Part 31 (2/2)

”Oh yeah... the b.i.t.c.h has landed!”

It took me longer to get ready than usual, thanks to while having a shower Draven kept insisting that he could be of some a.s.sistance and made it difficult to do anything while being watched like a gazelle. He leaned all his body weight on one of the pillars and seemed content on watching me wash my hair. I tried to ignore him but he was making it increasingly difficult when he kept making comments like, ”You missed a bit”.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if memories of my cousin, Hilary, hadn't been playing in and out of my mind like a flicker book of misery and embarra.s.sment. Draven knew I was preoccupied and he would soon understand to the full extent when meeting her. I didn't know what to expect but I was certain on one factor, I was absolutely dreading it!

And it also took longer to change than usual and after standing there growing cold with just a towel round me, Draven couldn't stand it any longer.

”Keira, this isn't like you, you never usually care what people think about your appearance so why are you fretting now?” I frowned and turned round to face him. He was standing close enough that I had to arch my neck up to see his expression clearly.

”I care what you think,” I said catching the hidden smile emerge.

”Ah, well I don't count as you know full well that I would find you most beautiful in any garment.” I wanted to mock him about sounding his age in saying the word garment instead of the modern use of the word clothes. But instead I called his bluff.

”And if I walked in the club one night wearing a bin bag... that would be acceptable?”

”That depends.” He said teasing me.

”On what exactly?”

”Whether or not the bag was used would be a factor, you may be a beauty in anything you wear but the smell I cannot account for and I'm not partial to the smell of garbage!”

”Rubbish.”

”Excuse me?” He asked, one eyebrow raised.

”I said rubbish, you know...you say tomatoe, I say tomato...let's call the... whole thing off?” I started singing the song confidently until I got to the end and saw his expression. It was one of high amus.e.m.e.nt and I went bright red.

”You are so...”

”Don't say it!” I interrupted but he said it anyway, ”Adorable.” I shuddered as I felt his lips on the sensitive skin near my collar bone. He licked where his kiss lay and made me giggle. We both laughed and I momentarily forgot about my cousin induced self-esteem issues. But it didn't take long and after Draven had finished kissing me, I was back to square one.

”Right, I know what to do but I warn you, you asked for this.” I didn't even have chance to reply because he was gone and out of the room before I had turned back around. I was left miffed and confused. The endless amount of clothes loomed before me and if they could have spoken, I was sure they would be all laughing at me. Why was I finding this so hard? Why was this the one person besides Draven that could influence my mood in such a way? I wanted to scream at myself for being so ridiculous but every time I went to pick something out, my hand would recall and I would be right back where I started.

I wasn't sure how long I had been stood there and I knew every minute that ticked by, Libby would be going crazy. Finally I heard the door open and when I turned, I was not only faced with one Draven but now two.

”See what I mean! She has been stood like this for half an hour just staring at her clothes. This is beyond my capability as a man so I brought reinforcements.” I wanted to laugh but the stern look on Sophia's face made me think it not wise. She took fas.h.i.+on very seriously and in her case she would cla.s.s this as a world code red emergency.

”I see. You did the right thing Dom but now it's time for you to leave us...we have work to do!” I couldn't help gulp and shot Draven a panicked look but with a smirk, he crossed the room and kissed me.

”You left me no other choice love.” He whispered in my ear before leaving the room.

”It's not that bad...no really. I am just a bit indecisive this morning.” She didn't buy it and with a lie told so badly I wasn't surprised.

”So this has nothing to do with the b.i.t.c.h that is showing up today then?” Ok, so she had me there, but what was it in this place, had some article gone out in the 'Demon/ Angel weekly'?

”It's ok, really. Jealously is a completely natural emotion, and one that my kind usually finds great pleasure in feeding from. It's a shame really that we can't feed from you, with your mood I would be full up till lunch!” I didn't laugh unlike she did and I can imagine it was due to my hacked off expression that she found amus.e.m.e.nt in.

”I'm only kidding. Jeez you are uptight this morning. No wonder my brother called me.” She turned her attention to the clothes in front of her and with one hand running along the fabrics and the other rested on her shoulder like she was posing for a photo shoot.

”So what are we going for here...All out ”I'm better than you” s.e.xy or seductively casual?” Umm none of the above! I didn't say that because she was already pulling clothes off the rack like a woman possessed.

