The girl instantly sat up, blood gushing from her crushed nose, and screamed. He tossed the other ball to his right hand and aimed again. The screaming stopped as the girl collapsed back onto the bed. After tonight, he’d have to buy new bed linens.
****
After Rhys confessed the truth, they both sat silently staring at one another. Each seemed to be waiting for the other to say something. Chloe sat there stoically lost in thought as her mind tried to process everything he’d said.
Her mother had threatened Rhys by going after Bill. All because Sophie had found out about their relationship and hadn’t liked it. But had it really been her mother who didn’t want Chloe and Rhys to be together? Probably not. She knew enough now to know that Earon was most certainly the one to blame. He mustn’t have been too enthralled by Rhys’s growing affection for her.
So her mother had threatened to destroy Bill’s career. It was definitely something they’d both do. There was no doubt about that.
It wasn’t much of a surprise having experienced their vileness in person, though knowing that they’d threatened Rhys angered her. But it was the unsaid threats that upset her the most.
She remembered one evening after a performance before Rhys had left, Earon had told her not to fall in love with any of her fans because it wouldn’t end well. She’d figured he’d been trying to save her from a broken heart. Now she knew better. He’d been threatening her. He’d made that clear when he’d nearly broken a male fan’s arm.
The man had snuck backstage to give her a lovely bouquet of flowers. Earon had caught him just as he’d placed the flowers in her arms. He’d grabbing the man’s arm and twisted it behind his back. It had been the first time she’d really seen Earon so angry. He’d cursed the man in French and slammed him against the wall. Had some of the technical crew not pulled Earon off, the man would have ended up with a broken arm and possibly a cracked skull what with the way Earon had continually slammed his face into the wall.
Chloe shivered. What if that poor man had been Rhys? She shook her head to get rid of such an image. Instead she thought how it would have been better had Earon really hurt that man. If he had then Earon would have gone to jail and Chloe would have been able to escape a lot earlier before he’d had the chance to hurt her. Had that happened, she and Rhys may have been able to stay together.
If only. That seemed to be her favorite line. If only she hadn’t met Earon… If only her father hadn’t passed away… If only she’d had a different mother… If only. If only. Thinking about what might have been was a sad delusion. It was a waste of time and emotions to dwell on the things that couldn’t be changed. Hadn’t she spent two years doing that?
She sighed and couldn’t help herself. If only Rhys had told her the truth back then maybe she could have gone with him. But then what would have happened to Bill? He would have lost a lot of money. Sophie would have spread malicious rumors and ruined his reputation. She’d done that once before with a rival dancer. The poor woman had been forced to quit.
Chloe had to stop these thoughts before Rhys began to wonder why she was so quiet. He was already anxiously staring at her. But what could she say? Had it not been for her, Sophie and Earon would have never said anything.
As always it all came back to Chloe. She was beginning to believe that she brought out the worst in people. Either that or she was cursed.
“I’m sorry Rhys.” Chloe said and touched his hand.
“Why are you sorry?” He asked surprised.
“Because Sophie and Earon threatened you and your brother because of me. Because you liked me.” She pointed at her chest emphasizing her guilt. “And because I should have warned you about my mother. She’s always been selfish and conceited. She holds success and fame higher than she does her family and friends.”
Chloe wanted so much to tell him how much Sophie had hurt her, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to tell anyone that. Only one other person knew the truth and for right now, that’s all Chloe could handle. It had taken a desperate act just to get that one person to believe her. Chloe was afraid if she told Rhys he’d feel guilty for leaving her behind or worse, he wouldn’t even believe her. The latter would be too painful to bear.
“Is that really why you left New York? Because of Sophie?”
No. “Yes.”
Rhys shook his head. “I just figured you were over exaggerating the other night.”
