08-30-2014, 11:48 PM
The rest of the day was odd. Death in the afternoon made a strange interlude and seemed to shadow everything. It had a weird effect. The darkness seemed to make the lighter moments more lighter. His rage was still in the back of his mind, making him determined. But they had also survived an attempt on their lives. Ayden seemed to want to savor the life that they had, that they had almost lost. Or she was once again compartmentalizing her emotions. He couldn't help but twinge at the thought. Connor had a harder time of it. He was not used to doing that kind of thing. Everything was always intense for him, always demanded his full attention. They were just different that way. So he said nothing to her. He might- later- but not now. Instead, he tried to play along. But the feeling remained in the background. A strange day indeed.
Sleep had been fitful, dreams of losing Ayden or her leaving having come to him for most of the night. His stomach was in knots with worry. When morning came, he was relieved. She was sleeping peacefully. He watched her for a while, fiery hair a wild mass on the pillow. She was so beautiful, all her thoughts- the fire and spirit of her- locked behind those closed eyes. No. He wouldn't let the Atharim take her from him.
He got up and put on his shorts and went to his wallet, flipping it to holo-mode. He pulled up the video of Michael Vellas in DV and watched it again. The kid's destruction had been nothing short of miraculous. After he'd handed over the drive with the list, he looked him up. The man was important, a Commander. The news credited him with a big part of the victory in Jeddah. He had even been mentioned by the Ascendancy at his Christmas party for his roll.
And Vellas was using his power in the military. And he now had a list of other magic users. Ayden was one- though not on that list he'd had thankfully. But yesterday's events were still fresh in his mind. She hadn't been, but she was definitely on one now, their target list. She needed to be safe from them, in a place where they couldn't get to her so easily.
She was ex-military. Maybe Vellas would be willing to help her somehow, maybe find a use for her skills. The thought scared him- the potentially dangerous situations she might be in- but he reminded himself that she had been doing this for years and years and was very good at her work. Between that and the magic she had access to, she was formidable.
His heart hurt. No matter what, there would be risk. But at least she wouldn't be alone. He wanted to be the kind of husband who could protect her from everything. But he knew his limitations. He was just a simple guy. He had no special skills. She lived in a different world, had power he didn't understand. As much as he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to protect her by himself. Not from the Atharim. But if she was around others like her, maybe she'd be safer.
She shifted in the bed and he looked over at her from the desk. He went over to the bed and got in next to her, watched her continue to sleep. He gently put his hand on her chest, over her heart the way he had with Hayden the day he was born. "I swear I will do whatever it takes to protect you Ayden. I love you,"
he whispered.
Sleep had been fitful, dreams of losing Ayden or her leaving having come to him for most of the night. His stomach was in knots with worry. When morning came, he was relieved. She was sleeping peacefully. He watched her for a while, fiery hair a wild mass on the pillow. She was so beautiful, all her thoughts- the fire and spirit of her- locked behind those closed eyes. No. He wouldn't let the Atharim take her from him.
He got up and put on his shorts and went to his wallet, flipping it to holo-mode. He pulled up the video of Michael Vellas in DV and watched it again. The kid's destruction had been nothing short of miraculous. After he'd handed over the drive with the list, he looked him up. The man was important, a Commander. The news credited him with a big part of the victory in Jeddah. He had even been mentioned by the Ascendancy at his Christmas party for his roll.
And Vellas was using his power in the military. And he now had a list of other magic users. Ayden was one- though not on that list he'd had thankfully. But yesterday's events were still fresh in his mind. She hadn't been, but she was definitely on one now, their target list. She needed to be safe from them, in a place where they couldn't get to her so easily.
She was ex-military. Maybe Vellas would be willing to help her somehow, maybe find a use for her skills. The thought scared him- the potentially dangerous situations she might be in- but he reminded himself that she had been doing this for years and years and was very good at her work. Between that and the magic she had access to, she was formidable.
His heart hurt. No matter what, there would be risk. But at least she wouldn't be alone. He wanted to be the kind of husband who could protect her from everything. But he knew his limitations. He was just a simple guy. He had no special skills. She lived in a different world, had power he didn't understand. As much as he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to protect her by himself. Not from the Atharim. But if she was around others like her, maybe she'd be safer.
She shifted in the bed and he looked over at her from the desk. He went over to the bed and got in next to her, watched her continue to sleep. He gently put his hand on her chest, over her heart the way he had with Hayden the day he was born. "I swear I will do whatever it takes to protect you Ayden. I love you,"
he whispered.