How The Wolf Lost Her Heart

by Sarah Brownlee

  “He’s not that important!” she snapped.

  Her friend raised her hands in the air.

  “Alright, alright – I was just saying! There’s no need to be so touchy about it.”

  Skye silently fumed inside. She regretted snapping at Daphne the way she had, but the truth was she didn’t know how else to deal with the secret hurt she was feeling; being angry and irritable was how she usually dealt with things that concerned her.

  “Just think about it,” said Daphne tentatively. “You never know … something might have happened to him and that might be why he hasn’t contacted you. What have you got to lose?”

  Skye considered her words. She could not disregard that something may have happened to him; though it was unlikely, for if something bad had happened to a member of the Renzo family it would be the number one news within the city and she would have heard something. She also noted that Raphael had done his best to contact her during the time she had ignored him. Trying to swallow her pride, she said,

  “I might give him a quick buzz tomorrow or something. Just to see if he’s alright. Not that I’m that bothered; after all, we barely know each other.”

  The girls had arranged to go out that evening to a local bar, hence the hair crimping and the several hours of shopping they had engaged in that morning. They hadn’t been for a night out in a while. It was Daphne’s idea. Skye had been busy writing out her resume letter for the past week (that is, while she was not thinking about Raphael; plus, it did provide a wonderful distraction for her) to the Endangered Species charity so the two girls had not seen or spoken to each other much during this period. Daphne thought it would be fun to get dressed up, go out to a bar, have a couple of drinks and a dance so that the two of them could relax and have a good time like they used to, before Skye started working at Trixaction Cinemas and Daphne had begun her college course. Skye agreed to this, mainly because it would be another welcome distraction from her thoughts of Raphael, whose penetrating green eyes seemed permanently fixed in her mind.

  For the occasion, Daphne had bought herself a lovely magenta dress and magenta heels to match. Skye, who was not really a dress person, dipped into her savings a little to purchase a pair of wet-look leggings and cream-coloured ‘puss-in-boots’ boots. It was around 5pm at this time and the girls had arranged to leave for 7pm. It wasn’t long before both girls were ready, Daphne looking very petite and pretty in her dress, while Skye looked cool and feline in hers. Daphne had braided her crimped hair and then tied it up as a high ponytail, while Skye’s own crimped hair was left flowing wildly, as was her preference.

  “All good to go?” said Daphne, picking up her handbag and shooting herself one last admiring glance in the mirror.

  “Yep.”

  They left Daphne’s house, saying goodbye to her parents, and set off down the road, talking and laughing about memories from school as they went. They received several beeps from cars that drove past and one car carrying three guys actually pulled up, asking them if they fancied going for a drive. Skye rolled her eyes and Daphne shot them a withering look, telling them they were busy. When they arrived at the bar, which was only a ten minute walk from Daphne’s house, it was not very packed but had a nice, jazzy feel to it with a musician playing the saxophone towards the back and spotlights covering the ceiling. There was also an enormous fish tank to the left with a gigantic carp swimming about inside.

  “I’ll get the drinks,” said Daphne as they approached a table. A man in a suit by the bar gave her an appreciative look as she entered. “You OK for cocktails?”

  Skye rarely drank and when she did it was something that had very low alcoholic volume. But this was one of those rare nights when they actually went out to a bar together and she couldn’t see the harm in having a few cocktails.

  She drummed her fingers on the table, darting her eyes about as she did so. A balding man who looked double her age winked at her from across the room. She shuddered and turned away, her eyes falling on Daphne who appeared to be in a conversation with her boyfriend, as his holographic face hovered about the air and her tag device was clutched in her hand. Daphne was frowning at the face which was frowning back and talking in very fast tones. Skye couldn’t hear what they were talking about and instead listened to the smooth jazz music that was coming from the saxophone.

  Daphne returned a few minutes later with a couple of cocktails, her face irritable.

  “Edge is coming,” she said, placing Skye’s drink in front of her.

  Skye raised an eyebrow.

