Sleep Tight, page 39
“What we should do is set up a trap.” Riku looked at Ava and Olivia who were standing next to each other. “We have two important assets we could use.”
My hands curled into fists. He was asking to be punched in the face.
“Think about it,” he continued. “Balin is obsessed with Ava and wants her for himself. Arlo wants to kill Olivia. We could set up a trap using them and catch both. Let's use the two stones we have to kill two birds.”
Blake, Caleb and I moved closer to Riku.
“You’re not using my sister!” Blake shouted.
“Are you insane?” Caleb said.
I reached for Riku. “It’s time to kick your---”
Dad pushed us all back. “Don’t worry,” he hissed at us. “I’m not going to let them use the girls as bait.”
He turned and faced Riku. “We don’t use our own as bait Riku. You know that. What is this sudden obsession to do everything your way?”
Riku pointed a finger at dad’s chest. “What about you, Cassian? Ever since you became charge of this house you’ve seem to have forgotten who is really in charge here. The council could take you out of this post like that.” He snapped his fingers in his face.
“Don’t you threaten me.”
“And don’t you question me!”
“SHUT UP.”
We all turned to Ava. She was shaking, her anger coming off in waves, hitting everyone in the room. It was silent. Everyone was shocked, Ava never spoke up, she was always way too shy and anxious to do that.
She stepped up to them and got into Riku’s face. “I hate the sound of your voice Riku.” She looked him up and down, disgust plainly shown on her face. “You know I found something interesting in the library yesterday.”
She was silent for a moment, then she slowly tilted her head to one side, a small smile appeared. “I’ve discovered something that you probably didn’t want me to find out.”
Riku visibly paled. “And what's that?”
Ava pushed a finger into his chest. “I can get rid of you like this.” She snapped her fingers.
“You and the council.” She continued. “You only exist because my family wants you too. But if we think you are getting too power hungry and tipping the scales to your side, we have every right to replace you. Isn’t that right, Riku?”
Dad looked at Riku. “Is this true?”
Riku gulped hard. “It unfortunately is. A matter we have been trying to change.”
Ava’s eyes flashed. “You’re done.” She looked at dad. “Cass if you are willing, Riku’s position is now yours.”
“You can’t do this! You can’t get rid of me! Besides the council has to vote on a new member.”
Ava turned to the other council members. Her eyes bearing down on them one by one. “Do I need to replace a whole council? That will be tiring but manageable.”
They looked at one another but in the end they stayed silent. Riku looked at each one of them, his face falling when he realized they would not be coming to his aid.
“Great.” Ava said. “Cass the position is yours if you want it.”
Dad looked at her in awe. “Of course, if that’s what you want.”
“It’s very much what I want.” Her face softened. “I need someone I can trust.”
He smiled at her. “Then count on me.”
“You can’t do this! After years of service, you can’t just throw me away.” Riku began.
“But I just did.” Ava turned and walked straight for the door. “This meeting is over!”
She didn’t wait for anyone to stop her. She threw open the doors and rushed out leaving Riku blubbering and in shock. Jesse and Daniel looked our way, their mouths open and their faces stunned. They shook their heads and ran after her.
She was amazing. That was not the Ava we knew. She was changing, learning to stick up for herself. But who could blame her. After all she’s been through...she was showing everyone that she was not someone to mess with. And I was here for it.
“Good for her.” Clarissa’s voice came out of nowhere. She was suddenly standing next to Sky who jumped in surprise.
“Jesus Clarissa, where did you come from?” She rested her hand on her chest. “You can’t sneak up like that.”
Clarissa ignored her. “I think I’m starting to like Ava a little more each day.” And with that she walked off towards Kenji.
“When did they become such good friends?” Priya asked.
We watched as she approached him. His face lit up slightly and he smiled at her. A real smile. He wasn’t even smiling when Ava was in here. In fact, I just realized he didn’t even follow his fiancé out of the room. That’s different for him.
I watched them interact with each other. Clarissa gently laid her hand on his arm. They were whispering to each other and oblivious to everyone else in the room. She then leaned in for a hug that Kenji gladly accepted. He held on to her for such a long time I had to look away, the scene felt too intimate.
I looked at Caleb, but he was too busy staring at Olivia. She was now talking to mom, both of them huddled together close and whispering.
There was nothing else for me here.
I patted Blake on the back. “See you later man.” I nodded at Ethan and made my way out of the room.
I hustled up the stairs and headed for the kid's room. I knocked once before opening the door.
“How are my two favorite people in the world?”
Aiden grinned from the small desk he was sitting at. He raised a paper in the air for me to see. “I made you something.” His small voice gripped my heart tight.
“You did? Let me see little man.” I took the paper from his hand. It was a drawing of stick figures and the sun.
Aiden pointed at one small figure. “That’s me.” He moved on to the next. “That’s Rael and that’s you.”
He grabbed more papers. “This one is for Uncle Cass and this one is for Auntie Wendy.”
