The Two Kings (Afterlife Saga)

by Hudson, Stephanie

  “WHAT?” I shouted making some of the other customers stare at me. Did I miss something?

  “She doesn’t know why you act this way towards her but she can’t help that you’ve always been jealous of her. I think it’s sad that you make her feel this way, she clearly loves you.” By this time I know my mouth was gaping open but it couldn’t be helped. All that came to mind was what I said.

  “BITCH!” I know it was tactless but after three Coronas, to Hell with tact! Jack looked at me like he was really seeing me for the first time and he didn’t like what he saw. He shook his head and left muttering something to himself. GREAT! This was just bloody marvellous! Now I was the bad guy. One thing was for sure, this had been one shitter of a day and there was only one answer for it....

  Lots and lots of tequila!

  Chapter 43

  A Little Too Much Fuel

  So that’s what I did! As the night went on I drank lots. I drank more than lots. I drank until I got drunk and the pain of the day’s events didn’t bother me anymore. RJ had helped me in this. As it turned out she hated my evil cousin just about as much as I did. She had got pretty fed up of her stupid personality, quicker than most. Sorry for the weak insult but when your drunk it s hard to come up with more complex name calling. I still had fun though.

  It was just me and RJ at the bar drinking and bitching about my horrid cousin. Soon I had forgotten all about stupid men in the world that hated me right now. Instead me and RJ solved all the world’s problems and soon the answer became clear.

  “MEN! Bloody men! They’re all the sodding same!” I said not being able to help the full northern accent that came through whenever I was drunk. This made RJ giggle, which turned out to be her drunken trait.

  “You know Draven’s mad at me?” I said after swigging back my seventh Corona.

  “Really, why?” She said swishing her rum and coke around in her short glass.

  “Because I said something really stupid.”

  “Did you mean it?” She asked in earnest, which for drunken RJ, was surprising.

  “Mean what?” I said missing the conversation because I was concentrating on the ice swirling around in her glass...man I needed to get a grip.

  “You know, what you said, that made him mad?”

  “Yes..no...oh I don’t know. Do you wanna know the worst thing about dating Draven is?” This made her turn serious. She whipped her head round and tried to focus on my face, which looked more difficult than it sounds.

  “I didn’t think there could be anything bad about dating that God of a man.” RJ said, sighing as if imagining it for herself. Of course I laughed and said,

  “Well yes, he is a God. King, God and supernatural wonder sex but that’s beside the point!” I’m thankful that when I said this she didn’t take it as literal as I had meant it or I could have more explaining to do and not just to RJ!

  “Damn it! I knew the sex would be amazing you lucky cow!”

  “Yes, yes it is, oh my god it’s mind blowing but…” I said getting horny just thinking about it.

  “But what? What else matters?” We giggled before I came back to what I was trying to say.

  “Ok, so you were saying the worse thing is...” She held out her hand to prompt me back.

  “It’s being with someone that has the longest string of amazing looking girlfriends to contend with and when I say amazing, I really mean drop dead gorgeous, Angels falling from the sky type of shit!” Another thing about my getting drunk is not only does my accent come through but I don’t hold back quite as much on the swearing part. God, I was starting to sound like Hilary!

  “Ouch! That gotta hurt the ego!” RJ said, shaking her spikes.

  “You have no idea, I met one of them today and I almost fell in love with her!” I said making her giggle again.

  “Ok, this calls for another drink!” She said standing up from the stool and nearly falling down it. My hand flashed out to steady her so quickly I surprised myself. For one, I sure had good reactions for a drunken person and when did I get that strong?

  “Wow, good reactions...like a cat...Kizzy cat hehe!” She sniggered and we both laughed again. After we had finished laughing stupidly she got Mike’s attention, who had clearly found the whole of our drunken display funny. He had a constant smirk every time he looked our way.

  “Mike, my good fellow, could you please get me and my lovely pink haired friend here a drink of your finest?” I said putting on the poshest English accent that I could in my state. He laughed as I waved at him like the queen does and RJ copied.

