Lust in the Moonlight

Chapter 8

                                                                                Seraphina Farris

            “She is going to be asking for people’s autographs and taking coffee orders, maybe run a little shoe shine business on the side” Mr. Lennox’s crude jokes echoed throughout the villa and attacked me from when I first stepped into the entry hall of Renya’s luxurious villa. Becoming the laughing stock among the most influential and powerful people where I work bruised my confidence.  My body suddenly became frozen with fear and self doubt. Renya’s housekeeper looked at me with a sympathetic look, it’s all she could do. Standing there clenching onto my clutch made me think about how I didn’t belong, these people effortlessly threw jokes on my name, as if I was only invited to be their punching bag for the evening. 

            My cheeks burned, the incoming tears itched behind my eyes pleading to make an escape. I thought about my parked car, and how it could save me from this. I thought about my tears leaving trails on my face ruining my makeup, how satisfying it could be to tear off this dress and drown in my bed sheets. A sharp inhale burned my mouth as I took a step back, immediately the housekeeper turned in my direction. I’ve known her as long as I have known Renya. Krista, she was a nice sweet woman in her early fifties. 

            “Please don’t leave, don’t give them that satisfaction. I see you, and all the hard work you do when you are here. You are a very hardworking woman. You have every right to be here, more than others..” She said closing in the space between us, urgently she fanned my eyes drying the tears that were becoming more apparent. A nervous laugh came from my lips, of course the easiest thing to do was to run away and cower in shame and embarrassment, but Krista was right I wouldn’t dare give them that satisfaction. This isn’t grade school, if you were going to talk badly about me, be bold enough to say it to my face. Krista grabbed a hold of my shoulders and gave me a reassuring squeeze before pulling away from me. I collected myself, tapping the corners of my eyes with my finger tips ridding myself of any hint of emotion. 

            “Seraphina is a smart kid, she has a lot of potential. She is my plus one and is going to help me conduct business transactions to help benefit this company so refrain from your condescending jokes” I heard when I approached the entrance of the living room. I stood in Renya’s hallway staring at portraits she had taken of herself. Knowing that at least one person was by my side tonight eased my nerves, a smile emerged on my lips, Krista looked towards me, I nodded my head signaling that I was ready.

            “You look amazing, just absolutely breathtaking, I almost didn’t recognize you!” Renya said pulling me into a tight hug, the warmness of her embrace eased the cut that was made by the hurtful remarks her colleagues were making about me. It was astonishing how these people were once bashing me, and now surrounding me eager to introduce themselves. All except for two. Renya was introducing me to the occupants of the room and while conducting a reluctant conversion with Charles Kayn, a higher up who worked in the Lennox stock market and had a seat on the board of directors, I couldn’t help but notice Isaiah and Mr. Lennox in the corner having a hushed discreet conversation. Mr. Lennox had his back towards me, and Isaiah was facing him, his face was stern but small traces of fear and anxiousness were detected. Mr. Lennox put his hand up to his head, Isaiah then placed a hand on his shoulder before urging him in a direction away from the group. The last thing I wanted was to get caught trying to eavesdrop on their conversation, so unfortunately all of my attention went back to Charles, who was dangerously eyeing my neckline.

            “It’s such a shame that we have never met before, but now that we have I certainly won’t forget a pretty face like yours” Charles has light brown hair and matching eyes, from his appearance, I would guess he was in his late twenties or early thirties but flirted like a sexist eighteen year old boy. His hand reached out to cup my shoulder as he excused himself from the conversation, as he did he brushed his body up against my arm, inching his lips close to my ear.

            “Save me a dance..” I could almost gag, my leg twitches with the excitement of kicking him in his manhood, but I was Renya’s guest and I couldn’t make a fool out of her with creating such a scene. My body shivered with disgust as he walked away, right at that moment Isaiah approached me changing the tone of his face. He held his arms out with a widening grin on his face, all I could think about was how he remained quiet while standing in a room while people trashed me, for now I would put that thought aside, but I wondered if he did not think at all to defend me.

            “Oh my God, baby you look stunning” Isaiah placed his hands on my hips and pulled me in closer to place a kiss on my lips. I wanted to be mad at him but I couldn’t ignore how flattering he was. When I pulled away from the kiss, I gave him a small smile while eyeing him from head to toe.

