by Nancy Glynn
“She already belongs to me. Not him. Me.”
Daisy felt her blood run cold. Since when did Dane own her? And belonged to Christian? She was only his date for one day. A chill coursed through her body. She strained to hear more.
“Why does Christian always get what he wants? And the kicker is he doesn’t even want Daisy according to Charlotte.”
“Bullshit." The kitchen chair scratched the floor.
Dane ended the conversation. “I already have some of the power, Father. I practice it every day. I’ll use it if I have to,” Dane threatened and stormed out of the house, slamming the front door.
She shuddered. What power was Dane talking about? The same she had? But she only did silly little things with hers. What did he do with his?
Her memories of visiting her family never bordered on the strange. If she knew before coming this summer that Dane had true incestuous feelings toward her, there would have been a change of plans.
She got dressed in a hurry and snuck out the front door before her uncle could see her. The dark, gray sky loomed above her, and she ran to her car, a Lexus RC. Her father had given it to her with conditions of where to drive it before she graduated. Now that she graduated, she didn’t care.
When she pulled out of the driveway, she could see her uncle in the doorway with a blank expression. She waved and backed all the way out to the road before screeching her tires. The speed of her driving kept up with her adrenaline, and she found the forest preserves at last. She screeched into the parking lot and exhaled, leaning her head on the steering wheel. She closed her eyes for a moment when a tapping sound on her window startled her.
“What did the wildlife ever do to you?" Christian stood there with concern hidden beneath a smirk.
Daisy rolled down the window but kept her guard up. “You following me now?”
“I was headed to meet my father at the diner, and you blew past me. Seem really pissed. You were driving crazy down King Road, and deer run out there all the time. Not a good place to speed, you know?”
"Why do you care?"
“Hey, what’s wrong? Is it that comment I left you with last night? About the ceremony?”
“Well, that did kind of freak me out, but no. Not everything involves you, Christian,” she said, trying to keep the hurt out of her voice.
“Can I get in?”
She studied his face in search for something. A patch of dark clouds formed over them. He pulled his hood up to the oncoming rain. “Get in,” she motioned to the other side.
He slammed the door after getting in and faced her. Those eyes. She could smell his wood and spice cologne. His face was freshly shaven.
“Daisy...you gonna talk or do I have to bug you to tell me what’s going on?”
She relented and shared a little of what was said, but not all. “So what is this power he’s talking about?”
Christian sat there as if trying to figure it out also. “I'm really not sure. Dane has some power that no one knows about, at least I don’t,” he said with a shrug.
She didn’t like how he averted his eyes. Was he telling the truth? Did he really not know anything? What could she believe? All these questions drove her crazy. Home was looking wonderful now, even with Gloria there.
He reached his hand out and caressed her face, pushing her hair to the back, making her jump in her seat. “Such pretty hair, Daisy. You’re really beautiful. And I don’t mean hot beautiful, but the whole package...smart, witty,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She stiffened. “Look, Christian...I know you’re the wanted guy around here, but I really can’t give anymore. There’s things you don’t know about me." She pulled his hand out of her hair.
“Why are you shaking? Why are you scared of me?” he asked, withdrawing his hand and pulling back.
She saw the pain in his eyes, pain she’d put there. They barely knew each other, and she was already hurting him. “I just don’t know what to think anymore. I feel like I’m losing my mind here – in this town.”
He shook his dark head. “There’s something else going on here.”
“I’m not the right girl for your birthday ball.”
“What do you mean? Of course you are.”
“There’s things you don’t know…”
“You don’t trust me?”
The rain let up and allowed the sun to peek through. She rolled the window down to let some air in. “It’s not that. I’ll keep my word and still go with you, but I can’t give anymore." Her head sunk low to her lap.
He sat still, looking down at his hands before returning to her gaze. “Fine,” he said in a low tone, tightening his lips, and slamming the door hard. He walked around to her side. “Can you make it to another event tonight or do you have plans?”
“What’s tonight?”
“Jack’s Hayride. Pick you up at eight." Christian jumped in his truck and screeched his tires to mimic hers earlier.
Stunned, she watched as smoke billowed out of the back end of his truck. Now she was concerned for his driving. What about the deer? She pounded the steering wheel and started the engine.
When she returned to the house, Dane sat on the porch, smoking a cigarette, apparently waiting for her. She tried to hurry past him, but he stuck his long leg out to stop her going up the steps.
“Dane, let me go.”
“Get your invite to the hayride event, Daisy?”
“Yes. Now move, please.”
“I could make you mine in a second, Daze. Like that,” he said, snapping his fingers.
“You repulse me.”
He pulled her on his lap and laughed. She struggled to get free. He murmured in her ear. “You’ll forget we’re related." He pressed his tobacco-soaked lips hard against hers.
She found his cigarette and rubbed it out on his arm, which made him laugh, to her confusion. Looking down at his arm, there was no burn mark. She stood and backed away, wiping her mouth of his kiss. He took a drag and lit up the cigarette again, to her horror.
Thunder rumbled in the darkening sky. Raindrops sprinkled and then turned into a harder force, pelting down on her. Dane continued to sit and smoke his cigarette, the rain soaking him, the cigarette never going out.