  “Wish I could girls, but I have had my orders, no more alcohol.”

  “What! That’s bullshit!” RJ said and I stopped her and said that wasn’t the English way and showed her how it was done.

  “Now, now my good man surely not, be a doll and replenish our drinks.” Of course this was followed by a hiccup, which made us all laugh.

  “Sorry, no can do ladies, the order comes from above.” He said and RJ leaned in and whispered,

  “What, God?” Mike nearly wet himself, he laughed that hard, then he nodded behind us to the VIP making it time for me to drop the ‘English charm’,

  “Bullshit!”

  “Sorry, but it looks like your boyfriend doesn’t like a drunken Keira!” He said smugly, making us both frown.

  “Oh dear, looks like he’s still mad.” RJ said finishing off her drink.

  “Hey we’re off, you coming?” Jack had come up to us and once he saw the state we were in, he frowned like the sight of us having legal fun was prohibited.

  “Oh great, one drunken sister to contend with!” He glared at me like this was all my fault and I glared back. No doubt Hilary had spread even more lies about me.

  “Kizzy! You’re drunk!” She said pretending to be horrified. Not long ago this girl was thrown out of college for smoking weed in class! I bet that story she’d missed when chatting to the gullible Jack!

  “However will I get home now?” She said like some pathetic English damsel in need of a knight.

  “Don’t worry, I will see you get home, even if others don’t seem to care!” Jack snapped at me. I was trying hard to come up with the greatest of come backs but in the end I just grunted like some strange fairytale troll. Jack rolled his eyes, while RJ leaned over into my ear and said,

  “Good one!”

  They started to walk off and I shouted out to them.

  “Wait...how do I get home?” I asked in a pleading voice that I hated to hear.

  “Well, I can’t take you, I’m at my limit as it is. Besides you should have thought of that before you got tanked up. My sympathies to Draven!” He said coldly before leaving with the others. RJ waved over Jack’s shoulder, as now he was supporting most of her body weight.

  “Great!” I said out loud earning me some weird looks by depressed Goths. Ok, so this was unfair, not all Goths were depressed but Hell, I was bitter. In the space of a couple of hours I had nearly been kidnapped, pissed off my boyfriend and lost my best friend to my arch-nemesis.

  It was not a great start to anyone’s week.

  Of course, I knew what I had to do now, I had to face my Demon! I walked back to the bar and plonked myself down with a sigh. There was nothing else I could do, I had to go back up there or I would have nowhere else to stay. I considered waiting till everyone had gone and sleeping down here, but then I would just have looked like the coward I was. I wasn’t even sure Draven would let me stay? I mean after all the times I had seen Draven angry, this was the worst. I mean him shouting at me I could take, I could handle that but silence...That I wasn’t used to from Draven. My guilt was over whelming but now it made it worse. Did he know that I was drunk? I sincerely hoped not.

  “You ok?” Mike asked me quietly, as though to pull me from my sad state. I just shrugged my shoulders like a child and hopped off the seat.

  “I guess I’d better go now, but I will see you later, thanks Mike.” I said before dragging myself over to the
staircase I knew well. I weaved through the moving bodies that were making their way to the exit. Of course, it was closing time and I was the only one moving this way. The band were getting their stuff ready to leave and I nearly fell over a guy’s drum kit that was littered around the floor ready for packing away.

  “Whoa there, easy girly.” A man said keeping me up straight. He wasn’t much higher than me but his spiked Mohawk more than made up for it.

  “Thanks.” I said giving him a drunken goofy smile.

  “No problem cutie.” He said, winking at me. Bless him, at least he thought my behaviour was cute...hopefully he wouldn’t be the only one tonight, I thought as I reached the guarded door. Once again the two guards that always manned this door stood, arms folded. Of course as usual they didn’t say anything to me which really got my back up.

