Part 32 (1/2)

”Sophia is needed here,” he said sternly and then shot her a look like he was communicating something to her mind, something he didn't want me knowing. My sudden fears from earlier came back and I worried that he had heard more than our conversation in the dressing room. I only noticed her nod before leaving the room.

”Is everything alright?” I asked and my voice brought me back his attention.

”Yes but of course. I am sorry I am letting you take on this h.e.l.l cat alone but I will be along shortly...I promise.” The promise he made ended on my lips and I sighed with delight. He placed one hand on the small of my back and the other ran up my neck and in my hair. We started to get lost in each other's touch until the sound of Abba filled the air and I swore under my breath, which just so happened to still be in his mouth at the time.

”I would appreciate it if you refrain from cursing when I kiss you or you will start to give me a complex.” He teased me.

”That will be my sister then.”

”Then you'd better go before I get too carried away and tie you up.”

”That's not a bad idea. Maybe you could answer it and tell her that.” He smiled showing all his teeth and the gesture made his face light up in a way that made my knees weak.

”Are you not going to answer that?”

”Na, she will just think I'm driving.”

”Umm... no she won't” He said filled with confidence.

”And why not?”

”Because I have arranged for a car to take you home...don't look at me like that Keira, it is simply so that I can pick you up later myself.” I finished rolling my eyes and imagined the look on Hilary's face when Draven turned up in something little and sporty.

”Ok but on one condition...” He raised one eyebrow and said, ”Which would be?”

”That you turn up in the Aston.”

Out at the front of the building, a car was waiting for me as Draven had said there would be. Ragnar was there waiting for me by a chauffeur driven car which I had no idea of the make. I had to admit I had missed the sight of my big bodyguard and a relief washed over me knowing I had him with me once again. It looked like he was trying to hide a smile as I grinned at him.

”So you're back?” I asked as I stepped through the car door he was holding open for me. I also took notice that printed on the leather seats was Maybach. I had never heard of this car make before but the luxury inside told me not only of its exclusivity and wealth but also how fitting it was for royalty.

”I wasn't aware I was missing.” He mocked in his heavy accented voice.

”Last night?” I prompted but I had to wait for his answer as he was near bending his body in two just to fit in the car. I felt the suspension drop and I was tempted to ask how much he weighed. He frowned at me for a moment but didn't answer. He looked like he was deep in thought, as though looking for the answer himself. I decided to let it go quickly.

There were too many questions rolling round in my head to focus on just one idea. The rest of the way was travelled in silence, which didn't help my nerves at finding my dreaded cousin at my destination. I fiddled nervously with the matching grey gloves Sophia had handed to me and then played with a loose strand of hair that Draven had tucked behind my ear before kissing me one last time, while saying his goodbyes.

I decided to wear my hair off my neck and it was now securely twisted up and held by a heavy metal clip. I had noted tired eyes in the morning and thought of the bluish tint that had been there but when I had looked in the mirror in the dressing room they had gone. I put it down to the hot shower and blus.h.i.+ng around Draven. To tell the truth, my skin had been amazing lately and I was starting to think happiness was the key. What else could it be? It wasn't only my skin either, it was everything...my hair was softer, my nails were s.h.i.+ny and strong, even my eyelashes looked longer.

Ragnar cleared his throat and it made me look up to the sight of my house coming into view. I sighed and noticed the curtain move. It must have been Libby watching out for me like a hawk. I let my shoulders slump down and suddenly my legs felt like they were filled with liquid lead flowing freely through my veins. My body was reacting to the task at hand, given it didn't want to see her as much as my brain did.

Ragnar noticed the change in my body language and frowned. The car stopped and both the front door and car door opened simultaneously. That's when I saw Libby's desperate face first, followed closely by Justin's exhausted spirit. Hilary really did know how to crush the soul into one of misery!

Then there she was, all five feet and eight inches of fake smiles and cruel comments. She had changed her appearance but that wasn't anything to be shocked at, she was always dyeing her hair, finding new fas.h.i.+ons styles but all were just as s.l.u.tty as the next and what she wore now was no exception.

She was tall and very skinny, painfully so if you asked me. She had straight, platinum hair down past her shoulders that she styled into a flick at the sides. She had evil looking green eyes that reminded me of a snarling cat. She had an oval face with small tight lips that always wore too much lipstick. Her short denim skirt barely covered her thighs but I was surprised that she was even wearing tights with it. The hot pink halter neck top matched with the tiniest cardigan that didn't scream winter chic that was for sure, but the whole outfit reminded me of something a fifty year old cougar would wear.

I mustered all my mental strength and got out of the car, which was a mistake but one I had no choice in committing.

”Kizzy Cat!” She squealed and squawked out the nickname I loathed. I tried to smile but it felt almost so fake that it would fall off. She was running towards me and pushed my sister out of the way making her nearly lose her step. Luckily Frank was close by and helped steady her. It was one of the very few times I had seen hate in Frank's eyes, so finally one car ride had convinced him round to our way of thinking. Of course, having his pregnant wife nearly knocked to the floor was enough for Frank to scowl at anyone.

