Sorry for taking so long to update! Here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it! I do not own The Nine Lives of Chloe King…believe me…I wish. Thank you for all the amazing reviews, alerts, and favorites. They make me so happy!
The next morning I woke up with the light shining through the blinds and into my eyes. It took me a few moments to realize I was in the guest bedroom of Valentina's. My headache had faded and the rest of my body felt sore as though it was just another night of training. I was surprised and also relieved that I had healed so quickly. I rose up, wincing slightly at the sharp pain that still shot through my body. I lifted my shirt to see that my wounds had definitely not healed yet, but I didn't mind as long as most of the pain was bearable.
I sat on the edge of the bed, reaching over to the night stand and grabbing the glass of water from the previous night. While drinking, I remembered how kind Alek had been so kind in assisting me. I put the glass back down and went to get up, still wincing at the pain. It was pretty severe now that I was alert, I guess laying down seemed to help, but I was hungry and mainly I needed to thank everyone for all that they had done for me.
I put my hand on my stomach, squinting my eyes as I went to get up when the door opened.
"Oh no you don't!" Alek swiftly made his way to my side, placing his hands gently on each of my shoulders, pushing me back down into my sitting position. "You need to stay in bed and rest today."
I looked over at him. "I have to…" I started, but he cut me off.
"Whatever you have to do can wait, for now you need to rest. I'll be right back with your breakfast. Sit back, please." He said, his voice sweet and gentle. As much as I wanted to get up, I knew that I would be forced to lay back down. I sighed, giving up.
I scooted myself onto the bed, my back against the headboard. My arms were still too sore to move them to adjust the pillows, but this would have to do. A few minutes later, Alek was back in my room with a bed table in hand. He put it down in front of me. I looked down to see pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs and a glass of milk.
"Wow, thanks. You did not have to do all of this." I said. I was astonished at the lengths they had all gone for me, especially Alek.
"Chloe, it's okay." He said assuring me that this was fine. "Hold on, that can't be comfortable." He leaned over me, adjusting the pillows that were behind my back before sitting on the bed next to me as I ate, not saying one word. I could tell that he was in deep thought about something.
I was also in deep thought about what had happened. It was still a shock to me. I remembered everything as if it had happened only moments ago.
When I finished breakfast, Alek took my tray and left the room. Just as soon as he left, he returned, this time Valentina and Jasmine alongside him. They all sat on the bed, looking at me and I knew exactly what was coming.
"Chloe, we need to know exactly what happened the other night." The one to break the silence was Valentina, not surprisingly.
I exhaled a breath I did not know I was holding. "It's all very blurry." I lied. I don't know why I lied, but I did and I felt horrible about it. "I remember there being two of them…I don't know how I escaped." I was looking down at my hands which happened to be shaking.
"Did one of them happen to be that human you left with after you closed shop at work?" This was Alek, pure agitation in his voice. I saw his knuckles white and his hands balled into fists.
"No!" I more or less shouted. Jasmine stunned at how quickly and loud I had answered. Valentina pursed her lips and Alek looked at me with disbelief. I knew my outburst was a huge mistake. "Me and Brian got into an argument and I left and then I was going to training and it happened on the way there. I was taking a shortcut and was just caught off guard." I said quickly, hoping they would believe me.
I could tell Alek still didn't believe me, but he seemed to drop the Brian issue. I still didn't know why I had lied. I don't know if it's because I couldn't believe that Brian had actually caused this or that…I don't know.
"Regardless of who did this, we know they were a part of the Order which means you need to be extremely careful and on constant surveillance. While your mother is gone you will take residency here and there will be no questions about it." Valentina told me in her stern voice. It was not a suggestion, it was an order.
I simply nodded. There was no arguing with Valentina. They all tried to get more details out of me, but for some reason I lied and told them everything was this giant blur, but if I did remember any more details I would tell them.
Valentina and Jasmine had left the room, leaving just Alek and I. I had turned on the TV and we both watched that, neither of us really saying anything. Alek looked at me every once in a while with one of his questioning stares. There were a few moments when I thought I would crack and tell him what really happened.
"Remember anything yet?" Alek asked. His voice was cold, he knew that something was up.
"N..no." I stuttered. I knew I wouldn't be able to hold this secret for much longer, I didn't even know why I was. I heard Alek scoff at my answer and return his stare back at the TV.
A few hours later, Valentina walked into room, Jasmine right behind her. They were both dressed in business like outfits. She focused her attention more on Alek.