Chloe huffed, but let his statement go unchallenged. She wasn’t in the mood to argue. “She just kept pushing me to perform. My success was her success and she wanted me to be great. I don’t know which she loved more, my success or my money. After a while, I just couldn’t take it anymore so I emptied out my trust fund and took off before my contract was up.” Chloe smiled sadly. “Sophie doesn’t know where I am and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Rhys nodded and captured her hand in his. “It must have been awful growing up with a mother like that.”
Chloe shrugged. “It wasn’t so bad when my dad was alive. She’d still been performing then and wasn’t home very often.”
Rhys squeezed her hand in understanding. They were quiet a moment. Chloe heard the heater click on, and she placed her bare feet over the vent near her chair to warm them. She closed her eyes and yawned.
With her feet starting to feel all warm and toasty, Chloe sleepily looked up at Rhys. Their gazes caught and held. His hand still had hers and his warmth was starting to send little electric pulses up her arm.
“Are you sleepy?” He asked.
Chloe yawned again, nodded and leaned forward. She’d been planning to lay her head on the table, but Rhys’s movement was quicker. Before she even got close to the table, Rhys had caught her forehead with his.
“Chloe,” His breath caressed her cheeks sending a warm current trickling down her spine. “Josie probably didn’t tell you this, but after the fire I came back to see you.”
Chloe sat up, breaking their contact. “She never told me.”
Rhys nodded. “When I heard about the fire, I was worried and needed to make sure you were alright. When I got there, Josie told me you hadn’t been there. But she also said that she didn’t know where you were. No one did. You’re mother said you’d been in the hospital. Sick or something.”
Chloe rubbed her side and nodded. “I’d left that morning. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I made Josie promise not to tell anyone. I wish she would have told me you came to see me.”
Rhys smiled sadly. “You know, I’d planned to kidnap you. Make you come to California with me.”
“Kidnap me?” Chloe asked with a nervous laugh.
“In case you didn’t want to come. I was going to force you.” He grinned sheepishly. “When I imagined you hurt or worse… Just it was a mistake leaving you.”
Chloe looked into his grey eyes, made darker with emotion, and felt her own start to sting. Why hadn’t Josie told her he’d come? She wouldn’t think about that now. Not when there was something else she needed to know.
“Do,” she paused trying to work up the courage to say it. His stormy eyes were becoming blurry as hers filled with tears. “Do you still love me?”
Chloe felt she already knew the answer but there in the back of her mind where she kept her cynicism, a pessimistic voice whispered words of uncertainty. She searched his face for any sign that may give away his feelings, but his face was expressionless. She could see some hint of emotion in his eyes, but could not decipher it.
Rhys took her hand, sighed, and said her name. Before he could say anything more, the front door swung open and struck the wall. Startled, Chloe jerked out of her seat pulling her hand out of Rhys’s as Heather stumbled inside.
Heather caught sight of them at the table and hurried over. “Here you are!” Her words were loud and slurred. “Jett was so sure you’d been abducted.” She turned toward Rhys. “He doesn’t like you.”
Heather slumped down into Chloe’s vacated chair and started to cry. “I don’t think h
e likes me either. He wouldn’t even bring me home. I had to catch a ride with Simon.”
As Heather wiped at her tears, Rhys sent Chloe a confused look. She would have explained but at that moment Heather’s wails were too loud to talk over. Chloe just shook her head and turned her attention to Heather.
“Why doesn’t he like me? I’m beautiful, smart, and my personality doesn’t suck right?” She looked at Chloe for confirmation.
“Of course not. If he can’t see that, then he’s an idiot and not worth your time.” Chloe said and patted Heather’s shoulder.
“Maybe I should go,” Rhys said and stood up from his chair.
Chloe nodded and walked him to the door leaving Heather at the table to wallow in misery. She’d try to comfort Heather later. Right now, she needed to know where she and Rhys stood.
Now that she knew why he’d left, all the pent up anger she’d felt had been turned toward Earon. And since he was dead, there wasn’t any point. It still hurt that Rhys had left her, but he had done so to protect his brother. Chloe could forgive him for that. She’d already forgiven him. She just hoped he could forgive her for all the nasty things she’d said to him.
