Aries: Book 2 in a Young Adult Paranormal Romance Series (The Zodiac Twin Flame Series) (7 page)

Chapter Nine

The sun caressed my bare arms. I let the corners of my lips curl into my cheeks as I closed my eyes. It was the first day I felt able to go out of the house. Natalie pushed me down the street as I savoured the feel of the air on my skin.

‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ she asked.

I nodded without replying. We had worked together for a whole week. I enjoyed spending time with her but she kept me at a professional distance. I was grateful. My moods were all over the place.

‘I need to see them,’ I replied, opening my eyes when I instinctively knew that the fire station had come into sight.

‘There he is!’ one of my colleagues called.

They were waiting outside for me. Natalie must’ve let them know we were coming. They ran up to me as we drew nearer.

‘Bloody hell, how big are your arm muscles!’

‘You’re looking well, son.’

The greetings were positive. None of them showed how bad they really felt. They had asked to visit me in hospital but I hadn’t allowed them to.

‘It’s good to see you,’ I said as my boss pushed his way through the small crowd.

He shook his head at me and pointed at my stumps. ‘I keep thinking if I had just pulled you back.’

‘I saved them, didn’t I?

He nodded as a tear came to his eye.

‘If I still had my legs, two women would have died that day.

The realisation hit me as the words left my mouth. Natalie squeezed my shoulder, and for the first time, I was happy that she was there.

‘Did the other person survive?’ I asked.

‘There wasn’t anyone else in the building. You’re no hero, Aries. You’re stupid,’ my boss said.

He leant down and hugged me to his chest, thumping my back.

‘I may be stupid but at least I’m still good looking.’ I chuckled. There wasn’t anyone in the building? I had lost my legs for nothing? I swallowed the rising heat. I wanted to enjoy my time with my former colleagues.

He stepped away and shook his head at me. ‘Still as cocky as ever, eh?’

He spoke to Natalie. She must have nodded her agreement, because he grinned at her. I breathed though the revelation. There was no point in hanging onto something that couldn’t be changed.

‘When are you getting new legs? Are you going to get them springy ones?’ one of the lads asked.

‘I’m going to be fitted with something called ITAP. They’re going to insert the metal into the bone in my thighs and have the attachment sticking out here.’ I pointed at the end of my stub. ‘I’ll be able to attach different types of prosthetics without the risk of infection. Also, I won’t get sore and should be able to walk around all day.’

‘That sounds amazing!’

‘Is it hard now, though? As you’re waiting?’

I nodded, keeping the smile on my face. When I worked with them, we had mucked around, like men do. They were like my second family.

‘Yeah, I wish I could come back to work,’ I replied, looking at my boss.

He ruffled my hair and went back to work, keeping his head bent as he walked away. I could tell that he struggled to see me in a wheelchair. He had trained me well and had hoped that I would take over from him one day. I had always wanted to drive the truck and be in charge of the oxygen.

‘We’ve got to go,’ Natalie said.

The lads looked at her and winked at me. ‘It’s not like that.’ I laughed.

I glanced over my shoulder. She avoided my gaze.

We said our goodbyes and left them to it.

‘Let’s go to the park!’ I exclaimed, trying to turn in my seat.

‘If you’re sure,’ she said, her tone sounded anything but.

My trousers fell away from the end of my stumps. I hadn’t wanted to go out before but I was now sick of being stuck inside. I loved the fresh air. It felt good to be outside. Plus, I didn’t care what anyone else thought of me.

‘Yes, I’m sure.’

She turned the wheelchair and we entered the green space. Clapham Common was quite an expanse of park. We followed the path to the nearest bench. Natalie lined the chair up next to it and sat down.

‘I think we need to talk,’ she said.

Every time she had tried to say something, I had stopped her. I wanted to keep it strictly professional between us. It was a bit late for that but things had changed. She looked after me like a mother would her child. It wasn’t right. I looked out at the park. The kids were in school so it was quiet. Dog walkers strolled along in the distance.

‘Why do you think I’m here?’

I glanced at her. She sat up straight with her arms crossed over her chest.

‘Because you’re getting paid…?’

I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to get close to her in the situation we were in. I believed that she was my soulmate but it wasn’t the way for us to be together. I should be her knight in shining armour.

‘I know you don’t believe that. I miss you. The real you,’ she said as she reached across and put her hand on my arm. I almost pulled away but I didn’t want to hurt her.

‘I’ve changed. I’m no longer that person.’ I looked down at my thighs as I spoke.

‘Of course you’ve changed. Everyone changes but the man I’ve known for the last six years is still there.’

Her hair brushed my shoulder and I fought the urge to pull back. She slid across the bench and leaned towards me. Her breath landed on my neck. I couldn’t turn my head to look into her eyes.

‘I don’t know who I am anymore. You don’t want me, Natalie.’

Her lips brushed my cheek. I froze. A shiver rushed over my body. She must have seen it. The last time I had been with a woman was when I bedded her the night before the accident.

‘I see the way you look at me when I’m not watching. You still want me, Aries,’ she whispered.

‘Yeah, I’d be great at handling you now!’ I spat.

She sighed and pulled away. I looked up as a group of young girls, roughly our age, came past. One of them eyed me openly but the others looked away.

‘She was interested in you,’ Natalie said.

I glanced at her. She glared at the retreating girls. I couldn’t help the small smile that arched the corners of my lips.

‘She was curious. Probably morbidly so.’

My mood had dropped. How could I be with a beautiful woman if I couldn’t even accept that she might want me? Why would anyone want me?

‘Where’s your fight?’ she asked.

I reached out and gripped her arm. She grimaced but got in my face instead of backing down.

‘You have no idea.’ I pushed the words through my clenched teeth.

