On past and future
By Carla
DISCLAIMER
Challenger, Marguerite, Roxton, Malone and Veronica belong to Telescene, not to me. No infraction to their rights is meant, I'm just having a little fun. I own nothing but the story.
Chapter VI
Their kiss seemed to go on for hours, time suddenly was standing still. Marguerite wasn't sure if they were doing the right thing, there were still so many things unsaid between them. When she felt Roxton's body over her, laying her on the bed, she decided it was time to stop.
"John... wait."
"Marguerite..." Roxton kept kissing her all over.
"John, I mean it, wait."
"Why?"
"John!" Marguerite had to push him a bit. She sat up facing Roxton, who looked quite dumbfounded.
"Sorry, I thought you and I..." he started sheepishly.
"I know what you thought John." She couldn't hide the smile forming on her lips.
"Then?"
"Then, I don't want to rush things." She was looking down to her hands, unable to look at him in the eye.
"Rush?" He lifted her chin up, so they were facing each other again "You call two years rush?"
"I mean... you know. We've been playing this game for such a long time... I'm not sure of what happens next."
"I was hoping we could find that out together."
"It's not that easy John, I wish it could be, but I can't change all the things blocking our way."
"As Keith?" he had not intended to ask so bluntly, but he had felt her slipping away, and he was not going to allow it this time. They needed to talk from the heart for once, and he had already decided not to let her get around him and escape the truth about each other.
"Is this about him?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why now John? Why this sudden change of heart about our relationship? Just because you're jealous?" Marguerite knew what Roxton wanted of her, he wanted to be a part of his life, but not just like any friend. Part of her was really looking forward to a life with the handsome Lord, but for that, she would need to disclose her past. If she was going to have to be honest, she wanted the same from him.
"Is that what you think?"
"I don't know what I think anymore Roxton, that's why I'm asking."
"Well..." Roxton had to admit to himself he had not actually thought about that question, and he was afraid the wrong answer would destroy what had started tonight between them "I guess part of it has to do with Keith. I love you Marguerite, and I mean it, you know that. I love you. And you love me. We have been lying to ourselves about our true feelings, and that was the reason I couldn't do a thing about you and Keith without blowing the facade."
"And why are you doing it know?" it had not escaped to Marguerite that Roxton was talking about love now, but for whatever reason, it was not that scary this time. Maybe she had grown up during her time in the plateau.
"Because, what good is the facade if I don't have you?" he saw the start of a smile on her lips, so far so good.
"I though it was just you hunter's honor talking, you know? Like you were missing your prize."
"You though I was hunting you?" Roxton asked grinning.
"Weren't you?"
"I... I guess I was... in the start. I'll be honest with you Marguerite: when I saw you in London I knew that I had never met anyone so beautiful. Then, when you shot me, I decided I was going to conquer you. So there, I was being a true hunter. But then, when we got stuck in the plateau and we started getting to know each other... suddenly I forgot all about the hunt."
"Didn't like what you see?" she asked teasingly.
"On the contraire," he answered "I liked it a lot. I wanted there were... physical aspect to our relationship..." he couldn't believe he had actually blushed while saying that "but it was more than that. I like you body, but I like more your mind, your spirit. The person you are... Marguerite, don't you see? It doesn't take two years for a good hunter to get his prize. At London, if a women didn't fall for me in less than I day or two, I wouldn't have wasted anymore time with her. With you, I didn't care how long it would take as long as you will be with me at the end of the day, just talking, playing, bickering... anything."
"Well Roxton, I didn't think you had it in you to be a romantic."
"Well, that's what you've done to me."
"I like that." She caressed his rough face. She loved his words. They sounded so true, that she felt special just to be loved by him. She knew she was not longer talking to the hunter she had met two years ago, but to a man. A man who had been hidden under so many layers of guilt and was now finally freeing himself.
"Now it's your turn."
"What do you mean?"
"Now my dear, you tell me the truth. Do you want to be with me? And by that I mean that I want you to trust me, to stand by me, to be ready to make a commitment to our relationship, to love me."
"I... I want to John... but..." he had taken her by surprise. Marguerite wanted this as she had never wanted anything in her life, but it all just couldn't be as easy as Roxton wanted it.
"But what? You either love me or you don't Marguerite. You either want to face our feelings, or you go back to playing games with Keith."
"God Roxton... this has nothing to do with Keith! Why can't you get that through your head?"
