“Yes sir.”
“No just Easton.”
“Yes Easton.”
“I will be Belladonna’s trainer but I will also go over some things with you as a group. To better help you. If you want it.”
Everyone shook their heads yes.
“Good. Glad to hear it. Cause things are going to get real.”
“Is there anything else please want to share with us?”
“My name is Miller and I have more powers than I’ve said.”
“Okay Miller that’s good to know,” Easton says.
Mercedes looks hurt. Belladonna squeezes her friend’s hand.
“Anyone else have something they want to share?” Easton asks.
Everyone looks around finally Pete speaks. “Okay I guess it’s time for me to come out.”
“What do you have to say Pete?”
“I don’t exactly follow your “side”. I follow the other side. I follow the side that Criss is a part of. But Criss isn’t really a part of it. Even though is King of it. You are still King of it correct?”
“Yes, I am,” Criss says.
“The ruler of all of it is coming. He’s coming soon. You have to pick your side. I love you all but I can’t be on the losing team. I’m going to have to bow out.” Pete walks off the field and to his car. Belladonna runs after him. “Pete”
“Hey Belladonna.”
“I just wanted to say bye before you left.”
“I love you. You know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“It’s going to be okay for you and the kids.”
“We’ll see..”
“It will. Maybe even Cooper.”
“We’ll see,”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
Belladonna hugs him. Pete gets in the car and drives off.
“Okay let’s practice,” Easton says, “Let's start with the group as a whole. Then Belladonna we’ll do one on one. Let’s get into groups. Sam and Belladonna. Mercedes and Roger. Miller and Criss. Let’s show what we can do. You are protected no one can see you. So, remember there is no second place. Good luck.”
Sam and Belladonna went to the center of the clearing. Sam’s powers of blowing up and speed were a pain for Belladonna with fire and telekinesis. They kept coming up as a draw. She knew she couldn’t use her fae powers. She flipped in the air at one point to avoid him and almost landed funny, but Sam caught her. Thank you. She kissed him softly. Sam looked at her funny. “What does that mean?
“Do I have to dissect everything for you?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind.”
“I felt like kissing you. Do you not want me to?”
“I never said that. Then don’t complain.”
“Okay.”
Everyone gets done with their practice and Belladonna goes back with Easton. Criss is back there already. “Okay you’re trying to master electricity?”
“Yes, but it’s been slow going.”
“Okay well today let’s make a ball of it okay?”
“Okay?
“Yeah.”
“Criss, I want you to make sure she stays focused on it.”
“Okay.”
Belladonna goes out to the center of the backyard and sits. She focuses her breathing and thinks about forming a ball. “Let everything drop away and just focus and center yourself, Belladonna.” She feels the ball form in her hands she opens her eyes and looks at the electric ball in front of her. Criss comes closer. “Good. Now I want you to make it disappear without throwing it. I want you to take the energy back inside of yourself. Focus on it. Good there you go. Great job. Now try again.”
Lightning ball exercise is done for an hour and a half. By that time Belladonna is exhausted. Criss congratulates her. Easton comes over to them and speaks. “We will meet again tomorrow if that’s okay. I want to just go over a few things so we’ll meet for a little while tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“I need to meet with Criss now.”
“Okay not a problem.”
Belladonna goes to her car ready to leave. Cooper shows up beside her. He kisses her. “All of Gatlin’s belongings are gone. Nicolae has Destiny. Talia will be over soon.”
“Okay great.”
“You want to go home and sleep for a bit then we can go do something?”
“Sure, that sounds great.”
“Good. I love you.”
“I love you.”
Cooper starts driving them home. Belladonna tells him about Miller and Pete. Cooper just looks shocked throughout it. “Then Criss was a complete professional. He had no reaction to me at all. It was worrisome to be honest.”
“I’m sure it’s just while he’s teaching. I’m sure he’ll be fine when he’s not teaching you.”
“What if he’s not.”
“Then you have so many months until he’s back to normal.”
“I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Just wait.”
“Okay.”
They get home and Cooper makes food for them. Nicolae hugs her in the kitchen when he sees her. Criss gets home and Belladonna goes to hug him, and he shakes his head no. “We need to talk.”
“Okay.”
They go to Criss’ room. Criss shuts his door and says a couple phrases in latin. He starts kissing Belladonna. He has her up against the door. “I can’t have a relationship with you while I’m training you. I am not able to do it. I spoke to Easton about it. He said if I could not I would not be your teacher. But whatever I did in private with you was our business. I’m so sorry but we’ll make it through.”
“Criss we have to sneak around again? Are you kidding me? Not even in our own home? That isn’t going to fly. I’m sorry but it isn’t.”
Belladonna breaks off the kiss with Criss. Criss looks Belladonna in the eye and sees how hurt she looks. He goes to hold her, and she shakes her head no. “If you are going to be this way. I’m going to pay attention to Sam.”
“SAM!”
“Yes.”
“Beautiful.”
“I’m sorry.”
