Okay, this is pretty quick, but it is a long weekend and I'm trying to make
the most of it (and make up for last weekend . . . ) I don't know anything
about dancing, by the way. I'll try and wing it, let's see . . . lyrics
aren't mine. These are Delta's.
**************************************************************************** **********
Suze's POV
But then, he popped up with the question, 'Would you like to dance querida?'
I stared at him as if he was crazy. 'I – I can't dance, Jesse . . . '
He smiled kindly. 'Then I shall teach you. Stand.'
'No, Jesse. I will embarrass women kind. Seriously.'
He looked down at me, holding out his hand. 'You will not embarrass anyone.' And then he added in the silkiest voice I've ever heard, 'Now please stand, Susannah . . . '
I'm sorry, but it was too irresistible. My hand slipped into his gently, and with a light head, I stood up. He lead me out of the private area onto the dance floor, and rested his hand against my waist. It was warm through the fabric. I shivered slightly, because of the affect his gentle, caressing touch had on me. I placed my hand on his shoulder, and he held my other tenderly. He showed me the patterns that my feet had to move in. I kept trying to steer, but he told me not to, that it was his job. Shit, Jesse was a great dancer. Why did he have to be this perfect? With all the noble saving-his-sister thing, and his impeccable manners. I felt like wasn't good enough for him, like I was impure. Inferior.
He stopped me, grinning.
'Susannah, you are thinking too much,' he told me. 'Stop thinking. Dancing is an escape. Just feel the music.' He flexed his hands against mine, staring at our fingertips. My hands were small and feminine against his slightly coarse ones. His eyes were so deep and cavernous. I felt lost in them, oh, hopelessly, blissfully lost. His breath fanned my neck. My feet moved delicately now, with him leading me expertly. I could feel the music running through me, quickening my breath, shielding me from everything in the outside world. Shielding me from Paul. I was safe here . . .
'You're getting better,' he said. 'See? That wasn't so embarrassing, was it?'
'Not that bad. Well, you've seen my pathetic dancing, let's go and sit back –'
'I don't think so,' his eyes flashed playfully. 'I have you here now, there's no way I'm letting you go.'
My heart skipped a beat. All he meant was dancing, Suze. I lowered my eyes
'Wait here.'
I stood there, embarrassed, as he went and had a word to the singer. She smiled, and nodded. Then she had a word to someone at the front desk, and they dimmed the lights so it was a pale blue! Jeez, Jesse sure knew a lot of high people . . .
I stared in wonder as he came strolling back, broad shouldered, his eyes twinkling magically. He was so tall. All of a sudden, I felt very susceptible. The diamontes on my dress were reflecting blue in the glow, as was the whole silken dress. And then, I heard a soft tinkling from the musicians, and a beautiful song filled the air, as the woman began to sing with rich, mellifluous tones that graced the air and inspired an atmosphere of passion. I didn't recognize the song yet.
"Woo oooh . . . Yeah aaah . . . "
'Stand closer to me, querida,' he instructed softly.
"My head's full of thought
Thoughts of you.
And I'm distracted so easy,
Thinking what to do.
So unsure, so unfamiliar
Am I wrong to think that something could happen?"
I shuffled about a centimeter forward, and Jesse smiled. 'No . . . ' And with that, he pulled me right up against him. I fell into him, kind of. He was so warm, and smelt so nice. I was being enchanted again, falling to this hole that I couldn't – and didn't want to – get out of. I rested my head hesitantly on his chest. His hand slid down my back . . .
"Will you fall for me?
I need to know, the way I'd like you to.
Baby, will you fall for me?
The way I've fallen for you. "
We rotated slowly, the dark blue glow bathing us in a pool of mystery. I ran my hand along his arm. I could hear his heart beating in his chest. It was quick. Like mine. This intimacy, it felt so, so good . . . Aaah, a Delta Goodrem song. She was that Australian singer with cancer or something, in News Week.
My breath was positively ragged. We were swaying to this beautiful music. It felt wonderfully surreal . . .
Like a dream.
"I'm not like myself,
And I'm playing the role of someone else.
And my heart's beating so fast.
I can't stop it.
And I'm so unsure.
So unfamiliar.
Am I wrong to think that something could happen."
Like . . . love . . .
"Will you fall for me?
The way I'd like you to.
Will you fall for me?
The way I've fallen for you.
The way I've fallen for you.
The way I've fallen for you."
Jesse gripped my back a little tighter. 'Susannah . . .' he whispered into my hair. I opened my mouth and tilted my head back in a silent gasp, and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I was gazing directly into his. And I couldn't look away . . .
"Fallen for, fallen for you."
Dark eyes. They were so dark. Casting this spell on me, making me feel like I was in heaven. Consuming me in this slow-burning passion. I felt fragile . . . like something very precious to him that he didn't want to break. I placed my arms around his neck, ensnared in those eyes like they were rings of fire. I felt as though I was being hypnotized again.
Only this time, I was blinking.
"So unsure, so unfamiliar,
Am I wrong to think,
That something could happen?
Was I wrong to think . . ."
The piano tinkled like chime bars, further burying me. This feeling inside, was it genuine? It felt like it. It felt so good, something I never, ever wanted to lose. Cherished, and dear . . .
