Deviant Fixation

by Valencia Carmelita

  You wanna play footsies?!

  Fine !

  I'll show you how I play, you dastard!!

  I quickly try kicking at his legs but he dodges them away before I could get a good strike. For a few seconds nothing occurs and I relax in my seat, his expression unreadable.

  But soon enough his feet begins sliding up my leg again and I feel my anger simmering over. His feet was precariously reaching closer towards my thighs.

  Curse him and his tall height and long legs!!

  I begin frantically kicking around again with my legs and feet, and yet again he's dodged it. But this time I wasn't going to just let it go.

  I slide down halfway slowly in my seat while staring daggers at him. His eyes sparkle with amusement.

  You won't be laughing for long, you dastard!

  Then with a swift force I kick my legs in his direction and I finally end up booting his leg hard.

  "Ouch!!" Duffield jolts in his chair next to the demon.

  Duffield's face scrunches in pain, bits of cake spatter out of his mouth onto aunt Margo's hands and plate. "What was that ?"

  Rapid concern inundates me as I instantly sit up in my seat. I catch sight of the demon appearing to suppress his chuckle.

  ◆◆◆

  When dinner is over, I escape to my room as quick as possible by utilizing the fireplace stairwell in the kitchen lounge, since the foyer would be crowded by departing guests.

  The demon's behaviour throughout the soirée was daunting to say the least. I was immensely perplexed and infuriated by his shamelessness and horrid display of flirtation towards me in the presence of so many people.

  I couldn't wait till the day I moved out of here. Earlier in the morning, Rachael had been browsing homes and apartments for me online.

  She found some for my temporary stay in Western Australia before I could move back to America.

  My birthday was the day after tomorrow and I'll be granted permission to utilize mister Mirza's wealth he left for me, may Allah bless his soul where ever he might be now.

  After a span of two hours, Bev and Katie show up at my door in their night gowns. Bev was spending the night over while Grigori and Serge left along with the rest of the guests.

  We're busy eating leftover cupcakes from the dessert course when Katie informs me. "Oh I nearly forgot to tell you, Tommy called me and told me he's seen Ilona before in his father's nightclubs yesterday. He recognized her from the Veneta bag she carries around, so he dished out information on her from the security personnel at the front and turns out she regularly visits the club on Wednesdays and Friday nights."

  "So will you tell your brother about her?" I ask, as I finish eating my cupcake.

  She emphatically shakes her head in decline. "No! I can't have him find out about Tommy at all costs."

  Bev begins. "She's only telling you this because we remembered when you mentioned Ilona had your recording on either her usb or her phone."

  "And since Ilona visits the club regularly.." Katie looks me in the eyes with determined resolve. "We thought of a plan..it would be a good idea to steal her bag with the keychain and her phone. Completely get rid of any recordings she may have of you."

  "Really ?!" I eagerly lean forward in astonishment. "You guys will do that for me ?"

  The both of them exchange wary looks before Katie says to me. "We won't be able to do it without your help though."

  "What do I need to do?" I question pensively.

  "You have to accompany us to the club under a disguise." Bev utters cautiously.

  "Whaaaat?!" I leap to my feet while shaking my head in decline. "I'm not allowed to enter such forbidden places!"

  "It's the only way we could get ahold of her phone and bag." Katie reminds.

  "Not like you'd be going there to party." Bev snorts while rolling her eyes at me.

  "I don't know .." I begin pacing back and forth.

  "It's your choice." Katie assures. "Just let me know if you're up for it."

  I look towards them. "I'll think about it.."

  Chapter 26

  The morning of my birthday, I didn't expect to wake up to a room filled with teddy bears in varying shapes and shades. Initially a warm smile stretches on my face as I think of how endearing Rachael is for setting up this early morning birthday surprise.

  I leap out of bed and rush downstairs for a quick thank you before I could return to shower and pray. Once I arrive to the kitchen, I'm welcomed by the dulcet aromas of baked pastries.

  "Good morning birthday girl!" Mrs.Agnelli greets candidly as she inserts into the oven a tray of Red Velvet Nutella Stuffed Cookies. "Look at the early morning delight for your birthday."

  "Good morning Mrs.Agnelli!" I survey the kitchen islands in amazement and recognize a few of the dessert dishes set onto them.

  There is Caramel Banana Cream Tiramisu, Funfetti Cake, Creamy Eggnog Bars, and Chocolate Éclair Squares.