Belladonna walks out of the bedroom and to Cooper. She explains to Cooper the new rules. Cooper rolls his eyes. He then heads straight to Criss’ bedroom.
“Do you feel like losing her? Cause that’s what’s going to happen.”
“I’ve seen the future and that doesn’t happen.”
“What about for eight months?”
“It’s not going to happen.”
“She isn’t joking about Sam.”
“I know she isn’t.”
“Just think about it Criss.”
Cooper leaves the bedroom where Criss throws his phone across the room. He can hear Belladonna on the phone giggling. He feels physically ill. He knows she is talking to Sam. They are going out tonight. He wants to scream. He calls for Easton. Easton shows up in his bedroom.
“Not going well?”
“Easton, I want to teach her. I can be a perfect professional with her during teaching but alone I’m not going to do it. I shouldn’t have to do it. I don’t hide us.”
“Understood. You don’t hide. I respect that. Just don’t let it get in the way.”
“It won’t.”
“Go tell her.”
Criss went up to her bedroom. Belladonna was on the phone still giggling on the phone with Sam. “Listen I’ll see you tonight. Yeah. Okay. Bye.”
“What is it Criss?”
Criss goes over to Belladonna and kisses her. “I told him I wouldn’t hide. He said okay just make sure there weren't any problems, I’m not staying away from you.”
“I already invited Sam out with me. You can be pissy if you want but I did it.”
“No pissy Criss here. It will show me why I should keep my head on straight okay?”
“Hopefully it will.”
“My Queen, are you ready for a nap?” Cooper asks as he comes into the room.
“Yes I am. Seems Criss has had a change of heart.<
br />
“Glad to hear it.”
“Me too.”
“I love you.” Criss kisses Belladonna quickly.
“I love you.”
Belladonna lays down to go to sleep.
Mercedes comes over to get ready to go out. Belladonna and Mercedes are in
the bathroom doing makeup and hair. Mercedes has put a silencer on the room. “So you invited Sam?”
“I did.”
“Interesting.”
“I’m tired of being pushed to the side because of this or the other. I thought it would be fun for one night.”
“Oh, I bet it would I bet it would be fun for one night.”
“I don’t mean like that.”
“I know but I’m sure it would be. The boy has zero body fat.”
“Yes, I know.”
“I would enjoy having shirtless night with the boy.”
“Maybe we should work that in tonight.”
“From your lips to baby Jesus’ ears.”
“I think jesus has bigger things going on.”
“I think even jesus wants to throw us a bone with everything that is coming.”
“Okay you have a point.”
“Okay you look great.”
“So do you!”
“Let’s go.”
Cooper greets Belladonna at the bottom of the stairs kissing her and whispering in her ear about how hot she looks and how much he loves her. Belladonna says good night to Destiny. Then they leave. Mercedes follows behind with Miller. The club is busy. Criss and Nicolae are already in line waiting for them. Criss sees her and about dies. She is in a cream-colored outfit that is nearly skin tight. Which is set off perfectly by Cooper’s black outfit. They get in line with them. Nicolae hugs them. Just like Criss hugs them. Sam shows up in a black and white outfit and he picks up Belladonna when he hugs her. Roger just hugs them. Cooper does some strange handshake thing with Sam that Criss can’t understand.
They get on the dance floor and begin dancing. Cooper, Belladonna, and Sam all dance together. Criss drinks off to the side and doesn’t let it bother him. Until a song comes on that sums them up. “Belladonna can I have this dance?”
“Sure.”
Belladonna starts dancing with Criss. He smiles at her and she grins. “An undercover romance.”
“Is that us?”
“No. It isn’t.”
“Show me.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Kiss me.”
“Okay.”
Criss goes to kiss her but he can’t. Belladonna notices. “What the hell?”
Easton comes up to him. “I said no.”
“You said as long as it didn’t interfere.”
“I think it’s going to.”
“Then I don’t want to be a teacher.”
“Too late you’re a teacher.”
“I choose her.”
“You what?”
“I choose her.”
Easton smiles at him. “You have to be willing to always choose her.”
“I am.”
“Sometimes though you have to give her up to choose her.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“YOU told me today that I could have her.”
“I changed my mind.”
“I will be damned.”
Criss goes over to Belladonna who is at the bar getting a drink with Cooper. She looks at him and smiles. Criss softly kisses her and then intensifies. He ends the kiss and looks at her. She smiles at him. “Happy with yourself now?”
“Yes I am.”
“I need to go back over and dance with Sam.”
“I want to see you tonight.”
“Have to see how I feel.”
“Okay the cottage?”
“Yes.”
Belladonna goes back over to Sam who is smiling at her. He takes her out to dance alone. He has her tight up against his firm body. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“I’m supposed to be asking you that Sam.”
“I am. Are you?”
“Yes I am.”
“Good.”
“May I make a comment.”
“Of course.”
“You are fit.”
“Would you like to see?”
“Yes, but not here.”
“That’s what I was leading to.”
“Where?”
