by Jinni James
“I’m going upstairs to go to bed. Go sleep in the other room tonight, I need all the sleep I can get. I have a big meeting tomorrow and I won’t sleep with you waking up every hour.” I know I must look stunned but I answer politely,
“Whatever you need dear.” Nicholas started up the stairs and looked back at me.
“Are you sure that is all you did today?”
I look him right in the eyes as I lie through my teeth,
“Yes, I am sure.” That was good enough I guess since he went right up, took a shower, and lied down.
There was too much weirdness for one day. I have all these unanswered questions about John, Nicholas is acting weird and almost like he knows something is going on and I just don’t know where to start. Then I hear my phone, Lena. It just hit me that I haven’t talked to her since the night I went to meet John.
“Hey Avalon! Wanna meet me and Jaci at the bar tonight? We need to catch up.” Sounded like just what I needed. I could talk through some of this with them.
“Sure. Meet you there at 11.” I decided since I was feeling pretty good I might as well look the part as well. I threw on my black pants with my knee high black boots and a white top that left little to the imagination and met Jaci and Lena at Blue right when I said I would. Jaci had already ordered my drink and didn’t waste any time trying to get me to dish out every single detail.
“So Ava, did you get some sleep after you nice romp in the sack?”
“Yes, Jaci I got some sleep. That is until…” I started to look away unsure if they would even believe me and of course Lena cut in,
“Until what?!”
“Well, until I woke up to find John lying next to me.” They both looked at me and then Jaci cut the silence.
“You were having a sex dream right? You don’t mean?”
“Um no. I mean I woke up and John was right beside me.” They both looked at me stunned again and then of course Lena started..
“Is he insane?! How did he even get into your house? What if Nicholas was there?”
“Lena, I’m sure he would have checked and made sure Nicholas wasn’t home before charging into the house.” Lena just looked at Jaci like she was crazy.
“How would he have known if he was there or not? That could have gotten them all killed knowing Nicholas.” I look at both of them wanting to answer all the questions but I didn’t even know the answers myself.
“I don’t know exactly how he knew Nicholas wasn’t home or how he got into the house. All I know is I woke up and saw him there and it was like a charge went through me and I basically jumped his ass.”
“Ava!!” I could hear both of them at the same time. Of course it was Lena spoke first.
“How could you just jump him? I would have wanted to know how the hell he got in my house. What if he’s stalking you Avalon?”
Then he is one hell of a good looking stalker. Jaci popped my arm.
“Stop smiling like a school girl Ava. I was all up for you to get out and get laid but even I think this is a little nuts. You have to make sure you are safe.” I could see the concern on both their faces but I had no way of comforting them.
“Look you guys, I don’t know what is going on but it is completely under control. Don’t ask me how things happened all I know is that they did and for some reason I couldn’t be happier at the moment. Something has changed and while I don’t know exactly what that is yet I am damned certain I’m going to figure it out.” That seemed to satisfy the both of them for now at least.
Now if only I could satisfy myself. All these looming questions hanging over my head are going to drive me insane but not before this need I have inside of me to see John again does. I had just seen him a few hours ago but something was drawing me to him again. No it had nothing to do with me being horny or sex although that was a very nice idea, I had no idea what it was but I was damn sure going to find out.
Chapter Five
I looked down and checked my watch. It was already 3am.
"Alright ladies. As much fun as this has been I think it's about time for all of us to be heading home. It's already 3am and I'm sure I'm going to get the third degree from Nicholas tomorrow. Should we call a cab?" Jaci looked down at her watch and sprung back up.
"A cab? That would be a no. Let’s just walk it. None of us live far from here and it's so beautiful tonight. I know you’re not in any big hurry Ava. Are you going to call John as soon as you’re alone?" Jaci gave a laugh but I know she was dead serious and truth be told I thought about it but decided to leave it be. I'm sure Nicholas will have tons of questions about my night in the morning so I might as well get home and get some kind of rest before the interrogation.
"I am not calling John. I have no time to call John. I need to go home and go to bed before Nicholas starts in on me tomorrow."
"I suppose that's true. Alright, let’s get the check and head out." Jaci flagged the bartender over and we each paid our bill, Jaci's was a tad less given how she was flirting with him the entire night and we made our way outside. It was a cold night in Portland but still beautiful. The stars were out and shining and everything looked so crystal clear. The walk ways were lit up with the light from the stars. However, it was beyond freezing outside.
"Jaci, you must have been crazy thinking we can walk! It's got to be below freezing out here!"
"Oh come on you big babies. We all live within walking distance."
"Correction. You live within walking distance, Lena and I on the other hand will freeze before we make it home. You may like to jog in these temperatures but we sure as hell aren't used to it." I swear Jaci stomped her foot like a five year old then caved.
"Fine. Let’s wait here while I call a cab." Lena and I just looked at each other.
"Fine." Just then I heard something in the bushes.
"Wait. What was that?" Jaci and Lena stopped and looked.
"What?"
"Over there. I swear I heard something." I stepped towards the bushes but stopped myself. Something didn't feel right.
