The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) (25 page)

“Dra…Draven…move back.” I said nervously and suddenly desperate to get back that space between us. Because I was a coward and this was a very different kind of fear screaming out at me to get away. This was the fear of need…of want…of all consuming desire at it rawest form…

This was terrifying.

Draven, despite my fear, continued coming closer until his wings came forward and their tips held all his body weight off the mattress either side of me. His hands then came up and gripped onto the metal frame either side of my head.

“My
…An Angel shouldn’t know of that place, let alone utter its name.” He said and he couldn’t have missed the way I sucked in a quick breath from what his slip up meant to me.

“What are you doing?” I asked as he started to shift one arm beneath me and I wanted to moan at the feel of his hand gliding down my spine. He moved his head closer to my neck and I felt his lips smile against my skin as he felt me swallowing down the hard lump he caused. I tried to shift out of his arms but it was quickly becoming impossible when his wings started to move under me. Then he finally answered my question… 

“I’m giving an Angel wings to sleep in.” He whispered and then in one move simultaneously wrapped my body in both his arms and wings, spinning me so I now lay on my side next to him, wrapped in a feather cocoon.

“Draven!”

“Ssshh now, you need to sleep and last night you slept so well in my arms…don’t fight me, Keira…now rest.” He ordered softly into my hair and I felt his wings curl round tighter as if to prove a point. I had to admit that the fear making me want to run away was slowly morphing into that of a much greater need…

The simple need to stay.

The next time I woke I was alone and feeling foolish. I wasn’t sure if all of last night had been a dream or just the frightening parts. Had Draven really been there or had my mind conjured up that part as a way to deal with my nightmare? Either way, he had played the part of my hero and either way it had once again messed with my head.

I sat up and stretched, then rubbed the sleep from my eyes. The room looked a lot softer in the morning light and without the presence of the masterful figure of Draven to command it. If anything, now the room looked far too girly for Draven to even step foot in it. I giggled at the thought as I took in the large rose patterned wallpaper that looked like velvet on one wall. The other walls were neutral with black painted vines spreading out from the rose paper as if they were alive. It was beautiful and it was all Sophia.

I whipped back the covers that were most likely a zillion cotton thread count and got out of the enormous bed that, knowing Sophia, was made just for mad orgies. I stretched again and realised for the second morning running I had once again slept in my clothes. Well at least I knew for certain this would be the last time as I was off to Italy later today…

“Oh god! Shit...! I have to pack!” I shouted frantically as I started the mission of looking for my shoes. Ok, so they were borrowed shoes but still, I was more than thankful not to still be wearing my sister’s dress. That had been the one snag in last night’s dramatic car exit. I had been hoping to go home first and at least change before my plans with Sophia. But just as always Sophia being as fabulous as she always is, was ready and prepared with a change of clothes in my size. She even assured me they weren’t what were left over from my side of Draven’s wardrobe. Which did make me wonder, what happened to all those clothes? Well as long as I wasn’t wearing any of them then I was happy, as that would have felt too weird and too...
familiar.

So now I was on my hands and knees looking for the pair of skull converse Sophia had given to me giggling. I didn’t care as they were comfy and I thought quite cute despite the theme. Plus they reminded me of Pip and anything that did that was never a bad thing.

“I can’t say that’s a bad sight to walk in on.” I heard said from behind me and I looked back over my shoulder to see Draven leaning casually against the door frame with both his arms and legs crossed. Before I could think about it a beaming smile spread out across my face at the sight of his own smile.

“Yeah well if you could use your demon mojo and find my shoes I would be more than grateful.” I had only just finished my request when the pair of shoes shot from under the other side of the bed straight to my hands. I smiled down at them before getting up to sit back on the bed to put them on.

“You’re up early.” Draven stated making me wonder if he was hoping to catch me still asleep.

“Well I have to get home and pack, so I gotta go.” I said in reply as I sat back up after pulling the backs up on my heels after I had kicked them on.

“I will drive you.”

