Aconite (The Elektita Series Book 1) (9 page)

"They are
mine! They are ours!" His bellow was sure to be heard throughout the
entire Inn. If he kept this up security would be at my door in no time.  But I
didn't care.

"I don't know
what the fuck you or any of the other whack jobs in this town are talking
about!" His anger had awakened my own. I was tired and hungry and sick of
being left in the dark. Now on top of needing a new job I was probably going to
need a new place to stay. I shook even harder now; my teeth slamming together
painfully.

Maybe I would just
head home to mom and dad; at least I knew they weren't bat shit crazy. During
my own inner monologue Jonathon's anger had slid just as quickly into sadness
and soon he stood before me deflated. He looked just as tired as I felt.

"He took you
from me," he muttered more to himself than me. He covered his face with
his hands and when he came back into view he was Jonathon again. The one I had
met only a few days ago. He was hesitant but finally he lifted up my own hand
and gently placed the silverware against my palm. I hadn't realized he'd been
crying until his tear soaked hand began slowly wrapping each of my fingers, one
by one, around the handles. Nothing else mattered at this point but this very
action.

All my senses narrowed
down to the etchings on the handles. I knew all of Jonathon's attention was on
me but I could no longer see him or the room. I wasn't anywhere but everywhere.
A sea of emotions crashed into me still jumbled and still searching. My heart
felt like it would burst at any moment from the assault. My eyes were
momentarily blinded from everything else as my mind whirled around things
beyond my reach. Chills broke out along my body as flames licked up the surface
of my skin. Never in my life had I ever felt so broken but so whole. Shattered
but constructed. Silent screams raged their own fight to be heard; men, women
and children begged for their turn. Wet warmth began to work its way down my
neck as pictures danced just under my eyelids in such rapid concession that at
many points they overlapped into a blur of nothingness. Nothing made sense, but
it all felt right. I didn't know what it all was—but it was truth. I felt
myself sway. I was sure I was coming closer and closer to falling into an
invisible abyss.

As quickly as it
all had come, the voices were soothed. The fire was held at bay and silence
descended blanketing my soul with bone chilling quiet. My eyes snapped open
although I didn't remember closing them. I was on my knees staring into the
black abyss that had threatened to consume me; no longer strong enough to suck
me in. Jonathon's rough, calloused hands engulfed my face. He too was on his
knees. Slowly, reluctantly his hands pulled away. Those hands that had pulled
me back now left me cold on the floor. With the same intent he began prying the
forgotten silverware from my grasp.

"That was
never my intention," he cooed. His apology was thrust to the wayside when
pain radiated from my now empty hand making its way up my arm. The silverware
had left behind a bloody double impression of the design etched into the
handles. It had already begun to blister and sting making the pattern
unrecognizable. We both sat quietly, neither of us knowing where to go from
here.

"Alexis, is
everything okay in there?" The familiar voice followed a light rap on the
door. Neither of us made a move to answer her call. I knew what the symbols
meant but the thought wouldn't form. We both watched my hand like it would yell
out the answers; me with silent wonder and Jonathon patiently waiting. He
already knew but was kind enough to let me come to the answer all on my own.
Linda's knock became more persistent and I knew at any moment she would let
herself in; worry overriding privacy.

"Just a
minute." My voice came out hoarse as I tried to delay her entry. Jonathon
helped me off the floor with my clothes in hand. If it wasn't for his
thoughtfulness I probably would have answered the door half clothed with a
blood soaked hand. I grabbed a hand towel and wrapped it around the fresh
wound. The sting of the rough cloth helped clear my head. Jonathon had
rebounded much quicker than me, making himself comfortable in the desk chair.
The mock pout that he wore while I redressed would have been amusing if under
different circumstances. I didn't bother with shoes but answered the door
instead.

"Hey Alexis,
is everything okay? We've had some guests call complaining of screams coming
from your room." She tried to crane her neck around my body, probably
trying to catch a glimpse of the goings on within. So to ease her worries, I
opened the door further and waved her in.

"Jonathon and
I were just having a bit of a disagreement that’s all." I explained as I
shut the door.

"Jonathon?"
The confusion in her voice set me on edge even before I was able to turn back
around.

"That son of
a bitch!" I hissed, trying not to scream in front of Linda.

