Path Of The Broken

16. Emotions-2

Jess sat in the outdoor area of the inn at a table with Isabella. An assortment of food and drinks had appeared on the table without either of them making any request at all. The spokesman, Head Villager Dean, had been profuse in his thanks for her intervention, and then had promptly scolded her for putting herself at risk for him. Jess had endured his outburst, noting that Isabella was trying not to laugh, and had allowed him to usher her over to the nearest table. He’d scurried off bellowing orders that had resulted in the pile of offerings on the table for them.

Jess eyed the dead man again, flicking her gaze to her other sight once more to check he really was dead and not healing. Some of the villagers were rolling the body into a tarp to dispose of it. It had horrified them when she’d offered to help, and they’d waved her off.

She turned her gaze back to Isabella, who sat observing her.

“No, that one will not rise again.”

“Mmm, I guess. Just making sure.” Jess eyed the food, then picked up one of the small morsels of cooked meat and bit into it. She caught the juice from the meat on a napkin as the burst of flavour hit her, smiling appreciatively.

“Jess, you can’t keep going like this. It’s not good for you.” Isabella looked at her kindly.

Jess looked at her companion, startled. “Continue like what?”

“As much as the surging emotions along with everything else hurts, you still need to allow yourself to feel, otherwise you’ll turn into a cold, hard, psychotic killer.” Isabella smiled to take the sting off her words.

“I don’t understand what you mean. After dealing with the attack the boy startled me, that’s all. I’m sure I wouldn’t have killed him.” Jess shrugged and brushed off Isabella’s concern.

“Never mind, it will come to you, but I warn you it will hurt more.” Isabella sighed, and pain flickered across her face. "I know from personal experience."

Jess frowned, a voice in the back of her mind whispering to her that she knew exactly what Isabella meant. It was like something had shut down deep inside since she’d learned of her mother’s ultimate betrayal and she’d killed her. Jess shied away from the thoughts, deciding to change the subject. “I still don’t understand why that one want to kill me.” Jess nibbled at the edge of a sharp piece of cheese. Surprised, she smiled and picked up a piece of the sliced, toasted bread to add to it.

“It’s not personal, Jess.” Isabella grinned at her and after a moment’s thought picked up a sliced piece of red fruit.

Jess felt her eyebrows rise. “He tried to kill me. Admittedly he wasn’t very good, but when someone tries to kill you, I think it’s a little personal.”

Isabella’s grin widened. “There are some who believe any addition to the ranks of the Kin and Elder dilutes their influence and power. He probably thought he could take you out while Damien was away.”

“But how did he know I was here?” Jess winced at the grumbling tone in her voice and sighed, exasperated with herself. It wasn’t like this was the first time someone had tried to kill her.

Isabella shrugged. “He probably didn’t until you came out from the protection of Damien’s estate.”

Jess groaned at her own stupidity. She’d known that Damien’s estate had extra protections, and unlike Isabella and Damien she still hadn’t learnt the trick to fully shield herself from the other sight of her own kind.

“I’m an idiot.”

Isabella laughed and sipped the last of her drink, her eyes narrowed as she observed her.

“Come, I think it’s time for you to return to the estate. I’ll wait with you until Damien returns. Your shields are erratic.”

Jess smiled uncertainly, not understanding what Isabella meant, but stood anyway. She could admit she was still unsettled by the attack, that was probably why she’d nearly killed the boy. Jess sighed at the evidence that her emotions were getting her into trouble again and she ruthlessly pushed them down.