He was so excited to show me his drawings. I was just glad to see him happy about anything even if it was as simple as a drawing he made. His counseling sessions were working.
“You did a great job; everyone is going to love your drawings.” I ruffled his hair which earned me a small giggle. “Where’s big sissy at?”
Aiden grew serious and looked to his right. “She’s in her fort. Always in her fort now.”
“That’s okay, I’ll talk to her.”
There was a fort made of blankets and lights in the corner of the room. Rael spent all day in there. It was a battle every day for mom to get Rael out to eat or bathe.
I sat crisscross in front of the fort and cleared my throat. How did I get her to come out and talk to me? How could you comfort someone so young who witnessed her mother brutally attacked and killed only to come back as something else.
“Go away.” Rael’s voice cracked through the small opening of the fort.
“Did you know it was me or are you telling everyone to go away?”
“Everyone.”
I hummed in thought. “I guess you don’t want the early birthday gift I got you. Shame.”
A bit of rustling followed but then it stopped. I waited patiently while Rael made her decision. Finally, she opened a flap and let me see her. She sat opposite of me with her legs up to her chest. She hugged them and eyed me with suspicion. Her curls were a mess, it looked like she had a mane instead of hair and she was still in her pajamas.
It didn’t hit me until this moment but I missed seeing her in her little lawyer suits ready to tackle any argument and win even if it meant cheating on her part.
“I miss seeing you in your suits.” I voiced my thoughts aloud. “Any chance you’ll grace us with that anytime soon?”
“I live for pajamas now. Get used to it.” She mumbled into her knees.
I smiled softly. “Okay. One day at a time, right?”
She shrugged. “I guess.”
God this was hurting me. She had lost all of her spunk. She was no longer the feisty and free little girl I knew and loved. I could only hope we would see her again.
I cleared my throat again and took out a small thin black box from my back pocket. I presented it to her and smiled. “For you, my lady.”
She took her time taking it from my hands and took even longer inspecting the thin gift box before finally opening it.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she took the gold chain out. “Is she in here?”
I nodded as I struggled to keep my own tears in. “Open it.”
There was a heart locket attached to the gold chain and inside I had a picture of Rosa, smiling big and happy.
“She’ll always be right here with you.” I pointed at her own heart. “You know that right?”
She started to cry and jumped into my arms. I held on and let her cry; her body shook all over as I rubbed her back until she finally calmed down. Aiden looked worried but I smiled at him, reassuring him that she would be alright.
She wiped at her face with the back of her hands and started to hiccup. “I’m so sick of hiccups.”
I started to laugh which made her laugh and even Aiden. Rael climbed out of my lap, taking her original position again.
“But my mom’s still out there, isn’t she? How can she be here in my heart when she’s out there?”
“Because that’s not your mom out there anymore Rael.”
She flinched and I cursed inside. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean it to sound so mean. I just meant that unfortunately something else has taken over your mom’s body. But her heart, her spirit, is with you and Aiden.”
“I get it…it just sucks.”
“I know. It sucks big time. But I’m so proud of you both, you’re both the bravest people I know.”
“I don’t feel so brave.” Rael looked at Aiden before lowering her voice so only I could hear. “Is the monster in mom going to come for us?”
“No.” I said firmly. “And if it dares to even try you better believe that none of us will let it get to you or your brother. Ever.”
I took her hand and wrapped her pinkie around mine. “I pinkie swear it. As long as I’m around, no one is touching you.”
Her smile lit up the room. I could feel her coming back to us, slowly but she would get there. Someone knocked on the door.
We all turned to see Ava stick her head in. “Can I come in?”
Aiden jumped up and ran to her, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the room. She laughed and reached down bringing him into a hug which he gladly accepted.
“I’ve missed my favorite man.” She said into his hair. “How are you?”
Aiden let go and ran to his table. “I have something for you!” He raced back and practically shoved his drawing into her hands.
I raised my eyebrow. “He wasn’t that enthusiastic with me.”
“Afraid of a little competition?” Ava mumbled while looking at the drawing Aiden gave her.
I grinned. “Never.”
A small smile appeared on her face but she kept her eyes on the drawing and Aiden. “I love this so much. I’ll keep it forever.”
Aiden giggled, gave her a quick hug and then ran off to finish his drawings.
Ava looked past me to Rael. “Can anyone else use a hug right now?”
Rael jumped up and ran to her almost knocking them both down. They clung to each other in a way only two people who had lost their mothers could.
This was the first time Ava and Rael were seeing each other since Ava lost her mom. I wished there was a way I could heal them both right now, right here.
But each time I saw them together my heart melted.
Rael started to pull away and looked up into Ava’s face which wasn’t very far from her own, Ava was short and Rael was almost her height already.
Rael suddenly gasped and pushed away from her, a look of terror on her face as she looked into Ava’s eyes. Ava tilted her head in confusion and the hurt of Rael pushing away was plainly on her face.
Rael quickly looked away from Ava. “Uhhh, sorry I have to go. I just remembered I have to…take a shower! Yeah that. I’m stinky.” She ran out the door before we could stop her.
