The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5)

by Stephanie Hudson

  I mentally unlocked her door and walked through soundlessly transporting me back to the beginning. The starting point of my first, last and only obsession. It was very much like it was now, where I couldn’t even stand being without her presence for mere moments. She never fully believed the level in which this inflicted me with hours of suffering. Every single time I had to be without her I would find my own personal Hell and one I continued to suffer to this day.

  She had no idea the power she held not only over my heart but my very soul. I knew there was a reason that every time we touched and when that love would bloom again between us I would find the demon I became when locked to Tartarus. I would see myself as him writhing in anger at being kept the furthest point I could away from her. It’s one of the reasons I chose a prison so deep and so far. If the Titans couldn’t escape then neither could who my demon became down in the pits.

  But these thoughts were far too dark for the presence of one who was all light. A light that filled me so fully, that every single time it simply took my breath away. It stole it like an Angelic thief who had no clue as to what they were doing. The thought made me smile but the sight of Keira fast asleep made me really smile. The type of smile you felt from your toes and didn’t give one damn that the sentiment sounded soft.

  But that’s what I learnt from the very start, all the different things love made you do. The new feelings that coursed through you were like an assault on your once sound mind. It bombarded you with emotions that you didn’t know how to deal with. I don’t think I had ever felt as human as I did that day when first finding her. Even now my heart thundered its classical beat beneath my chest to the point where my ribs would ache. Yet she had no clue to any of this and the thought made me clench my fists just to stop myself from doing something foolish. Like wake her up and demand she listen until she finally understood the levels of my love.

  But one day. One day I vowed she would know, just as I had discovered the levels of her own love for me. Now all I needed was a sign it was still there. It might have been buried deep under a mountain of doubt I myself had placed there but if it was there at all, then there was cause for hope…wasn’t there?

  I slowly approached the bed and the second I saw her I was captivated by her immense beauty. It still astounded me how she wasn’t a vain creature as she certainly had the right to be. Yet if anything it seemed to be the other way, finding herself plain and ordinary if that could be believed! The very thought was insanity to me. I also took note of the new painting I had bought for her and hung over her bed. I wondered what she had thought when storming in here earlier and seeing it there for the first time.

  It was a beautiful piece so I wasn’t surprised when Lucius came up and told me how she had been bidding on it. He also informed me how she had tried to convince him about the obvious love in the world if such a piece could have been created. I had tried not to smirk when his last words uttered to me were,

  “I would take this as a good sign, my friend,” before walking away to start his mission. I looked down now and hoped with everything that was in me that my old friend was right.

  She lay half covered with only a sheet and I realised she must have been too warm because the part of her on display was tantalisingly naked. I wanted badly to pull the sheet down, if only enough to give me a glimpse of her perfect breasts. However I knew, no matter how my Demon roared at me to do just that, I knew even what I was doing now was crossing a line. Anything more would have been unforgivable and I had to remember I was trying to win her back, not push her away with my adolescent behaviour.

  I had to supress the urge to laugh at these thoughts, taking me back to earlier. ‘Did I have a behaviour problem’ had been her question in the pool. Ha, that was a joke in itself considering I had supressed every natural urge I possessed just to refrain from taking her there and then. How easy it would have been to slip into her when her legs were wrapped around my waist. To just lower her onto me, my constant hardened state of arousal whenever she was around.

  I had caught her looking a few times and as before I just couldn’t resist the need to tease her about it, feeding on her blushes. Her shy behaviour about sex had always brought out the alpha in me, the beast wanting to claim his prize. It made me want to take her for hours just to prolong the pleasure I got in not only the act itself but mainly the bliss I would witness in her eyes as she chased her pleasure. It made me want to be cruel and withhold it from her just that bit longer, knowing the intensity that would coil tighter within her.

  I knew her body better than even she did and looking at it now was like being reunited with an old friend. Now this was true torture. Seeing all that splendour spread out before me like the greatest mouth-watering feast and this starving man couldn’t even take one bite. Yes, it was cruel indeed.

  I decided to take pity on myself and lower the temperature in the room to what I knew her body needed. Then I pulled the sheet over her body so that she would find the comfort I knew she liked. And as expected she curled her body tighter into it and I cannot tell you the elevation to my heart at seeing her smile in her sleep.

  This I knew was a rare treat, as I had sometimes spent hours watching her sleep before. Normally she would frown or mutter something I couldn’t quite make out. But on the good nights…on the best nights, I would sometimes get not only a smile but also a little laugh. These moments you have found at the very roots of my happiness, along with a million other things at my core that she did on a daily basis.

  Yes, I needed that hope. I needed that sign or anything. A smile, a laugh or the Gods be willing even my name uttered from her lips…lips I had come so close to kissing tonight. So I would wait and stand watch all night if I had to but I needed this sign. I needed it as the last puzzle piece to know I was doing the right thing and finally, the right thing by her. Because no matter how much I hated that Nephilim scum, I still couldn’t shake what he had said tonight.

