WR: well here u go.. ahh im too good to you people. I really do have better things to do than sit and type in front of my computer, I have an entire biology assignment on carbohydrates to do… so Im not entirely sure why I continue to write about a fictional character, for the benefit for people I don't even know…. Hmm… just count urselves as lucky. on with the writing.
Why he had dressed in a tux, why he had descended to the ground floor, and why he had called his driver to take him to the restaurant, "The Moonlight Palm", eluded Kai. He had in fact resolved to stay in, drinking, however his body had different ideas, and stubbornly dressed itself and carried him away. It occurred to him that he needed to see her, he had to see those bright green eyes again which suited her so well.
When he had entered the restaurant, Dane spied him instantly, and his look of utter disgust was clear, Mrs. Kinyonova rested a small hand on her son's shoulder, and smiled knowingly at Kai. Tala of course smirked and turned back to his conversation with Hael.
The first time Hael had seen her mother and brother, she had sobbed openly, they were her family, and having known them all her life, to see them for the first time was so wonderful. Her mother was so careworn and graceful, her brother so handsome and strong. His wife and daughter were perfect too, Michelle and Kimmy had sat with Hael for a long time chatting about life, while the toddler played with her toes. Mariah, Emily, Ray and Max had arrived soon after. They had laughed and cried together for hours. Hael was so fascinated by Mariah's hair, and all of her friends were so beautiful.
However, Tala had been the biggest shock, she hadn't realised it was him till she had heard his voice… his blood red hair, and innocent blue eyes, his appearance was so seductive and attractive, yet somehow, subtly repulsive at the same time. When she looked into his eyes she thought she could see something hidden there… But he was so sweet and kind, that she pushed such ridiculous thoughts away. She had not yet confronted him about his child, she wasn't quite sure how to breech the subject. But tonight he looked handsome indeed, his black jacket hung from his chair, a white shirt tucked loosely into trousers… she looked away from his countenance as someone came into the restaurant, this place was supposed to be reserved for their private function.
Her jaw dropped.
The singularly most gorgeous man she could ever imagine had just entered the room. His hair were two different variations of the colour blue, which she had learnt early on in her visual training, his dark eyes were a rich shade of crimson, it was clear he had a well toned body, his face was hard and chiselled. He had about him an aura of power and strength, which sent chills down her spine. Something within her told her the name of this man, even before she heard Dane hissing it…. Kai.
She couldn't believe it! She had known he was breathtaking when she had felt his features years back, but she had not expected attractiveness on this level! To think… they had dated! Hael blushed and focused her eyes back on Tala, who looked distinctly plain and boring in comparison to the human Adonis which was Kai.
"Kai!" Said Mrs. Kinyonova, smiling, "And here I was thinking you weren't going to accept my invite."
Every pair of eyes turned in shock and surprise to Hael's mother.
Tala could barely contain the growl in his throat. That was the reason why Kai kept in showing up! The foolish old woman was inviting him! His eyes narrowed dangerously, he would have to put a stop to that.
"Mother!" Dane said furiously, "Why invite him of all people! His presence is only going to upset Hael!"
"I don't mind at all." His sister cut in quietly.
Dane didn't seem to be able to think of much else to say, and merely fumed, the soothing hand of Michelle on his leg not doing much to help, as Kai filled an empty seat between Max and Hael.
"Scotch." He muttered to a waiter, before folding his arms and closing his eyes, silently brooding and asking himself why he was here.
Hael felt her body tingle and come alive at his close proximity…. She suddenly realised someone was speaking to her, and shook herself back to reality.
"Uhh, sorry Tala, what was that?" She asked.
The red head frowned slightly and shrugged, quickly smiling.
"Nothing too important, gorgeous. I was merely saying that seeing as two and a half years have passed since Kai left you in those mines, he might finally be able to apologise and put it behind him." He said.
Kai's eyes snapped open, and even Tala was a little taken aback by the sheer force of the hate which emanated from that glare. The table had fallen silent, and the cameras were on him. All eyes were on him, except hers, they stared down at the table top.. but eventually they too turned and met his own eyes.
