by Mia Hoddell
“What? Why? How does she even know where this house is?”
Kai had made his way back to the sofa but instead of wrapping his arms around me he sat facing me, his back against the armrest.
“She says she has something important to discuss and that it can’t wait. You probably don’t want to hear the story of how she knows this place though,” he said uneasily, rubbing the back of his neck, which I noticed was a repetitive gesture when he was put on the spot or embarrassed.
“Try me,” I said challenging him. I could tell by the amount of jealousy I felt, that my mind had made up that I did want to be with Kai, even if he was the cause of the problem... Well part of it anyway.
He sighed, clearly not happy about wanting to tell me.
“OK...” he said while letting out a heavy breath. “I’ve known Alanah for a while. She was one of the girls who escaped the attack that killed my parents. Only after that she decided she wanted a normal life so left the E.Ks. When I said she was a new colleague it was only half the truth. We kept in touch while we were living separate lives and I knew she always had a thing for me. One day we were hanging out and just ended up back in this house. I had just bought it and so she wanted to see it. Anyway, one thing led to another and you know. Do I really needs to go into any more detail than that?”
I shook my head, there was no way I wanted to know about what he had done before getting with me.
“Don’t be jealous or upset Rea. After that we lost contact until she got stuck with me earlier this year. I never had feelings for her, even though I think she still does for me. Actually I find her pretty irritating now, she may have looks but there isn’t a lot else to her.” He reached for my hands and I let him pull me against his body again.
“Oh and she kind of doesn’t know you’re here either, so she’s probably going to freak out when she sees you.”
“You haven’t told her about me?” I muttered. “You know she’s probably only coming here for the same reasons as last time right?”
He nodded.
“It crossed my mind but Rea I don’t want her okay. You’re the one I love.” He forced me to look at him, his eyes filled with sincerity as he spoke.
“OK,” I said, giving him a quick kiss that was interrupted by a loud, consistent knock on the door.
“She really need to work on her timing,” I muttered under my breath causing Kai to laugh as he got up, sliding me over to the other side of the sofa. “How did she get here so quick anyway?”
He paused just before he reached the door. “She was already on her way when she rang.” He frowned at the thought as he moved to unlock the door. As he opened the it I saw Alanah throw her arms around his neck instantly, embracing him in a hug. I couldn’t see Kai’s face but the fact that he didn’t push her away and just hugged her back irritated me. Alanah was the first to pull back but that was only to move to try and kiss him. I was thankful when Kai turned his head at the last second causing her to kiss his cheek, rather than his lips.
“So what you doing here?” he said, trying to keep his tone pleasant even though his posture was rigid and tense.
“You know, just passing through and thought we could have some fun,” she said with a knowing look on her face as she went to run her hand through his hair. Kai stepped back, leaving her hand in mid air.
I just sat there silently, unsure what to do.
“That’s not going to happen Alanah, I have a girlfriend.” She paused momentarily and I saw a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes before she returned to her confident demeanour. “So? What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” She chewed her bottom lip as she waited for him to answer.
“I’m pretty sure she’d find out though, especially as she is just over there.” He gestured towards me and started to move back over to where I was sat.
The look on Alanah’s face was priceless. The cocky, sure of herself woman who had stood there before had disappeared instantly and I wasn’t clear on whether anger or embarrassment replaced it. I tried to say hi but my throat was so dry from what I’d just seen, it only came out as a squeak.
“Alanah, Serena. Serena, Alanah.” He gestured between the two of us, making a pretence of introducing us to each other even though neither of us were bothered. Alanah ignored me and I couldn’t find the courage to speak. When Kai reached me he held me close to his side, I guessed trying to reinforce the idea that we were a couple in her mind but all it did was cause her to scowl at me.
“So how long have you two been together?” she asked Kai, dismissing my presence in the room.
“Half a year, maybe just over.”
By her reaction it was evident she was taken aback by this fact as she looked at Kai with a questioning stare.