She reached me and gave me an insincere kiss on each cheek like she was continental and I cringed when she combined it with phony kissy noises. She took a step back and took one look at my clothes and then her eyes scanned the car that was behind me.

”Well, hasn't somebody found themselves a Sugar Daddy!” She smirked at the insult and I could almost hear her congratulating herself in her head. I just released a lack l.u.s.tre laugh and looked back at the car. I saw Ragnar getting out and it took me a minute to realise that n.o.body else could see him. The car started to pull away and we all moved towards the house to give it more room to turn round. As I walked, Hilary eyed me and then turned to face me at the steps.

”Well you look better than I thought you would and the extra weight is only to be expected...all things considered, well you know after...” She stopped and then made a slitting wrist motion making a ”Eekk” noise with it, which I didn't understand but I was too far gone in my fury I didn't care. The only noise I wanted to hear from the b.i.t.c.h was the sound of agony and restriction as a result of my hands round her throat!

She turned and went in the house and left everyone standing in disbelief staring at me like I was a firework about to blow! Ok... ok, I had to get a hold of myself. I had to think logically. If I resorted to murder then that wouldn't look good for my future and I couldn't imagine Draven visiting me in prison. Besides what was I thinking? I was forgetting the most important part about my relations.h.i.+p and how it could help me here...

After all, I was dating a half Demon!

Chapter 35.

Heartless Hilary I finally managed to breathe and calm my actions down to just a growl in my throat. The rest looked at me like they were scared of what I was going to do next. I walked up the steps past Frank and Justin and was about to walk past Libby when she caught my arm and stopped me. She was about to ask if I was ok but I beat her to it.

”I'm fine,” I said without any emotion in my voice. I hated Hilary with a pa.s.sion and the idea that she hadn't changed a bit was not only upsetting but infuriating! I had been living with the spite and bitterness of that girl's personality for years and one of the bonuses about moving here was that I was finally rid of her. And now here I was, only being here for little over three months and she had already invaded. It was too much to bear.

I closed my eyes and mounted the remaining steps feeling like all hope was lost. I would have to be one of those people right now, one of those who can ignore nasty folk and their degrading comments, but I wasn't and I hated to admit that it had taken her all of two minutes to insult me and for that insult to have struck me so deep this early, only added substance to my growing dread.

I heard Justin asking Libby if our cousin realised that it was winter and she merely replied, ”Oh yeah, she knows.”

The house was immaculate and everything smelled of lavender and furniture polish. There, at the club, I had been trying so hard with my appearance and here Libby had been doing the very same thing, only instead of her looks it was the pride of her home that had enforced such an effort to be made. I wondered why we both deemed it necessary to go to such lengths for someone we hated. She was clearly going to find fault whatever we did.

I took off my jacket and instead of joining my cousin in the lounge, I diverted to the kitchen. I heard the front door shut and knew everyone else had gotten over their shock and was now putting on their fake, happy voices. Libby was the second to escape and she joined me in the kitchen. I had clicked on the kettle but then decided tea just wasn't going to cut it, so opted for something stronger. I found an opened bottle of wine in the fridge and poured myself a gla.s.s...A very, very large gla.s.s.

”You've got the right idea... man if I wasn't pregnant then I would have finished it off by now!” As soon as she said the words I downed it and poured the rest of the bottle into my wine gla.s.s that really wasn't big enough for the job. I had to slurp at the edges so that the wine wouldn't spill. I didn't speak for fear of screaming, I just kind of stood there, staring at nothing, waiting for this nightmare to end but every time I heard that screeching voice of hers, I just let out a shudder.

”I was kinda hoping you would turn up with Dominic, then that would have shut that poisonous little mouth of hers! I can't believe she had the nerve to say that to you...I have a good mind to tell mum!” I held up my hand and shook my head. It was like school all over again.

”What's the point Libs, she'll never believe it and even if she does, there's no use in upsetting her. Besides, her sister's little princess can do no wrong...remember?” Libby understood it all too well as we had both had our fair share of the little h.e.l.l cat, as Draven had put it. Just then Frank came in and looked both scared and annoyed, I soon understood why. He feared his wife's unhappiness and hated the reasons behind it.

”Umm...I don't know how to say this but....”

”Just say it Frank!” Libby snapped and then felt sorry for it, so smiled at her husband as way of an apology.

”Hilary isn't happy with her room and wants one with a view.”

”WHAT! Why that ungrateful little bitc...” Frank made a face like ”Shut up or she'll hear you” and Libby never finished her sentence but I wasn't at a loss to know what the last part would have been.

”We don't have any rooms with a view available, the other spare room is full of stuff for the baby and...” Frank looked uncomfortable again and he s.h.i.+fted his weight making the floor boards creak under the strain. For such a big guy he sure did look cute as a b.u.t.ton when he did that!

”What is it Frank?” Libby asked not keeping the strain out of her voice.

”Well she's got her eye on another room.” His eyes looked up and we all followed like we could see through the ceiling.

”She wants Keira's room,” he said sheepishly.