Kai remained silent… it was this scenario all over again. Pride… or affection… He growled deeply and looked away from her, and stayed silent.
Tala chuckled.
"Well Kai, it looks like I'm going to have to break this uncomfortable silence with some good news, well at least, I hope it will be good news…."
Tala stood and walked around to Hael's other side, so he stood between her and Kai, he knelt and took her hand in his and stared steadily at her.
"Hael… marry me?" His words were met with gasps. A grin lit his face as Hael flushed crimson, and raised a hand to her mouth.
Something within Kai exploded. He stood and with a howl of rage threw himself at Tala. The other man was knocked sideways and sprawled on the floor, and Kai was instantly above him, his fists descending again and again. Blows rained down on Tala's face, chest and stomach, Kai's fury gave him strength, and the recently healed nose was swiftly shattered again. He seemed detached from his own body, and barely felt huge hands grab him from behind, and heave him against a wall. His sensations seemed to return moments before a gigantic punch knocked the wind out of him. He gasped for air, but couldn't seem to get any. He wasn't even aware of who was attacking him, it sure as Hell wasn't Tala. Another fist collided with his face, almost knocking him out, blood filled his mouth and escaped down his chin.
"Dane! Stop! Stop this!"
Her voice was like an elixir to him and soothed his body and soul. The bulk before him backed away and a new figure took its place. Her face came into focus… so beautiful…
"What did you say Kai?" Hael said blinking in surprise.
Only then did Kai realise he had spoken that last thought out loud. Suddenly he reached up to her, resolution in his heart, his hand going around the back of her neck, and he pulled her closer to him.
"You look beautiful Hael… and I'm sorry.. for everything." Then, he slumped and passed out.
Hael's body shook…. And her heart pounded hard… he had spoken so quietly, she could have been mistaken, certainly no one else had heard what he had said. But if she had heard correctly…
"Hael, Tala's alright, but he needs medical attention. Leave that worthless piece of filth here." Dane said, hauling Tala to his feet and supporting him under one arm. Her brother's voice called to her… she stood and turned, about to berate him for speaking about Kai like that.. but then she saw the state of Tala.. and her heart went out to him, his face was a bloody mess. This man had just proposed to her, and needed her support. She suddenly felt angry at Kai, not understanding why he had acted the way he had, and she turned her back on him and went to Tala and helped Dane to aid him from the restaurant.
Mrs. Kinyonova called some of the camera crew to carry Kai back to his car. She shook her head at the young man… her daughter was not the only one who heard what Kai had said. The young man was so full of love, it was such a shame he had no idea how to show it. When Tala had proposed her heart had gone cold, and she did not know why. The red head was nothing but charm… but something about the thought of Hael spending her life with him repulsed her. Kai had to find a way to let Hael know he loved her.
a week later
Hael sighed and stared at herself in the mirror, something she had never imagined she would be able to do…. Her reflection fascinated her… it was strange, she found herself casting admiring glances at her image whenever she could, admiring and smiling at herself in glasses. Were all girls this vain? She smiled and reached up, loosening her hair and letting it spill around her shoulders, wavy and thick from being tied into its usual bun. Hair half covered her face, and she gave herself a seductive smile, then chuckled quietly at herself. Oh if only she had been like this when she had first met Kai, things could have been very different….
She heard her door close quietly, and turned. Tala stood just inside, and she felt her insides turn unpleasantly. He had asked her to marry him…. Tala had been nothing but sweetness to her, but, she didn't want to marry him, and she hadn't even realised it till the question was posed to her… Tala had asked her more than once to come to his rooms at night, but she had refused each and every time. She didn't want him to be her first lover, at first she thought it was just reluctance, and that it would pass, however,the night he had proposed,she had realised that it would never pass. She would never feel for Tala the way she would for Kai. She closed her eyes, a memory coming to her.. a memory of voices and sounds… the day she had turned around and walked away from Kai…
Tala smirked, he looked at the bitch before him, he was unsure why he disliked her so much, she must be delusional, did she really think Kai liked her!
