"I'm done!" Bottle in hand I stormed out of the empty cafe. I had meant it. I was done, done with the cafe. Just as I had grew tired of Richland and his avoidance in answering anything. I had grown tired of Jonathon and this whole damn place. Neither of them made a move to follow me which had me both sad and grateful. I pressed the bottle to my lips and let in even more of the sweet liquid as I waited for the light to signal that I could cross. There was no warning, no sounds of footfalls, as Jo slammed into me at full speed. Landing me millimeters from becoming road kill.
"Oh Gods. I am so sorry, so very sorry." Her apologies came out as more of a wheeze.
"What for? Being Jonathon's little bitch or almost getting me killed?" I spat out. I didn't even flinch as I watched the hurt my words caused will her face. The light turned green, and I continued without a backward glance.
"There are things you don't understand," she called out keeping pace just behind me.
"I don't understand anything." My wet clothes and rain flattened hair didn't do well to keep the breeze from bringing teeth chattering cold, but I couldn't stop. I need to get as far away from here as possible.
"There is a lot you shouldn't know. Is that better?" No, it wasn't better. I renewed my speed needing to get further away from her. How odd was it that I was finally getting somewhere and yet here I was running away. I didn't know what their goal was in keeping me from myself but today my mind began to piece together everything that had happened from my childhood to now. I was beginning to form my own conclusion and I wasn't sure I would like what I had ended up with.
"Watch out!" Her warning came far too late and my run away thoughts had me slamming into something yet again. I ran into the body of a dark blue BMW with yet another unwanted memory behind the wheel.
"Fancy meeting you here." I turned and began heading the opposite direction before he could finish his thought. Now I wasn't sure which was worse, the cafe or a delusional asshole who kept popping up everywhere I went. Jo still hadn't given up her need to recover whatever we had, keeping right on my heels and Richland now crept along beside me.
"We need to talk," Richland said.
I let out a frustrated scream which sounded more like a dying cow. Talking must be the theme of the day.
"What if I told you I could answer all your questions" The statement stopped me dead in my tracks. The mind numbing cold fell back just enough to hear what he had said.
"But the issue is: will you give me any?" His smile was instant. He knew he had me hook, line, and sinker.
"No!" Anger crashed through Jo's answer. They were hiding something and Richland was willing to bring it to light. I took a quick drink from my bottle, gave Jo a wink and hopped in the car, shutting the door before she could stop me. The roar of the engine drowned out whatever she was screaming all I could do was watch her rage filled face quickly disappear from the side view mirror.
"Well, it looks like we just made her evening." His boyish grin flashed in the mirror as we headed out of town yet again.
"I'll take the blame for that." I smiled, just happy to be moving further away from town. I recognized the road we were on as the same stretch of highway that we were on the night before. I cranked up the heat without asking if it was okay. Frankly, I didn't give a damn if it was okay anyway. I was freezing and in pain I really didn't need to get sick on top of all this madness. He didn't argue which was a good thing. I was sick of arguing as well.
This trip his eyes stayed glued to the road. I rubbed my ice cold fingers together in front of one of the vents. The bloody cuts that marred my arm were almost completely healed. They looked to be days old, covered in thick pink flesh. I ran one of my warmed fingers along the deepest one. The pain didn't even register. I quickly added that to the rapidly growing list of what the fuck is this? type questions.
"Are you really my brother?" I took no time at all taking him up on his offer of information. His fist clinched around the steering wheel, all the blood draining from his knuckles. He didn't like my opener. Maybe he thought I would have forgotten his confession.
"I was." His voice was staunch and wooden.
"That is not an answer." The car had become silent. The purr of the engine was the only noise left.
"Would it surprise you any if I told you I am a tad worried about answering any of your questions in my car?" He had a point after what happened the last time we were here it made sense he would be a little worried.
"I promise I won't do that again." I couldn't truly promise not to stop his car again since I had no idea how I did it before but at this point I would say anything to get one answer that wasn't shrouded in fortune cookie lingo.
"I was Alesiya's brother." His confession gave way to great sadness wiping away that boyish demeanor he carried around.
"Then how are you my brother?" Could anything possibly get more confusing?
"You may not be Alesiya now but I still remain your brother." Apparently so; Jo had called me Alexandria and now Richland believes me to be Alesiya. At least that is what I took from what he had said.
"Who is Alexandria?" Maybe if I asked a not so personal question I would be less likely to get fortune cookie answers.
"Where did you hear of her?" His eyes flicked momentarily in my direction.
"Jo, she let the name slip earlier today." He beat his hands into the steering wheel. I braced myself as we swerved in and out of the passing lane.
"Blast Jo and her big mouth! How can they be worried about us when they seem more than willing to be loose lipped about things best left alone?" Look who's calling the kettle black, but I kept that observation to myself. No need to anger him further.
"Who is she?" I had a bad feeling about the answer I was about to receive. My bottle only provided a few drops, apparently I had drank much more than I consciously remember.