"You know what darling? This is a wonderful example of what I mean with 'trust'. You told me you don't love Keith, so why did you marry him? And I want an answer this time."
"John..."
"I mean it." His expression wasn't demanding, just pleading. Marguerite decided that maybe this was the time to come clean with Roxton if she expected to have a real life with him.
"Fine... this is hard to talk about Roxton, so you'll have to be patient with me, because I'm not ready to confess it all in one moment."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"You may if you knew who I really are."
"Try me."
"God... I... Keith and I, we are... were in a very dangerous business during the war. People were looking for us to kill us. We eluded them for a while, travelling around the world on separate ways and meeting in some unbelievable towns we didn't even know existed before."
"Were you lovers?"
"Yes. We go way back John... I'm sorry if it hurts you."
"It does. But it's not your fault Marguerite. You didn't lie to me, you didn't lead me to believe there had been no other men before me, right? I have a past full of other women, in all fairness, I guess I can't really blame you for something I'm as guilty for as you are, right?" He didn't like the idea of her with other men, that much was normal. Then again, Marguerite was who she was, the woman he loved. In that aspect, they were a lot alike, and he had no regrets for that. Whatever her experiences were, they had led to the woman she was now.
"Right."
"Go on."
"Well... they caught up our pattern, so we decided to meet again and travel together to Africa. We assumed they would be looking for each of us individually. It was easier to do it as a married couple. When they understood our scheme it was too late, we were out of reach in Africa and then we went back to London."
"And they never found you again?"
"They did. That's why I came to this expedition John, it was the safest place I could think of."
"Why didn't Keith come along?"
"He though that with all the publicity in the expedition we would get caught, so he decided to go hide in India."
"So I guess it was a good thing we got stuck here for you, right?"
"For a couple of months it would have been a good thing, two years was far beyond my plans." She was smiling half-heartedly. What she had confessed so far was not even half of her story, not the dangerous half anyway. But she knew Roxton would ask the tricky question in a matter of minutes.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Because it was dangerous for you to know John, it still is."
"Why?"
"John..."
"Who is it you two were hiding from?" That was it. John had asked the question she had feared for a long time.
"I think I've said enough already Roxton..." she tried to get off her bed, but his strong arms stopped her.
"Marguerite, you said I would not love you for your past, so far I'm still here."
"Of course you are John, you have not heard anything yet."
"Then tell me once and for all."
"I don't want to."
"Marguerite, trust me."
"No."
"Please."
"It's too dangerous!"
"Shouldn't I be the judge of it! Damn it, why can't you...!"
"The Germans! We were on the run from Germany!"
They were camping. Night had fallen upon them and it was not safe to go on, at least that was what Veronica had said and Keith was ready to trust her this time. He was the one making guard, but Malone had refused to go to sleep. Keith knew that the young reported didn't trust him at all, and he was sure that it had more to do with Veronica than with anything else. Now, he was staring at the moon. He could not hear a single sound, so there was nothing to be worried about, and he loved the way the moon's clarity washed everything in the jungle.
Malone was looking at Keith. He was sleepy but preferred to stay awake while Keith was. He was ready for Lawrence to trick them and sell them for a way out. The other man made Malone remember the way Marguerite had used to be before she realized that her best hope to get out was to depend on the others. Then again, Keith didn't look all that frightening now as he stared at the full moon in the sky. Malone had to admit he was more worried about Keith making a move on Veronica than anything else.
"Ned," he heard a voice behind him "go to sleep, it's my watch." He turned to face Veronica now. She had just awakened and was smiling at him.
"Already?"
"Yes. Go get some rest, you'll need your energy for tomorrow."
"Are you staying alone?"
"That's usually the way we make guard while camping, remember? Although why you have decided to stay awake in Keith's watch is beyond me."
"I don' t trust Lawrence."
"You and Roxton should make a club then. Go to sleep Ned, I'll get Keith..."
"I can do it!"
"I want to do it. Please, go to sleep." He knew Veronica was just trying to avoid a discussion between the two men, but Malone couldn't help but feel resentful at her actions. Maybe, he would just have to trust Veronica now. She was not his girlfriend or anything, but he thought he had made his feelings for her quite clear.
"Fine, good night Veronica."
"Night Ned." She watched Ned as he left towards his tent. She knew he felt jealous, and in truth's honor, she had to admit she liked it. Malone was a wonderful man, a very special, clever, imaginative, sweet and tender man. She liked the idea of quite a man liking her so much. But now she had to find Keith and tell him to go sleep. She saw him staring at the moon on the other part of the camp. She couldn't help but wonder why if she loved Ned she felt butterflies in her stomach whenever Keith was around.