"Oh my God! Ava, seriously? You’re such a drama queen. There is nothing over there. I swear you and your weird feelings. You know what weird feelings are called Ava? Anxiety."
I was listening to her but could not stop myself from looking towards the bushes. I know I heard something but I couldn't make myself walk the five feet to see what it was. Why did I even want to know? As I turned around I could barely believe my eyes, two men were standing in front of Jaci and Lena and they were both standing like solid stones. They were not moving an inch and neither of them was talking but the look on both of their faces could not be mistaken for anything other than terror.
The men were easy six feet tall if not more with long hair and eyes as dark as the night. They also looked like they could use a trip to the tanning bed. I mean people in Maine were sometimes white but not white as the snow that was beginning to fall. One guy had on solid black like he was trying a tad too hard to appear intimidating while the other guy had on a t-shirt and jeans, in the dead of winter. What was I going to do?
"Who are you and what do you want? We don't have any money on us; we just spent it at the bar. So just let us go and you can go about your business. The men looked over at me like they didn't understand. Then the one in all black walked over to me.
"How are you talking?" He demanded to know.
"What do you mean how am I talking? I'm talking like I always do. What do you mean?" The men exchanged a change look towards each other and I heard the one in black mention something about "not being paralyzed like my friends”.
Once I heard that I looked over at Jaci and Lena and neither of them had moved not even a hair and neither talked, which was very unlike Jaci. Usually Jaci would be all up in the guy’s faces threatening to kick their ass and call the cops but right now she just stood there, motionless, with fear in her eyes.
"What have you done to my friends?" Both the men looked over at me.
"They are in a trance or
what you might call paralyzed. They can't move or speak. They are frozen which would not be a surprise given how cold it is out here. Our question is why you are not like them?"
"I don't know. I don't understand what you are talking about." I could hear the fear in my voice but I had no idea what else to do but talk to them. If I ran I would be condemning Lena and Jaci to death and I couldn't leave them. They were like family to me. So all that was left was for me to stand there and try to reason with these guys to let us all go but like before I had a feeling that was not going to happen. The man in black told t-shirt guy to keep his eyes on Lena and Jaci and then he made his way over to me.
"What is there not to understand my dear? We have paralyzed your friends so therefore they cannot move or speak which is just the way we like our women before we have a little fun with them. But for some reason our powers are not working on you."
"Your powers? What are you?"
"That is not your concern. I have only come across one other woman that my powers would not work on. It is strange it has happened again. I guess we will just have to have our fun with you in private since you can speak. We don't need neighbors calling the cops." I wanted to do something but what was there to do? I could scream but he would probably just kill me, I could fight back but there were two of them so I would be out numbered, I could run but that would leave my two best friends dead. I was running through options in my head when I felt him grab me by my arms and then before I knew it I was thrown to the ground, free from his grasp. I looked around to see what it was that freed me when Jaci and Lena came running up to me.
"Oh my God, Avalon are you okay?"
"Are you guys okay? I'm fine. Don't worry about me. What's happening?"
We look and there is the largest wolf I had ever seen fighting with those men. The wolf was massive and had a beautiful gray color to him and he was attacking at full force. Even with these men standing straight up this wolf still towered over them. I suppose the smart thing for us to do would have been run but we were frozen there watching this wolf tear these men apart. The wolf was sinking its teeth into the men and tearing them apart limb from limb, making sure to take the head off last. I should have been scared but for some reason I was enthralled with it. Once the wolf was finished he turned his head and looked right at me.
"We should go you guys. Now." Jaci was terrified; you could hear it in her voice. Lena however didn't seem as surprised as either of us. Jaci was pulling on my shirt but I could not stop looking at the wolf. He just stood there. Why wasn't he coming after us? The more I looked at the wolf the more familiar he looked. It must have been his eyes. They were gray just like the rest of him but they seemed warm. I took a step towards the wolf but Lena stopped me.
"Avalon, are you out of your mind. Come on lets go." I heard what Lena was saying but my feet wouldn't do as she wanted. I took another step closer to the wolf as he took one small step towards me like he was worried he would scare me off if he moved too fast or got too close. He took one step then let his head down and I just had to touch him.
"No Avalon. Don't. He could hurt you!" I looked at Lena, then Jaci, then the wolf in front of me then Lena and I said the same thing at the exact same time.
"No. He won't."
I reach my hand out in front of the wolf thinking that I must have lost my mind, he just dips his head down as if welcoming my touch. I don't know what it was but something was just telling me that this wolf would not hurt me. I felt such an undeniable pull to him that I could not explain.
I reach down and finally place my hand on top of his head. I brushed my hand across his head feeling his soft fur and watched his eyes close as if he enjoyed it. I was expecting his coat to be coarse but it was so soft like he was made of feathers. He was absolutely beautiful. I only got to pet him for about a minute but that minute felt like an hour and then he looked up at me then turned and ran away back into the woods where he had come from. Jaci stood there looking shocked and horrified. Lena just took my hand and led me to the sidewalk. There was something Lena wasn't telling me. She was way too calm about everything like she knew the wolf wouldn't hurt me. I didn't even know how I knew he wouldn't hurt me so how would she know? Jaci looked down right green. I was shocked when she actually spoke.