  “You know a Hello, Howdy, even a bloody head nod wouldn’t go amiss!” I said throwing my hands up dramatically. They both frowned at me then looked at each other for the answer. Neither said a word which made me screech out a “Grrrr, forget it guys!” I then pushed past them, not caring about a reaction. It was one of the first times I got to open the door before they did. I stormed upstairs, panting all the way. I stopped at the closed door at the top before going in. It took me back to my first time and how nervous and unsure I’d been.

  When I walked through, my eyes quickly searched out Draven’s table but my heart dropped when I saw his space was empty. I don’t know why, but the next person’s space I went to was Aurora’s. It was wrong of me, I mean I trusted Draven right? Then why did my heart plummet when I saw that she too was missing. I decided to walk around the back so that no one would see me. Everyone was far too busy to notice as I walked round with my hood drawn over my face. Of course I didn’t look so inconspicuous when I kept bumping into chairs.

  “Sorry,” I would mutter as I snaked in and out of the back tables. I turned my head to say another sorry for knocking some poor Demon’s jacket off the back of his chair making him mutter something back I couldn’t understand. That’s when I bumped into my first Draven.

  “Opps, my fault!” I said before looking up swaying.

  “Keira?” Vincent’s kind face looked down at me now that my hood had fallen back.

  “Oh, hey Vince,” I said trying to act cool but considering I never called him that I wasn’t fooling anyone. He tried to frown but couldn’t keep the amusement off his face.

  “Don’t suppose you have seen your big, angry bro around this shindig have ya?” I asked making his shock at hearing me speak like this deepen his eyes. He even laughed making me giggle.

  “Come on happy, I think you need some air.” He said taking my arm to steady myself.

  “Oooh, air is good,” I said and followed my blonde shepherd. Once outside, the cold air hit me making me feel more lightheaded than before. I turned round and nearly lost my footing making Vincent reach out to steady me. We both turned round at the same time, making it so I was facing the night with my back to the door. He moved from holding my waist and decided holding my arm was safer.

  “Feeling better?” He asked softly, which was nice to hear after being picked on all night...picked on, man I sounded like a child!

  “I’m fine really and I know what you’re thinking!” I said trying not to let the hiccups free that I could feel brewing. He smiled at me and then crossed his arms over his chest...man alive he was sexy! No, what was I thinking...wrong Draven.

  “Oh really?” He asked dripping in smugness.

  “Yes, you think I’m drunk, but I’m soo not.” I said trying not to fall on the spot.

  “Umm that may be more convincing without the hiccupping and swaying but whatever you say.” He was teasing me and it made me smile.

  “I thought you were supposed to be the good one?” I mocked making him laugh.

  “I’m not the one drunk!” He replied.

  “Ssshhh, don’t say that, Draven might hear you and then I will be in even more trouble!” I said holding my finger to my mouth to continue the “Ssshhhing.”

  “He already has!” A voice said behind me, making my hand cover my mouth. Vincent glanced over me and looked like he wanted to burst out laughing. I think I would have kicked him if he had. I turned round to see my boyfriend stood there with his arms folded and as usual...frowning.

  “Ah shit!” I said making his frown deepen. This was enough for Vincent and he let out a series of raucous laughter.

  “Thanks for the heads up, Vinnie boy!” I said making Draven’s, face flash a moment of amusement. (my Draven that was).

  “Anytime Keira dear, have fun you two!” He said as he walked past me but before he left, he whispered something in his brother’s ear. Draven didn’t respond but just closed his eyes briefly. Then we were left alone.

  “Ok, come on, let’s have it.” I said motioning with my hands.

  “Have what exactly, because I think you have had enough to drink?”

  “Touché, pussy cat!” I don’t know why I said this but Hell who does when their drunk?

  “Pussy cat?” One eyebrow rose at the question.

  “Bloody Hell Draven, it’s just a saying, I’m not calling you a cat!” I don’t know what was going through my head but I’m pretty sure I meowed after saying this...Umm the look on Draven’s face only confirmed my fears.

  “Anyway I’m not drunk...more like tipsy.” At this he snorted out his disbelief.

