Two: Fateful Encounter 2/2

My feet felt glued to the dirt.

I knew I should help.

I couldn’t move.

Michael glanced up at me.

“Do something,” he begged, “Help her.”

Icarus will be upset with me.

It was his fate.

He asked me to help.

Could I really refuse?

I know the logic itself was flawed.

It was just an excuse to get my body moving.

I ran to May, and I pulled her to the water.

Cool her burns.

“Brian,” she sobbed, “Is he dead?”

I didn’t even have to look.

He was very much gone.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

I held her in the water as she continued to sob.

Wolves mate for life.

It was only a matter of time now.

The burn was already fatal.

Her mate dying would only speed up her death.

I could feel Michael behind me.

“Sunny,” May whimpered.

“It’s alright,” I said, “Rest.”

The trauma to her body must be unimaginable.

Phoenix fire was nothing like regular fire.

May lost consciousness in my arms after a few more hard sobs racked her body.

I pulled her closer to me before lifting her out of the water.

Michael looked surprised at my strength.

“Is she…” he hesitated, “Is she….”

“She is alive,” I said quietly.

His reddened eyes dropped to her.

“She needs to rest,” I said, “Give her some space.”

He nodded.

The others around us were growling.

Several of the children were already crying.

I was so wrapped up in what was happening with the three of them that I neglected my surroundings.

Wolves didn’t take kindly to their Alpha being killed.

Especially not by an outsider.

“Sunny?” a wolf asked, “What do you need?”

“Aloe,” I said, “And any cloth that you can spare.”

He nodded before he led some of the others away.

“I’m sorry,” Michael gasped, “I didn’t mean to.”

“Michael,” I said, “Take a breath.”

He looked startled.

I didn’t realize I referred to him by his name.

His memory was gone. With it, his name was lost as well.

“How?” he gasped, “My name?”

“Not now,” I said, “Give us room.”

He stepped aside as I carried May to her small hut.

The burn was already necrotic.

Part of her face was dead.

Michael was wise to stay outside.

Though, I think the Wolves circling their Alpha’s home was enough to get the hint.

He wasn’t welcome.

A few minutes later, a couple of Wolves came into the hut to bring supplies.

“How does she look?”

I glanced up at the large wolf.

This man was Brian’s Beta.

Cain.

He had to know that this was fatal for her.

I met his eyes before shaking my head slightly.

“You’re sure?” he asked.

How did I become such a trusted person?

I was still an outsider.

Brian didn’t even trust me.

“The burns,” I gestured to her charred flesh, “The tissue is already dead.”

He moved closer, and I heard him sniff the air around her.

“Is there nothing we can do?” he asked.

My gaze went back to the dead skin.

I had several treatment options I could work with.

None of them was a sure-fire way.

I also didn’t know how deep the necrosis was.

Brian crumbled in her hands, so her body was probably already half-dead.

“Sunny?” Cain asked, “What do I tell the others?”

I met his scared gaze.

How did he trust me at all?

“Cain,” I said, “I don’t know how long she will last.”
His lip quivered.

“It’s only a matter of time now,” I said, “On top of losing her mate….”

Cain looked confused.

“How do you know about that?” he asked.

“I’m not human either,” I stated, “I just wish I could help.”

His expression changed.

“You are helping, Sunny,” he said, “You were an outsider until May brought you in.”

I didn’t realize that I had been accepted like that.

I knew May had taken a liking to me, but I wasn’t so sure about the others.

“The death of a mate can be painful,” Cain said, “But it can take years sometimes.”

“Years?”

He nodded, “May is strong enough to last years.”

He had such faith in her.

“The dead tissue,” he said, “Can we remove it?”

I wasn’t sure if it was fair to try.

“I need a blade,” I said, “But I don’t know how deep the necrosis goes.”

He nodded quickly.

I watched him rush out of the hut.

It didn’t even take him five minutes.

He brought back several different sharp objects.

My eyes went over the different lengths and sizes.

I reached for the small blade and pressed it to her hand.

As I cut through, I didn’t feel any normal tissue.

“Her hand is dead,” I stated.

I brought the blade higher, just under the bend of her arm.

I repeated the process.

Her whole arm is probably dead already.

My gaze landed on her side.

It went nearly halfway across her chest, and it extended down her stomach and almost all of her right thigh.