  “What?”

  “Yes – I’m really sorry about this; he just had a go at me for being dressed up and in a bar. I told him I was with you, but he was having none of it. It didn’t help that the guy over there was checking me out and Edge noticed. He’s going to be here in about half an hour.”

  Skye grimaced. Wondering why her friend didn’t ditch this clearly over-possessive, jealous man (who was apparently only after her passport anyway) she sipped on the cocktail and realized she was going to be in for a long night. So much for the two of them going out and having a good old girly time. The drill-sergeant, Edge, would make sure that wouldn’t happen. She had only met Daphne’s boyfriend once and had to admit that, aside from his rather fetching features, there didn’t seem to be much substance to him at all.

  “You’re not going to finish with him then?” she said.

  Daphne sighed.

  “The thing is I’m really starting to like him. He does seem like a bit of control freak at times, but everyone has their flaws, right?”

  Right, Skye thought, wondering if pressurizing her friend into marrying him was not one flaw too many.

  Not too long after, the boyfriend arrived and it appeared he had brought a friend with him.

  “Ola, darling,” said Edge to Daphne, kissing her on the lips. Skye turned away, her nose wrinkling, her gaze landing straight into the eyes of Edge’s companion, a tall, tanned Latino with spiky hair and very large gums, who grinned at her.

  “My cousin, Marcos,” Edge introduced, while Marcos bowed to the girls. “He has just moved over from Brazil and is staying with me. Come Marcos – let us sit down.”

  Edge took a seat beside Daphne while Marcos sat himself down next Skye, which was the only seat left available, squeezing in far too close for Skye’s liking. She fixed her friend with a long, hard look to show that she was displeased with the current situation and Daphne gazed back in an apologetic sort of way.

  “Ladies, what are you drinking?” said Edge.

  “We’re having cocktails tonight,” said Daphne, who had finished hers. Skye was about halfway through her own. Edge nodded and went to fetch some more drinks. Marcos looked at the two girls.

  “You are friends?” he said in a heavy Portuguese accent.

  “Yes,” nodded Daphne with a friendly smile. “I’m Daphne, as you probably know, and this is my good friend, Skye.”

  “It is very nice to make friendship with you, Skye,” grinned Marcos, turning to face her. “I am here to improve English and hope make new friends.”

  Skye, unable to miss the sight of the enormous gums that were only inches from her face, smiled reluctantly back.

  “That’s nice,” she said in a strained way. Edge returned with the drinks at that moment and the group started conversing about a variety of things while the bar filled up with more people and the jazz music became more jovial. As the night wore on, people continued to drink more alcohol and the noise in the bar escalated with people becoming increasingly drunk, including those at Skye’s table. Daphne and Edge were laughing raucously, falling all over each other and snuggling every now and then. Skye, who was not quite drunk but tipsy, was meanwhile trying to hold off the suggestive advances of Marcos, who had consumed over five pints of beer.

  “So why you have no boyfriend?” he slurred into her face.

  Almost gagging from the stench of his breath, Skye turned away and sipped on her third cocktail, wondering if it
would be acceptable to simply leave.

  “I’m just not really looking for anyone right now,” she said.

  “Why you no looking?”

  “Well, you see,” she said, barely able to hide her irritation and downing the rest of her cocktail, “I have a lot of things to focus on. Besides, there is someone I like. Excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom.”

  With that, her head swimming slightly, she rose from her seat, grabbed her bag and made her way to the ladies toilets. Alright, she had said it out loud (undoubtedly the alcohol had something to do with her admitting it outright, plus she simply could not bear the thought of this Marcos further nosing in about her relationship status, nor attempting to entice her with his evocative glances) but yes, there was someone she did like – more than like – with the only problem being that he didn’t like her back; in fact, appeared to have clean forgotten her!

  You know what, she thought angrily, as she caught sight of her rather blurry reflection in the mirror and fluffed up her hair a bit more, I’m going to find out exactly why he hasn’t called me; and so what if he’s cold or rude to me? I have a right to know!

