Tethered Bonds

Chapter 4

POV Zayla

It was a typical Wednesday evening. Chris and I were enjoying dinner at a discreet restaurant that would ensure no co-workers would see us. Chris always manages to reserve a private booth in the back when we come. The food here is incredible, but everything tastes off to me today. It might be my lack of appetite tonight.

Even though I'm with Chris, I feel very lonely. I could just be missing my Father, he had been temporarily assigned to the new Australian branch of Lux and is part of the training crew. He has already been away for a while and I miss him dearly.

“Is everything alright?” Chris says in his deep voice. He noticed I was just picking at my food instead of eating it. I look up to see his steel-grey eyes pierce right through my soul, making me feel as if he can read my thoughts with his gaze alone. At six-foot-one inches, he peered down at me even when sitting. My heart flutters at the feeling of being so small and feminine beside him. At a height of five feet and eight inches, I can feel like a girl version of hulk when standing next to some men.

Chris’s chocolate-colored wavy hair that was still neatly gelled back for work got destroyed as he ruffled it to make his appearance less formal. I never told him that I preferred his loose waves, but it seems he knew my preference based on a body movement I did. That was one of his many natural talents; he was always in negotiation meetings with other companies due to this ability.

I look down at my plate of food, I had barely finished half of it. This was my favorite thing to order and would consume it quickly on any other day. Chris doesn't like me to lie to him over anything, so I chose my words carefully. If I tell him it tastes off he may make a scene and order for them to make it again.

“I just miss my father, ” I say while I stare at the plate. Chris relaxed after hearing my confession. He finishes chewing his food before he replied.

“I see, he will be back soon. How am I to face him if he sees you are just skin and bones? I promised him I take care of you,” he says while keeping a straight face with no hint of humor. I, on the other hand, lightly chuckle.

“Like you fear my father, ” I say as I begin putting food on my fork. My Father looked massive to me as a child but he was a wiry man and four inches shorter than Chris, with no training in fighting. Chris had a black belt in several martial arts and was a wrestling champion his senior year. Just having them stand next to each other, it was apparent who the winner would be in a fight.

“He is the only man I am afraid of, ” Chris replied, still keeping the ominous tone while swirling around his wine glass before taking a sip. I look back up to him and see the truth in his silver aura with shards of diamonds.

“Why?” I say softly, almost too afraid to ask.

“He is the only person that can keep me away from you, so I want to stay on his good side.” His lip pulled to the left side to give his signature smirk that I love so much. I giggle as I grab my glass of water.

“I doubt you need to worry.” I take a sip and make a mild sour face. They gave me lemon-flavored water instead of regular. I gulp the sip quickly and sit the glass back down.

I noticed that Chris has already finished his meal as he continues to sip his deep crimson wine. Feeling bad that he is now waiting on me I attempted to chew a few more bites.

“Here,” Chris says and he leaned towards me, grabbing my fork from me. He began to put small amounts of food on the silverware and proceeded to put the food in front of my mouth. I feel my eyes grow wide as I look around the restaurant, already feeling flushed from what he is doing. I'm not a thin girl, not big either most of my clothing is a size medium so I'm not sure why he is doing this.

I know he will pester me until I submit so I cave, letting him feed me several more times. Then he handed me my water.

"Drink it." His look was stern but still playful. I quickly gulp it down regardless of the sourness of the lemon.

“There, now I can rest knowing I fed you a meal tonight, ” he says with his crooked handsome smile.

“I suppose, ” I say with sass to let him know I think he is over exaggerating. Chris had warned me that he had a dominant personality when it came to romance. He was slowly introducing me to this in our relationship so I didn't get overwhelmed. I hadn't told him I was fully aware I was a submissive person. I had read plenty of romance novels and found myself excited about being controlled. Just because I thought I like it doesn't mean I was ready to jump into the deep end. I wanted to keep going at this pace for a bit longer.

“Ready for movie night at your place?” Chris says while paying for the meal.

“Yes!" I say with excitement, we hadn't had a chance to cuddle up and watch a movie for a bit. I place the tip on the table, Chris gave me a look that sent me shivers.

"I pay." He states as he hands my money back to me.