            “You do too” I breathed in looking at his well groomed, simple appearance. Isaiah kept me close and fully dove into conversation about his excitement for the ball. While I was focused on what he was telling me, my interest kept on drifting back to him and Mr. Lennox hauled up in a corner having a secret conversation not too long ago. Occasionally my eyes would drift searching for Mr. Lennox, but he wouldn’t be in sight. Luckily Renya picked up on Mr. Lennox’s absence and dashed over to Isaiah. At times I felt like we could read each other’s minds.

            “Isaiah, where the hell did Mr. Lennox go?!” She screeched in a hushed tone, refraining from smiling, I pressed my lips firmly together with the same question and looked at my boyfriend with a raised eyebrow. Nervously Isaiah looked from Renya to me with a dry mouth and suspicious body language.

            “Well he, um, he needed a moment, n-nerves have gotten the best of him-” Isaiah looked off in the direction Mr. Lennox had disappeared while scratching the back of his neck, his eyes shined with nothing but pure fear. It was as if he was hiding something, Isaiah wasn’t a good liar and he knew that, so whatever he was trying to cover up-

            “Limos are outside, let’s go” Shocking everyone with his sudden reappearance, Mr. Lennox strided across the living room headed to where I first came in. Everyone stood there baffled for a few moments wondering where Mr. Lennox had gone. Cautiously, both Renya and I looked at Isaiah whose nerves completely diminished. Leaving no trace of guilt or fear, Isaiah grabbed my hand.

            “Let’s go shall we?” Isaiah already began to pull me towards the exit, before he hauled me away Renya and I exchanged looks of concern. Had the anticipation of the gala already gotten to Mr. Lennox?

            The attending guests were watching the numerous limousines stroll up Renya’s driveway. The sun was still shining bright in the sky, but showed signs of retiring to the night. The guests around me were jumping with excitement but I was once again consumed by my nerves. The limousines were a crisp white, shining in the sun rays as they approached the group. They were long, opulent, and served as our chariots to take us away to an evening unknown. 

            All the guests were required to leave their car keys to a designated chauffeur that would drive our vehicles to the manor. I was skeptical, I don’t let anyone drive my dear car, but if I didn’t I would have no other way home and I wouldn’t let Isaiah trick me into staying the night with him. Reluctantly I gave up my keys with hope that it would be transferred to the manor in one piece.

            In a short string events that happened in quick flash, I ended up in a limousine with Renya, Isaiah, and Mr. Lennox. Of course I was happy I didn’t have to hide with strangers, certainly not that sly fox Charles Kayn. Coupled up we sat on opposite ends of the vehicle, there wasn’t much talking going, so I fixated my eyes on the window and the passing buildings. I watched the people, wondering what they could be up to on this fine day. I pondered about the cars that we shared the road with and what their possible destinations could be. We drove past food shops and I was curious about their main dishes and how it tastes. I dedicated all of my attention to small insignificant things because I wouldn't dare give myself the opportunity to get distracted by the presence I’ve been trying to ignore since he came into my sights. Unfortunately, all it took was a simple glance away from the window.

            The crushed velvet wine red suit did his complexion justice. The lapels on his suit were black, underneath his suit was a radiating white button down being securely held up with a black tie. It enraged me that he looked, well, attractive. He looked the same but somehow emitted a different energy. He had also succumbed to the moving objects outside his hand over his mouth gently rubbing his upper lip. The other hand clenched in a tight fist in his lap. Maybe he was nervous.

            “Earth to Seraphina?” Renya’s voice alerted everyone in the limousine. Mr. Lennox snapped back into reality, when he did, his eyes landed on me. Mr. Lennox didn’t shoot me down with an ice cold glare, his hand dropped from his mouth, and he leaned back into his seat. It was like he was punishing me, after catching me stealing so many glances. This look was different from all the other’s he had given me before. When his eyes broke away from mine, I could feel his stare travel down my neck. My heart picking up a million beats per minute, a sharp inhale to my mouth, like I was on fire. The heat that I felt was enticing, arousing but at the same time deplorable. Somehow, like he was in my mind Mr. Lennox sensed my guilt, and was pleased by it, a smirk came to the corner of his lips when he traced his eyes back up to mine.