  Spurred on by this fresh wave of Dutch courage, Skye threw her head high into the air and made her way outside where several people were laughing loudly and blowing bubbles. This was it. She was going to call Raphael and demand to know why he hadn’t contacted her in the past week. And if he told her it was because he was bored of her company, then fine!

  Finding an isolated spot near the bins, Skye pulled out her tag device, took a deep breath and raised it to her mouth.

  “Raphael,” she said firmly.

  The device on the other end started to beep loudly. In the back of her mind, Skye wondered what on earth she was doing and felt an overwhelming urge to press the ‘End’ button; but the cocktails inside her conquered her inhibitions and she stared resolutely at the device, an almost manic expression on her face.

  After the sixth beep, Raphael’s face appeared as a holograph in the air and Skye’s heart skipped several beats.

  “Skye?” he said, his expression unreadable.

  Skye cleared her throat, gazing back at him, her head swimming faster as the alcohol kicked in even more.

  “Yes … it is me,” she said dramatically.

  Raphael’s eyes scanned her from head to toe.

  “You look nice,” he said. “Where are you?”

  “Out with my friend in a bar,” was the cool reply. “Anyway, I called for only one reason. Just to see you were actually alive and to let you know that I also have no interest in seeing you or speaking with you again. Just wanted to clear that up. Goodbye.”

  And she pressed the ‘End’ button on her device, Raphael’s face vanishing instantly. A triumphant feeling surged through her, which was immediately followed by one of horror.

  What did I say that for? She thought, heavily rebuking herself. Well, that was the end of that! Raphael was alive and well, he clearly just didn’t want to speak to her and she had made it perfectly clear to him that she felt exactly the same way, even though she didn’t! She stood there on the spot for a few moments, dismayed.

  Seconds later, her tag device started beeping. It was him.

  Half wishing she could just ignore it, Skye eventually pressed the ‘Accept’ button and Raphael’s face materialized in the air again.

  “What was all that about?” he said, gazing at her shrewdly.

  “What was what about?” she said in a nonchalant way, feigning innocence.

  “That. What you just said. About not wanting to see me again.”

  “I am only mirroring you,” she replied smartly.

  “When did I say I didn’t want to see you again?”

  Skye shrugged.

  “Oh I don’t know. It’s not important, either way. I just assumed that was the case considering I haven’t heard from you since that night we saw each other.”

  Raphael shook his head.

  “I haven’t been feeling great lately, that’s why I haven’t called you. To be honest, I thought you might have called me at some point …”

  “Well, as you can see, that is what I have done,” was the casual response. “However, I completely understand if you don’t want to talk again, you only had to say so and I would have been completely fine with it. Obviously the other night was nice, but I fully understand that it was a one-off thing. No big deal at all.”

  She managed a false grin. A puckered brow appeared on Raphael’s features.

  “I’m not entirely sure why you’re saying this,” he said, “but I never said I don’t want to talk to you again and, like I said, I had been half hoping that you would contact me. I’ve had my reasons for being quiet …”

  “Well, I don’t want to intrude, seriously, I’m sorry for ringing,” Skye said hastily. “I really hope you feel better soon.”

  “Will you come round?”

  The question caught her completely off guard.

  “Sorry?” she said, not sure she heard correctly.

  “Will you come round? To my place, I mean. Not for long … I can send one of our drivers to pick you up.”

  This astonishing turn of events bowled Skye over. Despite what he had said about having his reasons for not calling, she genuinely believed that he was just making polite excuses and therefore it came as a great shock that he was inviting her to see him that night – and at his house of all places.

  “I, erm, well,” she said in a rather gawping way.

  “You don’t have to if you’re spending the night with your friend,” Raphael hastened to tell her. “I’d understand.”

  “Well,” said Skye with a cough, “she’s with her boyfriend so I guess she wouldn’t miss me. If you’re sure, I can come round for a little while …”

  “OK … great. Where are you?”