  I had made out to Vincent it was nothing of circumstance but in actual fact what he said had hit a nerve and shamefully, a big one at that. The thought that I was hurting her even more with my presence wasn’t something I knew how to deal with. No, I needed to be sure. I could deal with the half breed in other ways and one way or another he wouldn’t be in Keira’s life for much longer, that I could be damn sure about.

  So I soundlessly sat on the bed and waited. I waited for I know not how long but when it finally came, when I found the proof I had been needing to see, I could barely believe it. I had been moving a piece of her hair back from her face that I could see was tickling her nose in her sleep. It was making it do that ridiculously cute wrinkle thing it does when I saw she was gripping something in her fist that she also held to her heart.

  I knew the only way to enable me to see it would be to do something that also constituted crossing a line but this time I felt that I had no choice. This time it was all or nothing.

  So I opened up her mind and using her vulnerable state as my own weapon, I delved in there and took control.

  “What are you protecting ,sweetheart?” I whispered in her ear, letting my voice roll over her senses in waves. It was a little like using a drug and something I was a little ashamed to be doing…that was until she uncurled her fingers.

  And there it was…

  My beacon of hope.

  Keira

  Chapter 24

  Catching the Right Words

  I woke feeling refreshed as the morning light filtered through the curtains and I stretched out as I usually did like a big cat. I think I would even have purred in that moment if I could, I just felt that good. I looked down seeing I was still naked and last night flashed back into my mind. I felt my cheeks get hot as I thought of the pool. Draven had been so playful and flirty it had been like seventh heaven for a time. However it had played havoc later on with my mind and wondering what exactly was he up to?

  I looked up and saw my beautiful new art work hung over my bed from upside down and I smiled thinki
ng, it even works looking at it like this. Then I looked down and saw the piece of paper I had purposely gone to sleep holding to my heart last night. The words that had meant so much to me and words that I also felt change something deep within me.

  ‘Seventy seven reasons to say I am sorry, Keira’, I read it out loud still feeling the weight of those words settle against my chest. It was a soothing balm to my battered heart and even though it wouldn’t fully heal it, it most certainly helped.

  I decided today would be a day of exploring considering Alex had to work. It was an annoying factor about our trip but after last night and him storming off, I was starting to think we needed the distance. So with that in mind I jumped enthusiastically out of bed and straight into the bathroom to start getting ready for the day. The shower felt amazing as jets pounded my skin from all different angles and because of this I ended up being in there for a lot longer than I thought I would.

  It was only when I was out and wrapping a towel round myself that I heard a knocking at the door.

  “Coming… just a second!” I shouted also grabbing the robe from behind the bathroom door and I had just finished tying it when I opened the door.

  “Uh…” Ok so it wasn’t the best opening line when faced with a gorgeous man but I added that it was still early yet to my list of excuses.

  “Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?”

  “Uh…do I have to?” I said still obviously functioning on that level of stupid.

  “Well I believe it is customary between humans when finding old friends at your door,” he said laughing.

  “And you are old…or so I hear.” I teased unable to help myself and thankfully kicked my brain into the next gear…I think it was happily labelled ‘witty’.

  “Careful with the compliments sweetheart, you will give this Angel a big head.”

  “Oh so you’re an Angel today are you?” I asked folding my arms and leaning against the door which prevented him coming in.

  “I am when I’m bringing you breakfast.” He replied with a wink and held up a brown paper bag, which had a grease patch coming through. Oh and didn’t it just smell divine!

  “Oh you’re good.” I remarked narrowing my eyes and making him laugh.

  “A guy can only try.” When he said this he shrugged his shoulders and it was such a human moment that one could forget who I was actually talking to.

  “So you gonna let me in?” He asked waving the bag and tempting me with its delicious smells.

  “Well now that all depends…hey!” I finished with a yelp as Draven swooped on in there, circled my waist with one arm and lifted me out of the way. He then kicked the door closed before setting me back down and walking over to the little sitting area.

  “Nice room.” He said like an everyday Joe would and not like the Barbarian who had just manhandled me before forcing his way into my room.

  “Yeah whatever caveman, it’s not like you haven’t been in here before,” I said nodding to my new favourite possession hanging above the bed. At this he sat down and winked at me saying,

  “Yeah, but not in the daylight.” And then opened up the brown bag. He first laid some napkins on the table and then proceeded to take out what I thought of as breakfast of the gods…

  “Pastries!” I shouted and raced over to the opposite seat.

  “But of course.” He said smirking and then handed one over.

  “To start a cheese and ham croissant and then a…” He rummaged deeper until he pulled out a smaller bag and then pulled out the contents making me shout,

  “A Pain au Chocolat!” In obvious excitement causing him give me a soft smile.

  “Gimmey gimmey!” I said taking it off him and making him chuckle.

  “I thought you would save it for dessert.”

  “Oh I am but I don’t trust you, I remember the last time when you kept taking massive man bites out of mine.” I said defending my greed and possessiveness over the still warm pastry.

