Forgotten And Destined (Forgotten # 1)

by CATT

  “You’ll get used to it after a while you won’t pay attention to it. Come on I’d better get you to the dining room, you’ve missed too many meals as it is. After going a week without eating you need the food in a bad kind of way. You look like a strong wind will blow you away."

  “Hey” I complain, almost offended by his words.

  “Well it’s true! You need to eat."

  “Yeah I know I’m starving, but I’m not skinny alright, I’d rather think of myself as toned not skinny.” He begins laughing at me as soon as I say the word “toned” “If you say so slim, come on let’s go find your “toned” body some food before a good strong wind blows you away.” He responds. We walk side by side chitchatting until entering the dining room. The first thing I take notice of is the huge table in the middle of the room I swear you could sit at least a hundred people at the thing. Its gold I mean really it appears to be a freaking golden table. A huge gold table at that, with angels carved into it. So far every room I’ve been in is consumed with angels a little strange if you ask me. I’m contemplation one of the angels painted on the wall beside me I jump. The damn things head turns its eyes boring into mine. “Holy shit did you see that?” I demand of Cain. My heart is beating in over drive. Something is so wrong with this place and these people.

  “What are you talking about? Cain questions.

  “The angel in that picture there its head freaking moved.” I shout pointing at the angel gawking at me.

  “Yea...um…you really do need to get some food in you.”

  “Oh hell no you don’t, you are so not going to dumb up on me now.”

  “What are you talking about…I’m not dumbing up on you about anything. You’re the one with the mental issues if you believe for a second that an angel painted on a wall is moving around watching you. You do understand how crazy you sound right?”

  Cain is shaking his head while he laughs he’s regarding me like I’m a total nut job. I’m glaring at the angel wishing it to move. But nothing happens maybe I really am going crazy. “Yea ok…you are probably right but come on with everything I’ve gone through since meeting you guys , why should I think it’s so out of the realm of normal for you guys to have moving painting as well?”

  “Yea…I get you but this is not a Harry potter world trust me when I tell you it’s only a painting nothing more.”

  “Yea…alright but…”

  “It's about time a guy could starve to death waiting for you." I turn towards the voice knowing who it is without looking the deep baritone sends chills through my body.

  “Sorry but it has been a week since I have had a bath, so what can I say” The tone of my voice my sounded steady with an air of confidents’ to it but my heart feels as if it is fixing to explode from my chest; unless I get the little sucker under control. Cain is laughing again of course I’m beginning to believe he laughs about everything.

  Case speaks up ignoring Cain who is holding his nose and making gaging sounds as he points at me. He is freaking adorable I’m positive if I had known him at school we would have been great friends maybe even more. His personality matches perfectly with mine.

  “Are you ready to eat? The cook has been keeping everything warm waiting on you” Case questioned.

  “Omg I’m sorry… if I had known someone was doing that I would have gotten ready faster. I really am sorry, but yes I’m ready to eat I’m starving.”

  “Cain will you let the cook know we’re are ready to eat on your way out."

  “Sure man whatever" Cain tells him. He punches me on the arm as he walks passed me heading toward another door I’m assuming leads to the kitchen. He yells over his shoulder “catch you later Lana.”

  I wave to him before the door shuts. It’s the type of door which swings back and forth, must make it easier for whoever is serving food.

  “Let's sit down” Case motion towards the gold table.

  I head over to the table then wait to see where he sits. He takes a seat at the end of the table. I sit to the right of him only about three seats away. We sit there for a while neither of us speaking. Finally I Decide one of us needs to break the ice, it might as well be me. Um…”Thanks for buying me the clothes. You might have gone a little over bored in the makeup department though.”

  “Don't worry about it, but to be honest with you Lisa is the one you’d need to thank not me. She’s the one who went shopping for everything and to her you can never have enough makeup. ” He retorts with fondness in his voice for Lisa.

  “I’ll make sure to thank her.” I’m holding my smile in place even though my stomach is churning like I might puke any moment. But I can’t let him or his friends see how scared I am or any sign of weakness it could be my down fall if I do. For all I know they are the bad guys and are holding me hostage. “Look” I say, “I don't want to sit here with you making small talk I want answers. What the hell is going on? Where am I? Furthermore, I want to talk to my mom and dad. I know they have to be worried to death about me. I've got to call them.” I know he said my parents didn’t remember me anymore but if there is the slightest chance in hell he’s wrong I need to know. I have to try. Case doesn’t speak, but he pulls a cell phone out of his front pants pocket handing it to me. I look down seeing it is my phone. “What are you doing with my phone?” I demand.

  “It was on the ground where we found you. I picked it up…I thought you may want it.”

  “Um…yea…Sorry, I forgot about that. I was using it as a flash light while I was in the ally."

  “That was a good idea I guess.”

