‘Here you are, dear.’ Bev handed me a mug of tea.
‘How much do you know about me?’ I asked, righting the chair and taking a seat on it.
Father would know where the book was. It was time I took charge of my own mission and learnt what I was supposed to be doing.
‘Everything…’
I glanced at her as she smiled and left me alone again. Was she more than Father’s new wife? Was she a guardian, too?
‘Antony is recovering. The doctor has taken the bullet out and stitched him up.’ Father walked into the room and fiddled with the paperwork on his desk. ‘Will you take care of him while he recovers? I have a meeting in New York and need to leave later today. Derek will be here to keep guard and Bev will need to run the house, so you’ll be the only one to look after him.’
‘Yes, I’ll do that,’ I said. ‘Father, do you remember the book you used to read to me?’
He went completely still. If I reached out and pushed him with one finger, he would’ve fallen sideways. He held his passport in his hand but looked away from me.
‘Of course I do. Although I’m surprised you remember,’ he said, lowering his arm and looking over his shoulder at me.
‘Can I have it? It’s time I learnt about my mission from an adult’s point of view.’
The smile that lit his face was so big I wondered what I had said to make him happy.
‘I’m not surprised you’re the first one.’ He came over and pulled me into a hug.
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, my voice muffled against his suit jacket.
‘Only when you’re ready to learn will you seek what you need to find.’ He stepped back and put his hands on my shoulders. Looking into my eyes, he nodded once and turned to the nearest bookshelf.
‘You’re not that special, Pisces. Hear me out before you get offended,’ he said. ‘Everyone on earth has a purpose. It’s just that yours is a bit harder to forget about. People have free will when they come here, but I’m afraid when you signed up to do this, you gave up most of yours. The Zodiacs, as I like to call you, have that extra special mission. You’re going to awaken and teach the other twin flames.’ Father took out a book from the shelf and handed it to me.
The first thing I noticed about the book was the picture of the entwined couple. Light radiated from their heads and showered them completely. It spoke to me. The beauty of the cover sunk into my veins. I was a sucker for beautiful things.
‘You’ll read that book several times and still not know everything. The whole purpose of life is to learn from experience. You can have feelings when you read, especially with your emotional intelligence, but it won’t integrate until you experience it in reality. Remember that and you’ll be fine.’
His words resonated. They made my stomach flip. I hadn’t experienced much in life. How would I know how to find my twin flame? I traced my finger over the male on the cover.
‘It’s not about trying to find something, Pisces. It’s about allowing it to find you at the right time.’
Hugging me again, he turned me towards the door. He would be gone for a few days. In everyday life, he was a businessman with branches all over the world. He was a top executive of a green energy company. When we were young, he'd often go away for weekends.
‘Why did you leave us?’ I blurted.
The pressure of his fingers on my shoulders tightened slightly as he sighed.
‘The pain was too much. She’s my soulmate and we fell apart. We failed in our own relationship.’
The weight of his hands lifted. There was nothing I could say. I left the room without questioning him further.
‘Antony’s asking for you,’ Derek said when I came out.
Tucking the book under my arm, I went upstairs to my room. Insecurity made me not want anyone else to see it. It was special to me and I needed it all to myself. I itched to start reading but I didn’t have time.
Antony looked a little groggy. The doctor had obviously given him strong painkillers. The old man was shutting his bag so I took the opportunity to hide the book in the drawer of the dressing table.
‘He will need to take these four times a day. I’ll be back tomorrow to check the wound and change the dressing. He needs to stay in bed for a couple of days to let the stitches settle.’ The doctor handed me a bottle of pills. Seeing him out, I thanked him for all that he had done.
‘I’m sorry you got shot,’ I said to Antony as soon as we were alone.
‘Did you arrange it, then?’ His lip rose into his cheek and revealed his dimple.
I shook my head, a little tempted to hit out at him. ‘Yes. I can’t believe they were such a rubbish shot,’ I joked.
