Afterlife (Afterlife Saga)

by Stephanie Hudson

  “Why would you need to know that?” He raised one eyebrow at my question.

  “Because I have to get ready for work,” I said standing up and walking over to my bag. But his hand grabbed my wrist making me tense as I still wasn't used to being touched there.

  “I'm sorry but did you get another job in the one day you quit?” He gave me a wicked grin and stood over me looking like a giant next to a hobbit.

  “No, but are you really telling me that I can't have my old job back, after all, that was the reason I came here to meet with you in the first place? Ok, well we didn't even start the meeting but it still ended in my favour.” I said wondering how it would have really gone if I hadn't had that phone call.

  “Well you weren't thinking that, when I was holding you against your will.... as you put it.” He was trying to distract me and I was trying to squirm away to my bag but he wasn't having any of it. He held my wrists like shackles and was keeping me still.

  “Ok, so what would have happened if I hadn't had that phone call from my psycho stalker?” He squeezed my wrist tighter at the thought of the mad man that also wanted me.

  “Simple, I wouldn't have had to go outside to get you.”

  “What do you mean?” I shook my head at him in confusion.

  “Keira, as soon as you turned up here you sealed your fate. My intentions were never to let you leave. But as usual you were stubborn and refused to co-operate, wanting to meet me on the balcony. It would have made no difference though, I would have just taken you there.” He said as a matter of fact.

  “Taken me...you don't mean?” As soon as I asked I knew he hadn't meant it the way I thought he had as now he was making me shake with the laughter that erupted from him. I took this as offensive and tried to pull away from him but he wouldn't have that, so he pulled me up still holding my wrists, holding them above my head bringing my face closer to his.

  “And where are you trying to get to, exactly?” He said looking down at my face not even trying to conceal the humour.

  “I'm glad you find it so funny!”

  “Keira, I find the idea a little amusing, yes, but consider why... what would you have done if as soon as I saw you, I had ripped your clothes from that soft skin of yours and made love to you, especially after how our last meeting went...what would you have thought?” Ok, so he had a bit of a point.

  “Enjoyed it” I said smiling, as it was so hard being angry with him. He finally released his hold but not to let me escape, only so he could have me closer for an embrace. He wrapped his arms around me like steel bands and I had never felt so safe.

  “Really, well maybe we will try that one another time but for now, why do you want to go back to working for me?”

  “Because I don't want to be treated differently because we are ….umm...well, because I'm being favoured by the boss.” Did that make sense?

  “Favoured...is that what you call this?” He looked a little taken aback.

  “Well, what do you want me to call it...are we... dating?” I said feeling the humour in the idea. I couldn't imagine Draven taking me to a restaurant and buying me chocolates.

  “Well considering that last night wasn't a date and the second time was after a heated argument, I think we can skip right past the dating thing and let’s just say we’re in love and together.” With him putting it like that I had to agree. It was so much stronger than anything I had ever experienced, so I was like a fish out of water.

  “Well anyway, I am still going to work in twenty minutes regardless!” I said being firm but he looked back at me as if to say ‘umm I don't think so!’

  “That's going to be difficult when you’re tied up.” He teased and I fell for the bait.

  “You wouldn't!” I said feeling a little excited by the idea.

  “Well no... I wouldn't... but I have to say the idea is appealing. However, the answer is still a no.” He let me go and I pulled back so that I could see his face.

  “No ...really, so let me get this straight, I am asking you for something and you are refusing me this?” Ha, I knew once I saw his face that I had him with this one.

  “Keira don't do that, you know I want to give you everything I can, but not that. I'm trying to keep you safe...don't be difficult!” He said turning his back on me but I knew I was on the verge of winning.

  “You have to be kidding, this place is a fortress and how can anything happen with you watching over me, plus I will be right down stairs.”

  “Downstairs, I thought we were talking about you having your old job back, why would you be downstairs?”