"Excuse
me?" she squeaked out in horror.

"No, no not
you." The room was empty, all signs of Jonathon erased. The phone sat
whole and perfect on the bedside table, the mini-fridge was closed and the
silverware gone. Linda was unabashedly staring at me. A range of emotions
played along her lined face. I kept her in my peripheral vision as I checked to
make sure he hadn't gone to the restroom. Sure enough he was gone, causing me
to question my sanity even more than I had already. A warm pulse beat against
my chest in time with the wound on my palm.

"You just
missed him." I knew she wouldn't buy it for a second. She would have at
least seen him in the hall, but what else was I supposed to do?

"Everything
is fine now, I'm sorry that I worried anyone." I prayed that my words
sounded truer than they felt. I doubled back to let her out, now making sure I
kept my wrapped hand out of sight. Her soft wrinkled hand stopped me
mid-motion.

"Are you
sure?" I tensed, watching her hand come away from my cheek with a dab of
red against her sun kissed skin. My blood. I knew she could read the shock
written all over my face but I had no way of hiding it. I could only gawk at
her hand still held out in front of me. There was nothing I could do. I
couldn't explain it away. The room tilted as a sudden jolt of nausea took over
my hunger pains. I rubbed my fingertips along the towel wrapped around my hand
as a reminder of the insanity that was my life. I felt my head bob up and down
before words would even form.

"Yes, I'm
sure, Linda. Thank you for checking." I finished my motion and opened the
door plastering a fake smile on my face. Each step felt mechanical as I began
to mentally check out. She hesitated for a moment before letting her hand drop
to her side.

Feeling
increasingly disconnected, I watched her wipe my blood against the apron she
always wore. With a weak smile she saw her way out and a weighted emptiness
took over.

The hot water
fired against the cold numbness that was slowly consuming what was left of
myself before I had arrived here. But even at skin boiling hot it barely
chipped at the surface. I watched the pink tinged water swirl around the drain
and disappear into nothingness; the recent events fading into just another
memory. The shower provided the tears that wouldn't come. Each droplet raced
down my face, disappearing as quickly as they came. I made no move to block the
impact. Apparently even my ability to cry needed as much help as I did. I have
never been one of those people that can just roll with the punches. I wasn’t
wired that way. But then again, who was I really? Every time I thought I was
closer to an answer it was ripped away. I had my trusty little box that I
crammed all the things that I couldn't roll with inside. Standing here in this
shower thousands of miles away from the place I thought was home I could feel
the box puking out every last thing that I had tried to stuff inside. The box was
growing just as tired as I was.

I went through the
motions of washing my hair and lathering my body with soap but none of it was
really registering. I knew I had been in here awhile when the water no longer
held up its assault but rather waived its icy cold flag of defeat. Reluctantly,
I shut the water off and stepped into the steam filled bathroom. When my feet
hit the tiled floor the world tilted once more. I could only grab the counters
edge to brace myself before I met the floor head on. A flash of green and
purple filled the room, taking the dizziness brought on by hunger and blood
loss away. One more question to add to the pile I already had.

Why couldn't I
have any cool powers like Cat Women or Wonder Women? It is a sad day when the
mounting craziness didn't come as much of a surprise anymore or maybe I was
just in shock and eventually this would all hit me like a ton of bricks and I
would have a complete mental breakdown. I would then spend the rest of my days
in the care of psychologists.

I dressed in a red
sleeveless turtleneck and black pencil skirt and wrapped my hair in a tight
bun. I fished the crimson lipstick out of my makeup bag. On my way out the door
I slipped on a pair of ballet flats. Linda was waiting for me at the front
desk. I stifled a groan as I took in her concerned face. Before I could make it
passed she stopped me with a card in her hand.

"Here is a
place that can help." I read the card still clutched in her hand.
Reedsport Shelter for Abused Women. Great, she thought I was being abused. I
made no move to accept the offered card.

"Thanks
Linda, but I think you have the wrong idea." I flashed a wholehearted
smile to reiterate how very true that was.

"Okay dear,
but if you need anything don't hesitate, okay?" She didn't believe a word
of what I had said. If I was in her shoes I probably wouldn't either but she
didn't pry and for that I was grateful. If she only knew how far from the truth
she really was. Hell, I wish I knew how far from the truth I really was.

