Bonded: Gaja and Kitra Wes and Harper

Haunted Past

Twenty years had passed but their bond as Kitra and Gaja hadn't seemed to fade at all. It was the first real drink Wes had taken since he saw her last. He had committed to his life on supplements but the sweet nectar of Harper's blood was more rejuvenating than decades in supplements.

Harper sat up and brushed her matted hair from her face. She had to take in several deep breaths before she was able to breathe at a normal rate. Wes laid in the large, King sized, victorian bed, with his arms behind his head. He had tried hard to forget the past pain between them. He wasn't about to spoil the moment by bringing up any ghosts. For the time being, he would just enjoy each moment as it passed.

Harper wasn't so ready to run off to happily ever after. She had a physical magnetism towards Wes but her will power was greater.

"Twenty years, Wes. You've been here all this time?" They hadn't always been in Florida but the fact that they both landed in the same city and state couldn't be a coincidence.

Wes frowned and glanced over at her. Harper really had seemed to forget the way things ended, how things might have been for him since, the pain she had caused him. He didn't want to turn that corner. Wes wanted, no needed, to stay in the moment.

Wes sat up behind Harper and brushed her hair from her bare shoulder and placed his hands in either side. He dug his knuckles into the hard muscle below her shoulders. Harper wanted to protest but it was something she needed. Wes's hards had also been so strong but gentle with her. She had once seen him take down a whole rival gang by himself. His training was top notch- as if his biological, scheming, evil father would have had it any other way.

"You're not going to distract me from this conversation. We can't ignore each other for years on end, end up in bed together, and honour separate ways. We have to talk about this." Wes let out a deep breath and laid his forehead on her back. The misunderstandings they had as young adults still seemed to plague them now.

Wes kissed the soft skin around her shoulder blades and made a trail up to the nape of her neck. His hand slid beneath her blanket and pulled her bare body closer to his. Harper went quiet at the warmth of his lips around her neck. She already had several bite marks around her throat but they were already starting to heal. The chemical release of his feeding brought her healing in so many ways that she had forgotten. The bond of a Kitra and Gaja was sacred. Gaja fed in the Kitra's blood to survive. In return for their commitment, the Gaja's body would naturally inject the Kitra with healing chemicals to keep them strong and healthy. The euphoria that came with each injection was addictive. Harper could stay in his strong arms forever, going as long as her body would allow. She had done so in her youth. Now, things were not the same and they could not lay with one another for days.

Suddenly, Harper was forced back to reality and out of the past the two had been greedily thriving on.

"Letti. Oh my God, I have to get dressed. She will be back any minute. I can't believe- and you- what are you- why are-?" Too many questions raced through her mind to begin to find any answers. Harper didn't Give Wes the chance to explain anything. She threw herself from the sheets and into the closet to find something appropriate to wear. She settled in a pair of jeans and a black top. When she entered the bedroom again she expected Wes to be in the same daze, flailing about for his clothes thrown about the room. He made no such move and just sat at the edge of the bed with his hand over his face.

"Wes! Get dressed. Gah, what are we even doing?!" She grabbed his pants and threw them at Wes. As if he had been watching her, he snatched the jeans before they could hit him. He looked at her with so much haunted pain she wasn't sure if they had transported back to the day he left.

"Wes, say something." Wes focused his attention to his pants, thinking through what they would do next. Before he could reach his shirt, Harper laid a hand in his shoulder. He stood up straight to lock eyes with her. Harper's eyes filled with tears. Even though they had rebounded and been with one another for some time, they hadn't taken time to see one another, not really.

Minutes passed as both stood still, as if reading each other's thoughts.

"I know I hurt you, but I wasn't the only one in the wrong." Wes closed his eyes as her words hit him like waves. He opened them again with a sigh and wiggled into his white undershirt. Harper placed a hand over his heart and watched as his chest still seemed to beat violently at her touch.

He still loves her.

Twenty years, pain and all, he still loves her.

He placed his hand on hers and held it in place. He smiled at her, a sad sort of smile. Harper had been so reluctant to love him as young adults, had that changed?

Wes picked up her hand and kissed it softly before letting it go and buttoning up his dress shirt.

"Letti said two hours, what time is it?" Harper glanced around the to before her eyes fell upon and antique clock, shined with polish.

"Fifteen minutes shy." She secretly celebrated in her head. There were still so many questions to ask Wes but she had fifteen minutes before Letti would be back to take her home.

Wes grabbed Harper's hand and led her to the kitchen where various men and women seemed to busy themselves in the every day upkeep of the large manor. Not a single one paid her any mind while the two walked past them and took a seat in the kitchen.

"I don't understand. Is this your house??" Harper was still finding new details around each corner of the room. Everything was so big, so clean, so unlike him.

Wes nodded to her while he motioned for one of the nearby men to stand near him. Harper rose an eyebrow to Wes. This couldn't be his home. Letti had said....

Letti.

Harper remembered Letti's words just hours ago, a time that seemed so distant that she could have lived a lifetime since.

"This is my fiance's home." Letti had said as she held up her hand and wiggled her finger to show the diamond she sported.

"You're....engaged....to Letti." Harper said slowly. Each revelation hit her like a blow to the stomach.

