and then looked at his other shoulder to compare.  Suddenly a black spike poked out of the scar, I gasped.  "Ace, there's s-something coming out of your cut. A s-spike or s-something..."

 I stared in shock as the black spike fought to get out.  Blood pooled around where it had cut his skin.  Frantically, I reached into my pocket and began dabbing at the blood with a tissue, terrified.

 Ace whipped around, eyes burning.  "Stop!"

I froze, uncertain as to what to do. 

 "I need you to go home, I'm sorry," he managed, "I...I'll text you.  Later."  He'd grunted that last part, as the tip began to try and force its way out of his shoulder again and his blood began to turn orange.

 "I... I don't understand." I gasped, not prepared to leave him in this state.

"I'm sorry," a groan, "but I've gotta go."

 He began running towards the forest.

"Ace!" I started jogging after him, worried.  "Ace stop!"

 His voice floated over the wind, "Go home, I'll explain later!"

I ran after him anyway.  I was only seconds behind him, but when I stepped into the forest he was nowhere to be seen.  Time slowed as I looked for him, but I couldn't find him anywhere.  Finally I heard rustling behind me, and I turned around hoping it was Ace. 

 It was Borgos.

"Borgos!" I ran to him, teeth chattering, and started to explain everything.  He waved it away with his hand, "Ace called me, told me to come get you."  There was something strange in his voice.  Remorse? Loathing? I couldn't quite place it.

 "Told him not to get too involved with humans, but no..." he muttered.

"What?" I hadn't quite caught what he'd said. 

 "Nothing, let's get you home.  Trust me; it's best to leave him alone for now."

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 Ace:

 I watched from my perch on a tall tree as Borgos escorted Clarissa home.  Though she didn't know it, I'd been watching her to make sure she was safe.  I'd never let her get hurt, especially on my account. 

 A searing pain exploded across my shoulder again, as the rest of my wing broke free.  The small "spike" she'd have seen was the tip of my wing trying to break free,  influenced no doubt by the orange liquid staining my shoulder.  Damn it to hell.  I'd have quite a bit of explaining to do.  But first, I had to get this orange stuff removed from my body, whatever it was.

 I hated to do it, but the only people who could help me where John and his team.  I closed my eyes and drew a long shuddering breath, then grew my other wing.  I looked up at the sky, "I'm so sorry, Clarissa..." I knew this would probably be the end of "us" unless I came up with one hell of an explanation and got my wing treated.  Even then, her trust could only be stretched so far.  I'd lied to her before, hadn't I?  Of course, the "simple" thing to do would be to tell her what I was.  But that would be to put Borgos at risk too.  Humans feared us; that's why Borgos and I were the only of our kind left.  Could I trust her with the truth?  Would she even want to be something someone like me? A...a monster?

 I sighed, and took a lingering look around me.  All was silent.  I allowed myself one last shuddering breath before launching myself into the air.

 Time to find John.