Part 51 (1/2)

”Hilary, she told us it was bad circulation and we don't need to know anymore than that!” RJ said and I wanted to hug her for it. Hilary was losing her audience but I don't think she even cared anymore, she wanted the glory of it, even if the reaction would not be to the full extent.

”Don't be naive. Isn't it obvious to you all, she... tried... to... kill... herself!” She said each word slowly for that extra bit of drama.

Most of them gasped...all except Jack.

”Stop this right now!” Jack shouted out and it was always an odd thing to hear Jack getting angry, like it was going against nature.

”Oh, shut up Jack! Of course you're going to believe all her lies, you're still in love with the silly cow. What did she tell you, some sappy little story about her being kidnapped...oh please, I thought you were smarter than that! She is a manipulating little b.i.t.c.h that tried to kill herself after a man that didn't love her had s.e.x with her and left! A poor teacher that got his life ruined because she couldn't take rejection, so she came up with this idea that he kidnapped her and raped her. Of course, he gets to spend the rest of his days rotting in jail thanks to a girl you all call friend!” And there it was, my life in her eyes...suddenly I didn't feel so sorry for her, oh no, now I just wanted to rip her head off!

I stepped into view just as Jack was fighting my corner, the rest saw me but Jack still had his back to me.

”That's not true, you spiteful b.i.t.c.h! I was told what really happened and it was proven to be true!” Bless him, but he'd obviously done his research, it was of course all over the internet...if you knew where to look that was. Any other time this news would have mortified me but right now it seemed it was in my favor. Hilary hadn't been expecting that I had told anyone, let alone they would have found out the truth themselves. Considering all options she was looking pretty stumped for someone that had been so confidant just seconds ago.

It was at this moment that Hilary looked past Jack and spotted me. The rage must have shown on my face because for a moment she looked frightened. Jack noticed her reaction and turned to face me. He was red faced and p.i.s.sed off as h.e.l.l but when he saw my face it turned quickly to one emotion.

G.o.d I hated pity.

That's when I didn't say anything, I just let action take over. I walked past Jack calmly and stood motionless in front of my cousin looking at her with G.o.d only knows what expression. I was feeling so many emotions it was hard to pin point just one.

”What, what are you going to do b.i.t.c.h?” She spat out down at me with her arms held out. I wiped the spray very calmly from my face before reacting. I turned my body back which must have looked to everyone that I was turning to leave...which I wasn't.

I pulled my fisted hand back making sure my thumb was tucked over my fingers, my arm held back like a sling shot ready to fire. I remember seeing her sn.i.g.g.e.ring face as I turned back, quickly turn to shock before my fist came in to contact with her face. I could feel her nose crumble beneath my knuckles and then her body fell backwards and crashed to the floor.

”That, you bitter b.i.t.c.h!” I shouted down at her. She covered her nose with her hands and it wasn't long before I noticed the blood pumping from between her fingers. I looked at my hand that was still fisted and yep, it too had blood on it.

”You broke my nose you wh.o.r.e!” She shouted back with a gargle as some of the blood must have been dripping in her mouth. I wrinkled my nose at her in disgust and shook my head.

”You're pathetic! You really are. I have had to put up with your s.h.i.+t for far too long, so count yourself lucky I didn't break more than your G.o.d d.a.m.n nose!” I fumed at her as she tried to get back up.

”You see, this is what she does! This is the real her! She's a destructive little parasite that craves attention!” Man what did she want me to do...kill her! She had regained her legs and was waving her hands to make her point. This just made more blood flow freely from a nasty gash I had given her on the bridge of her nose.

”You won't ever stop will you? You won't until you take everything from me, fine if that's what it takes!” I had lost all control now and I yanked up my sleeves and was ripping my gloves down my arms. I heard every single person staring at me gasp at the sight of my butchered arms. I threw my gloves at her and she flinched at them like they would sting her. It was the first time she had seen the result of my past and I think it caused her pain to see, to really see.

