The Two Kings (Afterlife Saga)

by Stephanie Hudson

  “Keira stop! You don’t have to explain or apologise for anything. I am a big boy and knew what I was getting into.” Oh God, this just made me feel even worse!

  “What do you mean getting into?” I asked feeling ashamed.

  “Keira, I couldn’t help the way I felt for you and I guess I still can’t but I have known for some time that you didn’t feel the same. That still didn’t stop me though. I could tell that first night when you saw him that he was the only one you had feelings for.... but Keira that doesn’t mean I blame you and I certainly don’t want to stop being your friend.” I had tears welling up and I hid my face behind my menu for a moment.

  “I don’t deserve such a good friend.” I said looking down and reading nothing on the plastic in my hands. He pulled the menu from me and held my hands in his.

  “Keira, I am lucky to have you as a friend. I won’t lie and say I am happy that you and Dominic Draven are together but I am glad that you are with someone who obviously cares a great deal for you/” This made me look up at him and his eyes showed such sincerity.

  “How do you know that?”

  “Keira, when you disappeared he had everyone in the club spoken to. The band stopped and the lights on full. I saw the desperation in his face when I handed him the letter you wrote. I was very surprised when he thanked me and even shook my hand.” He said, looking at the same hand as if seeing the memory on it.

  “However, I wasn’t surprised that he chose you. He is lucky to have you.” This made me blush again as I wasn’t great at receiving compliments, especially when I didn’t think they were justified by my appalling behaviour.

  “Keira, will you tell me something if I ask?” I knew this was coming and I told myself earlier that if he asked I would trust him. He deserved that much from me…he deserved the truth. I nodded knowing this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation to have.

  “What happened to you that night?” His voice was soft and soothing. I knew this was him trying to make it easier for me. Then the waitress came over to us, giving me little more time to think about how I was going to start. But the more I thought about it, the more I knew I had no other choice than to start at the gruelling beginning. Jack ordered two sodas and I looked outside to find my watch dog on guard. I was about to wave but stopped myself before I looked nuts. After all no one else could see him and this was proven when a couple walked past him and came into the diner. And trust me when I say this was not a man you would just have walked past without a mouth dropping moment!

  I waited until the cokes came and the snotty waitress went back to refilling her salt pots. Bless Jack because he just sat patiently and waited for me to find the courage to start.

  “Well there really is no other way to put it, so here goes….I was kidnapped.” I said but he looked like he was going to choke on the ice cube he’d been sucking on.

  “Jack, are you ok?” I said handing him my napkin so he could dispose of the cube.

  “I’m sorry can you just run that through me again please….you say you were….kidnapped?” He whispered that last word like it was a sinful one.

  “Look, I think I need to explain my past before I explain that night. The thing is Jack, this is the most private thing I could tell anyone. I have been running from it for two years now and only my family knows the truth. It’s the reason I came here and it’s the reason I have…. lied.” I said this expecting more of a reaction but no, so far so good.

  “What kind of lies?” He said in a non judging tone.

  “First, my real name is Catherine Keira Williams not Johnson and I am really twenty three not twenty one like everyone thinks.” I let this sink in before carrying on. His face tried to remain unmoved but I could see the shock in his eyes. Whatever he had expected, it hadn’t been this. I continued to tell him about how and when I first met Morgan and what the result of that was. I tried to miss out the details but Jack wanted to know, as many would. I answered his questions and saw how difficult it was for him to hear. He tensed his fists and gripped the table making it shake. He even ground his teeth whenever I got to a more disturbing part.

  Once I had finished I told him the second half but had to change it slightly to leave out all the supernatural stuff. I explained how he had tricked me into meeting him and luckily Draven found where he was keeping me before he could really hurt me. When I had finished, he lent back against the leather backed booth and stared at his hands for a while before speaking. He then raised his eyes and I saw pure hate there for the very first time and it scared me when he said,

  “I hope Draven killed him!” This was so out of character that I shuddered. What could I say, yes he did, he stabbed him in the heart once but then he came back and killed himself! Nope I couldn’t go with that. When he saw me struggle for an answer he made it easy for me.

  “You don’t need to tell me Keira, I think I can gather for myself and with a man like Draven I can’t imagine it was a good way to go but for this, I would agree with him. This Morgan clearly needed to meet his end.” He said bitterly at the thought of me in the clutches of that mad man. He looked down at my gloves that were under my sleeves and shook his head at what they must be hiding.

  “I don’t think I have met anyone as brave as you. But I have to tell you, I never thought you tried to kill yourself. I always thought it must have been some kind of accident.” This touched me more than he could ever know. I had not yet met anyone that thought this way. Everyone had thought I tried to commit suicide, even my family had thought that I had tried to end it all but they had all been wrong. I just could never bring myself to tell them that they might have been next in Morgan’s deluded, warped mind! I took his hand in mine and kissed it.

  “Thank you. You don’t know what it means to me, to hear you say that. You are the first to have given me the benefit of the doubt. Everyone else just assumes…well you know.” I said looking down at my arms and I automatically pulled down on the material.

