Whisper to a Scream (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6.5)

I had delivered similar warnings in the past. This was my first time receiving one. There was little I could say other than the truth.

“I just want to be with her. I enjoy it. She sparks something inside me I’ve never felt before. I don’t understand it. I think I love her.” It sounded as ridiculous as it felt to say, but being honest was important to me. I may have done wrong, but I was above lying about it.

“Temptation happens to all of us. I understand that. You must remember your purpose and be strong. You have a job to do.” Serene’s matter of fact tone didn’t imply understanding, though the knowledge that lurked in his eyes piqued my curiosity.

Conflict with a brother was not an option. Besides, arguing was futile; it would do nothing but create bad feelings between us. I gave his arm a pat and smiled.

“Don’t worry about me, Serene. I will not abandon my duties.” My intention was authentic. Now if he would just see that I had things under control and leave, I could shrug off the seriousness of his visit.

Serene raised a brow, studying me in disbelief. “I don’t want to see you go past the point of no return with this. We can’t afford to lose you, Willow. I implore you to take care in this matter. You tread too close to making a mistake you can never take back.”

I pressed my lips tightly together and shook my head. Nothing. I could offer him absolutely nothing in the way of reassurance.

“Thank you, brother,” I said. “Your heartfelt concern means much to me.”

He was gone without so much as a stirring of the air. I sat back in my chair and stared out the window. This warning had been expected, but I was unable to process it completely.

The sound of the clock over the table ticking burrowed its way into my head. Each passing second mocked my human love and me. Her life was ticking away, and I was stealing time from her. It wasn’t fair. I’d kept telling myself I would give up Christina. It was a goal always just off in the distance, close enough to cause discomfort but far enough to make it continuously unreachable.

I had to see her again. Just one more time. Just to say goodbye.

Chapter Five

I watched Christina from afar. Desperate to change the way I felt about her, I forced myself to witness that which I’d been avoiding. Knowing about Christina’s lifestyle wasn’t the same as seeing it. I had to face the raw truth that we were worlds apart.

Moving unseen, I followed her from the escort agency to the diner where she met up with a man more than twice her age. They went through the motions of enjoying coffee and conversation. She was so engaged even I believed she truly cared.

Christina’s eyes sparkled as she played her role. The man who paid for this deception looked her over with an obvious hunger. It was disgusting and incited a new emotion. With well-timed jokes and casual contact, Christina manipulated the man with ease. A flutter of heavy black lashes brought a grin to his face. That new, angry feeling stirred deep inside, and I recognized it as envy.

When they left in his sedan, I told myself not to follow, but I didn’t take my own advice. Sitting in the backseat, invisible to the human eye, I knew I shouldn’t be there. Then, Christina reached over to put her hand between the man’s legs, and I regretted my choice.

The taunting sound of her girlish giggle echoed in my ears long after I exited the car. I paced the streets with a desperate fury. Keeping myself hidden from human sight, I spewed every obscene word I’d ever heard. It felt wrong and so good at the same time. It felt like defying all that I’d ever known and giving in to the creeping darkness.

Right now, Christina was pleasuring a man for money. It was an occupation almost as old as time itself. No matter how I felt about her, she would always belong to the man with the money. His name and face would change, but nothing else would.

I waited at her apartment. Unable to sit still, I paced outside the building, trying not to scream as my mind conjured up image after image of Christina giving herself away for a price.

“Holy crap, Willow, you scared me.” Christina gasped when I stepped out of the shadows. “What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk. I apologize for showing up like this. I couldn’t wait.”

“Alright.” She gave me a critical once over as she fumbled for her keys. “Come on up.”

She led me inside, giving me another curious glance. “Is everything ok?”