Part 52 (1/2)

Chapter 53.

All for the Healing.

Vincent and I didn't say another word to each other as he escorted me back into the VIP. The first thing I noticed was Draven pacing like a wild cat, back and forth by the balcony. We walked round to meet him and I started to see all the unfamiliar faces that made up Draven's guests. I don't know why, maybe because I wasn't yet used to them, but they all seemed a lot scarier than the last lot. One table we pa.s.sed looked like they want to first play with me and then devour me. A girl with bright orange hair even licked her cherry lips as I went by.

Draven spotted us immediately and the harsh eyes and tensed jaw told me he had been waiting. He stormed towards us now wearing a very power inducing black suit. Everything on him was black apart from a very deep purple tie that brought out the purple now in his eyes. He wasn't happy.

”Where have you been?” At first I thought he was asking me, but he was looking over my head, which wasn't hard giving my lack in height. His gaze burned into his brother's, who stood behind me.

”Calm yourself Dom, she is fine. She just got herself into some trouble.” Vincent said in the most lucid way possible. I wanted to shout back 'Traitor' to him but I doubt the timing would have been right.

”Tell me!” Was all he said but his words sounded like they had been skimmed through acid.

”It was nothing,” I spoke up feeling as this was about me I might as well have some say on the matter! He glowered down at me but he didn't reply, instead he raised a finger to my lips and shook his head. This was all the warning I needed. When Draven was this far gone it was sometimes best to let the beast calm down before pulling on its tail.

”She got in an altercation with her cousin.” He was choosing his words very decidedly, which I appreciated.

”I will kill the b.i.t.c.h!” He said shocking me enough to make my mouth form an ”O”. He turned as if he was about to do it right now when Vincent's hand shot out and restrained him back.

”Keira attacked her!” Vincent said, as though he was trying hard not to smile. I'm glad to report he achieved it because I don't think I could have stopped myself sticking my tongue out at him. Draven stopped dead and Vincent's hand dropped now he knew his brother wasn't about to run off to kill a 'not so' innocent human girl.

”She what?” Draven sounded as though the wind had been knocked out of him.

”I went down to get Keira as you asked and found her on top of her cousin, pounding her fists into her head and trying to rip out her hair.” Vincent said this like reciting poetry. Personally, I don't think it was as bad as he made out, for starters I had only been trying to rip out a handful not the whole lot. But I guess tomato, tomatoe!

”Was she hurt?” He asked seriously as he now started scanning my face and body for injury.

”Excuse me...I'm right here!” I said getting inpatient. Draven growled down at me and I rolled my eyes once and shut up.

”She received a scratch down her neck, a bruised eye and a cut lip.” Ok, so now it was like he was reading off an inventory. Draven made me jump by placing his hands on my neck and turning me this way and that to see for himself. He traced where every mark had been as though it was still visible, which I knew it wasn't.

”You healed her yourself?” Draven's cold question frightened me. Would he be angry?

”Yes, she was in pain and I didn't think you would want her walking in here like that.” This was one h.e.l.l of an interrogation.

”Your actions were right. Although I would want to heal her myself, that would not have been practical at this time. You did well brother, I would not have been pleased if anyone else had touched her.” Draven was speaking like the reason for this conversation wasn't stood next to him. I felt like slipping out from them both and making my escape.

”Well, if you two will excuse me, I think I will get a drink.” I was about to slide out from the Draven sandwich I was currently in when Draven's hand gripped my waist in a very primal way.

”Stay!” Was all he said.

”Okkiedokkie.” I replied quietly as he slid me back in place.

”And what of the cousin?” He enquired.

”b.l.o.o.d.y, bruised and beaten. She fought well, brother.” Oh jeez wasn't I just the star pupil! It felt like I was in some weird, supernatural parent teacher conference.

Draven looked down at me and took my hand in his.

”Good girl, I am proud of you.” He said before squeezing my hand, that was, my right hand that had the 'maybe' broken knuckle. I yelped in pain and Draven growled letting go of the pressure but not my hand. He lifted it to examine.

”Ah yes, well I meant to tell you about that. Naturally, she hurt her fist in the beating process and that I could not heal...without...” He didn't need to finish, evidently Draven got it.

