Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria: Book One) (14 page)

Chel tended to fly off the handle with her parents, but things always got patched up. As far as parents went, Chel’s were pretty great. After all, they had taken Kaeleigh in when she needed it and they had always been there for her. They were like family, the closest she had to parents anyway, but still they weren’t really hers. Kaeleigh had always had this feeling that they knew more about her life, her past, than they let on, but she just left it alone. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful for all they had done for her.  

At The Station, she went ahead and ordered her a drink for her and Chel. Chel was a creature of habit and always ordered the same thing. For as creative as Chel was, Kaeleigh found it odd that she was so predictable with the little things like her drink.
Guess we all need something stable.
Chel walked in, searching frantically with her eyes for Kaeleigh until they locked in on her over in a different booth than where they usually sat. Kaeleigh waved her over, suddenly concerned at the odd expression on Chel’s face.

“Our booth was taken,” Kaeleigh said with a shrug when Chel’s raised eyebrow questioned the one she was sliding into. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Kaeleigh frowned as she realized Chel was much paler than normal.

Chel sat down, tried to take off her scarf that she always wore when the weather turned chilly, but ended up getting frustrated as she just kept tying it haphazardly around her neck more until she just gave up with a huff.  

“Calm down, you’re shaking. Tell me what’s going on. You’re starting to freak me out.”

Chel immediately folded her hands to still them. She took a deep breath and looked Kaeleigh in the eyes and said, “I can’t tell you.”

“What?! You come in here looking like somebody just died. You’re shaking and you’re not going to tell me, Chel? Bullshit!”  Kaeleigh said, totally freaking out now.

“Wait, just wait a minute. Everyone is all right. I don’t even know how to tell you any of this, there’s no way you’ll believe it;
I’m
still trying to believe it,” Chel said, scattered. Then she realized how frustrating this must sound when she saw the look of impatience on Kaeleigh’s face. “Okay, I need you to trust me and let me
try
to explain.” She looked Kaeleigh in the eyes and waited for her to nod her consent.  

“I went to my parents’ last night to get some advice about this stalker guy situation. They seemed way too overly worried about him hanging around and it finally dawned on me that they knew something and were hiding it from us.” Chel took a deep breath. “Remember, they love you and thought they were doing the right thing by both of us. Even though I’m still trying to believe that one myself—side note, sorry, I’ll explain.  

“Oh my god, I’m so not going to be able to explain this right.” Chel started to get antsy and couldn’t get her thoughts straight and finally just blurted out, “So, apparently my family isn’t normal and they came to live here to watch out for you because, oh by the way, you’re not entirely normal either. Your stalker guy—he isn’t normal either. And when I say ‘not entirely normal,’ yeah, I mean not entirely
human
!” Not even pausing for reaction, she finished, “And he’s been sent here to find you and take you back with him but we’re not sure
who
sent him yet. Why? I don’t know, but we won’t let him take you!”  Burying her face in her hands, Chel took a shaky breath. “Oh, this sounds like a cruel joke, and I know this doesn’t make any sense, but it’s unbelievably true, although I can’t tell you how I know that yet. I’m sorry.” 

And with that, Chel jumped up and ran toward the exit, not knowing how to tell her best friend in the world any more than she already had. Chel was still trying to process her own discoveries and secrets. She felt like a failure to her friend, like she should have known these things sooner to help prepare her, but instead it was like someone dumped a dunk tank of water over both of them. Not only did they have to figure out how to handle their own personal revelations, but they also had to figure out
what
they were dealing with in this stalker.   

Kaeleigh sat in her spot in the booth unmoving for who knows how long. Dumbfounded, Kaeleigh didn’t know whether to laugh at the absurdity of it all or cry at the terror of the truth she felt in Chel’s words. Worrying her necklace between her fingers, she looked for comfort. She felt betrayed.
How could Chel just dump something like that on her then bolt? Why would she bring her parents into it too? What kind of friend is she? 

