Afterlife Saga: Afterlife Part 17

"I don't really know what to say," I said, which was the truth.

"Well, you could start with why you didn't tell us that you were working up in the VIP." She was trying to keep her voice calm but I could tell she wasn't happy about being kept in the dark.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I knew how you felt about me working there and I thought it would just make you worry even more." Frank nodded, as he actually knew what was I talking about but Libby noticed and punched him on the arm playfully.

"WHAT! It's true, you have given her a hard time over working there and you would have given her an even harder time if she'd have told you." Frank said sticking up for himself and me.

"Not necessarily," Libby said sulking.

"Come on babe, sorry to say this Kaz, but ever since, you know the "Thing", you have been a bit paranoid over your sister and I can understand why, I really can, but it's time to let her live her life without making things more difficult." WOW this was the longest speech I had ever heard from Frank and it made me want to get up and kiss him! It was sweet the way he defended me and what he was saying was right but my sister hadn't always been like this, it was just ever since she nearly lost me and now she was terrified of it happening again.

Libby didn't say anything, she just pouted and I half expected her to start sucking her thumb!

"Look you know I appreciate everything you guys are doing for me and you were right, this really was the best move for me. And I know that you worry because you love me, I would worry too if ..." I stopped not being able to carry on. I would never ever be able to imagine if it had been Libby instead of me, so I physically couldn't continue that sentence. Libby looked round at me and saw my emotion, and her features softened.

"What I'm trying to say is that I understand, and I just want to start over. I actually enjoy working at the club and with the amount of security I'm sure it's one of the safest places on the planet!" She smiled and I knew that her bad mood had pa.s.sed and the gossip side of her was coming through.

"Sooo, can you explain how on earth you even got that job. Because I'm not being funny but you're the first one in this town to ever do that!" She sat looking at me, like I had achieved some sort of a miracle, when really it was just a case of my being nice to his sister.

I told her the story of when I met Sophia in history and how I had to take some bottles up to the VIP area and that's when she saw me. I told them how she had offered me the job leaving out the part when Draven was rude to me. That wasn't enough for Libby's appet.i.te for gossip so she asked me about the night he brought me home.

"What do you want to know?"

"Well for starters how did it come about, that he would drive you home, I mean that would be like Alan Sugar driving home his cleaning lady after a tough day!" She was so right, but if I couldn't understand why, then how was I going to explain it.

"I don't really know myself, I mean I was outside feeling sick and then he was there."

"What do you mean he was there... you mean he followed you?" Libby said, clearly loving this story.

"NO, no, nothing like that, no I mean why would he follow me? No he was probably just getting some air." She smiled like she had hit a nerve and then looked at Frank making sure he was still listening. That's when I knew the two had obviously been talking about this. She made a gesture with her hand to carry on so I continued.

"So anyway, he found me and then I don't know, just decided to take me home himself." I tried to make it sound light hearted and like it was no big deal but she wasn't buying it!

"OH come on, I need details!" Her hair bounced as she shook her head and I rolled my eyes.

"Like what, that was it, really...he just picked me up and carried me to his garage, we got in his car and he brought me home...end of." I picked up another slice of pizza but Frank responded to the magic work of "Garage" and turned to get in on the act.

"Garage, OK now we're talking, what type of garage? How many cars would you say? Did you recognise any?" Frank had now turned down the volume on the TV to listen to the rest of the story.

"OH I don't know...I guess I saw a couple of red ones that could have been Ferraris but there were loads of them," I said trying to finish off my pizza but Frank was determined to get more information out of me.

"OK, so you saw Ferrari's, what else? And when you say loads do you mean more than ten?" Libby was rolling her eyes and I tried not to laugh at him. He was after all, being serious.

"Umm...more like over twenty, they were everywhere but I don't really remember which ones ...maybe a yellow one...umm, with like a logo of a bull. What are they called?" He smiled and shouted the answer as though we were playing a quiz game!

"You mean a Lamborghini?!"