The evening breeze
hit me full force. The sea salted air held a crisper note than the days before.
Winter was moving in fast and the water's edge wasn't giving fall a fighting
chance. None the less, I decided to walk with my destination already in mind.
The crowds that normally filled the sidewalks showed signs of cooler
temperatures as well. The fishermen were still in full force trying to make
their quotas for the season. While I walked I accepted that since coming here
my only form of normalcy would be observed through others.

I made it to the
cafe. The smells wafting from the cafe didn't do much to stifle the hunger
pains beginning to wrack my body.  I headed straight to my office undeterred.
Before I could make it down the hall LeAnn stepped into my path, tray of hot
food in hand. Her blue eyes slid up my body holding nothing but confusion.

“I don’t know what
makes you so special,” she spit out as her eyes slid up my body. The feelings
behind her look gave me the creeps. I glanced up at the tray full of food
debating if shoving her out of the way would be a good idea. After the night I
had I really didn’t need more problems.

“I don’t either,”
I replied. I had no clue what she was talking about and frankly I didn’t care.
I tried to side step and scoot around her but she stepped into my path once
more. Apparently she wasn’t done voicing her concerns to the management.

“Yes?” I
questioned making my tone as flat as possible.

“You do realize
that you didn’t make manager because of your stellar background or your work
ethic, but simply due to this.” She waved her hand up and down my body like
that was the reason for it all.

“I see the way
Jonathon looks at you. If I had what you have I am sure he wouldn’t have turned
down my request for the position,” she continued as I tried and failed to
process her sudden jealousy. So far she hadn’t even seemed to care about her
new boss but here she was acting as though I was shit she had stepped in along
the way.

“And what exactly
do I have?” My voice came out low and pain shot across my chest, strengthening
the hunger that threatened to drop me at any moment.

Voices from
further in the cafe stopped our confrontation in its tracks. Apparently the
customers whose food LeAnn was so graciously letting grow cold had been
watching our interaction and they wanted the food that sat between us.

She shot me a
menacing smile before flouncing off to her table.

On top of trying
to figure out what in the hell that was all about I couldn't stop from
wondering where that traitorous co-worker of mine was. I snatched up a burger
and fries that Mack had just sat on the receiving counter.

"Sorry Mack,
you'll have to make another." I couldn't even bring myself to fain regret
over making him work harder.

Mack shot me a
wink and dropped another basket of fries. Now that was a man I could get used
to; no questions, no judgment, no issues. He just rolled with his surroundings.

I had no qualms
about being unladylike as I jammed hot french fries in my mouth. I could ignore
the white hot pain that seared my throat with each swallow in return for the
quieting pains in my gut.

My office door was
ajar, so I finished opening it with my foot while I continued shoveling food in
my mouth at breakneck speeds. Low and behold my two deserters were sitting in
my office. Jonathon looked sleek as always in a black business suit and his
blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, the ever familiar silver pin holding it
in place. Jo was not in standard work attire; she looked more like a steam punk
model. My eyes roamed up her body; her black crisscross stilettos and her bare
legs accented all the right things. The heavy ruffled skirt that barely made it
to her knee line was magnificently tailored, my eyes continued upwards taking
in the leather black corset that doubled as her shirt, finally ending at her
shocked face. Her style was simply amazing. I had never given a woman such
attention but out of all the women that may deserve it Jo should be at the top
of the list.

Jonathon didn't
even acknowledge my entrance, so I took that as I wasn't fired and sat down in
my empty chair. I would have kicked either one of them out of it. This was my
chair. Even though Jo still had all her attention focused on me I turned away
determined to enjoy a few minutes of my life.

"I'll be
right back, forgot the Dr. Pepper." Mack's food was spectacular to say the
least but a good Dr. Pepper was a must. My drink sat on the receiving table,
covered straw and all. Spying a bottle of ketchup I plucked it off the counter
as well.

"I figured
you'd be back for this." Mack stood behind with a warm smile filling his
attractive features. One day when my life isn't full of crazy I should take him
up on his flirtation.

 I took a huge
swig as I made my way back to the office. Good Lord, caffeine had never tasted
better. I sat in my chair concentrating on the false moon that I had painted on
the wall. I could ignore them as long as they could ignore me. That sense of
calm that the painting had supplied began to wash over me again, helping to
anchor myself and clarify exactly why I had come back here. Free food wasn't
the only reason.