At the door, Rhys turned and touched Chloe’s cheek. He let his palm rest there for a moment. The warmth of his hand was addictive and Chloe found herself leaning into his palm. And in that moment she was transported back to two years ago when they’d still been together. Was there any hope for them now? She hoped there was, but she couldn’t trust fate and she most definitely couldn’t trust herself.
Rhys caressed her cheek for a moment then let his hand drop to the screen door handle. Heather was still weeping at the table. Her miserable moans were filling the apartment. It was tough but Chloe forced herself to ignore them.
“So where does this leave us?” She asked Rhys’s chest.
“I don’t know.” He said and opened the screen door. “But maybe we should figure it out. Together. Over dinner.”
Chloe looked at him. “I don’t know, our last dinner date didn’t turn out so well if you remember.”
“Then let’s call this one a do over.” He said with a slight grin.
Chloe nodded. “I don’t know about you, but I could definitely use a do over or two.” She groaned. “I can’t believe I got so drunk.”
Rhys chuckled. “I can’t say I didn’t enjoy your little antics in the car on the way over here, but I hope you won’t go out drinking again for a long while.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t think I’ll ever drink again.” Chloe hid her face in her hands. “What all did I do?” She shook her head. “On second thought, I don’t want to know. And don’t ever tell me. Just promise you’ll pretend it never happened.”
He gave her his best innocent boy look and crossed his heart. Chloe giggled. Why did he have to be so cute? When Rhys was involved why was she so weak? If he were to tell her right here and now that he loved her, she’d probably reach into her chest and hand him her heart. No questions asked.
“Isn’t he leaving yet?” Heather yelled and snuffled. “I want some privacy, so stop flirting and kick him out!”
Chloe pursed her lips. It wasn’t right for Rhys to see her friend weeping. Heather was right, she needed her privacy.
“I guess that’s my cue.” Rhys said and stepped out the door. “I’ll call you later about that do over.”
“Okay,” Chloe said and took up holding the door open as Rhys headed for the porch steps. She wanted to tell him she was sorry again, but she wasn’t sure why. So just bit her lip and watched him walk to his car.
When he opened the door he glanced back at her in such a way that made her breath catch in her throat.
“About what you asked me inside,” He called up to her. “I never stopped.”
Without waiting for a reply he got inside his car and drove off leaving Chloe standing in the doorway staring dumbstruck at the parking space where his car had been parked.
****
Once his gruesome task was complete, he glanced through the broken steeple window and saw the moon as it floated overhead, the only witness to his crime. He really ought to fix that window before he brought Chloe here. The place still needed a lot of work before they could make it their home.
Judging by the brightness of the moon, he still had time enough to visit Chloe as she slept peacefully in her bed.
Daniel headed out of the cemetery to fetch his car. He’d left it parked out on the street with all the other cars that belonged to the sorority girls. While he walked he fingered the keys inside his pocket. If he knew Chloe, she’d probably be tucked beneath her blankets sleeping.
Not a night went by that he didn’t want to reach out and touch her as she laid oblivious to his presence. But it wasn’t time yet. He didn’t want to let her know he was here until everything was ready. He wanted their new life together to be perfect. He’d merely look tonight. He’d let his eyes feast of her beautiful body and remember the feel of her tender flesh crushed against him.
****
Chloe awoke to darkness. The only light came from the digital clock on her nightstand. Her heart was pounding, the beat pulsating through her flesh and into the bed until it felt as if the bed was vibrating.
She laid there, her hands underneath her chest, her eyes on the clock, and took one deep breath after another in terror as her ears strained to detect any movement. Something, some noise, had invaded her sleep and had woke her up. But what?
Most of her view of her bedroom was obscured by her duvet. She was too afraid to move, let alone push down the thick duvet. It was the only thing protecting her from whatever was moving about in her room.
