Quix's Return
1048 Words
Could it be?
My fingers scrabbled at the decaying boards as I struggled to pull myself to safety, but my mind was only on one thing.
One blessed word.
He ran to me, his silver hair loose and flying around his face as his eyes met mine and a world of emotions flowed through us in the space of a breath.
"Holly," he whispered, reaching out and grabbing my arms and helping me to my feet.
The instant I was free from danger, he crushed me to his chest and held me so tightly I thought my ribs would c***k. His deep breaths shook my frame and he trembled as he just held me close.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I never meant to leave you like that. There's no way you can ever forgive me for just forgetting you, but let me help you."
Tears stung my eyes. He'd come back to me! "Quix," I whispered.
"Yes, love, it's me." He pulled away from me for a moment and he frowned down at me. "This Maxwell, he's not one of the past men, right?"
"No," I agreed.
"Then where did he come from? True, you usually have your protectors in each life, but in this case, we were all reborn. There's no room for anyone else." His brows carved deep furrows in his forehead. "Yet, he's just as willing as have been to throw his life down for you."
I hugged him as tight as I could before I wriggled from from his embrace. "I know we need to talk about this and everything else, but I'm running out of time. It won't be long before my legs turn to fins again, and I don't want to leave you trying to juggle a mermaid across a death bridge. Besides," I gestured behind me with my head. "Greed is back there."
"Greed?" Quix scowled. "Why is it that you have to suffer every single lifetime?" He held my face in his hands and leaned down to kiss my forehead. "Stay here, I'll go deal with him."
This man! I put a hand on his chest before he tried to march over to deal with the entity. "Quix, just what are you planning to do? You don't have your reaper powers any longer. Are you going to glare at him to death? Besides, he's not a threat yet."
"Not a threat?" Quix snorted. "He's a Sin, have you forgotten the hell they put you through?"
I glared at him. "Did I forget?" I smacked his chest. "Who is the one forgetting around here?"
Quix groaned and looked away. "Sorry, I'm just worked up. I can't believe I have the chance to have you in my arms again." He hugged me close and buried his nose in the nape of my neck and inhaled. "How can I let anyone ever put you in danger again?"
My laugh came out in a harsh cackle. "Quix," I whispered. "Don't you understand yet? This is my fate…"
Quix groaned and his fists clenched. "I don't want to accept that…" He straightened and stared at me. "What about the others? There's no way I'm the first… right?"
I hated to crush the fragile hope budding in his chest. "Eros is already awake."
"Of course he is," Quix grumbled. He sighed and held out his arms. "Let's get you out of here and back to that ship. I suppose I can't talk you out of the rest of this little trip, right?"
"Not a chance." I held my hand against my heart. "No matter what, I'm going to save the others too."
Quix gathered me in his arms and glanced around the island we were on. "Have any idea which bridge leads us home?"
On that I was clueless. The strong urge to sing overtook me again, and before I could bury it deep, I opened my mouth and let the words flow out. The glow from before sprouted around us and a bright light shone into the sky, blasting across it like a falling star. The sapphire from before hovered beside me and it revolved into the bright golden light and everything turned blue.
In front of us, an illuminated path hovered over the bridge. Quix took a step on it and smiled down at me. "Looks like we're going this way." I couldn't answer and just nodded. Who knew what would happen if I quit singing?
The new bridge took us off the island and beyond, crossing over one of the long chasms where nothing but darkness waited beneath, but Quix never paused in his steps. He strode forward confidently.
How was he not afraid? My voice was strained as I struggled to keep singing and not let the tones fade. The glows around me would touch my throat like an icy touch and help somewhat, but it wasn't enough to stop the ache that came from this constant pressure.
Quix reached solid ground where our ship waited, and the instant he did the bridge behind us crumbled only to reappear before us as it pierced through water and land and created a new waterway path to the next island ahead of us.
Finally, I couldn't hang on anymore and my voice faded away as I sagged against Quix. Instead of vanishing, the bridge held strong and the light shone around my throat as an icy cool sensation overtook me.
"Coral!" Maxwell's voice rang across the air as he leaned out over the railing of the ship and locked eyes with me. His brows furrowed slightly at the way that Quix was holding me, but that didn't dissuade the man from literally trying to crawl over the railing.
"You i***t!" Angel scolded, bodily holding him back before he could jump to his death.
Quix stared up at him, his expression pondering until his lips thinned. "I know how Oliver felt about him… but Holly, I don't know if I want that man around you. He's too obsessed with you."
He held me closer and glared up at his former boss, a silent challenge in his eyes. Maxwell stopped struggling against the others and stared down at Oliver as his face hardened before letting himself be pulled back to safety.
What had just happened?
- Writer