And then, he said sweetly to me, 'Susannah . . . Te amo . . .'
. . . And I was caught.
Caught like a fly drawn to a spider's web.
Gently, gently.
He ran his fingers up my spine, electrifying every nerve in my body. It was all I could do to keep myself from gasping loudly. He spun my out, and then drew me right back into him, now closer than ever . . . Tantalizingly close . . .
"Will you fall for me
The way I'd like you to?
Will you fall for me?
The way I've fallen for you . . ."
Our eyes were locked with a key. We couldn't break away. We didn't want to. Something passed through me, and I felt myself go very weak. Me weak? Yeah, not often. My head thought of nothing. This attraction was so intense, it almost hurt. My heart was acting way ridiculously now. Jesse's eyes were scintillating, glittering in the dim blue light. Everything else was miles away . . .
"The way I've fallen for you . . ."
There was no hope for me. No escape. I was in love. My lips went very close to his, and his head dipped down very slowly. It was like we were magnetically being pulled towards one another. My lips tingled like I'd just ate sherbet, and my eyes fluttered . . .
"The way I've fallen for you . . . "
His breath was warm against my mouth. His heart was beating fast. I could feel it. My heart soared. We were so close . . .
"Fallen for . . . fallen for you . . ."
CRASH!
Screaming ensued like a bomb explosion. Jesse and I broke apart rapidly, to see the shards of the beachfront window still falling to the floor.
Shattered.
Air was jammed in my throat, and I couldn't push the oxygen to my brain. Please, don't let it be . . .
People were running out of the restaurant like ants during rain, trying to flee. They evacuated the restaurant, still screaming. I clutched my head suddenly, as a searing pain shot through my skull! It ached from the noise.
Then, everything near the window began to blow wildly, like a helicopter was coming down. Smoke flared up. Jesse pulled me back.
Please, not . . . not . . .
That was when a figure began descending from outside, and slowly glided through the destroyed window. Everything was a desperate mess. Glass everywhere . . .
Not . . . not . . . please.
But it was. I saw, as the smoke settled. Saw his face. It was etched with murder.
And I was terrified again.
My world had shattered . . .
Jesse stepped in front of me rapidly, holding me from behind.
'Paul,' he growled. I could feel him shaking. Whoa, he really did hate the guy. And so . . . so did I.
'You are not welcome here,' Jesse said in a deep, hostile voice, clutching my arms. Now, I'm not exactly the type to hide behind someone and let them defend me. But all I could see again, were those icy blue eyes. Flashing before my vision, blocking out everything else. They terrified me, haunted me. Wouldn't leave.
The smoke was still drifting, so everything was misty. I saw that Paul, well, he was drunk with rage. You could tell. For a start, everything around the room was shaking like mad, and so was he. His teeth were bared, and you could see the veins on his temples popping out a tiny bit like blue piping covered by skin. His spectral glow was no longer white. It was black . . .
I felt like I was choking. I –
Hold the phone . . .
'Paul?' I managed to cough out, completely shocked, 'What the . . . what the HELL are you wearing?'
I mean in. Black leather pants hugged at his legs and fell over what appeared to by knee-high leather boots. He wore a tight-fitting top with a high cut neck, and a large leather overcoat that dropped to just below his knees. It gleamed the way that leather does. Now, my God, he looked good in leather, but . . .
Was he serious?
In spite of the fear that was eating me, I cracked up.
Well, sorry. But it was funny.
'Shit, Paul, who'd you have to kill to get that?' I wanted to know. 'Keanu Reeves, by any chance?'
His murderous face became even more intense. I gulped. Maybe that hadn't been the best idea to criticize his punk wear. His eyes flashed black, and then tables in front of him were thrown deafeningly against the walls. I jumped in fright, and Jesse stepped back instinctively, still guarding me. My body was aching with dread. The candles that had been on the tables had fallen to the floor, and were beginning to flare up quickly. Twisting, dancing, licking flames. I could feel the heat on my face from where I was even, yet I felt awfully cold. My lips were ice.
Blue eyes . . .
Remember . . . the blue eyes . . . the rage . . .
He wasn't there yet, with the rage. But you could totally tell that one thing would set him off.
One little thing.
I was still kind of staring at the whole leather thing. I mean, like I said, he looked good. Real good. Why? That's not fair. I mean, yeah, Jesse looked better, but Paul looked BAD.
And not in the unattractive way, either.
Paul's blackened eyes narrowed. I could see his lip quivering slightly. Trying to control his anger.
His fury.
'Well, De Silva,' he spat out, taking slow, menacing steps towards us. Jesse backed us away cautiously, eyeing him with acute mistrust. 'Long time, no see . . .'
'What do you want, Paul?' Jesse asked coldly. Jeez, the hatred between the two was almost painful for me. My eyes darted between them, and I could feel a cold sweat emerging across my forehead and my upper lip, result of the ever-growing fire.
'Just a chat,' he said cheerfully, but with hidden odium that all of use could sense clearly. I could feel it scarring me. 'Remember the last time we saw each other? You were feeding me bullets, De Silva,' he added softly.
I felt Jesse go very rigid.
