Afterlife (Afterlife Saga) (44 page)

Draven looked furious and I felt scared being there to witness it. I swallowed hard trying to mask my fear with bravery. He turned his head towards the direction
Layla had left and gritted his teeth saying,

“
Kelba
!”
(
Means“Bitch
” in Maltese) But again I didn't understand. I wanted to leave but his tall frame blocked my way. I had never seen him so angry and I could have sworn that I saw his eyes flicker to purple but returned quickly to jet-black.

“I’d better be going,” I said as I tried to pass him but he didn't move and my hands started to shake behind my back.

“Wait,” he said in a softer tone as though my words had pulled him out of his rage.

“Let me see your arm.” He asked and when I didn't move he looked down at me meeting my eyes but I wasn't going to falter. I had had just about enough of being ordered around tonight and I was tired of it!

“I told you
it’s
fine and if I don't go now I will be late for Frank.” I said finishing it with a deep breath only it didn't sound as steady as I had hoped.

“He can wait.” He said pushing it further and the smart thing to do would be to give in but I just couldn't, so I stayed firm and replied,

“But I can't, so if you'll excuse me, Sir.” And with that I turned my back on him and left down the main staircase. Only my plan didn't work very well as when I got there I was stopped by two of Draven's huge guards. They stood in my way but with my blood boiling from all the humiliation my bravery didn't fade.

“Excuse me!” I said and they looked over me to their Master. I turned looking in the same direction to find Draven's eyes burning into me. His eyes stayed on mine for longer than ever before. I was just about to give in and go back to him when he broke away first, nodding to the men that stood like a wall blocking my path. They parted and let me through but I had a feeling I was going to pay for this at a later date. I nearly ran down the steps and out of the building that felt as though it was consuming my soul. I was sure I could still feel his eyes staring at me until I was out of the main doors.

I couldn't believe what I just did. What was I trying to prove? I had just disobeyed a man like Draven. I really was crazy.

It was raining and I ran for the car parked with the engine cut. Frank had been waiting. This time I couldn't fake anything to Frank so instead I turned to him and said,

“I think I just made a big mistake.”

“I doubt that but what happened?” He said giving me far too much credit than I deserved. He started the car and pulled out onto the main road. 

“I just really pissed off my boss.”

“You mean Draven?” He was serious but he didn't look as worried as I did.

“The man himself.” I said as I held my head up with one hand leaning my elbow on the side window.

“Aw
w come on, it can't be that bad
and he
likes you remember?” He said nudging me on my other arm.

“Well if he did, I doubt he does anymore after the show I just put on.”

“Christ, you didn't take a swing at him did you?” He said as he’d just noticed my red fist. I laughed at the thought and his worried face straightened.

“No, but ha, ha... this was just another accident but when he had asked to see it I
told him no and walked off.” He grinned and then his eyes fell to my gloved arms and sadness replace
d
his smile.

“Well I'm sure he admired you standing up for yourself, I can't imagine that happens a lot around a man like that.”

“No, never more like, but he didn't look happy about it.”

“I'm sure he will get over it and hell, if you tell a man no then it damn well means NO!” Frank was great, a real big brother. He knew what I had been through and felt the pain just like the rest of my family had, so I knew that he meant what he said. He leaned into me and said,

“Well I have something to cheer you up.”

“What's that?”

“Libby's in bed so you’re safe.” We both laughed and I was glad that I had confided in Frank, as it felt good and comforting offloading some mental weight.

I sat on my bed and pulled out the clip that held my hair up and ran my fingers through it, feeling the ache of having it up all day. It fell down my back in one big tube from spending the day twisted. I played with it, separating it into smaller pieces until it hung in waves around my waist. I examined my hand and a bluish bruise was starting to form at the knuckles. What was I thinking? I had just got rid of one only to replace it by another! I pulled down my gloves and ran my fingers over four little
crescent
moon
shaped bloody cuts. Well at least they would fit right in with the others.

I barely ever looked at my arms, as when I did I would usually get upset at the memory of how they came to be. I touched the lighter scars at the top first and then moved down to the deeper ones near the wrist. These were larger, thicker and had never really made it back to skin colour. They were deep red as if a reminder of the blood that once poured out of them. I did the same on the other arm and placed the two side by side. What a mess. I counted eight slits on one and six on the other. I looked as though I had been mauled by a lion.

This was the reason I refused to obey Draven. I never wanted anyone to see my scars and I most definitely never wanted to explain how they got there. Well let’s face it, as soon as anyone saw them they would make up their own conclusion anyway so what was the point! They were a reminder for me every day for the rest of my life of what happened. I didn't want that for other people. After all I had come here to get away from all of that.

The next day I spent looking after Libby as she had come down with the same bug that RJ had and the way my week had gone I was just hoping I wouldn't get it next.

“How are you feeling Lib's?” I asked as I sat on the couch opposite her. She looked terrible with her skin all pale making her red hair look as though it was on fire.

“I'm ok I guess, I just can't seem to keep anything down though.”

