Ominous Love

by Patricia Puddle

  “Hypocrite,” he shouts.

  Ignoring him, I jog the rest of the way to the pet shop. When I walk in the door, the supervisor called Linda smiles. “Follow me, Eloise.” She shows me around and gives me a sheet of paper with my daily duties on it. “You can clean out the guinea pig cages first,” she says.

  Though I'm nervous, I enjoy handling the sweet baby animals, and as I change the newspaper and water, they popcorn and squeak around my hands. I clean out the bunny cages and dog kennels, then change the cat's kitty-litter for the kittens.

  The morning flies by and before long, Linda tells me to go to lunch. “See you back in an hour,” she says.

  “Thanks.” I grab my bag and walk along the main road to the boutiques to look for a present for Francesca. As I wonder around the boutiques, I sip on a banana and yogurt smoothie. I can’t seem to find anything for Francesca, so I buy her a gift voucher and head back to work.

  The afternoon goes as quick as the morning, and at five o'clock, I say goodnight to Linda and dash home to get ready for the party.

  I grab a glass of cranberry juice, then have one last check around for my cell phone, but I still can't find it anywhere. Drats, it looks like I’ll have to buy a new one on payday. After showering and changing into tight green pants and a white top, I put on my coat. As I slip into my shoes, the phone rings. Oh, thank goodness for that. I'd forgotten about Mum calling. Jeez, I would have gone out without thinking, then I'd be in trouble. I glance at the clock. It's already six-thirty. Good timing. I pick up the handset.

  “Hi. Mum.”

  “Eloise, I've been worried. Where were you on Sunday when I phoned? Did you go out partying with Tom again? I hope you weren't out all night with him?”

  “I went to a party with Brooke and Ruby. I'm not dating Tom anymore, Mum, so don't worry. I can't remember what time I got in, but it wasn't late, anyhow, how's Pop?”

  “It looks like we'll be here for a while yet, honey, probably another week or more. Anyway, now I know you're okay, I'd better go. Oh, and make sure you're in bed early tonight. You don't want to be late for work. By the way, how was your job?”

  “It's great. I love it.”

  “That's good. Okay, I'll phone in a few days. Be good, Bye.”

  “Bye, Mum.”

  With a big smile, I hang up.

  After checking myself in the mirror, I put my money and lipstick in a tiny leather shoulder bag and pull it over my head. Perfect. At least I can't lose this purse and I don't even have to hold it. I lock up, then drop the keys in the purse and head up the road towards the church hall.

  Inhaling the fresh salty air, I gaze up at the big yellow moon as it smiles at me from above the ocean. It looks so beautiful amongst the twinkling stars in the clear night sky. I'm so glad it's not foggy or raining tonight, but I guess if I want to own my own car, I'll have to stop buying clothes and shoes and save up.

  As I walk through the car park to the church hall, Timomatic’s song, ‘If Looks Could Kill’, blasts out of the open doors. Brooke and Ruby dash over to meet me.

  “I’m glad you came, Ell,” says Ruby. “I thought you might not after what Francesca did.”

  I shrug. “I don’t care about that. I’m over Tom.” I stroll over to the table and place Francesca’s gift with the other presents and grab a beaker of orange juice.

  “Look who’s coming over,” whispers Brooke.

  I look up to see Tom.

  “Hi, Elle, wanna dance?”

  I shake my head. “Why don’t you ask Francesca?”

  Brooke nearly chokes on her drink.

  As Pink’s song, I’m Still a Rock Star, booms from of the hall speakers, someone grabs my hand and twirls me onto the dance floor, and as he wraps his arms around my back, I look up at the handsome face of Devlin Sulphurous.

  He smiles down at me, his dark eyes twinkling with the reflection from the disco lights. As I breathe in his exotic perfume, I start to feel dizzy. It smells like incense. I suddenly wonder why I disliked him so much when I met him at Richie’s party. He seems charming enough and he sure is hot. He’s wearing tight black jeans and an open-neck silk shirt, revealing his well-toned chest. Jeez. It’s like he’s put a spell on me because I can’t stop staring at him. Maybe I misjudged him. After all, it wasn’t him who went off with Francesca.