  “Ah yes, I remember now…the morning after St Valentine’s.” He said making me blush as I remembered that eventful night of the kinkier side of love making. He noticed my blush, then took a bite of his own croissant and winked at me for the second time in minutes all with a trademark bad boy grin.

  “So apart from establishing your new role as room service provider, you still haven’t told me why you’re here?”

  “Ha, and you know I was so close to wearing the uniform as well.” He said after he swallowed and looked down at his casual clothes. In fact it was surprising to see him looking so…well so normal. In fact he could have easily passed for a tourist as he was only missing the camera around his neck and map in one hand.

  He had on a pair of navy blue cut off combat style trousers with a metal belt buckle that had a car etched on the front. This was combined with a light grey, long sleeved T shirt that had some old faded white car logo on the front that looked cracked with age. I had to smile wondering if it was one of his favourites which had been worn that much or if it was all part of the design. Either way he looked hot and had hit a whole new level of summer cool…one I didn’t even know was on the scale!

  He even had a pair of Aviator sunglasses hanging from the neck and a pair of brown leather flip-flops.

  “Sooo…?” I said with a mouthful of buttery genius.

  “I’m spending the day with you.” On hearing this I chewed a little faster so I could swallow quicker before saying,

  “Excuse me?”

  “We are spending the day together.” Again I shook my head.

  “Er…doing what exactly?”

  “The whole tourist thing,” he said taking another bite, which I knew was his way of steamrolling me into something but acting all casual at the same time, he was sneaky that way.

  “Hence the outfit…” I said waving my hand up and down indicating his amazing body that was unfortunately covered…uh, I mean, his clothes!

  “Hence me wearing clothes, yes.” I frowned when he laughed at me.

  “So breakfast was a bribe?” I asked taking the last mouthful before my next course.

  “I have my tricks.”

  “Oh don’t I know it after last night.” I commented drily.

  “When needs must.”

  “You know I have no idea once again what you’re talking about, so I have decided to just pretend you’re not speaking.” I said feeling cocky with the awesomeness of my come back.

  “You can pretend all you want darling it just means I will have to up my game.”

  “Ha! So this is a game?!” I demanded trying to hold in any reaction that gave away how much I hated the idea.

  “Not in the sense you think, no.” This made me frown.

  “You know if there was a prize for the most confusing man ever then you would be wearing the ribbon right now, you know that?!” I knew he could detect the frustration in my voice but he chose to ignore it and gave me a warm look that just made me throw my hands up at the same time making a ‘Grrr’ sound.

  “Bloody supernatural men!” I said then snatched my chocolate goodness off the table and stormed back to the bathroom.

  “Where are you going?” Draven asked laughing at my dramatic behaviour.

  “To eat, get changed and sulk and not necessarily in that order, caveman!” I shouted before slamming the door to the magical sound of his laughter.

  “So what do you want to see first?” Draven asked as we walked through the hotel lobby with his hand at the small of my back.

  “How about the Cathedral?” I asked turning to look up at him. I caught his eyes alight with mirth and just before he slipped his sunglasses on he said,

  “Good choice, sweetheart,” and then he took my hand in his and led me out of the door. I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t excited but I also couldn’t help the guilt I felt. I had spoken to Alex this morning on the phone in my room after getting ready. I was just thankful that I had reached the phone before Draven but that didn’t mean I didn’t have to h
old my hand over his mouth at one point to stop him from asking who it was.

  Alex had said he was sorry about the way he left abruptly but he said it was because dressed like that I had been too tempting for him to stay. I wasn’t sure I fully believed his reasons but there was nothing for me to do but accept what he was telling me. So after telling me he had to work all day and for me to have a good time sightseeing I hung up. It was only when Draven bit me playfully on the finger did I realise I still had my hand over his mouth. Then after a simple but tummy fluttering moment of him saying,

  “Let’s go, Beautiful,” we were off out of the door to start our day.

  Which brought us to now and walking through the expensive and exquisite shopping mall with its domes of glass and shops like Prada.

  “This place is amazing.” Draven looked down at me and smiled before informing me,

  “It is called Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and it is one of the world’s oldest shopping malls.” I couldn’t help the little hum of pleasure that seemed to ripple through me at hearing Draven speaking Italian.

  “It looks old.” I said and I quickly looked to the side to roll my eyes at how dense I just sounded.

  “It is. The Galleria is named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of what was known as the Kingdom of Italy.” He said speaking quietly down at me.

  “Really… So when was it built?” I asked feeding my history addiction.

  “I believe it was designed some time in 1861 but was only built between 1865 and 1877. I am also trying to recall the human’s name.” At this I giggled and I could tell even through his glasses that he just raised one eyebrow at me.

  “Something funny?”

  “Only that there is something in history that you have forgotten,” I said feeling smug at being able to tease him.

  “Umm we will see…I think this old dog is just distracted.” At this I tried to think of a good comeback but when he lifted his shades to give me a heated look, all thoughts fled me. In fact it made me feel naked instead of the denim shorts, summery mellow yellow t-shirt and the thin material, white zip up hooded top, that I only wore to cover my scars.