by Gina Keliher
He heard? How much did he hear? I scan the crowd. Too many grey’s to kill him now?
I look around. I can see Anna and Mike in the corner. Anna is known for taking everything in around her but today her and Mike are too in love to notice anyone else.
“Thought you were a bit too pure to be true Alice.” Adam is leering at me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know Jason doesn’t even think you’ve met Ian, but all this time you’re seeing him behind his back. There are names for girls like you.”
“I think you need to leave Adam.” I don’t know what else to say.
“That’s a good idea. But a better one is for you to leave with me, come on.” He grabs my arm and starts dragging me towards the doors.
I can’t scream. There are too many witnesses here. I can take care of him, but I need to be somewhere quieter. We get outside, onto the red carpet. He gives the valet his ticket and we’re waiting for his car.
“It’s not what you think.” I’m stood here wondering what on earth I should do. How long will it be before the others notice I’m not where they left me?
“Give us five.” He winks at the valet and we walk towards the maze.
For a moment I’m wary. I’m walking into a trap. Adam, Ian. Forget it; the mood I’m in right now, I’ll take them and anyone else on.
“Alice, I think it’s time we got to know each other better.”
The good news is he’s stupid. The bad news is Adrian said keep him alive but to draw out Ian. Well, I can draw out Ian, which leaves the whole keeping Adam alive thing redundant. Adam is useless. I’m going to kill him tonight.
“So Jason is a good boy at heart, and I know he likes you. But Ian is a bit more fun, I admit, and if that’s what you like, then maybe you and I?” Adam is getting close. His puts his arms around my waist.
I push him off. “Adam, you’re a murdering drug pushing creep.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t touch his eyes. It’s more like a sneer. “How do you know about that? Not that it matters. It’s not my fault if people are stupid enough to use drugs. It’s just a source of income. And pulling a scarf over the eyes of someone driving? Making Jason and David believe they were partly to blame? Phil was an accident. Nothing more.”
“You can just brush it off that easy? He died Adam. Him and goodness knows how many of the people you’ve sold drugs to. You’re evil from the inside out, rotten to the core. The very Being of you is damned.”
“Alice, it’s time to stop lecturing and start having fun.”
He’s strong but I’m prepared for this and as he comes at me I duck away. He spins around laughing as if this is some sort of game.
“Come on Alice, just a little fun.”
His Being is so dense I can hardly see him. But I’m not blind to his intent.
He runs at me with his arms held out straight before him. I let him grab me but I bring me knee up hard. The look on his face as he crumples makes me think he finally realizes this isn’t a game.
“I’m going to kill you now Adam. I wish I could draw this out a little longer but I have a party to get back to.”
Murderer, drug dealer; this should have been a slow death. His neck is now broken and he’s dead on the ground.
“We need to talk but I’m going to let everyone know you’re OK first.”
I spin around and Robbie is stood there watching. There’s a terrible look of disappointment in his eyes. I’m too exhausted to explain as he turns towards the party house.
I sit next to Adam, waiting for the next wave of emotions to hit me.
Chapter Fifty Two
The clean up happens quickly. Parker takes me into the kitchen and explains what happened.
Adam went to the valet alone, got in his car and started the drive home. Wasn’t screaming drunk or anything but they will find a trace of alcohol in his system. He hit a deer on the country road and the car ended up wrapped around a tree. Horrible accident especially as locals have asked for that tree to be cut down for years as it’s a known sight of fatal accidents.
Annabel and Poppy kept Jason dancing. Less than ten minutes have passed. Stefan and Robbie decided to come and look for me and Robbie found me. I need to talk to him but it’s going to have to wait. Parker escorts me back to the party.
“Miss Alice, it’s a party. Try to look as if you’re having fun.” I grab his hand and squeeze it. I’m the only person who has any idea of what this great man has been through and I can’t talk to him about it. Certainly not tonight anyway.