I pressed the blade gently into her side.

I pulled it out to see if any blood might spill out.

Blood was supposed to be a good sign right now.

Blood meant living tissue.

There was none of that here.

May was strong, but not enough to bring nearly half of her body back to life.

I think Cain realized what was happening when I set the blade down and didn’t pick it up again.

“I don’t think this will end well for the rest of us if she doesn’t make it,” Cain moved closer to whisper into my ear.

I didn’t consider that.

Michael was already so distraught over hurting her.

He might completely lose it once he realizes that he killed her too.

“The others aren’t safe,” he said.

“He’ll know something is up if you try evacuating.”

Cain shook his head, “We’re not leaving May here.”

“He’ll follow you,” I stated.

“We’re not leaving,” he stated, “May has been good to us. She made this pack what it is.”

Oh.

“She doesn’t deserve to die alone,” he said.

I could hear the crack in his voice.

“She won’t be alone,” I said.

“You aren’t safe either,” he said, “That monster will kill you.”

He could try.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I stated.

He looked like he was ready to argue, but I could tell he realized it would be useless.

“You remember what happened when I first got here,” I stated.

Cain nodded, “Brian was going to send you away.”

“And May wouldn’t let him,” I said.

Cain placed his hand on my face, “She must have seen something special in you.”

It was strange.

Cain was showing me affection.

His thumb gently rubbed my cheek.

“If we make it out of here,” he said, “I wouldn’t mind you staying with us.”

This was difficult.

I lacked the proper emotion to let him down gently.

Though, the fact I wanted to let him down gently means I’m not entirely devoid of emotion.

“We never know what might happen,” I said.

He smiled lightly before retracting his hand.

“I’m going to let the others in here,” he said, “Let them pay their respects.”

“She isn’t gone yet,” I stated.

“No,” he said, “But she deserves to know how loved she is before she is.”

I nodded.

“Do you think you can distract that asshole?” he asked.

“First, you worry about my safety,” I teased, “Now you want me to distract him?”

I could see the crimson color of his cheeks.

“He will listen to me,” I nodded, “I know.”

“I’ll give you a minute,” Cain said, “Then when you come out, I’ll send the first one in.”

I nodded.

He walked out, and I could hear the worried voices.

Once it was just the two of us, I felt strange.

I was not supposed to experience things like this.

Maybe I was damaged.

My hand gently rested on her unscathed cheek.

I wished I could go back and change this.

“Sunny?”

It was Michael.

Hate.

I’ve heard the word and read it countless times.

It was the first time I wanted to say I just might feel it.

It was like a child pulling a flower from a garden only to smash it in their palm.

A light is dying right in front of me.

He did this.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, “And I’m so grateful to have met you.”

My first mission.

I didn’t know if I could handle another one like this.

She looked so pale.

“Sunny?”

I wanted to wrap my hands around his throat.

The desire alone was enough to startle me.

I stood up and made my way outside.

A man and his son went in once I was out of the doorway.

Michael looked horrible.

“Walk with me,” I said.

He nodded quickly.

He stole a glance at the hut before turning to follow me.

“Is she…” Michael couldn’t even bring himself to ask.

“She is still alive,” I stated.

I noticed his bottom lip quivering.

“She won’t make it,” he said, “Will she?”

“Wolves are strong,” I stated.

“Don’t lie to me,” he said flatly, “I forgot what I was until I set that wolf on fire.”

He stopped to look down at me.

“You know what I am,” he said, “Don’t you?”

He must have known it already.

“Not a lot of species can use fire like that,” I stated.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“My name is Sunny,” I stated.

“What are you?” he asked.

I glanced to the side.

“I am several things,” I said, “But mostly, I am a work of art.”

Icarus’s words brought me comfort.

Michael didn’t look as grief-stricken as he did before.

He must see me as a threat now.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “A work of art?”

“It is what my creator told me,” I said, “After I awoke for the first time.”

This should be alright as long as I didn’t reveal my mission.

It wasn’t a lie.

“Your creator?” he asked.

“I am a Golem,” I stated, “He built me with his own two hands.”

If he was going to kill me, he should know that much.

His gaze went over my head, back to where May slept.

“Who is your master?” he asked.

“He is not my master,” I stated, “And I will die before I tell you that.”