“So you’re telling me that while we’ve all been working our asses off, you’ve been shacked up with some girl you just picked up and then decide to disappear with so you could spend time together?” Her face contorted with anger as she spat out the words like it pained her to say them.
I felt Kai’s sigh more than heard it and when he spoke he seemed exhausted. “That’s really none of your business Alanah but just for the record I didn’t go off the radar just to ’shack up with Serena’ as you put it. There is a legitimate reason and it has been authorised, so technically you shouldn’t be here as you’re breaking the rules.”
I must admit that as I heard Kai’s words I did gain a small amount of satisfaction, especially when I saw her glare.
“What you smiling at bitch?” she rounded on me and I automatically cowered closer to Kai. It wasn’t what she said that hurt me but the fact that I had seen her in action and I didn’t like my chances if she tried anything.
“Alanah.” Kai warned, his tone stern and serious before he turned towards me.
“What?! She is by the look of her. Where’d you find her, by the roadside?”
Kai was about to speak when I interrupted him.
“Isn’t that more your style? I mean look at you, cheap, fake and running after guys you can’t have.” I didn’t know where my comments came from, but something inside me had just snapped.
Alanah lunged at me, screaming with rage but was stopped by Kai who blocked her attack. “Stop it right now or I’ll throw you out. Rea is my girlfriend and you will not insult her or try anything worse, got it?” Before she could respond he turned to face me. “Come with me a second,” he said in a neutral tone as if he hadn’t just been threatening Alanah.
After telling Alanah to wait downstairs and that we would be back in a minute Kai led me upstairs and into my room. He pulled me to the bed and sat facing me.
“Don’t listen to a word she says okay because none of it’s true Rea. Please just ignore her.” He kept a hold on my hands as he spoke. “Do you trust me Rea?”
I nodded, uncertain as to where he was going to take the conversation but he smiled slightly when he saw the gesture.
“If I ask you to stay up here while I talk to her would you do it?”
I paused, trying to find a reason not to let him but in the end I thought it would just come back to bite me at some point.
“Yeah okay...” I said reluctantly. The acceptance did earn me a light kiss though.
“Thank you. I’ll be back in a minute.” He left to exit the room, leaving the door open as he went.
I knew as soon as he got downstairs as I could hear Alanah shouting and screaming obscenities as she presumably threw a fit. Kai was trying to calm her down but that was all I heard and I didn’t want to listen round the door like a little kid. I must admit though, it drove me crazy sitting there only hearing silence. It did worry me as to what they were doing but I kept telling myself that I had to trust Kai. Also, I couldn’t believe how quickly Alanah had changed, I mean she didn’t even try to hide her intentions and I wasn’t looking forward to seeing her again.
Kai returned about an hour later looking exhausted and fed up.
“How did it go?” I asked, hoping I didn’t sound li
ke a paranoid girlfriend.
“She calmed down enough for me to tell her about the necklace and everything, which startled her a lot as like me, she didn’t believe in the myth. Also I managed to avoid the subject of you, me and her with the E.K stuff which enabled me to convince her to leave. She’ll be back tomorrow but at least we don’t have to deal with her anymore tonight. Plus tomorrow she will be back with the other E.Ks so hopefully because it’s business she will be professional as she wouldn’t want to ruin her reputation.”
I just nodded as he leaned against the door frame and I wished he would come closer.
“Do you want to sleep now, as it’s going to be busy tomorrow or do you want to watch the rest of the film?”
With Alanah’s arrival it had made up my mind about Kai and me knew for certain that I didn’t want to lose him.
“Um sleep I think,” I said stretching as he began to turn away. “Hey, don’t I get a kiss or at least a hug? I mean you have just ignored me for an hour and interrupted the movie.” I pouted while folding my arms across my chest, trying to look cute and upset. He laughed and walked back to me, embracing me in a massive hug that pushed us both over so he was lying on top of me for the second time that day.