Back inside, the music is thumping, the foam spraying and everyone is dancing. Glamorous party outfits have deteriorated into sticky wet rags, ties are loose and almost everyone is shoeless. I have that feeling where I’m zoning out. The world has carried on as normal without me, and it’s left me feeling out of place.
“Where have you been?” Jason laughs, picking me up and twirling me.
“You look hysterical.” I laugh back. His tux is ruined with foam, his hair is soaking wet with a foam, perspiration, gel mix and his cheeks are bright red from partying hard.
“Come on, let’s dance.”
We do, for over an hour. I can see the others talking about me and dying to know what happened but this is neither the time nor the place. Eventually they realize this and decide to enjoy the remainder of the party.
Close to 2am we decided we’re done. It takes us 15 minutes to find David who was snoozing on some throw cushions, but naturally Adam is nowhere to be found.
“I can’t believe he would have left us here. How will we get home?” David yawns.
“You can crash in a guest room and we’ll sort it out in the morning. He’ll probably still be here partying when you wake up.” Poppy sounds convincing even to me.
“Thanks and thanks for inviting me. That was too much fun.” David says. I think he’s going to be asleep standing up in thirty seconds.
Parker comes over and leads the boys away.
“Sleep. Good idea.” I say, turning towards my room.
“Not so fast. What on earth would possess you to go outside with Adam? It could have been a trap. What happened Alice?” Stefan asks placing his hands on my shoulders. Genuine concern is etched into his face.
“Come on, let’s get it over with. Poppy, think we can get some tea sent up?”
I tell it all. Everything. Poppy is mad as she now knows I kept partial truths from her. OK, I lied.
Adrian is on speakerphone as we decided this was worth waking him up over. Nobody has interrupted me, no one has asked a question and I’ve been talking for over an hour. I’ve laid it all out, every emotion, every word that was said. All of it. Now can I run away and cry?
“So you just lied to me?” Poppy speaks first.
“She lied to all of us.” Robbie looks so mad I’m scared. I know he’s thinking I endangered Luke. He’d kill me over that.
“But she lied to me the most as I’d heard some of this before, except I heard the make believe version.”
“Then you’re as bad as her.” Robbie snaps.
“Everyone please stop arguing with each other. Alice how do you feel now?” Adrian enquires.
“Stupid, upset, confused, angry but I still believe him. I think that until we meet again everyone is safe. Why do I believe him, but then why shouldn’t I? I don’t know. I’m so very tired.”
“I think it’s time for everyone to leave. Adrian, we’ll talk more tomorrow. Boys, off to your room and Poppy go.” Annabel herds them all out and hangs up on Adrian. “You going to be ok tonight?”
“Why are you being nice to me? You must hate me.” Annabel is the last person I’d expect to stick up for me.
She sits beside me. “I actually think you’re very brave. A little crazy but very brave. You went back outside with Adam knowing Ian was around. Also I think it’s kind of funny.”
“What’s funny about it? Nothing. I’m endangering everyone.”
“But
what’s funny is that when you fall in love, all common sense disappears. You’re actually considering running away with him. Come on, if it were anyone else you’d laugh.”
I’m absolutely gob-smacked. There is so not anything funny here at all.
“Annabel,” but she’s laughing.
“Only you Alice, the sexy smouldering son of Satan.”
She’s cracking herself up. Is she drunk?
“What on earth is so funny?” Poppy opens the door. She’d obviously been listening.
“Nothing. I think she’s tipsy?”
“Oh come on Poppy, don’t you think it’s a little funny. Alice is going to elope with the sexiest man on the planet, except that he’s also the baddest. It sounds like an atrocious day time soap opera.” She’s almost howling.
“Is kind of funny.” Poppy concurs. “So just how sexy is he? And what does he smell like. Bet it’s rotten eggs.”
“And the kisses. Tell us more about the kisses.” Annabel has jumped onto her knees. “Does it taste like snogging Marmite? Yuck.”
“Blue Cheese.” They both shout at same time and roll around laughing.