“I can meet you in the women’s room in five.”
“Okay.”
Belladonna went over to Cooper and touches his hand. Cooper chuckles and shakes his head yes. Belladonna goes into the women restroom where Sam was waiting in the handicap stall. After she enters Sam takes off his shirt. Belladonna kisses his chest. Alternates between kissing and licking his chest. He moans. “God I’ve always wanted you to do that. It feels so good. Your lips and tongue. God. I want your lips on my mouth. You are so turning me on. Is that your nickname for me. Little secret for you. I look like this for you. Hoping it would be what you would want. I work out the way I do and eat the way I do for you. Obviously, I was right. You do like it. Now let me kiss you.”
Belladonna stops kissing him and Sam pushes her up against the other wall. He kisses her. Belladonna finds him to be one of the most amazing kissers. His hands are running all over her body. His hands are on her ass. One hand is feeling how wet she is. She is rubbing up against his hand. Sam puts her panties off to one side and plays with her clit. “Is that what you wanted?”
“Yes Samuel.”
“You’re so wet for me. You are already about to cum.”
“I know I am. I want to suck you.”
“No, you can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“It’s demeaning.”
“Has anyone ever done it before?”
“It was okay for them to do it.?”
“Yes.”
“Let me.”
“Belladonna, it's different with you.”
“Please let me. Please.”
“Yes Belladonna.”
Belladonna cums and then she goes down on Sam. It doesn’t take long for Sam at all. It was like he’d been holding it in for days just waiting. When they were done, they got dressed and Belladonna made sure she looked okay. Belladonna left first and met Cooper at the bar where they got drinks. Criss came over and put his arm around her. He kisses her neck. Sam comes over to the bar and gets a beer. He comes behind Belladonna and kisses her then walks over to Roger. Criss looks over at Sam but then just ignores him. Cooper grabs Belladonna to dance.
It’s a slow song and Cooper is singing the words in her ear. It is about all the places to have sex. It is a very appropriate song for Cooper to be singing. She has closed out the room except for him. “I need to take us a way for a while to do that. How does that sound? Just us. After this clears up we’ll go somewhere.”
“I would love to go away just us.”
“We will I swear.”
When the slow song ended Cooper let go of her. Another slow song came on and
Sam asked her to dance. She said yes. Criss was at the bar and saw it. He didn’t expect another slow song. Cooper went over to the bar. “I’m sorry I didn’t think there would be another slow song.”
“Either did I.”
Sam and Belladonna were dancing closely together. Her head was resting on his shoulder. She was tight up against his body. He sang some of the lyrics of the song to her telepathically. “This is the best night of my life.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m with you.”
“I wanted to be with you.”
“I wanted more.”
“I can’t supply more.”
“I understand that.”
“Do you really?”
“Yes, I really do.”
“Okay. Just making sure.”
“I can live with, be okay with, blessed with what we did.”
“Okay good.”
“Longer would be good.”
“Yes, I ag
ree.”
“I love you, Belladonna.”
“I care for you greatly, Samuel.”
Nicolae stops Belladonna and takes her back on the dance floor. She laughs as they start dancing. “You have plenty of admirers tonight.”
“Nicolae, you would never choose something over me would you?”
“No, I wouldn’t regardless of what it was.”
“It feels like Criss did.”
“Can I be honest?”
“Yes of course.”
“It sort of seems that way.”
“I mean I don’t know if he got tricked into it or what, but it just seems fish.”
“You need to ask Easton.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“If Easton is doing something like that then you need to see what his deal is.”
“You’re right.”
After the song ended Belladonna looked for Easton, she found him on the third
floor watching her. Easton just smiled when she came and stood next to him. Neither of them said anything at first, they just people watched. Cooper and Criss were at the bar together drinking. There was a table of three women checking them out trying to work up the nerve to go talk to them. Nicolae, Sam, and Roger were listening to the band. Sam was looking for her. Nicolae must have told him where she was because her calmed down. “What’s on your mind, buttercup?”
“Will you be honest with me?”
“Unless I have to lie for the upcoming battle or for something for your safety.”
“Is Criss allowed to show me attention or not?’”
“I don’t want him to. He needs to train you. I desperately need him to train you. His focus needs to be on that. You take away from that. I’m willing to see how this works out trying it your way. If it doesn’t work, we go my way. Then when you’re alone you can be normal. Now I can extend it to your house. Cause it is your house. Like I said we’ll see. “
“Did you explain this to Criss?”
“No, I’ll do it now.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Belladonna gets ready to walk away when Easton say something, “You’re getting a girl in the group. Her name is Ruby. She comes from The Society. You will meet her Monday in one of your classes.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
“Don’t open your eyes yet. Let me talk and don’t speak until I’m done. I know if you talk before, I’m done I’ll never get to finish. I decided to be a teacher. I won’t have contact with you in public. It’s the best thing to do for your schooling I know it is. I know you’re upset with me, but I did what I thought was right for us.”
Queen: Part One Page 23