Cult of the Hexad (Afterlife saga Book 6)

by Stephanie Hudson

  But all of this was nothing when finally getting a chance look at his eyes. They were almond shaped giving him an exotic look that seemed to mix well with the dark shadows around them. This just made the stunning pair of steel grey eyes scream out at you even more and I bet if I ever got close enough I would be able to spot specks of blue in there also.

  He was utterly breathtaking and I think the whole bus did a collective sigh at just the sight of him…or was that just me? Either way, I must have done something as his eyes found me and no one else. The smile he gave me must have come straight as a blessing from the Gods, as it was nothing short of heavenly. But through all this something nagged at me and I couldn’t put my finger on it.

  “I take it this seat is spare?” When he spoke I did a double take. Was he really talking to me? I frowned and looked to my right to see row after row of empty seats.

  “Uh…” This was the only noise I managed to make and if I thought his smile was sexy, then his smirk was the stuff of legends.

  “It’s not a trick question, Kitten.” He whispered down to me behind his hand and I swallowed hard before giving him a very shameful snorted laugh…wait…did I just really snort! Oh God no! I quickly decided that biting my lip was definitely a better idea than making piggy noises, so I just nodded to indicate for him to take a seat…that was if he still wanted to after the farmyard impersonation.

  “Yep, definitely you.” He muttered and I frowned…had I heard him right? I didn’t question this for much longer as he nodded to the bag I had sat on the seat next to me.

  “Allow me.” He said grabbing my bag before I had chance to protest and once more I was rendered speechless. The bus jerked forward yet he seemed unaffected. Instead he just reached up above us and I was rewarded with a full frontal few of tight jeans and a line of pale skin that definitely answered the six pack question.

  “Oh my” I uttered with an exhale of much need air.

  “Sorry, I didn’t catch that?” I turned my head and muttered,

  “Thank God.” …to the window before turning back to him, shaking my head, with my lips firmly closed. His lips twitched once as if he was trying not to grin at my odd behaviour. I on the other hand just wanted to slap myself on the forehead and start over.

  He sat his big body down and suddenly I felt like he had trapped me in. I moved closer to the window to give him more room but he took this as more reason to spread out, so I decided the best thing to do was to offer him my seat.

  “You can take the window seat if you like.”

  “I’m not a fan of the glaring sun, but thanks for offering.” He said giving me a cryptic reason that had me frowning back at the window. For a start it was cloudy and looked like rain but in the end I mentally shrugged my shoulders and decided to introduce myself.

  “I’m Katie by the way.” I said holding out my hand.

  “Katie, did you say?” He asked making me nod.

  “Funny, I wouldn’t have had you down for a Katie.” I laughed once and asked,

  “Why, what name would you have said I look like?” This had him smirking again and then tapping his lips with two fingers.

  “Umm, I don’t know, maybe…Catherine.” The seductive way he said the name wasn’t the only reason it affected me. It was once again one of those times that had me wondering why hearing it made me feel an emotion that felt denied to me. As if a feeling I could barely touch upon was just out of reach from grasping hold of. The only word to describe it was…Haunting.

  “Are you alright? Do you not like that name?” He questioned in a way as though he had known what it would do to me. But no, that was silly, I had only just met this man and couldn’t take a simple comment as something more.

  “It’s a lovely name but it’s just plain old Katie I am afraid.”

  “Oh I very much doubt there is anything plain or old about you, Sweetheart.” The way he said it made my heart flutter or skip a beat, either way I struggled to breathe normally for a few breaths.

  “Thank you.” I said blushing and again biting my lip. We had a moment of silence before I realised he hadn’t yet given me his name.

  “You never told me your name.” I said turning back to face him to find him staring at me intensely.

  “Forgive me, my name is Luc.”

  “Luc…um, well I am happy to report it suits you, no other name needed.”

  “I’m glad you think so.” He said smiling in a way that made handsome little lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. I don’t know why but every look he gave me was like he knew me and this was just one big tease to him.

  “Have we ever met before?” I asked thinking it best to just get it out there and I was intrigued to see what he would say considering the impossibility that we had ever met before but he didn’t know that.

  “In another life perhaps.” He replied looking past me at the world that flew by. I turned my head to see what he saw and for the moment it was the simple sight of life living in an ignorant bliss of the horrors that shared their world.

  “Why, do I seem familiar to you?” He asked drawing my gaze back to him. One honey coloured eyebrow was raised waiting for my answer. I thought about his question for a moment and then gave him the wrong answer,

  “Not particularly.”

  “You were always a shitty liar.” He commented more to himself and this had me frowning at him as I snapped,

  “Excuse me?”

  “I am merely making an observation that you can’t lie.” I crossed my arms and said,

  “And you’re an expert at this, I take it?” At this he laughed and then said,

  “I have had my fair share of occasions where the talent comes in handy, yes… but I never lie to myself.”

  “And you think I do?” I asked getting annoyed at how handsome he still looked when acting smug.

