Read Online Ruin: The Waking by Lucian Bane - Free Book Online Page A

learned about the body, her body in particular, he seemed to be able to read it more than he could with any other. But then he’d never really come into very close proximity with any other the way he had with her. He placed his fingers on the pulse at her neck. Like sleep almost. The strong feel of life under his touch loosened his muscles and he took a deep breath and let it out. The need for worry hadn’t presented itself but it wasn’t entirely ruled out. He could be missing something important and was too stupid to know, still. He carefully slid his fingers along the hair framing her face.
    Remembering her bookshelf downstairs, he carefully stood. There could be no risks. Not with her. He skimmed the books and selected the Science of the Brain, and ran back up to read it while sitting next to her. Running through the pages, he read the things that seemed connected to her situation and did various checks on her according to the material he read until he was sure she wasn’t in serious danger. He finally set the book down and lightly slid his fingers across her forehead, finding that he truly liked staring at her in sleep. He realized in that moment her breasts weren’t the only thing perfect. In fact, as he studied her, he realized her entire face was. Not perfect in a symmetrical sense, but perfect in… an Isadore sense. She was beautiful while at peace. And when angry. He studied her hand over her chest and stroked it, then carefully took it into his large one, examining every aspect of it, comparing the amazing contrast of strengths and texture. Not that she wasn’t strong, but next to him… she was delicate in many ways. He stroked the tips of her fingers, discovering they were a little rough, telling her work story. He recalled seeing other people from a distance and noticed they seemed to be in pairs unless they were old. But she was alone. Why was she? Where was the husband that should be protecting her and giving her what she craved? It occurred to him that he’d thought, maybe even hoped, that before tonight, he was supposed to be that human. But after tonight, he knew. He was no human. And yet, he felt very human. He had human parts, even human appetites. How was he going to learn about what and who he really was? And why? He was missing pieces that would give him those answers, he was aware of that.
    Isadore took in a sudden deep breath and let out a light moan, sending Ruin’s pulse racing in an instant. She opened her eyes and stared at him in half sleep briefly, then sat up abruptly at realizing where she was, where he was. Her fear felt just like he’d gotten hit in the stomach and he groaned in pain.
    Immediately she grew concerned. “What? Are you okay?”
    Her added tender ness still had adverse effects on him and a great fatigue hit him. He put his elbows on his legs and head in his hands. “Your sympathy and fears affect me,” he mumbled. Negatively.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I mean… I don’t know how not to be that sometimes.” Her words sounded frail and helpless. He was sure crying was suddenly imminent and Ruin shot up, needing to distance himself from her. It had the effect of loud grinding in his brain and made him want to kill or hit things at the least.
    “So ,” she threw the covers off and shot out of the bed, her tone chipper as she went to her dresser. “As I was saying, I did see everything that happened tonight. And I’m aware of how very impossible all of it seems, however,” she shut the drawer and opened her closet next, and dug around in it. “I am a Christian,” she went on, her back to him, “I have read the Bible enough to know that there is such a thing as the supernatural. Therefore…” the final word came on a light huff as she kicked the closet door shut with a foot and hurried to him with clothes extended, “I am going to treat these events tonight as acts of God.” She pressed the clothes into his stomach and he took them,