Broken Butterflies (9 page)

Bram sat Ilisha down in a chair, squatting in front of her. “You need to calm down.” He brushed his hands across her forehead, moving her hair from her eyes.

As Bram pulled any moths still lingering out of her hair she flinched. A fair amount had gotten through the doors and she covered her head to avoid their flight path. Bram grabbed the small garbage can beside her and pulled the plastic bag out. By the time he had all the moths inside it was full.

“They’re gone.” He rubbed the side of her cheek.

She nodded as she wrung her hands together. Her legs nervously bobbed up and down. As the moths kept up their relentless attack on the door her lips quivered.

Bram took her face in his hands. “Look into my eyes.”

She blinked back tears and focused on him. Calm sensations filled her as pulsating vibrations moved through her from his fingers. Her tears dried, and her hands became steady. One last tear drop fell from her eye and she wiped it away.

“Thanks.” she said sniffing.

“No problem,” he replied smiling.

“It was you that calmed me down when I was driving to my mom’s, wasn’t it?”

“Of course.”

She smiled thoughtfully.

He kissed her hand. “I’m going to go get our stuff.”

Ilisha nodded and reached in her pocket for her cell. With the screen image off she could see her reflection and wiped away her raccoon eyes. The girl behind the counter popped back up as Bram walked by, her hair piled in different directions. She leaned from side to side making sure no bugs were lingering at the door as Bram walked out.

Ilisha laughed as he walked back in carrying six bags. His arms were extended from his body as far as they could reach. Duffle bags hung from his shoulders, smaller bags were under his arms, and one large suitcase in his hands. “Did you pack enough stuff?” he asked as Ilisha took a couple bags.

“You didn’t need to bring everything from the car,” she chuckled. Ilisha had packed the suitcase full of clothes she bought from Kohls, borrowed a bag or two from her mom for bathroom stuff and entertainment on the road.

“Now you tell me.”

She slid the card in the door and a cool breeze hit them. The room smelled of pledge and cleaner. Ilisha fell on the bed and looked up at the patterned ceiling. “Why is this happening?” she asked softly.

Bram lay beside her and took her hand. “You know the answer to that.”

“I don’t like bugs.”

“I can tell, I thought you were going to pass out. Though you don’t seem to mind the butterflies.”

She laughed nervously. “I guess I should figure out my fears and confront them before Damon forces me to.” She rolled over and looked at him. “I was attacked by a swarm of bees when I was ten. I guess I never got over it. The butterflies don’t swarm and they’re beautiful.” Ilisha bit her lip and looked down. “Be honest with me, can we stop him?”

“Yes, but he has different gifts than me, and one of those is evasion. Every time I’ve had him in my reach, he escaped, but I’ll get him.”

“Maybe you should’ve let fate take me.”

“That was never an option, and it’s not one now.” His tone was serious.

“Do you want room service?” Ilisha asked to change the subject.

“Why do I need my room serviced?”

Chuckling, she replied, “No, do you want the hotel to bring us food?”

“Yeah, I’m starving.”

Ilisha ordered a large meal for Bram and a salad for herself. He opened the door when they knocked. His face held amazement as the guy rolled in a cart. When he set the food on the table Bram plopped down. He pulled the lid off and snatched up the fork and knife. Ilisha sat with him, but only picked at her salad. She found it hard to eat when she was stressed.

“By the way, I’m not leaving you alone,” he said, finishing his plate.

“You’re going to stay in the same room?” she asked, her mind drifting to sharing a bed and body parts with Bram.

“I’ll leave if you want me to, but I don’t think it’s advisable.”

“I guess there are two beds.” She picked up the phone and called the front desk canceling her other room. She got ready for bed deciding to wear a full set of pajamas. Normally she’d wear the bottoms with a tank top, but felt she needed to be a little more covered. She gave the bathroom to Bram to change and wondered if he would think to cover up for her. To her relief and disappointment he came out wearing a pair of sweats.

Four days later they arrived in Columbus. Ilisha dropped off the rental car and picked up her own car at the train station. When she looked at the bill for the rental she gasped. “Six hundred and fifty nine dollars? Are you kidding me?”

The kid at the counter, who looked like a beach bum, said, “Yep, you kept it longer and didn’t return to the pickup location.”

Ilisha rolled her eyes and handed him her credit card. She didn’t know whether to be frazzled or excited. Having a new job waiting was a thrill, but not knowing when Damon would attack again had her nerves on edge.

As she parked in front of her apartment, her phone rang. She listened to Amy. Ending the call, she turned to Bram. “Amy said she found me a house to rent.”

“Hey, that’s great news!”

“I know. I thought I would have to crash with my mom.”

Both exhausted from the drive, they did nothing the first day but relax. Ilisha ordered pizza, and they sat on the floor watching movies.

“I can’t believe you’ve never seen a movie,” she said, taking a bite of the cheese and pepperoni slice.

“You make it sound like I’m defective. I know what a movie is. I’ve just never watched one.”

“Well, this would be a typical chick flick.”

“Explain.”

“It’s a romantic comedy. The couple always has some hurdle to get over, but in the end they’re together. Guys cringe when you make them watch romance.”

“What’s wrong with romance?”

