Lightning Bringer: (Lighting Seeker Book 2)

Only One Mattress

Vale sat under the water, hot streams of fire running across her body as the searing liquid turned her skin pink, and pushed away the cold. She watched the water swirl down the drain, crimson red and dark from the grime of the river and Dash's blood. She hadn't bothered changing out of what was left of her dress. She had been too tired. Instead, she sat still, arms squeezing her knees as she finally allowed exhaustion to hit her.

Dash was fast asleep in the cot in the other room. Alive and breathing. More than she thought she was capable of pulling off. She let out a deep sigh, her head falling against the wall, cool tiles against her temples. It took her a moment to realize she was crying, no longer capable of being strong, of pushing away her fears. "Where are you Sky?" she whispered, her words loud, echoing throughout the shower. "Why'd you run from me?"

His cold eyes in the ballroom ripped at her, making her question herself, question what they were. If we are anything? Maybe I don't mean anything to him. It's been six months.

The water turned cold, forcing Vale's thoughts back to the present. She needed to get out of the shower. Stumbling to her feet, she pulled the lever, shutting off the water and peeled off what was left of her clothes. Pulling on a long brown tunic and pants that were clearly meant for someone much taller than her, she rolled them up to her calves and walked back into the other room, her teeth chattering.

Yanking a blanket from the shelf, she wrapped it around herself. There was only one mattress and Dash was fast asleep on it. She pulled several more blankets off of the shelf and moved over to the small burner. Laying down two blankets, she ignored the cold ground beneath her feet and hoped it would make the ground soft enough to sleep on. Turning on the burner, she moved back across the room, to see if there was anything else she could put on to keep warm.

A cold hand wrapped around hers. "You're freezing," Dash murmured, his eyes fluttering open.

Vale pulled her hand away, ignoring the warmth of his skin. She moved to the shelf and found a thick scarf. "I'm fine," she replied as she wrapped it around herself and layed down in the blankets on the ground, hoping that she would be able to feel her extremities again soon.

Burrowing down into the blankets, her body shook as she curled into a ball, trying to get warm.

"What are you doing?" Dash murmured. Vale poked her head up and glanced over at Dash. He rubbed his eyes and stared at her with disbelief. "You'll die from hypothermia if you try to sleep like that. You won't get warm enough."

Vale ignored him, turning her face away. "It's warm over here-."

"Don't lie," Dash replied. "You are better than that. You are annoyingly truthful. Even when you keep secrets they are never lies. Don't die over a lie that isn't worth keeping." Vale didn't move, her face red. She knew she was being stubborn, but she didn't want to be close to Dash. His last set of words before passing out had confused her. But is it really worth dying over?

Vale sighed and sat up. "What, no threats? No insults?" she asked, staring back at him.

"When your teeth no longer chatter, then I'll consider taking up insults again. It's hardly fair when you wouldn't be able to get a word in."

Vale stood up and wrapped a blanket around herself, moving up to stand next to the bed before she could change her mind. Dash moved over, giving her space to crawl in next to him. The bed was warm from where Dash had been laying moments before. She let out an involuntary sigh as she layed down. She shivered and pulled the blankets up to her chin.

"Better?" Dash asked. Vale nodded. They layed in silence, staring up at the ceiling. Vale rubbed her hands together, caught off guard by the strange sensation that most of her body felt like it was made of metal. Her hands felt the same. She couldn't feel either of them.

As warmth began to spread through her right hand, the illusion that her hands were the same shattered. She was a fighter, an adventurer who dared to want more. One who had lost her arm and that sacrifice would be with her forever. "Thank you," Vale said, staring up at the ceiling. "For saving me so many times." She swallowed. "I don't know how you do it and not break."

She felt the bed move beside her. Dash leaned on his side and looked at her. "Who says I don't?"

Vale turned to look at him. "I've never seen you break."

"I do." Dash clenched his jaw. "I just do it in solitude." He reached out and pulled up the blankets that had fallen off of Vale's shoulders, his warm fingers brushing against her tunic, trailing warmth into her skin. "Are you okay?"

Vale blinked, surprised by the question. She hadn't been asked that in a long time. Not about anything emotional. Only physical pains. She turned and layed on her back again. "I don't know." She set her lips in a firm line, forcing herself to keep from asking herself that question. She knew if she did, she wouldn't stop crying. "I'm tired."

Dash chuckled. "Understatement on both our parts."

Vale snorted. "Is it bad that I'm glad our earpieces short circuited in the water? At least this way we don't have to listen to Mortem yell at us each step of the way."

She could hear Dash smile. "You mean you didn't want him in your ear, yelling at you about the best way to take out the bullet pieces?"

Vale couldn't help but smile. "No. Not even close."

Silence settled between them again, and this time it was far more comfortable. Vale shivered, scrunching her eyes shut. "Would you try and stab me if I were to suggest something to get you warm faster."

Vale's eyes shot open, glaring at Dash. "Depends on how ridiculous your idea is. I'm not drinking anymore of that whiskey."

Dash did his best to hold back a smile. "No, not that."

"What then?" Vale asked, too tired to think of a witty retort. 

"Well, just remember that I'm just trying to keep you alive, and do your best to keep your weapons from cutting me to ribbons."

Vale sighed, nodding. "Fine. What do you have in mind?"