“Draven you don’t have to do that, I can just grab a taxi and…” His face said it all but if that wasn’t enough he interrupted me by saying,

“Nonsense, now are you ready to leave?” I rolled my eyes at him and then giggled when he mimicked me by doing the same.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

The drive back to my house was mostly taken in silence and I think this was because we both knew this was the end. I was to go off to Italy and by the time I got back the Dravens would have no doubt moved on. And even if they hadn’t what would have changed really? It wasn’t like I could make a habit of seeing Draven like this…no that would never work and in the long run be far too painful. Even just after this small amount of time, it was seriously messing with my head.

These thoughts assaulted me all the way home as Draven silently manoeuvred us in one of his shiny sports cars through the winding country roads. It was only when I heard the crunch of the wheels hit the gravel driveway did I realise I was home.

“That was fast.” I said finally looking at him. He just raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘this is me we are talking about’. The man couldn’t go slow in a car even if he had an entire state police department travelling behind him and a funeral procession in front!

“Well I guess this is it…I will say…uh…what are you doing?” I stuttered off mid my goodbyes as I saw Draven opening his door and exiting the car. He came round to my side and opened my door for me. I was allowing myself to hope this was all he was going to do before getting back into his ‘death defying speed’ motor and zoom on outta here. But of course this was Draven we were talking about and therefore in that statement meant Draven was completely unpredictable.

So I should not have been surprised when after slamming my door closed behind me he then continued to walk next to me up to the house.

“Draven I don’t think this is a good…” I started only to once again be interrupted, only this time by Libby and Frank coming out of the front door.

“Oh great…perfect, just what I need.” I muttered making Draven cough back a laugh.

“Kaz I was wonder…ing…oh…” Libby soon trailed off that sentence when she saw who was stood here with me. Frank also did a double take and unlike Libby’s scowl, he had a beaming grin.

“Dom, my man! How are you?” Frank said taking Draven’s hand and giving it a firm man shake.

“Frank!”
Libby hissed at his side making him drop Draven’s hand as though Libby would whip out a cleaver and chop off his balls if he didn’t.

“Eh…yeah…well...obviously you’re good.” Frank said taking a step back and therefore effectively coming to heel next to Libby.

“Mr Draven,” Libby said in a snooty ‘I hate you cause you broke my sister’s heart you bastard’ kind of way. I was just about to speak when Draven beat me to it.

“Frank, Libby, as always it is a pleasure but I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind giving me a moment of your time?” He said this last part directed at Frank and I was once again left looking for the right words of dissuasion against this little man chat only to be left alone with Libby with my mouth open.

“What the hell, Kaz!?” Libby snapped dragging me back to the twilight zone part of my day.

“Uhhh…”

“Oh no, you’re gonna have to do a lot better than Uh!” I turned away from where Draven and Frank now stood to face my sister’s understandable wrath.

“Ok, ok…just keep your voice down.” I pulled her arm round so we were facing the other way in hopes this would help Mr Super Hearing over there in not hearing us.

“Kazzy, explain what he’s doing here before Ella is old enough to be asking you the same question.”

“Where is she anyway?” I asked looking through the open front door.

“She’s in her playpen watching Bubble Guppies.” I couldn’t help the shiver of revulsion to shake my frame at the mention of that show. I’m sure it was fine for kids, in fact Ella clearly loved it but for me I ended up singing ‘It’s time for lunch’ in my damn sleep!

“You mean she’s actually staying in her playpen?” I asked both stalling for time and really curious considering the child was like the reincarnation of Houdini!

“Kaz” Libby said in warning.

“Alright fine, but it’s nothing really.”

“Uhh uh” She made that ‘yeah right’ sound whilst crossing her arms.

“Ok so I went to Afterlife that first night to see Sophia and Vincent and he was there.”

“I gathered that part…so let’s skip to the part where he is now
here.”
She said hissing the word ‘here’ and looking back over her shoulder at him. I followed her gaze and watched the two deep in a conversation I really wanted to be a part of, only what he could be telling Frank I had no clue.