"You did. I'm leaving the tip this time, you spend too much on me." I say pushing the money back to the center of the table. Most guys would jump at a chance to have a girl that helped pay for dates, not Chris. Maybe that was part of his dominant side?

"I pay to show I can provide for you and that you are mine,” Chris whispers so no one overheard our conversation. I shivered when he said I was his.

I never thought of it that way before, but wouldn't that mean I should do the same for him? I decided to save the arguing for another day and take my money back.

We get in his car and he takes off to my apartment. We are listening to music in the car and I began to feel sleepy. The music in the car starts to have a repetitive beeping, that sounds familiar.

"Your...m...ittl...it" A voice that sounds rough and deep is mixed along with the beeping sound. Was that Chris's voice? What was he saying? My eyes felt heavy to keep them open.

Beep..Beep..Beep..Beep..SMASH

My hand came crashing down on my phone as the alarm goes off. I groan before I flip over to see the time. Looking at the window, it is pitch dark outside still. No light, no photos. I set another timer to go off later and lay in bed daydreaming. I like to daydream for a bit in the morning, I think it's because I either can't dream or don't remember them. Daydreaming gives me the mental recharge I need.

It's still colder than a freezer in this b&b room without being under the blankets. While adjusting the sheets my eyes widen after noticing a lot of blood on them. Immediately I look at my arms, my sleeves had been pushed up and my bare arms have been scratched harder than ever.

The damage was done on the sheets so I just go back to laying down to finish my daydream before my next alarm goes off.

After getting ready for the day, I make sure to wrap an extra layer of gauze on my arms before putting on my shirt. I try to stay fashionable since I represent a successful business but I grabbed my warmest clothes and it's not winning any awards for aesthetics. It's too cold for me to care about fashion. I had put on two mismatch shirts, leggings, and a pair of jeans. If I could keep adding I would but my clothes needed to go up a size to fit now.

I make my way down to where breakfast is served. I can hear someone humming and the clacking of dishes being moved around. It felt weird just walking down here to eat after witnessing a birthday party in the same area last night. What startled me more was that all the decorations were already down and spotless. I hope someone helped the elderly owner out a bit, there were a lot of decorations.

I'm staring at the artwork on the wall near me when the owner noticed my presence.

“Sorry hun, my senses aren't what they used to be. Come, sit sweetheart.” She came over to me just like last night and grabbed my arm, hooking it to hers while dragging me to a nearby table. Her aura surrounded me and brighten up my mood immensely.

“Thank you, ” was all I managed to say while I picked a chair to sit in it. As I sat, I looked around the table to see if there was a menu but couldn't find one. I was surprised when the owner sits down in the chair next to mine.

“What would you like deary?” She says as she clasps her hands together and keeps them on the table waiting for my answer.

“Whatever your guests enjoy the most will be fine, ” I say with a smile. I'm not a picky eater and have no allergies so I can eat whatever she cooks.

The elder lady begins to laugh quite loudly but it was very pleasant to listen to.

“Oh, sweetheart, anything Gran-Nan makes is always wanted. I'm cooking for you deary. What sounds good to you?” She emphasized the word ‘you’ both times. I stop for a moment and think back to something I hadn't had in a long time.

“Would pancakes with chocolate gravy be too much trouble?” Mom used to make homemade chocolate gravy with pancakes every Saturday morning and we all watch cartoons while chomping them down. Not sure why I was craving them, maybe the cold weather is causing me to crave carbs.

The elderly lady’s face grew very wide and she started to chuckle under her breathe.

“I knew I liked you.” She says as she lightly pats my hand. She gets up and tells me it will be a few minutes before my food will be ready. After she enters the kitchen I pull my phone out to see if I had any signal, no luck.

I place my phone down and start to look around while seated. The walls were plastered with many paintings that had been covered up by the party decorations last night. They all had a similar style to them, I bet they are from the same artist.

I was still gazing at one of the paintings when I hear the sound of high-heeled shoes lightly clacking across the hardwood floor.

