Afterlife (Afterlife Saga)

by Stephanie Hudson

  “Hi Keira,” Sophia said as she answered the door looking at ease in my doorway.

  “Umm....Hi,” I said, not wanting to be rude and come right out and say what are you doing here?

  “Sophia's been waiting for you, since you weren't at work?” Libby said confirming I was now busted!

  “Umm yeah I went out with...mates.” I said stopping before I said Jack’s name, only I didn't know why I wasn't just being honest. It wasn't as if it mattered any more.

  “I'm guessing she means Jack.” Libby said to Sophia and I was suddenly aware that Sophia had been waiting for me, so what had Libby said to her or vice versa? I was immediately on my guard seeing her here since it wasn't long ago she was giving me the cold shoulder. I walked in the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and said to Sophia,

  “Do you want to come upstairs?” And I walked on without waiting for an answer knowing she would follow. Libby went back to join Frank, who had fallen asleep in the lounge watching one of Libby's period dramas as she preferred watching them rather than reading them.

  Sophia and I were silent all the way up until we entered my room. I went to sit on my bed and Sophia sat at the window seat opposite me.

  “You have a great view from here Keira.” She said in a sad tone but my mood remained the same...sceptical.

  “I hate to be blunt but why are you here Sophia?” I said looking at her but she was still staring out of my window as if searching for something. I gave her time but I was biting my lip by the time she came out of her trance.

  “My brother didn't mean for things to go that way.” She said coming to join me on the bed.

  “And what way was that, demanding things of me that were not his business to try and control, or that fact that I quit over it?” I said in an emotional voice as I always did when it came to Draven.

  “My brother deserves to be happy, it's just a shame it's never that easy.” She said and I didn't understand a word of it.

  “Look, I’m really tired of all these cryptic messages that seem to come out of all three of you. Your brother has made his feelings very clear and anyway I'm sure his new wife will make him happy.” I said trying to press for any information I could get but knowing Sophia's reluctance to talk about anything personal I doubted I would be satisfied.

  “I understand why you are frustrated and I can only apologise for it, but do you really believe that my brother only thinks of you as nothing but a waitress?” She said shocking me at how blunt she was now being.

  “To be honest, I have absolutely no idea how your brother looks at me and I’m not even sure if he looks at me at all.” I couldn't hide the sadness in my voice and Sophia picked up on it.

  “But you know how you feel for him...yes?” Her head tilted to one side as though urging me to speak the truth to her but I wasn't about to fold so easily.

  “Why do you even ask? What does it matter how I feel when my feelings are not returned in the same way?”

  “If there are feelings there then they still matter, regardless.” She said in such a way, as if I couldn't deny her anything.

  “Why have you really come here Sophia?” I asked tired of playing this game.

  “I want you to come back, to work at the VIP...where you belong.” She said and it felt strange when she said this last bit, as though she was trying to influence me to feel the same way.

  “I don't think I can do that,” I said but it felt as if I was going against nature rejecting the idea. Ever since I had left the VIP all I wanted was to get back there. I wasn't whole unless I was near him and if working there was the only way, then that was what I wanted. But there was another part of me, the part that was responding now, the part that was trying to save my sanity.

  “Why not? Dom wants it too.” She said and my look said it all.

  “I'm not lying to you Keira.”

  “There's just been so much that has happened, I don't know if I can do it, I don't know whether I could face him again.” At this she found her key to cracking me as she was getting up and buttoning up the thick crisp white jacket she wore.

  “Well sleep on it and meet with him tomorrow night to discuss it, this is at his request...and don't worry, he won't lose his temper again.” She said as she walked to my door.

  “I will think about it but I'm not making any promises, will you be back at college tomorrow?” I asked and she paused as if trying to find the right words and then smiled saying,

  “Ah, I knew there was something else...there was a fire...oh no don't worry no one was hurt but our part of the college is closed for the next few days due to the investigation.”

