Pulled (28 page)

“
You wear the mark, do you not? The flame, yes,” she asks.

“
How did you...”

“
It is the same as his, no?”

“
Yes, but...”

“
You are twin flames. It was not my Etash that killed your parents that day. It was fate bringing you together. Did they have to die in order for you two to meet? That only God can answer for you.”

I wanted to believe her. But to do that meant that I had to also accept the existence of Twin Flames, something I wasn't sure I was ready to do.

“
No matter you believe or not,” her sage voice crackled over the line, reading my silence perfectly. “If you leave him, he will only find you again. If not in this life, then in the next. Like it or no, you two are bound together for all eternity.”

As she spoke the words, my heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, I
knew
she was right. We would be together, always. Fate had kept pulling us back, time and time again.

“
Go to him,” she whispered. “He is waiting.”

Without even saying goodbye, I hung up and flew out of the mall, desperate to get back home.

Etash

All I can think about is Naya. And Seth. Had I inadvertently done the unthinkable and sent her back into the arms of her abuser? Was I the bigger monster? Deep down, I knew I was. I shouldn't have lied to her. I should have told her the minute I realized who she was, but then, I just would have lost her sooner. Is it really better to have loved and lost, than never loved at all? Is the pain I'm feeling better than living in ignorance that she even existed?

Images of Naya knocking on Seth's door plagued me. Made me literally sick to my stomach.

Unable to stop myself, I opened my computer and found his page on facebook to see if he'd made any telling posts. There was nothing but his smiling face next to Naya's. He hadn't even bothered to change his profile picture. His status still said they were together. He had no plans of letting her go. Clicking onto his info page I found he'd listed his cell phone. Before I could stop myself, my fingers started dialing the numbers. I held my breath as I waited for him to pick up. Nothing. After a dozen rings and no voice mail, I hung up.
Please, Naya, please don't go back to him.

That's when I sank into my couch and began to cry. I was lost. Helpless without her beside me. What was I going to do now? The unanswered questions swimming in my heart only made me sob harder.

Naya

When I open the door to his apartment I am breathless and hungry to see him. As our eyes finally meet, I can see he's been crying.

Quickly, he stands up from the couch and opens his mouth to speak. I hold a finger up to stop him.

“
It wasn't your fault. I don't blame you.”

His eyes well up in relief.

“
But...”

“
It wasn't your fault,” I repeat, closing the gap between us. With each step I'm pulled harder toward him.

“
We are meant to be together. Forever.”

Before he can say another word, my lips are on his and our fates are sealed.

Passion rages inside of me as I taste his lips. My body begs to be released in this kiss, in this moment. Hungry hands greedily find their way to the nape of his neck and I pull him closer. His chest presses firmly against mine as my fingers willingly bury themselves in his thick brown locks and I sigh in relief.

Etash wraps his arms firmly around my waist and closes what little gap there had been between our hips. His touch burns my skin and I want more of him; need more. His hands slowly but fiercely run up my back, sending hot shivers down my spine.

“
Please,” I whisper.

Immediately understanding what I want, he scoops me up into his arms and carries me into the bedroom, kicking the door closed with his foot.

Chapter 18

Etash

Never in my life have I felt so loved, so cherished, as I do right now with her in my arms.

“
Marry me,” I whisper in her hair. She laughs quietly against my arm.

“
That's kind of a moot point now, isn't it?” Lifting her head up, she kisses me softly on the lips. I want desperately to take her again, but I resist. I need an answer first.

“
I'm serious,” I say, pulling her eyes to mine. She opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. “Naya, I want you to marry me. I know we've only known each other for a month, but the way I feel when I'm with you...We
belong
together. I'm more sure of us than I've ever been about anything.”

She doesn't speak, she just starts to trace her fingers across my chest.

“
I realize I haven't said this yet, but I love you, and I want you to be my wife.”

She lifts her head up and props her head on her hand.

“
Why haven't you?” she asks, “Said that you love me?”

It's such a painfully honest question that I struggle with giving her my answer.

“
I guess cause it's a cliché? People use it so often that it kind of lost its meaning.”

She gives me a sad smile.

“
I disagree. I don't think people say it enough.”

She is absolutely right. Far too few people have told her that she is loved.

“
I love you, Naya. I love you,” I chant, over and over again, pausing to kiss a part of her body after each time. Her nose, her chin, the top of her lush breasts, and finally, her perfect lips. “I love you.”

“
I love you, too,” she says in my ear. “And yes, I'll marry you.” Pulling her on top of me, I roll her over and ravish my fiancée, showing her my sincere appreciation.

The rest of the day, Naya and I spend cuddled together in bed, either reading, watching the news, or just being; and it is nothing short of heaven.

