Betrayal: The Awakening

by Kira Hillins

  “You know nothing of what I am.”

  She raised her hand and brushed his long black hair away from his face. “You are my dark prince.”

  He was as pale as the clouds, but his eyes were black as the night. The reflection of the fire burned in them as he gazed at her. This was the way she’d felt as a child. Safe with her protective angel.

  He lowered his head. “You should not look at me.”

  “You’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.” She slid her arms around his torso. Her face grew hot. Holding him close like her lover, she desired a kiss. Just one brush of his mouth to hers and she’d be satisfied for a little while.

  His luscious lips invited her. Knowing his kiss would become an ultimate pleasure, she’d want more. He would take her to his bed in the basement. There, she’d offer him her body.

  Eyes shut she rose up on her toes then puckered her lips. She waited for him to press his mouth to hers and take her into a world of passion, but nothing happened.

  “Anna.” She opened her eyes. By the grin on his face, he was obviously amused. “What are you doing?”

  “I thought maybe you and I could…you know. Make love?”

  He drew a step back. “You are a child.”

  “Give me one kiss. Is that too much to ask?”

  He cupped her face. He pulled her close. Her heart thumped hard. Electricity flowed through her veins. It was going to happen. The prince she’d been in love with all these years was going to make her his.

  He planted his lips on her temple then leaned back. “Does that make you feel better?”

  “Damn it, Tristan. I’m eighteen.” She groaned as she wriggled out of his grasp. She opened her shirt and glanced down at her exposed chest. “Can’t you see that I’m a grown woman now?”

  Tristan turned his gaze to the floor. “You are still very immature.”

  Frustrated, she folded her arms over her chest. “Why did you show yourself if you didn’t want to see me?”

  He walked the length of the couch toward the balcony window. “You and your friends were in my home.”

  She followed him out into the cold night air. “You’ve been gone far too long for this to be your home. It’s mine now. I’ve been taking care of it. I’ve come up here almost every day since you left.”

  “Yes. I know.” He chuckled as he came to stand beside the balcony door. “I have seen the decorations on my basement wall.”

  Embarrassed, she looked at the crescent moon above the horizon. “You scared Tad away, didn’t you?”

  “You are not his property.”

  She stomped her foot in anger. “Who are you to decide what is best for me?”

  “He wished to take from you what is precious. I merely saved you.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I don’t need you to save me.”

  “Honorable men do not force themselves on women. He is lucky I let him live.”

  The growl in the back of his throat sent a chill over her. He’d always done that when she’d pushed him a little too far. It was unnerving, but also nice that she could still get him riled up. That meant he still cared.

  “You are not my keeper. You don’t have a say in what I do or who I give myself to. So, if you’re not here for me, then why don’t you just do what you came here to do and then leave me alone?”

  A quiet moment passed. She thought sure he’d growl more, but he looked away. “I never planned on staying through your party. But I was concerned. I only intervened because I wished to protect you. Now that you are fine, I will leave.”

  “Leave?” Her voice was so loud that it echoed around her. “When will you get back?”

  “Now that my home has been compromised, I will not return.”

  The rust in his stare faded to black. He’d never planned on coming home to stay. He’d never even meant to see her, and it stung like crazy.

  “I hate you!” Tears billowed in her eyes. Head in her hands, she leaned heavily on the banister. “I’ll always hate you for leaving the first time. And now, I will never forgive you.”

  “Hatred does not become you.”

  She couldn’t respond. She didn’t know how to. Love and hate ripped through her heart. She wasn’t sure which emotion she felt more of.

  He climbed up on the banister. She grabbed the sleeve of his coat. As he crouched on the edge, her mind wandered to the box in the kitchen drawer. As angry as she was with him, she was desperate to give him his gift.

  “I kept the blue hearts.” She sniffled, hoping he’d remember the tiny candies she’d collected on the last night they saw each other. “I know it’s childish. But if you’re leaving, then I want you to have them.”

  “Why?”

  “So you won’t forget me.”

  “I could never forget you, Anna.”

  She ran inside the house to the kitchen. She slid open the top drawer and dug through old spoons and forks until she groped the three blue hearts encased in glass. She inspected it. Small enough to sit on her palm, the clear rectangular piece looked just like it had when she’d bought it all those years ago.

  “I found it,” she said looking out the window.

  Where Tristan stood just a second ago was now just empty space. In the blink of an eye, he’d left her stuck with his hearts again, and to mend her own breaking in two.

  She hated him. With all the shards of her broken heart, she despised him more than anything in this world.

  She stuffed the glass case back inside the drawer then slammed it shut. “Do you hear me, Tristan Ashfield? I hate you! I hope you never come back!”

  A small thud came from the back of the house. She ran down the hallway searching every room in a frantic need to find him. She sprinted back to the kitchen and opened the door to the basement.

  “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to say that. Just, please, don’t leave me again!”

  As she peered down in the dark, a cool breeze brushed the back of her neck. Strands of hair lifted into her face. She turned around, but no one was there.

  Lowering her sulking eyes, she strode into the sunken great room. Arms folded over her chest, she made her way outside and looked out over the ocean. It was so dark it almost seemed like nothing was there.

