Released by Him [Dark Temptation Book Two]

Chapter 4

Venus

I couldn’t really sleep last night so I decided to wake up early and made some breakfast for the three of us. Oddly enough, Auntie Feli and Nathan hadn’t awakened. I didn’t really question Nathan because usually, Auntie Feli had to wake him up like three times until he finally snapped his gold eyes open. As for Auntie Feli, well, she was always early. She was a morning person. Like a single poke from the sun to her and she opened her eyes immediately. So, this was weird for her hadn’t awakened. Oh, well.

I only made French toast for our breakfast with some cream cheese. 

I had another nightmare again last night. It became too constant lately. The weird thing was…there was no Micah there. Just me and another person who looked like me. What did that mean? No, it meant nothing. I shook my head. “Just a dream, Venus. Just a dream.” I hope it was.

I flipped the toast and cooked it for another minute. Once it was done, I put the cooked two toasts on top of its friends and brought them to the table. When I flipped up my eyes, my heart almost stopped beating. 

Auntie Feli and Nathan were standing at the doorway with Auntie Feli holding a cake. “Happy birthday, Venus!” they said, unitingly.

“W-What?” 

I stopped functioning for three seconds.

Birthday.

My birthday.

What date is it today?

And the realization finally dropped on me.

Oh. My. God.

“You forgot, didn’t you?” Nathan easily asked. I really did. “I told you last night, right? Today is special.” That’s what he was referring to. My birthday.

“Oh, God.” I put down the toast. Tears found their way into my eyes.

“Oh, dear. Don’t cry, sweetie. It’s your birthday. No tears. You’re completely forgotten today is your birthday?” Auntie Feli asked soothingly. 

“I did. I remember it now,” I said.

Both of them had asked what I wanted for my birthday and I already said to not make it too big. I didn’t need anything as long as I had them. But I wasn’t aware that my birthday was nearby already. And it’s today!

Auntie Felia moved forward with her delicious cake. “Make a wish, dear. And make sure it’s something juicy.”

“Felicia!” Nathan scolded.

“What? Girls need to dream big. Go big or go home.”

I giggled and closed my eyes. Praying. Hoping all of this would be over soon and I could return to my normal life. No more nightmares. No more past. And no more…Micah. Opening my eyes, I blew the candles and Auntie Feli put down the cake. I looked at the number. Twenty. The beginning of my new life. And I was officially an adult now. No more doing childish things. No more being reckless. I had to think about everything carefully and what was the best for me. I couldn’t be…that selfish anymore.

Auntie Feli handed me a knife. I grabbed it, slowly cutting the delicious-looking cake. I bet chocolates dominated the taste. Must be Auntie Feli’s doing. She was an excellent baker and all her cake was sinfully tasty. I couldn’t get enough. Nathan had warned me before to not eat a lot because I would gain weight which was…rude of him. 

I cut a single piece and handed it to Auntie Feli first because she was the one who made the cake and she was my aunt. “Aw, thank you, dear.” She accepted and hugged me tightly. “I can’t believe my little Venus has grown so much. Your parents will be so proud of you.” Yes, I hope so. 

Oh, how I wished I could see them. 

I never knew my father but I knew who he was. 

Demetrius, a demon and an incubus. 

And my mother, Claudia, just a normal human being. 

Claudia Skylar. I got my name from her. I didn’t get enough memory about my mother because I only spent my time with her until I was three years old. She died because of a car accident. Wrong time at the wrong place. She was walking home until a car lost control because the driver was heavily drunk and hit my mother. Right after, I was at Auntie Feli’s care, and to be honest, I considered her as my mother more because she had spent the last seventeen years with me. She was the one who witnessed me growing. She was there when I was sad and happy. Sick and healthy. Every time. We loved each other.

I cut one more piece for Nathan.

