Afterlife (Afterlife Saga) (84 page)

“Keira come here...there is nothing to fear!” He said as he pulled me back round placing his large hands on either side of my shoulders so I couldn't move. My heart was doing overtime trying to keep me calm at the sight of this mighty beast.

“She will not hurt you, she is merely curious.” At this the bird tipped its head at me as if trying to figure me out.

“She?”
I asked in surprise...this was who he wanted me to meet...his terrifying pet!

“Yes this Avis or Ava for short.” He said moving towards her and stroking her affectionately. She looked as though she loved it, moving her head up and under his hand. I couldn't help but laugh in shock.

“She's magnificent!” I said not being able to close my mouth and she looked as
though she understood me as she squawked at Draven.

“She wants to know why you have been so scared of
her?
” He said as he now moved his hand to stroke her chest and at this she puffed her feathers, stretching out her wings making me jump back.

“Really she wants to know that?”

“Ava is my eyes to the sky, when I couldn't see you for myself I would
possess
her and it would allow me to look over you while you slept.” He said so matter of fact.

“You could see me, so every time I ...” I said thinking back to all those times I had seen her.

“Not every time no, when I couldn't myself I would have Ava look over you but you used to frighten her when you reacted badly...she was a bit offended actually.” He said looking down at me and so did Ava as if I was being judged by them both.

“Umm sorry...” I said feeling a bit guilty but considering this bird could most definitely take me, I think I had been justified in being frightened.

“Do you want to stroke her?” Draven asked and I instantly withdrew my hands around my back.

“Umm that's ok, I don't think she would appreciate that...plus she likes it when you do it...so I will just watch,” I said being a coward. He just laughed at me.

“You’re not scared are you Keira?” He said pulling the reverse psychology crap on me.

“Come, give me your hand.” He said giving me a stern look. Of course when I didn't immediately, it wasn't enough for Draven to give up, now it was time to use force. He put both his arms around my back and bent his lips close to my ear making his hair fall forward. His hands found my wrists and gripped them tightly.

“Come now you will upset her...she just wants to be friends.” So knowing guilt would most definitely work, I gave in and let my hands be led to the waiting bird.

“She will behave... won't you Ava?” This was a command and she ducked her head forward for me to stroke her more easily. When my hand was about to reach up to her I stopped, hesitating.

“She won't hurt you Keira.” And his hand overlapped mine and moved it to her soft black satin feathers. I ran my hands over her back letting my fingers run through to her body and she squawked again, in what I guessed was pleasure as her beak hadn't yet torn my hand off. I moved down under her neck by her chest where I had seen Draven go and she made me jump as she flashed out her impressive wingspan at my touch.

“Ava, don't show off!” He scolded and she turned her head at him tilting it as if to say “
why not!”
I couldn't help but laugh at her expression.

“Yeah why not... Ava?” I said in her defence, which seem to seal the bond between us because at this I was now her new best friend. She walked along the railing closer to my body and gently rubbed up against me making her feathers tickle my neck. I giggled stroking her back affectionately.

“Umm interesting...she doesn't usually like other woman but you seem to be the first.” He said and I shot him a crazy look.

“And you tell me this now!”

“Let’s just say I had an idea she would love you.” He said as he whispered
something to her that I couldn't hear. Then he did the unthinkable. He held out a bare arm as he still only had a pair of jeans on and said “
Aqui
!” Which I knew meant “
H
ere
”
in Spanish. Then she jumped on his arm digging her claws into his skin, which didn't even tear and more amazingly he didn't even flinch. He grabbed her beak in his fingers and shook it playfully.

“Are you ready for it baby?” He asked her as he was now looking up into her beautiful face and her eyes widened with what seem like excitement. She squawked an answer.

“Well you wanted to show off, so you'd better make this good old girl!” He teased before he produced something black and spiky in his hand. He then teased her again pretending to move his hand as if to throw it, catching her out. It reminded me of what I used to do to my grandparents’ dog Sandy, trying to make her go for a stick before it had left my hand. The second time however he did throw it making it rocket through the air and it went so far I couldn't follow it for long. He then put his arm down and lifted it quickly to send Ava off into the sky after it in a graceful dismount. She flew off until out of sight going so fast it was like trying to watch a bullet hit its target...too fast for human eyes.

“What was that you just gave her?” I asked as we walked back inside.

“You don't want to know,” he said smiling to himself as if I was missing something he didn't want to tell me.

“Yeah, sure I do,” I said hoping that I did.

“It was a bird's foot,” he said laughing at my face which was now screwed up as if I had just smelled something bad...like Frank's feet!

