Deviant Fixation

by Valencia Carmelita

  I was beyond appalled at how he managed to make a smooth target landing on the exact clearing situated nearby his classified bunker.

  "The enemy is hot on our trail." He imparts while hasting ahead towards the edge of the clearing. "Most likely spotted us parachuting out."

  He kneels down on the ground and rapidly peels discarded tree leaves away to uncover a camouflage painted metal door. He unbolts it and lights within automatically switch on, illuminating a stairwell descending downwards. Something akin to a cellar.

  Without hesitation we descend in after him. But a cellar it is not as Bilal and I come to an abrupt halt. Gaping at our surroundings, it's something out of a Science Fiction/Action movie.

  The white floors are polished glassy and illuminating bright light. The ceiling consisted of a magnificent crystal geode embellishment, perhaps it might have been a thousand year old natures design.

  There is a silver Lamborghini parked right in the middle of this ultra modern cavernous bunker. An immense portrait of a silver dragon encircling a Christian Cross, hangs on the wall ahead of the vehicle.

  What's another unexpected occurrence amongst all the unexpectations, is when I spot Huxley. Fastidiously, he stood behind a silver and white marble liquor bar. He's holding a tray of drinks. Expression of sombreness upon his face yet a hint of amusement within his eyes.

  "Huxley?!!" I blink at him, wondering if he might be a figment of my imagination. Or perhaps I'm dwelling in a parallel universe.

  "Good morning, Mrs.Nielsen."Huxley greets, and raises the tray of drinks, balanced in a white gloved palm. "Care for a refreshing glass of juice?Nonalcoholic, I can assure you."

  "Who is that?!!" Bilal prompts, curiously eyeing Huxley's face and tuxedo.

  "My father's good friend and valet..now a good friend of mine." Vladimir replies with an endearing tone as he strides over towards Huxley and pats him on the back. "Glad to see you've made it on time."

  "This is so freaking cool!! Reminds me of batman comics!!" Bilal beams exuberantly. "Vladimir, are you actually a superhero in disguise?!!"

  "Well.." Vladimir replies, voice soft as velvet and his amused eyes meet my warning glare. "You can say it's something like that.."

  I let out an exhale of grateful relief. I didn't want him disclosing to Bilal, his involvement with the Mafia.

  "Then what is it?" Bilal questions him avidly.

  "Enough Bilal!" I fold my arms over my chest and then look towards Vladimir, I demand. "What's going on?!Can you tell me right now, in private?!"

  "Relax, princess." Vladimir plucks up two drinks from the tray Huxley is holding. "We've only just arrived here, I need to get in touch with uncle and relay to him regarding the threat proving true afterall."

  He walks over to us, offering the drinks. Out of vexation, I refuse to take one while Bilal happily does.

  Vladimir's cellphone rings and he promptly answers it. "Yes, uncle.." Sapphire eyes glint with fierce determination. "Then so shall it be...affirmative...I'm on my way."

  The call ends and he glances over at us in austerity as he commands."All three of you, in the car now!"

  Both Huxley and Bilal promptly comply. I'm standing where I am, completely perplexed and annoyed. I glare at Vladimir."I demand an explanation!"

  "Now's not the time to play the husband and wife arguing game, sweetheart." Vladimir disapproves casually, yet his vice grip on my arm reveals the inner rigidity behind his words.

  He drags me towards the front passenger side of the Lamborghini. Flinging the door open, he deftly places me in with one swooping motion, leaving me stunned momentarily. In a split second, he gets behind the wheel himself.

  He commences the engine, and presses a few buttons on the vehicles remote key. Infront of us, the Silver Dragon and Cross portrait slides up, uncovering a wide spiral portal. It swirls open, revealing a dim illuminated tunnel. I blink at it in alarm.

  "Haha awesome!!!" Bilal voices his ecstatic approval in the backseat.

  "Indeed, my thoughts everytime." Huxley agrees besides him.

  Before we know it, Vladimir revs up the engine and accelerates through the tunnel.Within a couple of minutes, the vehicle zooms out through an opening and speeds onto an empty secluded highway.

  I glance back and find the hole in the ground from which we exited, automatically closing back up by a patch of grassy camouflaged door.

  When we arrive at the Nielsen manor, my heart quivers in major relief. Before the manor, are parked dozens of armoured vehicles and countless Molotov Mafia members stand guard. This could only mean Dimitri Molotov was visiting. But my mind was on reuniting with Rachael, Katie, Bev and the rest of the manors staff.

  When we exit the Lamborghini, Vladimir's cousin Yigor approaches. "Took you long enough!"

  "Is Serge and Grigori already present?" Vladimir inquires as he briskly strides ahead of Yigor, leaving us three trailing behind.

  "Yeah, uncle awaits you in the Billiards room." Yigor answers.

  "Sanam?!"