"I cannot believe that just happened. What on Earth was all of that?"
"I'm not sure Jaci. I'm sure we will find out eventually. I don't know how I know but this was not the end of it for us I'm sure." We finally got a taxi and as soon as we dropped off Jaci I looked at Lena.
"So how were you so calm? How did you know that wolf wouldn't hurt me?" Lena looked down at her hands like she was trying to think of the safest answer.
"Lena. Tell me."
"Avalon, not now. This is not the time or place for us to have this conversation. Let’s just say I know some things that other people do not and I'm sure you will find out when the time is right. You are my closest and dearest friend and I want nothing more than to tell you everything but it needs to wait. Can you please wait Ava?"
I looked her in the eyes and could tell this was really bothering her so I agreed to let it be...for now. It's not a very good feeling to know your best friend is keeping things from you but at the same time I have to understand that if she isn't ready to tell me then I have to trust that she will tell me soon.
Finally we got Lena dropped off at home with a promise she would call me tomorrow and then I see my long winding driveway. The car makes its way up and around the curves of my driveway to my lavish and in my opinion unnecessary house since we were never having any children as far as I was concerned. I paid the driver and got out of the car and looked up towards my bedroom window.
By now it was five in the morning, and there he was in the window watching me as I got home. No doubt he was getting ready for work and just happened to see the lights from the car, but still it was creepy. I make my way into the house ready for the wrath that was Nicholas to start. I always dreaded coming home, no matter where I went, no matter if Nicholas was home or not. There was always a creepy feeling in this house. I walk in the front door and there is Nicholas almost all the way down the stairs.
"I trust you had a good time out to be crawling in at Five o’clock in the morning."
"I'm not crawling Nicholas and yes I had a good time. It was nice getting out with the girls." Nicholas examined me closely. He looked me up and down before settling on my face again.
"The girls. Did you run into anyone else?" This was the typical jealous and possessive Nicholas.
"No Nicholas. I did not. I went out to hang with my girlfriends not to meet anyone else."
"Okay Ava. Just checking. What did you do until five o’clock then? I know they are not interesting enough to talk to until the wee hours in the morning."
"You have some nerve Nick. My friends are interesting to me. We sat and talked and drank until we were ready to go home. They were ready quicker than I was because if I had my way I wouldn't have come home at all."
"Be careful what you wish for Ava my dear. You never know what you will get. Now I’m going to work. I trust you can get the house in order and have dinner ready before I come home tonight, even though you've been partying till dawn?" Even though he phrased it as a question, it most certainly was not a question.
"Yes Nick. Everything will be done as usual." He looked back at me.
"It better be. And don't call me Nick, you know I hate that."
"I know. Too bad you don't take that into consideration when you call me Ava." Of course I said my last sentence quietly and where I was sure he wouldn't hear. No need to draw this out any longer. I just wanted him to leave.
Finally he walked out the door making sure to slam the door as usual also ensuring it kills my now very bad headache and gets in his car and heads off to work. All I can think about is how much I want to crawl into bed. I make my way up the stairs and to my bedroom. There was a note on my bedside table that read:
"I washed the sheets. T
hey smelled terrible. You could at least wash them every once in a while. You can thank me later." Of course he can't just do something and let it go; he has to pound it into my head that he did ‘my job for me’.
Oh God! Did he smell John on the sheets and that's why he washed them? He wouldn't have known that's what it was, or would he? It never occurred to me to wash the sheets. I have never done this sort of thing so I had no clue what the rules were. After thinking or obsessing about it for a few minutes I finally decide there's no way Nicholas thought I was with anyone else. He wouldn't have just washed the sheets; he would have called me home and had it out with me last night. Yeah, there was no way.
So I decide to brush it off and hop in the shower and then I was going to sleep for the next ten hours. While I undressed and stepped in the shower, the events of the evening, kept replaying through my brain.
Who were those guys? Who or what was that wolf and why did it save us? And why did I feel such a pull towards it? I could not believe how soft he was and absolutely beautiful. I have never been one to really like wolves but that one could change my mind easy.
As the water cooled I turned up the temperature and let the steam surround me, then I thought before laying down I should probably check my email. I hadn't heard from John since he left the house yesterday. Oh God, he's probably scarred from the hectic way I made him leave. I wonder if he's even wrote me?
I decided I would definitely check my email before lying down once I was finished in the shower. The thought of John now stuck in my head the water seemed even hotter than what it was and my body was tingling with thoughts of him, his beautiful eyes, his full lips pressing against mine, his hands tracing the outlines of my body. It was enough to drive me mad. He was gorgeous, absolutely perfect. Why he was single I would never know. He would be exactly what any woman would hope for. I still have no idea what his fixation is on me though. I'm so normal looking. Well, to most people’s idea of normal looking. I have this long black hair thanks to my grandmother apparently and her ancestors who were native American I’ve never really understood why I’m so white though. I got my ancestors hair but definitely not their beautiful skin tone. I don't remember my parents having the same coloring but then again that was so long ago.