Still sluggish, Luke allowed Lena to help him from the taxi. The driver smiled and nodded as he stepped outside.
“You sleep well in my cab, friend?”
“Sorry. I don’t tip,” Luke quipped. Lena smiled and fished out a two pound coin. She handed it to the driver. “That was nice of you,” Luke spoke, stretching his shoulders and lower back. He felt he was getting older by the day. His body seemed to collect new aches with each passing week. He groaned a little watching as the taxi pulled away.
“It’s always a good idea to show your appreciation for others from time to time, Luke. Didn’t your parents teach you anything?”
“Dad taught me how to throw a mean uppercut. I didn’t pay attention to mother much.”
“Well, you should have. I’m sure she would have taught you a lot.”
“Anyway, where are we going now? I’m tired and hungry.”
“Follow me,” Lena replied taking Luke’s hand in hers and beginning to walk. Luke allowed himself to be led. He’d walked the backstreets of Chancery Lane many times over the years. One of his first freelance assignments, in fact, had been to cover a failed jewellery heist. He’d covered several failed jewellery heists since then. From what he could see, not a great deal had changed in Chancery Lane since his last visit a few years previous. The market was still trading and the same mix of cafes and restaurants were still alive and buzzing with business either side of the stalls. He even recognised one or two of the regular stall holders. Lena took Luke through the market at a leisurely pace. They passed a handful of bars and pubs before she suddenly took a side street off the main thoroughfare. The side street was narrow. Tall white buildings lined each side and the ground floor windows of these buildings bricked over and painted in the same white. Luke could only make out the top floor windows. They followed the aisle for over a minute before they arrived at an open doorway where a flight of wooden stairs could be seen leading down into a lobby.
“Is this your hotel?” Luke asked looking a little uneasy at Lena’s choice of bolthole. A single lantern with red glass hung just above the staircase. It cast the lobby below in faint red.
“Yes. You like it? It’s like a secret. Hidden away. I loved it the moment I found it online.”
The Esther Hotel was unlike anything Luke had seen before. The lobby was deceptively large with painted black walls and dark oak flooring. Set into the walls were small alcoves where tiny red candles burned. It felt like a monastery. There didn’t appear to be a reception either, just a series of corridors which mysteriously ran off from the main lobby. There was no music as such to greet their arrival either. There was instead a low vibrational sound which simply, inexplicably reverberated about the lobby.
“Are you sure this is a hotel, Lena?”
“I’m quite certain, silly. Come on. This way. Just follow me please,” she replied, again taking Luke’s hand and directing him down one of the wider corridors. Luke counted twelve other red candles secreted within the corridor’s walls as they continued on their way. The low, vibrational sound stayed constant too. They walked for perhaps five minutes before the corridor then split. To the right a heavy looking oak door led them into a large chamber. A series of smaller doors, with roman numerals on each, lined either side of this chamber. Luke counted twenty-one doors in total.
“We’re number fourteen,” Lena informed.
“I hope the room is just as impressive.”
“You’ll see for yourself soon,” she replied with one of her beaming white smiles.
Luke smiled back, impressed with her choice. Together, they stepped inside.
“Well? Do you like it? The bed is marvellous, Luke. It’s the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in!” Lena spoke, laying herself flat across the bed’s white duvet, and began to wrap herself up within its bilious folds. “Well? What do you think?” she continued, her voice muffled now that she’d vanished beneath the covers.
“I think I could do with a rest if I’m being honest, Lena.”
She flipped the covers to one side. She suddenly looked concerned.
“You want to sit down for a bit? I can make you a hot drink. Then we’ll go to the bathroom and I’ll see what I can do about your ankle.”
She was standing in front of Luke now, brushing a hand through his thick blonde fringe and kissing both his cheeks gently.
“You’re very sweet, Lena.”
“And I think you’re very brave. I loved the way you handled Andre.”
She kissed him again, this time on the lips, slowly moving her narrow hips into his groin as she did and then placing her hand softly against his lower back. Luke pulled her tighter into him and said, “To be honest Lena, I think you were the one who handled our friend Andre. You throw a pretty mean stone.”
“No. You were very much in control, Luke. I loved what you said to him at the end. I think you put the fear of God into him. I really do. You were my little hero,” she went on beginning to run the tip of her tongue across Luke’s neck, starting from just above his collar bone and running straight up to where his firm chin began. Slowly, her right leg began to wind itself around his.
“You were the one to finish him off. There was no hesitation. You knew what had to be done and you did it,” she continued slowly removing her hand from his lower back and placing it firmly against his crotch. Luke gently ushered it away.
“I thought you were going to tend to my battle wounds? I was kind of looking forward to a spot of pampering.”
She smiled.
“And what do I get after? Are you going to tend to my needs?”
“Just as soon as we finish talking, Lena.”
She threw herself back into the bed and made a theatrical groan.
“Talk. All he wants to do is talk. Can’t you just let go for one minute and enjoy life? Is that too much to ask? You have a girl who’s crazy about you and all you want to do is talk. I think there could be something wrong with you Luke. That’s not normal behaviour,” she went on beginning to wrap herself back up within the bed.