  I recognize Duffield's voice and glance over to find him approaching me, eyes wide as saucers.

  "We-I..Vladimir said you were no more when the resorts of Dubai exploded in terrorist attacks!" Duffield explicates, gaping at me. "But you're here! You're alive, thank God!"

  Huh? Me dead in terrorist attacks ???

  "Uh..I don't know what you're talking about.." I provide him a questioning stern look. That dastard Vladimir, sure had a lot of explaining to do.

  "Oh.." Duffield says in confusion before his mouth stretches into a bright smile. "Nevertheless, I'm so happy to see you again!"

  "Me too, so good to be back!" I agree emphatically before proceeding to properly introduce my brother to both Huxley and Duffield.

  As soon as we enter into the vast foyer, Arielle and Charlie quit playing with their toy train from Christmas. They dive into my welcoming arms, and I repeatedly kiss their chubby cheeks .

  "Oh my God! Sanam?!" Anya spots me over the basket of laundered linen she is carrying. It nearly slips out of her hands as she carelessly sets it aside and rushes over, clasping me into an embrace. "You're alive!!!"

  Lorna appears into the foyer, balancing two trays of refreshments, while busily entreating. "Anya, please help me serve this tea for Mister Molotov, I-"

  The words fade on her lips, gaze zoning in on me. Tray slips out of her hand, collides to the ground. The tea dishware shatters and tea spills forth in tiny streams of rivulets.

  "Sanam!!???"She stammers with wide eyes. "You're alive!!!"

  "What's all that ruckus ?" Demands Rachael, appearing at the top of the foyer stairwell, fixing a pearl stud to one of her ears. She stiffens as soon as she spots me, uttering. "Oh dear Lord in heaven..."

  Some five minutes later I'm in the kitchen, continuously swamped with embraces by Mrs.Agnelli and an overly apologetic Bev.

  Rachael weeps with joy in the consoling arms of Anya while they gaze at me endearingly. Bev continuously apologizes to me through her flood of tears. Bilal is finding everything extremely awkward and puzzling just as I do.

  "Oh God, let her breath some!" Lorna huffs in exasperation as she brings back the mop and bucket after having cleaned the tea mess in the foyer.

  "What's going on?" I'm finally able to query with unease. "Why are you all surprised to see me alive?"

  "I lied to them, in order to punish them." Comes the response by a familiar velvety voice, edged with ice.

  We glance over towards the kitchen entrance, and find Vladimir's cold gaze aimed upon his older sister.

  Rachael purses her lips in a thin line, eyes narrowing instantly at Vladimir. She stalks towards him with a rapid furious gait.

  Before we know it, a loud smacking sound ricochets throughout the kitchen as she wallops him across his face. The rest of us let out appalling gasps. A red hand print forms on his ivory cheek. Both sister and brother silently remain glaring at one another.

  ◆◆◆

  Awkwardness envelopes the atmosphe
re, unwieldy and irritable. It's exactly the way Vladimir was most specifically making me feel.

  Katie is clutching at her ears as she kneels all the way down to her knees and then straightens to a standing position for the fiftieth time. Her lovely porcelain face flushed rosy and eyes reddening from the abundance of tears. "I'm so sorry, Vladimir and Sanam..I'm so sorry."

  "You have fifty more apologies to get through, Katherine." Vladimir reminds in a languid voice while he appears to display more interest in the landscape outside of the window. "Keep count, little sister."

  "She didn't do anything wrong!" I grit my teeth at his back facing us. After earnestly appealing him for a stop to this inhumane punishment of his sister, my ire took ahold of me strongly.

  He pivots slowly and levels a frigid gaze on me. "A wife should obey her husband, so should the rest of the female relatives dwelling under his wing."

  "I wasn't your wife at the time!" My voice raises a notch. "She's apologized once already! And once is enough!"

  Within a split second, he's infront of me and clasps my chin by his fingers roughly. I let out a gasp as our eyes meet in closer proximity. The contact of his touch rendering my body frozen.

  His gaze has darkened with an inexplicable emotion as he slowly murmurs each word of warning. "Dollface, I think you're just begging to be punished in your own way aren't you ?"

  My eyes widen in sudden fright. He leers at my lips provocatively, speaking audible enough for me. "Could do something useful with that pretty little mouth of yours once we're alone."

  My face heats up with a blush of embarrassment. Yet oddly enough, an unmistakable shiver of desire runs down my spine over the dangerous shift in his demeanor.

  The shiver was beyond my comprehension. Of why my body was gradually betraying the will to barricade against the spark of lust for the dastard. I glance elsewhere, my blush deepens under his stripping dark gaze. Memories of that shameless encounter between us a day ago, flood my mind.

  A knock ensues at the door of Katie's room and Rachael's voice demands. "I think it's been long enough, Katherine has learned her lesson, I'm sure of it. Now open this door!"