  "You didn't have to go through all of this trouble for me!" I marvel as I embrace her in a quick tight hug.

  Mrs.Agnelli flicks her hand dismissively. "Oh it's nothing! You deserve more than this!"

  "I'm ever so grateful for the love and hospitality Rachael, you, Katie and the rest of the staff here has provided me." I express wholeheartedly while I pour myself a glass of water from a pitcher.

  "Oh no need to thank me, you're like family now and besides.." She pauses as she withdraws a batch of Oreo Brownies tray from the second oven. With a quick glimpse in my direction, she adds. "Vladimir helped prepare most of these desserts before he left just an hour ago."

  I nearly sputter out the water from my mouth. "What?!!"

  Merriment dances in her eyes as she fully pivots to view my horror stricken face. "Cara mia, you may deem it unbelievable, however surprisingly it is the truth and it has shocked me no less. He's actually the one to have awoken me earlier than my regular time to help him prepare these desserts and even lunch."

  "W-Why ?!" I nearly yell, unable to simmer down my anger over him. "What exactly is his problem anyway?!"

  Mrs.Agnelli's smile dampens the slightest bit as her eyes slowly flit about in a thinking gesture. Then she says with apparent confusion. "Well I didn't think of it as a problem since baking desserts is never a problem but I really can't answer for why.."

  My lips press into a line of agitation and again I scan the delicious variety of the sweet cuisine before blurting. "Didn't expect him as a cooking and baking type.."

  I expect him only as a demonic perverted satanic evil dastard killer...

  And the list of evil words don't just end here ...

  Mrs.Agnelli's smile brightens anew. "He's a fine cook, he gets the trait from his mother. Trust me you'll love the taste of all these dishes! You'll be asking for more and more!"

  Except I don't plan on tasting them to begin with and I'm leaving tomorrow and don't plan on ever returning to the dastards prison..

  "Okay." I blankly say, striving to contain the ire of my voice.

  "Here, have a taste!" She enthusiastically holds out a plate of tiramisu.

  "Um.." I blink awkwardly at her eager face. "I'll try it later, I'm not really hungry right now.."

  "Oh.." Her smile falters as she reluctantly begins to lower the plate back on the counter. "Well whenever you are, don't skip eating this. He did put a lot of effort into this, considering he was here since early morning hours and has left for work without any rest."

  "Sure, later I will.." I lie, suppressing the urge in her presence to scowl over the thought of him. "Is Rachael in her study right now ?"

  Mrs.Agnelli nods. "Yes, preparing to head to work as usual."

  I vocalize my gratitude anew to her in addition of a quick hug before departing the kitchen. All the while my mind was cursing the dastard repeatedly.

  What the hell is his problem!?

  "Thank you so much Rachael for the early morning birthday surprise!" I say jovially as soon as I enter her private study. "You didn't have to, you've don
e so much for me and I can not thank you enough."

  Immediately her head whips up from the documents she was reading and she slips off her spectacles. Eyeing me in alarm, she asks. "What?! You're aware of the birthday surprise from me already?! Who told you?"

  I provide her a momentary blank look before I discreetly chortle."Heheh how could I have not seen it, I mean you've arranged it in plain sight for me to view as soon as I woke up."

  She angles her head, brows knitting by a muddled expression. "Uh no..Your gift is actually here in one of my treasury safe-boxes."

  My smile evaporates. "So you're not responsible for all those teddy bears in my room?"

  Completely bewildered, she slowly shakes her head in decline. "No.."

  "Oh.." I begin to feel the cognizant ire tugging at my heart anew over him.

  I furnish Rachael with a swift embrace before heading back to my room to shower and pray.

  I was beyond startled over such awfully aberrant behaviour from the demon. Apprehension crept it's misery over me as I dreaded whatever schemes he was upto.

  I dreaded if he would try to inhibit my departure from this gilded prison. My stomach roiled in fear should he decide to imprison me here instead.

  Ever since the day of the unfortunate first kiss, he's been depleting of hostility in preference for licentiousness towards me.

  Once in my room, the sight of all the teddy bears can only cause me nothing short of inner revulsion.

  How dare he trespass into my room again ?!!

  I hated the fact that I was a heavy sleeper last night enough to not have awakened to any suspicious noise.

  The thought that creeped me out greatly, was him likely watching me asleep. Similarity of those stalkers in movies, studying their victims during their slumber.

  Now that's creepy as hell!!

  I shudder openly.

