115. One Person At a Time

Juliet

“Rodrigo. Where are you?”

“In here.”

I walked to one of the cubicles. Rodrigo had outfitted it with toys and weird creatures in cages. “What is all this.” I chuckled.

“You bring her every month for a check-up, and Miné… I have two creature cubs that I have to monitor.”

I snorted, but Miné jumped out of Charlene’s arms and walked, half run, to the cages … she was almost two…. She was in and out, and it really was cute. Desperate to lay her little fangs in the things. The changing would soon stop. She would never turn again until she had a reason.

The creatures Ahasuerus brought from Zoreah had helped with Sammy. It seemed that she just needed to go home. With Caleb, we never got to that stage.

“I would like to talk to you about something….” I said and sat down on the hospital bed. Holding out my arm. He was giving me birth control shots.

Rodrigo seemed intrigued. “I can’t wait to hear what that brain of yours has come up with.”

“I want to know…. Can you reproduce what I have in large quantities just for women?” He eyed me skeptically. “Without killing anything?”

“The baseline is there, but we would need a donor just like an infected. And you, my dear, are the only one.”

“Okay, let’s talk more about this donor story. What does that entail?” Charlene asked from the side.

His eyes locked with Charlene’s. They have become good friends, just like Rodrigo and me. “Bone marrow.”

“That’s what you were doing with the cubs! Rodrigo?!”

“What did you think I was doing?”

“Skingraphs… That liquid you pumped into us… I don’t know?” I turned away from him. I had gotten used to Rodrigo. But had forgotten what he had done. “Anyway… How did you create that monster formula for Qadir in large quantities.” I was so angry I had to give Sammy to him. It didn’t mean I didn’t trust him.

“I’m sorry.” He said under his breath.

Again and again, I had to remind myself how they grew up in that hell hole. All they went through. I laughed lightly when Sammy started clawing at him. They growled at each other, playing. She was only talking, but it was the weirdest thing any human would ever see.

“How much of my bone marrow do you need for Charlene? And can you separate it to make her infected but not… the leather and the spells.

“I can do both. I can take away your leather if you don’t like it. It’s not like I’ve been doing nothing here day in, day out since I’ve been back. I kinda have unlimited funds from the government… How are your studies going, Charlene?”

“Still basics… but don’t worry, I’ll come to get tutored soon.”

“And you… did you know one benefit women have of the brandings is that they can make your other half keep quiet?”

Rodrigo avoided talking about infecting anybody… I wondered if Charlene would ever get what she wanted. What he had said finally sank in.

“They can control you, but you can make them keep quiet!” Rodrigo continued.

Charlene and I both gave a burst of laughter. “Shhh! Here they come.”

Marcus and Louis came running down the corridor. “Juliet, you really have to stop doing this. I want to be here. She’s my child too.”

I checked the corridor to see if Michael was coming out of habit. But he wasn’t. He was in his shop. He wouldn’t come down there again.

I stepped closer to Rodrigo and asked him in a whisper. He didn’t look up to meet Marcus’s eye, but a smile played on his mouth. Marcus wanted to say something, but I lifted my finger and pointed it at him. At first, he was quiet because he didn’t know what was happening.

One side of his mouth lifted. He wanted to say something but couldn’t. He tried really hard. I flashed my eyebrows at him. His gaze went from me to Rodrigo. Louis wanted to say something, and I did the same thing. He couldn’t speak. Louis wasn’t impressed. Charlene and I burst out laughing.

“Later, you don’t have to use your finger anymore like they don’t have to use their voices on you.”

“Where did you hear all this about the branding.”

“Agatha.” We all spun around. Jokes aside. The energy in the room changed. The one thing we never joked about was Marcus’s mother. Rodrigo’s eyes lifted from Sammy. She was still engrossed in the man holding her. His beard. I missed Chris. Sammy would have loved him.

“Well, Agatha told all her secrets to Samuel… Why do you think Qadir cut out her tongue? She has so many secrets. He caught her telling Marcus some when he was five… She was Samuels’s wife’s sister. That’s why he got to come and play ambassador. He was also in the court. The no beheadings for court officials helped… It was one of Agatha’s ultimatums for coming. If Samuel could also come.”

“What happened… to his wife… her sister.” He shook his head as if he didn’t want to say.

“You know what, just like your mother raised you. Not knowing everything. I’m not going to tell you everything I know when you ask. I also have my limits and loyalties and have a lot of things to factor in.” Rodrigo retorted.