“This whole situation isn’t normal. I need to know what I’m getting myself into. I’m sure you can appreciate that?”
For a second time, Lena threw back the covers.
“We have all night to talk, Luke. I just wanted to feel close to you, that’s all. Is that such a crime?”
“No. It’s not a crime.”
“We’ll talk. I promise. But can’t we just relax a little first?”
Luke sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. Slowly, Lena began to slip off her shoes. She began to nudge his leg playfully with her naked toes.
“Is that a hint?”
“Well, a girl likes to be pampered too.”
Luke took her right foot in his hand and began to caress its soft skin. She immediately began to groan with pleasure.
“That’s so nice Luke. You have magic fingers. A girl could get used to this.”
Luke continued his massage, his hands moving up towards her ankle and then to her calf muscle. Lena moved across the bed and draped both her arms about his shoulders. He winced in pain as her left shin had caught his ankle. He didn’t think it had been bruised so badly, but the pain was enough to make him wince and jolt forward a little.
“Oh, did I hurt you? I’m so sorry Luke. That was careless of me.”
“No. It’s okay. It’s just a bruise. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”
“It could be broken.”
“No. It’s not broken.”
“Well, how do you know?”
“Trust me. I spent years in the ring. My ankle isn’t broken.”
“Well, okay. If you’re sure. We could take you to the hospital. It wouldn’t be such a long journey.”
“No hospital Lena. Really. I’ll be fine.”
Jumping from the bed, she stood up in front of him.
“I’m sorry Luke. Forgive me. You’re right. I was being selfish. Let’s get you cleaned up. I’ll make you something hot to
drink and then we’ll talk, okay? We can talk all night if you really want to. I don’t mind. Really I don’t. I know how strange all this must seem right now.”
“The way I’m feeling right now I’d be happy to save the talking until morning. All I really want to do is crash. Your friend Andre was no pushover.”
“Don’t mention that beast’s name again, okay? You need to put what happened out of your head. Tonight we’re just going to make sure that you’re all good. We can talk tomorrow if you really want. I don’t mind. As long as we get you fixed this evening.”
Luke allowed himself to be led into the bathroom. Like the bedroom, the adjourning bathroom was spacious. Each wall was adorned with a large mirror. A mirror covered the high ceiling too. A power shower sat tucked in the far left hand corner, a bathtub lined the right hand wall. Lena led Luke to the washbasin. She turned on the hot tap and began to unbutton Luke’s shirt. She then disappeared into the bedroom for a few seconds, reappearing with her bag. She opened the bag and took out a large handkerchief. Dabbing the handkerchief into the washbasin she began to wipe Luke’s temple.
“You have magic fingers too.”
“You just be quiet and let yourself be pampered.”
Luke smiled.
“You’re pretty good at this. I should take you on full time.”
“You couldn’t afford me.”
Having finished with his temple, she now began to study his chest.
“Is there anything else that hurts?”
“Just my ankle. It’s twisted pretty badly, but it’ll heal in a few days.”
She began to dab his chest occasionally glancing into his eyes and smiling sheepishly as she did. She then stripped him off his shirt completely and told him to go lie on the bed. He did too tired to argue and quite enjoying all the attention. As he buried himself beneath the bed’s thick covers, Lena disappeared back into the bathroom. Luke laid quietly in the bed, listening to the sound of the bath being run. She’d left the door open slightly. He watched as she stripped and climbed tentatively into the steaming bathtub. He watched her for several minutes before his eye lids grew too heavy to watch anymore and fell into a deep sleep.
~ ~ ~
“I’ll buy you a new shirt in the morning. What colour would you like?”
“There’s no need to do that Lena. I’ll buy my own shirt if it’s all the same.”
It was two in the morning. Luke had been asleep for several hours. After her bath, Lena had joined him in the bed. She’d been careful not to wake him. She’d held onto his arm lightly at first and then tightly once she could see he was still in a deep sleep. She listened to the sound of his breathing and had begun to run her fingers through his thick hair. She ran the tip of her finger along the ridge of his right ear and smiled to herself. She was naked expect for her flimsy white cotton shirt. Around midnight, Luke had begun to stir. She went to the bedside table and poured him a glass of water. He was sitting up by the time she had finished.
“How do you feel?”
“I’m okay. Still tired, but the pain is easing off.”
She handed him the glass of water. He took two slow sips. She lay herself next to him, wrapping her arm under his. She then said, “Luke. Can I ask you some questions?”
He looked at her, considered the question, and then looked away.
“If you really want to. I can’t promise I’ll give you the answers you’re looking for, though.”
“I understand. You mentioned you had a brother. When we were at your apartment. You mentioned his name and then went all quiet on me. Why?”
Luke kept his stare fixed straight ahead. He then reached for the glass which he’d placed beside the bed and turned to look at her. She was clutching his arm now, her expression serious and nervous.
“I think you know already. I think you did some good homework on me.”
“I know a part of what happened to your brother. I just wanted to tread carefully, that’s all. Forgive me.”
“It’s okay. I just don’t like dragging the past with me, that’s all. I prefer to forget.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever been able to forget.”
