“How old were you then?” I said.
“About eleven, the fight was at school and we were both sent home after and suspended for the week. He never showed any remorse, certainly never asked about the dog.”
“When Aiden was twelve, his father committed suicide. He put a hose in the exhaust of his car and sat with the window up. He gassed himself. Aiden found the body and the police ruled it as suicide. What Aiden didn’t know at the time was that his mother was five months pregnant, and the father of the child was my dad. I don’t know the whys and wherefores of it all. Dad said that Melissa, Aiden’s mum, got lonely and things just happened. To say that my own mother was devastated is the biggest understatement I can make. She was distraught, and fought with my dad constantly. Thank goodness I had Sophia, and Amelia. We used to sit in Sophia’s room and cuddle each other when they argued, Amelia used to cry and I was frightened they would split up. My mum hardly spoke to Melissa again.”
“The last time I saw Melissa, she visited the house with Aiden. He was in a highly aggressive mood. Sophia hid upstairs, she didn’t want to see him, and he sat on one of the garden swings watching me and Amelia playing kiddy football. Amelia was only three so she fell over most of the time but she was a good kid, and I loved her.”
“So what happened?” I asked tentatively, knowing this wasn’t going to end well.
He sighed deeply, a strain of hurt shadowed across his face.
“Well, somehow the ball ended up over the hedge, so I ran around to get it. I heard a scream and when I came back Amelia was lying on her back on the ground. Apparently Amelia had asked him to play and he’d shoved her backwards so hard she’d fallen and cracked her head on the concrete of the patio. She died instantly, they told us afterwards.”
His eyes were filling with tears and I squeezed his hand again.
“She was so little, and beautiful. How could anyone do that to a kid?” he murmured and shielded his face from the falling tears. I didn’t speak, and anything I said would have sounded useless.
“So what happened to them?”
“Melissa was found drowned in the river near their old home. There was no sign of any harm to her, she hadn’t been killed. She just couldn’t take life any more, couldn’t bear the shame of having Aiden as a son, money had run out when Mick topped himself and she couldn’t bring herself to ask my parents for help.”
“What about Aiden?”
“Aiden was sent to a Juvenile Prison, or Young Offenders Prison, whatever they call them now. He was there for two years and when he came out he moved in with Ben. There was no way my folks would let him live with us permanently. At Melissa’s funeral, Ben Deverill introduced himself. He was Mick’s father and promised to care of Aiden when he was released. They moved into a house closer to town so that Aiden could continue his schooling.”
“How did you feel when he came back?” I said questioningly. There was more, I could tell.
“I hated him. I still do. He did two years and took away my little sister for life. How is that right? We don’t cross paths, at least if we can help it. Since Aiden’s lived with Ben he’s changed. He’s a lot more reserved. He still does bad things but usually follows his grandfather’s orders to pull them off. Now that Ben Deverill is so high up in the Council nobody really questions Aiden any more. I just hope one day he’ll get what’s coming to him. What goes around, comes around, you know?”
A chill shivered its way down my spine as he finished. “Wow, I’m not surprised you hate him so much.”
“You can’t change history, even if he served his sentence and denounced his previous ways, there’s things I will never forgive him for.” Morgan sat back in his chair, looking thoughtful. “My sister’s life is just Number One of a very long list.”
No one could ever say that Aiden’s past actions were comprehendible or acceptable but the Aiden I had met on our brief encounters hadn’t had a tainted attitude or hallmarks of a troubled soul. If anything, Aiden had almost appeared … lonely? Was that the right word? I felt a loyalty to Morgan, and it would certainly affect my opinion of Aiden Deverill from now on.
“Morgan, I’m so sorry, I had no idea, but you understand why I had to ask?” I rubbed his hand in mine.
“I do. I had planned to tell you sometime but, things just keep getting in the way,” he sipped his drink again and I put my hands in my lap.
The garden river tinkled as it sang its song over the lime rocks and pebbles. The car park had emptied of cars and bikes and we were completely alone in this peaceful Eden.
“I have to ask something else. Will you tell me about you and Lucie?” I whispered, looking at my glass intently.
“Me and Lucie? What do you mean?” he said warily.
My throat went dry. “Lucie said at the picnic that…..well, she implied that you and she” I couldn’t finish, the words just wouldn’t come out and I frowned again.
“She implied what? What’s she been saying?” he spoke angrily, placing his hands firmly on the table.
“On the night that you rescued me from my dream, you were out earlier?”
He nodded.
“She basically said, on that night, you and she ……were……that you almost slept together,” I gushed out finally. I felt heat rise in my cheeks at even talking to him about it.
His reaction surprised me. His hands balled into fists as anger spread across his face and his jaw clenched tightly.
“She said what? I’m going to kill her. How dare she say such rubbish?”
He leapt up from the bench and stood a few steps away with his back to me, his arms rose up and he held his head with his hands.
He spun around. “That’s why you’ve been so mad at me?” he said, choking the words.
I nodded.
“Oh Rose, it’s not what you think. I didn’t! I wouldn’t! She said that?” he sat down again.
