Fear the Night
Chapter 9-The Drone

Chapter 9: The Drone

“Whendid you learn to talk?” Maverick asked rhetorically as Faye wobbled on her legsin her corner. “And when did you learnto stand?”

“Mine,”Faye replied, reaching for him. Mavericklowered his arms to his sides and took a few steps toward her. He was glad he’d sent Isabella away. She would have been screaming at him to getout of the cell.

“Howam I ‘yours,’ Faye?” he asked, still heading toward her.

Fayepulled the hand reaching for him back to herself to place it on her heart andalmost desperately said, “Love.”

Hestood in front of her, emotionless as she stared up at him. He noticed she was shorter than Isabella,something he wouldn’t have seen if she hadn’t stood. Looking into her eyes he felt a pang of guiltas he saw the love for him in her yellow orbs. He had suspected they had bonded, but apparently that bond ran deeper onher end.

“Love?”she said again as she slowly lifted her hand to his face. He didn’t move as her fingers touched hischeek softly, something he hadn’t expected from this creature of darkness.

“Youunderstand what I tell you?” Maverick asked back.

“Yes,”Faye replied, then asked again, “Love?”

“No,”Maverick sighed in guilt. “I’m sorry,babe. I don’t mean to hurt you, but Iwon’t lie to you.”

Fayepulled her hand back then glared at the stairs and snarled, “Her!”

“Theanswer would have been ‘no’ whether she was here or not!” Maverick snapped andshe whirled her gaze back to him. “Shehas nothing to do with that!”

“Lie!”she roared and shoved herself off the wall as she tried scratching him. He only backed away as she fell forward andonto all fours again. She snarled andhurried at him as he stood in the middle of the cell.

“Love!”she cried, coiling herself around one of his legs then pointed to the stairsand shouted, “More!”

“Yousaying you love me more then she does?” Maverick wondered.

“Yes!”Faye cried, not letting go of his leg.

Hemoved his leg and quickly knelt down in front of her when she was detached fromhim. She sat slumped forward, head bowedand he placed his hands on her shoulders trying to catch her gaze. He saw tears in her eyes and a few streameddown her pale flesh but she didn’t sob.

“Ihave no doubt about how you feel about me,” he murmured, truthfully. “I really hate to break your heart, but Ican’t return your feelings for me. You’re making more progress than I thought you would away from theothers. It makes me happy to see youdoing so well. Does that make you feelany better? Do you understand what I’msaying? I’m happy with you. I hate to send you back---”

“No!”Faye cut in, still crying and pressed her fists to her heart. Stay!” She then pressed her hands to Maverick’s chest. “Happy.”

“Faye,if I send you back, you can teach the others to be like you,” he explained,touching her hands with his. “You canmake me happy that way, too. That’s whatthis is all about. making the others goback to the way they were. Helping them become human again…likeme.”

“No,”Faye said again, then pulled her hands toward her chest, his with them andwhispered, “Stay.”

Maverickstared at the Drone in front of him. Hecouldn’t have imagined when he lured her here a year ago that she would make somuch progress. Solving little problems,standing, talking, feeling somethingother than hate, anger and primal instinct. He was happy with the progressshe had made, and there were days he had dreaded the approach of Lock-Dah,knowing he would be alone again without her. But what worried him was the obvious jealousy she had for Isabella. His feelings for her were unclear, but he certainly didn’t want her hurt or killed,and Faye would most likely try to accomplish the latter. He hadto make a decision, though.

“Alright,”he sighed, pulling their hands down between them. “I won’t send you back. But, you have to leave Isabella alone. If you try to hurt her again, I’ll never forgive you, understand?”

“Yes,”Faye replied through displeased clenched teeth.

“Yukioeither,” he amended.

“Yes,”she agreed. He nodded and stood to leavethe cell but she caught his pant leg. When he looked down at her she stared up at him desperately and meeklysaid, “Kiss?”

Maverickfelt a tug at his heart. He neverthought he’d feel pity for a Drone at all, let alone want to kiss it out ofpity. But, he supposed there was a firstfor everything, and if this would make her happy and keep her from attackingIsabella again, he may as well bite the bullet. Who knew, maybe she wouldn’t it wouldn’t end up killing him?

Kneelingdown again he nodded and took her chin in his hand then, tilting her headslightly to the right, he pressed a tender kiss to her cold cheek, lingering afew second so she could savor the feeling then pulled back with a smile.

“Feelbetter?” he wondered, sincerely.

“Yes,”Faye breathed and Maverick couldn’t believe he saw a small smile touch herblack lips.

“Good,”he nodded then stood and let himself out of the cell as Faye sat in the center,watching him.

“I’llbe back, sweetheart,” he told her, locking the cell door. “Gotta get Yukio Bell back. Don’t you worry, though. You just go back to sleep.”

Fayedidn’t respond as she watched him walk to the safe, put the key away, close thesafe then head to the stairs.

“Sweetdreams, hun!” he called and headed up the stairs, Faye’s eyes on him the wholetime. The door opened then shut and Fayestared sorrowfully out of her cell.

Reachingtoward the stairs she called out to him one last time, saying, “Love.”

Withthat word, it was as if a trigger was set off, and she fell to the ground,limp. Dead from a broken heart.