Luke turned to look at her directly. She sat herself up on her elbows and said, “I don’t know all the details, Luke. I know it hurt you deeply. That much I can see. I’ve seen your expression before on many other faces. I can read your pain as clearly as you can see my smile each time I see you. Oh, don’t worry. You don’t have to tell me everything that happened. I just want you to know that I’m here if you ever need to talk. That’ all I really wanted to say.”
Luke nodded.
“Well, that’s nice of you Lena. It’s been a long time since anyone showed any interest. I’ll bare what you said in mind.”
She began to play with his hair picking out certain tufts with her fingers and pinching them so that they stood up all on their own. She then placed her fingers in her mouth, wet them, and proceeded to flatten her previous work.”
“Enjoying yourself there?” Luke asked.
“You know. It’s not good to be such a closed book, Luke. It can help if you would learn to open up a bit. No one is going to steal your secrets if you let a few out.”
“What happened to giving me time?”
She smiled, beginning to create new tufts of hair.
“I just want to get to know you, that’s all Luke. I want us to be close. What’s so wrong with that? Have you never felt close to anyone before? I mean, have you ever been with someone where you felt you could tell them everything? Every darkest secret?”
“A long time ago. Maybe. I don’t remember conversations.”
“It’s good to share your worries.”
Luke took hold of her hand and began to caress it. She snuggled in closer to him as he did running her hand gently across his chest.
“I don’t mind talking about what happened. I’ve just kept everything bottled up for so long, that’s all.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything if it makes you feel uncomfortable.”
Luke sat himself upright, leaning his head against the bed’s wooden backrest. He turned to Lena and said, “It all happened so fast. There isn’t a great deal to explain.”
“I understand,” Lena replied softly. “Whenever you’re ready. I’ll just listen.”
Luke smiled and kissed her forehead.
“He was with me at the time. My little brother that is. I’d taken him for a walk. It was late but early enough that I wasn’t worried. I was still a kid at the time. I was sixteen. I used to get myself into a lot of trouble back then. Stupid stuff you understand. Nothing serious. I fancied myself a boxer. I mean, I was boxing at that age and I was good. I could handle myself.”
“I’m sure you were a wonderful boxer, Luke. I would have liked to watch you in the ring. I bet there was no one who could match you,” Lena whispered into his ear. She was almost completely on top of him now, her right leg draped across his torso as he spoke, her right arm still playing with the tufts of his hair.
“You don’t have to go on if you don’t want to. I know I can be too curious at times. We can forget I ever asked if that’s what you want?”
“It’s okay. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I do need to open up a little.”
“Let’s get some sleep? What do you say? You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.”
Luke’s eyes were fixed on the ceiling. Lena could see the first hint of a tear beginning to form in his right eye. She clung to his arm tighter.
“Are you okay?”
“It was late evening. We were walking back from one of the estate’s parks. It was my fault. I should have known better. Our estate wasn’t so bad, but I’d been mixed up in a spot of trouble the week before. Some lads had tried to rob the local newsagent. I’d been buying some milk at the time for our mother. She’d ran out again. She always sent me for the milk. I was leaving when these two lads had burst in. They were wearing caps and sunglasses, but I still recognised them. They w
hipped out a couple of knives and started to threaten the lady behind the counter. Elliot was with me. I remember he started to cry. I went over to the biggest lad and hit him so hard he flew into the shelves. The other lad just bottled it and ran. I remember he’d dropped the knife and Lee had picked it up. He’d tried to give it back to me, but I’d dragged him back outside and raced back to our flat. The police showed up ten minutes later. I didn’t want to get involved.”
“You did a brave thing.”
“I did a stupid thing.”
“Why?”
“Our estate was like a small village I guess. Everybody knew one another’s business.”
“These two lads. They caught up with you?”
“The one who’d fled. Yes. The other one was locked up. Anyway, I was taking Elliot for a walk about a week later. It was still light out, but I still should have kept my head down. I was leaving the park when they appeared from around the corner. I remember feeling Elliot’s hand grasp mine. He was young, but he still recognised the lad who’d ran off. He was wearing the same clothes and cap. That’s how stupid he was.”
“Please, Luke, you don’t have to go on if you really don’t want to. We can stop talking now and catch up later. I think it’ best, don’t you? You need to get some rest.”
“I let go of his hand. I knew I was going to have to fight for my life this time. There were three of them now and I was pretty sure each one would have been carrying a knife. I don’t even remember looking at Elliot to see if he was okay. I just remember fists being thrown and a great deal of noise. The next thing I recall is seeing two of the lads flat out across the concrete. I can still see the tiny pools of blood building behind both their heads. The one with the cap was standing in front of me. His lip was cut badly and I could see he was in no mood for a second round. That was when I heard the car breaks screeching. I remember we both looked to the main road at the same time. We were both watching the car screeching to a halt beyond the park’s swings. Elliot had run off. He’d tried to make his way home but had taken a wrong turn. He’d run straight into the main road and was hit by the first car. He was only six. He was ripped in two.”
The Devil's Blue Eyes Page 8