But then Kaeleigh thought about the kind of friend that Chel was and the people her parents were; they would never mean to hurt her. She didn’t know what, but there had to be some kind of truth to what Chel had said,
But WTF
! Something at the back of Kaeleigh’s mind told her not to disregard what was said no matter how far-fetched it sounded. After all, she had freakish dream/flashes and she had a freakish, yet gorgeous, stalker. Oh! And don’t forget the orchids that seemed to magically appear.

Kaeleigh found herself getting angry, so angry, that there were people out there that knew who she was, that knew at least something of her past, that maybe even knew her family—if she had one—and they kept it from her, possibly even kept them from her.  

How could they betray me this way? After all that I have been through, no one thought it prudent to perhaps tell me, “Oh by the way, we know things about your past that might help you understand all of this,” but no. No one did.
 

Kaeleigh felt a hodgepodge of emotions—hurt, betrayed, confused, full of doubt… She felt like she was floating on a cloud flitting from one reality to the next.
What’s real? What’s going on? AND what the hell did Chel mean by “not entirely human”? I’m going to be sick.
She got up and ran out of The Station, heading down the street. She kept running until she ended up near the river. She knew that Chel liked to go there to think so maybe she would too.

After hours of thinking—or not thinking—and coming up with more questions and no answers, she decided to go to work. At least there she could be distracted. Only the distraction she found was not what she had in mind.

Chapter Sixteen

Kaeleigh had made it through her first few hours at work without losing her mind and even managed to have friendly conversations with some of the restaurant patrons and the waitstaff. On her break, she stepped out the side door to get some fresh air. Usually there were a couple of others taking a smoke break out there but tonight there was only one—a girl about the same age as Kaeleigh who had been working there a couple months longer than she had. Her name was Melanie, Kaeleigh remembered; she pretty much kept to herself. Kaeleigh said hello while Melanie simply nodded at her, then focused on the cigarette she was working on. The door opened behind her, shining more light on the side street that they were facing. Melanie looked up, stiffened, and glared at whoever was behind Kaeleigh. She put out her cigarette and stormed back inside, slamming the door and taking the light from inside with her. An uncomfortable icy feeling came over Kaeleigh as she turned to see her boss, the manager, Mr. Delacroix, standing there with a look that imitated sympathy on his face.  

“How are you, Kaeleigh? Any more issues with that guy that was giving you trouble yesterday?” he asked. Like a snake, he put his arm around her shoulders, attempting to comfort her, but Kaeleigh stiffened. Her skin started to crawl. She did not like to be touched. Not only was he invading her space that she had not invited him into, but she got an ill feeling that crept up her spine.

“Mr. Delacroix, I’m fine. Please remove your arm and don’t touch me again,” Kaeleigh said as she tried to pull away, not really caring if her job was now on the fence.
Slime ball!

The manager responded by pulling her in closer and tighter and said, “You are a good worker, Kaeleigh, and I would hate to see you lose your job because you were too upset that you couldn’t concentrate.” His eyes had traveled a bit south of her eyes as he leaned closer. “I’m always here for you. I want you to know that.”

Kaeleigh felt trapped and claustrophobic the more he pulled her into himself. The more she struggled, the tighter he held on. Panic started to choke her. The manager pulled her in for a hug that she would NOT be reciprocating and bent down to whisper in her ear as he stroked her hair, “I like you, Kaeleigh. I want to keep you safe and all
mine
. You be good to me and I’ll be good to you,” he practically crooned to her. 

Is he possessed?
 

Kaeleigh was outraged. She had been in a similar situation before and she couldn’t believe that it was happening again. It wasn’t like she wore a sign saying “easy target,” because she wasn’t one. She was a fighter. Kaeleigh grabbed hold of his arms like she was going to give in to his insanity. Satisfied, he loosened his grip just a little and she looked up at him with innocent eyes and said, “How dare you! You fucking pig.” Then she kneed him where it would count as hard as she could. As he fell to the ground gasping and grabbing himself, his face turned green. She bent over him and whispered into his ear, “That’s me being good to you.”  

She turned to walk away as he shouted at her, “Don’t bother coming back to work, you’re fired!”