  As we dance to One Direction’s song, ‘Little Things’, Devlin pulls me close and starts singing along with the words. I’m touched. No one has ever sung to me before and when he pulls me closer, I put my hand on his back and gaze up at him. As I run my fingers along the soft black silk, the warmth of his skin burns through. His arms are so strong and powerful, and as he wraps them around me, I lay against his chest as he sways me around the floor. I can’t believe I’m doing this with a guy I’ve just met. I feel intoxicated.

  Then my eyes meet Tom’s and he’s glaring at me.

  Storming towards us, he tries to cut in and pull me away. “Get your sleazy hands off my girl,” he yells, his fists clenched.

  Oh, great. Will Tom never give up?

  Devlin’s much bigger than Tom and a lot more intimidating. He reaches out, then digs his thumb into the flesh above Tom’s right rib.

  Tom’s knees buckle as he cries out, “Awww.”

  Holly shit. What’s Devlin doing? I pull at his arm. “Don’t.”

  Devlin takes his hand away and grabs mine, then he ushers me outside into the fresh night air and away from the loud music where we can talk. “I’m sorry, Eloise. I had to do something to stop him from making a fool of himself.”

  I glance back at the hall, hoping Tom is all right. He’s standing in the doorway, rubbing his shoulder and glowering at Devlin.

  I frown at Devlin. “I think you hurt him.”

  He glances at Tom, then steers me down the garden towards a sandy track that leads to the beach. “It’s only his pride that’s hurt. I had to stop him before he started a fight because he wouldn’t stand a chance with me and I didn’t want to harm him. He’s just a fool.”

  I guess Devlin’s right but I feel a little nervous going off with him when I don’t really know him. Taking my shoes off, I glance over my shoulder to make sure Tom sees where I’m going, but he’s not there. Knowing him, he’s probably gone in search of Francesca.

  Wondering what I’m getting myself into, I carry my shoes and follow Devlin onto the beach. He has some sort of magnetism and I can’t seem to resist him. He sits down with his back to the cliff top and pats the ground next to him.

  “You’re shivering, Eloise. Sit here and let me warm you.”

  As I plonk beside him, he wraps his arm around my shoulders and rubs my arm.

  “I’m so glad you’re giving me a chance to get to know you, instead of running off like you did at Richie’s party.”

  Feeling stupidly self-conscious, I look away. Why does he want to get to know me? Francesca's stunning and she practically threw herself at him.

  As if reading my mind, he smiles, his white teeth gleaming in the moonlight. “I don’t think you realise how gorgeous you are, Eloise. And that’s only one of the things I love about you.”

  Love? That’s a bit strong. Blushing, I look away. I don’t know what to say to him. He seems so mysterious. Brooke's right, he's definitely hot, but there’s something dark about him, too.

  He takes my hand and kissed my fingers. “There's no need to be shy. I won't bite you.”

  I gulp and my heart thumps against my ribs. He's so close, I can smell his exotic perfume again, and though it's intoxicating, there's a desperate intensity to his behaviour that's worrying me. I glance up at him. “I'm not shy. I'm just cautious, and I don’t really know anything about you.”

  He cups my chin in his hand. “You don't have to be nervous with me. You’re so sweet and there’s something so innocent and vulnerable about you. You bring out the protector in me.”

  I gulp. Jeez, he doesn’t know me very well. He tries anything and I’ll poke his eyes out. Crap. I should ha
ve learned my lesson after what Tom did. Being alone with a boy is not very sensible.

  Snaking his arm around my waist, he pulls me closer. “The view of the ocean is fantastic under the stars, isn’t it?”

  My breathing quickens and I peek at him out the corner of my eye. He's moving way too fast for me, and I don't know him well enough. Feeling a little apprehensive and uncomfortable, my mouth goes dry. I look around to see if there’s anyone on the beach, but it’s deserted.

  “So, how is your job at the pet shop going?” he asks.

  I look abruptly at him. “How do you know where I work?”

  “Brooke told me.”

  Frowning, I stare at him, trying to work him out.

  He strokes my hair from my face. “I heard you and Tom broke up, so how are you getting home tonight?”

  Before he has the chance to offer me a lift, I say, “Brooke’s driving me.”