Paul smirked. 'Yeah, that's right, Jesse. You're a murderer too. How does it feel, pulling that trigger? Doesn't it feel great? Taking a life for your own? Don't you feel powerful?'
My heart was in my throat, and I felt very sick all of a sudden. How was Jesse going to answer that?!
Jesse glared, his eyes flickering hatefully. 'Killing was the hardest thing I've ever done. I didn't take a life for my own, Slater, I took it for my sister, who you were about to – how did you say it? – "Feed bullets to". You are tierra, Paul.'
'You've called me dirt before, Jesse. What makes you think I'm going to be miffed by it now?' Paul asked, taking another step closer, his eyes flickering to me for a second.
And I saw.
He was too far gone. There was nothing human left there. He was consumed by something truly evil . . .
I shivered. That look was not one I wasn't for a Christmas present . . . It burnt me, as the fire around us was threatening to do. I felt very weak, still. As if, to defend myself, I would need Jesse.
Not such a hot feeling . . .
'Leave us, Slater. We are two powerful shifters,' Jesse said, shaking now, 'and we can defeat you.'
Paul crossed his arms and gave me a humourous nod. 'Her? Powerful?' and with that, be blasted a table at Jesse, knocking him away, and then he seized me. I yelped and tried to get away, but Paul was far too strong.
Oh so typical . . .
'Querida!' Jesse swore in Spanish viciously at Paul, who only laughed hollowly. 'Sticks and stones, De Silva. Hell, not even sticks and stones anymore.'
Jesse went to dive at him, but swiftly Paul positioned me so that one muscular arm was around my waist and arms, and the other was around my neck, tilting it up painfully. I gasped, and struggled, but to no avail. 'Don't move Jesse, or I'll kill her.'
'No you wouldn't,' Jesse said, sounding genuinely shocked, but still wrathfully furious.
'You know what I'm capable of, Jesse,' Paul hissed at him. 'Want to take a chance? By all means.'
I stared at Jesse in panic. I couldn't swallow at all from the way that my neck was angled, and it was hurting . . .One little twist could snap my neck. We all knew it.
Then to me, he smiled, and whispered beguilingly in my ear in slick, dark tones, 'God, you look so sexy tonight, Susie. I'm going to have you . . .'
My face went red. 'Shut your pie hole,' I said through gritted teeth. Bad move.
He gave me a painful jerk, which cut of my breathing for a few seconds entirely. I cried out, and Jesse looked unnerved. He made another move towards us, but Paul just smirked. 'You like her to suffer, don't you Jesse?'
Jesse glared, but slumped. He could do nothing without getting me decapitated.
'Aaah, right where I want you, De Silva. You always did care too much . . .' He chuckled evilly, and kissed me on the side of my head. 'Like I was saying, Suze here is about as powerful as wet paper. I mean, come on, a powerful shifter wouldn't let me do THIS.'
On this, he ripped open my dress at the stomach, and exposed the wound where that stake of wood had stabbed me.
The asshole! I just BOUGHT this dress! HALF PRICE, TOO!!!
Jesse gasped in slow realization. 'No . . .'
'Yes,' Paul snarled. 'Haven't you figured it out yet, De Silva? That place where you killed me? That would be Suze's house. That's where I've been bunking for the last seven months, now. And Suze, well, she's been great company, haven't you, love?' he purred suggestively.
I panicked then, and cast my terrified gaze over to Jesse –
- Who looked like he'd stabbed in the stomach.
Or more appropriately, the back. By me.
'Jesse,' I wheezed, 'He's lying. I didn't –'
'Kiss me?' Paul interrupted, clearly enjoying every minute. 'Are you willing to stand up in court and say that?'
'You kissed me!' I protested.
'And you kissed me back,' he retorted.
I blanched. Jesse looked even sicker, and angrier now.
But this anger was partially reserved for me.
'You . . . you let him kiss you?' he asked, disgusted. 'He is dead. He is sinful. Please, Susannah, tell me you are lying. Tell me that he hasn't been living with you.'
'Well, it's not like I could do anything about it! And technically, it's not living. It's more like . . . after-living!' I rasped pathetically, my breath getting rare.
Jesse just stared at me, shaking his head. No words for me.
'Jesse, please!' I cried, tears threatening to swamp us all. 'I didn't do anything, I swear.'
'Just like you swore that Paul had only seen you twice,' he said back.
Paul laughed. 'You thought you'd get away with that?'
'SHUT UP!' we snapped at him.
'How about no?' he snarled. 'I'm so glad you've got all of this out in the open, lovers, but please. I've got a schedule, you know.' Again, he jerked my neck, and I screamed again to the pain.
Jesse's anger died, and he looked scared for me again. Oh God . . . what a shitty situation!
'You're a pig, Paul,' I said aggressively. I needed to swallow, desperately.
He was pleased. 'Oh, a pig. Witty, Suze.' Then to Jesse, he said, 'But hey, at least she's hot.'
Flames were crackling . . .
'You and I have the same tastes, De Silva . . .'
