Lament

Chapter Fourteen [pt. 1]

I gained consciousness, but I didn't open my eyes. Instead I kept my eyes firmly shut and made sure to keep my breathing slow and even.

From what I could tell, we were in a small car and moving fast. The road was smooth and, from the absence of redness behind my eyelids, I figured it was night.

For how long I had been out, not a clue. But by the way the car was uncomfortably quiet, I knew there was more than two of us.

"This one's different from all the rest," Leon said, proving me right. Daniel didn't answer but I felt the car speed up. Leon sighed. "What a child you're being," he pointed out. There was a pause, then, "Fine. Don't speak then. But you'll to well to remember this, cousin. I saved her. Not you. Me. And if I am damned to hell because she sees me as her own personal serial killer, then so be it. It's only a matter of time before she discovers the whole truth about all of our mysterious past times."

Daniel stomped hard on the brakes and I nearly rolled off the seat as the car screeched to a stop.

"All you are to me and her is a murderer," Daniel growled. "Nothing in the past will ever change that. Over the years I've lost track of how many times you've taken her away from me."

Leon barked a humorless laugh. "Like I'm the only one that's been the cause of her death, Daniel. Clearly you haven't told her that one tiny detail."

I had heard enough. My eyes opened and I sat straight up in the back seat. They both turned and looked startled that I was awake. I said nothing.

"How much did you hear?" Daniel asked gravely.

I swallowed. "All of it," I claimed calmly.

"All of it?" Leon echoed. His face was shocked. "But how? That poison around your wrist and ankles should have knocked you out for two days."

"Remember," I said. "I'm different."

They both paused, nodding.

"Is it true?" I asked.

Daniels brow creased. "What?"

"About you killing me?"

He leaned back. "I never said-"

But Leon implied that, didn't he? He said that you clearly haven't told me about that 'one tiny detail'"

Leon scoffed at the passenger's seat window. "Well I actually said it with a bit more snarkiness in my voice."

I glared at him but it was wasted because he didn't bother to look back. Daniel let out a deep breath and ran his hand through his deflated green hair. "Yes," he admitted, "I took a part in your deaths from past lives."

My eyes had begun to sting but I held my tears back long enough for me to unlock the car door and rush out into the cold night.

"Eona! Wait!" Daniel jumped out of the car and ran after me.