Chapter Twenty One

Two months later…

Lights flashed as the music filled the air. Bodies jumped and danced around on the first floor. In the front of the club of Nightfall, the DJ moved to the beat of her own music. The crowd was huge tonight and there was no stopping the mass. Everyone was either dancing to their hearts content or dining up on the second floor.

Pushing past the other waitresses and sliding in through the swinging doors, Paige hustled past the bodies as she brought her tray down to take food. Two more girls flanked her left as they grabbed their orders. The chef on the other end of the table slid out another array of exotic food which was part of Paige's ticket. Thanking the man, she lifted her tray back on her shoulder and followed a line of black outside. Tonight was busier than usual. Guess that's what happened when the boss held an open event. While men were dressed in suites and women in fancy corset dresses, everyone downstairs were partying in masquerade masks.

As Paige passed the steel railing, she glanced down below at all of those people having fun. Watching them dance like there was no tomorrow made her smile. Even as she served her table and checked on another one she could stop watching the first floor. Her break was in ten minutes so she would go down to relax a bit. Connor would be more than happy to whip something up. Thinking of the bartender who had a crush on her caused her cheeks to burn.

Noticing one of her tables empty, Paige practically skipped over and collected her tip. There weren't any busboys up here so she juggled the plates on her tray. One of the other waiters helped her out and they headed back to the kitchen. Paige was about to push the doors open when her tray was lifted off her shoulder. Both she and the waiter glanced to see who it was when the waiter took the tray and left with a grin.

Standing to her side was the owner of Nightfall.

Staring up at the six-foot seven man had Paige recalling her interview two months ago. Her old job just wasn't cutting and it was difficult to get a second one. The thought of finding a much cheaper apartment wormed its way into her head when she saw a help wanted online. Clicking it immediately and doing the application online, Paige got a call the next day for an interview. She nearly panicked when it turned out she would be talking to the man who owned the club. But all in all, she made a great impression and was hired five minutes later. Employees at Nightfall got paid twice as much along with better benefits. Keeping the diner job was pointless so she quit.

"Sir," greeted Paige.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me 'sir'? It makes me feel old."

Paige mentally sounded out her employer's business name and kept herself from rolling her eyes. "Right. Is there anything you need, Jaga?"

Thinking of his name had Paige glancing at the masquerade mask tied loosely around his neck. Shaped as a feline, rosette patterns were scattered over the tawny yellow mask. The color of the jaguar masked actually matched Jaga's hair color.

"Lily's coming in early so you can take the rest of the night off." Jaga held up his hand. "And before you start arguing, you need a break. You've been working nonstop from day one. If I'd known better, you're trying to keep yourself occupied."

She wasn't ready to admit it but he was right. Paige had been doing everything in her power to keep herself from thinking of Meg's death. Her job helped the most during the night. As for during the day, Paige did her best to distract herself by going to a support group she found. She still couldn't remember why she started using heroin and she didn't care. All she knew was that she was clean and was working on staying that way.

Jaga raised his mask over his face. Covered in nothing but black, the mask made him appear deadly. Even the way how his brown eyes seemed to brighten thanks to the flashing lights gave off a predator gaze. Figuring he wouldn't let up on this, she conceded and was rewarded by a sharp smile. Giving her a pat on the shoulder, her boss headed back to wherever he came from. Even the way how he walked had a feline grace to it.

Paige headed over to the entrance of the second floor and quickly tapped some buttons so she could clock out. The hostess waved goodbye which Paige returned as she hopped down the stairs. More guests in the same outfits climbed up the velvet covered stairs. Reaching where the carpet ended and the solid floor began, Paige weaved past the partiers until she found herself in front of the bar. Connor was making a drink for a woman wearing a mask covered in black and red scales. Two fangs hung over the front. Giving Connor a sexy grin, she danced around Paige to join her friends.

"I'm heading out."

"Now? But it's not even halfway."

"Lily's early and boss's orders."

Before Paige could say her farewell, Connor asked his partner to man the front. He was on the other side of the stand by the time she blinked. Connor waved his hand to the front like he was some kind of gentleman. Paige giggled as she headed to the front doors. It took the two of them a few extra minutes considering more people were flocking into the club. By the time Paige and Connor got outside, there was a line of people waiting to be let in. They also wore masks of all kinds.

"Need a cab to get home?"

"I'm good. A bit of fresh air won't kill me."

Connor didn't look satisfied so Paige gave him a quick hug. He relaxed from the contact and was probably seeing hearts as she began jogging her way across the street. By the time Paige was three blocks away from Nightfall, she slowed her pace and let out a long sigh.

Eight weeks. Eight weeks since the day she put her sister in the ground next to her parents' graves. The memory always had her stomach rolling. No surprise that the only person to show up at the funeral was the priest. Paige didn't bother going to the law firm Meg once worked at. It would've just caused more trouble than needed.

Paige continued to walk down the street as her mind continued to replay the funeral. Every time she felt sick to her stomach, it wasn't because the memory was distasteful. It was just that it felt like something was missing. And every time she thought of this emptiness, her chest hurt seconds later.

