The Descent
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 10
"H."
~ By Tool ~
What's coming through is alive.
What's holding up is a mirror.
But what's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine.
They're both totally void of hate,
But killing me just the same.
The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.
And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
Considerately.
Venomous voice, tempts me,
Drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty.
Drags me down like some sweet gravity.
The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.
And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me.
Without the skin,
Beneath the storm,
Under these tears
The walls came down.
And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times.
I could have cried then.
I should have cried then.
And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died
and will die.
It's all right.
I don't mind.
I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me.
~o0o~
I lay there in his arms for a while, neither of us speaking, both too lost in thought, but the silence—the peace—wouldn't last, I knew. There were just too many questions racing through my mind; questions about what I'd seen from him in that alley. The way he'd patiently waited for just the right female. The way he'd spoken to her; the gentle tone, the soft caress that belied the actual words he'd said. Words that, while I couldn't understand, were clearly terrifying to the one he'd spoken them to. And finally, the brutal, punishing way he'd killed her as he savored her terror and screams… There was much more than a sadistic streak underlying what I'd witnessed, I was certain. Just the look in his eyes at the time…the pain and anger that had rolled from him in waves… I was worried for him.
As I lay against his chest pondering these things, he sighed, sounding exasperated. "What is it Isabella?" Of course, he'd sensed my emotions…
"The alley…earlier…" I murmured carefully and he tensed.
"Yeah? What about it?"
"Why her?"
He sat up and ran a hand through his tousled hair before rising to pull on clean boxers and jeans. When he'd done that, he slid open the window and lit a cigarette. Finally slouching into a chair, he took a deep drag, blew it out and met my gaze. "I reckon I was in the mood for a blonde."
We stared at each other for moments until I finally narrowed my eyes. "Why don't you just say you don't wanna talk about it? I'd find that less insulting than the bullshit you just spouted."
He smirked. "I really was in the mood for a blonde Isabella. I just didn't share why."
I sat up with a frown as we continued to stare each other down. "I felt pain coming from you Jay."
He looked away and busied himself with nudging the ash from his cigarette on the edge of the ashtray. "It was a temporary lapse," he muttered. "I'm fine now," he said with more conviction before meeting my eyes once again.
I hung my head for a second before nodding. "Okay, you don't wanna talk about it. Got it." I looked back up to see him watching me. "Just know that if you ever decide to, I'm here."
He took a deep drag and shot me a smile that didn't reach his eyes as he leaned over to stub out the smoke. "While I appreciate the sentiment, believe me, it's unneeded." He picked up his phone and began scrolling through the contacts. "You might wanna get up and dressed. I'm callin' for a jet and we're leavin' as soon as they have it ready."
He turned his head and began speaking into the phone and I rubbed my forehead with my fingers. I was in one hell of a quandary. I didn't want to pry because I knew what it was like to not want to spill just to appease someone's curiosity. On the other hand…I really, really wanted to pry.
Stifling my frustration, I got up, dug out some clean clothes and made my way to the bathroom. I'd just have to appease myself with the thought that he would tell me in his own time, and if that was never, I would have to deal with it. He was important to me and I wouldn't risk losing him over something so trivial.
I was just running a brush through my hair when we heard a knock at the door. Jasper cursed lowly as I peeked out from the bathroom. "You expecting someone?" I asked and he shook his head while pulling on a shirt.
"Nope," he answered, his tone dark as he moved past me to answer it. "It's one of our kind though, so be ready."
I slipped back into the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror, eyes wide. 'Be ready? For what? And how?' I thought frantically. "A little pre-brief on this kind of shit would be nice Major," I muttered to myself as I packed away my things, all the while listening to what was going on in the next room.
When I heard the voice of the visitor, my insides turned to lead. It was the last person I wanted to face right now, but it looked like I didn't have a choice. I couldn't exactly hide in the bathroom and something told me Jasper wouldn't let me get away with not facing this. No, I knew his stance very well on matters such as these, so with that thought, I straightened my spine, pulled the door open and stepped out.
