Aon

Chapter Eighteen

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Eli said for the thousandth time as we trailed down the cellar steps.

“Of course, I’m fine now.”

He eyed me. “What’s going through that screwed up head of yours? Last night-”

“Last night was the aftershock. I have to live with it now.”

“So, you’re over it? Just like that?” He said doubtfully.

“You doubt me?”

He stopped me on the last step and grabbed my shoulders.

“Why are you really doing this?”

I met his gaze with determination and a glint of irritation in my eyes.

“I will not let anything… anything stop me.” I said low and evenly. “No one will tell me how this ends, not you, not the Aons, and not him… I will write my own path. My story is still blank pages, I want the ink on the paper to be worth it and not wasted.”

“Why do I have the feeling this will end badly?”

“Because you doubt me.”

“Yes, and because I know you will only hurt yourself in the end.”

I waved him off and unbolted the last entrance and pushed open the big heavy steel door.

“I know what I’m doing.”

“Listen, kid-”

“I’m not a kid.” I sent him a sharp glance. “I am only a little younger than you. I may be young, but I am not dumb.”

“I didn’t say that, I am implying that you aren’t aware of what will come from this.”

“I will face it when it comes.” I shrugged off his comment as I trailed down the first hall of cells.

I traveled down the familiar hall that lined either side with cells with Eli at my side. We had a growing number of Legions imprisoned. It was not as many as the Aons that were enslaved by them, but it was a start. Every eye turned to me and they hissed and bared their teeth like savages, shrinking back into the shadows or lunging towards the bars. I ignored them, I was used to their uncivilized behavior by now.

As we came to the last cell, I felt a wave of anxiety hit me and my instinct was to turn and run. I stopped in front of the cell with Eli at my side and peered into the darkened space that only had a cot and a tin tray on the ground. He hadn’t eaten a single bite of his porridge, ants were beginning to flock to it from where it sat in the corner of the cell. His figure loomed in the shadows, standing still and evaluating us as we came closer. I could see his dark eyes from the shadows snap to me and he quickly stepped from where he hid as if in instinct. He grasped the bars and peered at me wildly as he swallowed harshly. He looked like a caged animal waiting to pounce, fidgeting and glancing to Eli as if he were a threat and eyeing me like prey.

 “You brought yourself,” he breathed out in shock. “I knew they wouldn’t bring you to me, but you brought yourself. Why?”

I lifted the corner of my mouth and titled my head. “Don’t get too excited. I’m only here to gain the information I need for this war. I have heard you are a well-known agent with the Legions, which means you must know plenty.”

His features harden, and his eyes held an edge.

“Oh… I see.” He slunk back slightly. “Of course, I know plenty. But what makes you think I’d tell you?”

“You’re in prison, you won’t be going anywhere soon… you’ll have to talk sooner or later.”

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as he breathed in a deep breath. When his eyes opened, and his hand fell, he looked to Eli then back to me.

“I won’t tell you anything…” I opened my mouth, but he lifted a finger to stop me. “I won’t tell you anything, because I know it is something you won’t want to hear right now. You already hate me, I would rather not make is worse. If I told you what you wanted to know, what I do, where I’ve been, what I have done, and what I did to change your fate… You would not only hate me but wish me death. And I would not blame you.” His eyes fell, his head bowed as he stared into space. “My life has been intertwined with yours ever since birth. The day I first saw you, at only the age of twelve years old; you were just ten at the time. I had vowed to always protect you. If I had known who you were, I don’t think I would have made the choices I did, because I not only broke that vow, I have done things I am ashamed of. So please, don’t ask me to tell you what I know quite yet, because I don’t want to hurt or lose you… not after just finding you again.”

“Again?”

His eyes lifted and found mine. “Do you believe at the age of twelve I would forget about my Soul Twin? No, I always kept tabs on you.”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded.

“You seem to forget what I am. I was born a deceiver, sweetie.” He almost growled. “Just because I wasn’t in this body, doesn’t mean I wasn’t there at all. It just means I was in the shadows, watching and silently hoping one day you’d know me. But alas, we didn’t meet again in better terms, rather, you hated me.”

“You aren’t making sense. What are you talking about?”

“Again, I can’t tell you… it’s not the right time.”

Not only was I confused with this new information, but it frightened me to know this monster has always been there. Who was he? Had I seen him somewhere before? Or was he just a stranger in the crowd watching from a far?

“So, a stalker.” I summed up bitterly.

“Call it what you want. I call it protecting you.” He muttered.

