45
Hogtied Patience
There he was, now stood looking down at the club, like a master keeping watch upon all that he owned. And the very sight of him took my breath away. He was magnificent. It was funny seeing him like this, looking so hard and unyielding, making me realise just how different he was now. How the years had changed him, making him looked less forbidding and more, well more human.
I paused as his sister approached and I looked down the second I felt something nudge at my leg. The rabbit, that was quite small for one with such big ears, was looking up at me with those piercing green eyes.
“I want to watch,” I told it, not knowing if it understood, but feeling the need to explain why I was no longer following it. It wrinkled its nose once before looking back at the scene, as if resigned to my decision and therefore was going to watch it with me.
“I really don’t know why you continue to torture yourself like this and her for that matter?” Sophia said nodding down to me as I had gone back to my duty, no doubt getting lost in my thoughts as usual.
“You know why,” Draven’s stern voice replied, saying more than his words did and that was his displeasure at no doubt having to explain himself again.
“No, I don’t. The girl all but declared her love for you and I will never understand why, instead of embracing it like you want to, you chose to break it,” Sophia asked which I had to say, she made a bloody good point. Draven closed his eyes for a moment and I wondered if it was done in aid of trying to find patience when dealing with his sister or because he was remembering the pain he’d inflicted upon me.
“It was better her feelings be hurt than her body, and I refuse to allow something like that to ever happen again!” Draven snapped, gripping onto the railing and becoming close to breaking it.
“You can’t wrap her in a box or put her in a pretty cage Dom, she has been living with the dangers of the world for twenty three years and has made it this far.”
“Yes, and look what the world offered her, and you think ours can do better!” he snapped on a growl before taking a deep calming breath before continuing on,
“Look at what nearly happened to her Sophia, at the hands of one of our own. Do not think me fool enough to think that because she survived her own world as long as she has, that she would fare better in ours,” he replied letting anger coat his words. At this I couldn’t help but laugh considering all I had survived in his world. Hell, I hadn’t just survived it, I had conquered it! I had battled against everything put in his way and mine and I had beaten it back one way or another.
I had won.
But he didn’t yet know this.
Okay, so I am not saying I hadn’t made mistakes along the way, as I was far from perfect, just like most people. I was still, in essence, human and that saying was created for a reason. Being the Chosen One didn’t mean everything I did worked, or the decisions I made were always the right ones. I was judged and as guilty as the next person for doing stupid shit but the one thing that remained. The one thing I could say was etched in stone and was at the root of my soul. I could always say with utter honesty, that every decision I made, it was made for love.
It was a line I walked doing so believing, at the time, that it was the right one. For that was all any of us could do. It may not always have worked out like you intended it to, but even now, like Draven’s decision to hurt me and put distance between us, he did so out of fear of losing me. He did so out of love.
Was it the right thing to do? No, it wasn’t. But at the time he did so with nothing but good intent. Just like he did that day when he walked away from me for what he thought was for good. He believed it was the only way to save my life and in essence I was now doing the same again. I was keeping all of this from him and it was done with the belief that if he knew, then he would just end up doing the same thing again.
Because deep down, trying to find perfection in the choices you made, were only ever going to depend on the outcome you wanted. If everything we did turned out right then, yes maybe then to some degree we could be called perfect, but the chances of that happening were slim at best. But I knew, without a single doubt to cloud my mind or my heart, that I could honestly say our reasons for doing the things we did were, well…
They were perfect.
Because what better reasons were there than love. To sacrifice what you want most in the world so that the one you loved could remain in it.
That was what Draven was doing right now and by me being here, without Draven knowing, was what I was also doing. Was it the right thing to do? Well, only time would be able to answer that question.
I could only hope that the outcome…well, that it was one of the rare perfect ones. The ones we all hoped for.
“I think you underestimate her. Yes, she experienced a traumatic ordeal at the hands of what was clearly an unsound mind.” She paused when Draven growled,
“Yes, and soon to be a dead one!”
“That maybe so Brother, as is your right, but my point is that she survived,” she said, making Draven look from her back down to me and he did so also placing a hand to his forearm as if knowing already about my scars and imagining them there for himself.
“We don’t yet know all the details of how, but the important thing is that she did survive and now here she is, after all this time you have waited for her…look at her Dom, tell me honestly, why do you not just take her?” Sophia asked in a pleading tone, as if she had been asking this very same thing the entire time I had been in Evergreen Falls but had yet to receive her answer. Or one good enough anyway.