Something about that day didn't feel right.

Too bad she could never think of why.

Dhusk wiped his lips as he sat back in his seat. The male was barely away of the Chosen excusing herself and leaving. Once she closed the door behind her, he made sure to wipe the last trace of blood off of him. Thinking of taking a female's vein and it not being Paige's always sent him in a frenzy he could barely control.

Ever since his father erased her memories and took her back home, Dhusk had been on watched twenty-four seven. Part of it was his fault considering his switch flipped six times on the field the first week. Then again, the male was starting to welcome the numbing sensation whenever he wasn't his real self. It made things more bearable.

Since he wasn't on patrol tonight or assisting the classes, he stood up from his seat and stalked over to the window. Dawn would be up in a few hours. Surely the others were heading back to the mansion for Last Meal. Thinking of going down and pretending like everything was alright didn't settle well with him. Watching all of the males happy with their females was another trigger for him flip.

It was a constant reminder that his female was out there with no memory of him.

Dhusk had to constantly remind himself that it was for her own good. After the first two weeks of no flying objects was all the Brotherhood needed to know her ability would never show again. Besides knowing the arrangement was working, Dhusk didn't know what was going on with her. Those who had been watching her didn't tell him what was going on in her life. Not knowing was driving the male insane that he feared he might do something impulsive.

"Dhusk."

The dark voice came from behind the male. He didn't bother turning around.

"Hhavoc says you're causing a storm. Take it down a notch."

A frustrated growl came from Dhusk as he attempted to rein in his growing temper.

"Keep going like this and I don't know if my father will feel safe of letting you back on the streets," said Fhear.

"I don't care what Wrath thinks. All he's concerned about is making sure I never see Paige. Keeping me off the streets might actually solve his problem."

There was a bit of venom in the male's voice and Fhear picked up on it. The prince made a disapproving sound and approached Dhusk. He gave his prince a warning growl which he ignored. Even when Dhusk casted a dangerous glare Fhear didn't flinch under it. He simply approached the male with complete ease.

"I'm going to do you a favor. Promise to cool down if I tell you what's going on with Paige?"

The little thread of information was all it took for the primal need to see his female ease a bit. It must've shown because Fhear nodded for Dhusk to take a seat. He was in his chair and waiting by the time Fhear found a spot of his own. "She's doing good. Got herself a new job which is way better than the one at the diner. Ahnger even mentioned she joined a support group after getting her job. She's cleaning her act and it's working."

"Is she happy?" That was the one thing Dhusk needed to know.

"From what I heard during our watch, it sounds like it.

Dhusk didn't mean to let it slip but it did when he asked, "Where's her job?"

Fhear shook his head. "You know I can't tell you that, man. I'll be letting a hungry animal out of its cage if you knew. What I've just told you should make the next days more doable."

Nodding as a sign of understanding, Dhusk closed his eyes. Hearing about Paige's progress in her world brought both comfort and desire. He wanted to leave right now and see her with his own eyes. But if he did, that one little visit would cause her ability to come back and it would scare her. His father went so far as to erase her memory of her telekinesis. Having it happen without her knowledge would be a complete nightmare.

Fhear stood up and squeezed Dhusk's shoulder. Even though it wasn't much, it was enough to keep the male in check. Now that he knew she was doing great, maybe Dhusk could work on keeping himself together long enough to start helping out around the place again. Being constantly watched with little to do was insane.

As Dhusk stood and inhaled, he noticed how Fhear lingered by the door. His hand was on the doorknob as if to turn it. Something about the male caused red flags to go wild in Dhusk's head. A shaky sigh came from him before glancing over his shoulder. "I had Ahgony and Hhavoc check out her workplace when she started working there. You need to know that her life no longer involves you."

A dark cloud loomed over Dhusk. "I know that."

"No, you don't. You may lover her, but she doesn't remember that. For the both of your sakes, you need to let her go. People are already starting to care for her. People who'll know if something happens to her."

The numbing began to creep back inside Dhusk. This was the first time anyone had told him to let Paige go. Not even his own parents told him to do such a thing.

Then something clicked.

"Who is he?"

"Don't, Dhusk. You need to leave Paige alone and move on with your life. You should've already known this would happen. Paige will continue living as a human. She will find a human and be with him. I'm telling you this because it sounds like it's already happened. Now that you know that she's probably found someone, you need to either do the same or simply do something that'll help you keep her at bay. I didn't want you accidently seeing her in the future with a male of her own. I'm your friend so that's why I'm telling you."

So Paige already found someone close to her while Dhusk was close to tearing the walls down for her.

Even though Fhear was doing the right thing in telling him, he made the fatal mistake of coming here alone. Coming here without backup was foolish because Dhusk took the chair he had been sitting in and flung it across the room. The sound of it breaking of Fhear ordering him to get a grip blurred until Dhusk could only hear his heart.

This time he welcomed the empty abyss.