Chapter 6

Over the next few days, Jason called at least twice a day and finally it went down to one and then stopped when I started to eventually hung up on him when he started teasing me about the attack and how I still got hurt. I hadn't confided in Lynn on the conversation Arubey Karew and I had, I felt stupid whenever I thought about it and betrayed by my castle's prince… I cringed the first few times I thought that line. Twice a day, in the morning before dawn and at night after sunset I changed into shorts and a sports bra and went for a two mile run. Duane and Lynn got their run in at mid-day and stopped for ice cream- I just jumped into the river or sat on the beach wondering what Arubey, Nick, and Chris had been doing on the other side that day the four attacked. Our attack made headlines for a couple days and finally stopped. In late June I got a call from Heather and I hung up on her when she mentioned the demon part of my blood. Finally Duane changed the house number and his e-mail- I did too and then I changed my cell number as well. Running four miles a day made Duane wonder what was wrong and I convinced him I just too much energy I needed to burn off and he backed off for a while. The second book hit stores on July thirteenth and made the top ten within two days. I told Abby that I would make a public appearance when I finished high school and my website had kids talking about how old I really was, knowing I was a female from somewhere in California. It was funny to read the messages people wrote on my book's website. I laughed a few times, smiled most.

Over the next few weeks I worked harder then ever and got the third book half way done and I decided to be done for a full week and then work like mad to catch back up. I turned off my computer and unplugged it to not waste energy and left my room, with the door closed and went outside. I walked the beach for about an hour going down far enough and then coming back for a half an hour length or so. I stopped at the waters edge on Duane's property and stepped into the water and kept going but my feet refused to get wet- I jumped back and went to the house.

I had been walking on water.

I called Nathan using the phone from a pulic library an hour after the shock wore off and he answered and seemed surprised to hear it was from me. I told him about walking on water and he told me that his family experiences special gifts. He asked if I had died yet and I hung up making the woman, down the table, look up and ask if everything was alright. I shrugged and said it depended and I left. I drove home to Duane and Lynn's house slowly because my mind was too full of stuff of the day's events that I didn't feel like getting into an accident. I made it home and waited for a moment as Lynn pulled in behind me. We had met at the intersection ad she followed me home; I helped her with groceries and listened as she complained of the people asking if we had recovered from the attack. Eric was back working now- Duane was back to his job as well, leaving me home alone for several hours a day. With the freedom of no parental supervision I had my music on louder then I normally could back in New York because Terry was obsessed with studying and boring shit like that. Jason said my taste in music was pitiful- I said his was the kind that the elderly listen too. It never made sense but he took mine.

The soundtrack to a comedy movie started when the phone rang, I sighed and turned it down and answered it. "Hello?"

"Kyra, its Jack Travis." I laughed.

"Jack, it's been so long!"

He chuckled, "I know. What are you doing tomorrow- Friday?"

I frowned, "I- nothing to be honest. In New York I was usually being chased around the house by now; why?"

"I'm in Los Angeles for a business meeting for my lazy father- wanna meet up or should I pick you up?" he asked me.

I smiled, "Come and get me," I said and gave him the address and we spoke for a little while… without the mention of the attacks. We hung up about ten minutes later and I went outside suddenly happy I was home alone: I could smile without someone asking why.

….

When Duane got home I was still outside, I had seen Wesley come home and I waved to him when he looked over at me. He gave me a unsure wave back and went inside. "Guess what?" I said happily as Duane neared me.

He grinned, "You cleaned your room?"

I frowned and laughed, "Yeah right!" I teased him. "I have a dinner date Friday, do you mind?"

"With Eddy or Travis?"

"Neither. His name is Jack and we met at Gina's wedding to Shane- we've been friends for a very long time and his family is wonderful. Grandpa, please… it's been a long time since we went out together, as friends," I added for his benefit.

"How old is he?"

"Not much older then me and he knows my age, please Duane Darkline?" he stared at me with a look that made my heart stop because I had a suspicion that he'd say no.

He groaned and opened his house door and let himself in, I waited on the porch for several minutes and then he came back out. He was wearing running shorts and thick sleeve tank top. He grunted and ran off to run his own two miles, a mile there and a mile back to the house and two miles to wait for my answer. After he left I called my mother and informed her of Jack's invitation and she went silent too.

Finally after several minutes of silence, she said. "Kyra, he's much older then you-."

"So? Shane is older then you, you know."

She glared into the phone, "That's not the point, at least I'm older then eighteen-."

"Mom, my b-day is August 11th, I'm seventeen this year. And besides Duane is my legal guardian now, remember? He's the man-of-the-house," I teased Duane's honour for a moment then waited.

Gina is an early thirty year old woman with six children, she's protective of us all, but when it came to a wealthy family one of us could move into, she wanted to risk that chance. "Sure, you can and I'll talk to my dad when he gets in, hear his answer first- if it's a 'no' tell him to call me."