Jesse took a slow step forward. I could see in his eyes that he was furious. Paul had tried to murder his sister. Of course he was furious. He'd done it in cold blood, too. That wasn't a thing you shrug off too easily. 'Espero que eso no sea tan,' he snarled. 'I saw that girl in the Shadow World, who claimed to have spent the night with you, Slater. My tastes are far higher than her. I settle for nothing less than Susannah. You, you get it on with anything that will stand still long enough.'
Oooh, Paul was SO toast . . .
Fire was spreading . . .
Smoke filling my lungs, more and more . . .
Hard. To breathe.
I felt Paul well indignantly. But you know what? I was getting WAY pissed with this whole "Damsel in Distress" thing. So, when I'm pissed off, I kind of get the strength to do things I usually couldn't do. Like, get out of ghostly dickheads' iron grips? Yeah, pissedoffedness power is a major plus some times.
Very skillfully, I grabbed hold of Paul's bulging arm, and totally did this full back flip, with him still holding onto me. And that, my friends, was the plusses of MEDIATION. We get all these spiffy tricks like that.
And by doing this, he let go unexpectedly. I back flipped away from him, and stood opposite him, panting, in a fighting stance.
'No one,' I said, fuming, 'Compares me . . . to wet paper.'
And I did this awesome fly-kick at his jaw.
Let the games . . . begin.
The battle had commenced. Jesse joined in also. I aimed a heavy punch at Paul's head, but he dodged, and shoved me back. Jesse kicked him in the chest, sending him flying into the fire.
Paul yelled, but stood up and was perfectly fine. Damn ghostly healing thingies. Damn them all! He ran over to Jesse, and they began throwing all these violent punches. I darted behind Paul, squatted down and kicked his legs out from beneath him. He fell to the ground, where Jesse promptly dived on him. They wrestled around the room, Paul trying to get Jesse nearer to the fire, who could still be affected by flames. I picked up a chair, and bashed it into Paul's back vehemently. He groaned, and threw Jesse off of him, right across the room again! Then, he proceeded to attack me.
'Come on, love, you know you can't win,' Paul grinned at me, as he went to punch me. I blocked him, and kicked him on his elbow. He cursed me.
'Wanna bet?' I snapped, and swung at him –
Where he caught my wrist. And twisted it.
I cried out, and stumbled back. In pain. Ow! OW!! Shit! It felt like he'd broken it or something! Then, he leapt on me. The plus was he didn't start bashing my head against the ground like . . .last time.
Blue eyes . . .
On the downer, what he said annoyed me all the same.
'You're pathetic, Suze. To think, if you had have just listened to me, you could have been unstoppable. You still can, if you give up Jesse, and come with me. I can teach you things you've never dreamed about. Never thought possible . . .' His breath was hot . . .
Hot as the fire.
Those blue eyes . . .
He was leaning far over me, so close to my face.
'Paul?' I said sweetly, 'Tell me . . .'
He looked surprised. 'Tell you what?'
'Tell me . . . ' Then, as hard as I could, I kneed up into his . . . leather pants, and saw his eyes roll up comically. 'Do they do testicle retrieval operations of ghosts?'
He rolled off me, groaning. I darted up, and started kicking his leather clad body, wherever I could reach. Hard. Harder . . . Smoke . . . Tried to kill me . . . tried to kill Jesse's sister . . . Tried to make me love him . . .
'Susannah,' Jesse said, and pulled me away from him, and held onto my shoulders. 'We have to exorcise him.'
My eyes widened in panic. 'Exorcise him? But . . . now? How? Paul?'
He stared at me. 'Yes,' he said strangely. 'You do want him gone, right?'
I shook myself. What was I on about? 'Yeah, of course –'
'That ain't wise . . .'
Paul had grabbed me again, and had threw me down in a jumble of tables. I went to scramble up, but Paul lunged over, with something in his hand.
A pointy, shiny something.
Duh? A knife.
My pupils shrank in horror.
He ran the very tip near my neck. It stung my skin, though not penetrating it . . .
My heart stopped totally. Oh, God. Suze, this is it. Say your prayers. What religion are you again? I blinked hard back at tears that were surfacing now. He traced it around the edge of my dress, all around my chest, and then stopped above my heart.
No . . .
'Párelo!' Jesse shouted, not daring to move. I stared down at the blade on my chest. It seemed unreal, that everything I knew could be so easily ended in one sharp movement. Breathing was no longer automatic, I had to struggle with it. I will admit, I was falling to pieces again. I'm not used to being cornered.
Paul smirked crookedly down at me. His lips were shiny. 'Tables have turned, love . . .'
'Don't call me that,' I snapped. It was worse that "Susie." "Love" actually implied something that I would rather jump off Mt. Everest than be true. I saw in his eyes that he knew exactly what he was doing. I knew what he was doing. If he killed me . . . he could keep me . . .
In my mind, I heard his voice . . .
*Just you wait, Susie.
You'll fall for me soon.
I'll be there to catch you.
And I'll hold you prisoner,
Forever . . .*
And forever is a long time . . .
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Express your opinions, my chums. And still, more ideas on 9th Key! I don't have a clue! Reunion and Darkest Hour are totally sussed out, but not 9th Key! HELP!
Tell me what you think about the chapter. How predictable was it that Paul was going to show and wreck the whole thing? What a prick, huh?
IDEAS!!!