  “I believe you lied when saying that I don’t seem familiar to you and giving me the wide eyed beautiful look only increases that belief.” He said making me blush again…he thought I was beautiful? Wait, no I was angry but was that because I had been busted? Because in truth I did feel like we had met before but because I knew there was no possible way for that to have happened I felt confident giving him my answer.

  “Okay look, the truth is I do feel like I know you from somewhere but I know that would be impossible, so I didn’t lie.” I said all this and couldn’t believe we were having such a heavy discussion after only just meeting one another. He looked thoughtful for a moment and then leaned into me, pushed my hair behind my ear and whispered,

  “Nothing is impossible, my little Katie Girl.” Then he pulled back giving me the space I needed to have my internal meltdown. Holy shit but there was that sharp jolt to the heart again. Hearing him call me this was the same as hearing myself say the name ‘Draven’. It almost caused me pain and I couldn’t understand why? It felt like trying to breathe under water, knowing you couldn’t do it but it was try or drown anyway…and everyone had to try, didn’t they?

  So was that what I needed to do now? Did I need to try and listen to what everyone seemed to think about my life? Everyone was telling me I was someone else or implying as much, so why did I continue to hold back? But even as I asked myself this question I already knew the reasons why…Ari. She was my anchor to it all. Because if I wasn’t who I thought I was then that would mean Ari wasn’t either and this I wasn’t willing to accept, not yet and not without proof. Because she was my sister and every memory I had of us together taught me about love. And if I didn’t have that, then I was left with nothing.

  Everyone needed at least one person in this world to love them and Ari was mine.

  “So where are you heading?” I asked Luc trying to get past the awkward beginning.

  “Same place you are.” This made me laugh because it was either the worst pick up line ever or it bordered on creepy stalker and I so badly wanted to believe the first.

  “And how do you know where I am going?” I asked feeling cocky which lasted
about all of three seconds when he nodded down to my hand and said,

  “Because that ticket you’re still gripping onto for dear life tells me where.” I looked down to see he was right and I hadn’t even realised it. But I guess he was also right because at this moment it did feel like my last lifeline.

  “So what’s in Portland, if you don’t mind me asking?” Why did it feel like he was prying for information, or was I just being paranoid? I didn’t actually know what answer to give and seeing as I’d learnt my lesson before with lying I decided being vague was the way to go.

  “I’m on a research trip.” Again I don’t know why but this made him laugh…damn him even more for having a sexy laugh! I thought bitterly because even though he was the most handsome man I had ever met he was also slightly infuriating.

  “How about you, what takes you to Portland.” He gave me a sideways glance and again that half knowing smile was back.

  “I’m meeting an old friend of mine.”

  “That’s nice.” I replied trying to carry on the conversation.

  “Not really, he’s a big pain in the ass.” I seriously wanted to roll my eyes at this point. Jeez it was like pulling teeth with this guy!

  “Then why are you meeting him?”

  “Like I said, he’s an old friend and besides, he’s having a few problems with his wife.”

  “Oh no! That’s terrible.” I said now seeing Luc in a different light. I mean he couldn’t be all bad if he was travelling all this way to help his friend through tough times.

  “Yes it is and so, although he may not be my favourite person this world has to offer, I do like his wife.” Ah…so this was what was really going on.

  “What?” He asked when he saw my disapproving frown and crossed arms.

  “Nothing, it’s none of my business.” I said and for some reason again he found this funny.

  “I highly doubt that but please continue.” He said confusing me further.

  “What, you think it is my business?” I asked shaking my head at him and raising an eyebrow.

  “Never mind what I said, tell me why you disapprove of me liking his wife?”

  “Because it’s wrong.” I whispered like we were being watched.

  “And why is that?” He whispered back mocking me.

  “Because he’s an old friend of yours.”

  “Yesss…and?” He rolled his hand motioning me to carry on after dragging out the word yes.

  “And you’re in love with her.” I hissed. He sat up straighter and pulled back giving me a shocked look.

  “I didn’t say that!”

  “You didn’t need to, it’s written all over your face when you said you liked her but what you really meant to say is that you liked her, liked her.” I said thinking that by bobbing my head at this last part would somehow emphasise my point.

  “So I meant to repeat myself?” He asked making fun of me and I don’t know where it came from but I smacked him on the arm and said,

  “You know what I meant!” He rolled his eyes and sighed.

  “See! I knew it!” I said this time being smug myself.

  “I care for her.” He admitted softly.

  “Do you love her?” I asked wondering why I was pressing for this so hard. At this he closed his eyes and held the bridge of his nose with his fingers for a moment before dragging his hand down his face. It was only when he did this that I noticed he barely used one hand and when I looked I saw it was gloved in black leather.