“You’re both insane. I’m going to bed.”
“Oh come on Alice. All evil stuff aside, if you’re getting a good snog I want the details.” Poppy folds her arms. She’s not leaving until I tell.
“Well OK.”
Chapter Fifty Three
The clock says it’s exactly 10am. I’m lucky if I’ve had six hours of sleep. I roll over and pull the pillow over my head. Five more minutes.
“Oh crap.” I killed someone last night and Jason could be awake trying to find out what’s going on. Where Adam is. He could already know.
I roll out of bed and walk sleepily into the en suite bathroom.
Twenty three minutes later, according to the clock, I’m in the pool room where Lady Howard has arranged for breakfast, brunch.
Pastries, fresh bread and rolls, croissants, fruit and jams are all laid out. Together with a steaming pots of tea and coffee.
Stefan is already here.
“Morning.” I mumble as I pour tea.
“Hey, get enough sleep?”
“No. What’s news?”
“The police were here last night. Probably while you were telling us about Ian. Parker informed them we were all asleep. They’ll be here shortly to question us but it’s being classed as an accident. Jason isn’t up yet. Want me to do it?”
“No. I’ll do it now.”
The boys are awake and showered. It sounds as if I’ve interrupted a story of David getting some girls phone number at the party.
“Morning.” I say sombrely, where to start?
“Hey beautiful, why so sad?” Jason says as he comes to me and gives me a kiss. “I was kind of hoping you’d sneak over last night.”
I look into his eyes and he can see that something’s not right.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh Jason there’s been a terrible accident.” I sit down on the bed and hold his hand. David doesn’t know whether to leave us or listen. “David, you need to hear this too.”
I’ve scared them both but the fact is there’s no easy way to get this out. “Adam had an accident.”
“What happened? Where is he?” Jason stands up and grabs his ruined jacket. “Can we get a ride?”
“Sit down Jason. He wrecked out at the tree. He didn’t make it. I’m so sorry.” I’m genuinely crying. Not for Adam but for the utter despair I see in Jason and David. Two friends lost in car accidents within a year.
David starts crying softly and excuses himself. The bathroom door closes but I can still hear him sob. Jason has his head in his hands so I can’t read his expression.
“The police were here last night apparently but it was after we’d all gone to bed.” I’ve pulled one of his hands away and am holding it. “They’ll be back soon but it’s just a formality. He hit a deer or tried to miss it. I’m not sure but unfortunately the end result is the same.” I stroke his damp hair. “Jason?”
He looks up and his eyes are red. “It’s just unbelievable. We were having so much fun. I don’t remember him saying he was leaving. Why did he leave Alice? He wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye.”
“I don’t know. Come on, they’ll be here soon. Let’s get this over with and then we can go home.”
He’ll remember soon enough I was the last one to be seen with Adam but for now shock has overtaken memory.
The police have been and gone. As expected it was just a formality. They hadn’t reached Adam’s parents yet so Jason and David left with the police to positively identify the remains. They’ll get a ride home after and I’ll call him when I get home.
“So what now?” I ask. Stefan shrugs, Poppy just looks too exhausted to speak and Robbie is still looking like he wants to wring my neck. Annabel had left with Glen before the police arrived.
“I just want to go home. The party was fun but it’s over now.” Copper is snuggled up in Poppy’s arms.
“I agree. Not much we can do today but we’re coming with you. No offense Alice but I don’t feel like letting you out of my sight.”
“Fine Robbie. You coming too Stefan?” He nods. “Then let’s go.”
Chapter Fifty Four
The funeral is on Thursday. At this rate I have no idea if I can go. In the last two days I haven’t been allowed to go to the bathroom by myself.
Jason came over yesterday. His Being is so much brighter but he looks half dead on the outside. He told me David is leaving town Thursday. Too much bad karma so he’s moving up north with a cousin or something. He hasn’t seen or heard from Ian but has left him messages and texts.