”Yes, I understand. I would not have permitted that. I will fix it myself.” He stated in his usual masterful manner. Vincent made his move to leave but Draven spoke again putting full weight into his next command.

”Give me your hand brother.” Draven asked Vincent who looked as though he had expected what was about to happen. I was being moved to stand by Draven's side while Vincent stepped forward to place his hand in Draven's. They both closed their eyes and I could just make out the faint flickering under their lids. Almost like they were watching something.

I was waiting for a reaction I could never predict but he did startle me again when something he saw made a growl ripple its way up through his chest. I was moving backwards slowly trying to get away from whatever it was but his hand zipped out and stopped me without even opening his eyes. It was as if he could feel every move I made. Although I was breathing hard and scared of his next reaction, the hand that held on to my wrist started to sooth his thumb around in circles to put me at ease. Then he spoke but I know not what.

”Vous etes le seul homme qui j'ai confiance pour toucher son de cette maniere sans avoir besoin de vous tuer a cause de cela (Means ”You are the only man I trust to touch her this way without the need to kill you because of it.” In French) Draven's words, even though in perfect French tongue had been icy cold, even I could tell that without knowing the meaning behind them. If I was a betting woman, I would put money on the fact that Draven had just seen all that Vincent had, including him healing me. One thought...oh s.h.i.+t! Draven let go of his hand and instead of hitting him like it looked like he wanted to do, he shocked me and grabbed him behind the neck and pulled his forehead closer to touch his own.

”Frater” (Means ”My brother” In Latin) He whispered and Vincent repeated the word. It was such a touching moment that I found my eyes tearing at the sight of such a strong unbreakable bond. This action was the very translation of the word Brother. A love that didn't need words to describe, it was just enough, singled and defined by its purity. It made me realize just how much strength the word Brother had. Brother at arms, Brotherhoods and Blood Brothers all had the same thing in common...they all represent men as comrades.

My feelings must have been giving off signals as bright as Las Vegas because when I looked up they were both looking at me with odd expressions painted on their handsome faces.

”What?” I said burning red.

”Viena veida” Vincent said (Means ”One of a kind” In Latvian) ”Yes she is.” Draven said beaming with a pride I didn't know the cause of.

”h.e.l.lo, right here remember!” I said getting fed up of the mixture of languages I would never understand and the conversation that was going on above my short head!

”Oh I know, I would never forget that my little one.” Vincent smirked at my given pet name and I scowled making them both laugh.

”I will leave you alone a moment.” His brother said bowing his head slightly to us both, a sign of deep respect. Draven then took my wrist in his over sized hand making me feel like the doll his sister joked about me being earlier. I felt so breakable in his grip that I should have been scared by it not turned on as I was. He gently led me to the balcony and took off his suit jacket before letting the doors open even though I was touching them. He eased the soft fabric over my shoulders and then let me through the doors onto the cold, late November night.

”Are you alright?” He asked me without looking at my face. He was still behind me holding my shoulders from where he had placed the jacket.

”I'm fi...”

”Please don't say fine. Not to me Keira, trust me enough not to placate me with Fine.” He interrupted before I could say the word that he knew was not true.

”What do you want to hear me say Draven?” I said regretting how snappy it sounded.

”I want to hear you say how you actually feel and not what you know I want to hear.” Well he was being honest maybe I could be.

”You're not going to like it.” I reminded him before committing to anything.

”I'm a big boy.” He mocked impatiently.

”Yes a very angry big boy.” He waved his hand around dismissing this notion without words.

”Alright, but don't get mad, ok?” He nodded keeping his lips in a firm line.

”I feel guilty, I hate myself for what I did and I'm ashamed for what everyone saw. I don't know if I can face any of my friends again now they know the truth about my past and I don't want the pity that comes with it. I HATE pity! And now they have something to pity me for I can't stand it. I want to bury myself in a hole and never come out. It's like when I found out you knew all about my past and how I wanted to hide that from you forever and if there was any way I could take the information back then that would be one of my three wishes!” I was almost left breathless by the time I had finished my little explosion of feelings. I mean can anyone say information overkill!

Draven was left looking astounded at my outburst and now I found myself adding to my long list of regrets. He was trying to search for the words to comfort me but from a bombsh.e.l.l of emotions like that he had too many options to choose, I doubted he knew where to start. h.e.l.l even I didn't!