"Good morning, are you new to the area?" A voice that was sweet, soft, and angelic asked next to me. I turn to see who had approached me but jumped a bit from seeing her aura, it looked disturbing. Bright red crystal swords were stabbing her through the heart in all directions and protruding through the other side. I couldn't even count how many ruby crystal swords there were, defiantly more than fifty. They all were different shapes, styles, and sizes from daggers to double edge long swords. She had a grey aura with a teal shimmer to it that was circling her torso. Then a normal glow-light of a purple berry shade with transparent bubble-like spheres floating in it.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to startle you." She says with her sweet tone. I focus on her eyes and smile back at her.

"That's alright, I was just lost in my thoughts," which was true. All I can think about is how painful that looks. In all my life I have never seen an aura do that. For once I was glad I don't dream, I would most likely have a nightmare tonight.

"I got in late last night," I say before I got lost in my thoughts again and forget her question.

"I've been here for a few months, the community is wonderful and welcoming." She says with an upbeat attitude. I begin to chuckle lightly. The lady looks confused at me.

"Sorry, if you saw how I was first greeted last night you would understand," I say remembering the men.

"What do you mean?" She says with a worried expression.

"I walked in while a family was preparing for a surprise party and I got very intimidating glares that look like they were about to attack me." Before the lady has time to say anything I heard a few dogs growling from another room.

"The owner has dogs?” I say looking towards the sound excitedly.

"I...um... yeah." The lady says shakingly with her eyes wide with worry.

"You afraid of dogs? Don't worry, I can make sure they won't mess with you." I say with confidence, I always could get along with any dog I met. I hear her start to laugh shyly.

"That's ok, I like dogs too."

With that, I relax back in my chair and she finally sits in a chair across from mine at the table.

"My name is Jasmine." She says while making direct eye contact with me.

"Nice to meet you, Jasmine. I'm Zayla." She pauses for a moment lost in thought as I see an electric zap leave her head going through the wall before she continued talking.

"That's a pretty name." She said somewhat sadly. I notice that a couple of the swords started shaking slightly from her chest.

"Yours too," I say softly. The swords stop moving and she looks up at me.

"What do you do Jasmine?" I ask trying to move the conversation.

"Not much yet, I graduated college this year and I'm looking for a place to settle." She says while starring at the table.

"What did you graduate with?"

"Math" Was all she said, the bubble spheres in her normal aura were rattling. I guess she doesn't want to talk about that. I'm thinking of how to switch the subject when she broke the silence.

"What do you do?"

"I'm a photographer for Lux."

"What..you mean THE Lux?" Jasmine says while her eyes slightly bulge. I nodded to her question.

"Is that why you are here?"

"I am. I was assigned to take photos of the wildlife in this area. After eating I plan on going out and looking for places with a lot of wild animals. Do you have any spot you recommend?" Having someone that knows the area will help me cut wasted time driving. It looks like she is deep in thought again as I see another zap leave her. I wait patiently for her reply and see an electric zap touch her before she replied.

"There is a pine forest that stretches around half the town.

I think there are some good spots about 5 miles east from here."

"Perfect, thank you! I will go look over there first." Jasmine keeps her sweet smile but I can tell that she is sad about something. It looked like she was about to speak but she stopped herself and got lost in thought again.

I look down at my phone to see if there was any signal up. Still down.

"Jasmine, is the cell signal in town normally bad? My phone has had no signal shortly after I arrived." I say, still staring at my phone.

"What?" Jasmine replies with a confused tone.

"I've had no signal within an hour of being here," I say to her holding my phone up. She stares at it blankly for a few seconds before realizing what I said. She pulls out her phone and looks at the signal on hers. A few more electric zaps go back and forth from the wall and her.

"Oh, that happens sometimes. It usually comes back within a day." She then places her phone back in her purse. I'm glad to know that it will be up soon. I set my phone back on the table.

Before either of us could start another conversation, the owner came back with two plates stacked with pancakes.

"Here you girls go." She then places a gravy saucer with chocolate gravy next to my plate and corn syrup next to Jasmine's. Along with an elegant design copper coffee pot with matching cream and sugar set. It was very polished but based on the style it gave away how old it was, maybe passed on from generation to generation.

"Thank you Gran-nan" says Jasmine while picking up her silverware that matched the copper coffee pot. I look at Jasmine in surprise that she addressed the owner as Gran-Nan, she said she wasn't from here.