”I dunno...I kind of just want to look...umm” I didn't know how to carry on without sounding pathetic but it was clear she was waiting, so I continued and said the words with my head hung down and my eyes finding the fleurs-de-lis that patterned the thick lush carpet.

”Like I deserve your brother.”

”Oh Keira, anyone to doubt that is a fool and un-deserving of your attention. This girl sounds she needs some Demon a.r.s.e kicking therapy, would her head look good mounted on a wall?” This made me laugh in a nervous, G.o.d I hope she isn't serious kind of way but I was soon feeling better. I could just picture Hilary's face when meeting Sophia for the first time...actually it was the only thing I was looking forward to about her staying here.

By the time Sophia had finished, I felt like a giant Barbie doll. I was now stood looking at myself in the full length mirror feeling a little red faced. I had on a light grey sweater dress with a cowl neck and wide ribbing. It was so soft to the skin I couldn't stop feeling the sleeves. It was teamed up with a pair of tight, black leggings and black boots that added to my height. Sophia handed me a hooded coat with an absolutely feminine charm. It was black also and tied at the waist with a belt in the same material. It fell to my knees with a slight flare and when I put it on it fit like it was made to measure.

”You look lovely, so much so my brother might buy me a TVR Cerbera.” I gave her one of my ”you're so spoilt” looks but she just laughed.

”That's a car...right?”

”Keira it's not just a car, it's so much more. The feeling you get when you reach speeds up to 240 miles per hour...it's like you're flying!”

”But you can fly! And what is it with you and your brother with speed anyway?” I rolled my eyes having only ever done the speed limit my entire life, well I wasn't so sure about what speed I was doing last night but that had been different. Which brought me back to last night's horrors and why I hadn't yet told Draven about them? I couldn't understand it, every time something weird happened it was like my mind would come up with its own ideas on how to deal with it and telling Draven wasn't even an option. I had asked Draven last night, after the wild, untamed makeup s.e.x where Ragnar was last night. But was utterly taken back to find that he had been watching me all night. This had left me beyond confused and was just about to explain how I never saw him when my mind crashed into a red light. I was at a blank and couldn't bring myself to speak about last night. Why did this keep happening? What was wrong with me and more importantly if Ragnar had been there last night, then why did last night go so horribly wrong? The blood red window message, the glowing eyes in the darkness stalking me like some forest monster ready for its next feed and last of all, the car following me back to Afterlife?

Sophia's voice brought me back round to the now and the next set of horrors that awaited me.

”My brother has a TVR Sagaris in purple, you know. Has he taken you in it yet?” My mind was everywhere and nowhere all at once. I could feel Sophia's mind trying to invade my thoughts. The feeling brought me round and I quickly shut myself off, leaving her staring at me with a curious eye.

”Sorry, what was the question?” I blinked a few times and came back to the conversation.

”Keira, are you alright?” She knew something was wrong but thankfully I had something else to blame it on.

”Yeah sure, I mean I'm stressing 'cause of my cousin coming but apart from that, I'm just dandy.” I could tell she wasn't buying it and I wondered how much of my thoughts she had seen before I closed shop. I decided to distract her with another question.

”So I know you and Draven have loads of cars but what about Vincent?”

”Ah, now Vincent prefers bikes but me... well...a helmet does nothing for a girl's hair!” I laughed at her comment and hoped it was enough of a deterrent for her to drop her suspicious gaze. The last thing I wanted was her taking her anxious concerns to Draven.

Draven was waiting by his desk and I knew from the look, that he had heard every word I had said. He stood up and was in front of me before I had time to blink. He took my hands in his and looked down at me with hurt in his dark eyes.

”How could anyone think that such a G.o.ddess could not be good enough, I am the one not worthy. You look enchanting.” I blushed and in sight of this he leaned down to my ear.

”The smell of your blood rus.h.i.+ng to your cheeks drives me wild, take care or I will not let you go.” I smiled before I realised what he was saying.

”You're not coming with me?” I said this with puppy eyes and looked up at him.

”Now Keira don't look at me like that, you know I can deny you nothing but I have some things of importance to do before I can leave and I fear your sister cannot wait for you.” I wanted to sulk but I knew I would only be making him feel guilty for something he obviously couldn't help. Then I had an idea.

”Ok, but couldn't Sophia come with me instead?”

”I...” She was about to agree but her brother spoke over her.

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