  “I really appreciate you confiding in me and I will not say a word but I guess you knew I wouldn’t, otherwise you wouldn’t have told me.” I looked up to meet his face that had once again changed back to his usual happy self and he winked at me making me laugh. He really was one of the best friends I had ever had!

  “I don’t deserve such a good friend” I said as I playfully flicked him with the end of my straw.

  “Well what can I say, I will just have to charge you later on, when your rich boyfriend opens you a bank account!” He said laughing and I faked being hurt and flicked even more coke on him. We both giggled liked naughty kids and we got some evil looks from the other customers.

  “Now pack that in!” I said before he could throw an ice cube my way. Jack got up and went to the rest room and as I followed his tall frame walk away, I noticed a pair of eyes watching me…purple eyes!

  Oh great! Draven had been watching my entire ‘date’ as he called it! I now swallowed hard knowing that I was going to be in for it later. I shook my head at him but the middle aged trucker he was using just mouthed the word “No” at me while shaking his finger at me. When Jack got back, I decided to try and ignore him and I carried on with Jack as if I hadn’t noticed. Well I was going to get an ear bashing anyway so I might as well have a fun afternoon before Draven got hold of me.

  “So Jack, it’s my turn to ask something of a sensitive nature.” He curved up one side of his mouth like he had been waiting for me to ask.

  “You want to know about Celina don’t you?” He said looking at me over his now refilled coke glass.

  “Well yeah,” I said shamefully feeling like a gossip.

  “It’s fine, well I mean, it freaked the crap out of me when I saw her there but now I guess I can finally move on. But I won’t lie….it hit me hard.” I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. All this time he had thought Draven had stole his girlfriend away two years ago, he had even semi believed that he might have killed her. Celina was Draven’s assistant and had made me believe his fiancée
at one point but this had been a lie to keep me from feeling for him. Of course it hadn’t worked but it still hurt like hell! Celina of course was a Demon and had started a relationship with Jack years earlier. This is one of the biggest crimes a Demon or Angel can commit. So when Draven saw her in his club with Jack he put a stop to it. But instead of punishing her, he allowed her to stay in this plane and work for him. Jack, of course, didn’t know this and still doesn’t, so I was curious to what she told him that night he saw her up in the VIP area.

  “She explained that she was actually engaged.” My heart stopped for a moment but started again when he continued.

  “She thought the guy had been unfaithful but it was a misunderstanding. She ran away to her aunt’s house and no one knew where she was to explain the truth. He works for Draven, apparently, so when he saw her that night at the club he took the opportunity to tell her what really happened. She didn’t go into it and he wasn’t there that night but when he works for Draven, she tags along.” This story had been well thought out but I gathered for a Demon, lying wasn’t a hard job to master and if it didn’t work, they could just control their mind so they would believe what they were told. Which had me wondering if the reason he seemed to be taking this so well, wasn’t actually down to some mind manipulation? Whatever the reasons I was just glad he didn’t seemed to be hurting about it.

  “I know what you’re thinking, why not just tell me that…right?” He said and just nodded as I was pretty sure he wouldn’t want to know what I was actually thinking!

  “Well she told me that her fiancée is a bit of the possessive type and she didn’t want him finding out about me because she didn’t want him to do me any harm. But when I helped Draven by giving him that letter, he agreed that he would not discuss our meeting again” I was lost for words and knowing the truth about this wasn’t making it any easier to pretend I didn’t.

  “So how do you feel now?”

  “I guess I’m fine, now I know.” Ok, I think he must definitely have received a little Demon therapy from the red headed beauty Celina.

  “Well I’m glad something good came out of that night. Thank you for giving Draven that letter, you helped save my life.” I said sincerely.

  “I just wished I’d had the guts to do it sooner but no offence, your boyfriend is one scary arse dude!” I smirked and looked sideways to the trucker which Draven was still using to listen in and I saw him grinning at this statement. He obviously liked the idea Jack was scared enough of Draven, to not pursue me romantically. Then I laughed as the waitress eyed him warily so he went back to sipping his coffee. Thankfully Jack thought I had laughed at his last comment so I said,

  “Yeah, he can be intimidating at times but he means well and he was extremely grateful for what you did.” I said a bit louder than I needed to and the trucker snorted making the people next to him jump at the sudden outburst. Jack raised his eyes in disbelief.

  “No really,” I said again.

  “Well, no offence Keira but he was the last person I did it for.” Ok I was walking on thin ice now, as I half expected the trucker to get up and throttle him because he swivelled in his stool and stared at us both with purple tinted fury. I frowned at him giving him my sternest stare trying to will him to back down. Jack was turning to see who I was glaring at and I waited for disaster. My harsh eyes were replaced by ones of dread and pleading. But just in time, Jack was faced with more of a creepy smile and it came across as more of a gay admire, than the hate it had been. Jack sort of smiled back but quickly turned away, being clearly freaked out.

  “What was all that about?” He whispered behind his hand.

  “Beats me!” I said trying not to laugh at the memory of this big fat trucker smiling like a little girl dressed in her best, smiling at a boy she fancies! Well if Draven wanted to play games then he definitely won with this move.