Kaeleigh turned back only slightly, not wanting him to see her shaking, and yelled, “Did you miss my resignation, because I can come back to deliver it more formally if you’d like.” He quickly cowered in on himself again and she turned the corner, only slightly satisfied.  

She couldn’t believe what a scumbag her boss was and wondered how many of the girls she worked with he had accosted and maybe even succeeded at raping them. Kaeleigh wouldn’t put up with that and she wasn’t afraid of defending herself. She was shaking so hard as the realization of what had just happened—what
could’ve
happened—hit her, that she didn’t see him coming around the corner until she bumped smack into him.  

Kaeleigh quickly jumped back, not realizing yet who was in front of her. Daegan. He stood there, intimidating and emotionless, as he looked her over, yet asked her with sincerity and concern, “Are you hurt?” 

She shook her head, not sure yet what he wanted, but afraid she was about to cry in front of him or puke on him.
Oh my God! Now what?
“What are you doing here? Is this gang up on Kaeleigh night and someone forgot to tell me?” she asked sarcastically.  

He looked at her, confused. “I was waiting for you to get off work so we could perhaps talk a little more, but then I felt your distress and came to see if you were okay... But apparently you handled your situation. He needs to be finished off.” Daegan said that last part with an evil sneer as he looked beyond her into the alley. His anger was palpable.

Kaeleigh looked at him, trying to understand what he was saying. With horror, she realized he had been watching her encounter with her boss. He stood there with one hand at his waist gripping the handle of some kind of knife that looked incredibly sharp, and she had no doubts that he knew how to use it well. His other hand was balled up in a fist even though he seemed to be casual and uninterested. She believed that he really had come to help her, rescue her even, had he been given the chance.

“Finish him off? Uh, no, that’s not necessary although deserved,” she replied, then added, “Thanks, I believe you would have helped me.” 

Daegan looked at her again, then looked back into the alley, his nostrils flaring and his eyes lit again with flame. His whisper was lethal, though not directed at her. “Stay here.” He stalked into the darkness of the alley, drawing the blade that had caught her eye. 

This can’t be good
, she thought. What was only a couple of minutes later, she started to fall over as the adrenaline wore off and exhaustion set in. 

He caught her arm, barely holding her up as he appeared next to her with lightning speed. “You’re shaking. You must get home before you collapse.” He jostled her slightly, trying to get a better grip. “May I assist you home? I vow I mean you no harm. Or if not, allow me to call one of your friends,” he added gently.

Kaeleigh looked him in the eyes and saw honesty and gentleness in them. Feeling calm and at peace for the first time all day, she agreed he could walk her home, but that she would be doing the walking on her own. 

“What did you do to him?” she squeaked out, not entirely sure she wanted to know but also secretly happy that the pervert got what he deserved.

Daegan snuck a peek her way with a slight smirk. “You really want to know?”

Kaeleigh looked him in the eyes, then nodded resolutely.

“I simply impressed upon him that he would never again be doing something like that and that perhaps he should resign and turn himself in,” Daegan stated.

“And why would he just turn himself in?”

“Let’s just say I am strongly persuasive when I want to be.” He sneered with the same hint of danger she had seen in him before. Satisfied, she left it at that. 

After her initial question, they walked slowly and silently. Kaeleigh was still shaking a few blocks down the road and even lost her footing and tripped several times. The first time, Daegan grabbed her elbow to steady her so she wouldn’t fall then released her as she righted herself and pulled away. The second time she stumbled, however, he grabbed her elbow like before but did not let go. Reluctantly, she didn’t pull away, realizing that she actually needed his help. He kept her steady the rest of the way to her home. Awkward in the silence, Kaeleigh decided to give conversation a try.

“So, any revelations about my shocking new tattoo?” she asked with a bit of humor behind her voice as she looked at him out of the corner of her eyes.

“Ah, you think this is funny,” he said, more to himself than to her. “To answer your question, no.” They walked quietly for another block. Then Daegan stopped gently, turning her toward himself. “There is deep strength in you, Kaeleigh. An almost reckless courage,” Daegan said, again looking so deep into her eyes that she felt like she was standing in front of a stranger, naked for all to see.