He laughed, cringing when the movement jolted his shoulder. ‘You saved my life anyway,’ he said as his eyes met my gaze.
Stillness surrounded me. I couldn’t breathe as he reached out and pulled me towards the bed.
‘I’m not sure I did,’ I whispered as he tugged on my hand.
I knelt on the carpet. He reached up to stroke my cheek. ‘You breathed air into me when we were underwater.’
His hand found its way to the back of my neck. What was he doing? Was he high from the meds? Would he remember this when he was well again?
‘I’ve never seen anything so amazingly…’
I smiled as he pulled me closer.
‘Weird,’ he finished.
My body froze as the words hit my chest like a dart. Ripping out of his grasp, I pushed myself up.
He frowned. I turned to the window and looked out. I knew I was weird. I didn’t need him to confirm it for me.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Nothing,’ I replied, gripping the windowsill as I watched a tractor in the distance.
‘Don’t lie.’
I huffed and tried to loosen my shoulders. ‘When’s your birthday?’
He didn’t answer for a moment. ‘I’m not telling you,’ he eventually said.
‘Fine,’ I spat, going to the drawer and taking out my new book.
‘Where are you going?’
‘You need to rest,’ I replied, before slamming the door shut behind me.
Chapter Eight
The book made no sense at all. It didn’t speak of true love and happily ever after. It spoke of opening and surrendering. I had no idea what that meant. I threw it across the grass and blinked to clear my vision. The sun had set and the sky had turned navy. The cold air suddenly filtered through the blanket I was wrapped in. My whole body shivered and I hadn’t even noticed.
‘Dinner time, love,’ Bev announced through the kitchen window.
The swing moved as I got up and retrieved the book. I was being stupid when it came to Antony but I couldn’t help it. My ego was easily bruised and his careless words had hit home.
‘Did Father find the person that shot Antony?’ I asked as I came into the dining room.
Derek and Bev were waiting to eat so I sat quickly.
‘No, he got away,’ Derek replied, digging into his roast beef.
‘Why was he trying to kill us?’
Bev hit Derek on the arm with her spoon. He looked down at his plate and carried on eating.
‘It’s best that we’re left out of the men’s world. What’s important now is that Antony recovers. We don’t want him getting an infection, so after dinner, you will spend the night in your room with him to make sure he doesn’t get a fever.’
My eyes must have popped out of my head. I hadn’t considered that Antony would stay in my room, or that I would have to be in there with him.
‘Have you got something I can sleep on?’ Arguing would be useless.
Bev smiled and nodded. ‘It’s already done, dear.’
The sigh that escaped me didn’t go unnoticed. I was nervous about spending the night in the room with a man that—
‘How are you getting on with the book?’ Bev asked.
‘What book?’ Derek interrupted before shoving a Yorkshire pudding into his mouth.
&nbs
p; Bev looked at me. I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. She shrugged as Derek turned back to his food, interest in the book quickly forgotten.
‘I’m not that far into it yet. I’ve read a few chapters but…’
The small woman smiled when my sentence trailed off. ‘It will all become clear soon.’
‘What if it doesn’t?’ I blurted, allowing my fear to show.
Bev reached forward and put her hand on mine. ‘It will.’
It fell silent as I tried to finish my food. I usually loved roast dinners but the day’s events had thrown my appetite out the window.
‘Go to him,’ Bev said.
Thanking her, I left them to it. As I walked up the stairs, I heard Derek speak. ‘What the hell are you lot on about?’
My head was buzzing as I entered my bedroom.
‘I’ve been waiting for you,’ Antony said.
I didn’t respond at first. Instead, I put my book away and turned to him once the drawer was closed. ‘Are you feeling okay?’
‘Where’s the warm, fun Pisces gone?’ He gestured for me to go to him.
‘She only comes out on special occasions,’ I snapped, grabbing my pyjamas and escaping to the bathroom.