"Yeah that's it but really I don't remember any others apart from one in its own gla.s.s room but I have never seen one like it before and it looked really old." Frank was close to salivating as he leaned over Libby to get closer to me, so he could hear me better that way.

"Man I would love to have seen that room, I mean that Aston Martin last night, what a machine! What was it like inside? Did he go fast?" I laughed not remembering when I had ever seen Frank so enthusiastic.

"Jeez, what's with the interrogation Frank, give her time to breathe!" Libby said pus.h.i.+ng his big body back up to his own side.

"Aww, come on Lib's, did you not see that car last night, I'm glad I came home early. I asked him what model it was and when he said a One-77 I had never even heard of it, so I did some research on the internet, guess what I found?" He didn't give us time to guess, as he carried on like a stream train.

"Well there's a reason it's called that! Because there are only 77 of them being made! And you'll never guess how much Lib's." He nudged her arm and she winked at me and then turned to him saying "Oooh how much love?" I couldn't help but laugh at her patronizing tone but he didn't notice.

"1.7 million dollars, that's how much was sat on our drive last night! I mean it's a 7.3 litre V12, which means it's got twice as many cylinders as our car!" He looked pleased with himself as Libby whistled at the price.

"Well that's all double Dutch to me!" But he looked upset when I said this. Still I was a bit in awe of the price. I mean why take me home in something that cost so much... It just didn't make any sense!

"You were so lucky, that was like one in a billion type thing!" He shook his head as it was obviously wasted on me but the one in a billion thing I did agree on, but not for the same reason Frank was referring to.

"Anyway let's get back to the more important things, like how did he smell?"

"What! Oh yeah cause that's more important, has he got good body hygiene?" With that Frank turned up the TV and continued to watch football.

"There's one thing I do want to know, is why he drove you home...I mean, him personally?" This was one question I was also asking myself.

"I don't know Lib's but he is known for taking good care of his staff." Frank laughed when I said this and we both stared at him to elaborate on his outburst.

"Yeah I bet he is, ha, ha." He chuckled some more and Libby was shaking her head as though he was some rude naughty little boy.

"Aww come on, isn't it obvious, he has a crush on her!"

"WHAT! I don't think so!" I shouted in disbelief "Why do you say that?" Libby asked not wanting to hurt my feeling but she was clearly with me on this one. Frank sighed as though we were both born yesterday.

"Oh no, he just picked her up into his arms (after she puked I might add) and carried her off to his millionaire's car, drove her back, whisked her up to her bedroom like some b.l.o.o.d.y knight in s.h.i.+ning armour and then called a doctor to come out to check that she was all right, oh no couldn't possibly fancy her, no course not... must be Boss of the frigin' year, that's the only explanation!" Frank laughed again as me and Libby sat in silence gob-smacked.

Then Libby turned to me and said, "Maybe he's right, does seem like a lot of effort to go to for just an employee."

"Yeah and more so for someone who's only second night it was, ha." Frank again seemed pleased with himself at his conclusion but I was definitely not buying it! What the h.e.l.l would a man like that want with someone like me?!!

That night I thought that I would never sleep but thanks to the pills, I was out like a light. And again I had no nightmares and only a few times I would dream. The dreams would be very brief only lasting for a second when I would open my eyes and see that the bird was back and watching me from the window, only this time the bird possessed different eyes, they weren't their usual black ice, they were now glowing purple.

Every morning I would awaken disappointed that I hadn't dreamt of Draven and the days seemed to drag on and on making me more anxious to see him again. I spent Monday doing course work for every lesson so at least I would be on top of things when I went back. Libby had rung the college informing them of my accident and they rea.s.sured her that they would pa.s.s on the message to my tutors. It was just a shame that they couldn't also rea.s.sure me about Reed not getting a guillotine ready for my return. I also had Jack call me seeing if everything was all right. I told him about my fall and he insisted on coming over that night to see me but I made my excuses, telling him maybe another night, as I was still feeling groggy.

