Chapter 51
2012 Words
He jerked away from her abruptly. He felt like he had been hit in the face. But it was neither a slap nor a punch. It was more like a sharp hit with a whip. When he looked at her, she was sitting in the corner of the boxing with her legs tucked under her chin, embracing them tightly with her arms. Her eyes were closed as if she was afraid to open them up. Her slightly parted lips were swollen with kisses. She had already covered her arm.
- I’m sorry. – He whispered in hoarse voice. – Jaysabel! Please forgive me! I don’t know what happened to me!
- You had no right! – She hisses. She stood up nimbly, like a cat.
- You’re right! I shouldn’t have pounce on you like that! – He admitted apologetically.
- You looked into my head! – She said through clenched teeth. – You rummaged in my mind! You stole my memories!
- I don’t know how this happened! – He defended himself. – I would never…
- If you wanted to know, all you had to do was ask! – She jumped on him.
- And would you tell me?! – He attacked.
She backed away sharply. As if he had hit her. He was right. She would not tell him. She left her pain for herself only.
- Baby I’m sorry! – He raised his hands in surrender. – Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt you. I know I did it with my behavior. I pushed you away. I rejected you when you needed me most. I failed you. – He walked over to her, cupped her face and forced her to look at him. – I love you Jay! I know that I caused you pain. And that I won’t change that.
- I wasn’t honest with you. – She interrupted him. – Had it not been for these dramatic events, I probably wouldn’t have told you the truth. I’d chicken out. I hurt you! But it had to be so! I shouldn’t have come near you at all!
- No! – He said firmly. – I’ll find a way! You hear me?! – His hands tightened on her shoulders as she shook her head. – I’ll find some way! I’ll wait for you! You are and will always be mine! – He kissed her lightly.
- Bryan! – Her whisper was almost pleading.
- Have faith in me! – His hand wandered to her shoulder, he pushed back the thin fabric of her blouse, leaned in and kissed the bright scars. Then he moved his lips to her neck and brushed the place where he had sunk his teeth once. – You belong to me! – He said forcefully and kissed her deeply, passionately.
At that moment it struck midnight.
***
When she got back inside, the party was on. It seemed that no one noticed her absence. “Very good!” She stated silently. She did not need any questions, guesses or suspicions. She went over to the bar and gulped down one glass of wine, took another one, and went to find Mel.
She bumped into her a few minutes later. The girl was clearly nervous and she had tears in her eyes.
- What happened?! – Jay asked anxiously.
- Nothing! – Mel contradicted herself. – I want to get out of here! – She grabbed her friend by the hand and pulled her towards the exit. – Can we go to your place? – She asked.
- Of course, honey! – Jay agreed without thinking. She was fed up with this party herself. And then she noticed her brother. – Wait for me in the car. – She asked handing Mel the car keys. – I’ll get Mark’s house keys.
- Okay! – She nodded, and the first tear rolled down her cheek.
Jay waited for Mel to leave the living room and then she walked towards the terrace window where Christian was groping some redheaded girl.
- Have you lost your mind completely?! – She attacked like and eroded bull.
- What’s your problem!? – He snapped back. – Cindy, this is my sister, Jay. – He introduced them.
- Nice to meet you! – The redhead smiled.
- Shut the f**k up b***h! I’m not talking to you!
- Watch your mouth! – Christian warned her.
- How could you?! – She stabbed her finger in his chest. – In front of her eyes!
- What’s your point? She’s with some fuckin David or other Dorian, and it seems she’s very happy! So leave me alone and mind your own business!
- You’re an i***t! – She hissed. – Dumbass!
- Don’t cross the border! – He warned her again.
- And what will you do to me? You’ll fast me with that slutty squirrel? – She waved her dismissively at Cindy.
- Wait a sec! – The girl was indignant.
- I said shut your mouth! – Jay growled. – I thought Carter was an asshole. I didn’t expect that from you! – She turned on her heel and walked away, but after a few steps she looked at her stunned brother once more. – And his name is Drew! Not David or Dorian! But Drew! And his damn fuckin good friend! – She shouted and suddenly all her anger just evaporated. – She was right! I was unnecessarily urging her to come here. Moving from PC to LA was the best decision she had ever made in her life.
- Jay! – He called after her. – Just hold on!
- f**k you Christian! – She showed him the middle finger as she left.
