Stray Echo

The Basement

POV: Echo

After pulling my extremely confused mate through the kitchen, I finally stopped in front of the door to the basement. “We have to go down here,” I said, opening the door and showing him the sketchy-looking basement stairs.

Watching his face go from confused to concerned to a million other emotions, I debated if I really wanted him to see this part of my life. He carefully set his face into a neutral expression, suddenly showing no outward signs of his feelings.

Just when I am about to tell him to forget it, that I have nothing worth retrieving, he grabs hold of me and picks me up. Carefully placing me on his front, I wrapped my legs around his waist as best I could with my splint. My arms snaked around his neck, and I held on tight, his arms wrapping under my butt and around my waist, as he descended into the basement.

This carrying position had a much more significant effect on me than the previous one, as tingles shot through my arms and his scent was intoxicatingly strong. I couldn’t keep myself from scenting his neck or keep Tala from licking the spot where my mark would sit. I gasp, mentally scolding her, as he chuckles.

“I’m guessing Tala enjoys being carried this way?” he asks, obviously knowing which one of us was to blame.

“Yes,” I gasped, embarrassed, but also struggling to keep my own desires at bay. “This position… is a lot more…” I paused, trying to think of the word for it.

“Intimate?” He breathes, his mouth right beside my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I nod, grateful when we reach the second door, and he sets me down slowly, reluctantly.

Turning to the door, I felt his whole body stiffen as he saw the locks on it. There is no hiding that this was my prison, not just my room. I slowly opened the door and stepped into the basement. He stepped around me quickly, and I watched apprehensively as he wandered around the basement.

Starting with the laundry shelves, making his way past the folding area, machines, and chute, he finally ends up in my little corner. I stayed quiet as I watched him take hesitant steps toward my bed, kneeling on it and touching the tattered blanket. He turned to my shelf, to everything that I owned in the world. I can hear him muttering to himself and feel his tension slipping out into the air.

Shaking slightly, he picks up each item, feeling the thinness of my clothing, and placing it back on the shelf, just as it was. He stops on the hairbrush, staring at it, before also grabbing the toothbrush. Simply staring at them for a minute, looking completely lost in his own head.

Abruptly, he slams them back in their spots, making me flinch. He jerks away, standing up and looking into the bathroom. He freezes in its doorway, and I can see his back move as he takes deep, even breaths.

Unexpectedly, he spins on the spot and begins walking back towards the bed area, staring at the floor, lost in thought. He jerks to a complete stop, eyes wide, taking in the sight of the many patches of bloodstains from the years, the largest and freshest being from my back. After a minute, he dropped to his knees with his eyes shut. I slowly limped towards him.

“Atlas,” I call softly, “Atlas, are you okay?” I hesitate, hand hovering just above his arm, before gently running my hand up and down his arm.

“Atlas,” I sigh as he remains completely frozen, eyes shut. Curious, I gently call out, “Zev?” and sure enough, he twitches.

“Zev, are you and Atlas, okay? Can you open your eyes, please?” I begged, standing in front of him and rubbing both of his arms now.

He whines, keeping his eyes closed. I stroke his cheek and he pushes into my palm, a purr rumbling from his chest. I lifted my free hand to his other cheek and held his face in my hands. He is hunched enough that I am looking down at him now. I gently tilt his head back up so he is looking at me.

“Please, Zev?” I whispered, “I need you to open your eyes, to tell me what is going on. I need you, Zev, and I need Atlas. Please don’t shut me out.” He grunts, puffing out his chest, as he opens his not-quite-black eyes to meet mine.

“Mate needs me,” his rough voice states, and I can tell he is proud to be there for us. His eyes are glistening with unshed tears, startling me as they slowly drip down his face.

“Zev! What’s wrong, my love?” I used the hem of the shirt I was wearing to dry his face. He smiled at the sound of the nickname I used. “You like that, huh? I can call you that more often if you like. Does Atlas like it as well, my love?” He nods vigorously, agreeing enthusiastically to the idea before he frowns. He looks around the room before he speaks.

“Mate lived in the basement,” he growls, his rage so potent that he can barely form sentences. “Mate has nothing to call her own but a shelf full of worn-out items.” I sighed heavily before dropping my hands and hanging my head slightly. I knew bringing him down here was a bad idea. Now it was his turn to cup my face in his hands as he drew my eyes to his.

“Nothing to be ashamed of. Mate didn’t ask for this!” He stated, and Tala purred in agreement. His gaze goes to the blood patches surrounding us. “So much of your blood has been spilled here. I can still smell it in the air.”

His body trembles as his barely contained rage tries to break free. Lowering his head to my marking spot and inhaling deeply, he calms himself before he keeps speaking.

“We can’t stand it. It hurts to see what Mate’s life was like before today. We love Mate.” He pulls back, leaning his forehead on mine for a moment before leaning down and kissing me deeply.

Unlike Atlas’s soft kisses, creating a gentle build-up of need, Zev’s kiss crashes into me, and my body reacts immediately. He grabs the back of my neck, tilting my head back as he deepens it, our lips moving against each other before his tongue grazes my bottom lip, and I freeze for a moment.

I can feel myself begin to spiral and Tala pushes forward for just a second, parting my lips slightly. His tongue enters my mouth, moving against mine. My mind and body respond as he wraps his other arm around me, pulling me impossibly closer. My heart is pounding and my whole body is tingling with desire.

We finally break apart, panting, resting our foreheads together, and smiling. His arm is still around my waist, pinning me to him. Zev purrs before chuckling.

“I must go, Mate, Atlas demands control.” He rubs his nose against mine before his eyes faded back to Atlas’s bright green. ‘Well… that was something!’ Tala growled in approval, clearly having enjoyed Zev’s lack of restraint. Atlas grins cheekily for a moment.

“I guess I don’t have to hold back so much!” His voice is rough with his desire, as he scents my arousal in the air.