"Who is she?" The silence made my repeated question vibrate through his sleek ride with more force than I had expected. I was going in circles through crazy town, being promised answers only to come up with more question and no answers.
"She is you; Alexandria, Alesiya, and Alexis—they are all you." The truth in his answer smashed into me like a sledge hammer. The pain of it hurt so bad tears sprang to my eyes. Finally something that felt true, and I wanted him to take it back. Damn this search for answers, damn it all to hell. I wanted him to take it back. Jerk it from my memories just like everything else had been. I didn't want it therefore it wasn't true. Isn't that how life worked? Of course not. That would make life way too easy. Truth was truth and this truth hurt deep within my core. All I could do was let that hammer crumble the walls that used to hold me up inside. Let it fall to the ground like unnecessary rubble.
The same voices and pictures from earlier played behind my eyes. This time slower and in vibrant details. A much younger Richland grasped his sister's hand as they walked from the school house at the top of the tallest hill in his village. Her giggles at whatever he was telling her rang much louder all around them. Jo in her bonnet and full skirt laughed and spoke excitedly about her upcoming engagement to the Miller's boy.
Screams and fire lapped at the edges of memories long dead. They fought for their turn to be remembered. Wolves snarled and fought somewhere with the flood. All I had to do was invite them forward, let them have their turn. But I couldn't bring myself to allow such horrible thoughts to flood into these happier times. The world shook around me; scrambling the memories into nothingness. I screamed for their return but none listened.
"Are you okay?" Richland's voice moved through the assault pulling me farther and farther away. Screams re-emerged into the darkness but it didn't take long to realize that they were my own. I was still in the car but now Richland's hands where clamped down on my shoulders shaking me profusely.
"Stop it!" If he didn't stop I was probably going to puke all over him.
"Why?" That seemed to cover everything at this point. I couldn't deny it anymore. I just needed to know why. Richland plucked the empty
bottle from my lap.
"No more to drink for you. Come, my long lost sister, and I will have answers for you inside."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Halo sat in the middle of nowhere. The large industrial building sat nestled in between a group of gigantic pines making visibility from the highway not an option. The placement seemed odd. Who would build a nightclub way out here? But the packed parking lot made its poor location irrelevant. The nightclub had a line that wrapped around the building. Surely he didn't expect us to wait in that.
"Is there nowhere else in town you would rather eat?" He followed my gaze and let out a short laugh.
"We won't have to wait in line. I'm the manager here."
A large burly bouncer waved us past the long line of people waiting to get in. I smiled at all the moans and foul opinions that came from the crowd.
When the door opened my senses where assaulted by the massive thrumming of the same type of techno music that had been playing in Richland's car. Why would a club way out here need to be sound proof? Red lights that sat in the floor created a red halo effect over each table surrounding a large dance floor; hence the name Halo. Couples sat huddled together doing things to each other that far surpassed public displays of affection. We had to push through the massive crowd of people already inside. The sexual tension in this place was at an all-time high. It looked like a massive orgy verses what I would call dancing. Large cages hung from the ceiling. The women inside were eye catching. They danced around poles centered in the middle of each cage, moving with grace and sensuality. They danced; there was no raunchy stripper action, it was beautiful almost ethereal. They wore tasteful yet sheer cream nighties that molded to their curves as they moved. The most eye catching aspect of the women was the gray shimmering wings that moved entirely on their own. They hugged the pole letting their bodies move in ways I had never seen before. They were not human, I was sure of it. But my already fried brain didn't register how wrong that was. I was being selfish right now. This night was about me, my answers, and I would find out theirs on another night. A perversion that I never knew existed kept my eyes glued to the women as I slammed into dancers on the floor.
"Do you want to try?" Richland yelled in my direction. I didn't even realize we had stopped. What I wanted to say was that I really wished I could move with the beat of time and mesmerize those who watched.
"Hell no!" I yelled over the crowd instead.
To my dismay we bypassed the bar and headed down a hallway labeled V.I.P. The hallway was lined with doors but Richland chose the last door. When he pulled it open my world narrowed to the occupant. I thought he was out of town. Sebastian stood at the other end of the room in an all-black suit; his dark hair falling free around his handsome face. The half smirk made me wonder if he knew that I had secretly been waiting for him to let down his mane of hair since the day I met him. The club’s signature red halo lighting extended into this room as well, making him look sinister standing under the glow of the lights. The true blue eyes of his sliced through me. I was instantly afraid; afraid of what this man could do to me. I knew without a doubt that he could break me in more ways than one.
"Relax, little sister. I told you that you would get answers, and he is here to give them."
"Funny how you left that detail out." I was trying to inch my way back out the door but Richland blocked my path.
"Have the dreams begun?" Sebastian's cool voice slid into my mind like a white hot branding iron.
"Dreams?" But I wasn't good enough at hiding my surprise. A scorching pain arced across my chest; the glow contrasting harshly against the red. He panned his gaze to take in my tattoo.
"Your marking is quite interesting." The anger in Sebastian's voice betrayed his act at simple curiosity.