I met Jasper's eyes and he handed me a key-card while shouldering his bag. "I'll be downstairs," was all he said as he left the room, the door closing with a quiet 'click' in his wake.
Toying with the card in my hands, I avoided looking at the elegant figure who now occupied the chair across from me for as long as I could. He made it impossible however when he finally rose and came to stand in front of me. "Come now Isabella…won't you even look at me?" he quietly questioned as his hand cupped my cheek to urge the desired action.
When I did, he smiled softly. "There you are," he murmured as he leaned down to place a soft kiss against my lips. A thrill shot through me at the contact and my eyes closed as his arm wrapped my waist and pulled me close. "You can't leave me," he whispered against my cheek, his sweet breath tickling the hair over my ear. "Please don't leave me," he entreated further as his lips ghosted light kisses over my cheek until he reached my lips once again. He slanted his mouth over mine and deepened the kiss and I was powerless against him, my instincts flaring to life in a second, stealing my resolve.
I moaned at the desire I felt for him, but also at the conflicting emotions that whirled within me. I couldn't let this happen! Not now when I was so close to some semblance of freedom, so I pushed against him until he drew back to see me. "What is it my Heart? What's wrong?" he asked as his fingers traced the side of my face, his searching gaze finally settling on my own.
"I can't do this Caius." I backed away and he let me while watching me closely. "Until things are resolved with your wife and you are free to love me as you should, this can't happen."
His eyes now held unmistakable regret and sorrow as he regarded me silently for moments. "I could make you stay, you know that don't you?" he asked, surprisingly without malice and I nodded. He was a King after all and I may be young, but I wasn't stupid.
"I do know that," I said as I cupped his face with my hands. "But such an action would only foster hate and resentment and that's no way for either of us to live." I pulled him down into a soft kiss and murmured against his lips. "Ours is not a happy story my beautiful King, but let's not torture each other more than needs be. Let me go Caius…since you can't bring yourself to let her go. Let me go…"
I gave him one more gentle kiss, shouldered my bag and left the room, the ache in my chest nearly crippling.
The second I stepped from the elevator, strong arms wrapped me and I gasped in pain against the comforting chest of Jasper. "It hurts Jay, so damn much," I wept against him as he rocked me side to side.
"I know darlin', he soothed, his fingers running through my hair. "Believe me, I know."
He held me for the entire flight back to the US, never once pressuring me to talk and for that, I would be forever grateful. I knew, if I had tried to talk about it then, I would have cracked. Something inside me would have broken and I would have gone mad with it.
Jasper being Jasper must have sensed this and so he silently held me, lending me strength while bathing me in comfort. Years later, I would look back on those hours knowing without a doubt that he'd saved me once again, but right then, I took what he gave like water to one dying of thirst never realizing at the time that I was giving something back as well.
When we arrived back in the US and descended the stairs from the plane, there was a man waiting there with a car. I wasn't sure what kind it was, but it was sleek and black with darkened windows to match. Ridiculously, the thought that it was something Batman would drive entered my mind and I damn near giggled as Jasper dismissed the man and held the passenger door for me. He cocked a brow and I shook my head as I got in. "Never mind Jay. It's stupid," I said and he closed the door without comment.
When he slid into the soft, leather driver's seat, I looked around at the darkened airstrip. "Where are we Jay? This doesn't look like Seattle."
He grinned. "That's 'cause it ain't," he said as he pulled out onto the main road and accelerated smoothly. I cocked a brow and waited and he glanced at me, his grin still firmly in place. "Welcome to Texas sugar, the best damn state in the country."
"Really?" I questioned with a smile. "And what makes it so?"
His grin widened. "It's home darlin'. Where I was born and bred," he answered with obvious pride and I laughed.
"Well then, that certainly seals the deal," I joked and he nodded.
"Damn straight it does," was all he said as he took my hand.
I looked over after a few moments of quiet driving and asked my next question. "So, what are we going to do here in the great state of Texas, Major?"
He looked at me and a feral grin curved his lips. "I'm takin' ya to meet my brother."
