Disclaimer: Same as last chapter.
No profit, etc.
Author: J.A.K
Rating: PG-15
Summary: What would you do if your sister's rapist turned out to be your
soulmate? This is the story of a girl who had to answer that question.
Author's Note: This is a pretty timely update, wouldn't you say?
Anyways, I just have to let you all know that it looks like this story is going
to get very involved so this fic is gonna be long.
Pyrope: Sorry for the cliffhanger. Here's my update!
Melody: Thanks for thinking this is a good story…good stuff like that help's to keep the incentive going.
Sharmeen: Ah Sharmeen, what can I say. You do keep coming back and sometimes I don't know why (not that I'm not intensely grateful for it, but…). Thanks for reviewing as always. I hope you'll get to warm up to Kailand and of course I'm gonna read your next chapter for your story.
Risrana: I see that you appreciate how touchy or delicate this subject can be. Thanks for the review. Oh—and about her attacker…you'll find out soon enough. *somewhat evil smile*
Redaura: Yea, I was having some mental images about him pouncing her in the shower, but then I thought…I can't write that (at least not here *smiles*). Sorry about the computer restrictions, I hope you get around to reading this on time. By the way, you're one of the people who have been sticking through with and reviewing this story, and I just want to say Thank You!
Seanna: Thanks for the praise. Here's the update.
Aniem: I updated on time and here it is! Thanks for the review.
Enough of my blabbering...on with the story!
#Chapter Nine#
Ms. Lanai
I ran out from the make shift conference room with a speed that surprised even me. As I made my way to doors that I hoped dearly led to an exit, I couldn't help but think that for the past two days I had done almost nothing but running. In mid flight I did little to resist the shrug that came to my shoulders. 'If all that running qualified me as a coward, then fine—I was a coward.
I reached out to turn the handle that was right in my sight. My hand had barely brushed the cool metal of the knob before a grip, filled with an unbreakable strength, clamped down on my shoulder.
He spun me around, staring at me with the angriest mask I'd ever seen him wear up to this point. His rage didn't scare me though; I was already too terrified by what his friend had scarcely finished telling us five minutes ago.
"What are you doing?" His eyes were silver hued, and the set of his face had a hint of indignation written across its tightly drawn plains.
I looked briefly at the fingers that were still resting on my shoulder and then back at him. Shaking his hand off, I stepped back prepared to continue through the wooden door that separated me from an insane world that was by far more balanced than the place I was standing in right now.
"What do you think I'm doing?" I blindly felt for the handle that was behind me. "I'm running away."
This time he took on an appearance of amusement.
"Again?" He looked at me with a calculating smirk, and then at his long fingers where he had begun counting. "How many times does that make since we've met" He gave one of those up and down movements with his shoulders that, even in this setting was still too graceful to be called a shrug. "Three?"
"I don't give a rat's ass about what you have to say." Though I tried to keep an angry front, I felt tears that I'd solemnly refused to drop, gather in the corner of my eyes.
"There's no way I'm doing any of it." I looked up at the low drop ceiling and pushed the moisture away. Steeling myself against anything he had to say or do, I held my chin up with my customary resolve. "Now if you'll excuse me…" I tried to turn around again, but before I even got halfway through my semi-circle towards freedom, he had my shoulders in both hands with my back pressed firmly against the wall.
"Now this feels familiar." I gazed at a spot over his shoulder while a subtle but resolute trembling took over my body.
I knew that my will was beginning to break.
His breath was cool where it touched my cheek. "Must I go over the ground rules again?" The trembling became more intense with every word that he said, and I couldn't help but feel a deep loathing for the man that was in front of me.
"You can't leave yet." He brushed my cheek with the tips of his fingers. "Not until I know you won't get me killed."
I stared at him then, snorting at his change of heart.
"That certainly is a different tune from the one you sung earlier." I pretended to recount his words spoken earlier with mock confusion. "How did it go again…oh yeah, the sooner we find your family the faster you can leave?"
His grip tightened and I saw that I had struck a nerve.
"That's not the only reason why you have to stay and you know it." He stepped closer to me. "After what Aidan said about how you're involved in the development of this new society…" the look in his eyes changed somewhat and I thought I saw regret flare up in their depths, "I think it would be best if you just left your family alone now."
That was it. Those were the words that caused something to snap inside of me.
"I don't want this," I yelled. I started to thrash against his grasp. "Let go of me." I tried to kick him, but he must have read what I was going to do before I did it, because he pushed his body flush against mine, effectively freezing me from any movement.
I stared into his eyes again and saw little understanding.
Looking down I focused on the point where our forms touched. "This is too much." My voice was heavy and thick with tears that were beginning to blur my vision. "This…" I shrugged my shoulders feeling salty wetness role down my cheeks and over my chin. "I can't…" My legs began to buckle under the weight of my body.
I looked around despairingly, hearing—as if far removed from the situation—the words coming out of my mouth, but not completely sure of what they were saying. Strangely enough, he remained silent, holding me up even while I babbled on and on about matters that were probably of little to no consequence to him.
"First the dreams," My head lolled back against the door and I stared at the ceiling again. "There's these dreams that I've been having since the trial ended." A strained sound passed through my lips. "And I wake up every night at the same time coming out of the same dream. And you—" I shake my head "That doesn't matter though."
"And then I run into you," I looked at him then, tears dripping down my face "My sister's rapist who isn't really her rapist who turns out to be my soulmate who is a Lord of some place that's not a place called the Night World" I took a much needed breath feeling the first stages of hysteria perpetuate itself through my core. "I just…and now…and this" my breathing started coming in barely contained gasps. I watched him closely, and saw reflected in his eyes the deepest anguish I had ever felt.
Right then, a sob came barreling out of my chest, and I cried in a way that I hadn't done since I was six years old.
"Please just…Kailand… I can't." My forehead had no where to go but against his shoulder, and for a moment I didn't care how he had treated me before.
I noticed absently that his grip, while still there, had softened immeasurably—until it was all but short of an embrace.
Instead of doing what I expected he would, he let me cry against his shoulder until I didn't have any tears left.
When I lifted my head sometime later, I saw that his facial expression had changed. Instead of its usual arrogance or rage, he appeared overwhelmingly nonchalant.
I raised my hands to wipe the tears that still clung to my eyes, inadvertently removing his already slackening clasp on my shoulders. When the silence stretched on for countless seconds and all we could do was stare at each other, I ventured to softly voice my words.
"Now what?" He watched me lingeringly with startlingly intense eyes.
"Now you tell me everything" he folded his arms against his chest "Starting with your name."
An 2: You might be a little confused. You might think: 'was there something I missed'? And to that I have but one answer…YES! I'm not letting the cat out of the bag just yet.
An 3: Reviews are greatly appreciated and muchly adored!