"Well aren't you just a jack of all trades." I observed changing the subject. My tattoo bothered me. I sat down in one of the black leather chairs against the wall while both men remained standing.
"After so many years one tends to master many crafts." He let the change of subject pass. I also realized that the music from the club was absent in here as well.
"Can a girl get a drink around here?" What I had already consumed had me feeling relaxed. I was far from drunk, though I had drank way more than I ever had before.
"Is there a problem?" Sebastian was advancing towards me as Richland stepped back, both clearly perplexed by something. Something was wrong and again I was left in the dark. Sebastian stopped and pressed a button on a mounted speaker.
"No-no problem." I didn't want him to come any closer.
"Yes, Mr. Gates." The female’s voice interrupted his advancement.
"Yes, could you bring two whiskeys and a Jack and Coke?"
"Thank you," I piped up. I had worked as a waitress in high school so I knew what it was like. The tips sucked and very few people actually said thank you. Richland coughed to try to conceal a laugh. I barely knew the man but from what I could tell he was not the most serious of people.
"Yes, thank you." Sebastian said while looking directly at me.
"You should really treat your employees better." I said when the monitor clicked off. I was tired and what I have drank must be getting to me because I didn't care if I offended him one bit.
"So why am I here?" I continued but this time I directed my question at Richland.
"Well, I am here to eat and you are here at his request." The pain in my chest was gone. It didn't fade away like before it was just gone.
"Would you care to add to that?" Sebastian sat down in the chair opposite of me and watched our conversation with baited interest. But now it was his chance to chime in.
"This is a refreshing change. The differences are astounding."
"So I've been told." My response was dry and empty of any emotion.
"Have you. I assure you that it is a good thing." Was he crazy? So far I had stopped everything around me, created storms with my emotions and found out that these people think I am some chick's reincarnate. None of this was a good thing. Our conversation was broken off by the waitress’ interest. She gave me a bright smile as she handed me my drink.
"Thank you," she whispered. That must have been the first time Sebastian had ever shown his employees the slightest gratitude. She had to of known that I was the one to insist on it but still she was grateful. Knowing that he treated his waitress so poorly was irritating.
"What did you have to drink tonight, Alexis?" he asked, resuming our conversation. That was the first time he had called me by my first name without stumbling through formality first. He had also stopped coming closer which was an ever better thing. I was almost positive if he came close enough I would be able to run my fingers through his hair and I didn't think I could have stopped myself.
"Something Jonathon gave me." I didn't see the problem but rage consumed Sebastian's features.
"That fucking explains it," he bellowed, scaring the waitress as she left with Richland's order. He hadn't lied after all.
"Well, isn't that fucking peachy! Now someone explain it to me!" I bellowed right back. Richland's hand on my shoulder was the first indication that I had before realizing that I was now standing mere inches from Sebastian. What I planned to do was beyond me. His anger filled eyes searched my face.
"You haven't figured it out yet?"
"No, I fucking haven't, so if someone could kindly help me out." My patience was long gone. I couldn't do the whole please and thank you act with this man.
"He gave you an elixir that weakens your defenses, makes it easier to sift inside that mind of yours." My world tilted. I didn't want to believe Jonathon would give me anything of the sort but the absence of the fear I had when I first walked in and the disappearance of the glowing pain in my chest gave truth to his words.
"How much did you drink?" I glanced at Richland who now looked visibly ill.
"She drank the whole bottle." His words were weak when he answered the question for me.
"You idiot! You let her
drink the entire bottle!" He was pissed but not at me. Lack of control was something I wouldn't associate with Sebastian Gates. But standing here I was sure he would lose it at any moment. Richland's grip remained vice like, digging his short nails into my shoulder. He must have been worried about what I would do. What exactly could I do? I reached down deep inside trying to find some remnants of my new found abilities but they were gone. I couldn't do anything. For now I was back to who I was before I came here. Wasn't that how it went. When I want to be normal all hell breaks loose and when I need all hell to break loose I get normal.
"I didn't know. It didn't smell like Vero to me."
"He must have paid someone quite handsomely to have it made odorless." The back and forth between them was getting me nowhere.
"Why would Jonathon need to slip something in my drink?"
"The real question is: why would he give you so much?" Finally he was addressing me.
"Well...I don't think he meant to give me that much. I kind of left the cafe with the bottle in hand after a storm of my doing demolished the office. I don't think stopping me was their first priority."
"Jo could have done something. She did follow you." He was quick to place judgment where none should be. I couldn't blame him though; Sebastian did not seem like the type of person you would want on your bad side. Sebastian waved away both our reasonings. He didn't even bat an eye at my mention of a storm raging inside of a building.
"Just a glass of Vero would render your mind vulnerable for at least a few hours. I have no idea how long you will remain vulnerable after consuming so much in one setting."
"What do you mean by, leaving my mind vulnerable?" I was panicked by what the mere wording implied.
"It means, my dear sister, that anyone with any magical ability can gain access to things that even you yourself aren't privy too." I flexed my shoulder with its new found freedom. Richland must have felt much safer with the knowledge that my abilities had been put to bed for now.
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