by Willa Alders
“Shush now both of you. And you...” She said pointing her long manicured finger at me. “You failed me.”
“N...n… no. I didn’t.” I stammered out in a clenched tone.
“Fine did you get her?” She said paralyzing me to the ground, and then she yawned sounding bored already.
“Yeah.” I said gritting my teeth. I hated it when she didn’t let me fight fair.
“Good, good dear brother now tell me what have you been doing to woo her?” She snickered.
“That’s personal. I won’t tell you.” I spit out still unable to move. “Just let me up and I’ll do whatever you want me too.” I said and to my shock she did. I went over and took my shirt off, I didn’t want it ruined.
“You’re not very sneaky. Carter and I both know you are falling in love with her. That was not part of the deal brother.” Kilyn hissed as she grabbed me by the neck digging each nail in deeper.
“No because we had discussed you asking her in front of me you didn’t do it. You disobeyed me deliberately again. You know the severity of choosing to disobey me.” She hissed.
“Uhm I’m sorry.” I mumbled as her nails dug deeper into my neck.
“Well, I guess oh well for what happens next.” She smiled. I grimaced at the grin it was a bad grin well bad for me.
“Carter bring me the bull.” She bellowed when she did this as Carter left.
He returned carrying the bullwhip. I tried not to show any emotion when I saw it. I cringed at the sight of it because it was a whip that looked like a snack.. It has a thick handle and a single strand that began thick and got smaller toward the end of the whip. The leather coiled together in tight circles, just like a snake would I thought. It usually was used for farmers and back when we had slaves. So I guess that's why she saw fit to use it because I was her slave so to speak.
When he came back with it, she had ripped off my clothes, showing my backside that was already bruised from a previous encounter. I took a bottle in my hand and whizzed it at Carter. She caught it midair flickering a grin at me that said that was a mistake.
“Do you have any idea what you did?” She asked again.
Just then Carter came up and slugged me in the gut eight times, I went to strike back but before I could Kilyn took the bull and brought it against the backs of my legs. Then she did it again and this time so hard and quick it was causing me to drop instantly to my knees. She was hoping I would scream out in pain but I didn’t. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. When I didn’t he slugged me some more choosing a few to the face, and to the stomach, Kilyn would bring the bullwhip down several more times on me. The last few I ended up falling all the way down so that I was laying down flat on the floor on my stomach. I stung more than I could feel but there was nothing I could do.
Once she was done, she had Carter lift me up my legs were strong I was strong, but I was numb. She had my legs and arms paralyzed. I was bleeding from somewhere on my face, I could taste it, it was iron tasting bad. I just didn’t know where exactly.
“Let me see your face dear brother.” She hissed and my hair hung down around my face, my head low. “Good defeated eyes. Glad my point was made.” She said slapping my face extremely hard.
She dismissed me and Carter drug me to my room. Once I was safely there she un-paralyzed me and I walked into my bathroom. I took a washcloth and washed the blood off my face. I found a chant in my book to make the bruises and cuts not so deep. It wouldn’t heal them completely but it would just enough until they could heal in a few days. I chanted it softly so Kilyn couldn’t hear.
Let the objects caused in pain be unseen, let them be unseen until they heal.
It worked as I watched the cuts heal up to mere scrapes. It wasn’t the best chant in the world but it did the trick. I got in the shower, and let the hot water beat on my sore body which helped some. After my shower I lied down in my bed thinking of ways I could tell Aralynn, who I was saving her before my sister found out. I did not know how that was going to happen but I knew I had too. I knew I had to tell her someway, somehow.
After no answers came, I started thinking how wonderful the night had been with her. How beautiful she looked, how much I was already falling for her, and wanted to let her know I was enchanted as well. All of these things and the kisses tonight I felt with her, I forced these thoughts to engulf my mind. It worked. I dreamed that night about kissing her and being with her every waking moment in a world where Kilyn did not exist. The next morning Kilyn came in and poked at me, I was dreaming and must have had a huge smile on my face because when she woke me up she gave me a weird grin like she was pleased for some reason.