"Hah, you're insane and ugly!" he sneered at her, "Kai merely played you for a f.."
"Shut up!" Hissed Kai, his voice furious…
She felt his fingers brush over her cheek and her eyes opened again. She saw the handsome red head, and felt repulsed. It was Tala who had spoken with a malicious hate and disgust, and Kai who had silenced him… but that was then.. and this was now… could she really judge someone on their actions almost three years ago? And if the answer was no, then why was she with Tala, and not Kai?
"I've come for my answer, gorgeous…" He murmured, crouching down beside her. "I've given you plenty of time to think..."
Hael stood and walked away from him.
"Tala… why didn't you tell me you had a son?" She asked.
Tala blinked and his smooth skin creased into a slight scowl.
"Who told you about my son?" he breathed.
"Well you should have done, but I heard it from some fiends…" She said, turning to face him, leaning on a window sill.
"It was that Mariah bitch wasn't it…" he snarled.
"Don't speak that way about her, it was right for her to tell me. I can't believe I had to hear it from someone else other than you Tala!" She said, rearing to her friend's defence.
"Look, baby.." he said, smiling disarmingly at her, "I made a mistake back then, I didn't want a kid, I don't even think of him as mine anymore… I don't even know what his name is…"
Hael looked at him in disgust.
"So you disowned a helpless child because of a mistake that you made! Tala, how can you live not even knowing hat your son is called!" She shouted. "You never even helped the mother with his upbringing!"
Tala scowled.
"How I treat my own blood is nothing to do with you!" he snarled back.
Hael paused. There is was, that same maliciousness, that same evil that she had heard…
"It has everything to do with me… now that I know how little you care for your own children, I would be a fool to ever allow you to have anymore, especially by me. I won't ever marry you Tala, and I don't love you, just as you don't love me… Now leave!" She said frostily, pointing at the door.
Tala gaped. She was refusing him! Him! He had been one of the most sought after boys in school, all the very hottest girls had chased him, and now, this ugly little rat had said no to him. The poisonous anger from which he was made boiled up and he stepped forward. He grabbed her by her forearms, and she gasped in pain as his grip tightened.
"Your refusing me? For what! Kai! That mother fucker is nothing, a drunken fool who has never loved you, never wanted you! I'm the one who donated that money, I'm the one who has stood by you! have you forgotten who left you in those mines!" He yelled.
"Take your hands off my daughter!" Mrs. Kinyonova stepped through the door, leaving it ajar. In her hand was grasped a video tape and her narrowed eyes were focused on Tala, a brooding hatred was there, and he shrunk from its fury.
He released her almost at once, and opened his mouth to say something.
"Don't you say a word, I'll do all the talking that is necessary." She said, stepping up to the television which stood in the room. "I just paid a very interesting visit to our charming host."
Tala snarled, knowing exactly who she meant.
"Kai had something rather interesting to talk to me about, he told me everything that has happened between both him and my daughter, and him and you Mr. Valkov. At first, I defended you, and didn't believe a word of what he said, but then he showed me this…"
She slid the tape into the recorder, and turned it on. Tala's eyes narrowed, the image which flickered up was clearly a surveillance camera clip. His body turned cold when he realised the room it recorded. It showed Kai's office…
The clearly drunken Kai stumbled against a table, knocking an empty bottle to the floor, just as someone, who was clearly identifiable as Tala entered the room.
"Turn that off now! Its total nonsense!" he shouted.
"I will do no such thing!" Hael's mother replied, stepping in his way. "You will shut up and let my child see just what kind of low filth you are!"
Hael had remained silent, enraptured by the tape…
"Kai, what a surprise to find you here…" he muttered.
"What are you talking about.. these are my private quarters, get out!" He snapped back.