  She told him the name of the bar and he said his driver would be outside the place in twenty minutes.

  “By the way, have you been drinking?”

  “Erm … a little,” she replied, sincerely hoping that she would sober up completely by the time she saw him.

  Raphael smiled slightly.

  “Hmmm … I thought so. Anyway, I’ll see you in a little while – and Skye? Make sure you call your mother and let her know where you are.”

  His face disappeared and Skye was left practically reeling from the conversation and the prospect that she would see him within the next hour. She stuffed her tag device back into her bag and stepped back inside, returning to her table where Daphne, Edge and Marcos hailed her.

  “Where you go?” said Marcos, leaning towards her.

  Leaning away from him in response, Skye said,

  “I went out to talk to someone. Daphne, I’m going to be leaving in twenty minutes.”

  Her friend, who was clearly full-blown drunk by now, widened her eyes and giggled.

  “You are?”

  “Yes. There’s a car coming to pick me up. So I’ll just call you tomorrow.”

  “Why you going?” said Marcos, slinging an arm around her shoulder. “Why not stay with me, baby?”

  Skye immediately shrugged his arm off, her nostrils flaring, her vision slightly blurred.

  “No thank you, you are an annoying pervert,” she said before she could stop herself. Realizing that her rudeness was also fuelled by the cocktails she had consumed and amazed at her own audacity, she said a rushed goodbye to the three astonished faces before her and made a quick dash towards the exit, almost stumbling on her way out.

  Chapter Ten

  “Skye Archer?”

  Skye had to blink several times as the sparkling white limo pulled up in front of her. Several people gasped in awe as they caught sight of the stunning vehicle. The chauffeur that had rolled down his window to speak to her gazed at her inquisitively.

  “Yes … that’s me.”

  The chauffeur stepped outside the limousine in an immaculate black suit and hat, opening the back door for her and bowing slightly. The sig
ht had attracted quite a crowd now who were whispering rather excitedly to one another. Skye hurried into the back seat while the chauffeur closed the door behind her, got into the driver’s seat and engaged the gears. It wasn’t long before they were sailing smoothly down the lamp-lit roads.

  “Yes, Sir, she is here with me now,” said the chauffeur as they stopped at a traffic light, holding one finger to the earpiece that was attached to his left ear. “Yes, Sir … Indeed, Sir … I shall, Sir.”

  He raised his eyes to the wing mirror and looked at Skye, who was busy marvelling at the inside of the limo. It was not quite as grand as Raphael’s personal tiger-striped car, but it was not lacking in decorative splendour, what with the luminous spotlights and spacious, silken seating.

  “Would you like a cup of coffee, Madam?” said the chauffeur. “Master Raphael has asked me to offer you refreshments.”

  “Oh … no, that’s OK,” said Skye, rather embarrassed. Undoubtedly, Raphael’s suggestion of coffee was with the intent of sobering her up. She wasn’t feeling too bad at the moment … the cool outdoors had helped with her blurred vision and she was already starting to feel highly abashed at the phone call she had made to Raphael, not to mention her last few words in the bar to her three companions. She groaned inwardly.

  They turned into a small, narrow lane. The street lamps seemed to shine brighter around here. To Skye’s surprise, there were quite a few people wandering around on the streets, including small children, something rather rare in London at night during this day and age. She realized it must have been because they were now in the far west, the area where it was safest to be out after dark. This was the Renzo territory, the stronghold against the evils that ran amok within the city; people naturally flocked here, where they could feel safe and at ease without risk of harm from thugs and lowlifes.

  They approached the bottom of a hill and on top of this hill was the largest, most majestic mansion Skye had ever laid her eyes on. It was of such magnificence that various people could be seen gazing up at it in awe; the mansion and its surrounding area was lit up, not only by a myriad of streetlamps, but by four enormous flames that glowed brightly on top of the building. It was five storeys tall and held up by four pillars which gave it the look of an Ancient Greek temple.