“Good you’re up. Now you’re to go see her again today. Do better this time. Good you said a chant to make the marks look less severe. Good don’t want her to get any ideas now do we?” She said smiling.
I just sat there rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and stretching. I could feel that my ribs were really sore, and I was in more pain this morning even though the marks weren’t that bad. One of my ribs could have been broke, oh well. I would have to say a chant for that as well. But for now I just sat there watching Kilyn trying to figure out what she was going to do or say.
“What are you doing laying there? I gave you a task get ready and get out of here.” She yelled at me.
“Get out so I can get dressed.” I said to her and she did. That was easy.
I pulled the covers off of me and got out of bed. It was harder to walk because of the pain that kept piercing through me, but I was ignoring it. I murmured something quick to get the pain to subside some it didn’t go away fully. I went to my dresser, and grabbed some boxers and a white beater. I slid it on carefully, put some deodorant on and put on the boxers. Then I walked over to my closet, grabbed a duffle bag threw a pair of khaki cargo pants in it, put a shirt in it as well, I grabbed a short sleeve black shirt that canvassed my muscles. I put it on carefully, and slid a pair of jeans on that looked like Buckle Jeans. They looked really good on me, then I walked in my bathroom brushed my teeth, tossed my hair around a bit. As I sat down back on my bed slid on my socks and put on my Nikes. I got back in the dresser, grabbed some extra socks and boxers and threw them in the duffle bag as well. Just in case, something told me I may be out all night, and Kilyn must have expected this because she was standing there, right outside my door when I opened it.
“Good, you must have got the idea. I want you to take her to the apartment today. If you don’t come home that is fine. But you better advance further in your task. Got that or else.” She said extremely serious and stern.
“Yup, I will.” I shrugged; she grabbed my arm and spoke in her mind. OR ELSE!
I had no intention of finding out what the or else was. I grabbed my leather coat, in case, and the hoodie and pants Sam let me borrow. I checked the time; it was only 11 am on a Saturday. I had doubted that she would be up and ready to go by now, but I figured I could text her anyways. I grabbed my iPhone that Kilyn had given to me. I found Aralynn’s number and texted her.
Are you up and ready by chance? Send.
A few minutes went by and I saw Kilyn standing by the window so I got in the car and headed out. I pulled through the drive thru bought a drink, and headed to Salem Woods. When I got there, I turned the music up listening to 80’s and lit one up. I sat there thinking about how I could break who the couple was to her, and how could I tell her who I was. Still no answers came to mind, so I just smoked and let my mind wander to her.
About ten minutes went by and I got a text that said: Give me ten, I never really went home, I got to grab my clothes out of Sam’s dryer, and see if one of them can give me a ride. Don’t have a car. I laughed at the thought of her clothes not being dry and her showing up in pajamas. I texted her back telling her it was chilly and I was at Salem Woods. Then I waited on her.
I sat on the hood of my car, watching the sky. She pulled with Avery and Sam in a jeep. I think it was Sam’s. They all got out, Sam had a red bull, a
nd Avery just stood there eyeballing me as usual. I was growing accustomed to him not liking me that was just Avery. He didn’t like anyone according to Aralynn. Avery didn’t really look like or act like he could be Aralynn’s brother, but he was and was very protective of her. So was Sam. They had a right to be Aralynn was absolutely gorgeous, and they had every reason to be skeptical of me. I hoped in time that I could make Avery like me so when I told them the truth he did not try and kill me, even though that was a long shot, especially with Avery.
“Hey man.” Sam smiled as I nodded stepping on a butt. “Sorry we took so long Ara had to do her hair.” He said pointing at her as she got out.
She looked gorgeous as always. This time she had on jeans, and a pink and black jogging jacket on. Her hair was down, and she looked the same as always gorgeous. No matter what she was in or how she wore her hair she always looked hot. She didn’t need to wear lots of make-up, or dress up constantly to be pretty because she was just naturally beautiful without all the glitter. She waved bye to Sam and Avery as I was looking at her.
