What Lies Beneath

Landon.

"It's time, love," I said, the words aching in my beating heart. My forehead was against hers as we stood in that damned closet.

I took her hand in mine for the walk outside. Her tiny hand was tight as it held mine, as if she thought that if she didn't let go, I wouldn't leave. But I was doing this for her. She'd understand that one day. I might be long gone, but the day would come.

Once we were in the darkness, I kissed her one last time. I did it until I was at the point where one more second would change my mind. I couldn't do that. I couldn't be selfish.

When it was over, she rose to her tiptoes to hug me. "I'm going to miss you," she cried calmly.

"I'm going to miss you too, baby." I couldn't even tell her how much. I didn't know how to explain it.

"If you change your mind ever, find me. I don't care why or how long it is. Ten years or eighty. I will always want you."

I rubbed her back and lowered her down. Now I had to break her heart again. I couldn't let her live with false hope. That would only keep her from moving on. She might be waiting around for decades, getting angry and bitter about the man who was no longer around. "You know—"

"Please," she cried angrily at me, "don't say no. Don't say I'm better off without you, and you're sparing me. Just tell me that you'll find me if you change your mind."

What could I say to that? I got rid of one of her tears, only for another to take its place. "I'll find you if I change my mind."

She weaved her fingers in my hair, and I couldn't look away. "You can find me, right? With my blood?"

I nodded.

She sniffled through the tears. "Good. Be safe, okay?

It doesn't matter.

"I will be."

"Don't let those people hurt you."

I should let them kill me.

"I won't."

"I love you."

God, do I love her.

I had to say it. I just had to. I couldn't take a chance and let her think I didn't. "I love you, Mila." With all that was left of me.

She smiled and my heart ceased to beat. "Goodbye," she said with another tear.

My forehead touched hers so that I could feel her skin one last time. "Goodbye."

Really and truly, I didn't know how I managed, but I turned from her. I walked away from my mate, leaving her alone in the bitter darkness. I could hear her uneven breaths as I went. When I lost the sound, I was a different man.

I thought I was empty. That there was nothing to me, so what loss would it be to end my life? I hadn't known the truth until I'd left behind the only thing that mattered to me. The right reasons didn't matter anymore. I didn't care that it was better for her. There was no more compassion left. There was nothing but anger and bitterness that I didn't take what I wanted when I could. I didn't know what kept me walking.

Since I didn't really know where I was going, I just... went. I could still taste Mila on my tongue, and that had all of my focus. I only snapped back to reality when the sound of screeching metal filled my ears. Head-on collision at a four-way stop. I smelled the blood, and I heard the screams, but I didn't stay for the show.

I found myself on a bench, looking over the notebook with the information Mila had given me. This... thing, these names and dates and addresses. All the pain and pleasure they were responsible for. If that girl hadn't stolen them, if she hadn't burned them, I don't know where I'd be. She would be fine. Her brother would be human, and they'd probably be off somewhere causing trouble and enjoying every moment of it. I'd be brooding alone somewhere. How was I emptier now than I had been a month ago?

This all needed to go down quickly. I end Knox, his mother, and his last brother. That way Mila and Jaxon can be safe. I will have my last bit of fun as I drag out the deaths of the men that hurt a child to get back at a man that just wanted her safe. Then I can go peacefully into that good night. Maybe I'll see my family again on The Other Side. Mercy. I can meet her mate. Tell her about mine. Wait for the bittersweet day she'll join me there.

It turned out that I was at a bus stop. The bus pulled up, and I watched random people of all kinds as they stepped off and scattered. The last ones were a couple. Maybe sixteen. The stupid boy was holding the stupid girl's hand as they went happily. I considered for a moment killing them. Petty of me, maybe. At least I didn't actually do it. The bus left, and I sat on the bench with the mother and child beside me.

I just stared at the paper, trying to figure out my next move. Thinking through this wasn't easy. Like I was trying to see with mud in my eyes. I let myself have a few moments to grieve.

I had told her that she would find someone else, and I really did wish that for her. As much as I wished the second a man set his sights on her, he'd get hit by lightning. She deserved that life, but another man was going to take her from me. That day would indeed come when she forgot about me. I hope I'm ashes by then. Maybe she'll name her dog after me.

"Damian!" I heard a woman yell before something slammed into my legs. I looked up from my book to see a little boy, black hair and bright green eyes. He couldn't have been older than four. He looked up at me with fear. "Sorry," the short woman behind him said. "His father gave him coffee."

My eyebrow went up.

"I know," she said, grabbing the kid's hand and hauling him back. "Next time Daddy offers you coffee, what do you say?"

He tilted his head back to her. "Mommy wants a divorce."

She nodded. "Good boy."

The two of them sat down, and the boy scooted right up against his mother. He kicked his feet over the edge and watched me.