  “Yeah I thought so too. You can only imagine my surprise when out of know where my eye sight changed and I could see everything as if it were daylight outside instead of the freaking middle of the night. Oh I almost forgot, to top it all off the ugliest creature I’ve ever seen in my life tried to kill me. It seems said creature was a demon, a real freaking demon the kind that comes straight out Hell!” I knew I was being sarcastic my voice was raised to the point of yelling but I couldn’t help it. Pausing I took a couple of deep breathes to calm myself down before speaking again. I wasn’t going to accomplish anything by screaming and acting childish. If I wanted answers I needed to keep my cool about me. Feeling a little more under control I spoke again. “If you don't mind I'm going to call my parents now before we eat or talk anymore.” Looking down at my phone I hit contacts, then click on my mom’s number.

  Case’s hands captures both of mine incasing the phone between my palms I look up startled to realize at some point he had moved from his seat at the head of the table and now occupied the seat next to me. I don’t even try to pull hand away from his I hate to admit it but I feel the same electricity shooting up my arm from his touch as I felt the night at the club. I can feel currents flowing through my whole body now as his eyes capture mine holding them captive. Staring into his ocean blues it almost appears there is a storm going on in them giving the appearance the blue of his irises are twirling. My eyes widen when I realize he is feeling the same thing as me. I watch as he gets control over his emotions then he speaks his voice sounding deep rough and sexy as hell.

  “Lana I’ve told you already your parents don’t remember you anymore. I’m so sorry honey, really I am. That phone is not working. The people you call parents never bought you that phone because you were never theirs now. Their time line changed. I picked up the phone for you. I thought you would want to have it. You know as a way of remembering your old life by. The phone still has all your pictures on it.”

  “Thank you Case that was nice of you, please don't take this the wrong way I do appreciate what you have all done for me truly I do, but you can't expect me to just take your word for all this? I need to speak to my mom and my dad. I have to know they're not worrying about me. Do you understand what I’m telling you?” Case nods his head letting me know he understands. I hit the two on my phone again but it won’t dial out. That’s like a punch to the chest I have to admit. “Would you mind if I use your pho
ne” I ask him. He gives me his phone without saying a word. “Thank you.” I reply as I begin dialing my parent’s phone number.

  I need to hear my mom or dad's voice I need to know for myself they're not out somewhere looking for me worried to death I might be dead somewhere. My mom answers on the fourth ring. She doesn’t sound in the least bit upset, so I went for it. “Hey mom it's me Lana. I wanted to let you guys know I’m alright and will be heading home in a while.” The voice on the other end of the phone gives a light laugh before speaking.

  “I'm sorry sweetie but I don't have a daughter; I'm afraid you have the wrong number.”

  I feel my heart breaking a little more. "SS…Sorry” I eventually stutter out trying not to cry. “Could you tell me what number I dialed?" I listen as my mom calls out our home phone number. Knowing everything Case had told me is true. I’ll never again have the opportunity to have another discussion with my mother. My dad will never again lecture me about becoming an adult. I’ll never argue with my brothers again over stupid shit. I am nothing to any of them anymore. In that one moment my heart felt like it stopped beating and shattered, I had no one. After she called the number out I told her I was sorry for bothering her. My Mom being the wonderful person she is tells me in her soft friendly voice "that’s alright sweetie, I dial wrong numbers all the time.” I hold back the tears trying to spring free from my eyes, I promised myself in the bathroom I wouldn't cry in front of these people and I’ll be damned if I’m going to. I have no intention of breaking down I am stronger than that. I tilt my head back blinking my eyes to get my tears under control. I close Case’s phone giving it back to him. Putting my head back down, I see Case looking at me. “Well, you’re right they don't have a daughter, or they don't have one they can remember any way."

  “I'm sorry Lana but I did tell you.”

  “Yeah I guess you did” I say sarcastically. Case didn’t raise his voice or act like he is upset with me for the way I am speaking to him. He continues to look at me as if it really hurts him to see me upset. “Look” I say lowering my voice “Could you please tell me what’s going on?” Before he can speak the door opens up, a man brings food out on a cart. He looks over at me smiling. He is an older man maybe in his late fifty’s he has on wire-rimmed glasses he has a kind face with a few wrinkles. He looks at me and says “you are beautiful misses just like your mother.” “Thank you” I said, before realizing he is probably referring to my birth mother not my mom. To which I care nothing about and don’t want to look anything like her. It isn’t this man’s fault he is just trying to be nice, so I give him a smile never saying anything to his comment. The food he places in front of us looks and smells wonderful. The plates are filled with pasta covered in tomato sauce topped with chicken and shrimp. There is a bowl holding Texas toast. I feel as well as hear my stomach growling letting me know how hungry I really am. I hear Case laughing so I look over at him, before saying “sorry maybe we should eat before we talk.” Smiling Case tells me he thinks that might be a good idea.

  "I'd hate for you to starve to death." He retorts putting me at ease with his friendly voice instead of scaring me the way he did the first time I saw him a week ago. Picking up my fork, I take a huge bite of my food. “Oh my God this is fantastic.” I say to the man that brought the food out.