“You two are coming with us tonight for dinner, we’re going to the bar a few towns away in Williamstown. Aralynn knows where it's at. It’ll be me, my date, Avery and whomever and you two. Meet us there about six?” Sam asked us.
I looked at Aralynn, and I nodded that it was fine. They got in the car and took off. She walked up beside me.
“So what’s on the agenda for the day?” She asked smiling as she put my arm around her.
“Doesn’t matter whatever works. What do you have planned?” She asked as I leaned in to kiss her cheek.
“Nothing, I don’t feel like swimming again today. It’s too cold out, but we can go to the beach and walk or we could go wherever you want.” I answered her.
“Me either, well we have plans for tonight but what to do now. I don’t really feel like working on school but we gotta get that project done sometime soon. Not today though, we’ve got it almost halfway done. So whatever.” She said back to me. “We could always go back to Sam’s no one is there now, or my house but my parents are there. So movies there I don’t know. Or we could walk and figure it out.” She smiled pointing to a path.
I should have known if it dealt with being outside she would love to be around it. Plus it was perfect for late September it was in the sixties, and leaves were changing. I nodded at her that we could do that. She grabbed my hand and we went down the wooded path. We didn’t say a whole lot at first. Shortly about half way down the path we did.
“So did you get in trouble last night?” She asked.
“Yeah, my sister was mad at me because I don’t really know what. So she kind of had fun. I don’t know how far we will walk though. I think her boyfriend kind of got my rib.” I smiled at her, the chant I had said was starting to wear off which was not good.
“I’m sorry let’s turn around. I can wrap it up.” She smiled at me.
“No it’s alright she’s done worse, this is not too bad. So what happened last night after I left?” I asked as we sat down on a bench watching two squirrels scamper up a tree.
“Nothing Avery and I got into it, because he was mad because he caught us in um let me see here a compromising position. So we fought. Well Car and Caleb showed up. They took my cars and bike for a week. So I have no car and I am supposed to stay with Avery while I am around you for a week but he didn’t like that idea so I get his car sometime this week. It’s alright. You want to head back I’m getting cold.” She smiled as we turned back around.
“Nice did you win that bout with Avery?” I asked she shook her head. “Why do you call Car and Caleb that and not mom and dad?” I asked even though I knew her answer, well her real answer.
“They’re not. They took me in, they are relatives, my parents are dead as well. So I went to them.” She shrugged. “It’s not bad I pretty much do whatever. Sometimes very rarely do I get into trouble. Avery is the only really strict one but he’s harmless.” She said as we got into my car.
We got in the car and drove to her actual house. She lived in a brick house back in the woods. Every floor had its own balcony. We got out and headed inside. When we walked in she gave me the grand tour, through the whole house it was huge and immaculate. We stopped when we saw Carmina in the kitchen.
“Hi, Archer, did Avery come home too?” Carmina asked throwing something into a pan.
“He dropped her off.” I smiled at her, as she texted my phone and said don’t eat the food.
“Are you hungry?” Carmina asked I shook my head no but told her thank you.
“Carmina is not a very good cook. Want to see the toys?” She asked pulling me to a big door.
I didn’t see it on the outside of the house but when she opened it we walked down the steps it was a huge garage that had cars, bikes, and other power sport toys. She started telling me whose cars were whose, and bikes and etc. The silver Mercedes SLS AMG was Carmina’s. It was nice, for a fast expensive chick car. Next to that there was a Black Cadillac escalade; she said that it was the family car. Next to that there was a Nissan GTR she said was Caleb’s. Then there was her corvette, and her motorcycle. Then Avery’s bike and his Lincoln Mark LT, it was nice as can be there were two more Ducati’s and a couple of four wheelers.
“Nice.” I smiled.
“Want to take the wheelers out for a bit or a movie?” She asked walking over to the bike.
“It doesn't matter how about we stay in?” I smiled at her as she flipped off the lights.