At four o'clock, we both begrudgingly start to get ready to go to the theatre to prepare for Opening Night.

When we walk into the make-up room a few hours later, it is all abuzz with excitement. The cast is giving each other flowers or hand-made ‘break a leg’ cards.

Naya gets swept up in a gaggle of girls as they go into the changing rooms to get dressed. As I set my bag down at my usual make-up chair, I see a nice tall cup of tea with my name written across the side. I check the label on the tea bag; it’s chai.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
I grab the cup, which is still warm and take a nice long sip. Perfection. How Naya can prefer coffee to this, I’ll never know.

I duck into the men’s changing area and get my sweats on to warm up. When I come out I still hear the girls giggling in the changing rooms, so I go to the door and knock and instantly the chatter stops.

“
Naya, I’m going upstairs to stretch.”

“
Okay,” she says, “I'll be up soon.” The hushed voices start up again.

Taking another long sip of my tea, I head up the stairs to the studios. There are a few other actors stretching out as well in the first studio but I brush past them and head to the smallest studio. It’s harder to get to since it’s around the corner and up a small flight of stairs.

Of course, it’s empty. No one will bother me here. Except for Naya and Kari, people still keep their distance from me, which suits me just fine.

As I start my warm-ups, I notice how stiff my body feels.
You worked yourself a little too hard earlier
, I think, smiling
.
Stretching, I notice it's more than just my stiff muscles, the tips of my fingertips are cold too.
Fall is definitely here.

I down the rest of my tea in one shot hoping that will warm my body up a bit. I lift my leg onto the balance bar and bend over to touch my toes, and am surprised that this basic, routine movement causes me to almost fall on my ass.
I must be stiffer than I thought.
Playing it safe, I decide to start with some floor stretches instead.

After a bit, I can hear the other actors leaving, going downstairs to get into make-up. I know I should go down too, but I'm not nearly warmed up enough. When I try to push myself up to stand, I can't. My limbs suddenly feel very heavy. That’s when I hear a voice chuckling from behind me.

“
Did you enjoy your tea?” Seth asks coldly, walking into the studio.

My tea?

“
You…” I start to speak, but can’t finish my thought.

“
I did warn you that I was watching you,” he says in a sweet, sickening voice. “Noticing small things, like the type of tea you drink. Even your habits, like coming here, to this place, far away from everyone else, for instance.” I can make out what he’s saying, but only barely. I’m starting to lose consciousness.

“
Stay...away... from... her.”

“
Or what? You’re gonna stop me?” He starts laughing, a wild reckless laugh, then kneels down to look me in the eye and scratches his chin.

“
No, I don’t think I will stay away from her. Sorry.” He stands up and checks the door, to make sure no one is coming. “As for you, we can’t have you just lying around here where someone might stumble in on you. That would definitely put a kink in my plans. But, fortunately for you, I know of a nice little janitor’s closet I can lock you in where no one will find you for quite a long time.”

I use all of my strength to try and move from where I sit, but nothing happens. The last thing I register is his fist coming fast at my face before everything goes black.

Naya

Kari laughs at how ridiculous I look as she helps me into my light pink leotard. I start to laugh along with her when my smile fades. My blood has just gone cold.

Something is wrong. I don’t know what, or how I know it, but my stomach just hit the floor, and all I can think about is Etash. I rush out of the dressing room, frantically scanning the make-up stations for him. He's not at any of them.

“
Does anyone know where Etash is?” I ask loudly.

“
I think he’s still upstairs warming up,” Thomas says. “Are you okay?”

“
I will be once I find him,” I say, heading upstairs.

When I reach the top, all the studios are dark, even the one he likes to hide in.
Where is he
?

“
If you want to see him again, you’ll come with me.” A voice says from the shadow of Etash's studio. Seth.

“
Where is he?” I ask firmly.

He comes out of the corner holding his finger to his lips.

“
Shhhh, you don’t want to ruin the surprise.” He saunters over to me and pulls me into his arms and I stiffen.
“Mmmm. I’ve missed this,” he says into my hair. I try to squirm out of his arms, but he just squeezes me harder.

“
Now, you’re going to come with me, without making a fuss.” I look up at him, horror-stricken. “Unless you don’t
want
to see him again.” He steps away from me, then holds out his hand. He has Etash. I have no choice; I have to go with him.

“
There’s a good girl.” Satisfied, he pulls me out of the theatre, and into his car waiting just outside.

My body is trembling with fear and from the cold as Seth throws his coat over me, but I push it back at him.

“
Fine. Freeze to death,” he snickers.

“
Where are you taking me?” I hiss, once he’s started down the highway. He doesn’t look at me, just keeps staring straight ahead, but his nostrils flare.