“I call it a psychopath with a severe problem. What person follows someone for ten years or more?”

His jaw clenched in irritation as he slunk back further.

“You don’t seem to understand. When a man finds his Soul Twin, it is hard to distance yourself from our match. I would follow you to the ends of the earth if I could, but it looks like I’ll either rot in this cell or be thrown to Hell for my sins.”

“Probably.” I agreed.

“God, you’re hard to please!” He said exasperated. “Nothing I say will make you believe me.”

“You expect me to believe a natural born deceiver? You said so yourself, so why would I believe you?”

He combed back his hair with both hands in frustration as he turned stalking into the shadows. He spun when he reached the wall and stalked back, he slammed his fists against the bars in rage with his lips pulled back over his teeth.

“I’m trying, God dammit! Can’t you give me credit for that? I am not born to be gentle, born to love, and I’m especially not born with patience! I am being the opposite of what I am, can’t you just be a little grateful that I am trying to be what I should be for you. I’m not perfect, not even close. I have done things that would make Satan fear me. But I beg of you, please listen to me… I am trying.”

His hands fisted the bars until they were ghostly pale and his body tremble in both rage and frustration. He held my gaze, panting after his rant and waiting in almost fear of what I will say. Something tugged on the inside of me, but I forced it away and broke from his gaze to look to Eli. Eli was silent, his mouth pinched shut as if he hated to listen.

“Come on, Eli.” I said evenly. “I believe Mr. Killian is finished with what he has to say.”

Michael stood up straighter and his eyes widened as I turned to leave, when he drew my attention again.

“Wait, I have other pressing matters to discuss with you.” He said quickly

I flashed him a glare. “And what’s that?”

“Let me out and I’ll tell you.” He tried to persuade.

“Liar.”

“Does it look like I have a reason to lie?”

“Yes, you’re behind bars.”

He grunted in agitation.

“I can help you.” He insisted. “I left my kind, I want to help.”

“Why would we believe you?” Eli snapped as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

Michael stiffened at the action and stared deathly at Eli’s hand before looking to me. He looked on the verge of ripping Eli apart and his teeth almost bared.

“You don’t have to believe me.” He addressed his answer to me. “Would you think I’d let myself be imprisoned if I didn’t want to help?”

“Why would you want to help us?” Eli said.

Michael held my gaze firmly as his hands clutched onto the bars until his knuckles cracked.

“Not for you, not for anyone, but for her.” He whispered as his jaw set.

I held his gaze, wavering as my eyes slowly withdrew from his.

“He lies, Eli.” I mumbled. “Let’s go.”

“You sound as if you’re trying to convince yourself, not him, Eleanor. You would know if I’d lie, you would feel it. Look me in the eyes, you’ll only see the truth.”

I met his gaze and tightened my lip as my insides gnawed. I could see the truth in those mahogany brown irises of his. My heart swelled with pain and my stomach churned as I stepped back.

“No,” I lied, causing his eyes to harden and his face to turn scarlet in rage. “All I see is lies.”

I turned and left as he shouted and cursed after me, threatening all Aons and wishing vengeance against anyone who dares to sway my thoughts. He demanded me to come back, ranting and raving as he paced back and forth in his cell. He tugged out on his hair and roared at the top of his lungs, all the Legions inside of their cells shrunk back in horror and hid in the shadows of their cells. Eli said not a word as he fastened the bolt lock and mounted the stairs at my side. Michael’s shouts were still audible through the thick door and walls. Eli knew I would not tell a soul of what I truly felt within, or of my thoughts that seemed to whirl and pulse inside of my mind. Instead he dropped his heavy arm over my shoulders and kissed my temple in a brotherly way. I looked up into his dark face and stared into his soft dark orbs as he shot me a grin of sympathy.

“All will end well, Eleanor… All will end well.”

I hoped he was right…

I couldn’t force myself to see him again –his shouts, even though they were now silent, still screamed and roared inside of my head. I could hardly sleep or concentrate on missions, when we were to bust a Legion meeting up on Main Street, a knife was almost plunged into my throat when I turned thinking someone shouted my name. I was met face to face with a wild looking woman, with a pinched face and a wild mane of red curls that frothed out like weeds. She tried to jab at me and I grabbed her wrist, when her mouth opened.

“Isn’t this a pleasant surprise, Foster? Beauty and the Beast!” Her mouth opened, and Michael’s voice fell out.

I released her in horror and she flung herself at me in my state of shock, but Eli somehow appeared and grabbed her by the hair and jerked her back.

“Don’t do this to me!” She howled in a sweet voice. “My love, do not do this to me!”