As the elder owner was pouring my coffee, I was figuring out how to properly address her. I'm unaware of her actual name and just calling her a grandma nickname without permission was out of the question. Would she be offended if I said 'Mam'? She doesn't look like the type that liked that title. I wasn't done with my thought as she placed the cup in front of me.

"Thank you," I say. Not knowing what else to do, I mimic Jasmine and begin to pour my gravy over my pancakes. The owner watched as I cut into the steamy fluff golden disks and took a bite. I couldn't believe myself when moans came out of my mouth from the nostalgic taste. It reminded me of some of my happiest memories with my mom. I didn't have much time to cherish the moment as the dogs in the other room started growling again.

"Gran-Nan, your dogs seem to be hungry they have growled earlier as well," Jasmine says with a bit of fear in her voice. Gran-Nan looked confused for a moment and then her cheeks popped up from her smiling again.

"Oh sorry, I think they are a bit on edge from everyone at the party last night. That or they smell the meal out here and it's teasing them." She proceeds to chuckle lightly as she leaves.

"I'll go see what I can do about them." That was the last thing she said before disappearing through the swinging door. Shortly after, we can hear her yelling at her dogs while laughing.

"You two. Stop with the growling or...” She had to stop talking due to laughing.

“Or I'll get you both fixed." She then proceeds to laugh historically before there was silence.

We enjoy our meal for some time in silence. Jasmine spoke up after another zap hits her head. I guess I'm seeing her thinking, I need to travel far away more often and see if auras change drastically like this.

"What city do you live in to be able to work for Lux?" She said with a mouthful of pancakes, somehow it was adorable when she did it. I would look unattractive if I attempted it. I finished eating before answering.

"Brumill, Florida," I say while slicing another bit size piece of pancakes.

"Whoa! That's pretty far from here." She says after gulping her food down.

"Yeah, it required quite a lot to get here." I already don't look forward to traveling back, it was not going to be enjoyable.

"Do you have snow in your town?"

"Oh no. It's very warm most of the year." Thank goodness my father stayed in Florida, I have quickly determined I dislike winter.

"That would explain it," Jasmine says with food in her mouth while cutting more pancakes.

"Explains what?" What is she talking about?

"Your clothes." She says nonchalantly. I look down and remember how horribly dressed I was.

"Oh! Normally I'm dressed nicer than this. Don’t judge this look, it's not Florida's fashion." I say half-jokingly while trying to hide my embarrassment. I guess what I said amused her as she attempts to shake her head while trying to swallow a big bite.

"No, I meant how thin the material is." She said while touching the sleeve of my shirt.

"Oh." I looked at my sleeve as she pinched it. "This is the thickest one I own."

"You need warmer clothing if you're going to be outside for a while."

"Is there a*****e in town that I can go and get some thicker clothes?" I say hopefully.

"There is, but you can just borrow my spare clothes for today if you want, we look like we are similar in size."

"Really? Thank you!" That would get me time to look around the forest for good lighting locations for today. Then get clothes this afternoon.

Once we both finished eating, we went back to our own rooms. I had gathered everything that I needed for the day. I heard a knock on my door and opened it to find Jasmine holding a few clothes.

“Cell signal is back up,” she says cheerfully while trotting in. I look at my phone and see I have

signal again.

Jasmine was a bit curvier than me in the bosom area. Which worked perfectly to fit over my existing shirts. She gave me her thick synthetic brown fur jacket that went down to my knees. She was one size bigger in shoes than me, I layered a few socks in my feet to help them fit better. After getting dressed I took a moment to pause and breathe.

"What's wrong?" Jasmine says while sitting on the bed.

"This is the first time I felt really warm since being here," I state blissfully, my toes no longer felt numb. I hear Jasmine snicker at my reaction.

"Glad I could help." She gets up off the bed and heads to the door.

"Will you be leaving town soon?" I ask and she turns around quickly and answers abruptly.

"Most likely tomorrow." Her reply brings sadness to her face again.

"I'll make sure to have these back at your door or I can leave them with the owner." I want to make sure I get everything back to her before she leaves.

"Thank you, you can just leave them with Gran-Nan." She turns quickly and walks out of the room.

I finish getting ready and I head out to the car to check out the forest.