“He gave me a lift after I spent the night with Sophia doing girly crap…we…uh…well we decided we are going to be friends.” At this Libby’s eyes got wide as she gave me an incredulous look.

“Friends?”

“Yeah”

“As in, friends, friends?” I laughed and said,

“Yeah, is there any other kind?” Now it was her turn to laugh.

“Yeah, there is the type of friends where both parties are trying to fool each other into believing they just want to be friends, when really they want to get back together but both said parties are too damn stubborn to admit their true feelings!” I rolled my eyes and said,

“That’s not what’s happening here.”

“Ok, so I don’t know about him but you…come on Kaz, I saw you…that man crushed your heart, I know he did and you cannot stand there and tell me that him being here and back in your life isn’t messing with your head!” Ok, so she had me there but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to deny it till the cows came home.

“I’m fine, besides…I have Alex and he knows that.”

“Oh I bet that went down well…
not.”

“Libby.” This time I was the one to say her name in warning.

“So how did last night go?” She asked thankfully changing the subject and therefore getting off my back about the whole situation.

“He stood her up again!” This answer came from Frank as I hadn’t realised they were back.

“He didn’t stand me up…well…not exactly, he just had to work that’s all.” I defended clenching my fists at my sides.

“He was there all of enough time to be led to the table before swiftly leaving.” Draven put in and I shot him a nasty look, one that obviously didn’t faze him in the slightest.           

“Oh Kazzy, he did it again?” Libby asked giving me a slight head tilt in pity.

“It was fine…Jesus, the only people that have an issue with it is you guys!” I said letting my voice rise with my frustration.

“He’s a douche bag.” Frank muttered crossing his arms.

“Frank!” I shouted his name but he just shrugged his shoulders and retorted,

“Well he is! Let’s face it Kaz, you can do better than that arrogant French pric…”

“Frank!” This time it was Libby’s turn to reprimand him.

“Look, all I’m saying is that no real man leaves his woman like that!”

“Right, fine…I get it, you don’t like him…now can we please get off the subject!” I was just starting to get to a whole new level of being annoyed when the most perfect being alive toddled out of the front door.

“Daddy!” Ella cried out in excitement and both parent’s faces dropped.

“What the heck, Frank! You said she definitely couldn’t get out this time!” Libby said rushing over to her escape artist daughter in hearts and rainbow covered dungarees. She had a riot of red curls like a sun halo waving round her head as she was swept up into Libby’s arms.

“You little rascal! I don’t know how you keep doing it, little Miss,” my sister cooed and Frank looked on adoringly. I smiled at my niece and then looked to Draven to see him staring at me in a way I had never seen before. It was so different that I don’t think I could have described it even if I had all day to analyse it.

“Erm…so, this is my niece Ella.” I said and like perfect timing Ella thrust her little chubby arms out at me to take her.

“Ok baby girl, come to Auntie Kazzy.” I said taking her from my sister and also taking note that Libby too was watching Draven. I heaved her up in my arms and turned to face Draven myself.

“Ella belly this is…uh…Dom.” I said thinking this would be the easiest name for her to say. Of course I didn’t want to think too much into it as to why this was so important.

“Dom!” She said repeating me in her little cute voice that made you want to say ‘Aww’ to every single thing she said. I swear she could make the words goat herder or car transmission sound adorable.

“Hello there, little one.” Draven said after first needing to clear his throat.

“Libs, can I borrow you for a sec.” Frank said putting his arm around Libby’s shoulders and steering her into the house. I raised my eyebrows at Libby but she just shrugged her shoulders as if to say she had no clue but if I was to venture a guess I would say he wanted to tell her what Draven had told him. As soon as they went out of sight Ella started wriggling in my hold and at first I thought it was to get to them.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Keira.” I looked at Draven’s almost panicked face and back to the source of that panic as Ella was now reaching out to him. I couldn’t help it but I laughed. This mighty King of Demons and Angels on Earth, faced God knows how many armies and enemies but in the face of one little girl barely a year old and he looked ready to run and hide.