Afterlife (Afterlife Saga) (87 page)

“I didn't know they did black champagne?” I said to Sophia but she just replied,

“We do!” a
nd grinned.

“Did you enjoy yourself today?” Draven asked looking down at me while he pushed a loose curl from my face.

“Yeah, we had fun and a good chat,” I said and Sophia frowned at me but I couldn't keep the smile off my lips. I mean come on, he already knew!

“Yes so I heard!” BINGO! Of course he did.

“You should have just told me,” I said as I took a sip of my pink bubbles.

“You’re right, as usual I underestimated your persistence and to break Sophia...well that was impressive.” At this Sophia just stuck out her tongue at her brother as if this was her tenth birthday!

“You’re right and next time I will be more honest with you, as now I know you can take things so well.” He said and at this Aurora looked at him wide eyed but his eyes still only held me in their gaze.

“So what about some more shots?” Sophia said clicking her fingers, turning round to Lauren.

“Loz dear, do get us something delicious.” She said and I wondered if she knew what to get her from that description.

“Cognac!” Draven said making it clearer, knowing exactly what his sister found delicious. I was just shocked that they wanted to shot the stuff, but my surprise didn't end there as when it arrived it came in the most amazing bottle covered in what looked like diamonds. Then she placed all the shot glasses down that matched the bottle. Draven nodded to her and she poured them all, this time doing it before I could get up. She then went round with the tray passing them all out and Aurora drank hers first giving Draven a wicked grin which made me want to strangle the smile from her lips! Draven took two off the tray and handed me mine, checking first.

“Would you like to try it?” He asked and I nodded taking the sparkling shot glass from his warm hands that I wanted all over me.

“What no tequila tricks to entertain us this time?” Aurora said in an amused tone that didn't go with the glare she gave me. Well if she wanted to play that game, then fine...bring it on!

“Not tonight no, but if you know where I could get some cherries from then I could show you another trick in under thirty seconds.” I said finally adding some of my own kind of humour to the table and I finished off my shot in one.

“Cool, what can you do?” Sophia asked and Draven shot her a look as if not wanting her to ask me...umm maybe he thought I was bluffing.

“I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue.” I said watching Sophia's
eyes light up.

“Oh really
” Aurora pushed and Draven didn't look happy about her interfering.

“Yes really, I would show you if I had one,” I said not wanting to back down as I usually did in situations like this.

“Well Dominic, are you going to indulge us and let her show us her gift or are we but to assume?”  Aurora said speaking to him and I wanted to growl at the sound of his name from her lips. So I decided to play my advantage turning to him and for the first time calling him by his first name myself.

“Yes Dominic, let me show them.” I said placing my hand on his arm, which made his glare turn to me in shock. He didn't miss me calling him this and he gave me a warm smile at the sound.

“Are you sure you can do this?” He said leaning into me, whispering in my ear so the others couldn't hear, but it made me smile at his reluctance...he didn't believe I could do it.

“Me
Miran
!”
I said meaning, “Watch me” in Spanish. He continued to look at me in awe and it seemed that this was my night for surprising not only myself but Draven too.

“Yes Dom, I want to see,” Sophia said getting excited at the human performing tricks for her amusement. So Draven produced a gorgeous lush red cherry with thankfully a long stem, as it was always easier and quicker the longer they were. I looked over to Aurora and she held out one elegant hand to indicate she was waiting. The rest of the table were now also watching me, adding to the pressure but considering I had been doing this trick since I was young I knew it wasn't going to be a problem...well that was if I didn't choke on the damn thing!

I plucked it from the fruit and held it up to prove it was straight, but for this one I couldn't look at Draven or I knew I would never be able to do it right and I had said under thirty seconds! I placed it in my mouth and wiggled it round, holding one end secure. Then I folded the rest with my tongue making a loop and when I had it positioned right I pushed it through and as I pulled it out of my mouth I pulled it tighter with my teeth. I did this all under twenty seconds.

I held it up for everyone to see and dropped it back into my empty glass and slid it over to Aurora's place for her to have a closer look, feeling fantastic at my entertainment, as she had called it. I finally looked at the rest and I smiled at the surprise, but Sophia nudged me saying,

“That was brilliant! You have some skills there honey.” She said winking at her brother, who I could finally look at. He had the biggest, bad arse grin on his lips and he repositioned my head so that he could kiss me fully...in front of everyone! Once he had finished he turned Sophia and said,

“Oh yes, skills indeed!” And the whole table erupted into laughter...all accept one.

He moved my hair off my shoulder and came to my ear to tell me his private thoughts on my act.

“To say that I am impressed is a great understatement, I am sorry I doubted you but do you think I could get a private show later?” He said winking at me and I popped the cherry in my mouth trying to flirt back. Only it ruined it when his hand
slid up my leg and I swallowed the stone in the middle. Thankfully he didn't notice as his hand rested there. I shuddered as his fingers flexed in and out on my skin as he drank the rest of his champagne.