  “Because that is my old job...remember you kind of sacked me from the VIP.” I said laughing that we were even having this discussion.

  “I did not sack you, I advised you to work downstairs but nothing more.... anyway we are not having this conversation anymore!”

  “You’re right because I need to get ready.” I walked over to grab my bag and took it into the bathroom leaving him in the room, probably stunned that I wasn't obeying, but really, when had I ever done as I was told by Draven? I couldn't help but smile as I closed the door behind me.

  “And what do you think you’re smiling at?” I turned and he was leaning against the shower wall with his arms crossed. I nearly jumped out of my skin!

  “Fine, I will just get changed in front of you!” I said pulling out my black trousers and a black top with a fresh pair of gloves to match. I waited for him to be a gentleman again but he remained there and just extended out his arm.

  “Be my guest....” He said being cocky again. So I took a deep breath and pulled my top above my head leaving on just a white bra. I was still looking at him and when his eyes widened I felt as though I was the powerful one...had I just found his weakness? I was sure I also saw him swallow hard and it was making it difficult to keep the smirk off my lips. So I went a step further. Instead of putting on another top straight away, I stayed topless while I removed the next item. I turned round for this bit and before removing my jeans I let my hair fall down my back. I then unzipped my jeans and pulled them down slowly, almost in a teasing way. I had on a pair of little white hot pants, which I’d chosen on purpose, knowing they were one of my sexier pairs. I could hear him groan at the sight of me flicking my hair back after pulling my foot out of the last leg. This was enough to break him!

  “Come here!” He commanded, but I just looked over my shoulder at him trying to be seductive for the first time in my life.

  “Are you going to change your mind?” I asked trying not to show how intimidated I was at the sight of the demon coming through, as his eyes were intense and hungry.

  “I will do anything you want, if only you come to me NOW!” I jumped a little at the sound of the growl that came with the last word. But it worked as I turned around and my hair fell forward coving the top part of my very exposed body. Looking at him now was making the blood rush to my face and this seemed to excite him more. I walked slowly towards him and he watched my body move, like a bird of prey.

  His hand touched my face first as he brushed my hair back with his fingertips, giving him a clear view of one side of my near naked body. I couldn't help my heavy breathing as my chest moved up and down under the hand that was now making its way across the front of my neck and down to my breasts. I closed my eyes as his black eyes flashed purple and scared me slightly. The feeling was so erotic I wanted to fold my body into his and let him take me. Then he leaned down to my neck and kissed me so softly it could have been the wings of a butterfly. He moved his lips up to behind my ear and then whispered,

  “I will let you get ready for work now, but remember that later I will get what I want in return...and Keira...later we will be playing by my rules.” Then by the time I opened my eyes he was gone. The thought of what was to come made my body fill with liquid fire.

  I got dressed and redid my hair ready for my first shift back, but I still couldn't stop thinking about what was in store for me once my time was over. I bit down on my li
p just thinking about it.

  When I went back into the room Draven wasn't there but instead it was the servant called Candra wearing what she wore last time only it was in black and red.

  “Hello again, Draven would like me to escort you back to the VIP area so you can start your shift.”

  “Umm ok, thanks.” I followed her out of the same door that I had entered, what seemed like a lifetime ago. We were in the same hallway I had been in with Sophia but I only started to recognise it when I got closer to the huge doors at the end. I had seen this before but now I was coming from the other way. I noticed the door on the left as the one I had gone through on Sunday when I had confronted Draven about what happened on Saturday night. As soon as we approached, the double doors opened and filled my lungs with the familiar comforting smell of Afterlife.

  I walked past all the obvious stares, as it was apparent that everyone knew about Draven and myself. Hell, they probably knew before I did! It was strange knowing that they were all Angels and Demons but it was like deep down I had known. After that dream I had showing me their true forms, well since then, I’d had my suspicions but cast them deep, banishing them to the back of my mind.