"Keith..." she called softly as she reached him, she wasn't sure if he was awake.
"Hello there gorgeous." He smiled his patented smile again.
"It's my watch, you can go to sleep now."
"Thank you, but I think I'll just hang in here for a while."
"You should rest." She said, sitting by his side.
"I'm not tired. I have slept already during my watch, what's the point of me staying awake if your reporter friend is going to we watching over me anyway?"
"He just wasn't tired either."
"Don't lie. He doesn't trust me."
"He does... it's just hard to allow someone you don't really know take care of your life, you know?"
"I didn't mean it like that!" Keith was grinning now "I meant, he doesn't trust me to be around you."
"Around me? Why wouldn't he?"
"Now don't play games like that Veronica, it doesn't suit you. You know the kid is in love with you and you're enjoying every second of her jealousy." Veronica was startled by his words, was she so transparent? How could a man she barely knew be so sure of what she was thinking? She realized she had no words to reply "Tell him not to worry, I'm not making a move on you anyway." That surprised her even more, she hated to admit that she even felt a little disappointed.
"Why?" she couldn't believe she had actually asked why! She cursed herself when she realized that Keith was grinning again.
"I didn't mean to wound you ego Veronica, you're an extremely attractive woman. I just made a promise not to pursue you."
"To whom?"
"To Marguerite, of course."
"I see... I didn't think you two were really together..."
"We're not. Actually, I expect her and Roxton to make amends while we're gone."
"Then why would she care if you pursue other women?"
"She wouldn't. She would care if I pursue 'you'." That statement made Veronica mad. Marguerite always made her feel like she was not a woman at all. Marguerite knew how to handle men, any kind of men. She clearly enjoyed being a woman and having the power to attract some of the strongest and bravest men Veronica had ever met, such as Roxton and Lawrence. Marguerite probably thought of Veronica as no competition at all and that made the younger woman madder. Why would she forbid Keith to pursue her? She thought Veronica wouldn't be able to handle him? All she wanted to do was prove her wrong.
"I don't take orders from you wife."
"Neither do I."
"Then why are you listening to her?"
"Because you don't really want anything to happen between us. You're just enjoying the attention I give you and having the man you love so jealous. In a normal situation, that would be enough for me to give in, but Marguerite asked me not to."
"Don't treat me like a girl."
"That's what you are darling." Veronica was annoyed with him too. Why did everyone act like she knew nothing of the world? Without thinking, she threw herself at Keith's arms and started kissing him. To his credit, he kissed back at once, but after a while pushed her from himself.
"What?" she asked.
"You don't want to play this game with me Veronica."
"What do you know of what I want?"
"Listen to me, you don't know what I would do, I would end up hurting you. Maggie was right, you're not ready to deal with a man like me. So I advise you to go back to your Malone and stop trying to mess with grown ups."
"I'm a grown up, and I can deal with anything."
"No darling, you can deal with the jungle; the heart is a different matter. Want to know me? Well, this is how it goes: you're throwing yourself at me, so I wouldn't care about your life or people in your life and I would just have sex with you! Is that what you want? Obviously, it would be a one-night stand, probably if we weren't stuck here I would never talk to you again. Then, you'll have to go and explain your boyfriend why did you sleep with me knowing I couldn't care less about you. And then, I would probably go and sleep with the next woman that crossed my way and never think back on you. Is that what you want?!" Keith was looking as fierce as Veronica had ever seen him. She wanted to cry, but would never do it in front of this man. Keith let go of her and turned to get his rifle. She found no words to say. What kind of man was this? No one had ever spoken to her like this, she was even scared. How could Marguerite be married to such a person? "Listen Veronica," he was more calmed now "what I said, that's what I usually do. That's why Marguerite doesn't want me messing with you. She's not jealous of you and she doesn't think you're not a woman, she's just being your friend. The flirting was nice, I like making Malone jealous as well. But please darling, don't go to places you don't want to be. Trust me on that. You're a good girl, don't allow a low-life like me to change that."
With those words he was gone, and Veronica was feeling more shocked than she had ever felt in her life. He was good and evil in one body. Veronica realized that was the way normal people were, Keith was just accepting his evil side as being a part of him, while most people tried to hide it.