"Some of the other prides have agreed to meet. It's time that we strike back against the order. This is it. I'm taking Jasmine with me and I am trusting that you will keep Chloe safe no matter what. Neither of you are to leave this apartment. We're meeting down in LA tonight so we need to take the next flight. I mean it Alek, this apartment and nowhere else for the next few days. We shouldn't be gone more than three days."
I couldn't believe her stern orders. Three days? I looked at Alek, but he was already giving Valentina his word. Valentina gave me one of her 'obey my orders' looks, so I shut my mouth. She left with Jasmine a few minutes later, I took a deep breath and sighed, clearly annoyed.
"You know, I can take care of myself, and I have a job that I can't ignore not to mention school!" I rambled.
"I'm sure Valentina has taken care of that, as a matter of fact she did earlier. Regardless of this situation, you would have been kept here. You are in no condition to do anything."
I listened to him go on about the importance of my protection. When he was done I simply crossed my arms and pushing myself back into the headboard in a little tantrum.
"Chloe, I know you remember…" He drew out. I simply turned my head the other way. "Please, tell me what happened."
"No! I don't remember! Stop trying to force things I don't remember out of me. If I remember, I will tell you. Please stop!" I was angry; I didn't mean to shoot that anger towards Alek. I was mainly mad at Brian. I had so many feelings roaming throughout my body right now I felt I could burst.
The rest of the day we sat in silence. I was bored and I ended up laying down, it was too uncomfortable to sit up anymore. Alek took really good care of me, making sure I got plenty of fluids and making me dinner.
That night we went to bed, Alek went to his own room. He was practically giving me the silent treatment. I know he knew I wasn't telling the truth. He tried to shrug it off as best as he could, by pretending to believe me, but I could tell he didn't. I was exhausted so I decided that I might as well use this time to sleep. It was going to be a long three days.
As I drifted off into my sleep, the events from the night before began replaying into my dreams.
"Now Chloe, you must have known it would have come down to something like this sooner or later." He reached out a hand, running it down my cheek. I turned my head to look the other way. "Especially since my father leads the Order."
Alek's POV
That night, I lay in bed. It was a restless night. I knew that Chloe was not being truthful with any of us. It really hurt. She tried to assure me over and over that she was telling the truth…even becoming angry with me at one point. I didn't question her again. I was trying to put all the pieces together in my mind of what could have possibly happened. Most of the night went by, me pacing in my room.
I knew Chloe was headstrong and once she made her mind up, there would be no more questioning. I didn't care. One way or the other I was going to get the truth from her. She was stuck here for three days.
I was still very worried about Chloe. She was still in pain an it only numbed when she was laying down. She took a very severe beating and is extremely lucky to still have this life. I stopped pacing when I heard heavy breathing and whimpering coming from Chloe's room.
"Brian! No! Please!" I heard her scream. I ran as fast as I could, busting through the door only to see that she was in a deep sleep, writhing in the sheets, tears coming out of shut eyes. I ran to her side.
"Chloe, wake up! Wake up! It's just a dream!" I shook her, trying to wake her from her nightmare. She finally jolted awake, gasping. I brushed a few strands of hair that were sticking to her sweaty forehead out of the way.
"Alek!" She shot up, hugging me and bursting into tears. I comforted her as she wrapped her arms around my neck. I rubbed her back, trying to calm her until I remembered what she had said.
It was then that I was able to piece it all together. Chloe had a nightmare the morning of. She refused to talk about it. She left work and went out with Brian. She was just pleading for Brian's mercy in this nightmare. I clenched my jaw, releasing her from my arms. I looked into her eyes, full of fear from the dream…or memory she had just relived. My eyes turned to stone.
"Alek…wha…what's wrong?" She stuttered again. She knew. I just shook my head at her in disbelief that she could keep this from me. The one that have saved her. I got up from the bed, she grasped my arm and I shook it off of me. I was pissed.
"How could you lie to me?" I shouted. I was clenching and releasing my fists, standing my ground.
"Alek! Please!" I didn't let her finish, I stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me. It took everything in me not to leave the apartment and find Brian right then and there to kill him. I looked at the clock in the living room, it was about the time we would be getting up right now anyways so I made my way into the kitchen. I heard Chloe's footsteps hit the floor as she ran out of the room.
"Alek! Wait, let me explain…please!" I gripped onto the edge of the counter as she made her way in.
If I continued this chapter would be equivalent to two. So I'm going to stop here, and split it into two. I'm not picky when it comes to reviews, but I would like to see at least ten before I post the next chapter later tonight.
Thank you J-M-S123 for clearing up that question. I didn't like how the book ended either. I'm glad the show is planning on taking a different spin. Chalek FTW hopefully!