  I found Sophia eagerly waiting for me by the bar and I was sure I even saw her jump with joy at the sight of me. I walked over to her knowing I couldn't hold anything against her for deceiving me. After all she was his sister and that was her first priority...plus in the end it had all been for the best.

  “Keira...you're not angry with me are you?” She said cautiously.

  “No, I understand why,” I said hugging her back feeling the same heat I got from her brother.

  “Good, well now that's all cleared up, why don't you finally join us?” She said holding on to my now gloved arm. Again I was trying to get used to it but it was taking its time, so I couldn't help but flinch.

  “Oh sorry!” She said looking down feeling me tense...of course she knew the story along with her other brother no doubt.

  “Umm, maybe after work, I have to get downstairs and....” I said but her face was telling me not a chance!

  “Sorry honey, but Dom's well against the idea, but you can work up here, you know...where he can keep an eye on you.” She finished this off with a wink. So I hadn't won as I thought! Well he was going to pay tonight, if he thought he was going to get all his own way now, then he could think again!...There was just one slight problem with this theory, when it came to Dominic Draven I had zero self-control.

  “I will see you later Keira, it will be nice having another girl at the table...you can sit next to me,” she added sweetly, making it even harder to picture her as a demon.

  “Ok, see you later,” I said secretly dreading it before going over to the bar where Karmun's happy face was waiting for me.

  “Ah she's back, how you doing Honey?” He was filling up a tray for me but his eyes drifted over my head looking towards the top table.

  “He's staring over here, isn't he?” I said making Karmun's face drop.

  “Umm...I wouldn't know,” he said looking back at me as if he had been busted.

  “Yeah right...sure you don't!” I said with my hands on my hips knowing that Draven's eyes were watching my every move....However I refused to look at him.

  “Hey Keira, you've got some funky energy going on, you must be happy” Rue said as she came up behind me taking her new tray from the bar.

  “Thanks Rue, I am happy, how about you?” I asked knowing that this was probably one of her gifts.

  “Can't complain but washing your hands when you see through them isn't great, ha, ha!” She said laughing to herself as she walked back to her section. So the tattoos of eyes on her hands weren't there just for effect, she saw through them? How strange....

  Karmun was smiling, as my face must have been a picture, which got me thinking was he Angel or Demon...I would have to remember all these questions for Draven later. There were still so many things that I needed to ask.

  I started to work and everyone was friendly as usual but my concentration wasn't fully on my job, as I couldn't stop thinking about the last thing Draven had said to me and it was making me quiver at the thought. I was both excited and scared because even though I knew he would never harm me in any way, there was still that element in him that terrified me but in more ways than not...I liked it. I still hadn't looked at him but it was becoming harder. It was as though he kept trying to enter my mind and make me look but I kept denying him access, which was probably making him crazy with frustration. The night was flying past as quickly as it usually did in this place and I realised I only had an hour to go but to Draven it seemed that he had hit his limit.

  I was standing at the bar waiting for my next tray of drinks, when hands came out and leant on either side of the bar blocking me into the solid body behind me. I had my back to him and a whisper left my lips in my surprise. He leaned into me not caring about all the eyes that watched us. Karmun came over to me with my tray but one flick of Draven's hand sent him on his way.

  “Time's up,” he said blowing his scent down my face giving off its usual drugging effect. I inhaled and tried to keep my voice steady.

  “Not yet,” I whispered, going back to my usual shy self and pushing a stray bit of hair behind my ears.

  “Remember what I said Keira.” His tone was even tenser than before in the bathroom. Only now I was the one that was swallowing hard. One of his hands came at my side and he moved my top up to get to my skin. I had to brace myself on the bar in front of me. I couldn't believe he was doing this here! Didn't he care who saw us?

  “Not here!” I said coughing first to get back my speech.

  “My game and my rules Keira,” he said in his rough smouldering voice that again made me quiver as his touch went up even higher until it reached the bottom of my bra. This made me react by grabbing his strong hand and pushing it down.

