A/N-Hey everyone, I'm back but I'm leaving for a few days again so I'm updating tonight! Thanks everyone for the reviews and being such loyal readers! Cali was great. I'll try to update as soon as possible when I do get back home.
Chapter 10
Nervously Andrew sits before Justin's grandmother. Her scrutinizing eyes come over Andrew searching every crevice of his being. Casually Justin stands next to a large portrait of the monarch of a woman. Andrew notices how relaxed Justin is now that Ezra and Ben are gone. The blonde's mother hadn't been present when they entered, but they heard the demand that the woman must attend dinner. Beneath Serenity's gaze, Andrew feels like a child. Trembling and frightened, Andrew tries to raise defiant eyes to the woman's cold, calculating emeralds. To hear her speak is like listening to the Queen. This woman holds the poise and self-control that Bree Van de Kamp had pretended to have. This one woman can turn men into sniveling children or gallant gentlemen. Andrew understands Justin's awe of her. The way Justin feels for her was the way he viewed the blond when they first met.
Hesitantly Andrew had admitted to himself the truth. Defiant Andrew Van de Kamp had been in awe of one boy's gentleness and seeming confidence. In school, Justin didn't need to act tough in order to gain respect. The blond was good in sports earning the jocks respect, good looking enough to draw attention to himself from both sexes, and Justin sweetly respected everyone else like a Southern gentleman would. To Andrew, the blue-eyed blond had held every ounce of goodness perfectly that he had forsaken perfectly. However, beneath the caring heart lies a fiery, passionate soul that once provoked could unleash havoc. Andrew had learned how loyal the blond was and how Justin holds fast to his beliefs in certain situations. Justin's gentle soul is his strength and Andrew would dare anyone to call the blond weak.
"Justin, you have a lot to learn as does this boy. If you are to overtake my empire, then I demand strength, tears, and blood. You're soul is perfect as it is. I don't wish to change you, merely prepare you. In you I find my salvation as well as my revenge," Serenity says and Andrew hears the finality in her tone telling them her words cannot be challenged.
"Zach owns his grandfather's empire and now you'll own this one. How come I can't own an empire," Andrew demands watching Justin curiously as the blond paces. "I don't know. What type of question is that anyways? According to Serenity, we're practically married," Justin growls, clearly aggravated, and Andrew tangles his arms around the blonde's neck. "Relax, I was joking. I was wondering what she was talking about when she mentioned me, but we're not even officially together yet," Andrew states waiting until Justin's eyes had stopped sparkling dangerously and the teen's no longer trembling with pent up frustration. With their fingers intertwined, Justin leads Andrew into the dinning room and mentions, "We're taking the horses out, but we'll be back around eight." Greens harboring amusement look them over as a startled pair of blues stare at their joined hands. Blue-greens orbs glare hotly at Justin, almost daring him trouble a fool of himself, but the blond shrugs good naturedly saying, "Have a nice chat, grandmother, father, and older brother Ben."
Cringing Andrew follows behind Justin's heels and says, "Well, that went well. Maybe next time he'll throw more than just a shot full of whiskey at us." Calm blues regard him nonchalantly before Justin laughs then says, "It doesn't matter. Ben has always hated me, but now I have the trump card. As long as we stay on grandma's good side, we're good. All his life, Ben wanted his parents' empire." Ecstatic and energetic, Justin presses hot lips upon Andrew's and he moans into the passionate kiss. "When the empire is mine. I'll destroy him just because I can. I don't have to hate him to do that. Why would I keep anyone that I could care less about in my domain? I've finally won. He couldn't make me hate him," Justin gushes excitedly and the brunette stares in awe at the teen.
The powerful creature moves beneath them as Justin holds tightly to Andrew's waist. The younger teen hides his fear well enough, but being this close to him Justin can feel the telltale tremors. Slow and steady, the horse glides across the lush land and into the trail near the grape vines. Unconsciously the animal heads deeper into the trail, and towards the winery. "It's kind of ironic that you make money off alcoholics and my mother is one," Andrew states and shrugging Justin eases the chestnut colored horse into a gallop easily saying, "Not all buyers are alcoholics. We also have a lingerie company as well as a toy company as well as a toy company. Grandmother's father developed Nightshade Toys into a booming business that sells handcrafted toys as well as electronic games. Ezra founded the winery and his great-great grandmother created Amira's Treasures, which is the lingerie line. Of course, her husband took the credit. The women of this family tend to be stronger and smarter than the men. Somehow my mother was left out of those skills."
