"Krakens, sirens, leviathans, hydras—" Penny buried her nose in Ethan's armpit again, where she wanted more than anything else. "Did I miss anything?"
"You don't know how to dream, angel. Aren't you supposed to do it by virtue of your position?
"I think I've been fired," Penny muttered, and Ethan laughed as he kissed her on the top of her head.
They talked until late at night. It was mostly Ethan who spoke, and Penny fell silent at every opportunity to give Ethan at least a little sleep before the difficult operation. Cats scratched at her heart, it was cold in the tent, Penny clung to Ethan, trying to keep warm, and he eagerly hugged her and continued to talk nonsense. About his childhood and how he became a commissar. How frightened he was when he first encountered a vampire and how he rose to the post of High Inquisitor, but he never agreed to settle in the office.
"You need to get some sleep," Penny said.
"I'll sleep more, there's plenty of time," Ethan waved him off and went on talking, losing what seemed to be a dozen years at once.
After one of the stories, Penny tried to distract him with a kiss and caresses, hoping that the orgasm would help this restless man fall asleep. As a result, they made love once more, and Penny, sprawled in her sleeping bag, feeling deep tremors inside, could no longer think or worry, only feel something like a thorny rosehip bush sprouting in her chest, decorated with fragrant flowers all over the area. Ethan must have kissed her entirely, as if trying to absorb her, absorb her, and remember her forever.
"I'm glad you need me," Penny said, recovering herself. It was almost morning, the camp was beginning to come to life, but Ethan was awake, staring up at the ceiling and continuing to hug Penny as habitually and calmly as if he had been doing it all his life. "I'm glad to be your weakness, it makes me stronger, but not in a bad way. I feel like I can do anything for you, move mountains, dry up the sea, anything. I'm glad you chose me, that you called me, and that you took me to your bed. And I'll follow you today, no matter what you say.
Ethan's body tensed and he sat up. His gaze turned to Penny was sharp and sharp. Her chest heaved heavily, her lips tightened into a thin thread.
"What do you think of yourself?" He said rudely. "You, receptacle of vice, why are you grinding this?" How could you get it into your head that you could violate my orders? What is more important to me than anyone else in this camp?
Ethan stood up, and Penny followed.
"Ethan, what are you...
"Don't you dare say my name. Ethan grabbed Penny by the hair and yanked it down. "I'm the High Inquisitor, and I don't need your help. You, who are you? You're not even human! I got what I wanted from you, I don't need you anymore. You're nobody to me, kill it on your nose. And behave accordingly.
"Listen...
A lightning strike made Penny stagger, Ethan yanked her to the side, froze, and the next second something sharp poked into her neck. Ethan twisted her arm back, and Penny screamed. She twitched, trying to break free, but with every second she felt her body worse, she could move less and less. Her eyelids drooped, and she went limp. The grip immediately weakened, Ethan pulled her a few steps away and lowered her onto the soft fabric of the sleeping bag.
Penny felt a touch on her hair, heard footsteps, and then another needle dug into her neck, into her vein, and consciousness slipped away.
***
Anyone who believes that angels are incapable of anger has never seen an angel dealing with Ethan. Penny wasn't just angry. She was beside herself with rage. Darts soaked in vampire blood, just think! When Penny came to her senses in Ethan's tent, she could barely restrain herself from smashing everything there.
A wave of anger rose from within, her blood boiling, her hands trembling as she pulled on her clothes and laced up her shoes. The sky outside the tent window was still gray, it was quiet in the camp, which meant that she had not been unconscious for too long. Now Penny would find this idiot, shake him by the neck like a naughty puppy, and beat him until his brains fell into place.
What did Penny think of herself?
What do you think of yourself, Ethan! Decided to go on a mission alone? Have you deceived Penny and are you happy? Clever, but it didn't work out! Idiot! A self-sacrificing stupid idiot who thought he was smarter than everyone else and thought he could fool Penny for a second. To make them believe that nothing happened, that everything that happened did not matter. Yes, Penny would rather eat his shoes than believe it! You don't behave like that with someone who doesn't care, Ethan.
And it's time for you, blind man, to admit it. And how many blows and cracks it will take depends only on you. And you will not go on any mission alone, and do not hope!
Standing upright, Penny staggered and had to rest her hands on her knees to keep herself from falling. She was dizzy, dark dots flashed before her eyes. My head was spinning, as if sand had been poured into my eyes, my bones were pulling and aching, as if with a severe cold, the scars itched so much that I wanted to find the nearest wall and scratch against it until the end of time.