Genesis : Knights of Salvation Series
Chapter 39: The Deal

Enyo’s P.O.V:

Turn back around after filling in Orion, who now sits leaning against the window sill watching outside the window. I turn back around to see Aspen back asleep. I don’t know what came over me tonight. I sit down on the ground, leaning back against the wall. Closing my eyes I lean my head back against the wall. The moment I close my eyes those vibrant violet eyes pass by them.

I let out a small breath. I have to get them out of my head. I have a mission to get her to ground zero, I can’t have any distractions. To say Aspen is a major distraction would be an understatement. Something about her seems to keep getting to me. The feeling of her soft gentle hands seems to last on mine, and thoughts seem to run wild in my head keeping me from sleep.

Aspen’s just simply a new mysterious face, that is the only thing that’s drawn my recent affection to her. From the first day I’ve known both her and Clare are lying and yet it doesn’t seem to stop the racing of my heart during this journey. I have to keep my mind on the mission, especially because of the family she comes from. To say I’ve always resented her family is an understatement but also because her uncle is my commanding officer.

For an hour I recite as many reasons as I can to forget about the rising feelings and focus back on my job.

Aspen’s P.O.V:

The harrowing words filled my dreams last night, waking me up half a dozen times. Every time it’s the same dream, the same words echoing in my head. Yet something about the words began to be less haunting and more as if a new acquaintance. Even now as I sit on the couch eating my breakfast of a red apple and bread, It feels almost as I had felt in the Valley. As if I’m being drawn to another’s mind, but this one... it’s alive even awake.

I bite into my apple savoring the tart juice and the nice crunch it gives me. My eyes wander to Enyo whose whispering about something with Talon. Enyo and I haven’t spoken since last night but I’ve already decided that what happened is simply a tired hallucination on my part. Sure, part of me wished he romantically said those words but I know better. I’ve never been one for relationships, I had a romantic interest for two years before the director told me of this mission. He was kind and sweet but when I was informed of the mission I ended things with him the same night. Maybe if I survive I could visit him but as of now... It’s more likely I die here.

My absurd growing thoughts about Enyo change nothing, it can’t change anything. I should avoid him for the rest of the trip, as best I can; at least. The only thing I could do is hurt him or turn him into a monster. Besides when he finds out what I am... that I’m more monster than human now a day’s then he won’t come near me.

I finish eating my breakfast and stand up stretching out, my arms reaching up high as I stretch my abdomen and back. The bottom of my undershirt rises up an inch or two to sit just below my belly button. I don’t really think about it at all until she said something.

“Holy crap! Aspen, where did you get those scars?” Foxglove bursts out causing my eyes to bolt open remembering the old scar’s spanning from the middle of my back to the edges of my stomach. My arms swing down pulling my shirt as far down as I can. My eyes look around me realizing that I moved too slowly by everyone’s stunned faces. They all probably saw them, yet they wouldn’t have thought much of it until Foxglove spoke up.

I swallow back an anxious impulse as the team’s eyes stare at me. I can’t help but feel like an exhibit at that very moment. This is exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid for so long. I won’t spend my last days stared at like a science experiment.

“They’re nothing,” I say as relaxed as I can must, my jaw clenching tight as my eyes fall to the ground.

“Are you kidding? They’re like a foot and a half long and way deep for it to scar like that. I mean they are awesome !” Foxglove says enthusiastically. I hate it, I hate how happy she speaks about the scars. I’ve never minded scar’s in my life but those.. from that night, hold too much to speak of so carelessly. I place that same stupid facade face of mine on and look to foxglove ignoring the stares. That same intoxicating anger from training pulses through me for just a moment. So much of me wants to scream at her for her words but I won’t... I can’t.

“No, Foxglove they aren’t awesome.” I snap slightly. My nails dig into my palms as I try to restrain the sudden anger boiling in me. She squints confused and startled by my outburst. Could I blame her? No. She has no idea what it’s like to have your death warrant signed as a child.

“Excuse me,” I whisper out. I head for the door ignoring Foxglove’s calls to me. I’m not sure where I’m going but all I wanted to do is get away from the stares. The anger in me seemed to pulsate the more I think about her words.

I shove my hands into my front pockets ignoring the stinging in my palms. I make my way down the road leading away from the mayor’s house. A gentle morning breeze blows my undone long hair gently around in the wind. The chilling breeze seemed to ease the burning under my skin but also bite at it. I pass by a few abandoned houses each as hauntingly empty as the others. I try to clear my head as I stop near a small house, only really big enough for a tiny family of three. The wooden door slightly swings with the breeze. I peek through the small dust-covered window, noticing that there’s only one room in the small house. I quietly push the door open, the rusted hinges creaking as I do.