  “Oh my god, that's terrible...was it done deliberately?” I asked as she obviously had all the facts.

  “Oh deliberately?...umm yes I believe so....See you tomorrow Keira.” And with that she left smiling a scary wicked smile. Once she was gone I picked up the phone and called RJ to see if she had heard anything.

  “Oh yeah, but its only just started so how did you hear the news so quickly?” She asked and I was amazed that Sophia knew about it, after all hadn't she been here waiting for me and thinking about it, how did she even get here, there was no car when I pulled up.

  “Sophia told me.”

  “Oh well, I guess she would know with her brother being so involved in the place. Man, I bet this means more money to cough up from them,” she said but I could hear Jack in the background trying to get to the phone.

  “Sorry Kaz, but Romeo wants to talk to you, hope you’re feeling better.” And then Jack's voice came on the phone before giving me a chance to say goodbye to RJ.

  “Hey how are you, you thrown up that gourmet meal yet?” He asked and I heard RJ saying “Nice Romeo,” in the background, which had me giggling.

  “Not yet but here's hoping,” I said before continuing with my enquiry. “So did you hear about my building?”

  “Yeah, it's a right mess so it looks like a few days off for you, ‘cause aren't most of your classes in there?”

  “Yeah, all of them, but doesn't it seem strange...I mean why would anyone do that?” I asked and he laughed saying,

  “You do have Reed don't you?” And I laughed again agreeing with him.

  “Well at least no one got hurt, that's the main thing,” I said trying to be positive but I couldn't help this nagging feeling I had in the pit of my stomach. It was the way that Sophia had said it all. As though she knew for certain what had happened.

  I would have to remember to ask Libby if she’d received a phone call while she’d been here.

  When I got off the phone from my three way call with RJ and Jack, I went downstairs to talk to Libby but she was too engrossed in her drama to make much sense so I gave up and went to bed with a mind swimming in an ocean of thoughts. In one day I had quit, then been asked to go back and also found out that Draven's fiancée could be Celina, the girl that went missing from Jack two years ago. My life had turned into a Gothic drama and I couldn't decide whether to pull the plug or to keep watching. I went into my bathroom looking for what I wanted or in this case...needed. Knowing that I would never sleep going over everything that happened not only today, but last night was still whirling around there too.

  I popped back two sleeping pills and downed the rest of the water before doing my usual night time routine. Once I was ready for bed I could feel the pills taking effect. So by the time I got into bed I fell asleep thinking about what tomorrow’s meeting would bring, hopefully the opposite of today's...that would be nice.

  By the time I woke up the house was empty, as Libby and Frank had already gone to work. I strolled downstairs still in some old sweat pants and a long T-shirt that I usually wore for bed. I walked in the kitchen and there was a message waiting for me on the fridge in Libby's handwriting.

  Call me when you get up, Lib's xxxx

  I popped the kettle on first and grabbed a breakfast bar down from the cupboard along with a cup for my tea. In England people drank tea like the Americans drink coffe
e so my brain didn't work without my tea in the morning. I made it and finished my bar before picking up the phone and dialling Libby's work’s number.

  “Olivia speaking.” She said in a professional tone

  “Hey Lib's, what's up?” I asked

  “Umm, I've got something to tell you, I was supposed to last night but I completely forgot.” She said in a guilty voice and I didn't like where this was going.

  “Ok, what's wrong?”

  “Well, Frank and I have been invited to spend the week at Frank’s parents’ Lake house with the rest of the family but I didn't think I could get the time off.” She said and I could hear her taking a gulp of something before carrying on.

  “Right sooo...?” I said already foreseeing what was coming next.

  “Well I got a call last night saying it would be fine as one of my clients has put back the finishing date by three weeks so we’re now clear to go...but I wanted to ask you if you would mind?”

  “No not at all, of course I don't mind. I mean you go every year don't you?” I said trying to sound more positive than I felt about staying in this house by myself for a week.