Draven released a heavy sigh, leaning against the railing and continuing to stare down at me.
“Because I love her,” he said after a moment’s pause and doing so after releasing another deep breath.
“But…” Sophia started to argue but he raised his fingers from the rail, to tell her silently that he hadn’t finished.
“She is…she is perfect…a perfection I never knew could exist for me,” he said watching me as I stood up now my job was complete, and he did so having to take a breath after only starting the sentence. I was turning around to smile at Mike for some reason I couldn’t remember, but Draven seemed captivated.
“I never imagined this was what it would be like and I haven’t even really spoken to her yet, not as anyone but who she sees as her boss.”
“Yes, and whose fault is that?” Sophia snapped back making him frown side on at her.
“You think I don’t know that this has all been my doing? That I haven’t been the one to push her away?”
“Oh, I know but still I am yet to fully understand it.”
“Because of who I am, Sophia!” he said unleashing his anger with his demonic voice coming through. I was so shocked my hands flew to my mouth to cover the gasp that escaped.
“What happened the first time I got even a glimpse of hope at being with her, where I could be myself for the first time. Then she saw me for who I really am, and she ran Sophia, she ran because I terrified her!” Draven said, angry this time at himself as he tore himself away from the sight of me, as if he was ashamed.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” Sophia said after laughing. Draven shot a harsh frown her way making her explain.
“Gods Brother, you can be so blind for one so old and knowledgeable.”
“Not helping me here, Sophia,” Draven warned making her chuckle and me also as I knew being called old was a sore spot for him, even before I came along.
“What I mean is, she, didn’t just run from you, she ran from the situation, Dom. Think about it, she woke feeling vulnerable and scared, all alone after being stabbed by that bitch, who might have shown Keira her true self. We just don’t know,” Sophia said, and Draven crossed his arms looking thoughtful and now listening to her words, ones that made sense.
“But what we do know is that minutes later she saw you with a pair of wings and Hell’s power running through your veins and ran from what she didn’t yet know.” Hearing this you could see that it had clearly affected him as he turned his face away. Sophia shook her head a little as if close to giving up, but then a thought must have come to her for the next moment she chuckled and said,
“Besides, she could not have been that scared of you.” At this his face shot back to hers in question, but then, as if first needing to deny any possibility of it being other than what he thought it was, he warned,
“You didn’t see her face, Sophia.”
“No, I didn’t, but I did see it the day you crushed her heart, one I will remind you was declared the day after seeing you this way and her doing so believing everything that had happened that night to be real…so tell me, just how scared did she look when she was calling you out and demanding you tell her the truth, a demon no less, for one she thought was real…?” Sophia paused to take a step closer to him, so she could look him in the eyes when she carried on with her questioning.
“…Was she repelled, disgusted, or was she there to know the truth and in doing so hoped the kiss you gave her was real too? That the feelings she felt you bestow that night, were not ones of fantasy this time, but founded on truth and thus could be ones returned?” On hearing this he turned away from her but this time I knew, as well as she did, that it was done because she had just hit a nerve.
“I do not know what goes through her mind Sophia, which is half my problem,” he said in his defence making her laugh.
“Oh, you mean for once you would have to work on your charm and woo her just like any other man who has lost his heart to a girl?” Sophia said chuckling again and in doing so annoying her brother further. Which, by all accounts, was one of her favourite pastimes. But I knew that wasn’t why she did it this time. No, because if there was one thing Sophia has always strived to do and that was to see both her brothers find happiness, as she had found.
“I am glad you find this so amusing!” he snapped making her laugh again, only this time it wasn’t a mocking sound.
“Believe it or not Dom, I am trying to help you.”
“I think you have interfered enough, Sophia,” Draven said, running a frustrated hand through his hair.
“I disagree, for if it wasn’t for me then you would still be watching her from afar and she would be collecting her pension by the time you declared it safe enough.” Draven let out a groan telling her she was being ridiculous now.
“I think you give far too much credit to my patience and one where there is little left,” he responded, making me smile.
“Then what are you waiting for? Dom, come on, she is right there in front of you, all you would need to do is speak to her and she would be yours,” Sophia argued, and I blushed knowing that they knew it would have been that easy. I watched as Draven’s fists clenched by his sides as if he was holding himself back from doing just that. He followed my movements as my shift had come to an end and his moments to do as Sophia suggested were dwindling down by the second.