  “Does that mean you’re mine yet?” He said with the trademark bad boy grin I could feel against my neck.

  “Draven please...be reasonable,” I said using his words against him.

  “With you teasing me, I don't think that's going to be a possibility.”

  “I'm not teasing you.” My skin went hot at my shame. How could he do this to me...was this my punishment for wanting to work.

  “No Keira, this isn't your punishment...that comes later.” He said and I turned round to face him. He again took my breath away as what he was now wearing made him look like a dark Gothic Armani model! He was wearing a black suit but he had a deep red shirt and tie to match. His hair was controlled back and well groomed but this made him even more irresistible.

  “How did you do that?” I couldn't understand how, when he had said…

  “You must be letting me in, heightened emotions work well enough for a distraction. And so it would seem that you have been thinking about our little bargain we made, for most of the night now.” This made the liquid fire come racing back to my already pounding heart. Once again I saw the purple glint in his deadly black eyes and I knew the demon in him wanted me.

  “Yes it does...so I wouldn't keep him waiting.” Damn it! He could still hear me, ok focus...I needed to calm down before I regained control but his smile told me he could still hear me. So I pushed harder and harder until bang! I knew it had worked as he frowned in frustration. I suddenly felt better knowing I was back in....well sort of control.

  “Anyway, we can't go yet as I sort of promised Sophia that I would join her for a drink.”

  “She will get over it,” he said, now touching my neck but I moved out from under his hand and put some distance between his body and mine, knowing that his touch was the hardest argument to resist.

  “But it's rude!” I said and he softened into the Angel part of Draven, giving me a smile as if what I had said meant more to him than I realised.

  “Of course, I was forgetting your pure heart...well come on then, let me introduce you to my council.”

  “Umm... Council?” I s
aid nervously thinking maybe this wasn't such a good idea any more. But he had already put my arm through his and was leading me towards his table.

  A table full of very powerful Angels and Demons...

  Shit.

  Chapter 42 - Draven's Council

  Draven walked me up to the top table and it felt as though I was being led into a room with a load of deadly vipers. Why hadn't I just given in to Draven when he wanted me to go back with him. They must have been expecting me, as there was now a spare chair waiting next to Draven's ready for my body to fill it. It was one of those situations you really wished you’d downed a bottle of wine before facing, or vodka in my case as one bottle of wine probably wouldn't have worked. Ragnar was, for once, not in my way as I stepped up to the level of the table. I still couldn't believe I was actually here doing this. It was like meeting the family for the first time only in a weird horror film kind of way.

  I stood a little back from Draven trying desperately to hide behind him, but he wasn't having that. He pulled my arm round so that we were side by side and so I was now in everyone's clear view. Then they all stood up at our presence and I wanted to die with shame! Draven held out his arm and motioned for me to take the seat in between himself and Sophia. I had never felt so out of place before in my life and I wanted to just get up and run away from how bad I felt. Why had I agreed to this? I was surrounded by scary guys and the most gorgeous girls.

  Sophia was, as always, breathtakingly beautiful in her red bell shaped dress with perfect lips to match. And then on the other side was Celina with her amazing red hair that twisted down to one side making a cascade of curls that lay on her shoulder. She wore a black corseted dress that went up to one side mirroring her hairstyle. The black satin material made her hair look more wild and alive, like a head full of fire snakes.

  I looked like the thorn amongst the roses and I couldn't understand why on an earth full of such beauties as these, he would want something as pale and plain as me. I couldn't swallow the self-conscious imagine I held of myself even when someone as Godlike as Draven sat here next to me. I wanted to turn to him and just scream out why... WHY ME! I knew the reason I had flown off the handle when Draven had described the feeding habits of Angel and Demons. Because finally it would have made perfect sense in a world that was completely void of all normality. Finally a reason I could comprehend, something I could grasp on to. One that made me understand what it was he was getting out of it.