"H."
~ By Tool ~
What's coming through is alive.
What's holding up is a mirror.
But what's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine.
They're both totally void of hate,
But killing me just the same.
The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.
And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
Considerately.
Venomous voice, tempts me,
Drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty.
Drags me down like some sweet gravity.
The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.
And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me.
Without the skin,
Beneath the storm,
Under these tears
The walls came down.
And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times.
I could have cried then.
I should have cried then.
And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died
and will die.
It's all right.
I don't mind.
I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me.
~o0o~
I lay there in his arms for a while, neither of us speaking, both too lost in thought, but the silence—the peace—wouldn't last, I knew. There were just too many questions racing through my mind; questions about what I'd seen from him in that alley. The way he'd patiently waited for just the right female. The way he'd spoken to her; the gentle tone, the soft caress that belied the actual words he'd said. Words that, while I couldn't understand, were clearly terrifying to the one he'd spoken them to. And finally, the brutal, punishing way he'd killed her as he savored her terror and screams… There was much more than a sadistic streak underlying what I'd witnessed, I was certain. Just the look in his eyes at the time…the pain and anger that had rolled from him in waves… I was worried for him.
As I lay against his chest pondering these things, he sighed, sounding exasperated. "What is it Isabella?" Of course, he'd sensed my emotions…
"The alley…earlier…" I murmured carefully and he tensed.
"Yeah? What about it?"
"Why her?"
He sat up and ran a hand through his tousled hair before rising to pull on clean boxers and jeans. When he'd done that, he slid open the window and lit a cigarette. Finally slouching into a chair, he took a deep drag, blew it out and met my gaze. "I reckon I was in the mood for a blonde."
We stared at each other for moments until I finally narrowed my eyes. "Why don't you just say you don't wanna talk about it? I'd find that less insulting than the bullshit you just spouted."
He smirked. "I really was in the mood for a blonde Isabella. I just didn't share why."
I sat up with a frown as we continued to stare each other down. "I felt pain coming from you Jay."
He looked away and busied himself with nudging the ash from his cigarette on the edge of the ashtray. "It was a temporary lapse," he muttered. "I'm fine now," he said with more conviction before meeting my eyes once again.
I hung my head for a second before nodding. "Okay, you don't wanna talk about it. Got it." I looked back up to see him watching me. "Just know that if you ever decide to, I'm here."
He took a deep drag and shot me a smile that didn't reach his eyes as he leaned over to stub out the smoke. "While I appreciate the sentiment, believe me, it's unneeded." He picked up his phone and began scrolling through the contacts. "You might wanna get up and dressed. I'm callin' for a jet and we're leavin' as soon as they have it ready."
He turned his head and began speaking into the phone and I rubbed my forehead with my fingers. I was in one hell of a quandary. I didn't want to pry because I knew what it was like to not want to spill just to appease someone's curiosity. On the other hand…I really, really wanted to pry.
Stifling my frustration, I got up, dug out some clean clothes and made my way to the bathroom. I'd just have to appease myself with the thought that he would tell me in his own time, and if that was never, I would have to deal with it. He was important to me and I wouldn't risk losing him over something so trivial.
I was just running a brush through my hair when we heard a knock at the door. Jasper cursed lowly as I peeked out from the bathroom. "You expecting someone?" I asked and he shook his head while pulling on a shirt.
"Nope," he answered, his tone dark as he moved past me to answer it. "It's one of our kind though, so be ready."
I slipped back into the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror, eyes wide. 'Be ready? For what? And how?' I thought frantically. "A little pre-brief on this kind of shit would be nice Major," I muttered to myself as I packed away my things, all the while listening to what was going on in the next room.
When I heard the voice of the visitor, my insides turned to lead. It was the last person I wanted to face right now, but it looked like I didn't have a choice. I couldn't exactly hide in the bathroom and something told me Jasper wouldn't let me get away with not facing this. No, I knew his stance very well on matters such as these, so with that thought, I straightened my spine, pulled the door open and stepped out.