“Yeah, RJ has the same thing but she rang earlier and said she was feeling better so it must only last for a few days. Do you want any soup or anything?” As soon as I mentioned food her face went a greenish colour and she bolted for the bathroom waving her hand at me.

“I'll take that as a no then.” I said when she was out of sight. I was just about to go into the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. Maybe Frank was back but it would be way too early yet. He had gone over to ‘The guys’ house, the guys being a bunch of mates he went to school with and they now all watched football together when they could. They had all been supposed to come over here to watch the game but seeing that Libby wasn't well Frank thought it best to watch it elsewhere. He hadn't wanted to leave at first but Libby and I both convinced him that she would be fine and as I was staying in anyway there was no point him missing it.

I opened the door to a man wearing a black suit and a black chauffeur’s hat. But there wasn't a car in sight. Maybe he had parked round the side but why would he do that? He held a long black envelope under his arm and asked,

“Miss Johnson?” He was a bit creepy looking so I stepped back out of the door frame in case I needed to slam the door shut. I know this was an odd response but I couldn't help but be wary. 

“Letter for you.” And with that he held out the envelope for me to take and then he went. 

“Who was that at the door?” Libby had re-emerged from the downstairs loo and was cocooning herself back in the bedding on the couch.

“Just a letter for me, do you think you could hold down a cup of tea?” She nodded like a child and continued to watch some cheesy daytime drama.

I walked into the kitchen and placed the letter on the table while I filled the kettle. Once I had clicked it on I went to sit down and stare at it as though it would bite me if I touched it again. I turned over the black rectangle and saw that it had been sealed by red wax. I looked closer and noticed the seal was the family crest of the Dravens. It was the same as on the doors and the backs of Draven's chairs at the club. Maybe this was about my behaviour last night. Maybe I was getting sacked!

I couldn't bear it any longer, so I tore open the seal and pulled out the contents. The sound of the kettle boiling hid the small scream that I had just made and I dropped the paper back on the table. I couldn't believe it, what the hell was going on? There must have been a mistake!

I made the tea and passed one mug to Libby and I sat back down still in shock.

“Good news?” She asked over her mug.

“I don't know.” I said slowly as I was still trying to make sense of it.

“What's wrong?”

I got up and grabbed the letter and its other contents from the table and walked back into the living room to show her.

“This is what's wrong.” I said as her eyes nearly popped open at the wad of cash I held in my hands.

“WOW, where the hell did you get that from?” I passed her the letter without saying a word as I sat back down money still in hand.

She scanned the letter finding the words that stood out.

“That's your wages? $4000 in a month!” She shouted the words and I stared at the pile of green notes in my hand.

“But that's...that's crazy...you are a waitress right?”

“OF COURSE I am! What do you think I do there?” I said getting frustrated!

“I don't know, lure them all sacrifices...Kidding, kidding” She said but I didn't laugh. How could I... I mean what was this?

“Well at least you can get a new car now.”

“I'm not going to spend it, there's been a mistake and it's going back!” I slammed it down on the table and picked up my tea, gulping it down burning my throat.

“Really, you’re not going to spend it?” She said in disbelief.

“No I'm not...in fact I'm going to sort this out right now.” I said getting up to go back in the kitchen, ignoring Libby as she asked what it was that I was going to do. I picked up the phone, grabbed the number that was on the fridge and called the club. It rang four times before someone picked up.

“Hello club Afterlife, Jerry speaking.”

“Hi Jerry,
its Keira.”

“Oh hi Keira what's up?” He asked in a wary voice. He must have thought I was calling in sick and maybe he was dreading the thought of telling them upstairs. 

“Don't worry I'm not calling in sick, I just want to know could you put me through to upstairs?”

“Umm I don't know...can I ask what this is about?” Oh yeah he was wary all right!

“Well it's a bit personal and I don't think they would want me disclosing any information to anyone about it so...” That did it! Before I knew it the phone was ringing again and this time a familiar happy voice answered.

“How can I help you Keira?” Karmun asked.

“How did you know it was me?”

“Lucky guess, I'm assuming you got your pay?” Ah so he knew I would call, I started to relax, as they must have realised their mistake.

“Oh, right so you know it was wrong then, its ok I will bring it back tomorrow and we can sort it out then but wow I was shocked....” He cut me off when he said,

“Wrong? Keira, there's been no mistake.”

“But I don't understand
I
...” I mumbled my words when he said,

“There's someone here who wants to speak to you, hang on.” Oh no, this was bad… this was a very bad idea.

“Hi Keira.” I let out a sigh of relief when I heard Sophia's voice on the other end. I was just thankful it wasn't her brother's.

“Hey Sophia, I was just telling Karmun that I think there has been a mistake.” I was about to explain but like Karmun she already knew.

“No, there's been no mistake, we have just added a bit onto your wages, like an advance so you can get a car.” WHAT! Was she joking, they were giving me money to buy a car? I couldn't speak, I couldn't think of anything to say.