Chapter 154
1243words
I woke up once again, in a dimly lit room, and it felt like Deja vu for so many obvious reasons. Except, this time around, I didn't wake up feeling nauseous and weak. Instead, I felt quite rested and energized. But it took several moments before I finally registered where I was. The space was cozy, and I had a soft brown quilt over me, but I still could not recognize the room I was in. In fact, I had no idea why I should have been there in the first place. I closed my eyes, as scenes of the past couple of hours played in my head, and I quickly opened my eyes and paid attention to the scents around me.
No, there wasn't any trace of wolfsbane in the air. If anything, the room smelled of cedarwood and coffee. Jean. The room smelled like Jean.
I tried to sit up and felt very tired trying to do so, but not as tired and weak as the first time this happened. I was remembering in bits now. How Kate's uncle had captured me. How I tried to escape but got captured again, and was drugged into sleep. Then the room. The very messy room with wolfsbane made me feel too weak. And then the stupid old rat smiled at me like he'd done in life because I felt too weak. Because he was finally going to have his way. Then he left… or I passed out. I wasn't sure which came first anymore.
I closed my eyes and heaved out a breath. This was no messy room, but I still needed to know where I truly was. And if my senses proved right, then I needed to know how Jean had managed to find me in the first place.
So I waited. And waited. And waited until sleep finally took me.
When I awoke the second time, it was to a cool hand over my forehead, and I opened my eyes to find Jean smiling down at me,
"Finally," he said, and I cracked the smallest of smiles,
"So I was right, the first time," I said quietly, and he looked confused,
"the first time?" he asked, and I nodded, "you were awake?"
"I was. But I don't know this room. I just knew that it smelled a whole lot like you. I waited for you … anyone really to come in. but no one did, and sleep took me again." I said while he watched me,
"I'm glad you're finally up then. Do you feel like sleeping again?"
I sighed and shook my head, "I do feel somewhat out of sorts though."
"That's only normal with wolfsbane poisoning. It's a miracle you aren't incoherent," he said and I smiled,
"It might have been the first time. But we'll never find out." he ran a hand down my cheek,
"I suppose we never will," I said and patted the space beside me,
"sit Jean. You look like you are ready to fall apart." I said softly and he ran his hand over his head,
"not right now. I nearly fell apart when I saw you unconscious in Paris's arms though. You were ashen, and I thought... 'This bastard deserves to die.' but I figured death was too good and kind to the man."
I heard everything he said, but only one thing stood out for me, and that was the fact that he said I had been in Paris's arms.
"Paris?" Did you just say I had been with Paris?" I asked, my brows drew in confusion and he slowly nodded,
"Paris, yes. He had been the one who had called me that you weren't picking up. I had thought it was simply because you didn't want to have to deal with him. But I called you myself and figured things were off because you weren't answering me as well. I checked your place, but on my way there, your scent was all over Parker Street and I asked him to check it out. I suppose that's when he located the hotel. And then the basement."
"and then me," I said and he nodded slowly.
"and then you. He would have ended that man's life before I got there. But he said you had asked to keep him alive. "
"I did, didn't I?" I said. Remembering the moment I had asked Paris not to kill the bloke. "It just didn't sit right with me. "
"Me neither. But I suppose we both have different incentives. Because I want him to stay alive and suffer, and I don't think that's exactly what you had in mind."
I closed my eyes and thought about it for a moment. "I don't think I care what happens to him anymore at this point. Have my family been looking for me?"
"Axel has. I told him you're at my place. He was surprised you had left without a word. But he's okay with it."
"Thank you." I said and felt myself being pulled under again, "I'm sleepy again, Jean. Is wolfsbane poisoning supposed to feel this way?"
He ran a hand down my temple, before getting up to cover me up properly with the quilt,
"never been poisoned. But I know it comes with a lot of weariness. But I've put up some incense sticks to help with purification and detoxification. I promise you'll be fine."
I reached for his hand and squeezed it, "Please … don't go."
"I won't. " he said and squeezed my hand in return, "and whenever you wake up I promise I'll be right here."
Then I let myself go, and this time around, when I dreamed, I didn't think of being chased or fighting unknown faces. This time around, I dreamed of Paris. I dreamed that Paris was finally letting me go.
"don't go." I whimpered in my sleep, "Please, don't leave me." I cried and felt a hand clasp my hand and that made my eyes open right up, and I looked up to see Jean looking at me with some worry,
"Bad dream?" he asked and I closed my eyes again. I wasn't sure if Paris letting me was a bad dream or not, so I just shrugged,
"A weird dream." I said and opened my eyes again, "You're still here." I said and he nodded,
"I promised I would be here."
"yeah." I sighed, "I feel stronger though. I'm not going to push it. But I feel stronger."
"Good then ." he said, "up for some food?"
"I guess," I said and my tummy chose that time to grumble,
"Good, because it's eight in the night."
"eight?" I shrieked. I remembered that the whole kidnapping happened late last night. It had been nearly a day since I last ate.
"Would you feed me a horse?" I asked and he chuckled,
"No horse here to feed you with. But I've got chicken soup."
"three bowls please."
"as many as you want," he said and leaned over to kiss my temple. "I'll be back."
And when he left I closed my eyes and felt my heart break into two. Because I knew why I was having a dream about Paris leaving me. It was because of what he had said while I was unconscious. Because somewhere in my subconscious, the words he had said had registered.
He was leaving. He was finally and actually letting me go.
