Chapter 9 - Fire

Reign

After we drove for about 20 minutes, we arrived at Cracker Barrel. I love this place. I got out rubbing my hands together. “Let’s go.” I said skipping into CB. “Hi, I need a table for 15 please.” I smiled at the girl. She looked at me and her mouth fell open. Damien approached her. “Excuse me, may I speak with your manager?” He asked politely. “Miss?” He snapped his fingers in front of her face. “OMG!” She squealed as she covered her mouth. “Please don’t scream, yell or call attention.” He told her bring her attention to him. “Get your manager for me, please. Quietly.” She nodded and rushed off. When she returned, she had who I assumed was the manager. Damien went and spoke with her.

“That female better not touch our mate.” My inner voice growled in my head. “Not you again?” I grumbled. “And why do you keep calling him our mate? I don’t even know what the hell a mate is.” I snapped. “As crazy as this sounds, do you have a name?” I asked. “Call me Nera and she’s touching him, go and rip her arms off.” Nera growled. I shook my head. I never thought I would have an imaginary friend who was very possessive of a guy I haven’t seen in three years. “Only we are allowed to touch him, you need put that female in her place, which is away from OUR mate.” Nera demanded.

“You okay?” Jaz asked. “Yeah, just that annoying voice again.” I whispered. “I don’t have an annoying voice.” Nera scoffed. “What did she say?” Ryott asked. “Her name is Nera, and she wants me to rip the manager’s arms off for touching Damien, who she keeps referring to him as our mate and that her and I are the only ones who are allowed to touch him.” I scratched my head. “What the hell is a mate? She won’t tell me and that’s not the first time I’ve heard that term.” Before I could say anything else, Damien motioned for us to follow the girl before Jaz or Ryott could answer.

“Miss Rose, I’m a big fan.” The girl said. “You have inspired me to follow my dreams and to work hard. My mom died a few months ago and it broke me, but your music helped me through, so I just want to thank you. Your version of Fly to the Angels touched me and I always go back to that song when I wanna to cry.” She said giving me a quick hug and went back to work. Thankfully she was going to be our server. I then felt a thumb caress my cheek where a tear had fallen. “You okay baby girl?” Damien asked. I nodded yes. “Yeah, that song is one of my favorites by Slaughter. It helped me through mom’s death also.” I sadly smiled. “C’mon, let’s sit and order.” He pulled out a chair for me and then sat down next to me. We ordered our food, and while we waited, Damien went over how things were gonna go all the way through the last day of our last show. Once the food was served the table was quiet except for the sound of forks and the occasional request for more food or refills. Damn these guys can eat.

“Excuse me,” Damien called our server. “When everyone’s done, please bring me the bill.” “Oh no you don’t.” I piped in. “I will pay the bill. I know you paid yesterday’s bill.” Before he or I could go on with our little argument, my phone rang. “What!?” I snapped. “Oh, hey Mac, sorry…” I apologized as I glared at Damien, who took the opportunity to pay the bill. “You dirty rat!” I whispered-yelled. “Reign you need to get home NOW!” He stressed. “We will be home later this afternoon; we have a couple of radio interviews”. I told him. “NO! LEAVE NOW!” He demanded. “Mac what the hell is wrong? Why are you yelling at me?” “Reign listen to me, YOUR. HOUSE. IS. ON. FIRE.” He punctuated each word. “That’s not funny Mac.” I huffed at him. “I’m not joking! You need to get home NOW!” I hung up the phone and felt dizzy, I finally said, “We need to go, my house is on fire.” I was already starting to panic; I felt my knees start to buckle and my chest tighten. All eyes went wide. “Where are your keys?” Damien asked catching me before I fell. I couldn’t think, my house was all that I could think about. KC was in the house all alone. Jaz reached in my front pocket, pulled out my keys and handed them to Damien.

“Jyden, you go with the guys, Jaz, you and Ryott come with me and Reign, put her address in my GPS,” I heard Damien instruct. I'm not sure how I got in the car. I felt like I was on auto pilot. I couldn't think, I couldn't talk. Why is this happening to me? Why can't he just leave me alone? My house can be replaced along with all the personal items, but my KC can't be replaced. I prayed and prayed that she was okay and would come and meet me when I got there. I will need to talk to Mac and Damien about selling the property. I don't want to live there anymore. He was there, he walked on the same grass I walk on, he was in my house, walking MY halls, touching ALL my things. This house was supposed to be my safe haven, I no longer feel safe in MY home. I don’t want anything to do with that place anymore. It's not home for me. “Reign, I am always here for you. I will and help protect you. We need to train together when we finally shift when we turn eighteen.” Nera softly said. “Why won’t he just leave me alone? I never loved him. I always made sure he knew that.” I whispered.

I was sitting in the backseat with Jazlyn, she was hugging me whispering that everything would be okay. I wasn’t so sure about that. I stared out the window not really looking at anything. I guess I was trying to mentally prepare myself for what I was going to be walking into or maybe I was fighting not falling apart.