With her heart still throbbing in her ears, she listened. The only sound in the room was the dull humming of her closed laptop and the clicking of her kit-cat clock as its tail swished back and forth and its eyes moved from peripheral to peripheral. She wondered what it was seeing. Could it see an intruder?
Chloe counted down the seconds of silence with every swish of the cat’s tail. Ten seconds. Thirty seconds. The only noises were the incessant buzzing of her laptop and the sinister click of the clock’s gears.
Finally she couldn’t stand it any longer. Throwing back her duvet she sat up, her arm shooting out to click on the tiny lamp on her nightstand. The weak bulb illuminated the room in a yellow glow.
The shadow from her rocking chair stretched up and onto the closet door like a cloaked and sinister monster, its mouth opened displaying its beastly jaws. Her heart jumped out of her chest when she spotted a shadowed mass crouching next to her dresser.
Fear drove her off the bed as her fist connected with the pile. Fabric engulfed her hand and she realized she’d just attacked the collapsible clothes hamper. She’d forgotten to take back to the laundry room.
A hysterical giggle forced itself between her clamped jaws. Chloe quickly flipped on the over head light and her eyes did a quick scan of her room. She was alone.
Letting out a shaky breath, Chloe peaked inside the closet before collapsing on to the seat of her rocking chair. “It was only a dream.” She tried to reassure herself as she slowly rocked the chair back and forth, its motion soothing away her fear.
She’d been so sure someone had been moving around in her room. But now, it seemed that she had probably just been having a nightmare. The noise was probably something else, like her neighbor’s stereo turned up too loud, or Heather watching some creepy movie on TV.
Chloe glanced at the clock. It was almost four in the morning, much too early to start the day. Standing up, she checked to make sure her door and bedroom window were locked. The window was. The door wasn’t. She must have forgotten to lock it before falling asleep.
Not that she needed to lock it. There was nothing to fear in her apartment. Not when Heather was at the other end. But after escaping Earon, locking the bedroom door had become a habit she hadn’t managed to break. She doubted she ever would.
Turning off the overhead light, Chloe got bac
k into bed. When she reached to turn off the lamp, she caught herself and pulled her hand away. Nightmare or not, she’d been terrified and would never be able to fall asleep again if she turned it off.
Chloe left the lamp on for the same reason that she pulled her duvet up and over her head. Light and blankets were her protectors. They were a monster’s kryptonite. If only they had the ability to shield her from the human ones.
Chapter Eleven
Sitting on the floor as if in prayer Chloe listened as Heather sang her lines. First Heather, as Meg, inquired about Christine’s teacher. Then it was Chloe’s turn to confess to Meg about the wonderful angel of music all while Heather worried over Christine’s flushed pallor.
Chloe was beginning to lose herself in the role, when suddenly the director yelled “Cut!”
The small orchestra stopped playing and Chloe’s attention was pulled away from the stage to the front row where Professor Wilson sat with his extra large coffee and his copy of the script.
“Heather,” Professor Wilson shouted. “You need to stay in key. Your vocals are all over the place. Let’s do it again.”
Professor Wilson sighed loudly as Chloe and Heather prepared for yet another run through. “Don’t make me regret casting you.”
Chloe turned to Heather and gave her a supportive pat on the shoulder before starting the scene again.
When the song started again, Heather began well. Her singing lessons were paying off, but she had yet to memorize her part, and her insecurities were apparent in her vocals.
Chloe cringed inwardly when Heather hit a wrong note. She wasn’t singing from her diaphragm. When the rest of the orchestra joined in, Heather attempted to sing louder and quickly lost control of her vocals. Professor Wilson threw down his script.
“Cut!” He roared. “Let’s end this scene there for the day and move on to something else.” He pointed a long chubby finger at Heather. “Heather, are you still seeing your singing instructor?”
“Yes I just had a lesson yesterday evening.” She said and took a drink of her bottled water.
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