His eyes hardened. “Nice try, Mocker. My Soul Twin’s dead.”

He pulled the woman against his chest and wrapped his arm around her face and gave a jerk of her head. Her neck snapped, and she collapsed to the ground in a heap as he looked up at me panting.

“You okay?”

I nodded when I couldn’t find my voice.

He held my gaze and returned the nod. “Stay with me, Eleanor. I’ll keep an eye on you, I won’t let another Mocker near you.”

He stayed at my side until every last Mocker dropped dead and every Legion was collected and bound. I learned a lot about Legions as more and more began to appear, learning their weaknesses and their abilities. The weaklings are for hand-to-hand combat, whereas the more experienced and stronger ones can manipulate energy into a dark mass, using it to kill anything in its sight. I’ve seen it a handful of times, but only because they were trying to use this ability to snuff my heart and drain me lifeless.

Our hostages cursed and hissed, spitting and jerking to get free, breaking their own bones and popping out joints. I and Eli left after all was round up for the rest to gather and bring them back. He remained silent until everyone was out of earshot.

“You shouldn’t be going out on missions.” He murmured and eyed around us for any prying ears.

“I’m fine.” I mumbled.

“You don’t look it.”

“Then don’t look.” I snapped at him. “It was an accident, I didn’t know what to expect.”

“And now you do?”

“Yes.”

He shook his head. “If you insist on going, then you are my partner. We can’t let you die, and with you throwing yourself into this, you’re like a moving target.”

“I can fend for myself.” I muttered.

He pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. “Listen, Eleanor. I know you think you can fend for yourself, but this isn’t a game. Once you die, there is no trying again.”

“I know.”

“Then why won’t you listen?”

“Because I am doing this to prove you all wrong.”

“Wrong?” He almost roared. “You’re willing to kill yourself to prove us wrong? About what?”

I stopped and looked up into his fierce gaze.

“I am not weak, and I am not backing down.”

“Why is this so important? Why do you have to prove that you aren’t weak?” He said in agitation. “Can’t you be in the background instead?”

I shook my head. “No, you don’t understand. I can feel what they think of me, they think I am weak and I will die before all this ends. I want to prove that I am worthy of my title, to prove that I, Eleanor Adela Foster, would rather die serving my people than being seen as a weakling hiding in the shadows.”

“Don’t you care about what you would be leaving behind? Don’t you care about the loved ones that will be left to grieve?”

“What loved ones?” I gave him a dry laugh. “All I have are my people, I have no family and I have no friends. All I have are those who are around me.”

“What about… him?” He said slowly. “Don’t you care what the death of you would bring to him?”

“Should I?” I muttered. “He’s of no importance to me, he is a piece of me I wish I could rid of.”

“Why?” He said suddenly enraged. “Is it because he is your only weakness?”

My mouth snapped shut and I rocked back onto my heels.

“Yes,” I mumbled honestly. “But not in the way you think, he is my weakness because of how he weakens me. If he were gone, I would be happy.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Oh, but I do.”

“Eleanor, you don’t understand what pain comes with the death of a Soul Twin.”

“What says he’s dying?” I said baffled. “If I die, he won’t be my weakness anymore.”

His mouth snapped shut in shock. “You are insane.”

“Then welcome to my world, if you don’t like it… take a walk.”

I stalked away from him, but he wouldn’t let me be.

“Eleanor,” he sighed as he quickly made it to my side. “Can you do something for me?”

“It depends…” I muttered.

“On what?”

“Whether you are going to ask me to forgive him.”

“I’m not, that has to happen in your own timing.”

“Then what is it?”

He grabbed my shoulder to stop me and forced me to meet his gaze.

“Try not to die.”

“Why?”

“Even though you think you are not needed, you are.”

“By who? Michael isn’t anyone that needs me, he’s survived this long without me-”

“I wasn’t talking about him. I mean myself.”

“You?” I couldn’t keep the surprise out of my voice.

He gave a halfhearted smile. “In some ways, you keep me sane.”

He leaned down and kissed my cheek, I stood surprised as he turned and headed back to the group. I looked away as Sam came up beside me, shaking her head judgmentally as if she were a saint.

“You have a Soul Twin.”

“It was a friendly gesture.” I muttered as I began walking away from her.

“Friendly gesture,” she laughed dryly. “That was practically a gesture of love.”

“Don’t you have someone else to plague? Where’s Kaden?”

“Funny,” she muttered. “Just remember, you have a Soul Twin.”

“He’s a Legion, or did you forget?”