By Carla
DISCLAIMER
Challenger, Marguerite, Roxton, Malone and Veronica belong to Telescene, not to me. No infraction to their rights is meant, I'm just having a little fun. I own nothing but the story.
Chapter VI
Their kiss seemed to go on for hours, time suddenly was standing still. Marguerite wasn't sure if they were doing the right thing, there were still so many things unsaid between them. When she felt Roxton's body over her, laying her on the bed, she decided it was time to stop.
"John... wait."
"Marguerite..." Roxton kept kissing her all over.
"John, I mean it, wait."
"Why?"
"John!" Marguerite had to push him a bit. She sat up facing Roxton, who looked quite dumbfounded.
"Sorry, I thought you and I..." he started sheepishly.
"I know what you thought John." She couldn't hide the smile forming on her lips.
"Then?"
"Then, I don't want to rush things." She was looking down to her hands, unable to look at him in the eye.
"Rush?" He lifted her chin up, so they were facing each other again "You call two years rush?"
"I mean... you know. We've been playing this game for such a long time... I'm not sure of what happens next."
"I was hoping we could find that out together."
"It's not that easy John, I wish it could be, but I can't change all the things blocking our way."
"As Keith?" he had not intended to ask so bluntly, but he had felt her slipping away, and he was not going to allow it this time. They needed to talk from the heart for once, and he had already decided not to let her get around him and escape the truth about each other.
"Is this about him?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why now John? Why this sudden change of heart about our relationship? Just because you're jealous?" Marguerite knew what Roxton wanted of her, he wanted to be a part of his life, but not just like any friend. Part of her was really looking forward to a life with the handsome Lord, but for that, she would need to disclose her past. If she was going to have to be honest, she wanted the same from him.
"Is that what you think?"
"I don't know what I think anymore Roxton, that's why I'm asking."
"Well..." Roxton had to admit to himself he had not actually thought about that question, and he was afraid the wrong answer would destroy what had started tonight between them "I guess part of it has to do with Keith. I love you Marguerite, and I mean it, you know that. I love you. And you love me. We have been lying to ourselves about our true feelings, and that was the reason I couldn't do a thing about you and Keith without blowing the facade."
"And why are you doing it know?" it had not escaped to Marguerite that Roxton was talking about love now, but for whatever reason, it was not that scary this time. Maybe she had grown up during her time in the plateau.
"Because, what good is the facade if I don't have you?" he saw the start of a smile on her lips, so far so good.
"I though it was just you hunter's honor talking, you know? Like you were missing your prize."
"You though I was hunting you?" Roxton asked grinning.
"Weren't you?"
"I... I guess I was... in the start. I'll be honest with you Marguerite: when I saw you in London I knew that I had never met anyone so beautiful. Then, when you shot me, I decided I was going to conquer you. So there, I was being a true hunter. But then, when we got stuck in the plateau and we started getting to know each other... suddenly I forgot all about the hunt."
"Didn't like what you see?" she asked teasingly.
"On the contraire," he answered "I liked it a lot. I wanted there were... physical aspect to our relationship..." he couldn't believe he had actually blushed while saying that "but it was more than that. I like you body, but I like more your mind, your spirit. The person you are... Marguerite, don't you see? It doesn't take two years for a good hunter to get his prize. At London, if a women didn't fall for me in less than I day or two, I wouldn't have wasted anymore time with her. With you, I didn't care how long it would take as long as you will be with me at the end of the day, just talking, playing, bickering... anything."
"Well Roxton, I didn't think you had it in you to be a romantic."
"Well, that's what you've done to me."
"I like that." She caressed his rough face. She loved his words. They sounded so true, that she felt special just to be loved by him. She knew she was not longer talking to the hunter she had met two years ago, but to a man. A man who had been hidden under so many layers of guilt and was now finally freeing himself.
"Now it's your turn."
"What do you mean?"
"Now my dear, you tell me the truth. Do you want to be with me? And by that I mean that I want you to trust me, to stand by me, to be ready to make a commitment to our relationship, to love me."
"I... I want to John... but..." he had taken her by surprise. Marguerite wanted this as she had never wanted anything in her life, but it all just couldn't be as easy as Roxton wanted it.
"But what? You either love me or you don't Marguerite. You either want to face our feelings, or you go back to playing games with Keith."
"God Roxton... this has nothing to do with Keith! Why can't you get that through your head?"