Harper had been taken aback at the chosen setting- the simple yet detailed setting was something she herself had onced dreamed to have, many years ago. She had designed it with Wes when they had plans to be together. Plans that disappeared after the war of their families. She had thrown his family ring back at him. She had vowed to have nothing to do with him. All this time and the ring setting still brought up so many memories.

"But Letti is...." Harper stopped herself. The age difference was large but Letti had explained, "I know, please don't say what everyone says. I know I am young, I am still in my twenties, but my fiance is older. He's established, has Dreams and savings. We aren't jumping into things." She had rubbed her stomach softly and thoughtfully. "He wants a family, a big one. It's always been important to him. He's going to be such an amazing father. I love him and I know what I am getting into."

"You're going to be a father." The words that normally were filled with congratulations and loved fell flat and distant from her lips. Everything Letti said now made sense. Of course Wes wanted to be a father. That was a major reason they had parted ways. She had pretended to be pregnant in order to stay safe during the war. She knew Wes' father, Aris, wouldn't harm his prodigy. Only, she wasn't sure she could trust Wes either. She lied to his face for a while. Letting him run her stomach, told her dreams he had of he and their child living life together, doing better than his own father had done to him. She didn't once tell him it was all for show. The news had crushed him. He mourned the child he thought they would share. The pain of the lies, on both sides, had ripped them apart but the ache for a family never died.

"I...I am mean, you....wow and this..." She held her arms up to motion to his home. His father, Aris, had lived in a home with just as much grandeur but she knew Wes didn't accept Aris' blood money when he passed.

"How have you found yourself in such a home?" Harper shook her head, stopping Wes from giving an answer.

"Never mind, Letti had told me when we first pulled up, "I know it probably seems quite excessive but it's really not more than any other CEO has, especially those who work from home."."

Wes shrugged his shoulders, not willing to boast in his job or home. Harper's arms fell to her side. Defeated by each new piece of information she received. Anger began to burn deep down. Sure, they had agreed to go their separate ways. She knew he had partners since and so had she but it was another to learn there would be no reconciliation. He was getting married. Just as he had always wanted. He had proposed to Harper at just 20 years old. He was so sweet, protecting, kind, but she had so much going on as the war broke out. She felt herself grieving for their future.

"Well, Letti will be here soon. I shouldn't stay long. You've obviously moved on. This house, this job, your fiance, your child." The last word seemed to cause.more pain than she realized. She didn't ever feel the desire to be a mom, carry a child, but when she was with Wes- She wanted to be a family with him. Now, it would never happen.

Both Wes and Harper sood, facing one another. She knew their meeting was fated but she had wishes to continue her life in ignorance. Knowing Wes had moved on, living the life he wanted, hurt much more than she knew.

"I love you. I still...love you." Harper caressed his cheek with her hand and gave him a sad smile. Wes had tears in his own eyes and place his hand over her hand. He remained silent. Had the pain been too much for him? Why didn't he respond, something, anything? Wes turned and kisses her palm gently.

"Why haven't you said anything? it's been twenty years, Wes. We made love in the house you share with the mother of your child. God, say something!" Harper found herself back in old habits. Wes loving on her, Harper yelling, the.parting on bad terms. She took her hand back and clenched both hands at her side.

"Weston, I cannot believe you. Do you have nothing to say to me? after all this time?" Wes lifted his hands in protest, more hurt than angry but Harper shook her head. He still remained silent and the look of sorry was all he gave her.

" Fine. Leave it like that, again. I am glad.you found Letti because she seems to be all you ever wanted." Harper gather her ruined clothes that sat in a basket thanks to a maid. That was when Letti had finally arrived.

"Harper!" She shouted excitedly. "Oh, Wes! I am so glad you met my new friend, Harper!" She dropped her bag at the door and hurried to Harper's side, threading her arm with Harper's. She held on close and giggled with excitement. The stalemate between the two didn't faze Letti. She continues on as if she didn't notice.

"You simply cannot leave yet! I have everything for dinner and you will love it! Jenny, our cook, agreed to take over for me after the day we have had." She bumped her hip on Harper's as if hey we're old school friends.

"No, Letti, I really should get going." Letti frowned at her.

"Please don't! I have so much I want to ask you about. I owe you for the suffering I have caused." Letti motioned to Harper's body, referring to the honey incident, but Harper looked at Wes, thinking if the pain she may have caused Letti.

"No, I can't accept. You and your...fiance...should have dinner together." Letti waved a hand at him dismissively.

"We always have dinner together, we would love for you to join us. Come on Wes, convince her please!" Wes smiled at his fiance, knowing she was ignorant to the past he and Harper shared. He lifted his hands and began to move them in calculated ways. He pointed to Harper and then held his hand out. He then lifted his hand to his mouth and cupped it over his other flat hand. Letti squealed with excitement.

"See? Wes wants you to stay too!" Harper's eyebrows came together, puzzles by the two of them.

"I'm sorry, how did you understand that?" Harper tried to ask politely.

"Understand what?" Letti turned a little to look at Harper.

"Understand Wes? Oh, do you know know ASL? that was him inviting you in sign language, dear!" She giggled like Harper had been joking and lead her to a chair at the circle table. Harper moved mindlessly as Letti directed her and still didn't hear or see what was going on around them other than the pain in Wes' eyes.

He was mute and it was all her fault.