I stared at myself in the mirror. My brown eyes were extra dark. I wondered what depths lay beneath them. I didn’t know how far down the soul was. It felt like Antony was trying to push his way inside and I didn’t like it. My skin was pretty smooth, until I looked up close. When you focus on things, they seem to conjure up all sorts of problems. My eyebrows were naturally bushy. Cancer plucked them for me. I never had the patience.
Looking down at my hands, I studied my dainty fingers. If only my hips were as small as my extremities.
‘Is someone in there?’ Derek shouted from outside.
Being harassed when I was in the bathroom was something I was used to. I put my hair into a ponytail and went back to my bedroom.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with your hair up,’ Antony said.
Going to his bedside, I picked up his pills and helped him to take them. He was able to hold the glass of water to swallow them down. I tried not to make eye contact but he stared at me as I took the glass back.
‘Are you seriously going to sleep down there?’ he asked as I turned to my makeshift bed.
I didn’t answer him as I eyed the jumble of blankets that were thrown on the floor.
‘There’s plenty of room on the bed,’ he said quietly.
My back was turned to him. I glanced over my shoulder.
‘You are kidding?’ I laughed as I shook out the first blanket and laid it on the floor.
‘What have I done to upset you?’
Making my bed kept me distracted as heat travelled over my skin. A flashback of the day he had almost kissed me on the train came into my mind. The feel of his arms around my body in the lake shot through me and I vigorously shook the blanket.
‘Nothing,’ I said eventually as I lay on the floor and faced away from him.
‘Fine. When you come out of your sulk, let me know.’
The muscles in my back tightened. I fought the urge to get up and stamp out of the room. I had no idea why he affected me so much.
There was only one thought in my brain as I tried to force myself to sleep. It was time I made the effort to get out so I could meet my twin flame and forget about Antony.
*
The sound of glass shattering jolted me awake. I scrambled up and tried to look around. It was pitch black. Rustling bed covers alerted me that Antony was awake.
‘Are you okay?’ I whispered.
‘I knocked the glass over trying to get a drink. I’m cold.’ His teeth chattered.
It would be just my luck that he had a fever. How was it even possible in this day and age? Of all the lifetimes I had lived, I was sure that this was the best one for medicine. I blinked as the thought flashed through my mind. It had been a while since I had thought about my past lives.
‘I’m going to turn on the light.’ I tried to feel my way to the lamp on the dressing table.
Somehow I made it without bumping into anything. When light flooded the room, my eyes traced the glass on the floor. A big chunk was next to where my head had been. I stepped around it and went to the other side of the bed. Antony watched me but his eyes were glazed.
‘Shall I ring for an ambulance?’ I whispered.
He shook his head. ‘No, there’ll be too many questions. Just do what the doctor said.’
I touched his forehead, and although it felt hot, he still shivered.
‘He said to look out for a fever. He didn’t say what to do if you had one.’ I knelt on the bed next to him.
‘Just hold me. Use your body heat to warm me,’ he whispered.
I hesitated. I had never been that close to a man before and the thought of it scared me.
‘Do you want to help me…or not?’ His teeth chattered.
Sliding under the cover, I wrapped my arm around his waist. He lifted his good arm and I nestled into the crook of his shoulder, resting my head on his bare chest. His heartbeat vibrated against my cheek.
‘That’s better.’ He sighed as my body heat started to sink into him.
His skin was hot against mine. I was glad he felt warmer. I swallowed, trying to stay completely still. It didn’t take long for his breathing to become shallow. How was I now in bed with Antony? I needed to find my twin flame, and there I was, cuddling up to an ordinary man that worked for my father.
Finding sleep was hard. I drifted in and out of consciousness for hours. Being so close to someone I hardly knew, didn’t help me rest easily.
The feel of his breath on my cheek made my eyes flicker open. His head was turned towards me, his face inches from my forehead. I should’ve stayed completely still but in my grogginess I tilted my head back to look into his face.