I lifted my hand to him, fisting it and grunting in frustration. “Fine! So how much bonemarrow would you need to make me a hundred vials?”

He smiled but not at me… At the princess in his arms. “Not a lot.”

Marcus wanted to speak, but I kept him quiet. “Can you alter mine, so I am infectious like you?”

That caught his attention. He handed the baby to Louis. Sammy liked Louis, and he liked her. For all intents and purposes, he was her father. More than Chris would be. If I couldn’t convince him to come home… He will never know he has a daughter. I’m not giving up another freaking kid.

“It’s not like the movies Juliet. Can you imagine the havoc of vampires running around biting every person and that person biting the next? We would have a dystopia… I wouldn’t even do that for Qadir, and I will not do it for you.”

I pouted my lips. Marcus wanted to talk so bad, but I kept him quiet.

“All the women from En-gannim that Marcus so graciously sent us… want to be stronger. I need an army of kick-ass soldiers that can take on Marcus’s little puny vampire men. Marcus got up behind me. Tapping me on the shoulder. He wanted me to release him. I glanced back and gave him a saucy smile. Louis didn’t even try. “I think I’m going to love this.”

“No wonder the vamps made the brandings go away. Can you imagine the chaos in the court setting?” Charlene said and laughed.

I joined her. “The guy makes the woman sit down, but he can’t say anything.”

“Ridiculous.”

“That is why the bond is only formed if there is love between the two people,” Rodrigo said.

Again the whole room turned to him.

“That is what Agatha told Marcus that night when she put him in bed. He needed to find someone who would love him, or he would never be a real prince… So even if Marcus had to push you down… You loved him, and he has the tattoo to prove it.”

Suddenly I was back in that room. Supernatural bond. “My body knew?”

“Maybe your heart,” Rodrigo suggested. “That is why Agatha doesn’t have a tattoo and why they didn’t have another baby… And you are the reason Liam would not do it. They wanted someone here with you. Always.”

I released the two men behind me. Marcus walked over, threw me over his shoulder, and carried me out. “What the hell? I wasn’t done talking.”

He carried me into the lift, putting me down. He waited for the doors to close. Waited till we went one floor up and pressed the button. The lift stopped.

He turned me to him… “I thought it was a forced thing, Julie… I thought you didn’t love me.”

I frowned. “All this time, you thought I didn’t love you?”

He shook his head. “I thought I did it to save you.”

“All this time, you doubted if you really loved me?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“He just set me free to a whole other level….” Marcus’s eyes drifted aimlessly to the side. He was quiet for some time… Thinking. “You love me,” He whispered. Our gazes locked. He kept repeating it. “You love me… Like really love me.”

“Sheesh, Marcus, how could you th….” He picked me up and pressed me against the wall. Grabbing my thigh and let me sit on his hips. My other leg steadied myself on the floor.

“I can’t get enough of you.” His lips pressed onto mine… Lovingly he moved over me. “Marcus… we have things to do.” He kissed me harder. Hands running over my back.

“If you want to know how to take over all three planets, don’t you think it would be better to talk to me.” He pushed into me. My eyes closed. He was kissing my neck. His hands cupped my breasts. His lips were hovering over mine. My hand ran through his hair, the other pulling him closer.

“Are you going to talk strategy with me?” I asked, out of breath.

His head slumped in front of me. He let me go and pushed the elevator button. The lift jerked into motion. “A few weeks ago, all you wanted from me was my lips… What happened?” He lifted his chin at me. I laughed lightly.

On the top floor, he took my hand and pulled me out. Jessy was outside with a car waiting. It was different for Jessy to see Marcus there. They treated him differently than Louis. Marcus didn’t do anything in the car. He didn’t even touch me, just kept staring out the window. We stopped at the house.

“Wait!” Marcus ordered. I sat back and didn’t touch my door. He got out and came around the car, opening the door. Okay, that was weird. What happened to Marcus? He pulled me up and threw me over his shoulder.

“I’m not a cavewoman. You should ask permission.”

Marcus was not stopping. There was no one in the yard or at the house. His door opened and closed. “Wait, Katty. Don’t step on her.”

Marcus peeked down. “I keep on forgetting about the cat!”

She was under his feet, and he dropped me on the bed, falling on top of me. Marcus laughed. It was a mistake… No, not a mistake… He wasn’t on top of me for long.