  “Are you sure? You could have anyone over to stay, I'm sure RJ or Jack especially wouldn't mind,” she said giggling.

  “It's fine Lib's, I think I am old enough to cope in the house alone for a week!”

  “Umm. That's not all.” She said like a child about to ask their mum for candy.

  “What do you need?”

  “I was wondering could you do me a huge favour and put some of my laundry in the washer and nip to the store and get a list of supplies for me?”

  After I had written a list as long as my arm of what Lib's wanted at the supermarket, I picked some dirty clothes out of her hamper and put on a load before getting ready to go out. I got changed in record time as I wanted to get back to finish off Libby's mountain of washing. It didn't take long to get to the store and as it was a weekday it was nearly empty. I was making my way up and down the aisles, grabbing loads of junk food that was on Libby's list when I spotted someone I knew. He was heading straight for me and I pushed my trolley past until he looked me in the face...but there was no reaction. So I said,

  “Hello Doctor Spencer, how are you?”

  “Umm fine young lady.” He said with no recognition on his face whatsoever.

  “You don't remember me do you?” I asked

  “I'm sorry but I do see a lot of patients,” he said in an unfriendly tone.

  “I bumped my head and Mr Draven asked you to see me?” I said but his face remained a blank.

  “I afraid you must be mistaken my dear I don't even know a Mr Draven.” He said as he was about to move away but I stopped him as I placed my hand on his trolley.

  “I sorry, but you have to remember, you came to my house and you said that you have known Mr Draven for years!” But he moved his trolley in a rude manner and said,

  “Well see, that's where you’re wrong, it couldn't have been me because I don't do house calls! If you will excuse me!” And with that my hand dropped from the metal and I moved to the side, letting him pass. I stood there as though I was having some sort of meltdown. It was definitely him, I was sure of it. I mean he didn't look as healthy as the last time I saw him, his face looked older, his eyes were a pale grey and his face full of lines showing the stress he had mounted up over the years. But there was no doubt it had been him. I had said his name and he hadn't denied that. I got the rest of the stuff in a daze. Maybe he suffered with short-term memory loss but I doubted very much a doctor's profession would be the way to go if he did.

  Even when I had paid for my stuff and was loading it into my car I was still thinking about it. The man that I had seen had been kind and gentle, but this man had been rude and definitely not a people person. And how could someone have aged so much in such a short space of time? I just couldn't get my head round it and I knew it wasn't just me going crazy as Libby had also met him that day. Once again it had become one of those things that I tried to forget or put to the back of my mind but it kept crawling its way forward, scratching away at my brain.

  I was back in the kitchen munching on a tuna sandwich I had made myself when the phone went again and I picked it up trying to swallow a mouthful of bread.

  “Hello!” I said but there was nothing on the other end but heavy breathing, so I said it again.

  “Helloooo!” But then I heard a guy that sounded like he was in the background saying in an agitated tone,

  “Hey you have to pay to use that!” And with that, the phone went dead leaving me shaking my head. Must have been a wrong number. After I finished my lunch I did the rest of Libby's laundry and I decided to run a bath and try to relax before I knew what I had to do tonight. I poured in Libby's fancy bottles of bubble bath under the running water and it filled the room with the scent of a Tropical Delight. I lit a few candles and pressed play on the CD player that she had fitted in the bathroom wall. It had the sounds of the forest, with birds and waterfalls transforming the bathroom into a relaxing haven.

  It was a huge room with a massive free-standing bath that you could fit more than one body in. I let my robe slip to the floor and I placed one leg in letting my skin adapt to the temperature, feeling the slight itch as it was too hot. I then braved it and dunked the rest of my body under the scented water, feeling it soothe my muscles into relaxation. I tried not to think about tonight and concentrated on the background sound of the forest but no matter how I tried I couldn't help it. I kept seeing Draven's harsh face, the way he had looked at me yesterday and it made me shiver, even though my skin was hot. Being in the bath was reminding me that Draven was like water, I didn't know when it would be ice cold or burning hot but either way I needed it...I needed it to survive!