“Hmm, you know that offer you made about sharing your room?”
He looked down at me, confused.
“Does it still stand?” I asked nervously, worried that he would turn me down.
“You being serious?” His eyes were wide with shock but his mouth was turned up into a smile and it only got bigger when I nodded.
“Of course it still stands.” He pulled me up, dragging me into his room excitedly.
“I’m only sleeping in here OK Kai? Nothing else. Don’t get too ahead of yourself.”
He just shrugged, which worried me slightly but not enough to make me change my mind.
As he stripped down to his boxers I got under the covers and before I knew it Kai snuggled up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close.
“Love you, night.”
He kissed the side of my neck in a light caress.
“Night Kai.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I rolled over the next morning expecting to feel Kai’s warm body close to mine but all I felt was the cold, empty sheets. Confused I opened one eye lazily to see if Kai really was not in bed with me and when I couldn’t find him anywhere I became even more puzzled as I couldn’t hear the shower or any other noise.
“Kai?” I called out but when I got no response I rolled to the edge of the bed and heaved myself out of the warm covers. Padding around on the thick, fluffy carpet, I called out Kai’s name as I went but no reply emerged to give me a clue as to where he was. I checked my phone to see if he had gone out and left me a message but he hadn’t so I gave up looking and decided to jump in the shower, still thinking about how nice it felt falling asleep in Kai’s arms.
As I had planned to just laze around the house all day and hopefully just spend time with Kai I couldn’t be bothered to wear anything presentable. Instead I went for loose, baggy grey trousers and my favourite purple hoodie. My hair was still dishevelled from the shower so I sat on the edge of the bed as I ran a comb through it before proceeding to dry it. What does last night mean? I questioned myself before my mind started to panic about what Kai’s disappearance meant. What if he has decided he wants Alanah instead of me. I mean what guy wouldn’t want her? Does that mean I have to leave? I took a deep, calming breath, as I told myself that I was over analysing the situation and jumping to irrational conclusions.
Thinking of Alanah did trigger my memory though and as I remembered she was coming back with some other E.Ks I decided to change once more. This time I pulled out my super skinny jeans and a loose woolly jumper that was a dark emerald green. The snow still hadn’t melted and although there was significantly less I still put on my thick thermal socks before I decided I was ready to get something to eat.
Halfway down the stairs I began to hear voices coming from either the living room or the kitchen. Pausing so the speakers wouldn’t hear me, I listened to the distinct sound of a female laugh. Silently I moved down the rest of the stairs, thankful that I was in a modern house and not an old cottage or cabin that would have creaked. I crept towards the door that opened onto the open plan living area and kitchen and peered stealthily around the corner.
Alanah was sat on top of the kitchen worktop, her back facing me so I could only see her long blond hair. Kai was stood in front of her with her arms wrapped around his neck as she pulled him closer.
“I don’t know what you see in her Kai. You’ve always had a thing for me and I know you still do now. We’d be great together Kai, we have the same interests, equal in looks and have known each other since birth. Why let her stop you? Just get rid of her, you would be much better off with me,” she whispered into his ear in a sultry voice as she ran her hands down his back so they rested in the waistline of his jeans. When he moaned in response she pulled back slightly before leaning in towards him.
Their lips were about to touch when Kai pulled away.
“For god’s sake Alanah! This isn’t happening. You and me... we will never work... I’m with Rea and I’m happy. You’re here because of business not because I want you here,” he hissed in a frantic whisper while he waved his arms around in an enraged gesture. She hopped off the counter to walk towards Kai but he shrugged her hands off and even though I was unbelievably mad at Alanah I couldn’t help but allow a satisfied smile appear on my face as she was rejected; even if Kai had allowed it to go on for a while.
As Alanah recoiled from Kai the back door to the house opened and another strong, muscular and good looking guy walked in. He kicked the snow off his boots onto the mat as he surveyed the scene that he had just interrupted.
