Ordinary (Anything But) (22 page)
Read Ordinary (Anything But) Online
Authors: Lindy Zart
Isaac told her lies. He hated himself for it, but it was necessary. She had to learn to separate her emotions from her actions, to hide her true self if need be. Honor had to think of Christian as someone she used to know, but who was now gone, dead to her. It w
as the only way she’d survive. At the same time, on the car ride over to the plane Honor was afraid to get on, he told her to do what was right, a total contradiction of all he’d just spouted about UDs. Of course Honor would do what was right. Of course she would help Christian if she could. It was laughable how fearless she was in any other situation, but the thought of getting on a plane was traumatic to her. Isaac could understand that too. Her father had supposedly died in a plane crash. Supposedly.
“It is unfortunate he escaped,” August said, looking at his desk.
He inwardly shook his musings away, turning his attention to the man before him. Isaac stood there, stoic, hands clasped before him. “Yes.” He’d given Christian a chance to live. Maybe it would end up being for nothing, but at least he’d given him a chance, which was more than most of them got. Isaac wouldn’t regret that, couldn’t regret that.
“The organization has been around for close to a century and this has never happened. I suppose there’s a first time for everything. He’ll have to be put down.” He looked up, met Isaac’s eyes. Like that hadn’t been the plan all along.
“It’s regrettable.”
August suspected Isaac was involved. He was a smart man. It probably hadn’t taken him long to figure it out. He was also vain and didn’t want to believe one of his agents could be helping the UDs. For the moment, Isaac was safe. Any other mishaps and that probably would no longer be true.
“May I ask why you insisted Honor and Ryder be present for this?”
“If Ryder keeps his head on straight, he’ll one day take over my position. I have every confidence in that. As for Honor, it might help her
to see the UD as he really is; nothing more than an animal that should always be caged.” He smiled. “It will be a good learning experience for both of them.” Isaac heard his words, but the tone of his voice and the look on his face were at odds with them. He had a bad feeling and he’d learned through the years to trust them.
***
Isaac kept an eye on Ryder, not liking the jittery way he was acting. His eyes shifted in his head and every time he looked at Honor, there was pain there. What had August said to him in those ten long minutes they’d spent behind closed doors? He slammed the door shut and looked at Honor and Ryder. Burns lit a cigarette, leaning against the vehicle. It was chilly out, the breezes cool and frequent. The moon illuminated them, but kept their faces hidden.
“We’ll split up. Honor, you need to get to him firs
t. Talk to him. Calm him down.” She looked at him like he’d destroyed something dear to her. Maybe he had. Isaac forced himself to keep his features impassive, to not let what he was feeling show in his eyes or voice or face. “He knows you. He’ll respond better to you.”
“He knows me too,” Ryder said, crossing his arms and uncrossing them.
Isaac looked at the boy trying to be a man. “He doesn’t like you. Honor gets to him first. Burns and I will be next. You stay back, Ryder.”
His eyes dilated. “What? No. I need to stay by Honor. In case something happens.”
“You need to stay away from Honor in case something happens.”
What did August tell you to do?
Ryder looked away from his gaze and swallowed.
Something you don’t want to do.
Not only did Isaac have to somehow look like he was trying to bring Christian in while he wanted anything but that to happen, but he also had to keep an eye on Ryder to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid.
“Burns, you watch Ryder.”
“Come on!” Ryder exclaimed.
“Will do,” Burns said in his rough voice.
“Let’s go.”
They began to move.
“Nealon?” He paused and looked back. Honor stood under the glow of a streetlamp, looking like an otherworldly being with her Snow White beauty and sad eyes.
“What?”
“I can’t hurt Christian. I can’t be a part of this,” she whispered.
Isaac resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and keep her there, to protect her from everything she shouldn’t have to see or be a part of. She was too young for this. Her life should have been full of fun, frilly things, boys, l
aughter and sunshine. Not this. Honor had too much faith in the world, in good prevailing evil, to have to deal with any of this. It would shatter her eventually; it would turn her into him. Isaac hurt on the inside for her.
“No one’s going to hurt Christian,” he promised.
Honor gazed at him. “You called him Christian.”
“It’s his name, isn’t it?” Isaac turned away.
“What’s yours?” she called after him.
Isaac kept walking. If he answered her, he would give her a piece of him. If he answered her, she would matter to
him and Honor would know that. “Isaac.”
***
It all happened so fast. Somehow Ryder got to them before he should have. Isaac wanted to strangle Burns when he saw the three of them, but he settled for a look promising pain. Burns shrugged, but there was fear in his eyes.
“Stay right there.” Ryder had a gun trained on them.
Seeing that made all the emotions Isaac kept under control soar to the surface. August wanted Ryder to shoot them. Not only would Christian and Honor be injured or possibly dead, but Ryder would be lost as well. He saw Honor’s lips move, but couldn’t hear what she said. He was too far away. Isaac moved as quickly and quietly as he could, his gun raised. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t fast enough. He reached them as a shot filled the silent air.
Disbelief froze him for a split second. Isaac couldn’t believe Ryder had fired the weapon. Then there was no time to think, only to react, as Honor began to fall. He stared down at her face, saw the light dim in her eyes
even as a faint smile graced her lips, and rage like he’d never felt before consumed him. Isaac wanted to roar with it, to pick up his gun and aim it at Ryder Delagrave and pull the trigger. Then he wanted to blow Burns away as well for not doing his job. Isaac clutched her to him, unable to speak. She was so light, warm, and sticky with her life essence that was steadily leaving her. He smelled her blood and wanted to somehow gather it all up and shove it back into her. Ryder dropped to the ground. Burns talked into his cell phone, calling for an ambulance.
Isaac looked up, met Christian’s eyes.
Run.
Christian hesitated, his face set in fury and a need for vengeance. Isaac recognized that look. It was one he knew he wore as well.
I’ll be back
, his glowing eyes said.
Not for her, you won’t
, Isaac answered back.
Christian finally took off down the alleyway, alive for one more night.
Gone was the unfeeling, unemotional Isaac. He wanted him back, he wanted that part of himself that was able to shut off the emotions and not feel, not react, and simply act;
he wanted him back
. Isaac stared down at Honor’s pale, unresponsive face. He knew that Isaac would never come back, not after this. He was gone. The pain was too much. It built inside him, consumed him. Isaac would never pretend not to feel again, he would never act like someone didn’t matter when they did.
You matter
, he silently told her. Isaac gathered her close, put his face to her soft hair, and felt dampness leak from his jaded eyes that had still somehow managed to see the rare beauty and radiance that was Honor.
To Be Continued…
About the author:
Lindy
Zart has been writing since she was a child. Luckily for readers, her writing has improved since then. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two sons, and one cat. Lindy loves hearing from people who enjoy her work.
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