Page 75 of Red Zone Awakened

He searched for something to tell her.Something beautiful to replace the horrors in her mind.But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t think of any pretty imagery to give her.There were no halcyon childhood stories to tell.No tales of wonder he could weave for her.He’d done all his traveling in the name of war.His childhood had been a series of nightmares that became normal.And now… now he lived in the most dangerous area in the world, earning a living as a mercenary and smuggler.There wasn’t one memory in his mind that wasn’t tainted with violence, suffering, or the grime of survival.

Mace had never felt more helpless in his life.

“Help me.”He forced the words out, asking his other half for something beautiful to share with this woman.Something that would give her a reason to come back to him.

To them.

His bat didn’t hesitate.Tell her this.

As a series of images and words appeared in his mind, Mace focused and translated them.Whispering them to the shivering, unresponsive woman in his arms.

“The night’s beautiful,” he said.“It’s a secret place.When the world sleeps and the noise of the day fades to nothing.It’s the time when creatures like me come out to play.We dance in the air, looking for food, for company, for a mate to share the magic with.There’s color in the night.People don’t realize it because they’re used to the luminous shades you see in the sun.But there are so many subtle colors to see in the soft glow of the moonlight too.”

Mace felt her relax into his body a fraction.It was enough to keep him talking.

Tell me more,he said to the bat.I think it’s getting through to her.

His bat kept on talking in a series of images and words that only Mace would ever be able to interpret.And he continued to translate the bat’s story, giving Keiko the only part of him that wasn’t tainted by evil and death—the freaky little rodent that shared his DNA.

“The perfume of the night differs from the day.During the day, the sun warms the flowers, encouraging them to release their scent.At night, blossoms don’t need any such encouragement.They willingly open their petals and release their fragrance.It’s subtler than the flowers that enjoy the sun because there’s less competition at night with so few flowers that bloom in the darkness.”

Keiko’s breathing began to slow under his touch, and he continued to gently stroke her back.He swallowed hard, his throat tightening at the signs she might be coming back.He hardly dared hope.

“Sound travels farther in the dark.One call can echo for miles.If you listen hard enough, you can tell whether a call is a warning or an invitation.Because at night, creatures are always searching.They look for food or comfort.But they’re always searching.During the day, creatures, people, often sit and watch the world.You can’t do that at night because the darkness brings out the predators, and you have to be careful.”

Her breathing eased a little more, and Mace held her tighter.Closer.

“The best time is twilight, when the world hovers between day and night and colors fade to gentler shades while the songs become softer.If you time it right, you can glide in the airstream between the warm day and the cooler night.It’s like floating on a wave.The silver shades of twilight surround you, and the air fills with joy as the night creatures wake.It’s paradise.A secret world that only a few explore.”

There was a stirring, a soft movement, and Keiko’s slender fingers splayed across the dip in the middle of his chest.

As a surge of hope shot through him, he softly brushed her hair back from her face.“Are you back with me, baby?”

There was no reply; she just pressed her palm to his bare skin.Branding him with her touch.

The bat resumed its story, and Mace whispered it to Keiko: “The blackest, darkest part of the night is the most secret of all.It’s when creatures tiptoe and hold their breath for fear of discovery.It’s the time when magic happens.”

Is she okay now?His bat sounded worried.

I think she’s coming back to us.

“What kind of magic?”Keiko asked in a tiny voice.

Every muscle in Mace’s body went taut, and he forced them to relax.“Hey, you’re with me again.That’s great.”He put a finger under her chin and tipped her face up.Her pupils weren’t as large as they’d been, and color was creeping back into her cheeks.“You had me worried there for a minute.”

Her cute little nose scrunched as she tried to remember what happened and how she’d ended up in his arms on the floor.

He didn’t want her going there—the sudden uncovering of a memory could send a person straight back into shock.“You’re fine now.It’s gone.”

She jerked upright and lifted her feet to study them.Her bottom lip trembled.“I can still feel it on my skin.”

“I wish there were something I could do about that.”He meant every word.

“I-I stood in a dead person’s blood.”It was barely a whisper.

“Yes, you did.But it’s over now.It’s gone.”He gently turned Keiko’s face so she looked at him, not her feet.“We’re in trouble here, princess.If we aren’t careful, we’ll end up stuck in the middle of a war.It’s only a matter of time before Enforcement storms the building to take out Freedom.You don’t have time to process what happened.You need to put it in a box and lock that shit up tight.Don’t even think about opening it until this is all over and we’re far from this building.”

She searched his eyes.“Is that what you do?”