Now, review, and tell me everything. Long reviews are much appreciated, and are received with a giggle of delight.
Regards, MystAngel.
**************************************************************************** **********
Suze's POV
But then, he popped up with the question, 'Would you like to dance querida?'
I stared at him as if he was crazy. 'I – I can't dance, Jesse . . . '
He smiled kindly. 'Then I shall teach you. Stand.'
'No, Jesse. I will embarrass women kind. Seriously.'
He looked down at me, holding out his hand. 'You will not embarrass anyone.' And then he added in the silkiest voice I've ever heard, 'Now please stand, Susannah . . . '
I'm sorry, but it was too irresistible. My hand slipped into his gently, and with a light head, I stood up. He lead me out of the private area onto the dance floor, and rested his hand against my waist. It was warm through the fabric. I shivered slightly, because of the affect his gentle, caressing touch had on me. I placed my hand on his shoulder, and he held my other tenderly. He showed me the patterns that my feet had to move in. I kept trying to steer, but he told me not to, that it was his job. Shit, Jesse was a great dancer. Why did he have to be this perfect? With all the noble saving-his-sister thing, and his impeccable manners. I felt like wasn't good enough for him, like I was impure. Inferior.
He stopped me, grinning.
'Susannah, you are thinking too much,' he told me. 'Stop thinking. Dancing is an escape. Just feel the music.' He flexed his hands against mine, staring at our fingertips. My hands were small and feminine against his slightly coarse ones. His eyes were so deep and cavernous. I felt lost in them, oh, hopelessly, blissfully lost. His breath fanned my neck. My feet moved delicately now, with him leading me expertly. I could feel the music running through me, quickening my breath, shielding me from everything in the outside world. Shielding me from Paul. I was safe here . . .
'You're getting better,' he said. 'See? That wasn't so embarrassing, was it?'
'Not that bad. Well, you've seen my pathetic dancing, let's go and sit back –'
'I don't think so,' his eyes flashed playfully. 'I have you here now, there's no way I'm letting you go.'
My heart skipped a beat. All he meant was dancing, Suze. I lowered my eyes
'Wait here.'
I stood there, embarrassed, as he went and had a word to the singer. She smiled, and nodded. Then she had a word to someone at the front desk, and they dimmed the lights so it was a pale blue! Jeez, Jesse sure knew a lot of high people . . .
I stared in wonder as he came strolling back, broad shouldered, his eyes twinkling magically. He was so tall. All of a sudden, I felt very susceptible. The diamontes on my dress were reflecting blue in the glow, as was the whole silken dress. And then, I heard a soft tinkling from the musicians, and a beautiful song filled the air, as the woman began to sing with rich, mellifluous tones that graced the air and inspired an atmosphere of passion. I didn't recognize the song yet.
"Woo oooh . . . Yeah aaah . . . "
'Stand closer to me, querida,' he instructed softly.
"My head's full of thought
Thoughts of you.
And I'm distracted so easy,
Thinking what to do.
So unsure, so unfamiliar
Am I wrong to think that something could happen?"
I shuffled about a centimeter forward, and Jesse smiled. 'No . . . ' And with that, he pulled me right up against him. I fell into him, kind of. He was so warm, and smelt so nice. I was being enchanted again, falling to this hole that I couldn't – and didn't want to – get out of. I rested my head hesitantly on his chest. His hand slid down my back . . .
"Will you fall for me?
I need to know, the way I'd like you to.
Baby, will you fall for me?
The way I've fallen for you. "
We rotated slowly, the dark blue glow bathing us in a pool of mystery. I ran my hand along his arm. I could hear his heart beating in his chest. It was quick. Like mine. This intimacy, it felt so, so good . . . Aaah, a Delta Goodrem song. She was that Australian singer with cancer or something, in News Week.
My breath was positively ragged. We were swaying to this beautiful music. It felt wonderfully surreal . . .
Like a dream.
"I'm not like myself,
And I'm playing the role of someone else.
And my heart's beating so fast.
I can't stop it.
And I'm so unsure.
So unfamiliar.
Am I wrong to think that something could happen."
Like . . . love . . .
"Will you fall for me?
The way I'd like you to.
Will you fall for me?
The way I've fallen for you.
The way I've fallen for you.
The way I've fallen for you."
Jesse gripped my back a little tighter. 'Susannah . . .' he whispered into my hair. I opened my mouth and tilted my head back in a silent gasp, and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I was gazing directly into his. And I couldn't look away . . .
"Fallen for, fallen for you."
Dark eyes. They were so dark. Casting this spell on me, making me feel like I was in heaven. Consuming me in this slow-burning passion. I felt fragile . . . like something very precious to him that he didn't want to break. I placed my arms around his neck, ensnared in those eyes like they were rings of fire. I felt as though I was being hypnotized again.
Only this time, I was blinking.
"So unsure, so unfamiliar,
Am I wrong to think,
That something could happen?
Was I wrong to think . . ."
The piano tinkled like chime bars, further burying me. This feeling inside, was it genuine? It felt like it. It felt so good, something I never, ever wanted to lose. Cherished, and dear . . .
And then, he said sweetly to me, 'Susannah . . . Te amo . . .'
. . . And I was caught.
