Seventy

Shane approached me as soon as I stepped out of my bike in front of the deli we agreed to meet in the City. His face was a mask of hatred, and he was transfigured, grabbing me by the arm and pushing me to an alley a few steps away. I didn’t expect that behavior from him. I understood our past encounter got a little out of hand, but that didn’t give him the right to manhandle me like that.
“Where were you all this time?” he spat, and turned me around to face him. He gave me a harsh shake and smashed me to the wall. “Who’s the asshole you were with, Alexandra?”
“Take your hands off me, Shane! You don’t have any rights on me anymore!” He intensified his grip, and I got pissed. “I’m asking you nicely, get your hands off me,” I asked between my teeth. “I’m not asking again, Shane! What’s got into you?” To make matters worse, a wave of anger engulfed me as Vlad’s demon shimmered in my mind, baring his teeth. My breath hitched in my throat, and my heart sped out of control. Even Shane could hear it. Vlad knew what was happening. How did he do it, I had blocked him! I had no other option but to zap Shane.
“You shocked me, Alex!” He growled, jumping back dumbfounded.
“And you acted like a jerk. What’s wrong with you?” I glanced around us. The alley and the streets were quiet.
“Sorry, ok! You worried me sick and cut me off. You didn’t answer my calls or my texts, and ghosted me out all this time!”
“I told you I was fine, Shane. My life took a different route these last few weeks, I needed time to adjust to it.” I didn’t like the storm cooking up in those blue eyes. Something wasn’t right, and I was getting the same feeling as I got when riding to the cabin. “Did you bring the package?” He stared at me, pondering if he should or not hand it over. “Shane?”
Shane wasn’t acting like himself, and it was scary. I’ve never found happiness having these gifts. I believe this was the first time I was glad my sixth sense got enhanced. It was a blessing to tap on someone’s energy. It told me a lot. Shane’s emotions were heavy and troubled, making me second guess his intentions, and sadly, I was about to agree with my father. He had a tense semblance. His eyes were glassy and dilated with an ugly frown. Right there, in front of me, there was someone I didn’t recognise. It felt as if I was dealing with a possessed person.
“Are you on drugs? Tell me the truth.”
“Of course not. I don’t do this crap. That’s for the losers.” He grinned, then reached for the pocket inside his jacket and retrieved a little vial, showing it to me.
“Did you open the box? You had no right!”
“Yes, I did! I had to at least know what kinda shit I was putting my life on the line for.” He dangled the little thing on my face, and when I tried to grab it, he hid behind his back. “Why do you need this blood? Do you know who it belongs to?” He had such a smug smirk, I wanted to punch him..
Another wave of energy hit me hard, making me gasp and getting Shane’s attention back to me. Someone lurked closer. The amount of betrayal and disappointment it broadcast in those waves made my stomach lurch, and tears came to my eyes. My heart filled with sorrow and suddenly breathing became a hard task. It frightened me more than I liked it, even though it wasn’t the dark energy I sometimes felt.
“No, I don’t, but I want to run tests on it. They injected us with this shit, remember?” I poked his chest with my index finger.
Then things happened too fast! I blinked, and dad was onto Shane, my vial flew from his hand and I just heard the glass smashing on the ground, spilling its contents, and I found myself even more plastered to the wall with Vlad’s hand on my neck, holding me captive. Rage stirred in me like a storm, and the next minute I blasted Vlad with full power, and he flew from me, hitting the opposite wall. Next thing I knew, I was kneeling down, reaching into my pockets for any piece of cloth, trying my best to salvage what had left of the sample.
Tears streamed down my face, and a sob escaped my lips, but luck wasn’t on my side. Vlad grabbed me by my waist as I struggled against him. “NO!!! The blood, you asshole. What the hell are you two doing?” I hissed and screamed at Vlad. “I’m being chased for that shit, Vlad!”
“Don’t you dare attack me again!” It was a low growl, and he smashed me to the wall. What with these men and walls?