"You know what darling? This is a wonderful example of what I mean with 'trust'. You told me you don't love Keith, so why did you marry him? And I want an answer this time."
"John..."
"I mean it." His expression wasn't demanding, just pleading. Marguerite decided that maybe this was the time to come clean with Roxton if she expected to have a real life with him.
"Fine... this is hard to talk about Roxton, so you'll have to be patient with me, because I'm not ready to confess it all in one moment."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"You may if you knew who I really are."
"Try me."
"God... I... Keith and I, we are... were in a very dangerous business during the war. People were looking for us to kill us. We eluded them for a while, travelling around the world on separate ways and meeting in some unbelievable towns we didn't even know existed before."
"Were you lovers?"
"Yes. We go way back John... I'm sorry if it hurts you."
"It does. But it's not your fault Marguerite. You didn't lie to me, you didn't lead me to believe there had been no other men before me, right? I have a past full of other women, in all fairness, I guess I can't really blame you for something I'm as guilty for as you are, right?" He didn't like the idea of her with other men, that much was normal. Then again, Marguerite was who she was, the woman he loved. In that aspect, they were a lot alike, and he had no regrets for that. Whatever her experiences were, they had led to the woman she was now.
"Right."
"Go on."
"Well... they caught up our pattern, so we decided to meet again and travel together to Africa. We assumed they would be looking for each of us individually. It was easier to do it as a married couple. When they understood our scheme it was too late, we were out of reach in Africa and then we went back to London."
"And they never found you again?"
"They did. That's why I came to this expedition John, it was the safest place I could think of."
"Why didn't Keith come along?"
"He though that with all the publicity in the expedition we would get caught, so he decided to go hide in India."
"So I guess it was a good thing we got stuck here for you, right?"
"For a couple of months it would have been a good thing, two years was far beyond my plans." She was smiling half-heartedly. What she had confessed so far was not even half of her story, not the dangerous half anyway. But she knew Roxton would ask the tricky question in a matter of minutes.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Because it was dangerous for you to know John, it still is."
"Why?"
"John..."
"Who is it you two were hiding from?" That was it. John had asked the question she had feared for a long time.
"I think I've said enough already Roxton..." she tried to get off her bed, but his strong arms stopped her.
"Marguerite, you said I would not love you for your past, so far I'm still here."
"Of course you are John, you have not heard anything yet."
"Then tell me once and for all."
"I don't want to."
"Marguerite, trust me."
"No."
"Please."
"It's too dangerous!"
"Shouldn't I be the judge of it! Damn it, why can't you...!"
"The Germans! We were on the run from Germany!"
They were camping. Night had fallen upon them and it was not safe to go on, at least that was what Veronica had said and Keith was ready to trust her this time. He was the one making guard, but Malone had refused to go to sleep. Keith knew that the young reported didn't trust him at all, and he was sure that it had more to do with Veronica than with anything else. Now, he was staring at the moon. He could not hear a single sound, so there was nothing to be worried about, and he loved the way the moon's clarity washed everything in the jungle.
Malone was looking at Keith. He was sleepy but preferred to stay awake while Keith was. He was ready for Lawrence to trick them and sell them for a way out. The other man made Malone remember the way Marguerite had used to be before she realized that her best hope to get out was to depend on the others. Then again, Keith didn't look all that frightening now as he stared at the full moon in the sky. Malone had to admit he was more worried about Keith making a move on Veronica than anything else.
"Ned," he heard a voice behind him "go to sleep, it's my watch." He turned to face Veronica now. She had just awakened and was smiling at him.
"Already?"
"Yes. Go get some rest, you'll need your energy for tomorrow."
"Are you staying alone?"
"That's usually the way we make guard while camping, remember? Although why you have decided to stay awake in Keith's watch is beyond me."
"I don' t trust Lawrence."
"You and Roxton should make a club then. Go to sleep Ned, I'll get Keith..."
"I can do it!"
"I want to do it. Please, go to sleep." He knew Veronica was just trying to avoid a discussion between the two men, but Malone couldn't help but feel resentful at her actions. Maybe, he would just have to trust Veronica now. She was not his girlfriend or anything, but he thought he had made his feelings for her quite clear.
"Fine, good night Veronica."
"Night Ned." She watched Ned as he left towards his tent. She knew he felt jealous, and in truth's honor, she had to admit she liked it. Malone was a wonderful man, a very special, clever, imaginative, sweet and tender man. She liked the idea of quite a man liking her so much. But now she had to find Keith and tell him to go sleep. She saw him staring at the moon on the other part of the camp. She couldn't help but wonder why if she loved Ned she felt butterflies in her stomach whenever Keith was around.