  I access my closet for clean clothes, and shriek as I'm pummelled to the floor by a mass flood of teddy-bears. Trying to leap out, I'm only tossed back down by another swell of fluffy teddies from the closet. After the third influx of teddies, I finally resurface out by repleted fury with my hands clenched in fists at my sides.

  "DASTARD!!!" I scream, before clamping my hands over my mouth.

  Wherever he is, I bet he's having a good laugh over this! >:-(

  Enraged, I kick at the closet door with my bare foot. The strike abruptly causes another unseen wave of teddies to flood out, knocking me over again.

  ◆◆◆

  "Happy birthdayyyyyy!!!!" Katie and Bev simultaneously greet me as Serge sprays me from confetti spray can.

  "Thanks you guys!" I peer at them from the slightly askew door.

  "Let us in!" Bev nudges through almost tripping me on my feet. They saunter in after eachother but stop midstep as they gape at the teddy bears engulfing my room.

  "Uh.." I chortle nervously. "Just a few teddy bears heheh.."

  Katie swivels towards me. "Rachael did this ?"

  "Um..No.." I say without meeting her gaze.

  "Vladimir ?" Bev guesses correctly, a cognitive smile stretches on her visage.

  All three look at my reddening face before they start laughing. I roll my eyes and shake my head.

  "Damn!Who'd thought Vladdy would have a change of heart ayyyy!" Serge winks at me and I let out a huff of anger.

  "So I'm guessing this is an official truce slash birthday slash offering from him to you?" Bev assumes in wonderment.

  "Yeah seems sure like it!" Katie voices her agreement. "I was no less surprised when he had asked Sanam for a dance!"

  "We told you he wasn't as bad as you thought he was! I bet now you must think he's got a heart after all..I mean who goes and buys teddy bears as gifts for a nineteen year old adult?" Serge asks before blurting the answer. "Certainly not me!Hahah! What nineteen year old would want gifts meant for little girls anyway!"

  I raise a brow at him but suppress vocalizing my thoughts.

  I love teddy bears as gifts..just not from a demon..

  "So have you started packing yet?" Katie inquires while surveying my room.

  "No not yet, Rachael is in the midst of preparing lease documents for me, so I should hopefully be moving out in two days time." I inform her with a bright smile.

  "Oh God, we will miss you dearly!" Katie embraces me and Bev follows suit.

  "Come hang out at my apartment tonight, Grigori is away on a business trip." Bev entreats. "It'll be us girls only!"

  "Oh come on ! Make an exception for me atleast!" Serge complains.

  "No! Just Sanam, Katie, and me only!" Bev declares with finality before eagerly glancing at me. "So you in or nah?"

  I chuckle and relent. "Alright I'm in."

  Several hours later, I'm starving terribly since I hadn't eaten all day.

  How could I possibly eat the food he's cooked for me?

  I wanted nothing to do with him. All I could hope for was things to run smoothly as possible so I could make it back to America with Bilal safely.

  Now here this demon was apparently scheming over me. Why can't he just simply hate me like he used to without these sexual innuendos?

  I remembered when he wanted me to leave the Nielsen estate's premises as soon as possible. However now, things seem disturbingly suspicious.

  "Your stomach is growwwling hard!" Bev points out the obvious, obstructing me from my restless thoughts.

  "Why didn't you eat all the delicious food Mrs.Agnelli set for you?" Katie inquires.

  "I wasn't hungry at the time." I lie smoothly. "But can we order some pizza once we get to Bev's place?"

  "Sure, no problem."

  In two hours, Duffield has escorted us to our destination along with Serge. Three Molotov Mafia members had been trailing behind us in their own vehicles. They departed once we entered Bev's flat, and things took an unexpected turn.

  "So Tommy informed us that Ilona might show up tonight at the club since it's Friday!" Katie shares.

  "You want to get ahold of those usb's and cellphone ?" Bev asks keenly.

  I stare at them both, dumbfounded before I reply. "I didn't think you two would be serious.."

  "Ofcourse we are, that evil lady has your recordings and a chance has presented itself for you obtain what's rightfully yours!" Katie avows.

  "I don't know you guys, for me stepping foot in a club is forbidden.." I trail off vaguely.

  Bev shakes her head in denial. "We're not going there for drinks and dancing, it's your recordings."

  "Its up to you if you don't want to collect what belongs to you." Katie chimes in.

  I process their suggestions over repeatedly in my mind for the next half hour as they have ordered Pizza for me.