“Wait, Rael!” Aiden ran after her a second later.
Ava watched them run down the hall while I stood behind her wondering what just happened.
“What was that?” Ava asked.
“That’s a good question,” I said. “I’ll ask her about it later.”
Ava turned to face me and her whole body went rigid as she realized how close we were. She took a step back.
Oh no you don’t.
I took another forward.
“I have to go.”
“Do you? Back to wedding planning.” There was a sneer in my voice I couldn’t hide.
“Not that it’s any of your business but no, I need to train.” She tried stepping past me, but I quickly maneuvered myself, lifting my arm and resting it against the wall, blocking her in.
She gulped. “Don’t do this.” The movement caught my eye and now I was staring at her throat. Her skin looked so soft there.
I moved in closer. The smell of her shampoo hitting me. “Don’t do what?”
Her eyes lifted meeting mine. “You know what I’m talking about. Don’t make this harder.”
I gave her a slow smile. “Yeah, I know what you’re talking about. And most of the time I have enough will power to step aside and let you make this mistake. But when you’re this close… that will power ceases to exist. And that’s your fault.”
“My fault?” Now she was mad. “How is it my fault?”
I leaned into her ear. “Because I know how it feels to kiss you and I can’t let that go.”
She inhaled and her breathing grew shallow. I wanted to stay here with her all day. Hold her and kiss her.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Am I? How?”
“Because,” she licked her lips. “I don’t like you. Not one bit.”
“That’s a lie.”
She hit my chest with her right fist. “No, it’s not! I’m done playing this game. Get over whatever you think this is between us. I’m done with it.”
“You’re adorable.”
The green in her eyes brightened. “Fine if my words won’t convince you then maybe this will.”
She grabbed my head and pulled me down to her, her mouth crashing onto mine. My hands instantly found her, I had one in her hair pulling her closer, the other wrapped around her back. It was just as breathtaking as the first kiss we shared. I had dreams of this happening again. God I would never tire of her.
It was over way to fast. She pushed me away, taking in deep breaths. “No Elijah. I can’t do this.” She was on the verge of tears. Damn.
“I’m sorry.” I backed away from her. “I’m sorry.” I said again even though she was the one who kissed me. “I just can’t help it. This isn’t easy. For me to see you marry someone else. But why did you go and kiss me?”
Her face was flushed and that only made her look even cuter. She had to stop doing this to me.
“I’m sorry, I did that so you could see there’s nothing between us anymore. No more feelings.”
A dry laugh escaped me. “Didn’t work.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the kiss and for what I said to you. About you not understanding me because your parents are alive.”
“You don’t need to apologize for anything. You don’t ever need to apologize to me.”
The hall was quiet. Both of us standing awkwardly not knowing who should make the next move. My next move would be to kiss her but that’s not going to help us right now.
“So, you’re really doing this. In two weeks, you’ll marry him. Just like that.”
“Just like that, yeah.”
“Do you think you could ever…you know.”
She looked at me confused. “I don’t know. What?”
I cleared my throat. “Could you ever love him?”
“Oh.” She blinked several times. “I don’t know how to answer that.”
“So, it’s possible?” I was suddenly getting angry.
“I said I don’t know how to answer that. But if it gets you to move on with your life and find someone that makes you happy then… yes.”
She moved to walk away.
“I’ll tell you this only one more time: You don’t have to do this. I’ll follow you anywhere.”
Her eyes met mine and they flashed, one second, they were the color of a sea green ocean and the next they were dark, murky. But when I blinked her eyes were back to green.
A small smile appeared on her lips, my eyes instantly following the movement like a moth to a flame. “Goodbye Elijah.”
She walked away from me. Her brown hair swaying until she turned a corner, and I could no longer see her.
Why did it feel like that goodbye was more permanent than it should have felt.
The dark sky made everything impossible to see. We couldn’t use any light. It would give away our position and we would no longer have the element of surprise. The only light we could rely on was the moon herself and her stars.
Rumor was that Arlo and Balin were holed up in this old, abandoned warehouse. And now here we were, sneaking around, trying our best to catch them. Clarissa squeezed my hand but didn’t look at me.
Her black outfit blended in with the rest of the sky. Her dark hair was pulled into a high ponytail. Her eyelids were the only thing shining, her silver eyeshadow twinkling along with the stars. She was a constant in my life right now and I was thankful for her.
For her steady presence. Her reassurance. Her patience.
I gulped as I watched her eyes intently watch everyone else. My chest and stomach fluttered every time I watched her.
Her eyes flickered as she looked ahead of her. I looked away to see Cass motioning us forward. Blake, Ethan and Elijah moved first and then us right behind them. Caleb moved next to Clarissa. Her body tensed but only for a second before relaxing again.
Their relationship was still rocky, but I had been pushing her to do her best to mend it. You never knew when the last time would be. And I couldn’t bear to see her regret if something happened to him.
Wendy along with the twins, Sky and other Leki’s had taken the back of the warehouse. We had them surrounded.
