Here is another chapter.
BiBi is watching the trees, how they sway in a warming breeze. It is that time when summer begins to blossom into something the body feels as much as the brain when the emotions catch their thermal updrafts.
We sit at the park while Vic and Jennifer run to Dutch Bros, Layla, William, Magenta, and Becca Faith are with us, I just lay in the grass in skimpy shorts and a bright tye dye bikini top, we were swimming before but BiBi needed more outside time. Now BiBi sat on a swing while William pushed her pretty high, but she was laughing up a storm. Small children were playing on the various, colorful, play equipment, as their parents kept a watchful eye on them. The noise of dogs barking at each other playfully as they chased each other in circles, "Magenta, I am going to have Warren take BiBi. They have been hunting Kai and of course no luck, so it's my turn," this was not the very best idea, I was on Kai's hit list but doubt I was this grand plan but I was a factor in his plan.
She smirked, "Who is going,"
Answering her was easy, "Vic and you," Jennifer would be an issue, Vic couldn't be in the game with her there, Layla was a tree hugger, and Becca Faith was scared shitless of Kai. I looked at the girl she was happy even with her mother making no progress, Layla cut in. "Let's go to the beach, maybe she never has been," BiBi was pale, but so are we as I shrug not a bad idea.
Vic and Jennifer arrive with drinks and we take off heading to Orange Beach, BiBi was shotgun bouncing in her seat. "you maybe think I will see a shark, fascinating creatures," oh go no, she wanted a pet shark.
"Doubtful, and if you do I doubt it is going to want to cuddle Hummingbird," but she smiled as the music blared. Magenta was texting while Becca Faith was filing her nails, Layla was reading a book while we drove the forty-five minutes to the white sand beach. The cool water laps at my feet, fizzing and bubbling like brine. Even though the sun is beating on my back, beaming in my eyes, I can't help but smile as the wind caresses my face. Waves ahead roar and roll down, crashing onto the shore with a soft hiss; peeling away at the deep bronze sand beneath my feet. Without hesitation, BiBi plunged into the blue-green water with Will and Vic, we girls stay here and watch.
I was not the best swimmer, but soon enough I am alone the girls taking to the cool waters. Scrunching my toes, I feel the softness of the sand, still damp from the retreating tide. Wiggling as a shiver cascades down my spine and my eyes burst open. The sand blurs out in a blissful trance, the shore fading into liquid gold, vivid in the brilliant light. My pale lips curve upward my body is up, maybe the curse lingered, maybe it was residual darkness but I knew he was here waiting and watching. I turned the music up; I was a huge fan of the Beach Boys like my mother.
I removed my pants leaving me in only my bikini walking into the cool water, just to my thighs not wanting to chance dying until later. But I play it off my sunglasses dark enough that I could gaze around, and there he was with a few others perched on the cliff overlooking the beach. Now I made it known I was staring; he stood his eyes on me.
His stare was as uncomfortable as a chorus-girl corset and had the same effect on my breathing, constricted and shallow. There was no life behind those eyes so cold and dead. Every move he made betrayed his intentions and none of them were noble, I heard her laughing getting closer and he moved his hand to the left where BiBi was coming at me.
I caught her without looking, "He watches you, he loves you, but he evil," her voice low as I nod. "I know, hummingbird, I will take care of him," and I would but she gave me a look.
Her head snapped to the right, "Look," her finger-pointing, it was Warren never needed to look and she knew this. I sipped my drink as I set BiBi down seeing her bolt to Warren, his face was not happy though. The way he looked at me was like a Lion and a snack, "What is it?" my tone light since BiBi was right here.
He just removed his tee as Deke, Hunter, and Bandit arrived with him. "Take BiBi to Layla," Bandit did just that, she slurped her Rebel watching us as she was led away. "Her mom is not doing so great, your mother called me when you didn't answer your cell. I tracked your cell to this location, BiBi seems so happy and I can't see how she would ever be happy with her mother not around," we looked at the little girl and it would happen in time, we had worked with her this last few weeks how to tune in and out of her power, she was in full control.
His arms come around me, his hands moving down feeling the warmth of my skin. "By the way, you need to go retract the fucking papers," now his eyes are hostel and aimed at me.
I opened my mouth, but he cut me off. "BiBi already saw us together, never with another just you and I," he was making my life hell. The way his hands cupped my rear lifting me so his lips could meet mine. He kissed me and the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. I ran my fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there was no space left between us and could feel the beating of his heart against my chest.
I could feel rage.
I leaned my head away from Warren, "I'll think about it," but he just tossed his cell, keys, and wallet on the towel before he was wading into the water in his black jeans. I screamed, "You're crazy, Warren I don't like the water and can't swim," the rising panic was not held in this time as he stopped waist deep, I knew without a doubt I was shaking.
