Page 24 of Infinity Chronicles 2
“Ares!” A panic filled shout erupts from me as I place my hand on his cheek—what did Ijustdo to him? Head still tilted back, his eyes close slowly and his head bobs as he takes in deep breaths. “Are you okay?” My voice is barely a whisper now and I use my other hand to lift the back of his head. “Should I get someone, Dante? I don’t know what to do.” My voice breaks.
“Okay…” Ares finally stammers, “I’m okay.” He takes one step back and stumbles, ending up on the ground as he drops like his legs wouldn’t support him.
“Oh God,” I fall to my knees, tugging my shirt back down. “Dante, Dante!” I scream, the house is too big, he probably won’t hear me. “Tell me what’s wrong, what can I do?” I plead, my hands running over his chest and face.
“Just need a second,” Ares mumbles. His large body sprawled across the floor in the hallway.
“I’m so sorry, I’m sorry.” Tears blur my vision. “Dante,” I call out again. My voice strangled with emotion.
“What’s going on?” Mia’s voice is on the edge of hysteria. She drops beside Ares's head, her hands shoving mine away. “What did you do to him?” she accuses.
I stand up, backing away, tears falling down my face faster than I could catch them if I tried. “I don’t know. We… I.” I can’t find words. “Help him,” I plead, backing farther away. Ares's head lulls to the side in my direction, his eyes slitted open. When I don’t move, his hand reaches out toward me. I shake my head, I can’t go near him and I don’t understand what I did to him or if I could hurt him more.
“Go,” Ares demands, closing his eyes. He tugs his hand from Mia, who has wrapped her fingers around his. Rolling my lips in, I glance at him. I can’t leave him, even if he wants me to. Ican’t. “Laura,” he calls sitting forward, his chest and shoulders sagging with the exertion.
I inch closer, unable to stay away, and I fall on my knees again as I place my hand on his back, steadying him. He leans into me as soon as I’m close enoughthathe won’t fall over again, sighing.
Mia stands and she’s the one who backs away now, her face contorted in confusion. “I don’t know what you’re doing to him, but I will not let you hurt him.” I look up at her, feeling helpless. Ares's head is in my lap now, his body surrounding mine like I’m the one needing protection. His fingers dig into my back and leg, his face burrowing deeper into my stomach.
“Go Mia.” Ares’s words are stronger than just a few moments ago. I look down, peeling my chest away from him so I can see his face. His eyes are open and I can see the tawny brown irises, there are no white sparks in sight. I sag and wrap my arms over his head. Tears of relief fall as I sob into his hair. Several minutes pass, neither of us willing, or able, to stand while Ares regains his strength.
A throat clears from a few feet away. “Mia told me you needed me?” Dante sounds dubious as he takes in our positions crumpled on the floor.
“I could have used you like five minutes ago. This house needs an intercom.”
Dante’s head jerks back like I’ve shocked him. “Okay,” he adds a few extra syllables to the word. “What did you need?”
“I broke Ares,” I spout, still uncertain of what exactly happened.
“She did not break me.” Ares huffs as he lifts his head from my lap. “Really?” he asks, sounding more like himself. With a sigh and more effort than it should take, he leans away from me and comes into a sitting position. Dante walks over offering his hand, which Ares accepts before rising to his full height. I watch him like a hawk, expecting him to collapse any second again. Ares rolls his head around on his shoulders and arches his back a few times, once he’s done, he walks overto mewith a purpose. Reaching down, he gathers me from the floor with his hands under my arms.
I’m too shocked to do much other than allow my feet to bear my weight. “I’m not broken.” Turning to his brother he announces again, “She didn’t break me.” I nod my head and point toward the floor where we were moments ago.
“He couldn’t even stand up. We… I… and then… his eyes. I’m not sure what I did to him,” I stammer, still freaked out.
Dante walks over and places his arm around my shoulder. “What about his eyes?” Dante coaxes, his voice consoling.
I look over at Ares. “You know how they get all dark.”
Dante’s brows pinch together. He looks between me and Ares. “Ah yeah, did it scare you?”
“No.” I wave my hand dismissively. “They changed, it looked like, like I don’t know. Different.”
Ares walks over, stopping in front of me. He bends his knees so we’re eye level. “How did they change?” I look down, afraid again, he’s not mad now but he might be when he realizes I did something to him. His finger slips under my chin and forces me to look at him. “Tell me.”
“They were all dark,” Ares nods, telling me to continue, “but there were these sparks of white, like stars. I thought I really hurt you. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Ares places his other hand on my cheek and leaning forward, he whispers, “May I?”
“Always,” I answer, even with Dante’s arm wrapped around my shoulders. Ares places a feather light kiss against my lips.
When he pulls back, he looks up a Dante as he fights a small grin. Watching the two of them, I feel a sense of satisfactionthatI have no reference for. Idon’t have any reason to feel satisfied at all.
“What?” Dante asks, looking around like he might see what has the smile trying to break free on Ares’s lips.
“See,” I lean over whispering, “something is wrong with him.” I keep my eyes on Ares, expecting something to happen any moment.
“What exactly happened?” Dante questions me, peeking at Ares from the corner of his eye.