“Look what you did! You two messed everything up. The vial is broken and with it years of research!” All my strength left my body, and I let go, weeping. He didn’t spare a glance at it, and I couldn’t take my eyes from the spilled blood on the street.
“We don’t need that, Liz. Forget about it! But I can’t forget you broke your promise. You left me, you sneaked away like a rat, I wanted to kill you the moment I learned of your betrayal. I’m sick of people betraying me all the time, and you did the same. You stabbed me in the back just like the others, and to find you here with him again?” The golden in his eyes resembled fire.
“It’s not true. I’m the one who should feel betrayed. You two plotted against me. Doublecrossed me. Don’t you think I know?” I faced him, and more tears sprung from my eyes.
“We were protecting you, Liz. Besides, we wouldn’t leave you behind. A lot different from what you did.” His tone softened. And it was my downfall.
“It is the same with me. I need to keep you safe. I don’t know why, but it’s crucial to me.”
He was furious and resentful. His demon had taken over him and the way he held and spoke to me, so tender despite his anger, sent tiny flames dancing all over my skin, his hard body pressed against mine, molding me to him. It was so perfect. Yes, I was sneaky, like his enemies, but I didn’t want to bring harm to him, just the opposite.
“I’m so damn angry with you! You’ve been a rotten woman, Liz. Your sins are heavy. How should I punish you?” His voice carried all the ache I didn’t want to hear, as he caressed my neck with a light pressure. I had to wipe the hurt stamped on his eyes.
“Dragging me kicking and screaming? Shackling me to OUR bed and putting me at your mercy?” I whispered, licking my dried lips. His eyes darkened to the point of two obsidian stones, and at the sweet spot right below my stomach I felt the hard-on I gave him.
“It’s a start... And I have a few things I can add to your punishment, dragă.” A shudder assailed my entire self, and I felt moisture gathering between my legs as I pressed them together to relieve the pleasant pain coiling there.
The moment we were having dissipated when my father got blown away by Shane, flying against the concrete wall, hitting it hard. Shane, all bruised, jumped to his feet, making us divert our attention to them, as Anton charged against Shane once more and this time he had one of his daggers in his hand. He was much stronger than Shane, and he was in for the kill.
“No, dad!” I screamed, resounding through the alley and making him stop mid air.
I didn’t know he could do that. He froze there, looking at me, his eyes flicking red with a murderous gaze. Then to Shane, who breathed hard, trying to catch his breath. I tried to rush to him, but Vlad held me in place. The air stalled with tension, and I assumed the worst was about to unfold. My father got himself down, positioning beside us.
“Why do you care for him so much, Alex?” My father’s voice was low and controlled, but that had nothing to do with composure, on the contrary.
“Are you in love with him?” Grizzly voiced his question and looked at me in a way I just couldn’t describe it. He let go of me. It was a simple act, but I felt cold and bereft from the lack of his warmth.
Tears were already flowing down my face again, and I felt like a stupid wuss. I faced them both as I shook my head. Shane was just there, like a statue, staring at us in disgust with contempt on his face and hurt in his eyes. Intense guilt swamped me. Yes, I wasn’t a saint since I had my flaws and believed me ugly ones.
“I’m sorry!”
“I loved you all these years, and the only thing you have to say is, sorry, you slut?” Two growls resonated in the air as my arms opened, blocking both of them to make even more shit out of the situation.
“Shane, we had a beautiful and sweet time together, and believe me, it was real. Everything was real, but it didn’t work.” His face was red, he was fuming and with reason. “I’m sorry if I made you believe we had a chance together. You’ll never hear from me again. I owe you at least that. Please, go. I’d never forgive myself if you get hurt.”
“You made me into a fool all these years, so I’d help you with your shit. Now you throw me away like trash. I’ll never forgive you, Alexandra. This is not the end.” His eyes were so cold, it reminded me of those icy lakes in the winter, and his words, full of hatred. He pivoted on his feet and left. I fell in my father’s arms, sobbing hard.
“Dad, it’s not his fault, it’s mine.” Anton hugged me tight, kissing the top of my head under Vlad’s cold scrutiny.