And then there was Nathan. An angel. Well, half because his father was a demon. Nathan was my guardian angel. Although he was an angel with his beautiful white wings, he was rude as a devil. Not that I didn’t like it but sometimes I hope he would watch his mouth. 

I handed the cake to Nathan. “Thank you, Venus. Happy birthday,” he said while hugging me. Nathan was like a big brother I never had. To me, if I had one, maybe this would feel like. A protective big brother. Yeah, Nathan was very protective. Even when I wanted to introduce Grant to him, I felt like I was dealing with my father instead of a brother. 

And my heart squeezed.

Nathan sensed it and he asked, “What’s wrong?” He pushed himself from me. 

I wiped the unshed tears. “I’m fine. I just…I got remember about Grant.” Two pairs of eyes were looking at me. Oh, no. I couldn’t ruin anything today. I had to smile and be happy. “Um, s-sorry.”

“It’s fine, Venus. It’s normal. It’s never easy to not remember it. But I know Grant is watching you from up there to celebrate your birthday,” he assures while lifting my chin. 

“Do you really think so?” He nodded his head. “Thank you, Nathan.”

“All right. Let’s eat,” Auntie Feli said. “Venus has made a great breakfast for all of us. And we can have the cake as the dessert,” she suggested we took our seats. We ate the toasts first. 

“I’m taking her out today,” Nathan started, pausing me to push the fork inside my mouth. My mouth was half open as I turned to Nathan. “You didn’t hear it wrong, Venus, and you can close your mouth.” I did automatically where Auntie Feli giggled. Nathan had a large spoon of his toast into his mouth and turned to me while chewing. He swallowed and said, “I want to take you out, Venus.”

“Out. You mean, out, like really out?”

“Yes.” 

I gasped immediately. Maybe I could get a heart attack but thankfully I didn’t. It’d been six months since the last time I went out. The last time was after I got away from Micah and went to Grant’s grave.

“It’s just for an hour thought but I hope you don’t mind.”

I shook my head. “It’s more than I deserve.” I threw myself to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you, Nathan. Thank you so much.”

“Well, age really is just a number, huh?” he rudely commented.

“Nathan!” Auntie Feli scolded. I didn’t care about his spicy mouth for now. He was Nathan after all and that would never change. The day when he could give his mouth a little bit of a manner, would be the day where I thought the earth had become flat. 

Right after breakfast with Auntie Feli’s cake as the dessert, as I expected the cake was so good. She stored the leftover in the fridge so we could have another at dinner. She would cook everything so I could enjoy my time with Nathan. 

I returned to my room and immediately went to my wardrobe, scanning what I should be wearing. What would it be? But where Nathan would take me? Probably around town because I had no idea where I was now. It was quite chilly lately. It’s almost winter. I decided to grab a dark blue blouse with a cream sweater. I took a quick shower and wrapped myself in my chosen clothing. I wore some mascara and tidied my eyebrows. I painted my lips with pink lip gloss. That was it. Simple. I looked at myself and my eyes dropped to my hair. It was…longer now. The last time, my hair only reached my shoulder. Now it’s almost reached my middle back.

Back to my old self before Micah abducted me.

For a second, I saw Micah standing behind me. Standing in the corner, wearing his usual black linen shirts. My eyes widened as I turned around and found no one there. 

No. Micah wouldn’t be here. He didn’t know where I was. 

For the past six months, I’d been living my life peacefully here. No Micah poking his nose into my brand-new life. 

Returning my sight to my reflection. Something was missing and I immediately grabbed it from the table. A necklace from Grant with Venus’ sign on it. I wore it around my neck. 

Perfect.

Oh, God. It felt like Grant was right beside me, protecting me. Maybe because of him, I was saved from Micah. And for that, I was grateful to Grant.

Okay, I was ready to go. 

I grabbed my purse and my light brown beanie. Just a precaution so no one would recognize me, especially Micah. One last check to my look before I went downstairs.

Hoping nothing would happen today, not on my birthday.