  She leaned forward against the stone banister and slid her fingers through her hair. “How could I say such a thing?”

  She went back inside the house and closed the sliding glass door. It was time to put memories behind her for good and move on. He’d made her hurt inside most of her life, disappointing her, rejecting her when all she wanted was to love him. There was no sense in dwelling on it any longer.

  After one last look around inside, she locked then shut the door. As Anna started her car, she looked at the dark, empty house. She’d been a fool to believe in him—to allow herself to love him. Though she’d dreamt a thousand times of living here as his wife, this could never be her home. If this house crumbled and fell into the ocean, she wouldn’t care. As she drove toward the town, she forbade herself to ever think of him again. This night was their final farewell.

  Part Two

  Chapter Eight

  Present Day-Jack Monroe

  Anna watched him from the doorway of his office as he worked on his end-of-the-day paperwork. Short blond hair feathered over his ears. Small framed glasses teetered on the end of his slanted nose as he jotted down notes on a piece of paper. He looked as handsome as the day she’d met him.

  Jack Monroe. The substitute professor who’d taught her so much in her last year of college, the man who gave her a job in his pediatric office because he couldn’t stand the thought of her working somewhere else, was supposed to be taking the day off.

  Although she’d known him for five years, they had only been romantically involved for the past six months. Last night during dinner, he’d confessed he was in love with her. As much as she wanted to return his sentiment, she couldn’t. Love was something she wasn’t ready for with him. She did, however reply with an, ‘I li
ke you too.’ He’d been mad at her ever since.

  Eager to cheer him up, she stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. “Why, Dr. Monroe. I thought you went golfing today.”

  He laid his pencil on the desk. He took off his glasses then pinched the crease between his eyes. “I went this morning, but I had to cut it short. I have too much paperwork to catch up on.”

  She pushed her blonde curls behind her shoulder and made her way toward him. “Are we still going out tonight?” She sat on the corner of his desk then crossed her legs. “Maybe we could sneak in dinner at the Grill. Then finish off with dessert at your house. If you know what I mean.”

  Jack eyed her from her leather shoes to the crevice where her skirt stopped above her knees. “Dessert? Are you sure you want to be with me? I mean, you did say you liked me. I guess friends with benefits is fine for you, but I’m not into that sort of thing.” He picked up his glasses then put them back on. “I don’t want a pat on the back and a, good job, after sex with the woman I love.”

  “Oh come on, Jack.” She snorted a laugh. “That’s not how our relationship is.”

  “Then how is it, Anna?”

  “I like things the way they are now. I’m happy. You make me happy.”

  “I am too.” He returned his attention to the paper on his desk. “Sorry. I’m not used to blurting out my heartfelt feelings to have them tossed back in my face.”

  “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” She wished he’d kept his confession to himself. “I’m not ready to be in love.”

  He lowered his voice to an emphasized whisper. “You didn’t have to say you’re in love with me. It just would’ve been nice to hear you say you cared.”

  “Jack.” She sat on his lap then slid her fingers through his hair. “I do care for you. Deeply.”

  “Now was that so hard to say?” He kissed her lips then that gorgeous smile crept across his face. “I love you, Anna Holden. With all my heart. I know you can’t say it yet, but you will. Mark my words.”

  Her cell phone played the song she’d set up for when Betty called. Anna used to love the old 80’s melody. Ever since Mac died, the tune just made her sad. Maybe it was time to change the ringtone to something else.

  Jack placed his hand on her knee. “Are you going to answer it?”

  Anna brought out her phone. She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk. She had spent almost every weekend with Betty since Mac’s funeral three months ago. Last weekend was the first time she’d skipped out. She’d lied to Betty and told her she was too sick to go out, then spent her time schmoozing at the country club with Jack and his colleagues.

  “I’m a horrible daughter.” Plagued with guilt, she kept her thumb hovered over the green icon. “I know she needs me. I just don’t know what to do or say anymore.”

  “Life moves on, Anna.” Jack palmed her cheek. “Just talk to her. Tell her you have a life to get back to. She’ll understand.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Anna rose from his lap then touched the screen. “Hey, mom.”

  “Anna, honey.” Betty’s voice wavered. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m better.” Her gut churned with guilt. A hissing sound came from Betty’s side of the call, then a short thud and a grunt. “Are you OK? What are you doing?”

  “I’ve been boxing up some of Mac’s things for the mission at our church, and moving them into the living room for pickup.” Betty drew a long, heavy sigh. “There. That should do it.”

  Anna’s heart sank. “Are you sure you’re ready to do that?”

  “He struggled with cancer for a year and a half. In that time, I prepared myself for his passing. As sad as I am that he’s not here, I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore. I know he’s in a better place.”

  Anna wasn’t sure she was ready to see Mac’s things go. She had a mind to rummage through the boxes and pick out what she wanted to keep. “Maybe I’ll come on over to help.”

  “That’s actually why I called. I thought you might want to pick up this envelope I found in the top of the closet. It’s from Mac. He addressed it to you.”

  A chill shimmied up her spine. “What’s inside?”

  “I don’t know, dear. Just come on in the house when you arrive.”