  “Thank you misses that is very kind of you to say my name is Douglass, by the way."

  “Well this is fantastic Douglass you can call me Lana.”

  “No misses I can never refer to you by your first name.”

  “Sure you can don't be crazy Douglass. I'm no misses that’s for sure.” Douglass looks from me to Case like he doesn’t know what to say.

  Case looks at Douglass smiling “well you heard what she said Doug.”

  I am still stuffing food in my mouth like it has been a month since my last meal. Well, it has been a week so I have the right to starving. Douglass never said anything he gives a nod of his head then takes his cart disappearing back from where he came. To which I figure has to be the kitchen. Picking up my second piece of toast I continue to eat without saying a word. I hear Case snort out a laugh once before he begins eating. After a while I lean back in my chair not able to eat another bite. Case is looking at me smiling.

  “Did you get enough to eat? There’s a piece of toast left.”

  “I think I might bust my gut open if I put another bite in my mouth.”

  “I don't think I've ever seen anyone eat that fast or that much. Not even Cain and believe me, he can put the food away. Do you always eat like that?”

  I feel my face turning red realizing I must have really made a pig of myself. Then I think what do I care what he thinks of me. I mean it's not like I know him or anything the whole time I was thinking that I know good and well I’m lying to myself. “Sorry I guess I made a real pig of myself” Case starts laughing at me.

  “No its fine I understand you haven’t eaten in a week. You have every right to be hungry. It's just been my experience girls never put food away like that, at least not in front of guys."

  “Haha... funny, have been around a lot girls who have gone a week without food?"

  “As far as I know you're my first.” He answers smiling.

  I feel really comfortable with Case. Well, as comfortable as I can be around someone I have just met. He also keeps staring at me like I am food or something. Deciding I am ready to hear what he has to say I say, “We have eaten. You said we would talk while we were eating, but due to my lack of food and piggish behavior the talking had to be postponed but now I’m full and ready to hear everything.”

  “Okay, what do you say we go out for a walk, and I'll answer all your questions?”

  “Great lead the way.” I follow Case back to the big room with the stained glass ceilings. I have to stop again to marvel at the beauty of it. Looking up at the ceiling, I noticed the angels looked different like they had moved. I’m going freaking crazy that’s all there is to it.

  “You coming or are you going to stand there looking at the ceiling?” Case asked.

  “Yeah I’m coming it’s just those angel’s look like they have moved. I know you don’t have to say it I’m crazy.”

  “I was just going to tell you to keep up. I don't want to lose you every few seconds because something catches your eye. We have a lot to talk about, and I would like to answer all your question's before your Mom, and Dad get back.”

  That hit a nerve. I feel my heart speed up. “Don’t call those people my parents!” I know I am yelling but can’t stop myself. “I've never seen those people before in my life they didn’t even care enough about me when I was born to keep me. They gave me away like I was a fucking puppy or something. They are not my mom and dad. Can’t you understand what I’m saying? Why did they send you to come after me when I turned eighteen? Why couldn't they leave me alone? I was happy. I don't want to meet them I want nothing to do with them. They may have given birth to me but that is all they did. My parents live at 128 north Pick Street in Atlanta GA. I couldn’t stop the yelling. I know Case didn’t do anything wrong by calling them my parents, but he has to understand how I feel.

  “I’m sorry Lana I should have thought before I said that. I never meant to hurt you. I guess I forget you don't know them. Case walks back to where I was standing. He puts his right hand under my chin his thumb rubbing my bottom lip. Our eyes meet. The feel of his hand touching me has the electricity zooming through my body again. He takes another step closer to me. I move toward him at the same time without realizing it. My body is drawn to him his touch sets me on fire .We are standing close together I can feel his breath on my face. I see longing in his eyes. I know he wants to kiss me. I want him to, I want to feel his lips on mine to see if they are as soft as they look I want to taste him with everything in me.

  Case's other hand comes up capturing the side of my face. We never take our eyes off one another. Slowly, he bends down making sure his eyes hold mine. I hold my breath waiting for our lips to tou
ch preparing my brain for the fact this beautiful guy is fixing to kiss me. A kiss I have longed for from the first time I saw him, I realize. The chills I had felt when I first saw him watching me had nothing to do with being afraid of him and everything to do with the fact I was drawn to him. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself at the time.

  Case's lips touch mine softly at first. I thread my fingers in his hair pulling him closer me to deepen the kiss. When I do that is all the incentive he needs. His hands drop from my face going around my waist pulling my body hard against his deepening the kiss even more. He’s holding me so tight I’m a little concerned I might end up having to visit Sage again for broken ribs. If I do, it will be totally worth it. God this guy can kiss. His tongue is mating with mine like he can’t get enough of me. The kiss goes on forever before we finally break apart both of us breathing hard. Case’s eyes are smoldering as they stare into mine.