"Keith..." she called softly as she reached him, she wasn't sure if he was awake.
"Hello there gorgeous." He smiled his patented smile again.
"It's my watch, you can go to sleep now."
"Thank you, but I think I'll just hang in here for a while."
"You should rest." She said, sitting by his side.
"I'm not tired. I have slept already during my watch, what's the point of me staying awake if your reporter friend is going to we watching over me anyway?"
"He just wasn't tired either."
"Don't lie. He doesn't trust me."
"He does... it's just hard to allow someone you don't really know take care of your life, you know?"
"I didn't mean it like that!" Keith was grinning now "I meant, he doesn't trust me to be around you."
"Around me? Why wouldn't he?"
"Now don't play games like that Veronica, it doesn't suit you. You know the kid is in love with you and you're enjoying every second of her jealousy." Veronica was startled by his words, was she so transparent? How could a man she barely knew be so sure of what she was thinking? She realized she had no words to reply "Tell him not to worry, I'm not making a move on you anyway." That surprised her even more, she hated to admit that she even felt a little disappointed.
"Why?" she couldn't believe she had actually asked why! She cursed herself when she realized that Keith was grinning again.
"I didn't mean to wound you ego Veronica, you're an extremely attractive woman. I just made a promise not to pursue you."
"To whom?"
"To Marguerite, of course."
"I see... I didn't think you two were really together..."
"We're not. Actually, I expect her and Roxton to make amends while we're gone."
"Then why would she care if you pursue other women?"
"She wouldn't. She would care if I pursue 'you'." That statement made Veronica mad. Marguerite always made her feel like she was not a woman at all. Marguerite knew how to handle men, any kind of men. She clearly enjoyed being a woman and having the power to attract some of the strongest and bravest men Veronica had ever met, such as Roxton and Lawrence. Marguerite probably thought of Veronica as no competition at all and that made the younger woman madder. Why would she forbid Keith to pursue her? She thought Veronica wouldn't be able to handle him? All she wanted to do was prove her wrong.
"I don't take orders from you wife."
"Neither do I."
"Then why are you listening to her?"
"Because you don't really want anything to happen between us. You're just enjoying the attention I give you and having the man you love so jealous. In a normal situation, that would be enough for me to give in, but Marguerite asked me not to."
"Don't treat me like a girl."
"That's what you are darling." Veronica was annoyed with him too. Why did everyone act like she knew nothing of the world? Without thinking, she threw herself at Keith's arms and started kissing him. To his credit, he kissed back at once, but after a while pushed her from himself.
"What?" she asked.
"You don't want to play this game with me Veronica."
"What do you know of what I want?"
"Listen to me, you don't know what I would do, I would end up hurting you. Maggie was right, you're not ready to deal with a man like me. So I advise you to go back to your Malone and stop trying to mess with grown ups."
"I'm a grown up, and I can deal with anything."
"No darling, you can deal with the jungle; the heart is a different matter. Want to know me? Well, this is how it goes: you're throwing yourself at me, so I wouldn't care about your life or people in your life and I would just have sex with you! Is that what you want? Obviously, it would be a one-night stand, probably if we weren't stuck here I would never talk to you again. Then, you'll have to go and explain your boyfriend why did you sleep with me knowing I couldn't care less about you. And then, I would probably go and sleep with the next woman that crossed my way and never think back on you. Is that what you want?!" Keith was looking as fierce as Veronica had ever seen him. She wanted to cry, but would never do it in front of this man. Keith let go of her and turned to get his rifle. She found no words to say. What kind of man was this? No one had ever spoken to her like this, she was even scared. How could Marguerite be married to such a person? "Listen Veronica," he was more calmed now "what I said, that's what I usually do. That's why Marguerite doesn't want me messing with you. She's not jealous of you and she doesn't think you're not a woman, she's just being your friend. The flirting was nice, I like making Malone jealous as well. But please darling, don't go to places you don't want to be. Trust me on that. You're a good girl, don't allow a low-life like me to change that."
With those words he was gone, and Veronica was feeling more shocked than she had ever felt in her life. He was good and evil in one body. Veronica realized that was the way normal people were, Keith was just accepting his evil side as being a part of him, while most people tried to hide it.