Caught like a fly drawn to a spider's web.
Gently, gently.
He ran his fingers up my spine, electrifying every nerve in my body. It was all I could do to keep myself from gasping loudly. He spun my out, and then drew me right back into him, now closer than ever . . . Tantalizingly close . . .
"Will you fall for me
The way I'd like you to?
Will you fall for me?
The way I've fallen for you . . ."
Our eyes were locked with a key. We couldn't break away. We didn't want to. Something passed through me, and I felt myself go very weak. Me weak? Yeah, not often. My head thought of nothing. This attraction was so intense, it almost hurt. My heart was acting way ridiculously now. Jesse's eyes were scintillating, glittering in the dim blue light. Everything else was miles away . . .
"The way I've fallen for you . . ."
There was no hope for me. No escape. I was in love. My lips went very close to his, and his head dipped down very slowly. It was like we were magnetically being pulled towards one another. My lips tingled like I'd just ate sherbet, and my eyes fluttered . . .
"The way I've fallen for you . . . "
His breath was warm against my mouth. His heart was beating fast. I could feel it. My heart soared. We were so close . . .
"Fallen for . . . fallen for you . . ."
CRASH!
Screaming ensued like a bomb explosion. Jesse and I broke apart rapidly, to see the shards of the beachfront window still falling to the floor.
Shattered.
Air was jammed in my throat, and I couldn't push the oxygen to my brain. Please, don't let it be . . .
People were running out of the restaurant like ants during rain, trying to flee. They evacuated the restaurant, still screaming. I clutched my head suddenly, as a searing pain shot through my skull! It ached from the noise.
Then, everything near the window began to blow wildly, like a helicopter was coming down. Smoke flared up. Jesse pulled me back.
Please, not . . . not . . .
That was when a figure began descending from outside, and slowly glided through the destroyed window. Everything was a desperate mess. Glass everywhere . . .
Not . . . not . . . please.
But it was. I saw, as the smoke settled. Saw his face. It was etched with murder.
And I was terrified again.
My world had shattered . . .
Jesse stepped in front of me rapidly, holding me from behind.
'Paul,' he growled. I could feel him shaking. Whoa, he really did hate the guy. And so . . . so did I.
'You are not welcome here,' Jesse said in a deep, hostile voice, clutching my arms. Now, I'm not exactly the type to hide behind someone and let them defend me. But all I could see again, were those icy blue eyes. Flashing before my vision, blocking out everything else. They terrified me, haunted me. Wouldn't leave.
The smoke was still drifting, so everything was misty. I saw that Paul, well, he was drunk with rage. You could tell. For a start, everything around the room was shaking like mad, and so was he. His teeth were bared, and you could see the veins on his temples popping out a tiny bit like blue piping covered by skin. His spectral glow was no longer white. It was black . . .
I felt like I was choking. I –
Hold the phone . . .
'Paul?' I managed to cough out, completely shocked, 'What the . . . what the HELL are you wearing?'
I mean in. Black leather pants hugged at his legs and fell over what appeared to by knee-high leather boots. He wore a tight-fitting top with a high cut neck, and a large leather overcoat that dropped to just below his knees. It gleamed the way that leather does. Now, my God, he looked good in leather, but . . .
Was he serious?
In spite of the fear that was eating me, I cracked up.
Well, sorry. But it was funny.
'Shit, Paul, who'd you have to kill to get that?' I wanted to know. 'Keanu Reeves, by any chance?'
His murderous face became even more intense. I gulped. Maybe that hadn't been the best idea to criticize his punk wear. His eyes flashed black, and then tables in front of him were thrown deafeningly against the walls. I jumped in fright, and Jesse stepped back instinctively, still guarding me. My body was aching with dread. The candles that had been on the tables had fallen to the floor, and were beginning to flare up quickly. Twisting, dancing, licking flames. I could feel the heat on my face from where I was even, yet I felt awfully cold. My lips were ice.
Blue eyes . . .
Remember . . . the blue eyes . . . the rage . . .
He wasn't there yet, with the rage. But you could totally tell that one thing would set him off.
One little thing.
I was still kind of staring at the whole leather thing. I mean, like I said, he looked good. Real good. Why? That's not fair. I mean, yeah, Jesse looked better, but Paul looked BAD.
And not in the unattractive way, either.
Paul's blackened eyes narrowed. I could see his lip quivering slightly. Trying to control his anger.
His fury.
'Well, De Silva,' he spat out, taking slow, menacing steps towards us. Jesse backed us away cautiously, eyeing him with acute mistrust. 'Long time, no see . . .'
'What do you want, Paul?' Jesse asked coldly. Jeez, the hatred between the two was almost painful for me. My eyes darted between them, and I could feel a cold sweat emerging across my forehead and my upper lip, result of the ever-growing fire.
'Just a chat,' he said cheerfully, but with hidden odium that all of use could sense clearly. I could feel it scarring me. 'Remember the last time we saw each other? You were feeding me bullets, De Silva,' he added softly.
I felt Jesse go very rigid.
Paul smirked. 'Yeah, that's right, Jesse. You're a murderer too. How does it feel, pulling that trigger? Doesn't it feel great? Taking a life for your own? Don't you feel powerful?'