Tuesday was a clear day with the sun s.h.i.+ning, enhancing the colours of the trees making the autumn leaves look as if they had been made by the sun. I decided to grab a blanket and do something I hadn't done in years. I sat outside in the back garden and painted the view in watercolours hoping to capture the beauty I saw each day. Painting to me was like riding a bike, a little strange after years of not doing it but as soon as my hand held the brush it was like being reunited with an old friend. When I had finished I couldn't help the tears that ran from my eyes. I used to love art, either creating an image from my mind or painting a view like this, capturing the essence of its purity. It was my escapism. And now it looked like it was once again, only this time it was not from monstrous faces in the crowd. No, this time it was from a face that held an unbreakable part of my heart.

That night the doorbell rang and Libby showed the beautiful Sophia to my room. I was surprised to find her wearing jeans and a hooded sports top rather than her usual glamorous attire. But she still pulled it off, looking as though she was just modelling for a different fas.h.i.+on label, one sportier. She also wore her hair up in a ponytail making her look cute and even more doll like.

"Oh, my brother wasn't kidding when he said it looked bad." The thought of Draven saying anything about me made my lips smile and I couldn't stop them. Even if it was about how bad I looked.

"How are you feeling now?" She walked over to my bed where I was sat reading 'Sense and Sensibility' (seeing as I didn't have any!). I was always amazed watching her as whenever she moved, she always did so with such grace and elegance, it was more like dancing than walking. I was just glad that my room was still tidy since Sat.u.r.day. That had been one of my only saving graces that night. At least he didn't think I was a slob.

"I feel fine, a lot better. You know I could start back to work earlier." She grinned at me knowing it wasn't going to happen.

"Nope sorry, doctors' orders and Dom wouldn't allow it." I loved it when she called him that, it made him sound just like an everyday average guy. And clearly he was never going to be that.

"Here you go, the notes like I promised, oh and you don't have to worry about Reed my brother took care of it." The words were like hot pins piercing my skin!

"Oh no... why did he do that?" She frowned at me as she handed me the pages of notes and printouts.

"Why not? The doctor mentioned you were worried about it and Dom asked me about Reed, so I explained that he could be somewhat difficult." She shrugged her shoulders as if it had been no trouble.

"I just didn't want to cause any more problems for him, after all, he is my Boss and he has done more than enough already, he didn't need to do that as well." I played with the material on my gloves and looked down feeling embarra.s.sed at being the cause of all this fuss.

"Look, you really don't need to worry, he knows you're my friend and well...I don't have many friends, so I guess he's going to be extra protective because of that." Her eyes looked sad and didn't match the smile she put on.

"Well I don't understand how a lovely girl like you couldn't have many friends but I'm glad you're mine," I said in reply and her face beamed at the words.

"That means a lot to me. I have moved around so much and everywhere I go people just want to be my friend because of who I am, not what I am, if that makes any sense?"

"Sure I get it, because of your name." She nodded and I noticed a slight tinge of purple in her eye. I thought it must have run in the family, as it was the same colour I had seen in Draven's that night. We continued chatting about other stuff for about an hour before she had to leave and again she hugged me before she left. This time I hugged her back feeling my body go warm when I touched her skin. She smelled like her brother only the girly version replacing the woody earthy smell for ones of flowers and honey. But again the scent did strange things to my mind making me want to hold on to it as long as I could.

Wednesday was very much the same as Monday as in the weather had gone back to wet and stormy. I also had some more work to do for History but thanks to Sophia, her notes held all the answers I needed, so it didn't take me very long. I would have to thank her for that on Thursday. Only one more day of solitude and I would be a free girl again! I couldn't wait to get out of the house. But more than anything I couldn't wait to get back to the club. I didn't know why but I just felt so safe and warm there, as if nothing could ever penetrate those walls, not even my past.

Jack and RJ paid me a visit in the evening and I told them about my new job. RJ's and Jack's reaction to this were very different.