She ran past him and slammed the door shut, but his laughter followed her into the house.
Chapter Four
Christian drove to Jack’s Den, knowing his father would be there in one of his so-called meetings. He needed to cancel the whole thing for Daisy’s sake. It was beyond what he wanted, what she needed.
He pulled into the lot. The building looked formidable in the rain as if its true essence came through on days like these. Hardly any customer cars were there besides the usual his father met with. The Stones were part owners. William Stone pretty much ran the whole town, and Christian wanted no part of it. He wanted out.
Christian strode in and told Marianne, the older cashier/hostess, he was there to see his father. He remembered her having better days when he was younger, but the years haven’t been kind to her. Stress did that around here.
She nodded to the back, arching her drawn on eyebrow. “He’s in with the men, honey. Might want to wait till it’s over,” she warned.
“My father never waits for me so I will return the favor,” he snipped. He began to walk to the back and stopped with a heavy sigh, turning back to Marianne. She didn’t deserve that. “It’s important,” he added to which she smiled and nodded.
He still felt upset after being with Daisy and didn’t know why. The urge to protect her from this town grew with every moment she stayed here. The door gave easily and he walked in to a hushed silence, the men turning his way. “Gentleman, I need to speak to my father...alone.”
These men have known Christian since before he was born. They have known his father since their schooldays and before that. But the look they gave him right now was as if he were a king and they his servants. He hated it. No, he despised it.
His father
cut his thoughts with an irritated tone. “Christian, what is so important you need to interrupt this meeting? Can’t it wait until I get home?" William sat at the head of the long wooden table like a judge would his court. For being only forty-two, he carried the reign of someone much older.
“I don’t want Daisy to be part of this – party,” Christian blurted out. “Let her go home.”
The room of seven men sucked in their breath, fidgeting in their seats. His father just sat there with a calmness Christian knew too well. His father cleared his throat while the men waited for his response, glancing between Christian and their boss. “You know your responsibility, son. It’s more than just a date. It must be Daisy,” he said in a low controlled voice. “Anything else?" He sat back in his chair with his hands folded before him.
Christian walked closer and put his hands down on the table to lean in. “I don’t want it to be her. I know what was promised, but it’s still my day. Charlotte wants it. Please – let Daisy go home.”
“You care about her now, don’t you?" Damn it, Christian!" He slammed his fist down, shaking the wood.
“She’s really shaken up from what happened to her at home. She doesn’t know I know, but it’s eating me up inside.”
“Ah yes, the robbery you’re talking about? A brilliant idea Joe, Richard, and I had, wasn’t it?”
“Make the men leave now,” Christian ordered.
William turned to the men and jutted his jaw to the door. They stood immediately and obeyed. Before they left, each one bowed to Christian as he nodded back to them. The door closed and his eyes returned to his father.
“You look like you detest that kind of respect, Christian. That is your rightful place now. Start enjoying it. The power is growing stronger in you,” he said. “In two months, you will have it all!”
“I don’t want it all! Never asked for it,” he hissed at his father. “Now tell me what you’re talking about with setting her up.”
“We knew it was the only way to get her to come out here to stay for a while...for the period we needed her. She wasn’t harmed, just a little scare.”
“Who did you have do it? Some random ex-con you paid off?”
“Dane.”
Shock filled Christian’s face. “Dane? You had Dane commit this crime against his own cousin? My God, Dad. What the hell were you thinking?”
“He wore a ski mask and spooked her a little, that’s all. Let’s not turn this into something it’s not. She’s fine.”
“No, she’s not, Dad. She’s not fine at all. I’ve only known her a couple of days, and I can tell there’s something wrong.”
William clapped his hands together. “Oh well, I’m sorry about that. Now go home and get ready for the hayride. You’ll really enjoy this portion of the ritual, my son. I can promise you that.”
“Exactly why I want out. I can’t force her to do that. She’s not ready. What if I just didn’t accept this position and left town?”
In a monotone voice, William answered. “You have no choice, Christian. You must accept it and accept it willingly. You know how many young men in this town want your status? Dane can’t wait to have his time next year. He doesn’t even mind that it will only be half the power you have, he’ll take what he can get,” he added.
“Right. We used to be best friends. He’s changed,” he added, dropping his voice. “I just want out. Let Dane have it all...the power, the glory. Let him be the one they bow to!”
“No. I will not have this talk." He ran his well-manicured hand through his thick black hair and took a deep breath. “You are my son. It’s only right. It’s an honor. I love you. You’re a good boy, Christian. Go home and get ready for the hayride event,” he demanded, waving his hand off to dismiss him.
“Why her, Dad? Why Daisy?”
“You know why. She’s been groomed for this day since she was born just as you have. She just doesn’t know it,” he added, going back to his paperwork in front of him.
Christian stood, knowing that was the end of the conversation. His father always had the last word, always would. He walked out to his truck, his head hung low, his step a little slower, and his heart a little heavier.