“So? At least he won’t cheat.”

“What does that mean?”

“A Legion has no feelings, when they find a Soul Twin, it is the only person they feel emotions for. Kaden is a jerk, he’s an Aon with a bloated head. I’d rather have your Soul Twin, don’t ruin it.”

“It was a friendly gesture.” I snapped. “It meant nothing, it was a friendly kiss on the cheek. Let it go, Sam.”

“Alright, but when he admits he’s in love with you… don’t come crying to me.”

“He’s not, he can’t be.” I said strongly.

“And how do you know?”

“Because, I’m not the type of person that someone would find fascinating or remotely remarkable.”

“You’re not just reckless, but an i***t. I’d give anything to have my Soul Twin love me back instead of irritating the hell out of me. But I don’t have any options, I’m not a likeable person. Even if you hate your Soul Twin, you have someone else that will love you.”

She gestured behind us and I looked over my shoulder to see Eli mumbling something to Garrett. He glanced to me and as soon as he met my gaze, he gave a short nod with a small smile on his lips.

“He’s my Second in Command,” I said as I looked back at her. “He is only being brotherly.”

“Yes, every brother kisses his sister on the cheek.”

“Liam did.”

“Liam?”

“When I was under the identification of Anne Bennett, he was my brother. He kissed my cheek every night, even if he was angry with me.”

“Are you sure he didn’t love you, too?”

“Gees, not everything’s about love, Sam. Let me guess, a mother can’t kiss her child and a friend can’t embrace another to comfort him or her? Not all is about love, Sam.”

She stared at me and breathed in a deep breath. “I can only warn you to be careful. Don’t hurt either of them.”

She turned and called throatily for Blake to kick it into gear. He glowered at her as she neared and rolled his eyes as he elbowed Christian’s ribs to get him moving. I didn’t believe what she said and began helping them gather the prisoners into the back of the black van. I rode in the front with Eli back to the Manor and remained silent as I pondered what she said. It alarmed me, and I couldn’t help but keep looking over at him. He met my gaze each time until his curiosity grew the best of him.

“What? You keep looking at me as if I have a third eyeball.”

“I’m not,” I said flatly. “Just looking…”

“Really? Because it looks like you want to ask me something.”

“Sam was talking to me…” I began.

“Oh no…” He chuckled.

“I’m serious,” I muttered in irritation.

“And what did she say?”

I hesitated and used that moment of silence to buckle myself in.

“She saw you kiss my cheek…”

“And…?” He said indifferent.

I pinched my mouth shut and blurted it. “Please tell me you aren’t in love with me.”

His eyes snapped to me and his mouth fell open in shock.

“That didn’t sound right.” I back peddled quickly. “I mean that Sam insists you are.”

“And what do you think?” He mumbled slowly.

“That you see me as a friend –brother, nothing like that.”

“And what makes you think that?” His eyes swept forward, and I found myself stunned to silence.

“Don’t tell me-”

“I didn’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.” He said placidly. “It was just a question.”

“Because –because…” I stammered trying to find the right words.

“Let’s put it this way,” he looked to me. “I don’t hate you or love you, but I would lay down my life for you.”

My mouth snapped shut and I relaxed instantly.

“Okay.”

A smile tugged on his lips. “You have to give it to Sam though, she knows how to get under your skin.”

“I know,” I mumbled in relief as I looked ahead. “I would rather have you hate me, anyway.”

“Why?” He said surprised.

“Then I don’t have to worry about losing another person.”

“Another?”

I looked to him with a roll of my eyes.

“Everyone I love dies, I’d rather not add another notch to my stick.”

“That’s not true.”

“My family, those who have helped me in the beginning of all this, everyone I thought I could trust or love, usually dies. I’d rather not love something that will be ripped from me.”

“Is that why you won’t accept Michael?”

I jutted out my chin and turned my head away. “I have other reasons to wish him to be gone.”

“Can I ask what those reasons are?”

“You can, but you might get offended.”

“Why?”

“Because your Soul Twin was a Legion, too.”

“I won’t get offended.”

“Alright, then.” I squared my shoulders. “He is a Legion, and I have made a vow to rid every Legion from this earth. I watched a Legion kill my brother, and I watched a Legion strangle one of the Sledge Sisters and shoot the face off the other. My parents were murdered by them, as was my fake parents when I was thirteen; the Young’s, a nice couple, they might be dead because they were helping the Freewood brothers in my escape from Paul and Penny.”

I glanced out the window as the Manor came into sight. The night was pitch black and only the street lamps gave off enough light to see a few feet in front of someone’s own feet.

