Slice (The Elledge Family #1) (7 page)

She screamed, a real fear filled scream and let out a little laugh. “Summer, how are you? I whispered. My accent tended to grow thick when this piece of me came out to play.

The fucking rapist stared at me. “What the fuck are you doing?” He rolled off of her crawled away leaving her there vulnerable. This guy was not even worthy enough to be called a wanker. He was a coward. I bloody hate cowards.

I turned my head, “So you’re into cowards now?” I chuckled lightly and nodded my head. “I knew that your taste had dwindled after me, but never would I see you with a coward Summer. You fucked up… God, I almost feel sorry for you.” I looked at the guy huddling in the corner full of fear. “Now I am here to talk first, of course. I would like to explain first and there will be no more screaming… Summer you should have made better decisions. You hear?”

She shook her head. “Lucas…”

“Shut the fuck up, there will be no blimey begging okay?” I smiled and then turned toward the coward. “Did you know he has raped three girls in the past three years? And you have been fucking him like he is God’s gift to this earth. Dumb decisions, Summer, are you comprehend now? You have to learn a lesson.”

It was evident that she knew she was already dead. Her hands shook and the sobs wouldn’t stop as she crawled over to the coward. He shuffled away from her quickly as he guarded himself from me with a chair. “Please, I have money. I have so much money.”

“This is not about your money Summer, fuck you and fuck your money. I don’t give a fuck about money. I’m a fucking published author. I have money coming out of my ass. I want you to understand that this life is not for everyone… now coward… come here and you can face your death first… I can make it quick or you can try to fight and I will fucking destroy you. Get up!!!! Move your bollocks quickly!” My voice was harsh. It almost scared me. Damn kills of passion. He left Summer by herself and tried to bolt towards the door. My foot caught him and he hit his head on the bed rail, it sent a clang sound through the room. The dummy had made things easier for me. I kicked his foot, he was out cold. It made the kill less fun. I wanted to see the life escape those eyes, it was the best part.

I shook my head and Summer walked towards me. “Baby, please…”

“I’m not your fucking baby. Sit your ass down or I’ll end it quick.” I warned. I pushed her on the rustic looking bed. “I’m not going to rape you… too many men have been there anyhow… I am going to tame you… Then free you. I know it’ll make you happy.”

The tears, I hated when they cried. The tears could not save them. The tears just made it messier for me. I hated waste and crying for life when I had made my decision was a waste. I sliced into her skin. The blood bubbled from her and spilled into a pool on the bed. The sex stained sheets were now red and she was dead. Summer was dead and my mind was quiet. For once it was quiet and there was peace. It happened every time I had a kill. The whispering in my head ceased and there was silence. And in that silence, I found peace for the first time in months.

I exhaled and finished off the coward, for him there needed to be more pain. And trust me there was. Summer was over. The coward was drained and the room smelled of blood. Sweet blood of Summer.

I really didn’t understand why I loved to kill, but it was fairly common in my family. My father murdered and from what he told me his father murdered. Summer was the forty-three, or forty-something at least. I had made a vow to my father that when I reached found someone to love, I would quit. I wasn’
t sure if I would honor it. But with Cypress it was possible. 

I never looked for companionship before her. My life was fine without it. There was a longing I couldn’t hide that at least wanted to try something and perhaps Cypress could be the woman that changes me for good. I prayed she was… because there was this aching part inside of me that didn’t want to kill her.

Chapter Three

Cypress

The Publisher had worked in my favor. For once I had a job that was not resulting in food being sprayed on me or oil on my fingers. I tutored on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday afternoons and was required to write one article on Student life per week for the physical paper. My first article had been on the Summit, which made Lucas happy. It didn’t take much to make him happy. He liked the little things in life. There was something different about him and I liked it. I had not planned to move on so fast from Phillip. I still had nightmares. I still slept with a wrench wedged under my pillow. He had done a number on me, that I had to admit. Lucas always had something to keep me busy from thinking here lately. We had done random things all week, he took me to land sites and random creaks all week. Sitting in the middle of my apartment had been the first normal thing I had done with him since our last official date, two weeks ago.

“I really like what you have done with the place.” Lucas said sarcastically as he pointed to the bookshelf. Bargain shopping was my specialty. It was five dollars at a yard sale I had forced him to go to. It was perched on the wall next to the door. It wasn’t much but it was something rather than emptiness. “It brings out the beige in the walls.” He wiped his face and smiled playfully.

I nodded my head and pushed him lightly. “Well, if you will give me a moment to get ready, we can go shopping.”

“We must go and get you something that simply screams you.” He shook his head. He pulled me closer to him, his arms warm and they made me feel safe. I smiled at him and moved the hair from his face. “I think that a floral couch would match you very well.”

I shook my head in agreement with him. Lucas made his way over to me a cupped my chin in ahis hand as he pecked my lips softly. He already knew me well. There was nothing that I loved more than floral. I had an obsession with flowers. “Yes, something light and festive.” He held out his two hands and pulled me to my feet. “I have to change into something not so snazzy and then we can go find the world’s best floral couch. I know you’re excited.”

“Almost overly excited,” I had grown used to his sarcasm. I actually craved it, most people found it annoying, like my mom. But I found it to be comforting and actually a lot like me. “Go get casual, so I can find the Picasso of couches for you. I have a good eye for fashion.” He lied. Lucas rarely anything other than the same three shirts. He tattered Pink Floyd Shirt, A Beatles shirt or just a plain black T-shirt. 

I changed into a purple sundress and some Converse shoes with purple laces to add the tiniest bit of me into the recipe. Then there was my hair. The thick curls had been down all day. I applied some mousse to make the curls more defined and slid on a headband. I tossed on my glasses and some lip gloss and walked out.