I looked away before I could give him a heart attack. I'd been told I was quite terrifying. That was mostly whispered from people around me, since I didn't stop to talk. Why would I? No one had anything good to say.

That was when I saw it. Out of the corner of my eye, a glint that I could have only seen because of my enhanced abilities. The moonlight bounced off something metal and hit my eyes. When I looked over, I saw a man.

There was nothing special about him. The only thing that stuck out was that he was standing against a tree in the middle of the night by a bus stop. It was concerning, but not for me. He wasn't here for any good reason. He was eyeing the woman as if he was a lion, and she was a lamb.

I ignored him.

The little boy beside me tapped on my shoulder. "Do you know who Batman is?"

His mother went to tell him to leave me be, but for some reason, I spoke to him. "I do. My wife - my friend..." I corrected with pain in my chest. The girl was as close to my wife as she could be. The word meant less than mate did, but came out instinctively. "...she let me read one of her books."

The boy smiled. "I like Killer Croc cuz he goes like this." He proceeded to make a scary face and say, "Grrr!" Then he started laughing. "And I like Harley cuz she's pretty."

I smiled back at him. "She is."

"Who does your wife like?" I guessed he'd missed the friend part.

Another ache. "I think she likes Joker."

"Cool. Is your wife pretty?"

"Damian," the mother said like a scold.

I ignored her because I kind of liked the kid. He wanted something; he went ahead and figured out how to get it. Like Mila. The boy smiled with such joy that I couldn't not answer him. "She's very pretty. And nice. Mostly." "Where is she? I wanna talk to her about the Joker." He looked around as if she was just off hiding somewhere in the darkness, waiting to talk to him about a comic.

I knew I shouldn't have said anything to him. Now I needed to lie my way out of this. "She's away."

"Where?"

I sighed. "Somewhere far, far away from me."

That earned a look from the mother. She tried to be subtle as she looked at my left hand, noticing no ring. Such a silly thing, needing to have a reminder on your hand that you're bound.

"Why?" the boy asked as his mother's phone rang. She told him to be quiet, using the call as an excuse, I thought.

She spoke in a hushed tone.

I was in a state where everything was making me think of Mila, but this kid just made it overflow. Part of why I was leaving was so she could have that perfect life. Complete with children. I could give her children, but I shouldn't. What good could come from such an empty person like myself?

Right then, I decided to hurt myself. I thought about the life she wanted, and I inserted myself into it. I pictured Mila happy with me. A baby in her arms, sleeping. He looked like me. She was so glad about that. All I could see was her beaming at me. I wanted it to come true. Be real. I think... I think it could be...

"We're at the bus stop," the woman said when I snapped out of it. "Car's in the shop till Thursday." She paused while the woman on the other end spoke. I could have listened in, but I cared so little. "The one with Denny's around the corner. Want us to meet you?" Another pause. "Yeah, we're on our way. Just hurry. I don't like Damian out here at night." She stood up and took her son's hand.

He stopped and pulled something from his backpack. It was a purple-and-green figure. He handed it to me. "Give it to your pretty wife and tell her Joker is cool. Don't worry. I have three of them."

His mom smiled at him and picked him up. She set him on her hip before politely saying bye to me. They walked off into the darkness.

The figure in my hand was Joker. Some cheap toy from a box of cereal, most likely. Mila would love it. Maybe I could get it to her somehow. I could still track her. I could...

No. I needed to stay away from her. Forever.

I looked up when a shadow appeared. The man with the metal thing that almost blinded me. He was walking fast, and I almost missed what it was. Too bad for him, I was faster.

I got up, dropping the toy and flitting in front of him. He jumped in shock before he carefully pulled his shirt over the knife sticking out of his pocket. "Excuse me," he said, trying to move past me.

I grabbed his arm. "Going somewhere?"

He was too scared to be belligerent. "Home."

Liar. "What were you doing behind that tree?" I nodded in that direction.

The liar lied. Shocking. "I wasn't behind a tree. Please, I'm late for dinner."

"Really? Because I think you were about to go hurt that woman. Need cash, or are you just looking for a little fun?"

The man was frozen, and that confirmed everything that I'd thought.

I took the knife from his side before he was able to move away from me. With one quick motion, I swiped it across his throat.

There was a moment where nothing changed. Then blood poured, giving me a satisfied smile as I watched him try and figure out what was happening to him. He dropped to his knees then his back. I tossed the knife aside.

I should leave. More people would come, and I wasn't in the mood for a show. I picked up the toy and my bag before unzipping it. I put the toy in, and it landed on something pink. I could smell it through the package. A damn strawberry snack cake.

A shining example of why I shouldn't be with that girl was lying dead, five feet from me. I had killed him because he was going to hurt that woman and her child. But I hadn't been positive. He could have been innocent. I doubted it, but that was hardly the point. I didn't care.

Maybe that made me a monster. Maybe it made me a hero. I couldn't tell. I'd never know if that woman had been in danger, but what I did know was that she was safe now. The boy was safe.