But before she managed to reach the door, she saw the redhead Cindy wrapped her hands around Jay’s brother like tentacles.
- I’m so sorry! – It is not know how many times Jay was apologizing her best friend, but Mel was still apathetic. Withdrawn.
- I’ll go to my room. – She whispered and she disappeared behind her bedroom’s door.
- You wanted well. – Drew handed Jay a cup of coffee. – She’ll recover. She’s been through this once, she can do it again.
- But this time it’s my fault! – She sat down, resigned. – If I hadn’t talked her into this idiotic idea, she’d never have had to watch my brother making out with that b***h!
- Maybe I’m wrong, but your brother reacted like most of the guys! – He defended Christian.
- But he didn’t have to examine her tonsils in front of Mel! – She grimaced in disgust.
- And then? – He inquired.
- You mean when? – She snorted.
- You only left on the third. Something must be happening. – He pointed out with a shrug.
- We couldn’t leave on New Year’s Day! That would be beneath her dignity! And would be evidence of an escape!
- Good point! – He agreed.
- So I took her from there as soon as I could. – She took a sip of her coffee. – Those last few days she spent at her house. Brenda said that she barely left her room.
- And your brother?
- He tried to talk with me. He wanted to explain himself. – She looked at him coldly. – I told him to go to hell!
- He’s your brother! – Drew said a bit shocked.
- Indeed. And I love him. Which doesn’t mean I have to tolerate his stupid behavior.
- Maybe you’ll stay for a few days? – He asked with hope. – I think Mel will appreciate that.
- I’m not so sure, but yes. I’ll stay. – She said.
***
Two days later as Jay came back from her morning training, she found Mel in the kitchen. She was making some pancakes and sipping her morning coffee. The radio was on and she was listening to the latest hits.
- Hi! – She greeted Jay happily. – You want some pancakes?
- Hi! – Confused, Jay sat down in the chair. – With pleasure! – She grabbed a glass of water and gulped the half of it. – I didn’t know that you cook.
- When I have inspiration. – She shrugged. – I woke up this morning and decided that it’s enough of that damn self pity! – She wiped her hands with a kitchen cloth and looked at her friend with a twinkle in her eye. – A painting is waiting for me! I’ve to finish it!
- Fairly! – Jay agreed.
- Besides. – Mel continued. – You didn’t tell me what happened between you and Bryan.
- What?! – Jay choked on water. – What came to your mind? Nothing happened! – In denial, she made Mel even more suspicious.
- Really?! – She shook her head. – You were gone for a long while. I was wondering if anyone else noticed it, but no one commented on that, so I kept it for myself.
- Thanks a lot! – Jay replied sarcastically.
- When you came back, you’re nervous and I showered you with my regrets. I’m sorry! – She grabbed her friend’s hand. – Did Bry hurt you in any way?
- What?! No! - She denied it at once. – We ran into each other in the stable. We talked a bit. That’s all.
- You think I’ll buy it? – Mel asked mockingly.
- And what was should’ve happened?
- Jay! – Her piercing eyesight was worse than red-hot iron. – I won’t be dismissed by any fairy tale!
- It’s nothing! – She assured Mel.
- f**k! I knew it! I’m gonna kill him!
- What?! After all, he did nothing! – Jay sighed with resignation. – He behaved differently. – She admitted finally.
- What do you mean? – Mel pushed on her.
- He was possessive. And a bit brutal. – She said quietly.
- f**k! For f**k fuckin f**k! – Mel cursed very rarely.
- He didn’t hurt me! – Jay assured. – But the way he was talking to me, the tone of his voice, gestures, all this showed great desperation. And obsession. – She explained.
- He’s crazy about you! That’s nothing new. – Mel pointed out.
- I was talking about breaking the spell. – Jay said firmly.
- What are you talking about? – She was shocked. – He mentioned it, but I thought it was all that kind of talk.
- He’ll do it, Mel! – She gave her friend time to absorb this information.
- But it’s impossible, right?! – She exclaimed. – Only you can do it, but you can’t, because you’ll die!
- That’s the theory! – She replied calmly. – But maybe there’s some other way? And if there’s one, Bryan will find it. Sooner or later he’ll break the seal. – She looked into Mel’s eyes. – One day he’ll release his real nature.
She dreaded the idea that by freeing his beast, Bryan would free fire other wolves. And then the lives o Melanie and her sisters will also be threatened.
- Writer