“Sorry it took a tad bit longer than expected.” I looked at Lucas, who could not unhinge his eyes from mine. “Are you okay?”

“You are just perfect.” He said. “I like this dress and I love these glasses.” He graced me with another small kiss and then waited patiently for me to get up. Lucas like to pace things, that was evident. There had not been too much intimacy since the first date and I didn’t want to rush things and give him the wrong impression. I felt like I couldn’t or more like shouldn’t kiss him again. I lacked self-control when it came to him. We had managed small kisses and hand holding in public occasionally.

“There is a store about an hour out. We could head out there and work our way back to this area. My mother knows someone that works at this particular shop so there should be no hardship on prices.” Lucas led me out of the apartment, locking the door behind him and guiding me towards his Range Rover.

“Where’s the Jeep?”

“I drive this baby out of the town most of the time. I like the heated seats. The wind has started to pick up here lately. He opened the door for me and held my hand as he helped me into the SUV. He didn’t look like the type that would drive one, but he did and it was so much nicer than my sedan. It screamed luxury, the damned door handles were chrome.

“I plan to spend about 500 on the living room, nothing more and nothing less.”

“I understand you, dear,” Lucas closed the door and sprinted to the other side of the car and hopped in.

I buckled my seat belt and scrolled through my phone to find more color schemes than what I had imagined to keep from staring at him. It was hard not to do.

“So tell me something about you that no one else knows.” I blurt out. I have no idea why, but I wanted this drive to be lush with conversation.

“Something no one knows…” He started the car driving out of the apartment complex and effortlessly he pulls out into traffic. “There is the fact that I keep a mental checklist. It has minor things in it. I follow the checklist for my life.”

“Like goals?”

“Like don’t date a girl who drinks like a sailor, or curses like my nan.” He chuckled. “Don’t trust the writing teacher with your novel and make sure you don’t live at home ever again. It is really a mental reminder and checklist.” He paused. “Be nice people, don’t stare when people or dumb or just dumb founding beautiful.” Lucas winked. 

“Wow, so you compartmentalize up there?” I brushed off his compliment, too timid to look at him and thank him.

“Most of the time,” He continued to keep his eyes on the road. “What about you Cypress?”

There were several facts about me that no one else knew about me, but there was one that I hid but it was hilarious. I twiddled my fingers, “When I was 17 years old I tried to off myself with some vitamin E pills.”

He burst into laughter, a tear rolling laughter, “My dear Cypress, not vitamins.”

I burst into laughter right behind him and nodded my head. “Yeah, I was dumb, but I lived and I never took vitamin E again.”

“You more than likely consumed more than you needed anyhow, I am happy that you lived though. You too much of anything can be a bad thing?” He stopped laughing for a minute. “What was so hard at 17 that you no longer wanted to live?”

“That ex that I told you about… he wasn’t the best boyfriend. There were times that I would hate myself for being with him. He cheated on me firstly and then he would force me to stay with him. Everyone loved that bastard he played football and in my town that was the way you became someone, there was no other way. Fuck that writing shit, marry a football player and your life could be better.” My home town was a piece of shit and that was fine. I just wanted out. “But anyhow…” I spared him the gory details and shifted in my seat.

“I hate that he treated you that way. I see no reason to find another companion when you have everything it is to offer. It is his lost and fortunately my gain.”

Lucas

T
here are times I feel like I could implode from the inside of anxiety from not writing. It’s the same kind of itch that comes with the kill only it’s a less intense feeling. Dull almost, I don’t think there is a way to explain it besides saying that a pen and a clean sheet of paper held infinite possibilities. It was why my book was steady success. I craved the words on the paper like nourishment. And this sensation I got with Cypress was almost better than sex.

I had continued to call Cypress every morning. Our conversations started light, but she made me think. She gave me hope that there could be a good future. Cypress was a character and she barely knew how unique she was. I was corny at jokes and I knew that they sucked but with her she laughed a whole hearted laugh every time. Even when she found them ridiculously dumb, she found the humor to make them funny. Then there was the way she carried herself. I was not one for a grand presentation and neither was she, she breathed pure simplicity in everything that she done. Her hair was always a curly mess. Even when she tried to tame it, it remained wild and free. It was my favorite thing about her. Then there were her eyes. Most women have brown eyes, statistically speaking, most human beings have brown eyes, but no one has Cypress’ eyes. Her eyes were the deepest brown surrounded by tints of green that made their appearance whenever the rays of sunlight hit her eyes at just the right angle.

I had fallen for those eyes and the inquisitive look they could give while I critiqued her and strengthened her writing. I craved her touch, and by touch once again, I mean simple touch. Her hand had a tendency to trace mine whenever she handed me papers and it seemed that the smaller the touch the more intimate I felt towards her. The simple moments with her had made her the one I craved.

“There is this couch downtown that has my name on it. It’s a lavender color with pastel pink floral print. It’s 250 just for the love seat and there is this chair that is in a thrift shop. I want you to come with me to get them.”

“I’m free tomorrow about 3pm? Would that be okay?”

“Perfect, I have some notes to revise on my short story, then the writing lab has me working with some freshman students on their paper.” She glowed. I was happy she was enjoying the job. It paid well and she needed work.

“They treat you right there?” I asked. She playfully bounced on her feet, tossing the food on the paper plates. She barely had anything here.

“They are treating me great,” she sat down next to me on the floor of her apartment and handed me the sandwich she had so skillfully prepared for me. “Sorry, would you shop with me too tomorrow?”

“Yeah, we could definitely go ahead and hit the grocery store. I love a good PB&J but I doubt that I can eat it three more days in a row.” I watched her laugh and then bite into the sandwich. “I would love to introduce you to some of my friends besides my brother Mark of course?”