”Right, well this is what you wanted, isn't it! You wanted to see me humiliated, then we might as well go all the way! Come on Hilary, join in, add your part of the story, tell them how I did this to myself to DIE! Oh no, we can't let them know the truth, that I did this to save myself from a mad man who was not only going to kill me but also my family! THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED, ISN'T IT?” I was screaming now and thankfully my friends had circled us to hide us both from view of the club.

”SAY IT!” I screamed in her face when she didn't respond.

”Y...yes.” She whispered like a frightened child. She was also now crying and couldn't stop looking at my arms. Well if it was. .h.i.tting home it didn't register, I was too far gone for that.

”WHAT?” I held my hand up to my ear and turned my head.

”Come on Hilary, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU!”I shouted.

”YES!” She shouted back and that is when I lost all control. I launched myself at her like a bear. I think Leivic would have been proud. My mind was a red mist of twisted pain that made no sense of anything, no action my body made was coming from reason. We were on the ground and I had hold of fists full of her hair that I was pulling back. She wasn't exactly defenseless and she fought back with everything she had. I felt the contact her knee made in my face and felt my lip burst against my teeth. But the strange thing was is that it wasn't pain I was feeling, it was pure, raw adrenaline. Her hand was on my face and as someone was trying to part us her nail scratched down my cheek and neck.

I was like a possessed wild cat and I bent over double trying to get free from somebody's strong arms wrapped around me to get back at her.

”LET ME GO!” I screamed at my back but I still couldn't see who it was, although I a.s.sumed it was Jack, man he was strong. I looked up to see the damage I had done to Hilary's face and I was glad to report it looked worse than mine felt. She had blood covering the lower half of her face and a nasty red lump under one eye. Her hair was stuck up on one side and her top was torn at the shoulder, there was also a scratch there that I didn't even remember doing. It was only then that I noticed Jack had her in a locked hold at the wrists that were crossed over her torso. Ok, so if Jack was holding her then who was holding me?

”Stop struggling Keira and I will let you go.” Vincent's cool calm voice floated down my neck making me s.h.i.+ver. There was something about Vincent that made you realize very quickly he had an ”I might be calm but don't f.u.c.k with me” type voice. I relaxed in his arms and in turn, he relaxed his.

”This is over between us Hilary, do you understand? No more!” I said turning to walk off but she wasn't satisfied with the beating we both just had.

”The h.e.l.l it is b.i.t.c.h! I won't be happy until I have taken everything from you, like you have done to me, including me f.u.c.king your rich a.r.s.e boyfriend!” I actually laughed before I ran back to her and hit her one last time, which knocked her for ten, she was out cold in Jack's arms and I felt absolutely no remorse. Vincent grabbed my arms back just in case I decided to take it a step too far, although I think I already did that.

”Enough!” He shouted at me and I nodded in agreement. Jack bent slightly to hold all her weight as she had slumped backwards.

”Can you take care of her?” Vincent asked Jack in a way of taking full control of the matter and for once I was just glad it was an Angel watching my back, seeing as he was blessed with more patience than either of his siblings.

”Yes, but who are you?” Jack was watching the position of Vincent's hands with wary interest. I think his look prompted his grip to tighten in a protective reflex.

”She is safe with me. I am Vincent Draven.” He announced this in a way that matched his brother's authority head on. It sounded strange and out of character for Vincent to act so coldly but I guessed he didn't like being questioned by a mere mortal boy. I also wondered if he knew me and Jack kind of had history of sorts and if this was the reason for his distaste. I also found it strange to think of him as a Draven. To me he had always been Vincent or the more playful Vinnie when I was drunk! Either way it was weird to hear it said aloud.

I pulled myself out of my absurd thinking and noticed how all of my friends were sort of frozen in shock at seeing him for the first time. RJ looked as though she was about to throw herself down in front of him as a self sacrificing 'wanna be' virgin and everyone else just looked scared of both of us. I suppose for such a shy girl they hadn't expected me to turn into a demented lunatic, ”one flew over the cuckoo's nest” style.