Ilisha chuckled. “It’s not in a guy’s nature. If they attempt it, there’s always an ulterior motive.” He looked puzzled, so she elaborated. “To be blunt, if a guy is nice to you, he wants to get laid.”

“I don’t think all guys are like that.”

“Yeah, they are,” she said under her breath.

“Sounds like you’ve had experience with it?”

“It’d be nice to have someone who is thoughtful because it’s in their nature, not because they want to get something out of it.”

“Well, I don’t know about the getting laid part, but I do nice things for you.”

“Yeah, but you were obligated to.”

“No, I wasn’t. We can step down from guarding a person at any time.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Say I’m assigned to guard a boy, and when he grows up he turns into a rapist. I wouldn’t stay on because you give up your guardian angel when you become a monster.”

Ilisha nodded. “That makes sense. So what do you mean you don’t know about getting laid?”

“The one I always wanted was out of my reach.”

“What about now?” She lifted her brown eyes to meet his dark blue.

His face turned red, and he got up.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” she said, standing and putting her hand on his back.

“No, it’s my fault. You just caught me off guard.”

“Sit and finish your pizza.”

Bram sat back down beside her. “Just know that I would never treat you like that.”

“I know you wouldn’t.”

They fell asleep on the floor next to each other and the TV turned to static sometime during the night. Ilisha blinked her eyes open and pushed her hair from her face. Looking at Bram sprawled out on his stomach with his wings spread out, she smiled. She tip toed to the bathroom and turned the shower on. Steam circulated around the small space. Her fingers scratched her head as the shampoo lathered, relaxing her. She turned off the water and wrapped herself in a towel. Standing in front of the fog-covered mirror, she grabbed her hair dryer and blew the hot air against the glass. As her reflection became clear, a flash of movement behind her made her jump. Her hand went to her chest, clutching the knot in the towel. Peering deeper, she saw nothing. Shrugging it off she rubbed lotion onto her face, a shadow cast against the wall moved. “Wha!” she screamed, jumping for the door.

Before she could turn the knob, Bram burst in his eyes scanning the bathroom. “What happened?”

Ilisha looked at the wall, once again a shadow moved accompanied by the sound of a passing car. “I guess I’m just a little too jumpy.”

Bram took in her appearance. “Sorry, I should’ve knocked.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m the idiot screaming.”

She put her waist length, wet, hair into a bun and grabbed some sweats and tank top. While Bram showered she started packing her clothes. Bram caught up with her in the spare bedroom. She methodically pulled clothes from the closet and put them into tall moving boxes that had a rack for hanging.

“Do you have enough clothes?” he said, glancing in the closet.

“You can never have enough clothes, shoes, hats, or bags.”

“I guess this explains why you have every closet in this apartment filled.”

She smiled putting her hand on her hip. “Shut up and help me.”

They ended up blocking the doorway with boxes. Ilisha chose to squeeze through to the door while Bram chose to leap over them.

Once in the master bedroom, they started on the master closet. She chuckled as Bram rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the pictures on her wall. Some were of Amy and Ilisha when they were young. She had one picture of her parents. It was the standard nineteen seventies picture. Her dad had side burns and a brown suit, and her mom had the Farrah Fawcett feathered hair with a sundress.

“You look a lot like your dad,” Bram said, pointing at the picture.

“Yeah, my mom said when I came out I was like his clone.”

“He loves you very much.”

“Loves? He’s dead.”

“Yes, loves. He’s still around. You just can’t see him.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” She looked down at her feet.

“With all you’ve been through the last few weeks, I’d think you’d believe what I say,” he replied.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you. It just hurts too much to think of him.”

Bram walked over and took her hand. “Sorry, I didn’t think.”

“You couldn’t know that,” she said, looking up into his eyes.

“Of course I can. I’ve been with you for so long I know everything about you, even how you pick the strawberries out of your ice cream and eat them first.” Bram grinned at her. “I always loved to watch you do that.”

“Come on,” she said cynically.

“No, really, you always order strawberry ice cream, and then smile as you eat the berries. Your smile is breathtaking.”

She leaned into him unconsciously. The smell of his breath made her mouth water. Bram didn’t back away, but leaned into her also. Just before her lips touched his, Bram cleared his throat and she went back to the closet.
What the hell are you thinking?
Ilisha looked over at Bram as he ran his fingers through his hair and let out a deep sigh, like he was also trying to get hold of himself.

The rest of the day was spent in silence, both occupying themselves with tedious tasks. Bram made up the couch that night. As he fell asleep, Ilisha sat wide-awake. Her heart burned and her mind raced. Her attraction to Bram had grown to the point it could no longer be ignored. She turned on the TV hoping it would distract her. Instead, she got her situation thrown in her face. She watched as the screen flashed. A woman in turn of the century attire looked through a hole as a man changed his clothes. She bit down on her lip as she pressed her eye closer to the opening.

Frustrated, Ilisha flung herself back on her bed and stared at the ceiling. After several minutes, she got up and crept down the hall.

Bram lay peaceful on the couch, his wings spread out behind him. His face was buried between his pillow and the back of the couch. Crouching beside him, she brushed her fingers along his wings. They were soft as rabbit fur and left a tingling feeling that creped across her fingertips. “You’re beautiful,” she barely whispered.