            “Babe?” Isaiah placed his hand on my thigh releasing me from the trance I was put in. Freezing cold water was thrown over the fire that was igniting inside of me. My eyes tore away from Mr. Lennox’s and onto the man whose touch didn’t do anything for me. There is no way I just thought that. 

            “Yes, Yes! Right here sorry..” A smile pressed my lips while looking between Isaiah and Renya. They both looked at me with concerned expressions but I eased them with a laugh, I just needed to shake off whatever that was, and a little bit of alcohol.

            “You’re going to do great Seraphina. Trust me, you’ll impress everyone, even Mr. Hard-headed himself” Renya did nothing but encourage me and I loved her for it, that she was the one person who was truly on my side. The two of us exchanged smiles, and held each other’s gaze. Our moment was intimate and precious, but someone clearing their throat interrupted it. Mr. Lennox, who grabbed the attention of everyone in the car, clenched his jaw and turned his attention back out the window. 

            “I doubt it” He spat viciously. As if I was being strangled, my breathing halted. My hands gripped onto my clutch trying to control the blood raging through my veins. Isaiah sighed deeply remaining silent but Renya made her frustrations known, she nudged Mr. Lennox, who wasn’t bothered at all by his harsh attitude.

            “Malachai, if you aren’t getting paid for it, don’t try so hard. There is no way you’re being a d**k for free, if that’s the case, you’re being robbed..” Renya hissed with a playful grin on her lips. She looked at me and winked. The tension in my body suddenly eased, leaving it to Renya to be my knight in shining armor because obviously Isaiah couldn’t handle the task of doing so.

            “He isn’t always like this-” Isaiah leaned in close to my ear and whispered gently. Right now I didn’t want to be anywhere near him. There were two occasions where he did nothing to defend me, he just stood in the presence of someone trashing me. Now he was trying to excuse Mr. Lennox? My patience was wearing thin. Maybe Granny and Kennedy placed doubt in my mind and now I couldn’t shake it. My hand grabbed onto Isaiah’s hand that was resting on my thigh and brushed it off.

            “Yeah, whatever..” Cutting him off, having no care what explanation he could have to dismiss Mr. Lennox’s harshness towards me, I brought my attention back to the outside. Isaiah made no attempt to talk to me afterwards, and once again the limousine was silent.

            I have never visited Lennox manor, but I saw it in magazines and heard people rave about it. Most people would call the manor of Gatsby, there were rumors circulating that Mr. Lennox was the modern day reincarnation of Jay Gatsby himself. Although the rumors were absolutely foolish, Mr. Lennox hosting these yearly parties didn’t really help put an end to those rumors. Being able to set foot in Lennox manor made me feel like I was stepping into a novel.

            The limousines ventured deep into the forest, far away from the city and civilization. At first thought the driver had made a wrong turn, but no one else seemed to be panicking or sharing my doubts. So I kept quiet and resumed watching the passing endless evergreen trees. The time made me think if I was truly prepared to be Renya’s right hand woman for this event. I did impeccable research on the list of attendees, but God knows what could happen in person. All I wanted was to prove everyone wrong, especially that infuriating man who sat a few feet in front of me. That drive was the only thing stopping me from jumping out from this vehicle and hitchhike back to the city.

            Suddenly the limousine came to a sudden stop. I blinked out of my mind and was astonished by what was sitting outside. I didn’t wait for the chauffeur to open the car door. Everyone in the car was gathering their items, so this must be our location. Eagerness possessed by body and I opened the car door. Once I stepped out of the limousine I was captivated by my surroundings. 

            In the middle of the circular driveway was a fictitious-like fountain with carved mermaids and fishes pouring water from their mouths. The manor stood there completely untouched by nature and ravishing as if it had seduced the surrounding greenland, like it was dominant.  It stood there as if brought out from the fairytale story of a child. It was flawless. The grey and brown stones were its walls, the kind of stone that reflects sunlight delightfully welcoming it’s guests. My neck aches having to look up at Lennox manor where the roofs touched the sun dying sky. It's windows were as wide as eyes, large to welcome any ray of sun or streaks of moonlight. The manor was never ending, in size, height or shock factor. Guests and their dates on their arms littered out of the vehicles and into the courtyard with their fanciest and luxurious attire with the same excitement I did, but everyone was ecstatically moving towards the stairs, the double grand glass doors that stood there if it were an invitation to a new adventure, a new challenge, or a tragedy, either way the people were hooked, and so was I. 