  Once I had finished relaxing I did all the usual girlie things, shaved my legs and any other area that needed attention. I scrubbed my skin with a rough sponge until it glowed and the soap that smelled like strawberries. As soon as I was done in the bath I rinsed off in the shower and washed my hair as I could never wash it in the bath with it being so long. By the time I got out Libby and Frank were back and frantically packing.

  She popped her head round my bedroom door after about an hour of running around like a headless chicken.

  “Hey honey we're off in a minute, thanks for sorting out my washing and going to the store for me, you’re a doll!”

  “No problem. I just I used all your fancy products in the bath to make up for it!” I said and she laughed.

  “Oh well, I will get you to scrub the decking outside for that one, seriously though you know you can help yourself ….are you sure you don't mind us going?” She said looking at her watch as though they were going to be late, so I got up and hugged her saying,

  “I told you I will be fine...now go and have fun and don't worry about me, but if I'm not in later when you ring then just leave me a message.”

  “Ok, well I will ring you and if you have any problems then it would only take us two hours to get back home…I love you Kazzy.” She said hugging me back, before leaving and I shouted down to Frank to have fun, before I heard the door shut. I closed the bedroom door and put some tunes on my Laptop and listened to a band called ‘Shinedown,’ while I got ready for yet another meeting with Draven.

  I put on an extra vest that had lace at the top and straps, under my black T shirt with matching fingerless gloves that met the sleeves on my top. I wore tighter fitting jeans that were one of my nicer pairs, well one of the only ones that weren't ripped around the edges. I dried most of my hair but thanks to using Libby’s new shampoo it went extra wavy. I put it up but some bits kept escaping so I decided to leave them as it added to the look. I checked myself in the mirror and when I was slightly satisfied I grabbed my jacket, my zip up sweater and keys with shaky hands and left the house.

  The rain battered down on my car's windows making the weather mirror my mood as the closer my car got to Afterlife the more my heart had t
o work to keep a steady beat. Sophia had said that this meeting would go better than last time, with Draven's temper firmly in check, but I could never predict anything in that place. It was as though it had its own parallel universe and any other rules of the world just didn't apply. I mean, Sophia had asked me to come back to work at the VIP and that was what Draven wanted too, but could I do that? Could I just go back to normal, after everything that had happened?

  There was definitely something between Draven and myself. Some unnatural bond that kept on throwing us together... one that he kept denying. So I decided this would be my last try. I needed answers and I didn't care how I got them, whether it was in a calm conversation or a stormy argument, of course I preferred the first one but no matter how I got them, I wasn't leaving until I was satisfied.

  This time this was going to be the end...

  I just hoped that this time I could finally let him go.

  Chapter 34 – Captured

  Well, here I was, back again ready for the same thing I had done yesterday. I was just hoping this time I would get better results. Only tonight there was going to be an important difference, as now I wasn't an employee of his and now he wasn't my Boss.

  I walked inside past Cameron and Jo as they eyed me curiously. I wonder if everyone knew that I had quit. Even so I seriously doubted they knew the cause. Hell, I wasn't even sure why but I knew one thing and that was I just couldn't pretend any more. Seeing Draven everyday was like feeding my addiction, one I knew was bad for me and little by little I just kept wanting more. I was finding it harder each time I saw him to pretend that I didn't crave him as badly as I did and it was exhausting.

  The VIP came into view and my heart missed a beat as I walked to the bottom of the staircase. The two security guys that were on guard didn't even bat an eyelid at my approach, they just moved aside without a word and I made my way up to the VIP, biting my lip. I reached the top and the room fell into a hushed silence and I automatically put my head down in shame. Well if they didn't know the reason I quit downstairs, they most certainly knew up here, that much was obvious! I walked over to the bar and noticed that none of the Dravens were sat at their table but most of the regulars were at their usual tables. It was odd without them there, like a vital part of the puzzle missing.