I spoke softly, dread in my voice. “Don’t be mad at me, Morgan. I wasn’t to know that you were together. It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have” I shook my head and stared at the table, blinking my humility away.
He walked to me and kneeled, and cupped my hand before placing his other on top, my fingers held firmly within, and he looked adoringly into my face.
“Rose, nothing she said is true, believe me, please. I know she likes me, she’s had a crush on me for years, but I don’t like her and I don’t think of her that way. I never have.”
“So why would she lie? You apparently went to her house straight after work and didn’t leave until the early morning,” my puckered face eyed him cautiously again, and I felt my regret and anguish as I spoke.
“I did go over but only because she called saying she was at home alone. She mentioned some prank calls that had scared her so she asked if I would come over,” he said, anger still in his voice. “I sat on her sofa watching TV all night.”
I choked. “So, it’s not true?”
“No! It’s not. You thought that Lucie and I oh god, Rose. No way!” He jumped up and sat beside me, his firm arms were around me in seconds, cradling me close. He smelt so good, his soft rugby shirt brushed against my cheek like silk.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could have put us both out of our misery,” his warm cheek brushed against mine as he spoke.
“Like I said, you have to earn trust, Morgan,” I whispered. “I still don’t know how much I trust you.”
He tilted my head back in his hands, and gazed into my eyes.
“Hear what I say, Rose, you can always trust me. I will never ever hurt you,” his pleading voice etched under my skin. I could feel the imaginary knife withdraw and the wounded hole close as I held him again. My arms finally tightened around his chest, a submission of my belief in him.
“Do you think I could really spend the night with another girl and then come to your room and hold you like I did?”
“I hoped not,” I whispered as tears welled in my eyes.
“What happened in you
r room was so unbelievable for me, I was in a daze. I felt like I was in the most fantastic dream for the rest of the day, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you. That you had held me, and touched me the way you did. I know it sounds crazy but I feel like I’ve been waiting for you my entire life,” he laughed softly in my ear.
I drew my head back to see him. His eyes were softly shining and his lips were parted slightly, I could feel his wonderful breath on my cheek.
I smiled, and my hands cupped each side of his head as I pulled him towards me and to kiss his soft beautiful lips.
“Oh Rose,” he moaned and kissed me so fiercely I stopped breathing for a moment.
His lips moved softly across my face, his breathing was more rapid now, and I felt dizzy as I returned his deep passionate kisses.
He reached a hand behind, across the middle of my back and pulled me in tightly to him, his hot enchanting body joined to mine as if nothing could separate or part us again.
His sudden jerk back stopped me.
“Rose,” he whispered. “We have to stop.”
“No,” I replied. “I don’t want to.”
“I know, I don’t either but we must. You don’t have control yet.”
He nodded, his eyes wide in wonder, his pupils dilated with his passionate fire.
“Control?” I said in mock horror.
“Control of your gift. If you get too carried away, your gift could hurt me. Kill me, even.”
I jumped away as if stung, and the hurt showed in his expression.
“Oh god, I’m sorry. I didn’t think,” I uttered in surprised distress.
“I know. It’s okay. We can still do this but you have to be careful,” and he cradled me again and bent his head to kiss me again.
“Wait,” I pushed his arms away, and moved backwards along the bench. I closed my eyes and felt down inside to the well that held my gift. It was still there, unmoved, unaltered, buried deep.
“You’re in luck. It hasn’t moved, you’re safe,” I giggled back in a whisper.
“That’s a really good sign!” He drew me close again, crushing my lips against his in delight. My fingers were combing through his hair as I held his head close, unyielding and immovable as I kissed his cheekbones and his jaw.
“Rose,” he whispered in blissful excitement. “Don’t ever let us be angry with each other again.”
I held him then, tightly as he put his head on my shoulder, his lips brushed against my ear. To feel him in my arms again, this rich moment of sheer pleasure was all I wanted. I finally felt complete. There was nothing that could part us now.
We sat whispering for a while, laughing now familiarly, and enjoying our close union when Morgan’s phone rang. He groaned and reached for his jacket pocket, one arm still around my waist.
“Hello? Hi Jez. You’re joking, is she okay? Okay, mate, we’ll be right there.”
I could tell from his tone that something terrible had happened.
“What’s happened? Is it Daisy?” I said with fear in my throat.
“No, it’s Mira. She’s been in a bike accident. They’re taking her to the hospital right now.”
“Mira! Oh no!” I cried and grabbed my bag. Morgan was more collected than I was.
“Go wait by the bike, I’ll just go and pay. Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” he said as he darted inside.
Jez was waiting for us at the hospital entrance. We sprinted to him as quickly as we could from across the full car park.
“What happened?” Morgan asked, catching his breath.
“We’re not sure. None of us can see her yet,” Jez replied but his eyes were sorrowful.
“What about her parents?” I asked, my voice quaking a little.
“They’re here already. She’s being examined; we don’t know how bad it is.”