“Give it a rest Alanah. It’s pathetic really.” With his dismissive comment Alanah stalked off to sit on the sofa, looking like a sulky teenager as she scowled out the window, her arms folded. I turned my attention back to the guys and before Kia could open his mouth to say anything else I decided I was bored of watching and walked into the room. I hoped I looked like someone who hadn’t just been spying on her boyfriend but I was unsure. As Kai spotted me his cheeks began to flush in guilt I guessed but I pretended that nothing was wrong. I would talk to him later when the others had gone.
“Morning Rea. This is Jack and of course you already know Alanah,” Kai managed to get out finally, embracing me in a hug on my way to the fridge. I kissed him as he stopped me and to no surprise I got a cold, hateful stare from Alanah.
“When did they get here? It’s a bit early isn’t it?” I asked, jerking my head in the direction of Jack.
“It’s eleven o’clock Rea, that’s not that early. Well not for us anyway,” he added quickly when he saw my look of bewilderment.
“Whatever,” I stated and began hunting for something to eat while they moved into the living room to sit with Alanah.
“So what’s this big piece of news you have that has forced us to drive out here in the middle of an Elemental attack?” Jack said as he took the seat next to Alanah, much to her dismay. Kai took a seat on the sofa opposite them, mug in hand as he looked at Jack. By that time I had managed to find some cereal and carrying my bowl into the room I sat next to Kai, leaning back against the sofa as I didn’t know if I was included in the discussion.
“We think we have found a way to destroy the Elementals. I don’t know how much Alanah told you but I think I have found the necklace and one of the descendants of the originals which is written about in the myths.”
Jack stared open mouthed at us and I paused, my spoon halfway to my face as I considered what Kai had said. The only person he had found was me and I didn’t like the sound of being an original’s descendant. I had thought nothing of my ancestry when Kai had mentioned it previously but pieces had slowly started to fall into place.
“Where?” was the word Jack said and while Alanah’s scowl deepe
ned I caught the sight of Kai motioning towards me out of the corner of my eye.
“Her? She doesn’t exactly look special Kai, no offence Rea,” he added, glancing at me with a quick smile.
“How do you know what an original is meant to look like? She possesses the necklace which I’m ninety percent sure is the one from all the legends.”
“Can we see this necklace?” Alanah stated bluntly, making her dislike and distrust of me even more evident.
Without having to be told I reached inside my jumper and pulled out the tiny silver circle that contained a ruby heart entwined with ivy and stretched it as far as it would go to show them.
“Would you mind taking it off Serena? It’s just we can get a better look at it that way,” Jack asked delicately and I hesitated causing Kai to speak up.
“You don’t have to Rea,” he said turning to me before turning back to Jack.
“Rea got the necklace as a gift from her dad who recently died in an Elemental attack. It’s the last thing he gave her and she hasn’t taken it off since...” he explained, giving them more information than I would have liked them to know, even if they were the people who could help kill the Elementals.
“It’s okay Kai, you guys need to see it,” I said, interrupting him shakily by putting a hand on his leg before I reached up to unclasp the back.
As I gently removed the necklace and re-clasped it I curled it into Jack’s waiting palm that was upturned and stretched out towards me.
“Thanks.” He picked up the tiny piece of silver in his thick fingers, twisting it in the light and looking at it from all angles.
“Did you bring the journals from Sector Nine I asked for?” Kai directed his question at Alanah as Jack was busy inspecting the pendant. She nodded and held out her car keys, which Kai reluctantly took while sighing at her lack of help.
Once he was out of the room Alanah leaned forward, speaking to me for the first time that day.
“I hope you realise he’s only keeping you around because of this myth he believes in. I mean you aren’t pretty, smart or fit enough to keep Kai happy. His true feelings are for me, they always have been.” Her hateful stare was full of malice as she leaned on her knees. I was shocked when Jack reached across and putting a hand on her shoulder, violently pulled her back to rest against the sofa.