Any other time and I would had turned scarlet and fled from the room. I wasn't one for centre of attention at the best of times but right now, right at this second, I just didn't give a d.a.m.n. Everyone was waiting for me to speak, I knew that, but I didn't want to explain and from what everyone had just witnessed, I knew I certainly didn't have to justify my actions. So I said the only thing that came to mind.

”Jack can you take her home?” I asked quietly and he agreed by way of a sympathetic look.

”Thanks,” I muttered as I then let Vincent walk me away. It was like he knew I had enough but he still had hold of the top of my arm like he was scared if he let me go I would go back there and kill her. My voice was devoid of emotion which wasn't like me but I was tired. I was tired of feeling a shame I didn't deserve. A fault that wasn't my own and a guilt that just wasn't warranted. I was just very, very tired.

”You can let go now.” I said in an exasperated voice.

”I don't think so, I tried that before and now someone's unconscious.” His voice could only be described as controlled calm.

”Yes, but the right person!” I pointed out, c.o.c.king my head to the side out of habit. He didn't reply to that one, instead he just directed me to the door that led to the VIP. I really didn't want Draven to see me like this and it made me wonder if he knew anything about what had happened...more importantly why was Vincent down here?

I didn't ask but that was mostly because we were right next to the stage so hearing any answer he gave me was just not going to happen. The doormen eyed me like it was the first time they had ever seen me. I suppose I wasn't looking too hot right now. Once through the solid wooden door the music changed to a background hum and Vincent's hand dropped from holding my arm to smooth its way down the length to take my hand in his. I held my breath all the way down.

He was now walking in front of me with our bodies linked by entwined fingers. I was led upstairs but when faced with the two doors I knew which one I wanted to take and he knew it too. One led into the VIP area and the other onto a long outside corridor which bypa.s.sed the VIP to get into the home part of the nightclub.

”You don't want to go in there do you?” Vincent stopped before opening door number one.

”Not yet, no!” I answered simply.

”I can feel that. Come with me.” He turned around me brus.h.i.+ng against my body and I followed his movements because he still had my hand tightly encased in his. I don't know why but it was only at this moment that I realized that my sleeves were still pushed up my arms and my gloves weren't concealing them like they usually were. That's when my shame actually hit me. I knew the numbness wouldn't last long and when it finally came, it would slam into me like the sea does a body from falling from the cliff top. How could I face anyone again?

”Are you in pain?” Vincent's soft voice broke through my personal desolation and when I looked up from the scars I only just focused on, I realized we were outside of sorts. I was stood on the open hallway and the winter air hit me making me s.h.i.+ver. I was sure Vincent asked me something about pain and I looked up to find him stood very close, looking down at me with an odd expression.

”Yes...No, I..” Was that even an answer I had given, I wasn't sure.

”I can feel your pain Keira, but I don't know that it's physical.” I thought about that for a moment. He could feel me? I also took this moment to a.s.sess myself. I flexed my hands and my right one hurt when doing so. A sharp pain across my knuckles but I didn't need any guessing as to why that was.

I must have sucked in air because Vincent noted my movements and the sound of pain I had expressed. He took my right hand in his and examined it with a great deal of care. He frowned and before I could ask, the hallway illuminated from the moonlit glow to a warm, flaming orange. The wrought iron lamps on the walls were aflame from just a nod of his head. I almost gasped at how beautiful he was. Like a living statue of the Archangel Michael.

He reminded me of a fountain I had seen once in Paris as a child. The statue stood at the top of the fountain in the Place Saint-Michel, the Boulevard Saint-Michel is one of the two major streets in the Latin Quarter of Paris, as far as I remembered from one of my many educational trips my parents took us on. Our family vacations always had some historical learning factor to play, not that I minded of course but Libby did tend to get a bit bored.

”Keira what are you staring at?” He asked me softly and yep, I was staring at him like he was some ancient oil painting created by the masters of his time. I looked down quickly and muttered a barely audible, ”Nothing.”

”I think you have cracked a knuckle but I can't be sure, bend it this way.” He was holding my hand like a breakable antique and he moved my fingers individually, when I felt the pain in my middle finger I yelped and he groaned.