I met Jasper's eyes and he handed me a key-card while shouldering his bag. "I'll be downstairs," was all he said as he left the room, the door closing with a quiet 'click' in his wake.
Toying with the card in my hands, I avoided looking at the elegant figure who now occupied the chair across from me for as long as I could. He made it impossible however when he finally rose and came to stand in front of me. "Come now Isabella…won't you even look at me?" he quietly questioned as his hand cupped my cheek to urge the desired action.
When I did, he smiled softly. "There you are," he murmured as he leaned down to place a soft kiss against my lips. A thrill shot through me at the contact and my eyes closed as his arm wrapped my waist and pulled me close. "You can't leave me," he whispered against my cheek, his sweet breath tickling the hair over my ear. "Please don't leave me," he entreated further as his lips ghosted light kisses over my cheek until he reached my lips once again. He slanted his mouth over mine and deepened the kiss and I was powerless against him, my instincts flaring to life in a second, stealing my resolve.
I moaned at the desire I felt for him, but also at the conflicting emotions that whirled within me. I couldn't let this happen! Not now when I was so close to some semblance of freedom, so I pushed against him until he drew back to see me. "What is it my Heart? What's wrong?" he asked as his fingers traced the side of my face, his searching gaze finally settling on my own.
"I can't do this Caius." I backed away and he let me while watching me closely. "Until things are resolved with your wife and you are free to love me as you should, this can't happen."
His eyes now held unmistakable regret and sorrow as he regarded me silently for moments. "I could make you stay, you know that don't you?" he asked, surprisingly without malice and I nodded. He was a King after all and I may be young, but I wasn't stupid.
"I do know that," I said as I cupped his face with my hands. "But such an action would only foster hate and resentment and that's no way for either of us to live." I pulled him down into a soft kiss and murmured against his lips. "Ours is not a happy story my beautiful King, but let's not torture each other more than needs be. Let me go Caius…since you can't bring yourself to let her go. Let me go…"
I gave him one more gentle kiss, shouldered my bag and left the room, the ache in my chest nearly crippling.
The second I stepped from the elevator, strong arms wrapped me and I gasped in pain against the comforting chest of Jasper. "It hurts Jay, so damn much," I wept against him as he rocked me side to side.
"I know darlin', he soothed, his fingers running through my hair. "Believe me, I know."
He held me for the entire flight back to the US, never once pressuring me to talk and for that, I would be forever grateful. I knew, if I had tried to talk about it then, I would have cracked. Something inside me would have broken and I would have gone mad with it.
Jasper being Jasper must have sensed this and so he silently held me, lending me strength while bathing me in comfort. Years later, I would look back on those hours knowing without a doubt that he'd saved me once again, but right then, I took what he gave like water to one dying of thirst never realizing at the time that I was giving something back as well.
When we arrived back in the US and descended the stairs from the plane, there was a man waiting there with a car. I wasn't sure what kind it was, but it was sleek and black with darkened windows to match. Ridiculously, the thought that it was something Batman would drive entered my mind and I damn near giggled as Jasper dismissed the man and held the passenger door for me. He cocked a brow and I shook my head as I got in. "Never mind Jay. It's stupid," I said and he closed the door without comment.
When he slid into the soft, leather driver's seat, I looked around at the darkened airstrip. "Where are we Jay? This doesn't look like Seattle."
He grinned. "That's 'cause it ain't," he said as he pulled out onto the main road and accelerated smoothly. I cocked a brow and waited and he glanced at me, his grin still firmly in place. "Welcome to Texas sugar, the best damn state in the country."
"Really?" I questioned with a smile. "And what makes it so?"
His grin widened. "It's home darlin'. Where I was born and bred," he answered with obvious pride and I laughed.
"Well then, that certainly seals the deal," I joked and he nodded.
"Damn straight it does," was all he said as he took my hand.
I looked over after a few moments of quiet driving and asked my next question. "So, what are we going to do here in the great state of Texas, Major?"
He looked at me and a feral grin curved his lips. "I'm takin' ya to meet my brother."
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.