"Okay." Money wasn't an issue with me; I hated talking about it, think it, breathing it even. I knew that Shane would never file for bankruptcy so deep down that's why I never worried. With Nathan, mom and I were always counting pennies and when she met Shane, our dreams became a reality. I knew that if the boys picked up their grades, they'd be forced to go to college or they'd join the military or navy…. When the girls are older, they'd be pressured to make life decisions and I knew that they are going to grow up rich and die rich. To most people in the world, they worried throughout their lives if they could afford the next tank of gas or the weeks groceries… being Shane's step-daughter I'd never have to worry about that and I felt like a fool for thinking it. I hated myself so if I promised myself that if I had any reason at all that made me want to hate Jack, I would make it known to him- and to my mother that we'd never happen.

Duane arrived back from his run just then, he was out of breath and I got him the gallon jug of water and he drank half of it. "You can go," he muttered and straightened up and went inside.

…

That night I ran three miles and the next morning, the day of; I ran another three instead of two- I showered in cold water to cool my body down and exited to find Jack waiting for me in my room. I smiled and ran to him; he hugged me and complimented me on my room style. I have a futon instead of a bed; my sheets, blanket, and pillow are black. My walls are dark blue and my window has a thick red curtain to pull over it. My floor is a hard wood protected by some wood covering stuff and my closet is a walk in. I liked Arubey's room more.

Jack wore khakis Capri's and a bright beach shirt with a sun where the heart would be- the buttons of his shirt went down but they were only buttoned to revel his throat, the top four were undone- I sat in his lap as he kissed my cheek and held his arms around my lower back. I had on only the tan pants and towel around my chest- I had seen how his face had lit up when he saw me enter the room half dressed.

Jack Travis asked how my parents were and I clearly mentioned Shane's name and kept out Nathan's. I got up off his lap as I kept my back turned to him so I could get dressed all the way as I talked about my brothers and sisters. I told him how Jason was the worst one of the group of us and I went through examples of things he's done to his younger, more vulnerable siblings. I did mention how he was caring though and that he showed that to me personally.

Jack only smiled and stood up; he came over to me and took my hands. "Do you want to go to breakfast, lunch or dinner?"

"Well I thought we were going to dinner tonight," I said. "Do they know you're down here?"

He smiled and shook his head, "do you think they'd let me be here alone with you?" he asked, he interlocked our fingers and used that to pull me towards him more. He kissed my forehead and I lay my head on his warm chest; he pulled me towards him as we went to sit on the futon again. I sat with my legs across his lap. "So, what were your plans today before I came to kidnap you for about fifteen hours?" I smiled, fifteen hours with Jack was a dream- but that meant I'd be away from my castle for most of it, probably.

Nevertheless I never got a chance to answer because he kissed me on the mouth never separating my lips, he stopped for some reason, but I had to say it. "You do remember my age right? When we leave this house you're responsible for me?"

He frowned, I hated it when I made him sad, "I know Kyra, I wouldn't do anything to hurt you." Then he smiled, "When you get older," he ran his fingers from my hair line to my cheek and down my neck between my breasts and then moved me so my legs where on either side of him. "I'm going to come back for you and we'll go to either Paris or London- depending on which one is in season more. Paris during the fall and London for summer, I'm personally leaning towards Paris in the fall though. You in French class?" I smiled and nodded.

I told him my French class plans, "I took French one last in my freshman year, second in my sophomore and I'm in French three this coming year." Then I smiled again, but in a different way, I bit my lip then asked, "What are we going to do in either London or Paris?"

"Everything, including…" he leaned into my ear and whispered that we'd make love under the full moon all night, which made me giggle. He sat back. "We'd walk around and- this is in a few years when you're legal, then on my private plane, we'd make out a few times for a few hours and as we land-."

"Jack," I interrupted. I hated that I had, but I didn't want to know what he was going to say, "I know it may seem… odd to hear this, but don't wait for me." he scowled, "Please Jack Travis, do not wait for me- I'll take a long time to be ready for you."

"You don't have to be ready for me Kyra; you just have to be available." He scoffed, and then he frowned when he said. "You're not interested in me are you- I'm too old." He was slightly teasing both of us, he was too old, I'm too young for him.

I sighed and damned myself for even speaking, I kissed him and I made my body give in for nearly twenty minutes. The time went by fast. We had to stop to breathe, well he did. I pressed my hand innocently against his heart and felt it beating rapidly. As we stared at each other it slowed to a normal pace- randomly skipping a beat every few moments. I moved my fingers over his arm and he breathed in and then moved me down so he could be on me. "All three," he looked confused so I elaborated. "I want to go to all three, but can we have breakfast here with Duane, Lynn, and Eric?" he smiled and nodded. "Lunch and dinner… they are up to you."

"On me?"

"Only if you want to Jack, it's not like I can't-." he kissed me smiling- this time our lips parted and he pressed his hand to the side of my head to hold it in place. I put my hand to his neck, my finger felt his heart rate race again; I cupped my palm against his skin….