His words are said in such a husky tone, "Trust me," wading out further, he didn't understand trust had nothing to do with it, fear is fear.
Vic was the first to us, "Fuck Warren hand her over, she is pale. Grow up, she nearly died here doubt this is the place she wants to learn," I was snatched up and Vic was muttering under his breath, taking me to shore.
"I never told him, Vic," but it was no excuse, I had asked him to stop and he shouldn't push.
Once I was done in the shower, I found Warren and BiBi sitting in the front den she was reading and he was reading a magazine. It was a nice sight, "I will be back, Warren you will need to feed her. Something you normally will eat since I am not going to be here for dinner," his eyes narrowed as his body made it to me in three long strides.
Deep and bothered, "Where are you going,"
Not going to lie, he was my husband. "You had your turn, now it's mine. And you have no say, Warren," turning away from him knowing he was angry now, he thought he would alone deal with Kai. That I stay home and bake cookies all day, he snarled at me, "No," his hand was massive as he grasped my upper arm spinning me around.
I just calmed down, our eyes locked. "You can't stop me, let me go. I have sat and watched you for three weeks and now I am stepping in," he had no choice but to un-hand me, he loved very deep and at times he was possessive.
My radio was on full blast, "SO FAR FROM HEAVEN NOW," was at window shattering levels as Magenta slide in, Bandit was now standing with Warren as they both glared at us even when Jennifer and Vic arrived. Vic just got in leaving Jennifer, "He is rather fucking pissed at you," Magenta was watching Warren who looked ready to blow his shit even with BiBi in his arms.
My foot slammed on the gas, "Let's go," Vic whooped as we drove off from all our angry mates. An hour ago the sunset had radiated across the cloud, turning it molten orange with bands of pink. Now it is gone and I sit under the starless, moonless sky.
The streets are not packed as we of course stop at Dutch and grab a late-night drink, just a normal thing for us. My head was leaned back, "Let's go burn his mom's house down fully, a small message. Doubt he is there after the last time I tried to burn it," doubt she was either, but that was his childhood home.
When we arrived it was dark, Magenta shifted her body morphing into a snake making me cringe against Vic who waggled his brows. Hated Snakes and she knew this, now we wait until we get the all-clear.
Is there anything more morally bankrupt than asking kids to be resilient instead of working to create a world where they can be comfortable and happy as themselves? BiBi was going to be able to grow and just be herself without Kai or anyone making it so much harder.
Like a small jolt she was at my side, "No one, the answering machine says Glynne is on vacay in Cabo," might be true, she was always on vacations, she had three dead ex-husbands and a shit ton of cash.
Guess we are going in, it was as how I remembered she was a very neat person. Cocking my head to the left we traveled down the long hall to his room, it was also the same but not. I flicked the switch seeing the framed pictures he had, him and his mother, us together when I was happy, the very beginning. One was on his bedside table it was me sleeping, my fingers pulled the drawer open it was still filled with Snickers and smokes and smaller albums and a journal. "In his closet is a black duffle give it to me," I knew his room, he once locked me in here for a few hours. I take the journals since I never have seen them, take the smokes but leave the candy, I had some.
Magenta was snooping too, " I noticed all the stuff that can't be replaced is gone, all her pictures and certain other things in his room," I say as she gives me a nod adding in a few more pictures, and some of my tee's that were abandoned here. The phone rang and we all turned to the small black phone on his end table, his mother's sweet tone came over the line. "Kai, my dearest. I should have known you wouldn't be home yet, how silly of me. I spoke to Mr. Sinjar the curse is half in place still, I know my dearest how much you love her. All plans are currently in place, she will have no choice in time," shit…
If she was working with him, I might be fucked as I cocked my head we are out. Outside the fresh air was welcomed, "That bitch is off her rocker, we need to find out what their master plan is," I was going to ask BiBi, and if she didn't know I would find another way.
But as ten o'clock hit his car rolled up, fuck the house all my rage was boiling up as I jumped down leaving my friends. His face turned evil, never before not even when I attempted to burn the house down did he look like that. "I wouldn't do it," I felt alive as the fire raced around me, snaking out twisting and turning until the bright hot fire slammed into his first love, his shining black loud car. I just laughed, but Vic and I took off leaving him to curse next to the flames that once was his car. Kai he bellowed but his words were drowned out by the blast, it sent me sailing into Vic who caught me. But the smoke was billowing up, the flames licked the night air "I am going to kill you, you fucking slut,"
"Come on, I am right here," but now his eyes on Magenta and the black bag. "Give me the bag,"
"Magenta, go take the bag too," in a flurry of wings she was gone as another bellow was heard.
He was raging and he was very dangerous, I winked. "See you later, Kai," we vanished and only the tires of my car are heard. I was still a young stupid heroine playing mind games, when later in my life it would be looked back at with head shaking for being so cocky.