stalk 28

Lezard was surprised to see his hands shaking, the fine tremor in his fingers making it difficult to get the key into the lock. He missed the keyhole several times, swearing under his breath as he jabbed the metal into the door. Finally his left hand grabbed hold of his right wrist, trying to force it to be steady and calm. A hint of red flashed, catching his attention. Was that blood he saw underneath his fingernails?!

The hallway wavered, changing and distorting, Lezard slumping forward to rest his forehead against the cool wood of the door. It felt good against his heated skin, and the wave of dizziness passed as he kept his eyes closed. He stood like that for a few minutes, just listening to his breathing, pleased that that at least sounded normal. ~Everything will be okay.~ He thought to himself, straightening up. This time he got the key into the door, and paused to glance down at his clothing. Clean, but rumpled, no outward sign to give away what he had done.

~It was his own fault.~ Lezard rationalized ~Lucian shouldn’t have said what he had said about Lenneth.~ His expression turned ugly, an angry scowl on his face as he thought back to the taunts, the accusations Lucian had hurled. Lezard shook his head, trying to shake free of the memories that threatened to come up. He didn’t want to even think about Lucian and yet…he could still hear his voice, hear the depth of anger and disgust in his tone. What’s worse, he could still see Lucian’s face, see that look of hurt surprise captured forever more on his face.

He looked good like that, the pain flashing in his eyes, his foul mouth twisted into a shocked o. He had gasped like a fish, desperate for air, the very hands that mere seconds earlier had been beating Lezard mercilessly, now scrambling towards his neck. What good was Lucian’s strength now, when it couldn’t even save him from a wound on the throat?! Lezard snorted, half amused as he thought on how Lucian had been rendered powerless in an instant, unable to keep his life’s blood from pouring out through his fingers.

Powerless…just like he had made Lenneth feel, trapping her into a relationship with him. Lezard’s eyes narrowed, wondering if Lucian had had any regrets over his life, if in those last moments he had repented for the way he had treated Lenneth. “He deserved to die…” Lezard whispered so softly, it was more like he mouthed the words than said them out loud. He was glad he had done it, wasn’t he…? It had been the only way to free Lenneth, to ensure she could stay and be happy with him. Lucian had to die! And yet, a stray thought surfaced, Lezard wondering why it had fallen on him to do the dirty deed.

~Because I’m her protector…~ Lezard argued back. ~No one else was coming to save Lenneth. It was up to me, and me alone.~ But…”Damn him!” Lezard punched at the door, wincing at the pain of flesh connecting with wood. He scowled, shaking his hand, trying to ease off the numb feeling in his knuckles. ~It wasn’t supposed to be this way…~ Lezard thought with a sigh. He was only supposed to talk to Lucian, maybe beat some sense into him. Make him understand that he had to leave town, get as far away from Lenneth as possible.

“Nowhere farther than Hell…” Lezard snorted to himself. He hoped Lucian burned, roasted on a spit for all eternity, made to suffer for his sins against his sweet Lenneth. ~Lenneth….~ Just thinking of her put a smile on his face, Lezard eager to see her once more. He couldn’t wait to tell her Lucian was gone, that he’d never bother her again. Lezard conjured her image to him now, her sweet smiling face looking at him in adoration. Would her eyes fill with tears or relief at the news? No…Lezard shook his head, letting out a soft growl. She would be gladdened by the news, the haunted look in her eyes would fade away, and she would stop cowering in corners, no longer frightened of what the future held.

Yes. Lenneth would be pleased, Lezard nodded to himself. This time his hand did not shake, though he tried to ignore the suspicious patch of red underneath his nails. Lucian’s blood had been so dark! Rich and thick, oozing out of him as though eager to escape the confines of his body. Lezard recalled kneeling down, knees hovering just over the blood, careful to keep from staining his pants as he stared down at Lucian. His fingers had curled in his straggly blond hair, lifting his head back, gazing at the blood spurting out of his neck. Lucian’s lips moved, a strangled sound coming out of him as he tried desperately to tell Lezard something. They had stared into each other’s eyes, Lezard watching as the blue of Lucian’s gaze clouded over, becoming dull and lifeless.

A warbled word came out, barely understandable. “Lenneth…” Lezard had reacted then, slamming Lucian’s face into the floor, smooshing his cheeks into his blood. He heard the crunch of bone, realized that something BROKE in Lucian’s face. The man let out his death rattle soon afterwards, and Lezard stood, calm and calculating. Funny….he didn’t feel calm now. At the time he had, calmly stepping over Lucian’s body, proceeding towards the bedroom where he gathered up Lenneth’s things. He stuffed her clothing into plastic bags, as many as he could carry, leaving them by the door.

