Monsters

            How long will you force this out?

            I force nothing.  You are pursuing this needlessly.

            Enough Leyah.  You are degrading yourself by hiding behind these simple people.

            I do not hide.

            You think you can hide your feelings from me by denying them to yourself.

            Alleyah froze and felt cold as Marcus words hit her.  He sensed this and continued his mental conversation.

            That's a lovely ring you are wearing.  Is it from the Sultan?

            Alleyah opened her eyes and looked down at the small ring.  She could not deny Hadji.

            I will not allow him to touch you without consequences.

            Before Alleyah could reply Marcus cut himself off from her and returned his attention to Jessica.  Alleyah felt the darkness left behind as a growing shadow over her soul.  She was tired of running.  Tired of trying to deny her heart so to hide herself from Marcus. 

            Alleyah paused.  Someone was outside her bedroom door.  She rose slowly and walked to the large ebony door, placing her palm on it. 

Jonathon was on the other side.

            Alleyah opened the door and stepped out.

            "Alleyah," Jonny approached her immediately blocking her from leaving her room.

            Alleyah watched him closely.  His blue eyes were in constant movement, urgency that dove close to desperation poured out of him and collided with her sensitive perception, nearly pushing her away.

            "I didn't mean to startle you," Jonny began quickly as he looked up and down the hall.

            That was a lie.  Alleyah looked down.  He was already desperate.

            "Do you need to talk?"  She stepped aside and gestured for him to come, which he did with a sigh.

            "Thank you," Jonny sat down at the end of the loveseat and began combing threw his hair with his nervous fingers.  Alleyah silently slid into the chair across from him and watched.

            Jonny looked across from him and immediately fell into the depth of Alleyah's eyes.  They seemed to be speaking to him on a different level.  It felt like a gently hand was slowly calming his mind.

            "I need to know about Marcus," Jonny began.  "I need to know who he is.  I know he's bad news but I don't know why.  Now he's hanging out with Jessie and things seem to be happening.  I know he's behind it, I just don't understand how or why."

            "Marcus?" Alleyah leaned forward and rested her arms on her knees.  Her black hair slid down and covered the slight opening of her satin top. "Tell me."

            Jonny creased his brows in confusion.  This wasn't a game for her to riddle with him.  He needed answers.  He needed them now.

            "I don't know."  He looked away from her.  Her violet eyes were doing something to him.

            "Yes, you do," she used her voice and it claimed the air with glided perfection.  Jonny returned to her and stayed within her eyes.

            Nothing moved.  Nothing went beyond the space of Jonny and Alleyah.  Her eyes pulled him in and the room became a soft blur of insignificance.

            "I don't," Jonny replied softly.  He was caught in the warmth Alleyah was projecting.  He was calming down.  Why had he been so desperate before?  He could handle this.  He and Jessie had been through a lot together.  They would get through this too.

            "You do not need to know who he is," Alleyah whispered, silk falling from her lips continuing to calm. The glint in his eyes returned and she knew Jonathon was more himself again.  "You need only know what he is."

            "What?" Jonny looked at her carefully.

            Reality snapped back for Jonny and the room came back into focus once again.  The colors seemed brighter, the sounds from the gardens, the people laughing.  He could hear them again.

            "Tell me," Alleyah sat back in her chair.  "Do you believe in monsters?"