"Oh my G.o.d that is seriously the coolest news! Now tell me everything!" RJ said as Libby brought us some sodas into the Den where we all sat. On the other hand Jack looked like he was going to throw up, as if he had something foul in his mouth and had to get rid of it.

"Why, when, How?" RJ continued and I told them how it all started but she clearly showed her disappointment that I hadn't told her sooner.

"I thought I was going to turn the job down," I said in my defence.

"You should have!" Jack said with a cool manner but he was clearly upset.

"And why should she have, sounds like a dream job to me." RJ said backing me up.

"Because Keira is too nice to be a slave to the king of sacrifices." He continued as if I wasn't even there and I felt a sudden urge to stick up for Draven. Jack didn't even know him so what was his big problem?

"What's that supposed to mean?" I said getting defensive. But he turned to me and his features softened as he replied.

"I don't mean to be rude when I say this but you don't know what we know...well what I know. There are strange things that happen up there, things that are ...just...just wrong." This sent a s.h.i.+ver up my spine and he noticed my reaction feeling as though he had relayed a clear message to me. But all he had done was add questions to my mind not answers.

"Well why don't you fill me in if I'm obviously so clueless?" I was getting frustrated now and was losing my patience.

"Look I don't want to go into it but just trust me on this, if you stay up there you're gonna get hurt." He said this as he placed his hand on my shoulder as though trying to will me to understand his secret meaning but I was coming up empty. Then they left shortly after that, leaving me more confused than ever before. I mean this was getting ridiculous, I was going to have find out from RJ what happened to make Jack hate them so much because from the way he was acting, it was like I had crossed over and join a fluffy bunny killing cult!

I went to bed still frustrated about what he had said and how I couldn't make sense out of any of it. I was just hoping for the one thing that I really needed right now. My drug. My obsession.

A dream of Draven.

Chapter 21 - h.e.l.lo again.

The next day I woke up after yet another dreamless night but I was more positive when I realised that today I was finally allowed back to work. I got up earlier than necessary so it was still dark and misty outside. I pulled on a big thick sweater and went over to the sit at the window seat. The fog filled the air, covering the forest like another ent.i.ty. It looked thick enough to hold in your hands. I could just make out the silhouettes of the trees only with the fallen clouds that hung around them. It made them look alive.

I sat there thinking about seeing Draven again and I wondered what would happen. Would he talk to me? Or would he just act the same as he had done before that s.h.i.+ft, as if I was just some ordinary plain waitress that was in his way. The way he had been that night was just so out of character, it would be hard to see him go back to treating me like I didn't exist.

The thought gave me an ache in my chest and I circled my arms around myself, as if trying to protect my body from what was yet to come. I was in a no win situation but I had come too far to turn back now. If only I could just walk away from it then maybe I would have a chance at a semi normal life. But my heart had fallen and fallen hard for not just a man but something more. I didn't know how to describe it but when I was with him I felt as though I was under some spell. It was like a Master calling me and I could do nothing but obey.

I remembered back to that night and more often than not I could see it all so clearly but then sometimes it would fade and I would have to concentrate on bringing it back again. Like something was trying to take the memory away from me and I was fighting to keep it. Two Dravens in my mind were duelling it out. There was the dark against light. The Draven that I first met who couldn't even bear to look at me and then the Draven who helped me home and looked at me as though I meant everything to him. I just couldn't put my finger on it but there was something that connected us or connected me anyway. Like a moth to the flame and it was burning me inside.

When RJ beeped her car's comical little horn I had been ready for over an hour. I already had my denim jacket on with a zipped hooded sweater underneath. I had my usual long sleeved top underneath that. Layers were definitely needed today as the temperature had dropped dramatically and it was so cold that when I walked out to the car it took my breath away.

"Hey Kaz... umm that looks better today." RJ looked happy to see me and she couldn't have given me a better compliment.

"Thanks, I'm just glad the b.u.mp's nearly gone so people can stop making a fuss about it." I said as we pulled away onto the main road.