I dabbed my last
fry in a glob of ketchup and popped it in my mouth. Garnering enough courage, I
spun around, facing my deserters. They had all their focus pinned squarely on
me. I gave them both a cool, calm smile. Jo's eyes darted from me to the door;
her only exit, she kind of reminded me of a trapped animal debating the
likelihood of escape.

"Relax Jo,
it's not like I left you high and dry." My voice sounded calmer than I
felt. I watched as she worked her response through, opening and closing her
mouth with each changed decision. The look Jonathon gave her stopped her in her
tracks with her mouth still wide open. Maybe she needed one of Linda's cards.
The idea let a giggle escape, sending Jo's panic into overdrive.

"Don't throw
stones at glass houses, Mr. Evans." My formality was a stark indication of
how disconnected I was at the moment.

"A stone
would not be my weapon of choice." He had latched onto my irritation and
threw it back at me with equal force. The intensity in his onyx eyes lit a heat
within me that I wasn't expecting. His eyes narrowed beseeching, pulling
something from within me out. I shook myself, breaking away from his
attentions; I needed to regain some sort of composure.  I turned away; the
orange moon was my source of comfort in this moment.

I felt him rather
than heard him approach. He had risen without making a sound. Was his silence
in fear of frightening me? I was very aware that Jo still occupied the room and
had a front row seat to whatever was about to happen. Lust bloomed throughout
my body. His growing proximity was making it increasingly difficult to fight
the need. I held on to all the crap that has happened thus far trying
desperately to fuel my rage. He stood just at my back, crushing that plan like
a bug.

"We need to
talk." His words, a repeat from the night before, ran their way down my
spine pooling between my legs. The rumble of his voice was like a match to a
flame. An explosion of pleasure had me seeing stars. My need was far greater
than I thought, turning mere words into a mind shattering orgasm.

The room began to
grow, it felt large and without end. My body rocked with the power of it all.
Jo's scream came like a jolt.

"Control
it!" Jonathon was so close his command was deafening. This wasn't just an
orgasm. Whatever was happening was not only affecting me but everything around
me.

I spun around in
my chair, still reeling in the power and pleasure that felt ever expanding. It
was hard to see around Jonathon's body that sheltered me from the rest of the
room. I didn't need to see around him to know that the lights in the room had
grown dim and a light fog was building all around us.

"Control
what?" Even still, I held onto denial like a child would his blanky.

My heart was
racing and his nearness was not helping my supernatural panic attack. The smell
of salt and forest began to fill my senses just before the lights faded away
completely. The yelps and panicked screams let me know that the power was out
in the entire cafe.

"What’s
happening?" My question was drawn short when strong masculine hands lifted
me from my seat pressing me firmly against his chest. The body that curved
against mine was like a key to a door that was long ago locked away and
forgotten.

"You are why
this is happening. You have to control it."

I couldn't think
of anything past the feel of him; the feel of his heart beating slow and steady
against my own. His breath as it remained calm and sure. I was safe here with
him. I wanted to escape into this moment, into his arms and never look back.
But the Alexis that I had known for the last twenty two years fought against
that feeling. She fought against this person that was so unfamiliar yet held so
much of me within her. She knew this was wrong. I couldn't be the sole reason
for what was happening. Before Jonathon or Sebastian or even Reedsport as a
whole, I was not this person. I was a cookie cutter image of normal.

Finally, the me
that I trusted won out. I tried with all my might to escape his hold on me but
his strength never faltered.

"Let me
go!" His release was instantaneous, and I knew it was completely against
his will. Control could become dangerous.

I felt around the
office, making a path towards the door.

"Please
Alexandria, we will explain as much as we can." I reached out touching
Jo's face.

My night vision
was strong so being unable to see a person standing so close gave way to panic.
Had she planned on escaping as well or was she here to stop me. I ignored the
fact she had called me by the wrong name, aiming more for the immediate
problem.

"I
can't." My head shook back and forth even though nobody was able to see
it.

"Yes you can!
I believe in you." Her misguided confidence showed just what kind of
person Jo was. Her voice held power that I never knew she possessed, but what
exactly did I know to begin with?