She glared at me. Her eyes were inches from mine. I couldn’t look away.

‘No? You don’t think that I’ve ever had to face tough times in my life? Have you ever thought about climbing out of your own pity box and trying to get to know me for once? We’re not teenagers anymore!’

I swallowed and let her go.

‘Is he bothering you?’

The voice was deep. I instantly recognised it. When I looked into grey eyes, I gritted my teeth even more.

‘Nice to see you, Aries,’ Nick said.

He stood on the grass across the path. He was alone as far as I could see. I knew that his men would be in the trees around us.

‘Not so nice to see you, Nick,’ I replied.

Natalie took my hand and I squeezed it. She had no idea who I was. Not really. She thought she knew me but she didn’t know anything about my mission or how Nick tried to stop us from achieving our goal. Every. Single. Lifetime.

‘That’s not very polite, is it, Natalie?’ Nick’s hands were fisted by his side. His weapon was probably hidden behind his back. The only weapon I had was my fire. I would be stupid to risk using it in the park. There were too many witnesses.

‘No, it’s not. Aries, who is this man?’ She turned to me.

I glanced at her. Her eyes were wide. Her gaze flicked between us as she swallowed. She was a fighter, like me. I was surprised that Nick intimidated her.

‘Don’t worry. I won’t hurt your boyfriend. Today, anyway.’ Nick laughed.

My gaze searched the dotted trees around us. Were his men hiding behind them? Civilians were nowhere to be seen. Could I risk it? A big fireball would do the trick.

‘Firstly, he’s not my boyfriend. Secondly, I will never let you hurt him.’ Natalie got up.

I tried to grab her back but she skipped out of reach as she faced Nick.

‘Not your boyfriend? That’s good.’ Nick cracked his knuckles.

I couldn’t see him now that Natalie stood in front of me. I wheeled forward, clamped my hands on her waist and pulled backwards. She tumbled and fell onto my lap, squirming to try and get off me. I clamped my arms around her to keep her still.

‘We’ve been here many times before.’ Nick looked at me. ‘I’ve never seen you so…pathetic.’

Natalie launched from me and flew across the path. She tackled Nick and sent him to the ground.

‘He’s not pathetic!’ she cried. ‘He’s amazing!’

She threw out her arms, punching Nick in the side. He managed to roll her onto her back.

‘Get off her!’ I shouted as he pinned her with his body.

Natalie didn’t scream. She was fighting. She kicked out at him but he was too strong for her. I looked around. There was no one nearby. I couldn’t do anything. I felt stuck. How could I help her? My veins started to pound with heat. How dare he touch her like that? He was my enemy, not hers. I was going to kill him.

‘I mean it, get off her.’ I growled.

He ignored me. The struggle continued. My arms vibrated where they gripped the chair arms so hard. I wrenched them away from the burning plastic and cupped my hands together. Closing my eyes, I pushed the heat out of my hands. When the energy flowed out of me, I opened my eyes.

Flames sparked in my palm, gradually growing into a ball of fire. It was small but it was enough.

Raising my hands, I took aim and threw it at Nick’s back. It hit his shoulder and dispersed around him, the flames singeing the black jumper he wore. He howled and jumped up. He spun towards me but stopped when he saw that I had another flaming ball ready for him.

‘You’ve still got your little talent, then,’ he muttered, trying to rub his burnt shoulder.

Natalie scrambled over to me and climbed onto my lap.

‘Leave now,’ I told him.

He wiped his mouth and spat on the ground. ‘Always did admire you, Aries.’

‘I never admired you. Actually, before you go. Where’s my father?’

Nick paused as a grin spread over his thin lips. ‘I thought you’d forgotten about him.’

I shook my head as Natalie buried her face in my chest. I had one arm around her and the other held to the side of us. The fireball still sat in my palm. I couldn’t feel it. It was like I was holding fresh air.

‘No, we’ve not forgotten him. We’re coming to get him,’ I said.

He laughed. The sound made Natalie look at him. ‘I recognise you. I’m going straight to the police.’

For the first time ever, I shared a smile with my enemy. We both knew that she wouldn’t go to the police. I wouldn’t let her. The feud had lasted for hundreds of years. The police didn’t need to be involved.

‘You do know that this is it, don’t you?’

My words made him still as he was about to turn. He looked at me, his gaze searching mine.

‘I have a feeling that this is the last time round. Which only means one thing, doesn’t it?’

My lack of legs had been forgotten. My useless life had been put to the side. There was only living in the moment. As I sat there with a fireball in my hand, and the girl by my side, I felt alive. Nick was a reminder of why I was on Earth. The sweet eyes of the woman that looked to me for reassurance was the only confirmation I needed.

‘What’s that, then?’ Nick asked, scratching his stubble.

‘That this lifetime will be the last time we ever meet.’

His eyebrows rose as the corners of his lips lifted. He didn’t believe me. I knew it was the truth. Somewhere in my human bones, my soul tried to tell me that I was right.

‘You’re still so young. Do you seriously think that all twelve of you will be successful? Maybe I should kill her now to prove that you’re wrong.’ He pointed at Natalie. She tried to pull away again but I squeezed her tight against me.

‘This is my fight,’ I whispered.

She went still in my lap. I let my breath rush out of me.

‘You like a challenge. It would be boring for you to kill her now. When I’m at my weakest.’

I moved the fireball in front of me so he took notice of it again. Natalie’s big eyes were glued to the flames. I glanced around quickly and saw a dog walker approaching. Snapping my hand shut, the fireball disappeared.

‘You’re right. I’m bored already, because you’re not trying to fight me. Let me give you a little reminder.’

He stepped forward. I opened my hand, pulled fire onto my palm, and threw the ball at his chest. It blasted into him and he stumbled back, patting the burn mark on his jumper.