This was by far the most relaxed I had felt and after a while even the looks that Aurora was trying desperately to receive back from Draven didn't bother me. Sophia was right, he never took his eyes off me and I swam in a sea of bliss, knowing this. I got to talk to his Council more and was included in all conversations as if I belonged, like I was a part of them now, like one of the family. As the night went on I could tell Draven was getting restless as his flirting only increased and he just didn't care who saw us and nor was he as embarrassed as I was. I just blushed at his attentions, which seemed to make him want me more. I tried not to tease but it seemed everything I did made him ask if time was up yet.

“Dom behave, the poor girl can't have a conversation! You will have her all to yourself soon enough....try and show some
self-control
.” Sophia said loud enough that I wanted to bury my head in a molehill! But he just laughed at his sister and leaned over around my back to get to her, pulling one of her curls down making it spring back up.

“Ouch! Dom, don't be a bully!” She said playfully and it seemed as if I was sat at the naughty table at a wedding.

“Sophia, don't be a baby and stop moaning...you don't see Keira complaining.” Vincent said back in a cool collected tone and I couldn't help but smile at the banter. Meanwhile Aurora looked at me as though she wanted to rip off my head and use it as an ashtray as she was smoking one long black cigarette.

Then something happened shattering the nights ease. Takeshi broke his glass in his hands making everyone stunned into silence. I was the only one that didn't know what this meant and when I looked his eyes were now glazed over in what looked like muddy water. They flickered, changing from black to clear like a stormy night. Then they cleared, resuming their normal state and he rose from his seat and walked behind Draven.

“Draven, there has been a development you need to see at once!” He said in the low calm voice he always used. Draven looked serious at him as if searching for what it was and when he found it he first looked at Vincent who got up and stood next to Takeshi. Then he looked at Sophia and it was as if she could hear his thoughts.

“Don't worry she will be safe,” she said smiling at me. Draven held my hand and pulled me up walking me away out of earshot.

“What is it?” I asked, concerned at his frowning face.

“You don't need to worry about it for the moment but I will leave you here for a little while, stay by Sophia's side...can you do that?” He said and I knew this was a semi command, one I didn't mind, as I knew it was for my own good.

“Don't worry I won't go anywhere.”

“Good girl...I won't be long.” And with that he kissed me gently and left me by the bar.

I decided to get something else to drink as the champagne was going to my head and I wanted to have a clear mind for the treat I had been promised later tonight.

“Karmun can I have a glass of water?” I asked before he left to get some more
bottles.

“Yeah, sure honey.” He said in his usual sweet tone, which made me miss working with him as we had formed a good friendship over the time I worked up here, but now I had the feeling he looked at me a little differently...being Draven's girlfriend. That word sounded weird as I couldn't quite get my head around what we were exactly. Like Draven said, I think we skipped the whole dating thing. Then my heart nearly stopped at the sound of the phone that was ringing, as my last memory came flooding back making me gulp for air.

“Keira it's for you again...someone called Frank.” As soon as I processed the words I could finally breathe normally enough to take the receiver from Karmun.

“Hey Frank, what's up?” I said wondering what emergency could warrant Frank ringing me.

“Keira, its Olivia....” His voice sounded strange...panic and that's something I never heard from Frank and also he never called us that, so my heart rate dropped in fear.

“What happened, what about Lib's?”  

“She's in the hospital, some guy tried to grab her and pull her into a car, I got there just in time to stop him but he drove off...and well...”

“OH MY GOD! Is she...the baby?” I asked feeling the tears start to form.

“The doctors can't tell, but she needs you.” He said sounding upset which was weird, as he was normally so strong.

“I'm at the club and I don't know if Draven will let me come now, see there's...”

“Keira, there is no time! I have a friend coming there to pick you up, you remember my friend Andy, well he's a cop and he will bring you straight here...you will be safe with him.” He said pleading with me and I knew my sister would be asking, even begging for me to be with her. I had to get there, I just had to!

“Ok, I will try and get away, where does he want to meet me?”

“He will be waiting in the club near the back doors, he should see you.” He said and then the phone started to make a crackling sound like bad reception.

“Hurry Ker...” Then the phone went dead and I knew what I had to do...I had to disobey Draven's one rule....I had to leave Afterlife!

My mind started to create hundreds of scenarios of how this could ever play out. I was torn between telling Draven everything and praying that it would swing my way and he would let me do what I needed to do, which was to run to my sisters side. But deep down I knew the truth...he would never let me leave. So that's when my time shifted into plan mode. I needed to get away from the one place I felt safe and do what was right. Libby needed me and there was nothing on the planet that would keep me from my sister. Not even a Demon/Angel
half breed
boyfriend that had an army of supernatural at his beck and call. But how do I give them the slip? 

Then it occurred to me...couldn't I do both? Ok so this was it, finally a plan was formulating and one that just might work. Before I went back to my seat I had asked for what I needed from Karmun and stuffed it down my top out of sight. I had to play it cool or Sophia would see straight through me. I had to concentrate harder than I had ever before to keep her out of my head. This wasn't going to be easy. Hell after
all, I was trying to deceive a Demon!

“You ok, who was that on the phone?” She asked trying to play it cool herself.

“Oh it was just
Frank,
my brother-in-law...Libby couldn't get me on my phone so she rang the club.” I said rolling my eyes and shaking my head trying to make out it was nothing.

“Was anything wrong...?” She asked, eyes full of concern for me, which made it all the harder to lie but for Libby I would have to put on the best show on my life!