We walked in through the double doors, past the registrar’s office. The stark white bare walls of the corridor seemed never ending, and luminosity filled every crevice from the bright halogen lights. We turned into another corridor, then more until we arrived at her room. Two chairs were outside, Hannah, and Mira’s brother Jason were already there standing next to the one filled chair. I recognised Mr Butler, Mira’s dad; he looked haggard and distressed as he sat quietly with his head down. The hospital sounds echoed around the hallway, though nobody was talking, but Mr Butler sat so still with his feet together and a cardboard filing box on his lap.
I knelt down in front of him so he could see me clearly. “Mr Butler?” I whispered. “Do you remember me?”
He looked up and a faint smile brushed his face.
“Of course I remember you, Rose. You were only a tiny thing when I saw you last.” He motioned his hand half a metre high from the ground and I laughed.
“Can you tell me what happened?” I said gently.
“She wanted to do some errands after we finished at the office. I left in the car, and she took her moped. It’s an hour’s drive for her so I got home sooner. I was already there when the police called,” he was distraught, that was clear. He looked down again as if he’d forgotten what he’d said.
“Do you know how it happened? How is she?”
“I don’t know. Her mother is in there with her now. We’ll find out soon enough,” he dazed out again and looked at the box. “She wanted me to give you this, said it would be useful.”
I turned quickly seeing Jez and Morgan over my shoulder, then took the box from Mr Butlers shaking hands. I passed it to Morgan, who put it under his arm.
I grasped Mr Butler’s hands in mine and kissed his knuckles. “Thank you, Mr Butler. I’m sure Miranda will be fine.”
He smiled as I used Mira’s full name and I let his hands go to stand and face the boys.
“We’ve got it,” I whispered and they nodded. It should have been something to cheer about but now wasn’t the time.
The door to Mira’s room opened and Mrs Butler was in the doorway.
“Rose, she’d like to talk to you,” she said bluntly and sat next to Mr Butler telling him that Mira would be fine and make a full recovery.
“Okay,” I offered, and shut the door behind me.
I was shocked at what I saw. Mira had a bandage around her forehead, a neck brace holding her head still, one arm in a sling, and a few grazes across her cheek. The blood had turned dark red but the skin was still visibly torn up. Beside her the saline drip slowly pushed salt water into her bloodstream, and the bedside cabinet already had a bottle of juice.
“Mira, you’ve been here two minutes and you’ve already finished half the Robinson’s,” I chuckled and lifted up the bottle so she could see.
She laughed, and then winced.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I said and sat on the chair already drawn up to the bed.
“Rose, I have to tell you something,” she croaked, and winced again as if talking and movement was painful.
“Take your time,” I insisted. “There’s no rush.”
“No, listen. The car that hit me was Aiden Deverill’s red convertible. I thought you should know.”
“Tell me what happened?”
“I was already in Warminster, almost home. The car overtook me on the main road near the private school, and then it turned left onto a side road. I waved thinking it was Aiden. It must have double backed onto another road because at the next junction he ran straight into me. He didn’t even attempt to stop.”
I had no words for this. I stared at her in bewilderment. What she was saying was unbelievable. How could Aiden possible do this? Except, after Morgan’s story, it made it all the more possible. But why Mira? Why would Aiden want to hurt Mira?
“Mira, do you think someone knew what you were taking away for us?”
“No, there was nobody else in the office. Dad wouldn’t tell anyone, and I was the only one who used the photocopier all day. Do you think it was because of the maps and plans?”
I looked down into my own lap. This was something else that was my
fault. She should never have brought the plans with her. It would have been better to post them, or something else.
“I’m so sorry, Mira. This is my entire fault!” I quelled my tears, already springing into my eyes. Mira didn’t need to see that. “What has the doc said, about your injuries?”
“That I’ll be fine in a couple of days. Luckily my bike took most of the impact, and even luckier, my helmet saved my life. I’ve got a dislocated shoulder but that’s about it. Rose, it’s not your fault, please don’t blame yourself,” she attempted a smile at me but the graze on her cheek must have smarted at the movement.
“I’ll come and see you tomorrow, okay?” I leaned down and kissed her cheek. She smelled as though her body was fairly drugged up so I brushed my fingers gently over the wound on her cheek and saw it disappear, now perfect skin. It was all I could do for her and she didn’t seem to notice. “I’ll let your dad and Jason in. They’re dying to see you. Be well.”
“Thanks, Rose,” she smiled weakly.
I blew a kiss at her and motioned for Jason and Mr Butler to enter as I left the room.
I made it to the car park before I screamed with rage and stamped my feet. The car park was almost empty, but a few passers-by gawped at my outburst before continuing on their way.
My skin felt prickly, I could feel my blood heating up as I grew angrier and soon I was brimming over with it. I was fury, I was rage, and I yelled again into the sky and only stopped when I felt Morgan’s arms holding me still, like an anchor. He didn’t need to say anything, but he let me get it out of my system. I twisted round out of his grasp as Hannah and Jez ran towards us, both with worried expressions.
“Rose, what did she say?” Hannah cried out.
“Someone knew. Somehow someone knew what she was bringing home. We have a spy, and I want to find out who it is,” I barked back at them. “The car that hit her was Aiden’s.”
Elemental: The First Page 24