  He gazes into my eyes. “Have you ever been in love, Eloise?”

  I stare up at him, his pupils glittering in the moonlight. I’m not sure how to answer him. I'm certainly not telling him I’m in love with a boy I dream about every night. He'll think I'm a desperate weirdo.

  He pulls me closer, squashing my head to his chest and forcing me to listen to the pounding of his heart. “It’s beating for you, Eloise,” he whispers, as he buries his face in my hair.

  The scent of his cologne and the sound of his voice give me a strange déjà vu feeling, but I can’t think why. As I move my hand across his back, something prickles my hand. Shoot, what was that. I run my fingers under his shirt to see what caused it. Friggin hell. He needs a good wax.

  Arching his back, he gasps, then lays me gently down on the sand and leans over me. “Are you trying to turn me on?”

  I gulp. Holy shit. He thinks I was caressing him.

  Moving closer, he presses his lips to mine and swirls his tongue into my mouth. Then he pulls away and kisses my throat. “Mmm, you taste so sweet.”

  Though his kiss was soft and gentle, his perfume is spine-tingling and it’s making me dizzy. As he wraps his arms around me, his biceps bulge against my neck. Then he caresses my shoulders and moves his hands down my back and round to my belly. Though he’s hands are on top of my clothes, my stomach tightens. Crikey, what have I got myself into? He’s moving way too fast. I should have followed my instincts and stayed away from him. Deciding to get away, I sit up and smile.

  “I have to go to the bathroom, Devlin, but I won’t be long.” I stand up to leave. “Would you like me to bring you a drink or something?” I say, trying to trick him.

  He grabs my hand. “The only thing I need is you, Eloise, but I’ll walk back with you.”

  “There’s no need. Keep the sand warm and I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

  “Okay.” He leans back against the cliff and grins. “Don’t be too long, or I’ll come looking for you. Now that I’ve found you, I’m never letting you go.”

  Not knowing what to say to him, I pick my shoes up and take off barefoot back up the sandy track. My heart is beating like a drum, but if I go back to the party, Devlin will find me and I don’t feel like talking to him. He scares the crap out of me. Plus I have to get up for work in the morning, unlike my friends who can sleep in late. I glance at my watch. If I go via the shortcut, I can be home in ten minutes and Devlin won't even notice until it's too late. It’s a good job he doesn’t know where I live.

  Reaching the end of the beach track, I turn left and jog along the path that snakes over the cliff towards the next beach and near to my street. When I reach the steepest part, I hold onto the wooden railing and climb the sandstone steps between the bushes and trees. If it wasn’t for the full moon, I would have had to walk home along the main road, and then Devlin would’ve seen me. At the top of the steps, there’s a wooden bench looking out over the ocean. My feet are hurting, so I sit down for a moment and rub my sore toes. No point putting my high heels on until I get onto the street. The fresh air and the smell of the ocean energise me and as I jump to my feet again, a gigantic black bird swoops towards me.

  Freaking hell! Screaming, I hold my head and duck.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The flapping of huge wings blows my hair about as a large creature lands next to me. What in the world is that? I squeeze my eyes shut and tremble with terror. This is it. I'm about to be eaten by a prehistoric bird and I haven't even lived yet.

  A deep voice booms out. “Look at me!”

  My eyes pop wide open. Holy hell! I'm so dead.

  There’s a half-dressed man standing over me, a tall man with the physique of a body builder, and he's got … holy crap, he's got wings, huge black wings. I back up against a rock and cover my face with my hands. He can't be real. He’s either an actor from a movie set or I'm having a nightmare.

  “So, Eloise, you thought you could get away from me?”

  He knows my name? I peep through my fingers, and though his face is in the shadows, his voice sounds familiar. He moves closer and smiles, his pearly white teeth glinting in the moonlight.

  Oh my god! It’s Devlin.

  I blink twice. “Are you in a movie or something?”

  He throws his head back and laughs. “Now, why would you say that?”

  I bite my lip. “Um … ′cause you’re wearing motorised wings?”

  His mouth curling into a smirk, he points over his shoulder. “I can assure you, these wings are real.” He walks towards me. “Would you like to feel them?”