  We continued to chat for a while longer until I noticed the time was getting on and I needed to get ready for work. Jack walked me out to my car after receiving an even creepier wink from his new trucker friend. Thankfully we started laughing about it once we got outside. As I said goodbye he leaned into kiss me on the cheek, when an almighty crash came from the dumpsters being turned upside down made us both jump.

  “Wow what the Hell was that?” He was asking the right person as I had seen the whole thing but I couldn’t tell him that it had been my colossal bodyguard having a paddy at the sight of me be kissed goodbye! Jack couldn’t see him and I was thankful. Ragnar looked enraged and his skin looked aflame as he showed it. I got in my car before Jack could finish his gesture. I pulled away not caring how Ragnar got back. I felt like a prisoner having my every move watched. This wasn’t protection, this was a dictatorship. Was I even in any danger or was this just an excuse for Draven to catch me doing things he didn’t like.

  By the time I got home I was still gripping onto the wheel like it was the enemy. We were going to have words tonight, that was for sure. I wondered would it always be like this. A constant up and down of agreeing and disagreeing. He was just going to have to get used to not getting his own way all of the time. I pulled up outside the house and Ragnar was there already waiting for me. I sighed before cutting the engine and begrudgingly got out to deal with him and his face of thunder.

  “Ragnar” I said nodding to him as I approached. He crossed his stone pillar arms across his vast chest.

  “You should learn your place and know it’s not to anger your Master.” He said in his usual hoarse deep voice that had a strong accent. I got closer to him and crossed my own arms but I doubted it had the same impact as he had. Never the less, I jutted out my chin and raised my head.

  “He is NOT my Master, he is yours! I don’t answer to anyone, do you understand?” I said this in my sternest voice and I was amazed that it didn’t shake in the face of this monster Viking.

  “Huh!” He just lifted up his shoulders as if he didn’t believe me and this angered me more but he just smiled to himself like he knew the trouble I would be in later and moved to let me pass. I couldn’t help it and knew it was childish but as I walked past him, I said “Jerk” under my breath. But this had him laughing heartily as he walked away to do his rounds of the house. I could still hear him once I was inside. However Libby and Frank couldn’t.

  I tried to hide my frustration from them as I walked in the living room. Justin had gone but Frank and Libby were still talking about him.

  “Oh hey Kazzy, did you know Justin was here?” Libby asked but before I could answer, Frank spoke for me.

  “Oh yeah she was here to hear the boyish charms of my brother. I think he has a soft spot for you Kaz because he wouldn’t shut up about you after you left and wanted to know all about Dominic. He also wanted me to ask you if you would take him to the club next weekend, as he’s coming back to stay for a few days?” Oh no, this was bad! I was about to protest but my helpful sister came to my aid.

  “Yeah, sure she will.” Ok, maybe not!

  “Won’t you?” She said giving me the eye as if to say, you bloody well will! So I caved and nodded knowing this was definitely going to come back and bite me in the arse and not in one of those nice, sexy ways!

  I could just imagine Draven’s opinion on this and the idea of having to tell him was making me forget Jack. Hell, he was a piece of cake to explain compared to Justin! If Draven thought me seeing Jack was bad, then this was going to be a disaster, titanic style. Jack was just minor league flirting but Justin, he was a big player and was definitely up there with the pro’s. The problem I faced was not controlling Justin, Oh no,

  It was controlling Draven…

  My Demon rage fuelled boyfriend.

  Chapter 10

  Never a Good Time

  I was ready for work in record time and it was probably down to autopilot. I was still frustrated with Draven’s possessive behaviour, first with having Ragnar following me around for so called safety and then with Draven eavesdropping at the diner. But despite all th
is, my main frustration was the opposite of all these things. It was really down to how much I missed him when I wasn’t around him.

  He was definitely like a drug and when I was without it, I was cranky. I would rather be around him disagreeing and arguing than not at all. I was still stewing over all these little factors when I was in my car driving towards club Afterlife. It was strange, as though the closer I got to him the happier my body felt. I even turned on the radio and sang along to some cheesy music. I was half way through Tina Turner’s ‘Simply the Best’ when I arrived.

  It was already starting to go dark when I got inside the club and as soon as I walked through the huge oak doors my body filled with a warm positive energy. It was like a wave of joy and it took all my effort not to go running up the stairs into Draven’s arms and say to hell with work! I wondered if he felt the same about me... could he sense that I was here?

  The Club wasn’t busy yet but I knew that as soon as the band set up, then the club would flood with Goth’s, Emo’s and Rockers. We even had a few Cyber Goth’s as I called them. Now they were extreme! With huge material hair and the biggest boots I had ever seen. Some wore coloured gas masks over their mouths and I had no idea why. But at the moment, the bar area only held a few early gothic birds with Mike and Helen working behind it. I hadn’t seen them for what seemed like ages but it had only been a week.

  “Hey guys!” I said hoping for the same happy response.

  “Well look whose back, word had it you quit.” Mike said in a friendly tone and my heart calmed after that. Helen waved before reloading the glass washer.

  “Yeah, I kind of did but no one else would have me, so here I am.” I said half joking and Mike smiled. This was a clear indication that none of them knew about my new relationship with their boss, along with mine.