"I know Kai… remember, I grew up here, just like you. I was always the better blader, I was always smarter, I was always more ambitious than you… yet. It has been you Kai.. you that has taken everything from me. As we grew, you were always the favorite, you were always more feared. In school, people thought it was me who was your lackey, and you're the one who got all the credit for my brilliant prank to leave that little blind rat in the mines…. And now look at you Kai, you are the one who owns the Biovault Abbey… Do you know where I have been? I have been working… just to pay my rent, I've endured jobs that I never thought someone of my standards would ever have to do… cleaning.. waiting… and sitting at check-outs…." As he spoke, the madness in his eyes glinted, even in his state of inebriation Kai could see it. "…But now, now Kai, I have the one thing that you want…. I have her."
Kai snarled and stepped forward.
"I don't know what your talking about Tala…" He said.
"Don't feed me that bullshit Kai. You loved her in high school, and you're the one who donated that money under my name, you're the one who charged no fee for the use of these facilities, you're the one who has watched her since the first day she arrived here." He paused, and a wicked grin split his face. "I'll tell you this Kai, she's great in bed…"The little thing was totally inexperienced when I first met her.. she had no idea how to do things… she was is so terrified of making mistakes that she does anything I tell her. I can see why you were attracted to her Kai, her body is fantastic, and amazingly flexible…"
He got no further, as Kai's fist connected sickeningly with his nose...
Tala watched as Hael slowly turned to face him, and her expression was one which he had never thought he'd see on her face; utter disgust.
"You lied to him… I have never.. would never degrade my body by letting you touch it! You have known that all these years I have loved Kai, and you only wanted me to get at him!" Tears flooded her eyes. "You make me sick!"
Tala managed to find his tongue, the two formidable females both glaring at him anger. He settled himself, he could handle this situation.
"Has it ever occurred to you two ladies that Kai faked that whole thing?" He hissed.
"And why would he do that Tala? Why would he bother? Besides, your nose got broken on that same night! Hah! Walked into a door my ass!" She yelled. "Get out of my life Tala, then damned well sort your own out!"
Tala glared at each of them, unable to find an argument which would save him. He turned and walked past them to the door, however, before he reached it, it was opened fully. The sole person, to whom his hate revolved around stood there, and there was the smirk, that smirk that he wanted to carve right off that mouth.
"So the wedding's off?" Kai asked jovially.
Tala howled and threw himself at the man, determined to kill him, or die trying. However, before he even reached Kai, a gigantic hand seemed to materialize, and snatch him from mid-air-leap. Dane grabbed Tala and slung him against a wall, eye to eye.
"You either need to leave right now, or hope to god you can afford a fucking good doctor.." he said calmly.
It was barely minutes later, and the four of them stood at the window, watching the Taxi pull up, ready to receive Tala.
Hael sighed.
"I can't believe I almost believed him, I really thought he.. loved me…"
"Tala will never love anyone, he might pretend to love someone, but only if in doing so will elevate him into some position of power." Kai muttered.
"Dane," Muttered Mrs. Kinyonova, noticing howKai and her daughter could not tear their eyes apart from each other,"will you please take me to little Kimmy, I'd like to take her for a walk of the grounds, join me?"
Hael's older brother still clearly distrusted Kai, but conceded and took his mother by the arm and led her towards the door.
Kai turned to Hael, and took a deep breath. This was it. If he did this right, then his life might just be worth living.
"Hael... Everything in my life has been an utter waste, for the last two years... I... don't know how to explain it.."
"Kai.." She said, smiling at him, "What makes you think you need to explain?"
Suddenly there was an earsplitting bang, and a scream. The pair turned to see Dane wide-eyed and staring blankly at his mother who lay on her back, a hand clutching her throat and blood staining the carpet. It seemed like there was a moment frozen in time, as Hael drew in a breath, that moment seemed to stretch into eternity. Then, she screamed.
Tala stood, a gun in his trembling hand. His eyes alight with madness, his skin pale.
Kai howled in pain and fury at the sight of the woman, who lay lifeless on his floor, a woman who he had gently come to love as he suspected a son might love a mother. He took one step forward, before the second shot. There was an agonizing pain. A fall. Then nothing….
WR: Im done for now, R&R people… I THINK… there will be just one chapter more….