Chapter 45 The Killer in the Crowd

AN/ I really love the song with this chapter.  I think it goes together really well. 

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Grey-green waves of woods after woodsin which we’ll disappearfrom which we’ll returnbut it won’t be uswho it is, no one knows

- “This View” – Further V (translated)

Burns

 

The lava fields are my favorite place on this planet. They are especially nice after a meteor rain, like now. There’s still the smell of fire in the air and the debris is nice and warm.

I stretch my limbs and rest my beak on the ashes around the lava pool. Just a little longer before I have to go find some food.

The Walking Flowers only come out at certain times, when we Fire Tasters are at leisure, like now after a storm, and when the planets and moons are turned, indicating the end of a day.

I’ll have to get up if I still want to eat today. But I’m so comfortable here. I let out a yawn and a small puff of smoke drifts from my nostrils. Yes. Time to eat. Maybe I can come back here later.

It doesn’t take long before I stumble on a group of Walking Flowers. There are two young ones. I’m not sure if they are family, but they seem close. I lick my lips. The young ones are the sweetest. Older Flowers have a heavier fragrance.

They haven’t noticed me yet and I edge closer, my grey skin against the Ashen Valley camouflages me from sight. I can’t make any sound now, not when I’m so close. The Walking Flowers have great hearing. It is why we strike so fast when we hunt.

Just a few more paces.

I take a deep breath to assemble the fire in my throat and let it go towards the unaware prey. It hits the youngest one first and within a heartbeat the Flower is nothing but ashes and smoke. I hurry forwards to inhale the scent before the wind can rip it away.

 

Delicious.

I groan content and turn to the remaining Flowers. One of the older ones has sunk to the ground as if grieving. My body can’t resist such an easy prey, so that one is next.

The others have managed to escape, but I don’t bother with the chase. I’ve had my fill. I look at the sky. The planets have not completely turned yet. It may not be too late to return to the lava pool and bask in the warmth.

 

I nod in agreement.

Yes.

That would be a perfect ending of the day.

 

I turn and drag my lazy body back to my previous spot, the sweet taste of Flower still on my tongue.

 

***

 

She was always peaceful asleep, even now. My finger traces her cheek, but she doesn’t react. It’s horrible to be so powerless.

At least she’s breathing.

I know I did the procedure right. Nothing was damaged. The Smooth and Heal did their job. I managed to get my hands on a cryotank from the HealingCenter next door.

Sky is safely inside.

But I don’t know about Emma.

She’s not waking up.

“Emma,” I whisper.

Still no reaction. I’m starting to think it was all for nothing, that she is not longer here. Maybe Sky really was keeping her present. And now that she is gone… so is Emma.

I sigh and glance at the window. It’s the middle of the night. I’m tired, but I can’t bring myself to go to sleep. 

My hand moves to her face again. “Emma wake up.” How long have I been sitting here like this? I’m not sure, but my throat is hoarse from pleading and unshed tears.

I have made a mistake. And ruined two lives.

I close my eyes. What am I supposed to do now? I can hardly leave her here.

Souls don’t die. They transfer. And when they leave their host body behind, that body gets disposed of, not buried.

I shake my head to get rid of that horrid thought.

My hands play with the prism I found on the ground. Even now it catches the artificial light in the room and spreads a rainbow of color across the wall.

I sigh and take Emma’s hand, placing the prism inside and carefully curling her fingers around it.

I place a light kiss on her fist. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, “I never meant for this to happen.” I gently place her hand over her chest and cup her cheek. A sigh escapes her lips and she leans into my touch. I withhold a breath. “Emma?” Her eyelids flutter and her eyes slowly open. The sound that comes from my throat holds somewhere between a gasp ands sob. “Emma?” She blinks and turns her head towards me. Her gaze is unfocused, but she smiles. “Hey.” I choke out another breath. My thumb runs across her cheekbone. “Are you okay? How are you feeling? Can you sit up?”“I’m fine,” she whispers. She frowns. “Why… why did you do that?”I sigh. Of course she’d want to know, but I’m not really sure myself. “I don’t know. Just… the thought of someone else in your body… with you still inside… even if you weren’t… just, you not being you… it’s wrong… I couldn’t stand it… I…” I’m cut off by her lisp brushing mine. For a moment I can not move. Then she pulls out of the kiss.“I’m sorry,” she whispers.I blink confused, my mind still groggy and unfocused. What just happened? “What… why?” I stutter.She averts her eyes. “Perhaps you don’t want to be kissed by a human.”“This body is human,” I say stupidly.“But you are not.” It comes out softly and her eyes are sad. She gives a tired sigh and casts me a faint smile. “I think I trust you now.” I let my breath escape and smile carefully. “That’s good.” She answers my smile and stifles a yawn. “Sorry.” “It’s okay,” I mutter, “are you tired?” It’s still night.“Hm,” she mumbles and I tug a strand of hair behind her ear.“You can go to sleep,” I say, “you’re safe.”Her smile widens and she looks at me drowsily. “Safe.” She closes her eyes and turns on her side.I move away from the bed to give her some space, but her voice stops me. “Burns?” I turn. She still has her eyes closed ands she’s already half asleep. “Could you stay with me?”She still wants me around? I suppress a smile. “Sure,” I say and crawl next to her. She crawls closer and I hesitantly place my arm around her.When she doesn’t recoil from my touch, I relax my muscles. I haven’t slept all night and now I don’t want to. I want to watch her sleep, hear her regular breath, make sure she’s still here.

Her kiss still lingers on my lips.

It’s strange.

I’ve kissed human bodies before, though they were all inhabited by Souls, but it was always just a physical thing, fulfilling a need. Pleasant yes, but just physical.

This was different.

It was just a simple kiss, and a short one at that, but it made me long for something more, something I can’t quite name.

It stirred something inside of me and leaves behind a pain that’s not pain. It’s like inhaling the scent of a young Walking Flower, I can never have enough of it.

I burry my face in her hair and inhale her scent.

She scurries closer to me in her sleep and sighs.

Automatically my arm tightens around her and I slowly drift into a sleep.