  “Jesus, I can’t believe I am having this conversation.” He muttered and suddenly I felt bad for pushing. After all, you couldn’t help who you fell in love with.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push and it’s really none of my business. I don’t know what came over me.” I said placing my hand on his forearm. He looked down at my hand and then back up at me. The emotion I saw there nearly had me forming tears. It was like looking directly into someone’s soul and finding nothing but a raw, untamed steel coloured beauty.

  “Forgive me but it seems I am having my first surreal moment.” I didn’t understand what he meant by that but I just nodded deciding to give him a break…after all, the word surreal didn’t even cut it in regards to what I had been through that last few weeks.

  “It’s okay and hey, at least you’re being a good friend because despite how you feel about his wife, at least you’re still there for him…that counts for a lot in my book.” I said hoping this would make him feel better.

  “And it gets stranger still.” He muttered again under his breath and I barely caught it.

  “Sorry?”

  “Nothing. So when you get to Portland, what then?” He asked obviously needing the subject change.

  “I’m not sure to be honest, I guess I am going to try and make my way to these people that are supposed to help me out.” I replied not wanting to give too much away, like where I was actually going.

  “How about you?”

  “My friend has a place by the mountains.” I nodded thinking it sounded nice.

  “So some quality guy time eh?” I don’t know why I said this and bit my lip as he described how I’d made it sound,

  “Oh yeah, lots of hugging, drinking wine by the fire, we may even mix it up a bit and play some Michel Bolton…oh and don’t forget crying, there will be lots of manly crying.” He said teasing me.

  “Ha, ha…I just meant that with him having problems with his wife that…”

  “I know what you meant Pet, but to be honest, I have a feeling she will be making a surprise appearance.” This confused me even more, how would he know that? My face obviously said it all.

  “Trust me, I have a nose for these things.” He said tapping his nose and I rolled my eyes trying not to laugh. He certainly had flirting down as an art form if my racing heart beat was anything to go by.

  “So they have split up then?” I asked wondering why I was so interested. However, he continued to answer me so he obviously didn’t find it odd.

  “His wife left him, quite suddenly in fact.”

  “That’s terrible and even worse if he didn’t know anything was wrong.” I added feeling sorry for the poor guy. His eyes went soft again and he gave me a small smile as though what I just said meant something to him.

  “Very true, I believe the act left him broken hearted. So he enlisted my help in trying to get her back.”

  “So he doesn’t know about your feelings for her?” I asked thinking as soon as I said it that this might have been a question too far. He looked thoughtful towards the window again and then spoke without looking at me…

  “He knows.”

  Chapter 15

  Fist Fights and First Kisses

  “Oh.” I said after he dropped that bombshell as I didn’t know what else to say, so I remained quiet until he spoke again.

  “You have to understand, although I have certain…attachments should we say, I still know what is best for her. I believe that somewhere buried deep that she loves him and always will. And because I know that will never change, that is why I am helping him find her.” I nodded understanding that there was much more to this man than I first thought. One word that stuck with me when wanting to describe him was honourable. He obviously knew how to put others before himself and even though he may not like his friend, he clearly loved his friend’s wife enough to do right by her.

  “Then that makes you a good friend, even if he isn’t.” He surprised me by bursting out with laughter.

  “What? What did I say?” I asked waiting for him to calm enough to tell me but enjoying the sound as I did.

  “Private joke, Sweetheart.” He said patting me on the leg.

  We continued to make small talk for the next few hours and I learnt he usually lived in Germany. I had asked why he didn’t fly direct into Portland as I saw from the website that they had an international airport. He told me he had business to deal with around this area first and I had to wonder why he chose to take the coach and not hire a car himself or
take the easier option of an internal flight. Gosh when did I get so nosy?!

  He asked about my life and I was as vague as possible but instead told him about Lucy and Denis, calling them family I had stayed with. They had certainly felt like that which was probably why he didn’t call it out as a lie.

  We passed through New York and he found it amusing the way I acted like a child seeing it for the first time.

  “Have you been before?” I asked him and this was when he leaned in close right against me and we looked out the window together. I felt the heat rise and my skin became super sensitive every time he accidently brushed against me. He blocked me in as he flattened his hand again the window and suddenly the amazing view of New York skyline was lost with me trying to concentrate how to breathe without panting.

  He would whisper in that seductive voice all the places he loved to go and most of them sounded like private clubs. It felt as if I was being lured into a magic spell and if he had tried selling me a timeshare there right now I would have agreed. Hell, I think he had the power to get me naked with just a thought. Luckily he finally let me breathe once we were through the city and I swear I could hear him chuckling to himself at my behaviour.

  We were about half way there in Hertford when the bus had to refuel and also pick up some more passengers as it had been doing all the way to this point. I was surprised how the bus never got full or maybe I just never noticed as being sat next to Luc seemed to sap all of my attention.

  The driver informed us that we should take this chance to stretch our legs and maybe get something to eat as we would be there for the next thirty minutes. I decided now would be a good time to use the toilet and get some breathing space between me and Mr sexy and intense here. But before I excused myself Luc said,