That evening Jack and I were gone from the house and at the beach, nearly an hour away from Duane and Lynn's house. I was now in a long skirt that fit in with the beach when he had told me where we were going for dinner; my childhood love had arraigned for a beach dinner with a seafood pasta and white wine. We had already eaten and now we were sitting together talking, I was sitting in front of him as he played with my fingers. We sat on a beach chair and I, in his lap, the sun was setting and it was beautiful- he wrapped his arms around me and held me close to his front. He pulled me up closer to him and kissed my cheek.

I smiled, "This was the best night I've had since I moved here." I told him, he chuckled. "Jack, I want to finish school here and take one semester of college, at least." He didn't say anything, "I want you to do something for me."

"I'm waiting for you Kyra Erix, no matter what you say."

"Just shut up and listen," I mumbled and I got up for a second as I sat back down so I could more easily read his expressions. I sat how he would want me to, with a leg on either side and my hands on his lower stomach. "I'm not seeing anyone now, but Duane and Lynn would not approve of you and me together-."

"But your mom, Gina- she introduced-." I kissed him to make his stop talking.

He was silent again, "I said to shut up, at least I heard myself say it- I don't know about you." I growled, he frowned and put his hands on my thighs and moved them upward. "I trying to be honest with you Jack, I hate lying to you and I won't- I swear I never have and I refuse to start now. I need time to start and then finish my life-."

"I'm not getting any younger Kyra," he snapped. Angry, that's what I wanted to avoid. All Travis males have a short temper; so do I.

I frowned and grabbed his shirt in my fists, "Jack Travis. I am too young for you; go find someone that can actually make you happy. If your hearts desire is still me in five years, then great- call me, but don't wait for me!"

"I can and I will."

"Then you're wasting your time-."

"Who is he?" he snapped.

My head immediately flashed to Arubey's face but I forced his face and name from my head. I could never have Arubey and he could never have me- we were too different and obviously didn't get along. So I muttered, "There isn't anyone, no guy, no… crush- anything. Jack when we met I was eight years old and you were thirteen, you just reached the legal drinking age and I'm not even allowed to vote for another year."

"Give me tonight yet and I can change your mind."

"To do what- runaway? What about my grandparents and Eric? My mother and father, my brothers and sisters, I got an e-mail last night saying Gina got Dana and Rachael a… Jack Russell Terrier named Tiffany. Eric's dog is living with Nathan's older brother, Charlie- he lives here in Los Angeles actually." I muttered to myself mostly.

Jack stood up with my legs around his waist, he kept his arm around me so I wouldn't get down- I wanted too so bad to not be there anymore but I wanted answers about something- anything. He walked for nearly four minutes with me around his waist, he hands cold on my skin under my skirt- not touching anything. He walked us over to the large deformed rocks and let me go. We were alone and I knew what he wanted us to do, I wasn't a mind reader, but I could read his expression clearly. He wanted inside of me, to feel my naked body under him- on that beach, that night.

We heard a cell phone go off, I started to go but he grabbed my wrist. "Leave it," he whispered and pulled me back towards him, he kissed me like he never had before and pushed me gently against the nearest rock. It was hard to breathe for him as he did nothing but kiss me. I regretted wearing the skirt, but jeans on beaches didn't suit me well. I damned myself for being stupid. He placed his hand as low as he could and used his fingers to move the skirt up.

"What if the call was important?" I whispered when he kissed my neck.

"Screw the caller," he whispered and smiled against my skin and held me tighter. He cupped my muscled thigh in his hand and moved it around his waist.

I heard his cell phone go off again and I pushed him off of me, they wouldn't be unless if it was important- I thought. He growled and said something but I had already reached the table and cell. "Hello?"

"Who is this? Who are you Miss?"

I recognized Gage's voice, "Gage, it's Kyra Darkline, do you remember me?"

He laughed suddenly, "Hello Kyra- where is the hell is Jack?"

"Pouting somewhere," I told him truthfully. Jack came over and kissed my neck. "What's up?"

"It's Haven, my sister- she's in trouble. I need to steal my brother."

I was cheering inside, "Oh no, what happened?"

"Her boyfriend, that's what happened." According to Jack, Haven's boyfriend was a Las Vegas Casino son, rich and from a good family- but meant shit to him. He's rude and sexually disgusting. Haven had tried to break off their relationship and he took out his anger on her.

I turned to Jack, "You have to get to Haven Jack."

"Gage will take care of her-."

"Dammit Jack, she's your sister and if you don't go I swear to god I never speak to you again." I yelled, "Do not turn into someone your not and do NOT choose me over your family. You only get one Jack Travis and by choosing me, you make a huge mistake!" I said in his face.

He frowned, I had forgotten that Gage was listening, "I'm taking you home and then I'll call you on the plane. Got it?"

"Yes, let's go and when you land call me and let me know how Haven is- I miss her, I'll ask Shane if he can help-."

"No, let Gage, dad, Joe, and I handle this Vegas." That's what they call him, Vegas. His real name in Bart English Jr. the second. I hung up on Gage without realizing it and I ran to the car with Jack behind me.