I step into the bare room, not even a chair or peddle left by the people who once lived here. I can’t help but wonder what caused the whole outpost to be deserted like this. It’s as if suddenly they all just disappeared like they hadn’t really existed at all. I slide my back against the wall and fall to my butt facing the door. I want to scream, what’s happening to me today? I guess it’s not just today. Even last night my emotions felt so volatile and even attacked me in my sleep.

I let out a burdened breath and lean my head against the wall relaxing and closing my eyes. The sound of the gentle breeze slightly shifting doors and old buildings fill my ears. I’ve always been more at peace by myself and yet even now alone I feel that angry impulse in my blood. I let my mind go for only a moment I needed some peace of mind. My thought’s suddenly shifted as if they are being pulled from walls and trees even rocks.

The image of children laughing and chasing one another through a small forest town. Laughter and calm peace fill the air as I take in the tall green forest hiding them from the world. It’s not my imagination, in fact, it felt like my dream and the times in the valley. like I’m seeing through another’s eyes. The images shift as whoever it is the walk’s moving through the camp of relaxed townsfolk. Some women close to the forest hang sopping wet clothes from lines and men skin a deer near a fire between houses. The person turns and as the images grow hazy and warped I see their reflection in a pool of water.

My eyes snap open as the man’s face flashes in my head. Why was I seeing a young man, with shaggy middle-length blonde hair and a sharp jawline. But what stopped my heart and mind was his eyes, they were like mine. He had vibrant violet eyes that peered back at me as if he knew I was peering through his eyes. I shuffle through my pocket’s quickly finding a small pencil and paper. For an hour maybe? I sit there and scribble out his features. If he was real, and not a figment of my imagination he would have to be like me, right?

I finish outlining his stubble jawline when I hear footsteps next to the house. Clare’s golden hair passes the window and I shove the picture and pencil into my pockets. It may be a long shot but If there are others like me... maybe they could help me? I can’t allow Clare or the others to know, they’ll think I’ve lost it. This could be the reason I’ve been acting so odd but that should not come until the very end. All I know is that more and more things have been popping up making me question all I know. First, it’s Greta who said that cryptic message then the feeling’s I’ve been getting. Now a peering through another’s eyes? If I was anyone else I would call myself crazy.

“Aspen?” Clare call’s out peeking her head through the door frame. When I look at Clare it seems more and more like she actually has emotion on her face. It’s odd considering the whole time I’ve known her she’s been like a robot.

“Yeah?” I whisper out. My eyes fall to my wrist still clear of my dark veins.

“Are you okay?” She asks coming to sit next to me on the floor. I squint at her, she’s never asked me that either.

“It happened again... the anger,” I speak up, I can’t help but worry that I’m dying too quickly.

“I guessed so.” She shrugs.

“You know how I can get about the scars,” I whisper out slowly like it’s a confession.

“I would say 90% of that was just you upset with her disregard for them.” She speaks up. My head looks at her suddenly.

“You’re being weird,” I say staring at her. She half smiles and looks over at me. A question flashed through her eyes.

“When I was with Orion, he said something that I can’t seem to stop thinking about.” I wait for her to provide more as her eyes flicker to the ground suddenly unsure.

“He said I’m dragging you along like a caged animal.” She speaks up and looks at the doorway. I shrug and tilt my head. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“I could say I’m like a caged animal,” I speak up.

“Why does this bother you?” I ask her

“It bothers me that others see me as someone with such a calloused heart.” She squints at the door evaluating her own words.

“You’re doing your job, I don’t think that’s who you are.” I shrug again.

“Really?”

“I know you have a name to live up to. The pressure your father has on you makes my father look loving.” I can’t help but be blatantly honest at the moment. Clare laughs out a little, and this one is a genuine laugh, unlike the ones she’s used before.

“Thanks.” She smiles at me. I wonder what she would be like as a friend. I guess I can spend my last days seeing that.

“I’ll offer you a deal,” I speak up. That wild flame pokes up as I smile at her. There’s no specific need to but when I die I think it would be nice to have a friend there.

“What?“She says sitting up straighter as she tilts her head.

“For the rest of this trip, we become friends. I’ll listen to you about your father and when it comes a time in the end, your the one that ends it.” I speak up a little hoarsely. It’s probably morbid but when I start to go I would rather have a friend in my life than a stranger and we may just become friends by the end. Clare thinks for a moment then speaks up.

“So, we try to be friends... you’re there for me to talk to and I’m there to put you down when you’re barely alive and rabid? That’s kinda morbid.” She laughs out. I just do not.

“We may not be friends now but I want someone who I have some resemblance of a relationship with to put me down. Deal?” I ask her giving her my hand.

“Deal.”

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