He was much closer than I realised and his eyes were open. My arm tightened around him without my consent. The light from around the curtain told me it was morning. Our breath mingled together. We were so close. He brought his head forward slightly and our lips met. The caress sent tingles flying over my body. A rush of air pulled through his nose and into his lungs as he held me against his side. The kiss deepened and he licked my lips, requesting me to open my mouth. In my sleepiness, I couldn’t deny him. He couldn’t hold my head with his good arm but he didn’t need to. I opened to him and his tongue touched mine. I gasped at the unfamiliar caress but didn’t pull away.
Tracing my hand up his chest, I cupped his jaw. He squeezed me against him and kissed me hard. My head was bent back. Our breath grew heavy and after a moment, he let go.
‘Sorry.’ He panted.
My senses reeled. My body hummed with a vibration that I had never felt before. He set me alight. I was relieved that he had pulled away. I wasn’t sure if I could have resisted if he had chosen to take things further.
‘It’s okay,’ I replied, going to move away.
He held me tight. I couldn’t move. I nestled into his neck. My nose brushed against his skin and the smell of him made my heart beat even faster.
‘I…’
He couldn’t speak and I didn’t want to say anything. The kiss had blown me away but it shouldn’t have happened. He was my bodyguard. We weren’t supposed to be in bed together. The thought didn’t worry me enough to move. I felt comfortable and cosy lying with him.
‘Don’t speak,’ I whispered.
‘But there’s something I have to tell you.’
My muscles froze. His words sent shock through me. I knew it was bad. The way my stomach clenched told me that whatever it was, it was going to sting.
‘I can’t be your soulmate.’
The words confused me. I had been convinced that he would say that he had a girlfriend, or something. I pulled away and looked into his eyes. He winced as the movement hurt his wounded shoulder. He looked a lot better with only a light sheen of sweat covering his forehead.
‘I
didn’t think you could,’ I said.
He wasn’t my soulmate. There was supposed to be an amazing feeling of butterflies and an instant recognition when we first met. I didn’t have that with Antony.
‘That’s good, then. I promise this won’t happen again. We’ll start to look for your soulmate today.’
I was still, not sure whether to get out of bed, or stay where I was. It surprised me how much his words stung. He had just kissed me and now he pushed me away.
‘Yes, I better get started,’ I replied.
He pulled me down so that we were face to face. ‘I would really like to be friends, Pisces. Let’s forget this ever happened.’
Forcing a smile, I climbed out of bed. I wasn’t going to show him that my heart burnt at his words. Was I that insignificant? Did he just take advantage because I was a woman in bed with him? As I picked up my things, I vowed to never let a man do that to me again. It felt like crap and I had to bite my lip. It betrayed me as it started to tremble.
‘The doctor will be here soon. I’ll send Derek in to see if you’re well enough to get up.’
I left without looking back at the bed. I didn’t want him to know how hurt I was by his rejection. It was ridiculous really. I needed to find my soulmate, not waste time with Antony. It was time to distract myself from my bodyguard by going back to London to start my search.
Chapter Nine
The music thumped through me as I swayed my hips in time to the beat. I had only been to the clubs in London a few times. I figured I had to start somewhere. Father had agreed that I didn’t need Antony to protect me whenever I was with my brothers so I had left him at the house.
‘Here’s your boring drink,’ Leo shouted as he handed me a bottle of water.
‘You know I don’t like alcohol,’ I replied, punching him on the arm when he stuck out his tongue.
Cancer was on the dance floor. She grinded against a stranger. His hands were all over her and I wondered how she could stand it.
‘I got Cancer another wine,’ Leo shouted in my ear.
I jumped back as the over loud sound hit a nerve. Cancer was drunk. That was why she let men touch her. She had guzzled at least four glasses of wine. Aries joined us. He had a grin on his face and lipstick on his mouth. He laughed as I shook my head at him.
Pisces: Book 1 in a Young Adult Paranormal Romance Series (The Zodiac Twin Flame Series) Page 6