Requiem (Lost Mates Book 3)

Chapter Three

“Shower, come on”

Mae blinked rapidly, her brain refusing to understand what he was saying and why he was holding his hand out to her.

“Huh?”

“You need to shower, you’re getting mud and crap all over my furniture” Requiems eyes were flashing, those strange like bird like eyes.

Not human eyes.

But not dragon eyes either.

There was a story there, she was sure of it. Maybe one day she could ask him. when he wasn’t planning on eating her.

“Not to mention you stink”

“Well yeah that kind of happens when you are kept prisoner for weeks, then end up in the middle of a blood bath. I’m sorry I don’t smell of roses for you Requiem” Mae clamped her hand over her mouth, not believing she had said such a thing. It was something she would have said to him back when they only spoke on the phone. Back before he hated her, and she had half a crush on a man just because of his voice.  Back when it was easy to be her usual sarcastic self with him.

He didn’t look angry though, more amused as he led her from the room.

“Shower or bath?” He seemed to pause; his eyes quizzical as he regarded her.

Mae almost groaned, what she would do for a long soak in a hot bubble bath. “Shower” a shower was more practical, she didn’t want to be floating around n water mixed with someone else’s blood no matter how much her muscles were screaming to be soaked, “I need to wash this filth off me, thank you Requiem”

He nodded once, as if he was at a loss for what to say. He wasn’t the only one. She could understand his anger, but he seemed unable to hold onto it. Some part of him needed to look after her and he hated himself for it.

“Here, I think you will find everything you need” He stood back to let her pass. “I don’t have any feminine smelling things but if you write me out a list, I will get them for you” His eyes raked over her. “Just drop your clothes on the floor, I’ll throw them out”

Gratefully Mae closed the door behind her. He was a lot better jailor than the last lot. But she was still a prisoner. Glancing about the room she felt her heart plummet. There was a window, sure enough. It even opened wide enough for her to slip out. As she opened it wide and let the cool, rain damp air hit her face she found herself glancing down at the wet pavement below.

Six stories below.

She could jump but the fall would probably kill her, at the very least she would end up with massive injuries and several broken bones.

There would be no escape that way. Not that she was entirely sure she wanted to escape.  There was something so mesmerising about Requiem. the hacker in her wanted to know all his secrets.

Slipping her jeans down her legs was easier said than done, they were stuck to her legs. The blood had dried like cement and ripping them down was taking half her skin with it. Frustrated she tugged harder, a small cry escaping her lips. Her feet tangled and she went down with a crash.

Smashing a vase on her way down.

She lay, there, her ruined jeans tangled about her knees, shards of glass scattered around her on the cool tile and cried. Her cheek pressed against the floor.

She couldn’t even get undressed without ruining something.

“Mae” Requiems voice was right outside the door. Of course, he hadn’t left her alone. He must have known she would try to escape but at that moment she didn’t even care. “Mae are you ok?”

She just sobbed louder. Great hiccupping sobs that made her chest hurt.

“I’m coming in” Requiem paused for only a second, staring at her as she lay on the floor in a foetal position and then he was on his knees.  “Why are you crying” He picked her up bodily, holding her to his chest and stroking her hair back from her face and Mae just sobbed harder. Why was he being so nice to her? And why did she feel so safe with his arms around her?

“I’m scared and I just want to go home”

“I know, and you will go home I promise. As soon as we have this sorted out and you don’t have to be scared. I’m going to look after you” He seemed to think for a second, biting his lip. “I mean I will make sure nothing happens to you Mae”

“And I smell, and my clothes are stuck to me” She was sobbing again, her face pressed against the hardness of his chest as he rocked her like a child. “and I broke your vase. I always break everything”

“Mae”

“Everything I touch I break”

“Mae look at me, its just a vase. It can be cleaned up and replaced” He rose to his feet, her weight didn’t seem to bother him at all, as he used one hand to turn on the shower. “And we can get the clothes off, they have just dried to you that’s all. A little hot water and they will come straight off” He checked the water with his hand.

It must have been the right temperature as he stepped into the spray, Mae still firmly in his arms and closed the glass door behind them.

“Requiem” She squirmed in his arms, small fists flying. She had been held against her will a lot longer than Rory and Bethany. She had heard what they had planned to do to them. Heard in graphic detail.

“Mae stop, what do you think I’m going to do?” He looked hurt.

“Just put me down, put me down and get out”

His growl made the reinforced glass vibrate. “what happened there” He placed her down gently, putting as much distance between them as the small glass cubicle allowed. “Did they touch you? I will kill them all over again if they forced you in any way”

“No, no. nothing like that. I just. Just heard…”

Requiem stepped under the spray, his arms going around her shoulders as he held her close. “Its ok now Mae I promise. You just cry if you need to” He held her, not caring that his own clothes were soaked. Not caring that she was covered in others blood. He stayed perfectly still, his arms around her as she sobbed.