Hell's Gatekeeper (Chapter 6) (part 3)

When Daniel stops, I try to put the breaks on too, but I can’t quite find any purchase on the soft ground, and cannon into him. We fall over and land in a pile of leaves. When my eyes open, and I stop screaming, I realise I’m lying right on top of Daniel. Somehow he’s twisted around in the air and landed on his back. He’s trying to get his breath back, and suddenly I can’t breathe.

Daniel closes his eyes to collect himself. Before I can roll off his chest, his eyes open, and he smiles.

“Not exactly how I planned, but close enough,” he mumbles.

I narrow my eyes. “What, me lying on top of you? In your dreams,” I growl.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that,” he says in earnest.

“Then what did you plan?” I snap.

“This,” he tells me, and presses his lips to mine, ever so lightly.

I'm stunned by the light touch of his lips to mine, but my lips cling to his desperately. My eyes close and a small moan reverberates through my throat as Daniel's lips caress mine. My mind starts to leave me, and I’m dimly aware of Daniel’s hands on the small of my back, pulling me closer to him. I let the kiss deepen before I realise what I’m doing.

I’m kissing Daniel! I’m kissing Daniel! I shouldn’t be doing this! This will not end well on my part! I can almost hear Isis’s angry sigh when she learns what I’ve done. I can’t be doing this!

My eyes snap open and I pull away from Daniel. He looks at me, smiling, and I scuttle quickly off him. His smile begins to fade, and I give him an almighty glare, the smile wiped clean off his face. He looks hurt, but also a little embarrassed. So he should be!

“Y-y-you sh-should-d-dn’t h-have done th-that-t,” I stammer.

Daniel’s smile returns, though it’s more of a smirk.

“Why not?” He asks.

“Because ...” I trail off, wondering how close to the truth I can get without revealing something I’m not allowed to. “Because I’m not allowed to have feelings for anyone outside of my job.”

Daniel sits up. “You have feelings for me?” He asks in surprised excitement.

I realise what I’d said too late. “No! That ... I ... damn it,” I look away angrily.

“Oh my gosh!” Daniel jumps to his feet and walks over to me.

“What?” I ask, eyes widening in surprise. I back up a little.

“That was your first kiss, wasn’t it?” He can’t fight the smile that spreads across his face.

I baulk at his observation. “Err ... um ... no it wasn’t!” I shoot back.

“It was!” Daniel takes another step toward me and reaches a hand out to touch my cheek.

Flinching, I take another step back and trip. I hit my head on a tree branch and curl over, pain spreading through my head and neck. I curse and clutch my skull, tears slipping unbidden from my eyes. Why do these things have to happen to me?

“Are you okay?” Daniel asks, leaning down beside me, concern in his voice.

“I’m … fine … honest,” I manage. Suddenly, with the tears rolling down my cheeks, the floodgats to my emotions come down and I'm sobbing like a child. Why do I have to have so many emotions?

“You don’t sound fine,” Daniel quips. He then sighs. “Come on, you can tell me. I’m sorry if it was me,” he says.

“It’s just that … I haven’t cried since I was ten. And twice in one week is like … well it’s a lot for me,” I explain.

“Wait … this is the second time you’ve been crying? Daniel asks.

“Yes, but that’s … not the point.”

“Cleo, what’s the matter? Have you run away? Because that would explain a lot, and I promise I won’t tell anyone where you are.”

“I haven’t run away. I’m on holiday, I told you that,” I snap.

Daniel’s quiet for some time. We just sit there; Daniel with his arms around me, and me sitting there sobbing. Eventually I calm down, and sit I silence. Daniel suddenly shifts his weight, and stands up, pulling me with him.

“Come on, we should get home,” he says.

I nod and let him half carry me back to the house. It’s dark by the time we get back, and I just go up to my room. I don’t bother with food or a shower, and go the sleep.