“I loved you when I was fifteen. That night in the club… Marcus. Seeing you… I had missed you so much… I cried after you hung up the phone. That morning when I woke up after Louis… you were in the room… Every time you said my name, I wanted you… While we sleep together… I long for you.”

Marcus pulled my lips down on his.

***

“How do I look?” Marcus actually asked Louis and not me.

Louis gave him a once over and tilted his head. “I don’t like the white shirt. What about…”

“The black placket one….” They said at the same time. Marcus disappeared into his dressing room. He was nervous and fumbling, buttoning up his shirt. Louis took over.

We were all having dinner with Agatha, and it would be the first time Marcus had met with her since seeing her that night with Damian. It would be the first time they were going to talk. Even if it was via Louis.

“Come, we’ll be late,” Michael said from the door.

I had an instant smile on my face. That stupid smile. Hearing his voice. Michael was okay… I was happy. I could sleep. Marcus was there… Louis was there. Almost everyone… My gaze traveled to the door. I was going to scan him quickly, expecting the leather jacket, black jeans, and boots.

That was not what Michael had on. He was in a black semi-formal suit with a white shirt unbuttoned just low enough. No chain around his neck. Jewelry around his wrists. A stylish watch, not the leathers bracelet one. Fancy shoes.

“Wow.” I mouthed… My lips pouted, and I got that smirk. He raised his chin at me in a quick movement. “Come on, we’ll be late.”

Marcus walked towards him, fastening cufflinks on his sleeves. Michael held out his jacket to him. Louis came around the corner. He wore all black.

I… had to take a second. The three guys looked too good… Louis slapped Michael on the back, and Marcus fidgeted. Both the other two told him to relax. The three of them walked out without me. Forgetting me completely. And I was okay with it. My top lip was between my teeth, giggling… It was a good night.

After what Rodrigo said, Marcus had been different. It was the last clue to his puzzle… He didn’t have to worry anymore that I wanted him there or that he belonged there.

I wore a gold plated choker with a one-shoulder white little dress that hung asymmetrically. A high slit up to my thigh. I bent down to stroke Katty on my bed. She made that activation noise… It was cute. I grabbed my bag. Charlene and Kubra were coming out of her room.

We made eye contact from across the yard. Kubra was dressed just as well. My teeth gritted, and as he turned to close the door, she made a little gesture behind his back to tell me she thought Kubra was hot as hell.

My mom and dad came out. I whistled at my mom. She curtsied. My dad bowed. Even my uncle was there… It had been a long time since I felt that content. My gaze traveled over everyone.

Since Sammy was born, Warden had come back to take full responsibility. Although he was not allowed to say anything. He worked for Bertram, and they understood that I didn’t want Chris to know before finding out what was going on with him and Zoreah. Warden was babysitting the two girls with some help.

***

Agatha had forsaken her veil. Decided not to go back so soon. Louis said she would go home when I was queen. It wasn’t long anymore. She and Marcus embraced for a long time. We all gave them space. We had just walked down from our house to hers. It was hers now. Most of Qadir’s wives had gone back to En-gannim with his kids in tow. Some of the female prisoners had moved into the house.

I stood at the back as we walked through the front door. Louis was going to focus on Marcus tonight. Marcus was going to focus on his mom.

The view from the front door was beautiful. It looked out over the compound and out over the horizon of desert in front of us. The sun setting in the distance. They didn’t have the wall that we had. I was thinking about tearing it down.

“You do look stunning, Juliet,” Michael whispered into my ear. He touched the small of my back softly. Half my back was exposed with the dress I had on.

It was the first time he had touched my back... My breath hitched, but I wasn’t going to make a big deal of it. “You don’t want to know what I think about you in that… suit.” He smiled. Usually, he would run his hand through his long hair if I gave him a compliment… but he couldn’t. It was fastened on top of his head. The man bun suited him.

“You know I should probably get over it… I’m covered in tattoos.”

“It’s not the same… I get it. It’s not like you can run your hands over my skin, and it’s still soft under your touch. His hand pressed harder and started sliding up the smooth material of the dress, diagonally following it up to my shoulder.

“In…”

“You know what….”

We spoke at the same time. I turned to him. With my heels, I was almost as tall as him. “What did you want to say?” I asked.

His hand reached out and slid around my waist, up and over my back. Over my skin and into my hair… cupping my neck. He pulled my lips on his. I had to step quickly on my toes to balance… my hand landed on his chest. My clutch in the other. His other arm around my waist steadied me.

That night… was a good night.