"Does your entire family live here or something?" There's a hint of disgust in Andrew's voice, a tendency the boy has when he mentions families. "Not always. When I was younger it was only Ben, mother, and myself with one maid, a cook, and a butler. When Serenity and Ezra came, they brought the stable hands, two more maids, and their driver. I've never taken advantage of the help nor do I spend my allowance foolishly. Most of my money is placed in savings for emergencies. That money is why I can do yard work for free and have no need to hold a stable job." Disgust taints Justin's tone.
Pausing the horse by the family cemetery, Justin points out a small tombstone and says, "Ezra's twin died because of this wealth. She was seven when she died. Emila's prized dog ran off and she went out to search for him. A man stole her, took the money she always carried, raped her then drowned her. The dog attacked and managed to back the man off the cliff. That dog never left Emila's body after he found her. The next day, Ezra woke up knowing his twin was gone but they sent a search party out anyways. Two days later, they found her with her dog. The dog was on the verge of dieing due to heartbreak and starvation. Money destroyed this family."
Tenderly Andrew kisses Justin and running his fingers along the arms that securely hold him on the horse says, "Did you ever like it here?" Wistful blues lock with concerned hazels. "At times. When Ben left for business, mom use to take me around the house and tell all the rich history that she learned about it. The cook would allow me to sit on the counter and watch him and the maid chased me around the house. The stable is where I spent most of my time. Sometimes I could swear I heard Emila calling for her dog, or Amira singing while her husband David played the piano." Skeptically Andrew gazes past him at the various graves and states firmly, "Ghost don't exist." "You never know for sure," Justin argues being quiet out of respect for the dead.
Swiftly Justin turns the horse back towards the stable and smiles as the wind whips at his face. "Do you believe in UFOs, zombies, and werewolves, too?" Rolling his eyes, the blond pinches Andrew's side and says, "UFOs might exist. Until I have unwavering proof I wont decide. However, zombies are a little too far fetched even for me. Werewolves are a possibility. Don't you believe in anything?" Frowning Andrew shakes his head, a flicker of regret flashes in his hazels, and says, "I was brought up were the bible was word and nothing supernatural existed. Dad hated it and tried to get us to believe in ghost and stuff, but we couldn't." Laughing Justin helps Andrew off the horse and admits, "Ben's afraid of the room where Lady Katrina hung her self. Her sadistic ghost supposedly haunts it. She's quite sweet, actually."
Still disbelieving but not aching for an argument, Andrew helps brush the horse down and inquires, "What are we going to eat?" Smirking Justin kisses the younger teen affectionately and states, "If mom prepared the menu for the day then food I don't even want to try and pronounce. With Serenity, you'll just have to see." Scrutinizing eyes fall upon them when they enter and Serenity declares, "Earlier than I demanded, I'm pleased already. Go see if that wretched mother of yours is ready to obey me." Interlacing their fingers, Justin leads them upstairs past the door to his former bedroom and down the long hallway. "Mom, you have to come down for dinner," the blond calls out and opening the door they stare in at the sobbing mess on the bed. "I hate you! You just had to come home and shame me all over again," Laura Anne screams throwing a hand mirror at her son.
For the first time Justin felt completely defeated. With blues far away, thinking about the past, he doesn't see Andrew's concern or hear Laura Anne's fearful warnings. Without thinking, Justin backs away from the strange woman and runs towards the stairs. Never in his life had Laura Anne struck him. Not even when he knocked over her expensive perfume on accident causing the bottle to shatter. Though she never failed to remind him he was a mistake, Justin never felt her hatred the way he does now. Stunned and scared, Justin mistakes the stairs for more carpet and tumbles down. "My baby," Laura Anne screams, her tone shrill and bordering on hysteria, and suddenly the world stops floating past as Justin is submerged in darkness.