My heart was in my throat, and I felt very sick all of a sudden. How was Jesse going to answer that?!
Jesse glared, his eyes flickering hatefully. 'Killing was the hardest thing I've ever done. I didn't take a life for my own, Slater, I took it for my sister, who you were about to – how did you say it? – "Feed bullets to". You are tierra, Paul.'
'You've called me dirt before, Jesse. What makes you think I'm going to be miffed by it now?' Paul asked, taking another step closer, his eyes flickering to me for a second.
And I saw.
He was too far gone. There was nothing human left there. He was consumed by something truly evil . . .
I shivered. That look was not one I wasn't for a Christmas present . . . It burnt me, as the fire around us was threatening to do. I felt very weak, still. As if, to defend myself, I would need Jesse.
Not such a hot feeling . . .
'Leave us, Slater. We are two powerful shifters,' Jesse said, shaking now, 'and we can defeat you.'
Paul crossed his arms and gave me a humourous nod. 'Her? Powerful?' and with that, be blasted a table at Jesse, knocking him away, and then he seized me. I yelped and tried to get away, but Paul was far too strong.
Oh so typical . . .
'Querida!' Jesse swore in Spanish viciously at Paul, who only laughed hollowly. 'Sticks and stones, De Silva. Hell, not even sticks and stones anymore.'
Jesse went to dive at him, but swiftly Paul positioned me so that one muscular arm was around my waist and arms, and the other was around my neck, tilting it up painfully. I gasped, and struggled, but to no avail. 'Don't move Jesse, or I'll kill her.'
'No you wouldn't,' Jesse said, sounding genuinely shocked, but still wrathfully furious.
'You know what I'm capable of, Jesse,' Paul hissed at him. 'Want to take a chance? By all means.'
I stared at Jesse in panic. I couldn't swallow at all from the way that my neck was angled, and it was hurting . . .One little twist could snap my neck. We all knew it.
Then to me, he smiled, and whispered beguilingly in my ear in slick, dark tones, 'God, you look so sexy tonight, Susie. I'm going to have you . . .'
My face went red. 'Shut your pie hole,' I said through gritted teeth. Bad move.
He gave me a painful jerk, which cut of my breathing for a few seconds entirely. I cried out, and Jesse looked unnerved. He made another move towards us, but Paul just smirked. 'You like her to suffer, don't you Jesse?'
Jesse glared, but slumped. He could do nothing without getting me decapitated.
'Aaah, right where I want you, De Silva. You always did care too much . . .' He chuckled evilly, and kissed me on the side of my head. 'Like I was saying, Suze here is about as powerful as wet paper. I mean, come on, a powerful shifter wouldn't let me do THIS.'
On this, he ripped open my dress at the stomach, and exposed the wound where that stake of wood had stabbed me.
The asshole! I just BOUGHT this dress! HALF PRICE, TOO!!!
Jesse gasped in slow realization. 'No . . .'
'Yes,' Paul snarled. 'Haven't you figured it out yet, De Silva? That place where you killed me? That would be Suze's house. That's where I've been bunking for the last seven months, now. And Suze, well, she's been great company, haven't you, love?' he purred suggestively.
I panicked then, and cast my terrified gaze over to Jesse –
- Who looked like he'd stabbed in the stomach.
Or more appropriately, the back. By me.
'Jesse,' I wheezed, 'He's lying. I didn't –'
'Kiss me?' Paul interrupted, clearly enjoying every minute. 'Are you willing to stand up in court and say that?'
'You kissed me!' I protested.
'And you kissed me back,' he retorted.
I blanched. Jesse looked even sicker, and angrier now.
But this anger was partially reserved for me.
'You . . . you let him kiss you?' he asked, disgusted. 'He is dead. He is sinful. Please, Susannah, tell me you are lying. Tell me that he hasn't been living with you.'
'Well, it's not like I could do anything about it! And technically, it's not living. It's more like . . . after-living!' I rasped pathetically, my breath getting rare.
Jesse just stared at me, shaking his head. No words for me.
'Jesse, please!' I cried, tears threatening to swamp us all. 'I didn't do anything, I swear.'
'Just like you swore that Paul had only seen you twice,' he said back.
Paul laughed. 'You thought you'd get away with that?'
'SHUT UP!' we snapped at him.
'How about no?' he snarled. 'I'm so glad you've got all of this out in the open, lovers, but please. I've got a schedule, you know.' Again, he jerked my neck, and I screamed again to the pain.
Jesse's anger died, and he looked scared for me again. Oh God . . . what a shitty situation!
'You're a pig, Paul,' I said aggressively. I needed to swallow, desperately.
He was pleased. 'Oh, a pig. Witty, Suze.' Then to Jesse, he said, 'But hey, at least she's hot.'
Flames were crackling . . .
'You and I have the same tastes, De Silva . . .'
Jesse took a slow step forward. I could see in his eyes that he was furious. Paul had tried to murder his sister. Of course he was furious. He'd done it in cold blood, too. That wasn't a thing you shrug off too easily. 'Espero que eso no sea tan,' he snarled. 'I saw that girl in the Shadow World, who claimed to have spent the night with you, Slater. My tastes are far higher than her. I settle for nothing less than Susannah. You, you get it on with anything that will stand still long enough.'
