Berserker's Rage (5 page)

“Have a good day, Hal. I’ll see you after school. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

He shut the door, and walked up the steps to the big brick building.

“Oh, look. Hal’s mommy gave him a kiss. Do you think she’d kiss me, too?” Tyson Beck asked, grabbing his crotch.

Hal stopped and looked at the crowd of boys. He started to walk past them when one of the boys grabbed his arm.

“Hey, did you hear Ty? Does your mom give out freebies?”

“Your mom’s a milf, dude.”

He’d heard the term before, but never about his mom. A red haze filled his vision. The navy blue school uniform all the boys wore, seemed to fade to black, while everything around him became shades of black and white with red surrounding the boys. Hal wasn’t sure what happened next, only that he was found hours later near his home with blood on his fists. The five boys had fought back, but they had been no match for his anger. After he beat them, he’d ran until exhaustion made him collapse in the woods. Night had fallen, but time hadn’t registered. Nothing had, because he wasn’t aware, until the being had been appeased.

Hal shook off the memory. It was the first time he’d lost control, but not the last, and definitely not the worst. Brax had helped him come to understand he and the being were one and the same.

Shucking the last of his clothes, he stepped into the shower. Thoughts of his past had him rushing to get clean. Sometimes he didn’t think he’d ever outrun the guilt, and other times he didn’t want to. They helped shape him into who, and what, he was today. Although he’d hurt a few people in his rage, they were never innocent. The boys he’d beat up were all two years older than he was and had a habit of ganging up on students. It turned out that just the week before they’d attacked a female student and sexually assaulted her. They’d also just threatened another young girl, giving her until the end of the day to comply with their wishes. Only they were too injured themselves, thus giving her the strength to tell the authorities.

By the end of the day, over half a dozen boys and girls had come forward to tell stories of what they’d gone through at the hands of the ones Hal had punished. Hal had been made to look like a hero when he’d felt like a monster.

Now, fifteen years later, he felt much older than his twenty-seven years. His nana said it was because the spirit of the berserker was much older. It had taken him a long time to accept that he did, indeed, have an inner beast, and to come to terms with him. Although he didn’t speak with the being like another entity, he felt it on another level. When he needed the extra strength, speed, or hearing, the berserker lent him the gifts, and Hal allowed him out of the cage, so to speak.

The water turned cold and he laughed, thinking he didn’t need a cold shower. All he had to do was picture Felicity broken, and his dick lost any semblance of an erection.

Wrapping a towel around his waist he walked out of the bathroom, while inspecting his bag, he shook his head. Felicia Evans probably thought he was a poor fireman who couldn’t keep her daughter in the style she was accustomed. Of course he wasn’t as rich as Midas, but they weren’t some poor backwater family either.

He shook out his jeans, the designer label making him cringe. Her mother didn’t look like the kind who cared if he spent two hundred dollars on a pair of jeans or twenty. Whatever, she wasn’t the one he was going to see.

* * * *

Like magic, mirrors appeared all over the villa. Felicity was amazed at the lengths her mother had gone to keep her from being faced with her appearance. As she stared at her new visage, she marveled at the uncanny likeness to what her mom would have looked like twenty years ago. Had whatever screw up during her time in the womb not occurred, she’d not have come out looking the way she did. Instead, a mix of her parents and ancestors DNA gave her a completely different appearance. One that wasn’t as pleasing to the eye as her mother, Felicia. The doctor’s excuse seemed plausible as to why he’d made the major changes, but she wondered if it was entirely true.

She knew her mother always wanted a daughter who was beautiful. