Frailty: The Darkshine(14)

He instantly stopped, not letting go of her hand as he stared at her with concern. “What is it, Helina? Why are you so frightened?”

He was taking her out of the comfort of her surroundings; the woods that made her feel sheltered and covered. She didn’t want to be exposed, and if he kept on this same path, they would soon meet the road, which would also mean they would be out in the open.

“I don’t want to be seen. What if someone spots me?”

She was frantic, her heart beating fast, the flight or fight instinct burning brightly within her. He didn’t speak for a suspended moment and she looked back and forth, making sure no one could see her, hoping no one was around.

“Who has caused you to be this frightened?”

His tone made her stop her examination of the surrounding and brought her attention back to him. Is he fucking kidding me? “Well, let me see. I had to flee my home because vampires apparently decided to kill off my species. If that wasn’t bad enough…” She looked around again, her breathing increasing as fear assaulted her. He looked down at her with a dark expression on his face. She took a step back, thankful when he let go of her hand.

“That isn’t what I asked you. Who has caused you to be this frightened, Helina?”

She couldn’t believe he would ask her such a thing, again. After what his kind had done to everything she had ever known. Maybe he wasn’t the one who had killed her sister, but he was just as much to blame as they were.

“I can’t believe you just asked me that again. Look around.” She gestured around the quiet forest, with not even the sound of a squirrel or bird to break the silence. “What do you hear?” He didn’t answer, just stared at her with a stoic expression. “Nothing. The answer is, you hear nothing.”

Tears prickled her eyes but she willed herself to stay strong. Her anger fueled her and gave her the courage she so desperately needed. Helina didn’t want to take it out on him, not after how sweet and kind he had been to her, but she wasn’t able to control it.

He shook his head, but she knew he was very aware of what she was speaking about. Swallowing roughly, she gripped the edge of her shirt, her anger starting to subside as she watched the look of defeat cross his features. He moved away and sat on a boulder, his head hanging down as he clenched his hands. She wanted to hang onto that anger that bubbled inside of her, but with him, with Gaijryc, she couldn’t find the strength to.

“I’m sorry.” His words were spoken low, but the anguish was reflected loudly.

Helina walked over to him, feeling deflated as she sat down next to him. Grabbing his hand, she clasped it in her much smaller one. His stare was on their conjoined hands, his jaw clenched tightly as if he were in pain.

“My sister, the one that died…” Helina didn’t know why she was telling him about Lizelle, but the need to do just that was overpowering. Her throat felt as if it was filled with sand and she swallowed dryly again. She thought about her poor, beautiful sister lying on the floor of her room. “She was murdered. She was murdered by one of your kind.”

Closing her eyes, Helina tried not to think of that fateful day. She slowly opened them and looked over at him, getting trapped in his dark gaze. Her body involuntarily shivered from the look he gave her, a look that showcased all of the power he actually held. “Her blood was all over his mouth, dripping down his face as he watched me. I saw Lizelle lying on the floor, completely lifeless. He told me to run, and so that’s what I did. I ran to the only place I could think of—the place that was special to Lizzy.”

Gaijryc’s face was toward the ground, his teeth grinding. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.” He ran a hand over his hair, mussing the short locks in the process. “Not only did my kind take over everything you ever knew, but they also took someone who was special to you.” He turned his green stare at her. “What did he look like?”

“What?” Helina was surprised that he actually wanted to know.

“The DarkShine that killed your sister, what did he look like?”

“Why?” Confusion was thick within her at his motivations.

“Just… tell… me… Please.”

Helina stared at him as he enunciated each word. She could tell he was furious, but she didn’t know exactly why. “Well, all I remember is that his head was shaved and that he had black tattoos on the sides of his neck.”

“Motherfucker!”

She flinched at the rough tone of his voice and his coarse language.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to speak like that in front of you.” He stood and helped her up, cupping his hands on either side of her face. His eyes kept dipping to her lips and Helina’s heart sped up. She thought he was going to kiss her, and even after everything they had just talked about, she desperately wanted him to.