It sounds like it will be a fairly small affair. Fitting.
“Can we at least go for a walk? I’m getting claustrophobic.” I plead.
“Stefan you go. I have to go to the bathroom with her each time and with the amount of tea she drinks my calves are burning from over exertion.” Poppy grumbles.
This is driving them all crazy and it’s totally unnecessary.
“Come on. Let’s go for a drive though.”
Roof down, driving fast. I needed this and it looks as if Stefan did too.
“So have you guys decided on Thursday? Jason expects me to go with him and frankly it would look really rude if I didn’t.”
“I know. But it would be strange if we all showed up. After all, we weren’t all best mates.”
“Stefan, if you can’t trust me on my own sooner or later you may as well just kill me and put us all out of our misery. We can’t all go on like this. We’re going crazy. If I go and you all stay together then at least I know you’re all safe.”
“Don’t you realize you’re part of us Alice? This isn’t just about you. If anything happened to you..” He doesn’t finish.
“Stefan, I got us into this mess and I will get us out of it. I swear. Do you think I don’t know the way Robbie looks at me? He’s so protective of Luke and I’ve jeopardised that. And Annabel? She’s so happy with Glen who is going to do something great for the whole country, maybe even the world. He’s in danger by association. And you, Poppy, Adrian. Mum and dad for goodness sake. Lisa. How do I make it all right again? How do we go back to before?
“I keep thinking back to that story Adrian told. There’ll come a time when we all go our separate ways. We’ll get married, some may die young. Who knows? But I can’t think of anything worse than being lonely. Than everything I love being taken away from me and being utterly alone. I couldn’t do that Stefan. Please believe me. I won’t let him do that to us.”
“I know babe.” He squeezes my hand. “Let’s go chat with Adrian.”
Robbie is at my house with Poppy and Luke is in school so it’s just the three of us.
“How are you Alice?” Adrian asks as he places tea and biscuits on the table.
“Miserable. The same as everyone else. We can’t hole up in my house forever Adrian.”
“I
agree. I’ve arranged for Lisa to be surrounded by ‘Gifted’ ones as well as Glen. While I believe we shouldn’t travel alone for now, I think the sentry duty must come to an end.”
“Thank goodness.” Stefan and I breathe out at the same time.
“I think we’ll have a little trouble convincing Robbie but I’ll be glad to get rid of her.” Stefan pokes me in the ribs teasing. This is the first time I’ve seen him joke in days and I realize how much I’ve missed it.
“Oh thanks Adrian.” I jump up and hug him.
Adrian is not the most demonstrative person but he hugs me back and I feel so relieved it’s not true.
“However, you must make a promise to me now that if you see Ian again you must tell all of us immediately. If I ever find out you’re withholding from the group again I will have no choice to cut all communication with you. This is serious Alice. The choice will not be yours to make if you put any of us in harms way and then don’t prepare us.”
“Never. I swear. Please believe me, both of you, it was just so embarrassing. I’m seventeen and I had a killer crush. With the most evil Being I’ve ever encountered. And I can’t take back the fact that he is bloody gorgeous. Stefan, if Angelina Jolie came on to you and she had a damned Being what would you do?”
Stefan goes a purplish scarlet and tries to stammer a response. “Well, you know, I’d, well, OK, I’d have to kiss her I suppose. If the boys found out I hadn’t I’d never live it down.”
Adrian starts laughing first, that brilliant laughter that starts somewhere in his stomach before bursting out of his lips. Stefan is sniggering like a teenager, before doing a thigh slapping guffaw. I’m giggling and nodding. Yea, now you get it.
Stefan and I laugh all the way home. Scarlett Johansson the Jonas brothers and everyone in between get a ‘would you or wouldn’t you’ comparison. Would you kiss and tell?
We run in the front door giggling and proceed to tell Poppy and Robbie. Poppy immediately gets the silliness of it all and comes up with her own list while Robbie just looks as if we’re stupid. We’re all laughing together again.