“Will do, Doc. Thanks again for all of this,” I tell Doc, Knox helping me into a sitting position.
“Don’t mention it,” Doc replies. “To anyone, really.” He gives a small chortle. “Now, boys, I’m afraid it’s time to get you back to your cell.” His eyebrows gather in, and his mouth is downturned.
They each kiss me again, leaving my lips tingling as I watch them leave my cage, Tarl carrying one of the bags, presumably with the stew in, and there’s a lighter feeling in my chest even as my soul cries out at the distance.
Doc locks my barred door and then waits for Knox, Jude, and Tarl to walk into their cage.
“Mr. Taylor, a word if I may?” Doc presses, grasping Aeron’s upper arm as he goes to walk past. Doc leans in close, whispering something in Aeron’s ear before slipping something into Aeron’s trouser pocket. Aeron nods and Doc gives him a pat on the back, then locks the door behind Aeron. “I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“BLACK” BY LXX
TARL
Lark falls asleep not long after Doc's visit, exhaustion too strong for our brave bird to fight off as she snuggles in the blanket and pillow that Doc bought for her. I must remember to ensure Adam gives him a sizable bonus for his help.
“What did Doc give you?” I whisper to Aeron as Knox does push-ups in the corner despite his fractured ribs, and Jude hums along to some tune that I think is from Mary Poppins as he stares at Lark with an intensity that is all Jude. I don’t tell him to stop, I know it brings him as much peace as it does the rest of us, perhaps even more so.
Aeron reaches into his pocket, withdrawing a key that is identical to the one that opens our cages. My heart hammers in my chest as I look down at it, adrenaline making my blood pulse around my body. It’s shiny and new. Like it’s been made recently. My eyebrows raise but I don’t touch it, keeping a cool facade that Aeron most likely knows is a lie.
“Seems Doc has a few tricks up his sleeves for an old dog,” Aeron says, admiration in his tone. “Rufus takes the key back each time after his visit, so the last time he put a silicone mold in his bag and took a cast.”
I nod, approving of his subterfuge. “Can we trust him?”
He seems like he’s on our side, well, at least Lark’s side, and it appears he’s been on the payroll of the Tailors for years. We can’t ask anyone to confirm that, however, and for all we know it could be some sort of trap. I’m not trustful by nature, only the guys, Lark, and Adam have earned that privilege. Although our bird is the one who got us into this mess, I still trust her with my life, heart, and soul.
“I don’t know.” Aeron sighs, tucking the key into his hidden pants pocket. We all have them, our pants specially designed for these kinds of situations where we need to hide items on us easily. “He seems legitimate, but until I can check with my father, I can’t say for certain. Though we have little choice at the moment.”
“True. He’s also been helping Lark for years, even going so far as trying to get her out of here,” I muse, rubbing a hand over my stubbled jaw. I need a fucking shower. Maybe afterwards, a hot bath with my Pretty Bird between my thighs as I wash her soft skin.
My jaw clenches at the images that threaten to overwhelm me, stills of what that beast did to her while we couldn’t do a thing to stop it.
“They will pay, Tarl,” Aeron says, his hand on my shoulder as I blink back to this moment and not the hell of that time. I can see by the burning of his eyes that he knows where my mind went and he craves retribution just as much as I do. “We will burn this place to the ground with everyone trapped inside, their blood decorating the walls. Starting with his.”
We’ve grown up together, both with terrible pasts full of pain and torment so it’s no surprise he knew where my mind went. I’m sure he has to fight the dark memories just as fiercely as I do.
“But we get to play with them first, right?” Jude interjects, closer to us than he was before. “I want to feel their hearts beat as I rip them out of their chests. I want to strangle them with their own intestines and make their eyeballs watch from the other side of the room as I tear into their bodies with my bare hands.”
Fuck, his talk has me hard in an instant, the violence a perfect aphrodisiac. I wonder if our bird will be healed enough to let me make love to her in their blood. I bet she’d look stunning clad in the ruby of our enemies’ life force. It’s not an issue if she’s not, there will be other ways to celebrate our victory.
A whimper from across the room draws all of our attention to her, Knox stopping in his exercise to take in her trembling form. Our ruin, our soulmate, and the missing piece to us. We watch her as another small cry leaves her lips before she settles down again, hardly moving probably on account of her many injuries.
“We should be with her,” Jude says between clenched teeth, his hands fisting tightly as he steps closer to Aeron, his eyes dark and menacing as he glares at his brother.
“If we get caught, they’ll know we have a key, then they might take her away. At least this way she’s down here with us and not out there with them,” Aeron replies, his words hanging bitterly in the air. If Rufus wanted to show our impotence, he’s currently doing a good job about it.
“Fine,” Jude growls out before stalking away and joining Knox in his push-ups. I sigh, feeling his frustration with every fiber of my being, but the most important thing is to keep her here, with us.
“PILLOWTALK” BY ZAYN
LARK
I jerk awake, a quiet cry on my lips as Dean’s rancid breath seems to hang in the air, my ribs twinging as I shift.
“Shhh, Nightingale. I’m here, it’s okay,” Jude’s voice whispers in my ear, and it’s then I realize that there’s a warmth at my back, strong arms holding me close. My body instantly relaxes, even though at some point the Soldiers have switched off the bare bulb that provides us light, so darkness covers us in a thick blanket.
“Jude?” My voice is hoarse, my throat tight like I’ve been crying in my sleep, and when I bring my hand up, the pillow underneath my face is wet. “W–what are you doing here? How?”