Oooh, Paul was SO toast . . .
Fire was spreading . . .
Smoke filling my lungs, more and more . . .
Hard. To breathe.
I felt Paul well indignantly. But you know what? I was getting WAY pissed with this whole "Damsel in Distress" thing. So, when I'm pissed off, I kind of get the strength to do things I usually couldn't do. Like, get out of ghostly dickheads' iron grips? Yeah, pissedoffedness power is a major plus some times.
Very skillfully, I grabbed hold of Paul's bulging arm, and totally did this full back flip, with him still holding onto me. And that, my friends, was the plusses of MEDIATION. We get all these spiffy tricks like that.
And by doing this, he let go unexpectedly. I back flipped away from him, and stood opposite him, panting, in a fighting stance.
'No one,' I said, fuming, 'Compares me . . . to wet paper.'
And I did this awesome fly-kick at his jaw.
Let the games . . . begin.
The battle had commenced. Jesse joined in also. I aimed a heavy punch at Paul's head, but he dodged, and shoved me back. Jesse kicked him in the chest, sending him flying into the fire.
Paul yelled, but stood up and was perfectly fine. Damn ghostly healing thingies. Damn them all! He ran over to Jesse, and they began throwing all these violent punches. I darted behind Paul, squatted down and kicked his legs out from beneath him. He fell to the ground, where Jesse promptly dived on him. They wrestled around the room, Paul trying to get Jesse nearer to the fire, who could still be affected by flames. I picked up a chair, and bashed it into Paul's back vehemently. He groaned, and threw Jesse off of him, right across the room again! Then, he proceeded to attack me.
'Come on, love, you know you can't win,' Paul grinned at me, as he went to punch me. I blocked him, and kicked him on his elbow. He cursed me.
'Wanna bet?' I snapped, and swung at him –
Where he caught my wrist. And twisted it.
I cried out, and stumbled back. In pain. Ow! OW!! Shit! It felt like he'd broken it or something! Then, he leapt on me. The plus was he didn't start bashing my head against the ground like . . .last time.
Blue eyes . . .
On the downer, what he said annoyed me all the same.
'You're pathetic, Suze. To think, if you had have just listened to me, you could have been unstoppable. You still can, if you give up Jesse, and come with me. I can teach you things you've never dreamed about. Never thought possible . . .' His breath was hot . . .
Hot as the fire.
Those blue eyes . . .
He was leaning far over me, so close to my face.
'Paul?' I said sweetly, 'Tell me . . .'
He looked surprised. 'Tell you what?'
'Tell me . . . ' Then, as hard as I could, I kneed up into his . . . leather pants, and saw his eyes roll up comically. 'Do they do testicle retrieval operations of ghosts?'
He rolled off me, groaning. I darted up, and started kicking his leather clad body, wherever I could reach. Hard. Harder . . . Smoke . . . Tried to kill me . . . tried to kill Jesse's sister . . . Tried to make me love him . . .
'Susannah,' Jesse said, and pulled me away from him, and held onto my shoulders. 'We have to exorcise him.'
My eyes widened in panic. 'Exorcise him? But . . . now? How? Paul?'
He stared at me. 'Yes,' he said strangely. 'You do want him gone, right?'
I shook myself. What was I on about? 'Yeah, of course –'
'That ain't wise . . .'
Paul had grabbed me again, and had threw me down in a jumble of tables. I went to scramble up, but Paul lunged over, with something in his hand.
A pointy, shiny something.
Duh? A knife.
My pupils shrank in horror.
He ran the very tip near my neck. It stung my skin, though not penetrating it . . .
My heart stopped totally. Oh, God. Suze, this is it. Say your prayers. What religion are you again? I blinked hard back at tears that were surfacing now. He traced it around the edge of my dress, all around my chest, and then stopped above my heart.
No . . .
'Párelo!' Jesse shouted, not daring to move. I stared down at the blade on my chest. It seemed unreal, that everything I knew could be so easily ended in one sharp movement. Breathing was no longer automatic, I had to struggle with it. I will admit, I was falling to pieces again. I'm not used to being cornered.
Paul smirked crookedly down at me. His lips were shiny. 'Tables have turned, love . . .'
'Don't call me that,' I snapped. It was worse that "Susie." "Love" actually implied something that I would rather jump off Mt. Everest than be true. I saw in his eyes that he knew exactly what he was doing. I knew what he was doing. If he killed me . . . he could keep me . . .
In my mind, I heard his voice . . .
*Just you wait, Susie.
You'll fall for me soon.
I'll be there to catch you.
And I'll hold you prisoner,
Forever . . .*
And forever is a long time . . .
**************************************************************************** ***********
Express your opinions, my chums. And still, more ideas on 9th Key! I don't have a clue! Reunion and Darkest Hour are totally sussed out, but not 9th Key! HELP!
Tell me what you think about the chapter. How predictable was it that Paul was going to show and wreck the whole thing? What a prick, huh?
IDEAS!!!
Now, review, and tell me everything. Long reviews are much appreciated, and are received with a giggle of delight.
Regards, MystAngel.