“He’s not going to do it,” I said in a sad tone before looking down at my new friend, who I found looking back up at me. It cocked its head to the side and as if it just understood me it started to comfort me by nuzzling against my leg.
“And what would I say, Sophia?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe do something normal for once and ask her out on a date, maybe to join you for a drink. Hell’s harpies, Dom, it’s not like I am suggesting you propose marriage to the girl. Just for you to give her the chance to see you as someone other than her boss, one she is clearly intimidated by,” Sophia argued trying to push him into action. For a second, he looked as if he was even thinking about it but just like Draven, he chose what he believed was my safety above what he wanted.
“No, not until the time is right,” he said, watching as I slipped on my jacket and hooked my bag across my torso, so it hung at my side. Then I bit my lip as I took in his purple gaze burning bright as he saw me say goodbye to the others, before turning to steel as I stole one last gaze to the VIP. Just before my eyes could focus, he took a step back hiding himself from view, making Sophia release a heavy sigh, shaking her head in disappointment.
“Still think she isn’t longing to be here?” Sophia said driving her point home at the sight of my actions.
“She isn’t ready…and neither am I!” he snapped the second I was out of the main doors of Afterlife. Then he stormed past her and the vision of me that was witnessing all of this, until he disappeared out of the balcony, no doubt so that he could see me safely to my truck.
“I take it by your pout and his scowl that you found no joy in your meddling yet again?” I spun around the second I heard Vincent’s velvety voice. There he was in all his handsome glory, looking casual but smart in an open white shirt, with a faded grey motorcycle t-shirt underneath. I could only just make out the design being the outline of a white sports bike with the name Ducati across it. His shirt sleeves were rolled up his forearms displaying strong corded, pale muscles and a leather band strapped around one wrist. To this delicious top half, he added faded stonewash jeans, a dark brown belt and biker boots peeking out from under the frayed length of denim by his feet. He looked as though he belonged on the front cover of a magazine, gracing the world with his beautiful handsome image.
“I just don’t understand him,” she complained making Vincent sigh before resting a hand on her shoulder in comfort.
“Sophia.” He said her name as if she was missing something major.
“What?” she said turning her back now from the balcony door Draven had gone through.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Obviously not,” she snapped, making him laugh and shake his head at her.
“You may not understand him, but you must remember that he also doesn’t understand himself.”
“Get to the point Brother, before your halo needs changing it’s so old,” she said cocking a hip out. He smirked and flicked her nose before telling her.
“He has never felt this way. He is having emotions that are out of his control and he is faced with a woman he wants almost as much as he wants to keep her from harm. He is not like us.” She frowned as she thought about it for a moment, focusing on what he had said last.
“You mean his Angel and Demon sides?”
“Yes, for can you not see it?” he replied, making her look back over her shoulder as if she could see Draven through the glass.
“In all the time we have been on this earth, when have you ever seen him battle against his nature like this? When have you ever seen his Angel side at war with his Demon?” Vincent said shocking me to the core. Was it possible that this was what I needed to witness or just a stepping stone to a greater understanding?
“You think his Demon wants him to take her, but his Angel is fighting against it?” she asked.
“For fear of her getting hurt like not long ago, yes, I believe this is why he has retreated further from her. You know what Dom is like, he is the epitome of control and having Keira in his life, now strips him of that, for you can never control what you love…it doesn’t work that way.”
“And our dear brother is learning this the hard way,” Vincent added when he saw his brother storm through the doors in what looked like a foul mood, without giving them both so much as a glance.
“How did you get so smart, eh?” she teased elbowing him in the ribs before turning around to face him again. He shrugged his shoulders and grinned.
“Well, my dear sister and little package of demonic mischief, I like to think I excel in an area neither of my siblings do.”
“Oh yeah and what’s that, how to hogtie a female in under ten seconds, because I wouldn’t really consider that a skill when wooing a girl?” He gave her a cheeky grin in response before saying,
“You would be surprised but no, I was speaking of patience.”
“Oh, I think he is exercising that in bucket loads, that’s kind of the problem here, Vince,” she replied sarcastically.
