Flamethroat (44 page)

‘I know she isn’t the same,’ said Jack, softly.

‘I wish you had known her … before,’ I said.

‘What was she like?’ he asked.

I considered this for a moment. ‘She was the complete opposite of me. She was not afraid to show affection, or say ‘I love you’. I haven’t told my parents that I love them since I was a little girl.’

‘Why not?’

‘I don’t like to be vulnerable,’ I shrugged. ‘Helena was the opposite. She was always putting herself out there.’

‘Tell me more about her.’

I sighed. It was painful to recall these things. ‘She was creative. I remember she was always drawing. And she was funny, I don’t know who she got that from.’

‘Definitely not you,’ Jack gave me a nudge.

I smiled weakly before sighing. ‘I’d rather remember her the way she was, before she was processed.’

Jack frowned. ‘I think you will regret that.’

I ignored him.

‘Please,’ he said, taking my hand. ‘Go to Robert’s house. See your sister.’

I screwed my eyes shut tight, forcing away the sting in the back of my throat. I knew Jack was right, but how could I face Helena?

Finally, I nodded. ‘I will,’ I promised. ‘Tomorrow, after the funeral.’

Jack squeezed my hand reassuringly. ‘Do you want me to come with you?’

My hand tightened around his. ‘Don’t leave my side, okay?’

Jack shook his head. ‘You couldn’t make me leave, even if you tried.’

I stared at Jack for several seconds. ‘Will you kiss me?’ I asked him.

Jack smiled sadly. ‘I’ve waited so long to hear you say that, but it won’t distract your mind from Helena, you know?’

‘I know.’

Jack bent down and kissed me softly, causing a thousand butterflies to take flight in my stomach. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to sink against his body.

I wished that Jack could make all of the bad thoughts go away, but I knew nothing would. There was still something nagging at the back of my mind, as though I had forgotten something important.

Jack lifted a hand to my cheek and caressed my face gently, his soft lips trailing along my jaw line. I arched my neck and sighed, a wanting feeling spreading through my body. I wanted a distraction. I wanted to forget everything, if only for a moment. Perhaps Jack could make me forget.

‘I want you,’ I whispered to him.

Jack’s muscles tensed and he stopped kissing me. A blush crept up my neck, but I was determined for him to understand. He stared at me for a long while, contemplating what I had just said. After an eternity, he responded.

‘No,’ he said.

‘No?’

He shook his head. ‘No.’

‘Why not?’ I asked. ‘Please?’

I tried kissing his neck, in the hopes of coaxing him into the idea. His breathing became ragged, as if he was struggling to stay in control. I raised a shaking hand and fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.

‘No,’ Jack repeated, grabbing my hand. ‘I know what you’re doing, Avalon.’

I ignored Jack and climbed onto him. He groaned half-heartedly as I straddled his legs, his hands finding their way to my thighs. I knew I could win if I so desired.

‘I wasn’t asking,’ I said, before finding his mouth and kissing him thoroughly.

Jack moaned into the kiss. His hands found the hem of my dress, seeking the blazing skin underneath.

My heart danced against my ribcage, drowning out all rational thought. My hands were halfway through undoing the buttons of his shirt when he broke away.

‘No, Avalon,’ he said. His eyes beseeched me for mercy.

‘Make me forget,’ I begged.

Jack’s eyes were wide, fearful. ‘I can’t.’

‘You can,’ I said, grabbing his wrist.

I forced Jack’s palm to my bare inner thigh and held it there. I could see his resolve slipping and knew he would give in soon. He would help me forget.

It must have taken Jack all the strength he possessed to say ‘no’ again, but somehow he managed it.

Pressing my forehead to his, I let out a sigh. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said. Tears found their way to my eyes, but I blinked them back.

Jack embraced me and the burning in the back of my nose intensified. He stroked my hair and whispered soothing words into my ear.

‘I’m here,’ he said.

The tears flowed freely and I found myself sobbing
uncontrollably into his shirt
, burning holes through the fabric
.

Regardless, Jack didn’t let go of me for the entire night.

~

The funeral for Maria Scotland was held the next day. Jack and I stood side by side at the coffin’s edge as it was lowered into the ground by a Telekinetic-Mage. My father stood at the back of the crowd, yet my mother was nowhere to be found. The members of H.E.L.E.N.A knew that she was with her Human child at the Scotland’s house, just like Penny and Elise.

I had been so lost in thought I had not noticed the reading of the eulogy had already finished. Feeling guilty, I quickly resumed paying attention.

Across from us stood Robert and Bobby, both dressed in identical suits. Robert’s face was set in stone, but his eyes were glassy as he stepped forwards and threw a single rose into the grave. I watched Bobby for some sign of emotion. Did he realise that his mother was dead? Was he capable of feeling emotion when there was nothing left inside?

No one at the funeral took any notice of Bobby the Human. Of course they stared, aware that he had been ‘processed’, but the pity for Robert was so strong, that they let it pass.

The cloudy sky above rumbled and it began to drizzle. On my right, Jack slid his hand down my wrist, until our fingers were entwined. I looked up at him and he squeezed my hand gently.

The funeral ended and the crowd began to disperse. Robert was the first to leave the grave’s side. I expected Bobby to follow, but was surprised when he stepped closer to the hole in the ground.

‘Look,’ I nudged Jack.

Bobby knelt by the grave, his face blank, as usual. Slowly, he lifted a hand and blew a kiss at the coffin, a tingle tear sliding down his cheek.

My grip on Jack’s hand tightened. No. It couldn’t be.

‘Bobby,’ I called.

He looked up, his eyes dark and soulless. He stood and turned his back on us, following his father away from the gravesite.

‘Did you see that?’ I asked Jack immediately.

Jack nodded. ‘What does it mean?’

I watched Bobby’s back as he walked away, a slow, mechanical walk.

‘It means there is hope.’

And for the first time in weeks, I actually believed it.

‘What do we do now?’ Jack asked.

I looked up at him, my eyes blazing with determination. ‘I’m not going to rest until I find a way to fix Helena and the other Humans. And if I come across a single person from the Human Registration …’ I took a deep breath. ‘They are going to be sorry for what they have done do the Human race.’

Jack squeezed my hand gently. ‘Let’s go and see Helena.’

Thank you for reading Flamethroat,

Book Two in The Fire Mage Trilogy.

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Kate Bloomfield