  “Doubtful Keira, I have monitored how much you have had to drink for starters and I know your limits.”

  “Better than your own, no doubt.” I said thinking what a good come back it was but then remembering this evening’s argument and the look on his face, it so wasn’t!

  “Umm, I didn’t mean that...sorry.”

  “You know, you have a dark and deadly tongue when you want to, but I never took you for being cruel” Ok that hurt!

  “Oh my God! Draven, this is stupid. If you really think I’m that bloody innocent than leave me now because I’m not! Look I’m not claiming to be bloody perfect...far from it clearly, but I don’t want to be pers...umm that word...”

  “Persecuted?”

  “Yeah that one, one of those every time I make a mistake. I am human after all!” I said finishing it with a hiccup. Apart from forgetting words and swaying, I think it was a pretty good speech.

  “So you’re sorry?” He asked in truth.

  “Oh jeez, get with the program, Of course I am for Christ’s sake, I have been all night!” His eyebrows knitted together and I frowned back at him, at least I think I did.

  “Without the profanities, Keira.”

  “Oh shut up you fool!” I shouted at him, getting angry that he wasn’t big enough to accept my apology without making me jump through hoops! He looked dumbfounded at my outburst but I didn’t care.

  “Me the fool? Ha, that is rich coming from your state!”

  “Ok so I’m drunk, so bloody sue me!”

  “I thought you were tipsy, which is it Keira?” He folded his arms again but looked like he would be ready to catch me at any minute.

  “See there you go again...all foolish and such. Of course I’m drunk! But it’s not like it’s against the law...I’m a...umm ...an adult.” I said trying to fold my own arms but I wasn’t sure I made it.

  “It shows!” He said dryly.

  “I’m twenty...something and anyway in my land of home the limit is eighteen so I’m well old enough!” He looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh at me which was making me mad.

  “I’m not the law Keira, you do as you please ...as always.” He said softly but I could detect the coldness in this last part.

  “Do you know something?” I asked opening my eyes wider at him.

  “What?”

  “This is...is…”

  “Is?” He had to hold me steady as I got closer to him, which made my mind lose its train of thought.

  “Bullshit! I’m sorry and that’s that. If you refuse to accept that, the
n you need to...to...”

  “To...?” Once again he was mocking me but I noticed he had got closer to me and was holding me tighter on the arms.

  “To grow up! Yes, you need to grow up. I mean you’re a bloody half Demon and my stupid words hurt you. You know I didn’t mean it and it’s your fault anyway!” I had to stop because for some reason I couldn’t manage talking and breathing at the same time.

  “And how is this all my fault exactly?” He was letting his guard down because he was most definitely more amused than angry even though I was shouting at him.

  “I can’t help that you have so many beautiful women all lining up. A string of ex goddess girlfriends that want to make ashtrays out of my head!” Ok, so now he was laughing at me and this made me push him.

  “Stop it!”

  “I would if it wasn’t all so ridiculous.” He said without letting me go...this was probably more for my own good as I would have no doubt landed on my butt.

  “You’re saying my feelings are ridiculous?”

  “Yes and your state of inebriation just adds to it!” Ok this time I did manage to pull away and after a wobble here and there I stayed on my feet at least.

  “Steady!” He said reaching to me but didn’t make contact.

  “My feelings are not funny! Do you think I like feeling so inferior?”

  “And how exactly do I make you feel inferior? Do I not give you everything, do I not treat you well, have I not given my heart to you?” Ok angry Draven again. Now it was his turn to be dramatic. When I didn’t answer he carried on.

  “I have given you parts of myself that I never knew I had to give. I will do anything for you, you know this and as you said so delicately, that YES I am in fact a Demon and yet your words cut me down like the Devil’s touch. Does that not tell you something? Does that not scream out to you just how much I must care, love and adore you, if but only a few words do this to me? My God Keira, think woman!” Ok so now my rage had been replaced by tears of feeling very, very sorry for myself.

  “Don’t do that.” He said calming down his outburst.