“I mean patience when dealing with the human girl and when speaking with her, not choosing when to strike in taking her against her will, something I know for a fact won’t be long in coming.” Sophia’s eyes lit up and she couldn’t help but ask,
“Oh, you know that for a fact do you?” Vincent smirked down at her and then leant in to whisper,
“Yes, for I know what just arrived and awaits him on his desk.”
“And that would be?” she enquired in that, ‘tell me now or I will use my nails and teeth’ type of tone. Even I held my breath as he first looked around to see if anyone was in earshot and when he deemed it safe enough, he leaned further into her and said the words that sent chills through my core and left me unable to breathe…
“Keira’s case file.” So once again I found myself collapsing to my knees as a hopelessness washed over me. The rabbit jumped back in surprise, but the second it saw me lower my head in defeat it hopped back over to me and forced itself under my hands held in my lap so I was now holding it. The second it did this I started to feel better, but nothing was strong enough to get the bitter taste of bile out of my mouth.
This I knew was, at the time, a huge sore spot for me. I remembered the first time and how it felt hearing that Draven had read the file, as it was one of the most devastating things to have happened. I hated that he ever saw me that way or seeing pictures of the crime scene, knowing where he had kept me. Even seeing that room Morgan had upstairs dedicated to me and my image. It was utterly sickening.
“Now that does change things…indeed,” Sophia said sounding almost gleeful.
“So, there you have it, the single thread of patience for you to snap easily and the one you were waiting for,” Vincent told her what she already knew.
“And for Dom…” she started to muse, but Vincent finished it off for her.
“The excuse he was also looking for. Taking the girl and making her his forever, as now he will easily believe the girl’s safety is one best served by his side,” Vincent said with a smirk as he too looked happy about this. But then again, I couldn’t imagine it had been an easy time for either of them to watch as their brother went through such a hard time.
“And it is,” she agreed meaning that Vincent did also, when he said,
“Undoubtedly.”
“Right, now go… go and convince him of such, for you know me, if I do it, I will only end up pissing him off further, but you he will at least listen to,” Sophia said pushing him in that direction, making him laugh. He did as she said and started to walk towards the imposing entrance to their home when he called back over his shoulder,
“Oh, and Sophia…”
“Yes, my dear brother of mine?” she replied sweetly now she was happy and he had been the cause. He granted her a bad boy smirk, then said,
“They never complain.” Then he laughed at her revolted expression at his reference to the comment made about hog tying girls. This made me blush as though my cheeks were on fire and could have cooked eggs, even though no one could see me there. Sophia first pulled a face of disgust and then smiled as she thought of a comeback.
“No, that’s because you punish them if they do, that or they usually have a gag in their mouth… so that doesn’t count!” Sophia shouted back on a laugh, making Vincent chuckle as he walked away, now in search of his pissed off brother.
That just left Sophia standing there shaking her head in amusement for a second at Vincent. But then you could see the cogs start to turn as to what this new information could mean. Then me and my new furry friend both watched as she walked over to the railings where her brother had not long ago vacated. She then looked out to the club and said,
“Soon my dear sister…soon.” This was said just as the lights below switched off one by one, before she turned around and left the VIP the way Vincent had. Thus, now leaving me with tears streaming down my cheeks and utterly astounded at the level of love that girl had for me, even back then. How much I owed to her from the very beginning just blew me away.
I looked down at my green-eyed friend who was wrinkling its little button nose as if it too had been affected by the touching scene. Then it took a sigh before hopping off my lap and making its way towards the balcony. I wondered where it was going now so decided to get up and follow it, hoping it would lead me to another insight like this one. I couldn’t describe what it felt like just seeing what Draven had gone through in that tender fragile beginning.
I think, because I only ever knew of the heartache and obsessing I had gone through myself, it was difficult to imagine Draven going through the same. So, now having the gift of seeing it for myself…well, then it felt as if I had just found some secret treasure, one that without the witness circle would have been guarded for the rest of eternity.
I couldn’t help but glance once more at the door Draven had walked through. Now wondering what would happen if I followed through with what I wanted to do and walked through that door instead. Would I find him there, hunched over his desk with my nightmare past spread out in front of him? To find him looking shocked at all the details and now having a face to loath and direct all your hatred on.
Well, in the end this was definitely one thought that had me following the rabbit instead of giving into my curiosity.
So, I held my breath and the second the doors whooshed open, I stepped through wondering where, on this strange journey of discovery, it would take me next.
Problem was, I soon found out where…
And it was Hell.