The Falling Cross

Selene's world splintered into chaos as she lunged, but Lucian anticipated and his hand caught her wrist before she could strike, twisting just enough to immobilize her without hurting her yet. Her breath came in ragged bursts, her body thrumming with adrenaline and her rage eclipsing everything. Caleb lay on the floor with his blood staining the marble beneath him and his breathing was shallow, too weak. Selene's pulse pounded but Lucian didn't even glance at Caleb as his focus remained on her, his grip firm but not bruising. 'Now, now," he murmured. 'Is that really how you want to do this?" Selene jerked free, stepping back, her hands clenched into fists. 'You shot him." Her voice trembled with fury. 'You–" Lucian exhaled slowly, slipping his gun into its holster. 'I did." Selene's entire body shook. 'He's dying." Lucian arched his brow. 'Perhaps." a fresh wave of rage surged through her, she wanted to tear into him, to make him feel the same pain that was ripping her apart from the inside but she couldn't afford to lose control. Instead, she dropped to her knees beside Caleb, his skin was pale, and his chest rose and fell in uneven breaths from the bullet which had struck his shoulder, not fatal, but dangerous if untreated. 'Stay with me," she whispered as her hands pressed against the wound and her fingers were slick with his blood, trying to slow the bleeding. Caleb's eyelids fluttered, his lips parting slightly as he tried to speak, but only a weak, strained breath escaped. Selene's chest tightened painfully, she had to stop the bleeding but Lucian sighed behind her. 'You're wasting your energy." Selene's head snapped up. 'Shut up." Lucian chuckled, the sound was low and infuriating. 'You're awfully attached to someone you left behind." Selene's breath hitched. She gritted her teeth. 'I didn't leave him, you took him." Lucian's expression didn't change. 'And yet, you still ended up here." Selene's hands trembled, and she had to focus on stopping the bleeding. She had to.. then footsteps of more guards approaching from the hallway. Eve stepped into the room, her gaze flickering between Caleb's bloodied form and Lucian with an unreadable expression crossing her face. Lucian turned slightly. 'Get a doctor."Selene's eyes widened in shock. 'You're helping him?"Lucian gave her a slow, deliberate look. 'I never said I was letting him die." Selene's stomach twisted. Of course, Lucian never did anything without a reason then Eve gave a tight nod and gestured toward one of the guards, and within seconds, they disappeared to fetch medical supplies. Selene turned back to Caleb, pressing harder against the wound. 'Stay awake," she whispered, Caleb's fingers twitched and Lucian's voice came from behind her. 'You should be thanking me, Selene." Selene stiffened slowly as she turned her head, her voice deadly quiet. 'For what?"Lucian tilted his head slightly, watching her with amusement. 'For not killing him."Selene's breath caught. She wanted to hurt him, she wanted to wipe that smug expression off his face but she forced herself to breathe and focus on Caleb because that was what mattered right now. A doctor arrived moments later, carrying a medical bag as he dropped to his knees beside Caleb, already assessing the wound, his hands moved with practiced efficiency, checking Caleb's pulse, 'his breathing." Lucian watched the process with mild disinterest as if this were nothing more than a mild inconvenience. Selene's jaw tightened. 'Why are you doing this?" Lucian exhaled softly. 'Doing what?"Selene glared at him. 'Letting him live."Lucian smiled slightly. 'Because, my dear, dead men don't talk."Selene's stomach twisted. Lucian wasn't keeping Caleb alive out of kindness, he was keeping him alive because he wanted something and the realization made her sicker. The doctor continued working in silence, his hands steady as he stitched the wound, Caleb winced slightly but remained unconscious. Selene felt a relief; he was alive and that was all that mattered right then Lucian turned toward Eve. 'Make sure he's monitored, I want him stable." Evelyn nodded once. Selene hated owing Lucian anything and also hated that he had control over Caleb's life now. Lucian studied her carefully, as if he could read her thoughts then, in a voice too soft, too knowing, he said, 'Careful, Selene. You're starting to look desperate." Selene's breath shook. Lucian smirked, turning toward the door. 'Let's talk when you're ready to be reasonable." Then he was gone. Selene didn't move, didn't speak, she just knelt there, her hands stained red, her heart pounding violently against her ribs and she had to get out of there before Lucian twisted everything beyond repair.