The thought of Dane going to her room and touching her things made him sick. He remembered how Dane used to talk about Daisy when they were teenagers. The way he would describe her was not of a family way. He talked about dreams he had of her and how he would one day get her alone, how he would pull her long red hair.
As he lugged the door open to his truck, a bunch of daisies fell out to his feet. He looked around, but the parking lot was empty. Deep down, he knew this was just the beginning of a nightmare he wanted to never begin.
***
In his truck, Daisy wondered what was going through Christian’s head after picking her up. He was so quiet. Too quiet, even for being mad. The ride to Meadow Farm off of King Road where the hayride was to be held felt like a hearse ride. Yes, too quiet. Except for maybe a sigh or a throat clearing every now and then. They pulled into the dark parking lot filled with trucks, BMWs, sports cars, antique cars.
The July night held so many promises of hope and magic. Was he that insulted by her pulling away? He was the one who said he wanted nothing more of her. She felt like she had lost her friend.
After jumping out of the truck, it appeared quiet in an eerie way out here, not peaceful. More so than the ride in the hearse. She pulled her arms through her purple sweater, protecting her from the chilly night air, unusual for a July night as if the weather was cooperating with the fall event.
Christian looked down at her. “Sorry it’s so cold out here. It’s an open field.”
“It’s fine. I’m good now, thanks,” she said with a smile, but still nothing more of him. She pulled her ponytail out to allow her long hair to hang down her back, warming up her bare neck. She caught him glancing at her hair and then looking away.
They walked through the lot to where stacks of hay stood. A lone howl sang in the night. The smell of burning leaves enveloped them. She even thought she heard a child’s cry. Yes, it was officially fall in July. She could feel his eyes on her every so often, watching for her expression.
They stopped at the hay truck. She looked out into the black night, the stars being the only light right now except for a lamp post here and there. This was not the same as the bonfire where there were a ton of people and hoopla. No, not the same at all. The energy felt different. Her arms broke out in goose bumps even with the knitted sweater encasing them. “Christian?” she asked with hesitancy. “Where is everyone?”
“For now, just you and me, Daisy." He tensed his jaw while looking past the hay truck.
A tall, blond man about in his thirties walked out and hopped in front of the steering wheel after bowing to Christian and then to Daisy. He waited for them to take their seat in the back with all the hay.
“There’s going to be a few things I’m going to do that are part of this ritual, so I hope I don’t offend you.”
“Sure,” she shrugged.
Christian turned to her and lifted her up into his arms and onto the truck. She wiggled in his arms, shocked as he carried her to the back. She jumped down. “Really?”
“Sorry, Daisy. I warned you, though. There are eyes everywhere, so can you just go along?” he pleaded.
She scanned the darkness to see these eyes. “Fine." Shuddering, she took her seat and adjusted her clothes. She was glad she wore pants tonight. She could still feel his heart pounding next to her ear when it had pressed there moments before.
“Thank you. Again, I’m sorry. Sorry for all this,” he mumbled. “You may go now, Jake,” he spoke to the driver.
The wooden bed of hay jerked away and she caught herself from falling. Christian’s arm steadied her.
“It’s okay, really. I get it." She smiled and then added, “Still friends?”
Christian turned to her and looked deeply into her eyes. “Always, Daisy." He gazed at her a little longer and
returned his eyes to the driver’s head.
The ride bumped along. She bit her nail and spoke out of nervousness. “Christian is such an unusual name. I like it, but it’s different. I thought girls were called that?”
“My mother named me,” he answered. “Thought it would – protect me.”
“Where is your mother? I mean I’ve met your dad but you don’t speak about her.”
He took a deep breath and answered, “She died when I was sixteen. Hanged herself when I was at a bonfire, whooping it up,” he explained without emotion.
“What? Oh, my God, Christian! I’m so, so sorry. I never knew. I–”
He touched her arm to calm her. “How could you know? I know you lost your mother as well, correct?”
“Yes, but I never knew her. It was in childbirth, but you knew your mother,” she added. She grabbed his arm and laid her head on it. “You blame yourself, don’t you,” she stated. And then she realized what he had said. “How did you know about my mother?”
“Remember my father is friends with your family. I hear these things,” he admitted. “I’m sorry for your loss as well, Daisy. It’s hard for a girl without her mother." He looked down into her eyes and gave a sad smile. “And to answer your question, yes I do blame myself sometimes. I stopped going to those parties until that last one.”
Daisy wiped a tear and sniffled. Confusion replaced sorrow. “Wait, you said protect you. Protect you from what?" As she waited for his answer, she could hear whispering sounds. “Do you hear that?" A sharp wind whipped her hair into a frenzy, as they turned in the huge open field. She drew her sweater tighter.
“Yes,” he responded. His jaw still hardened. “Do you trust me, Daisy?”
She drew back and looked into his eyes, looked out into the open field then back at Christian. Finally, she nodded.
“I can tell Jake to take us back and end this.”
She shook her head.
“I’m glad you trust me." He cupped her face and kissed her, startling her at first, but then allowing it. His tongue stroked the tip of hers in a gentle motion, shocking her senses. The kiss turned deeper, more insistent, more urgent.