“I have a reason to hate them, they have killed everything I held dear to me… my family.”

“Michael didn’t kill them though.”

“Who says he didn’t?” I whispered. “All Legions are monsters to me, I just don’t see why he was picked for me…”

“Maybe it was to help you forgive.”

“As if, I wouldn’t forgive him even if he laid his life for me.”

“Eleanor.” He scolded.

“You didn’t ask why.” I muttered. “That is because his life would not make up for what his kind has done to me. I have seen things I never thought I’d ever see. Do you know what a face blown to bits looks like?”

“No…” He said quietly.

“Like crap.” I muttered. “Flesh, bone, muscles… blood. I watched Debby Sledge’s eyes almost pop out of her skull as that Legion strangled her, and I saw my own brother bleed out before I was shot.”

“You were shot?” He almost slammed on the brakes.

I looked up startled. “Of course.”

I pulled down on the back of my shirt so he could see the scar on my shoulder blade.

“I was shot and survived, the doctor said I was lucky it didn’t hit my heart or lung.” I mumbled. “You know, I thought for twelve hours that maybe they saved Liam, too. It wasn’t until the next day they gave me the news. They said they wanted to wait until I was stable to give me the news.”

“Harsh…” He whispered.

“I think that was the loudest I’ve ever screamed.” I whispered, trying to blink away the memory. “And it was the last I spoke to a medical physician. They kept me in the hospital for two weeks, trying to see if I was mentally stable. I wouldn’t speak to them and I woke up screaming every night… so they labeled me to have P. T. S. D.”

“Do you?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged and sighed as I pulled from my thoughts. “I know that the dreams have never left, they only gain new images every time someone dies beside me.”

The van came to a stop and I looked around.

“I didn’t know you went through all that…”

“I don’t tell anyone, that’s why.”

“You told me.”

I pulled out my dagger and halfheartedly placed it at his throat.

“That reminds me, you tell, and I’ll kill you.”

He waved his arms to feign surrender.

“I won’t, don’t worry.”

“Good, I’d rather not kill my Second in Command.”

He chuckled as I got out of the van and slipped my dagger back into my holster. The rest of the team pulled up in a separate vehicle and we began unloading while Sam and Blake kept watch. Of course, the Legions kept their mouths shut, we threatened to spill their blood right then and there if they were to scream. They moved silently through the Manor and were led to the cellar and into the prison cells. I grabbed a young man by the elbow as he stumbled out of the back, his eyes glowered up at me as I towed him through the Manor doors.

“Bitch.” He spat. “Satan, demon, witch!”

His vocabulary grew in a short amount of time and I ignored his comments. I have heard worse here…

I towed him down the cellar steps with my pistol placed at the nape of his neck to keep him silent

“Listen, kid.” I said irritated as I pulled open an empty cell door. “Anything you say won’t affect me, I’ve been called much worse.”

He left out a string of curse words and I rolled my eyes and shoved him inside.

“Your mother should be proud.” I mocked.

I locked the cell door and he reached through the bars as I stepped back.

“They’ll get you!” He hissed. “You’ll die just like your parents, slowly.”

I held his gaze steadily and leaned down towards his face.

“That’s alright, I can die. But at least I’d die for a reason. If you die, you will die without a reason.”

“I would die for the Legions!”

My jaw clenched as I looked away. “Alright, then you can die for the Legions… The Legions are savages in my eyes, your kind has done unforgivable things to me. You are unimportant to me, as is everyone in this prison.”

“Then why imprison us?” He spat.

“Revenge.” I met his gaze coldly.

He almost slunk back at my tone and I turned without another word. They all were in an uproar as Sam and Kaden came in with the last two.

“You got it?” I inquired as they passed.

“Just fine.” Sam grunted as the woman in her grasp struggled.

“Looks it.”

“Oh, shut up, Foster. Get yourself upstairs before any of these rats turn on you.” Kaden gestured towards the open door.

My days consisted on missions and finding out more information by interrogating the weaker Legions. They spilt all they knew, but they only knew little and were of no use to us. The days where we had nothing, I walked the halls, retracing my steps to that hall with my parent’s portrait and back to the portal in that room. I didn’t know why I was drawn back to it, but maybe it was because it had familiar faces I had long ago forgotten. I wished I had a photo of Liam and the Bennett’s, but I could not look back upon them. I suppose I just wanted something old, something that would remind me of myself… my old self.

I had changed in some ways, but I didn’t know if it was for the best or for the worst…