At some point he started whistling, a happy little tune, the same song that Lenneth had been singing in the shower. He felt oddly disconnected from his surroundings, unhurriedly digging out bits of clothing. His hand had paused over the lingerie drawer, debating on whether or not to empty it out. No…Lucian had seen her in these outfits, had touched her, undressed her, made love to her while she wore the flimsy fabric against her skin. Better to burn the lingerie, buy her new ones, make new, delicious memories in them.

Lezard had walked back and forth from the front door to the bedroom, passing by Lucian’s body many times. Each time careful to avoid stepping into his blood, not wanting to track incriminating foot prints all over the house. At some point he remembered standing over the body, toeing at Lucian’s legs, expecting the blonde to jump up at any moment, alive and hale. But there was no response from him, and it was then that Lezard made an annoyed sound. He felt relief, but he also felt anger….anger at Lucian for forcing his hand, making him kill him. Leaving him with the unpleasant aftermath, the clean up and cover up…

Lezard remembered how cold Lucian had felt under his hands, how heavy his body had been. How he had struggled to move him, dragging him into the hallway closet. He had wasted even more time cleaning up the blood, scrubbing and scrubbing at the floor, getting traces of it on his hands. Bits of the red liquid which still lingered on his skin…

He was moving then, turning the key in the lock, pushing the door inwards. He used too much force in his shove, the door swinging back to slam into the wall. Lezard didn’t care, he sauntered into the kitchen, hurrying towards the sink. Faucets turned, water shooting out at high speed, Lezard thrusting his hands underneath the burning hot water. Soap bubbles floated in the bottom of the sink, Lezard working the bar into a fine lather, scrubbing away at his hands, scraping slivers of soap off with his fingernails. No trace of the blood would remain, if he had to sear away his flesh to be clean, than so be it.

“Lezard….?” He paused, water drenching his hands, the bar of soap falling free of his grip.

“Lenneth….” He turned, and his eyes widened in appreciation of her beauty. She stood in the archway of the kitchen, clad in an oversized shirt…HIS shirt. He felt possessive pride to see her draped in something of his, felt a thrill to think his shirt was pressed against her bare flesh, caressed her with each step she took. He caught flashes of her bare thighs as she moved, Lenneth coming closer to him, and he realized she was speaking to him.

Lezard blinked, and suddenly he had crossed the room halfway to meet her, capturing her in his arms. “Lezard?!” Surprise from her, her cheeks reddening as he crushed her in his embrace, burying his face in her hair. “Lezard….you’re trembling….what happened…?”

Damn it! He’d have to stop cowering like a little girl, else he’d give everything away. And though he valued honesty in his relationship with Lenneth, one look at her, and he knew he could never, ever tell her what had happened on this day between him and Lucian. “Just happy to see you…” He said gruffly, knowing that was the truth.

She was touching his back, Lenneth loosely returning the hug, frowning over his shoulder. “Lucian was there, wasn’t he?!”

Lezard only held Lenneth tighter, and she let out a little cry, finding it hard to breathe. It distracted her for the moment, gave him time to think up an answer. Yes, no, maybe….all were on the tip of his tongue, and finally he answered, relaxing his grip slightly. “Yes…he was there.”

“He hurt you, didn’t he…” Lenneth said sadly. “Oh Lezard, I knew this was a bad idea!”

“No….he didn’t hurt me….not at all…” Lezard answered.

“Then what…?” She eased back in his arms, and he let her.

“Lenneth….perhaps you should sit down.” He guided her towards a chair, hand on her lower back, small rubs meant to soothe her.

“You’re worrying me…” She reluctantly allowed him to seat her, placing her hands in her laps.

Lezard sighed, and knelt down before her, touching her arms, fingers gently carressing. “Am I? I don’t mean to….It’s just….I don’t know how you will take the news…”

“Just tell me…” Lenneth bit her lower lip, eyes looking uncertain. “It’s Lucian, isn’t it…He doesn’t ever want to see me again, right…? I can take it…I’m a big girl Lezard.”

“You’re right.” Lezard nodded, staring intently at her. Did her eyes widen at his agreement? Was that pain he saw in those blue orbs of hers? “He doesn’t want to see you. In fact…I caught him just as he was leaving.”

“Leaving?”

“Yes…” Lezard said earnestly, prepared to act his heart out. “He was all packed up to go. Had a suitcase ready, and was locking up when I arrived. I thought he would take a swing at me when he saw me…” Wild laughter from Lezard, then a shake of his head. “But he was oddly civil.”