“She eats other birds, it's how she consumes her souls...and well for some reason she favours the feet, saving them for last.”

“Yuck! That's really gross. H
ow do you know that?”

“Well firstly, I did tell you that you wouldn't want to know. Ava lets me into her mind but we share it when I am there and sometimes...well…she gets hungry!” He said pulling his own Yuck face!

“Ok I think I just hit my limit on the weirdo scale!” He laughed at my humour, which sent little sparks of pleasure down to my stomach. I loved the idea that I could make him laugh.

“So where did she come from?”

“Ava has been with me since the beginning, a gift from my father to keep an eye on us all. She is a demon of course, being a cross between a raven and a golden eagle to you and she has her own powers. But since she was sent she favoured me from the start and this is why she doesn't like...well you know?” He started to try and find the words I already knew he wanted to say so I finished them for him making it easier.

“You mean other woman you have been with!” I said rolling my eyes at him at his reluctance to finish that statement.

“Well yes, but I knew her connection with you would be different...she pleased me...trust me she is never normally that well behaved and has given me the run around a few times in the past. When she was young especially, she went through a stage of terrorising small villages, scaring them and aiming for the younger ones...for some reason she hated children!” I looked on wide-eyed trying to imagine how
terrifying that must have been, as not so long ago I was also in the same mind.

“But with age she has become quieter and grumpier, spending most of her time alone as she prefers.”

“Aww, well I think she was sweet” I said putting my arms around his neck which seemed to be a weak spot of his as he melted into me doing what I wanted him to.....which was of course kiss me.

“I hate to put a downer on this good mood of yours but you will not think so kindly of me in a minute.” He smirked at the thought of me turning into an angry kitten no doubt!

“And why is that?”

“Because in a moment my sister is going to walk through those doors and take you away from me.”
He didn't look happy at the prospect. 

“Why?” I said hating the idea of even spending a minute from his side.

“She has it into her head that she is going to get you ready for the party tonight.” OH NO!

“No, no, you have to talk to her, reason with her,” I said pleading with him but he just held up his hands in defence.

“I would love to but she is very persuasive.”

“But you’re her brother and surely she will do what you say...I mean reason with her...please, she has to be stopped!” I was close to begging at this point which he was still smirking at.

“Keira, it is not that bad and besides, you think I am
hard
core
when I get angry...you have never witnessed Sophia's temper!” He said and I couldn't be sure whether he was teasing me or not, so I put my hands on my hips to show him I wasn't going to accept this. But then as usual my display went out of the window when he put his hands on my sides and pulled me into him kissing me on the forehead.

“Demon remember...and she is determined.” He noticed my frown and continued,

“It is simply best to let her have her
way,
after all, she is excited as she has never had a sister to...”

“Use as a human doll!” I finished his sentence with sarcasm.

“I was going to say love.” And as soon as he said it I felt the guilt that he was counting on.

Then he moved away from me and walked towards the door opening it before Sophia had even chance to knock. She strolled in looking as if she had tried very hard to look casual but of course failing miserably. She looked just like she'd just finished her photo shoot for Paris fashion week. 

She wore tight fitting jeans that looked as if she had rather been sewn into or they had been painted on. She had added a long dress style top that was white and fell off on one shoulder. Her hair was causally pulled up into a high ponytail making her curls looked contained yet fighting to get free. One thing was for sure...she looked bloody happy!

“Dress up time!” She said, smiling like the evil Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland.  She turned around knowing that I would have to follow and I couldn't help but drag my feet at the thought. I mean she wasn't even giving me time to
change...this was going to be a bad idea. I walked past Draven with my head down but he stopped me, kissing me on the top of my head, saying,

“Play nice Keira!” Of course knowing that I was about to go and play with a Demon didn't make me think there was going to be anything nice about this game... 

Chapter 45 - Down the rabbit hole

I followed Sophia for what seemed like forever, up and down staircases, along passageways and through God knows how many doors! Finally the last door was opened for us by Zagan of all people. He nodded at me but I didn't miss the wink he sent Sophia's way, which she tried very hard not to react to. However she was still smiling when we entered her bedchamber. Well I say bedchamber, it was more like a whole floor of a department store and we were in the soft furnishing department!

She had different beds scattered everywhere making it look more like a cabana club than a room. She had different tent style rooms to the sides which towered up into elaborate metal points giving it a Moroccan vibe.  There were couches of all shapes and sizes, and luxurious material framing the walls and furniture. I noticed there was even a bar in one corner and this made me realise that this was a separate club of
its
own...a private one.