"Oh and I wanted to apologise for my brother the other night, he's just going through some things at the minute and he's just worried about you." She ruffled her own hair as she spoke and I wondered if this was a nervous thing.

"It's ok, but I don't understand the big deal, it's only a job." As soon as I said the words I knew them to be lies. It was never just a job and nor would it ever be.

"Yeah but man what a job! Ok, so now Jack's not here you have to tell me everything, what's it like? Have you met the G.o.d himself yet?"

It carried on like this all the way to my first cla.s.s. There was a constant stream of questions and I had to be very careful how I answered them. I didn't want to give too much away and there was no way I was telling her about what really happened that night. She was freaking out as it was, acting as though I was her new idol. She had even told me that her phone had not stopped ringing since the word got out that the new girl in town had landed the job. She told me about how she was being asked, or better begged, to be introduced to me. When I asked why? She had simply replied, "Because the club is the hottest thing to hit this town for decades and people travel for miles around to go there. And every year people try everything to get a glimpse of the man himself and every year they only get two chances. When he first arrives and when he leaves. This is the first year that they have stayed longer than a couple of weeks."

"How long do you think they'll stay for this time?" I asked as a new fear shot through me. I hadn't realised that this wasn't a permanent thing and wondered how my obsession would carry on without the source.

"How the h.e.l.l should I know, you work there remember, but his sister has started college so who knows, anyway here's your chance to ask her."

I looked through the door to my next cla.s.s and saw Sophia already at our usual seats looking as perfect as ever. It always amazed me whenever I saw her as her beauty was always breath-taking and as always I felt self-conscious. Thankfully Reed had not yet turned up, as we still had five minutes until the lesson started.

As soon as I entered the cla.s.sroom all eyes were on me like a swarm of bees to the hive. It was only Sophia that looked kindly at me and I took a deep breath as I walked up to my seat.

"h.e.l.lo Keira, how are you?" She said softly.

"Hi, I'm fine thanks how about you?"

"Can't complain. The bruising has gone down a lot, that's good." Again these were the right type of compliments, as the last thing I wanted was for Draven to see me that way again. My cheeks flushed at the thought.

"Yeah, its looks better now and the rest I can hide with my hair at least." I pulled my hair to cover my cheek as evidence and she nodded. I noticed the boy behind her was staring at me and taking in every word I was saying. It looked as though he wasn't himself. I remembered the boy from last time and he was one of those types who kept his head down looking bored, with his hood pulled way over his head to hide the headphones in his ears. But now he was fully alert and had a strange tint to his eyes. Was he on drugs? What was his problem?

Sophia noticed me looking and turned to see my line of sight. When she saw the guy she pulled a face I didn't understand but whatever it meant, it had taken effect, as the boy turned back to stare at the front. Only every now and again I would notice his eyes looking back at me. Did he know me from the club? Maybe it was due to the gossip about me that RJ had mentioned earlier.

Reed walked in, followed by a lackey student pus.h.i.+ng a projector. I sighed in relief at the prospect of an afternoon off from Reed's droning voice.

"Today's cla.s.s is about the understanding of observation. You are going to watch this doc.u.mentary on World War 2 and write a paper on your interpretation of the events. I want constructive views on what you think about the issues surrounding the lead up to the breakout of the war."

Everyone in the cla.s.s relaxed as they thought of the same thing. An afternoon off from Dictator Reed! I on the other hand had thought of peace way too soon as Reed called my name.

"Miss Johnson, a moment if you please." The rest of the cla.s.s turned and stared at me once more like I was a freak show. The only one who didn't seem surprised was Sophia. This had been the cla.s.s that I had been dreading and for good reason...for this reason. I got up out of my seat and a hundred eyes followed. I even felt as if I should do a little dance down the steps for all their effort. The film had started and thankfully our conversation would be drowned out by the sounds of fighter pilots and guns.h.i.+ps.