            “Lennox Manor in it’s everlasting glory..” Renya breathed as she stepped out of the limousine, she pulled me out of my adoration for the place. I looked at her coughing out a laugh. This place is absolutely unbelievable and right out of a movie.

            “This place is extraordinary” I shook my head not being able to believe that I was actually here. Renya smiled big and hooked her arm with mine, we began walking across the cobblestone driveway and towards the bottom of the stairs.

            “Just wait until you see the inside..” She said leaning in close to me, I laughed eager to start my new adventure. I turned to see if Isaiah would be walking with me but there was no sight of him or Mr. Lennox. My mouth opened insisting we wait for them but Renya had shook her head.

            “The boys demanded privacy so it’s just you and me, besides Malachai is going to be doing a solo grand entrance. Come on, there is so much to see!” Like two little girls trapped in a storybook we giggled and ventured up the stairs with increasing speed, ready to start this blissful exciting evening.

                                                                            Malachai Lennox

              After requesting privacy, Renya scoffed and left the limousine with a childish attitude. It just left Isaiah and I, he quickly closed and locked the car door before bringing himself closer to me. Putting in the contacts was to only conceal my true nature from others, but I had no way of keeping me and the beast clashing for power from within me.

            “He wants control, I don’t know how long I can hold out. He isn’t going to stop until he is out” I said in deep heavy breaths, my fingers latched onto my tie and I pulled it loose. Feeling like I couldn’t breathe and my skin was weakening trying to resist being powerless.

            “It’s gonna be harder with the full moon tonight, you only have a few hours, at this rate, if you keep using all your strength, by sundown you won’t have any fight in you. God knows what he’ll do around all these guests” Isaiah said, he was right. I already dreaded the thought of hosting this ball, I should’ve paid more attention when Renya was choosing the date of the gala. Isaiah rubbed the bridge of his nose equally frustrated as me.

            “Why does he want to come out so early? He knows he’ll have the night all to himself..” Isaiah asked me a question I knew the answer to, but I wouldn’t dare answer it. In the limousine on the way here, the other side of me was able to come out just for a few moments, to truly look at Seraphina, and now he has his sights on her, he wanted her in every elicit way. I stared back at Isaiah with guilt eating me up. When are we going to tell him that we want to f**k his girlfriend? My head c****d to the side with his thoughts poisoning my mind, my jaw tightened and I groaned lightly trying to rid those devious thoughts from my being.

            “I think you should let him out-” Isaiah stated nodding his head firmly, his eyes were elsewhere as if conjuring a plan in that head of his, but I already hated where he was going with this thought.

            “No!” I interjected, refusing to hear him out. Let’s hear him out, Don’t I get a vote too? I could feel his smirk widening from inside of me. Isaiah placed his hands on my shoulders trying to ease the anxiety pumping through my blood.

            “You let him now, keep your human form, but he’ll control your mind. It’s that or he’ll keep fighting you and we’ll have a werewolf problem on our hands by six-thirty. Your pack is coming tonight right? They will look after you, and I will too, promise” Isaiah said, the thought of letting that ratchet beast out to control me and my human form disgusted me, but it was the only way to stay concealed from the public. There wasn’t much deliberation, I yielded from the fight and-

                                                                                         Kai

            “I don’t know what you’re up to, but you better f*****g behave..” Isaiah barked, his vile behavior would confuse me to think he was one of us, no, he was just an irritating human who discovered Malachai’s secret after a sloppy night. My head shook delicately as I readjusted my tie to it’s flawless form. Paying no mind to the savage human.

“It’s nice seeing you too Isaiah. I’ve been good, thanks for asking. I just want to have a little fun, is that too much to ask?” Sooner or later I would ditch this mundane, and claim what has sparked my interests. Seraphina.