if Ember were to leave him like Ashwin had, and although he attributed it to his need to protect since he was a healer. But he couldn’t fool himself. Ember had become important to him and he found that the guilt he felt for those feelings were lessening.
***
Ember woke from her sleep and panicked for all of three seconds at the unfamiliar surroundings. When the past came crashing back she released a sigh and settled back into the mattress and began to do what she did best, worry. What was she supposed to do? She had money stored away that Landon had no idea she had, so she wasn’t completely broke. Thank goodness for the internet she thought to herself as she sat on the side of the bed. It had been how she had made her money and stored it away since Landon had taken her freedom away.
She could stay in a motel until she found something more permanent. One thing was clear to her, though, she had to leave town, if not the state. She wasn’t particularly attached to this location, never had been which was sad. She had lived in many places but had never truly had a home. She made quick use of the facilities wishing she had her own clothing. While Ceylon’s shirt covered all of the important bits, it still felt provocative – if not a bit drafty. She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. Her ears instantly picked up on the sounds of voices. Her stomach growled reminding her it had been a while since she had last eaten. But she didn’t really know where to go for food, so she opted to follow the voices instead. Maybe someone would be willing to show here where she could get a bite to eat.
The door was open and there were several people sitting at a rectangular table within the room. The food on the table led her to believe that it was like a dining room. She was confused to see the small, thin female with a blonde pixie-cut speaking with Maria. There were also two police officers talking with Ceylon and another Salinian. She was going to walk in and let her presence known, but Ceylon’s words stopped her. “What do you do if the person who hurt her hasn’t been caught yet?”
The blonde female answered, “Well, it depends. If she has family she can go to them, if not then we can arrange for her to stay at the women’s shelter. It mostly depends on what Ember decides to do. We can’t force anyone to do anything.”
“We still haven’t apprehended her husband. It would be best if she did take up the shelter offer,” a police officer stated. Ceylon looked over at the police officer to reply, but stopped and smiled at her. Her mind drifted from the implications of their conversation to the dreams that had taunted her.
Him kissing her. Him holding her. Him devouring every inch of her.
She felt the heat in her face and knew her cheeks were now an unlovely shade of red – the curse of her pale skin. He seemed confused but spoke anyway as he got up and walked toward her, “How do you feel, Ember?”
Such a complicated question. How did she feel? Where should she begin? She felt lost, nothing the same and thankfully so. But the fact remained that everything she knew was changing – she was on an alien’s space ship for goodness sakes. She was scared. He was still out there and waiting for another chance to hurt her, and this time possibly even finish killing her. She was unloved. He didn’t love her. How could he possibly love her and hurt her. Maybe she wasn’t unloved, but he just loved her too much. At this point she wasn’t sure which was worse. She was angry. He had hurt her in unspeakable ways for years and it had all led to this, this feeling of hopelessness. She looked into his azure gaze and gave a smile even she knew was more of a grimace and said, “I feel better.” Ceylon nodded and took her hand leading her to the table. He pulled out her seat and helped her to sit before placing a plate of food in front of her. She looked at it questioningly. There
***
Ember woke from her sleep and panicked for all of three seconds at the unfamiliar surroundings. When the past came crashing back she released a sigh and settled back into the mattress and began to do what she did best, worry. What was she supposed to do? She had money stored away that Landon had no idea she had, so she wasn’t completely broke. Thank goodness for the internet she thought to herself as she sat on the side of the bed. It had been how she had made her money and stored it away since Landon had taken her freedom away.
She could stay in a motel until she found something more permanent. One thing was clear to her, though, she had to leave town, if not the state. She wasn’t particularly attached to this location, never had been which was sad. She had lived in many places but had never truly had a home. She made quick use of the facilities wishing she had her own clothing. While Ceylon’s shirt covered all of the important bits, it still felt provocative – if not a bit drafty. She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. Her ears instantly picked up on the sounds of voices. Her stomach growled reminding her it had been a while since she had last eaten. But she didn’t really know where to go for food, so she opted to follow the voices instead. Maybe someone would be willing to show here where she could get a bite to eat.
The door was open and there were several people sitting at a rectangular table within the room. The food on the table led her to believe that it was like a dining room. She was confused to see the small, thin female with a blonde pixie-cut speaking with Maria. There were also two police officers talking with Ceylon and another Salinian. She was going to walk in and let her presence known, but Ceylon’s words stopped her. “What do you do if the person who hurt her hasn’t been caught yet?”
The blonde female answered, “Well, it depends. If she has family she can go to them, if not then we can arrange for her to stay at the women’s shelter. It mostly depends on what Ember decides to do. We can’t force anyone to do anything.”
“We still haven’t apprehended her husband. It would be best if she did take up the shelter offer,” a police officer stated. Ceylon looked over at the police officer to reply, but stopped and smiled at her. Her mind drifted from the implications of their conversation to the dreams that had taunted her.
Him kissing her. Him holding her. Him devouring every inch of her.
She felt the heat in her face and knew her cheeks were now an unlovely shade of red – the curse of her pale skin. He seemed confused but spoke anyway as he got up and walked toward her, “How do you feel, Ember?”
Such a complicated question. How did she feel? Where should she begin? She felt lost, nothing the same and thankfully so. But the fact remained that everything she knew was changing – she was on an alien’s space ship for goodness sakes. She was scared. He was still out there and waiting for another chance to hurt her, and this time possibly even finish killing her. She was unloved. He didn’t love her. How could he possibly love her and hurt her. Maybe she wasn’t unloved, but he just loved her too much. At this point she wasn’t sure which was worse. She was angry. He had hurt her in unspeakable ways for years and it had all led to this, this feeling of hopelessness. She looked into his azure gaze and gave a smile even she knew was more of a grimace and said, “I feel better.” Ceylon nodded and took her hand leading her to the table. He pulled out her seat and helped her to sit before placing a plate of food in front of her. She looked at it questioningly. There
Similar Books