“Ok what do you want to watch?” she asked as I followed her to the basement.
The room was dark but she hit the lights, as the lights on the floor came on just enough for me to sit down on the couch. It was like a movie theater in way. I sat down as she grabbed water for us. She had pulled a blanket down around her so I wrapped my arms around her.
“Well do you want to watch an action or classic?” she asked me again. I shrugged. So she smiled and I thought for sure she would put a chick flick in.
To my surprise she had put in the movie Fast and Furious. I laughed because that whole collection was one of my favorites.
“That ok?” She smiled and I nodded at her.
“Good.” She said as she kissed my cheek. We sat there she was cuddled up next to me as we watched the two of the Fast and Furious. She was being extremely careful as not to lie on my rib that was hurting. After two movies, she stood up and turned the lights on.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to fix your side up?” Her eyes looked pleadingly as she asked.
“No beautiful are you ready?” I asked her, as we headed out and I opened my car door.
CHAPTER 7 CONTINUED ARALYNN
He opened the car door for me as I got in. He got in as well and I began telling him how to get to the town that was a few towns over.
“So we are really going to a fire show at their street contest and there’s a little part I have to assist with. Hope you don’t mind then we are going to dinner with everyone.” I said as we sat at a stoplight.
“Why not, I like watching a crowd gather around a hot beautiful chick, especially when I get to be with her.” He replied getting on the highway making me smile.
That was good, I thought but at the same time I realized I was falling for him a lot harder and faster than I should have. The truth was that scared me because he was human. I tried not to think about it. He rounded the curves through the woods once he got off the highway. My mind was racing because I hadn’t seen the couple in about a week, and I didn’t like that. I couldn’t figure out who they were if I couldn’t see them. But I could do nothing at the moment because I was watching Archer as we whizzed past the cars. It took no time to get to Williamstown, and I told Archer where to turn. When we got to where we needed to be we parked the car, and he came and opened up my door as I got out. I pointed as we headed up toward the place where the fire show was. While we were walking up there everyone kept looking at us.
“So we must be too good look
ing for our own good, or something. Or maybe they are looking at you!” I smiled as Archer smiled lighting up when I kissed his cheek.
“Yeah, right maybe it’s you they’re looking at. Whatever it is they are giving us some mean looks—they’re jealous or something.” He said as I smiled as him as we turned the corner to the stage. “Looks like they already started.” He pointed to the stage.
Avery had a fireball in his hand turning it around in circles as he would throw it. I headed up onto the stage waiting to do my part. I waved to Sam and Archer out in the crowd as I turned toward Avery. Avery flashed a grin and I knew it was my turn to show off.
“Everyone my sister…” He pointed lighting up another ball as he tossed it to me.
I caught the fireball midair smiling as I threw it back up in the air freezing it in the air. Avery conjured another fireball and threw it at the frozen one as everyone awed. I twisted my hand as the making the two fireballs join together as a ring. Avery flipped twice through it. Then we both blinked and the fireballs split back into two then joined back as a ring. Avery threw another one, and I caught it in my hand tossing it up and down a few times to get a reaction from the crowd for the big finale. I waited until their mouths dropped then I tossed the fireball in the air and swallowed it. The crowd cheered. We smiled then Avery and I moved the ring over the crowd. I twitched my hand and it exploded again into fireworks. The crowd cheered again as we bowed. After our show Avery and I headed off the stage, where we joined Archer, Sam and his date, and the girl that I had made mad when Avery was doing stuff with her a few weeks ago. This ought to be fun I thought.
“Where too?” I asked as Archer put his arm around me and so did Sam.
“Where do you all want to eat?” Sam asked. “How much trouble did you get into the other night bud?” Sam asked Archer.
“Enough.” Archer smiled as I squeezed his hand.
“Ara is good for that. Ask her she gets Avery in trouble all the time.” Sam smiled. We walked a few streets over to the sports bar, and sat down grabbing a booth big enough for our party.