  I swallow hard, and though I’m afraid, my curiosity takes over. I step forward and run my fingers along his back. He closes his eyes and inhales like he’s enjoying it. Oh my god. The feathers feel real and they’re growing out of his back. Just to be sure, I nip a quill between my fingers and yank it out. Whoa. It’s got blood on the end, so it has to be real.

  “Ouch.” He opens his eyes and rubs his shoulder. “You’re a right little vixen, aren’t you? That hurt.”

  I stare at the thick black feather in my hand. Far out. He really does have wings. I look up at him. “What the hell are you, an angel?”

  “You could say that.” He takes the feather from my hand and sticks it in my hair. Then his face grows serious as he kneels on one knee in front of me. “I’m your angel, Eloise.”

  My legs feel like jelly and I’m shivering with fear. I must be having a nightmare.

  He starts unfastening a chain around his neck. “There’s no need to be afraid, honey. I'm going to make you richer than you could ever imagine.”

  Oh, shit. There’s a ring on the chain. Please don’t let him give it to me. I look to my left, getting ready to bolt. This can't be. I’m hallucinating and I have to wake up. As adrenaline soaks into my blood, I drop my shoes on the ground and take off the way I came. I thunder down the steps and run across the grass to the beach. If I dive into the ocean, the icy water will wake me up and my world will come back to me.

  Devlin's laughter echoes from the cliff as I tear along the sand to the sea. The beach is deserted and there’s no one to help me, so I’m praying it’s all a dream. Glancing over my shoulder, I see a man charging towards me. Oh, Lord, please don't let it be Devlin.

  Determined to escape my nightmare, I run into the freezing ocean and gasp. It takes my breath away, but the man is still chasing me. I dive under the water and swim away, holding my breath and hoping he won't find me. As I surface for air, a huge wave thunders over me, smashing me onto the ocean floor, then tumbling me over and over and dumping me back on the shore. Kneeling on the wet sand, I cough and splutter as salty water pours from my nose. When someone pulls me to my feet, I jerk with fright and push the wet hair from my face.

  Devlin is smiling at me, his huge wings folded behind his back. “Silly girl, now you’re all wet.” He lifts me into his strong arms and kisses my forehead. “You can’t escape me, Eloise. I’m your destiny and you’re mine.”

  I shiver against his warm chest as he carries me towards the sand dunes. Oh, no
. Why is he taking me there? I study his face. He may be a handsome hunk, but I’m not about to be some birdman’s destiny. I slap his cheek. “Put me down. I don’t know who you are or why you have wings, but you can’t just order me around.”

  He grins. “Still as feisty as ever, aren’t you?” Holding me tighter, he climbs over a wire fence and into a nature strip. “You may have escaped me before, but you won’t this time.” He lays me down in-between two large sand dunes and rips off his shorts.

  Oh shit. He’s stark naked and the full moon is so bright I can clearly see him, all of him. My pulse quickens and I scramble to get up, but he wrestles me to the sand and yanks my clothes off. As I try to scream, he covers my mouth with his hand. “Don’t fight it, Eloise, or I’ll fly with you back to the castle, then you’ll never see your friends or family, ever again.”

  Heart failure!

  My blood runs cold as the memory of Devlin’s castle comes flooding back to me. And as his dark, ominous eyes lock onto mine, I realise there’s no hope for me. He’s much too powerful, and he has Lucifer to help him.

  Bile rises in my throat. How could I have forgotten him and that awful castle in the snow? Then I suddenly remember Seal and tears fill my eyes. As I stare up at the heavens, I pray that he will come down and rescue me.

  Devlin climbs on top of me, pinning me beneath him. Then he runs his fingers along my left hip as he gazes into my eyes. “There’s no point praying, my love. I tried to do this the right way, but now you’ve given me no choice. I have to pay my debt to Lucifer and take my revenge upon Nathaniel.”

  “Get off me!” I heave at his bare chest, but I can’t budge him. His naked thighs are on mine and I just want to die.

  He grips my left wrist, then forces the ring onto my finger.

  “Take it off!” I scream.

  Thrusting his hands into my hair, he holds my head still and makes me look at him. “I’ve given up everything for this moment, Eloise, and in a few moments you’ll be connected to me forever.”