I've been a killer for more years than I cared to remember, and in all that time, I'd never done a thing for anybody but myself. I'd hurt people to try and find peace for myself, to feed, because they'd pissed me off. Poor reasons. But I had killed that man innocent or not to help someone other than myself. And I'd never been that man before. Mila had done that. She'd found something in me, deep and hidden, and had brought it into the light. She had made me think of someone other than myself.

And I think that is enough.

I took off before I could go back on it. It had to be enough, because I didn't want to be numb anymore. Everything was different. It isn't all I am.

I followed her home, feeling out her being with the ties in my soul. She was still in the hotel, of course. I got to the outside and wasted no time rushing in. And she was just... there.

She wasn't facing me. She was fighting with a vending machine, and I could feel her frustration from where I was. I could have gone over and fixed it, but she was cute when she was pissed. So I leaned against the wall, watching her and running over in my head all the million things I was going to do to her tonight.

"Really! Give up the fucking cake!" she yelled at the machine. It didn't do as she asked. No matter. I had cake for her. She could eat it while she was waiting for her ability to walk to come back.

Everything felt... fine. No feeling of damnation at the end of the tunnel for ruining a girl. Just the peace I was looking for. If she wanted me gone, I'd go. Maybe. She would decide how long she wanted to keep me, because it wasn't fair that I was making so many choices for her.

She looked up then. Her eyes fixed on the glass and then widened. She turned so slowly, and it was as if she was seeing a ghost. She looked too shocked to be happy. Please... let her be

She ran at me so fast that I almost missed it. I barely had time to brace myself before she jumped me. She held me in a vise, and I held her as tightly as I could without breaking her. "You're real," she squeaked into my ear.

I laughed with relief that she sounded happy. "I am."

She looked down at me when she moved back a touch. "I mean, you're here."

Forever. If she'll have me. Anyway she wanted it. I'd live a mortal life with her, ending when she did. I'd help her if she decided she wanted to be like me and her brother. Any life she wanted to lead, I'd get for her. "Yeah. It took me a whole three hours but-"

Pain was the only thing in my world. My ears rang out as if an explosion hit me. I went down when Mila's body turned limp. We were both on the floor, and her ears dripped with blood. Her nose followed.

I'd never felt rage like I did when Knox entered the room. I knew the second I saw him what was going to happen. He was going to try to kill Mila. Not me. Never the one who wanted death.

His face was smug as he entered, admiring his work. His ability was to send vibrations into your body, focusing on specific parts. He picked our heads, making the rest of our bodies unable to move. There wasn't a thing I could do to save my

mate.

"Hello," his voice echoed in my head. My eyes couldn't leave Mila as he taunted us. "Ya know that phrase 'if you want something done right'...?" "Anyway..." Knox moved over me and closer to Mila.

His death would have been quick if he hadn't brought her into this. Now, now I was going to take my time.

"...I kept hearing some very disturbing things. Like two people kept setting my merchandise free. And that they were killing my employees. I'm sure you can imagine my annoyance. Then I heard a name. Landon Crane. It meant nothing to me until I had someone look into it. Now, when I last saw you," he leaned down to me, grabbing my shoulder and moving me to my back. Slow, slow death... "You were Landon Smith. Not very clever, but I understand why you change your name. Then I found out that you've been picking off my friends. Very rude."

He rose and began to seal his fate. "Figures that you would find each other. Such a nuisance you two were. So it was actually a pleasant surprise to find you were lovers. He led me right to you. Looks like I get to use only one stone." No. She was mine to protect. I had decided that a long, long time ago. I couldn't save her now, but I would save her. I would always save her. All I could do was seethe and pray that he wouldn't do anything to her that I couldn't undo. He took her by the throat, and power surged through me. I went for him, only to have him send a powerful blast of magic into my head. I was blind and deaf, and I was useless.

The pain didn't ease, but my senses were fading back. "Please," he said to me, "let me finish." Knox smiled with pride that I would smother. "You killed a lot of people to get your brother back. And your mate killed a lot of people for petty revenge. Let me tell you a secret... people are replaceable. Time is not. And you two have cost me too much for me to just let this go. I had been planning on just killing you, but I don't want this game to be over quite yet." He pulled my mate off the ground, and her eyes held nothing but fear. "I've already hurt you. I think Lanny is due a turn. You agree?"

He slammed her head against the wall, and she went limp.

No. Not dead. She wasn't dead. She had a heartbeat. She wasn't dead. She would be fine. I would save her. Always save her. All I could do was save her. Safe with me. Save her and live. Give her everything. Save her and burn the world. Knox was still grinning when he looked down to me. "I'll be seeing you shortly. Oh, and thank you so much for your help. I couldn't have found her without you." Then he flooded my head with magic again, drowning me.

Find her...

...save her...

...save me...

...burn the world...