  "Yeah, open up please." Bev sounds concerned along with Rachael. "We're all very sorry."

  I glance over at Katie. She miserably continues the exercize while simultaneously apologizing and counting.

  In desperate worry, I glance back up at Vladimir, unable to restrain my words of admonishment. "Instead of punishing her now, you should be grateful that your family is safe and sound. That Katie and Bev aren't hurt. Just imagine how awful events could have played out, be grateful to God that he has blessed your family with safety and security through you. But instead of showing them love and being grateful to God, you're driving them farther away from you, emotionally with such treatment...don't do this..please."

  Seconds elapse, he silently appears to process my entreaty. Evidently, his eyes slacken a level from ire against mine. I can only implore once more. "Please ?"

  Reluctantly, Vladimir retracts his fingers from my skin and aims an irascible glare of warning at Katie. "Your punishment ends, don't disappoint me again."

  Some ten minutes later, I'm back in the kitchen with Katie, Bev and Bilal at my side. The aroma of delicious cuisine engulfs my sense of smell like a motherly embrace. Mrs.Agnelli and Lorna whizz around busily cooking and baking for all of the occupants present in the manor.

  "Here, why don't you eat some sweets?" Mrs. Agnelli kindly offers Bilal a plate of fresh baked chocolate fudge cookies and a glass of milk.

  "Thank you." Bilal voices his gratitude. He treks towards the kitchens fireplace lounge and joins Arielle and Charlie on the couch.

  Swiftly Katie and Bev grab ahold of my arm sleeves in apparent excitement as Bev demands. "How did you end up marrying Vladimir?!"

  "Yes! Weren't you married before? Did you obtain a divorce?" Katie is unable to conceal her vibrant smile. "Not that I don't mind, infact I'm so beyond ecstatic you're my sister inlaw!!!"

  "It's what we always wanted since we met you!" Anya declaims approvingly as she appears into the kitchen. "I'm so glad he didn't marry Ilona, she was nothing but trouble!"

  "Vladimir never wanted marriage to begin with.." Mrs.Agnelli remarks pensively while kneading dough. "I've always told him, such words will come to bite him pleasantly. That one day he would meet a girl worthy of marriage and he would surely chase after her till she accepted!"

  "Boy, was he in for a surprise!" Lorna chuckles. She pauses decorating a tray of strawberry tarts with chocolate frosting, and winks at me. "How can any man resist Sanam's lovely personality topped by exquisite physical beauty?"

  "Exactly!!!" All of them voice unanimously, and start giggling at my expression.

  My face by now most likely resembles a ripened tomato while I'm the center of attention for their jubilant eyes. How was I to explain that I was coerced into obtaining a divorce and marry the dastard?

  "Sanam?" Rachael appears into the kitchen, discretionary eyes probing my face. "May we speak privately in my study?"

  "Oh come on, Ray!!!" Bev complains with a pout, arms defensively folded across her chest. "Why not infront of us?!"

  "Beverly.." Rachael addresses with a tilt of her head in a clinical frown. "Mind your manners, young lady. Especially after all that's occurred within this month, I expect both you and Katherine to know better by now."

  With a dissatisfied groan, Bev rolls her eyes and leans back against the counter. Katie offers me a wistful guilty smile, green eyes still pink from the excessive tear shedding.

  Rachael directs attention on me, motioning a hand for me to tag along. "Come on, Sanam."

  Entering her private study, I take a seat near her fireplace as she busily rummages through one of her desk drawers.

  She produces out an envelope and looks over at me solemnly. "Mister Mirza mailed a letter to you."

  "Really?!" Confounded, my eyes widen. A sudden swell of hope percolates my mind.

  Could it be that he is alive ?!

  "Yes, here.." She hands me the envelope. "I didn't access it since its addressed for you."

  My fingers tremble as I quickly tore an opening and plucked out the crisp sheet of folded paper. I unravel it and begin to read audible enough for her.

  Dear Sanam

  Asalaam aleikom , I hope you are safe and well. I'm writing to inform you that I'm admitted to a private cancer treatment hospital. I've discovered from one of my lawyers, that the wealth I've allocated to you has still not been touched. I had expected you'd find it beneficial once you had turned 19, but you haven't utilized any amount of it. Please no need to remain humble regarding sustainance that Allah has rendered halal for you.

  The doctors say I've got an additional month left to live. I find it amusing, that these doctors can utter such words with firm conviction. After all, life and death is in Allah's hands.

  However, my condition is deteriorating. I'd like to see you and Rachael before I depart this world.

  Enclosed within this envelope are details and directions to the hospital center. I'm expecting you both soon, and if you choose not to visit me then it's alright, I would understand.

  Once I've completed reading, my eyes lock with Rachaels. Hers are just as glossy with tears as mine.