His gaze dropped to land on me again.

The white circles formed in his eyes again.

“I’m having a hard time controlling myself,” he stated, “But I won’t hurt you.”

“Your eyes did that before you killed Brian,” I stated.

His hand came up to rub his eye.

After he opened his eyes again, they were golden yellow.

The same white ring remained.

“You might not understand this,” he said, “But I felt a pull towards her.”

“A pull?” I asked.

“They say you only experience it once you find the one you’re supposed to spend your life with.”

“She had a mate already,” I stated.

“He could have just been who she settled for.”

I guess we’ll never know that now.

“You were the only one that was kind to me while I was here,” he said, “Other than May.”

Because he didn’t deserve the hostility he got.

Now he does.

“You should go,” he said.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I stated.

His head cocked to the side.

“Your creator will grieve you then,” he stated.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Not on purpose,” he stated, “But I’m not leaving her here.”

“Stop,” I said.

He didn’t even move.

I just needed him to lose that train of thought.

“You don’t deserve to take her anywhere.”

“Maybe,” he said, “But I can’t live without her.”

He barely knew her.

“You don’t even know her,” I stated.

“Sunny,” he sighed, “You would never understand.”

“Then explain it,” I said.

He glanced up again.

He must be watching to see if anyone tried to remove her from her bed.

“My soul reached for hers,” he stated, “I felt it.”

“How do you know?”

“It’s just a feeling,” he said, “Every fiber of my existence called out to her.”

Fate really is cruel.

“She reached back,” he stated, “That’s why Brian lost his temper.”

I couldn’t ask her now.

I didn’t see it either.

“As a Golem, you lack a soul,” he said, “Your only true desire will be to serve your master.”

I didn’t disagree with him.

“Your master must be pretty sick to make you like that,” he stated, “He the one that called you a work of art?”

“Yes.”

Icarus wasn’t sick.

He is kind, and he puts others before himself.

“You are beautiful, Sunny,” he stated, “A man doesn’t make something look like you unless he wants something specific.”

For Icarus, I would be anything he wanted.

“Looks like you already accepted it.”

“You’re wrong about his intentions,” I stated, “But if the day comes where he does want that from me, I will gladly give that to him.”

“You make it sound like you actually have a choice,” he said, “He made you to serve him.”

“I suppose time will tell then,” I stated.

It seemed like he was trying to start a fight.

I didn’t care enough to argue.

Icarus may be my master or creator, but it didn’t matter.

I was grateful enough just to be.

“Go to your master,” Michael said, “Or you’ll die.”

I can’t.

“If it’s truly as you say,” I stated, “I am replaceable.”

He stared at me for a long minute before he spoke again.

“Suit yourself,” he said.

He moved around me, and I watched as he headed right for where May slept.

I couldn’t stop him.

I could just watch as others tried to stop him, and he scared them off with his fire.

He didn’t burn them like I thought he would.

Most of them were too scared to stop him.

I noticed a woman and her daughter run out once Michael was inside of May’s hut.

My gaze caught Cain making his way quickly towards the hut.

A loud wail stopped him in his tracks.

Cain's hand covered his mouth.

I could hear the grief in Michael’s cry.

I felt it.

May was dead.

I thought she had more time.

From all the way over here, I could hear him screaming for her.

He begged her not to leave him.

Maybe his soul really did reach for hers.

Fire erupted around the structure they were in.

The wood home was gone in seconds.

I could see Michael in the center of the chaotic blaze.

He carried May in his arms as he made his way to the water.

Several Wolves tried to stop him from taking her, but they caught on fire.

I just watched.

He even stopped to look at me.

He held her close to him.

His fire wasn’t black.

It was like he was trying to change the color of it.

His forehead pressed to hers.

I could only stare as pieces of her limbs turned to ash as they broke away from her body and hit the floor.

“Icarus,” I said, “Help me.”

I couldn’t watch this.

It was gut-wrenching.

Something covered my eyes.

“You don’t need to watch anymore,” Icarus said, “Come home with me, Sunny.”

When he dropped his hand, I almost gasped.

Icarus stood in front of me, and massive wings towered at his back.

The fire behind him was increasing in size.

I felt his hands on my cheeks, checking to make sure I was alright.

I couldn’t help but notice the way his wings melted as he studied my face.