  “OK. I’ll be there soon.” As she ended the call, a gush of dread washed over her. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t want to see what he’d left her, other than she was still mourning him. A gift from him might send her into another fit of tears, and she didn’t want to cry.

  Jack wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “Are you taking off?”

  “I’m going to help Betty pack Mac’s things.”

  “Want me to go with you?”

  “I won’t be long.” She smiled up at him. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way to your house. We’ll have dinner.”

  “OK.” He parted his mouth over hers in a long, delicious kiss. “I’m looking forward to dessert.”

  “Me too.” She cupped his cheek then backed toward the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  Betty’s house was only fifteen miles from downtown, so it didn’t take long to get there. Even in Seattle’s evening traffic, the path seemed clear. Maybe she just didn’t notice how busy it was with guilt hanging over her like a storm cloud.

  She parked in the driveway. As she walked up the porch steps, loneliness sunk in. Mac had always met her on the front porch with his huge grin. He’d give her a hug and a kiss on the temple. To know she would never feel that again was disheartening.

  “Betty?” Anna opened the swinging door. The spring caught halfway and, as usual, tossed back with a snap when she let go.

  Anna found her petite, gray-haired mom on the couch, watching the TV and clinging to a box of tissues. Her pleasant smile came with tears and sniffles when she greeted her.

  “Oh, Anna dear, I’m so glad you’re home.” She motioned for her to join her on the couch. “I’m just watching our wedding again. I don’t care what they say. Reno is so much nicer than Vegas.”

  Anna sat beside her and watched the black-and-white film of the two lovebirds. Betty looked beautiful in her white flowing gown. She flaunted a bright smile beside Mac, who was very handsome in a black tux. He grinned as he carried his new wife out the front doors of the small chapel where rice rained from a small crowd.

  Betty blew her nose. “As many times as I’ve watched this, it always makes me blubber like a fool. I don’t know if it’s because of how ignorant he was or because he loved me so much.” She clutched Anna’s hand. “He was so proud of you.”

  “I miss him.”

  Betty rose from the couch then motioned Anna to follow. She led her to the large cherry-stained hutch along the wall then picked up a manila envelope. “I wonder what’s inside,” she said as she handed it to Anna.

  Mac’s name and address was written on the front. The return address was from England. That awful sense of dread worked through her body as she realized who this was from.

  Mac had talked about Tristan over the years. He’d told her that he hid somewhere in England. She’d never listened. She didn’t care one way or the other what happened to that lying bastard as long as he stayed away from all of them.

  “I can’t open this.” Anna tossed the envelope down on the kitchen table. “I won’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s from…him.”

  Betty pursed her lips. “You always fussed every time he tried to talk to you about Tristan.”

  “He was a thorn in Mac’s side and in mine. So however important the contents are in this envelope, it’s not good enough for me. I won’t have anything to do with it or him.”

  Betty folded her arms over her chest. “Do you have any idea how much that man helped us? He gave us enough money to get out from underneath that awful bar. We would’ve had to file bankruptcy if it wasn’t for him. You wouldn’t have gone to college.”

  “That’s great of him, really. But who do you think put you guys in the
situation to begin with? I saw the receipts from the blood bank. Mac spent thousands on that freak. He was an idiot for helping him out.”

  Betty slapped Anna’s face. “Never say anything like that again! Mac loved Tristan like a son. Mac put his trust in him, and you insult your father by saying such horrible things behind his back.”

  Shocked, Anna held her palm against her stinging cheek. As Betty stomped back to the couch, she sat on the chair. She tapped the table lightly with her fingernails. She wanted to know what was inside the envelope, but dreaded it too. It had taken over a decade to heal, and she feared this would open old wounds.

  She raised the tabs of the brass fasteners and lifted the flap. She poured out the contents. A leather journal, a letter, and a key on a single-ringed chain lay on the desk in front of her. She looked inside and found a folded letter with her name written on the back.

  My Dearest Anna,

  When you came into my life, my world changed for the better. You have been the light of my life and I’m so pleased to call you my daughter. I’m also very proud of the woman you’ve become. All I ever wanted was to see you safe and happy, which makes this an incredibly difficult thing to ask.

  You need to find Tristan. Things are changing in the world and I’m afraid for you. I can’t just come out and write it here. I have my reasons that Tristan will explain once you’ve found him.

  If he’s not in Manzanita, then he’s at his home in England. It’s a broken down castle in the Blackdown Hills. It’s marked on the map that he left me.

  I can see you arguing with me right now. But know that I would never ask this of you if I didn’t feel it was important. Please take care! There are things you don’t know about and he’s the only one who can protect you. I trust he will do the right thing. Find him soon.

  To prepare you, I’ve written all I know about him in this journal. His story is astounding. When you find him, tell him I said he’s not alone. Believe in him as I have, for every word of this is true.

  Grant an old man one last wish so he can rest in peace. I love you, princess. Don’t ever forget that.

  Dad

  Anna set the letter on the desk and broke down into a sob. She wished she could see Mac now to talk sense into him. He was so naïve to believe Tristan was some creature of the night sent to protect her from…whatever the hell it was.