Redemption (Page 27)

Even then it had taken a lot of persuasion to keep David from coming into the palace with him. In the end it had been simple logic that had won out. Jack would be able to move through the palace much easier on his own than with a human in tow, even if he pretended that human was his blood slave. Not to mention how Aria or Max would react if they were to see David, or one of the other rebels with him. David had reluctantly agreed to let him go in alone to get David’s daughter back, but Jack had walked in there feeling as if the man was right by his side.

Jack shoved himself into a seated position and draped his arm over his knee as he studied the lake. He’d lived an extensive life but those early days amongst the rebels were the only days he would choose to relive, if he could. Pushing himself up from the bank, he wiped the dirt from his ass before grabbing his quiver and bow and slinging them over his shoulder.

The town was still sleeping as he made his way around to the front of the tavern, climbed the steps, and opened the door. Hannah lifted her head from the table she’d been wiping down with a rag. His eyes locked with hers for a poignant second before she dropped her head and went back to cleaning. From the kitchen the clinking and scraping of pots and pans being washed could be heard. Ellen was singing about a war that had been fought three hundred years ago as she helped Lucas stack the chairs on one of the tables. The enchanting sound of her voice made him briefly forget Hannah as he was ensnared by the words.

William had his elbows propped on a table, his hands were fisted, his chin rested upon them as he watched Ellen flit between the tables. His foot tapped along with the relaxed melody of the song. Jack shook his head to clear it of the song as he dropped into the seat across from William.

William blinked at him and frowned as he sat back in his chair. "Where have you been?"

Jack glanced at Hannah but though she was still focused upon the table he knew that she was listening. "Around," he replied evasively.

William looked between them before shaking his head. The ringing of bells outside drew all of their attention to the door. Even the pans in the back stopped rattling as the sound of the bells drew closer. William rose from his chair. "What are you doing?" Jack inquired.

William shook back his auburn hair and walked over to the door. He opened it a crack and peered out. The ringing bells faded into the distance as they moved past the building. The others went back to work when William closed the door. He threw the locks before walking over to one of the closed shutters.

"Wait, no!" Ellen cried as William threw the shutter open.

The sun’s rays fell over Hannah’s back, tables, and chairs as they spilled through the window. Hannah released a shrill scream, her hands clenched on the cloth she’d been using as she arched forward. William looked around in confusion as Jack leapt to his feet. He searched frantically, ready to kill whatever it was that had harmed her but he saw nothing beyond the window.

"Close the shutter! Close the shutter!" Lucas shouted as he bounced around just beyond the range of the sun’s rays.

Jack leapt forward and wrapped his arms around Hannah as she slumped onto the table. Blisters instantly broke out on the palms of his hands and forearms from the heat coming from her body. Though he could feel his skin burning, he refused to release her as he tore her away from the light filtering into the building. A small sound of relief escaped her when he pulled her into the shadows and William closed the shutter again.

"Hannah! Hannah, look at me!" Jack laid her on her side and rested her head in his lap. He anxiously brushed the strands of coffee colored hair away from her face. Her skin was paler than normal, her jade green eyes exceedingly vivid as they briefly met his before they rolled back into her head and she passed out.

"Is she ok?" Lucas demanded as he rushed forward.

"What just happened?" William inquired dully.

Jack had no idea what had just happened as he pulled his hands away from her to examine them. The blisters were already beginning to fade from his palms and forearms but they were still red and swollen. His attention shifted to her back. Fury and confusion rolled through him at the sight of her scorched and raw alabaster skin. Parts of her dress were stuck to her flesh and to his utter disbelief there was actually black singe marks on her skin.

"Is she ok?" Lucas demanded again as he knelt before Jack.

"What the hell just happened?" William asked again in a more assertive tone of voice.

Jack glanced from her, to the window, and back again. "A legend is born," he muttered as realization hit him.

"What?" William inquired.

Jack shook his head and slid his arms carefully underneath her. A small moan escaped her, her head fell against his chest, but she didn’t stir when he lifted her from the ground. She felt exceptionally delicate and fragile within his arms, like a wispy flower that could be plucked from the earth too easily.

"Get me some blood," Jack commanded Lucas in a clipped tone.

Lucas glanced at the door and shook his head. "I can’t."

"I’ll go," Ellen volunteered and ran for the door.

Jack took a step away from the light that filtered in from the open door before she dashed outside. "Where’s her room?" he demanded. Lucas pointed toward the stairs and then dashed up them. "Get me some towels and a bucket of cold water."

William was still the color of snow but he managed a brief nod at Jack’s order. "Is she going to be ok?"

"She’ll be fine," Abe said from the doorway of the kitchen though he was wringing his hands as he looked on with troubled eyes. "Come help me with the bucket."