“That doesn’t sound like the Lucian I know.” frowned Lenneth. “He’s the kind to punch first, ask questions later.”

“He….no, never mind.” Lezard trailed off, and Lenneth took the bait.

“He what Lezard? I want to know!”

“Oh I couldn’t possibly tell you….it would hurt you too much…” Lezard sighed, looking away.

“Please!” She was desperate, and she reached forward to cup his cheeks, forcing him to face her. “I have to know….tell me everything!”

“All right Lenneth….but only because you insist.” Lezard hid a smile from her. “There was a reason he was able to control his temper. I didn’t want to tell you, didn’t want him to hurt you anymore but…”

“But…?” She urged, hanging on his every word.

“But…he said things. Awful things. He said…” Lezard licked his lips, feeling nervous. “He said you weren’t worth the time or energy to fight over. That you meant nothing to him. That I could have you.”

“What?! No…” Hurt colored her expression, and it angered him to see the look of betrayal on her face. Lenneth should be glad to have Lucian sever their ties, not look as though her heart was breaking!

“Yes. He called you names, vicious names that I won’t repeat.” continued Lezard, seeing her nod. “Such language is not befitting a lady’s ears.”

“Lucian always did have quite the dirty mouth on him….”

“There’s more.” Lezard interrupted her. “He said he was leaving town….leaving for good. Said something about there being better prospects elsewhere.”

“He left….?” She whispered and Lezard nodded. “He left me…” Her eyes were tearing up, wetness starting to fall from her eyes.

“Don’t cry Lenneth…” Lezard reached up to catch her tears on his finger. “It’s good thing no? Lucian is gone, and he won’t ever bother you again…”

“Why do they always leave?” She asked him, holding back a sob.

“They?”

“I’m always alone…” The tears flowed faster now, Lezard trying desperately to wash them away. “Everyone always leaves me in the end…”

“I won’t leave you Lenneth…” promised Lezard, and he raised up off his knees, standing over her. He caressed her cheek, not failing to notice that she wore misery well.

“Yes you will…” Lenneth said, even as he was tilting her face up towards his. “No one stays very long…no one loves me…”

“I love you…” Lezard said, and then he was kissing her, cutting off any further protests. He wished he could tell Lenneth just how much he loved her, just how far he was willing to go. He had killed for her, killed to keep her, to make her his. But Lezard knew she wouldn’t understand, not now…maybe not ever. It was better to let her think Lucian had abandoned her, had walked out of her life. As far as she or anyone else would ever know, it was the truth.

“Lezard…” Lenneth gasped, turning her face to the side, allowing his kisses to fall along her jaw line. “Do you really and truly love me…?”

“Yes Lenneth, yes…” He was lifting her up out of the chair, pressing his body against hers, lips smacking against the side of her neck. His hands were grabbing at her body, tugging on the shirt, raising it up high enough to see she wore no panties underneath it.

“You’d never leave me?” Lenneth moaned, wiggling as he touched her, hands winding around his neck, clinging to him almost desperately.

“I’d never, ever leave you.” promised Lezard, biting and nibbling the front of her throat, tongue pushing out to taste the salt of her skin. His hands fumbled with the buttons on the front of the shirt, practically ripping them free of the material as he sought to free her from the cotton blouse.

“You….you’d never hit me or be angry at me?” Lenneth asked in a small voice.

“Never!” Lezard swore, thrusting the shirt apart. He palmed a nipple in his hand, curving his fingers around her breast. He gave a gentle squeeze, thrilling at the way she arched into his touch. “I’d do anything for you….anything at all!”

“Like…” She gasped, squirming, fingers massaging his scalp, trying to urge his lips closer to her chest. “Like what?”

“I’ll cherish you….worship you…” His tongue darted out, just a quick dip against her hardening nipple, Lenneth having to bite her lips to keep from crying out. Lezard held back a smirk, pushing her forward, hearing the chair she had sat on topple over as she fell against the table. “I’d lie, cheat and steal for you…” He was leaning over her, bending her backwards over the table, pressing his leg in between hers, forcing them apart. He stared down at her naked body, feeling his desire burning through him, wanting to spread it to her with a simple touch.

Lenneth was staring up at him, lips parted slightly, looking at him so trustingly. “I’d die for you…” Lezard told her, and brought his face down, kissing her hard. ~I have killed for you.~ Was his unspoken thought as he laced his fingers with hers, pressing her right hand against the lacquered table top.

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By Michelle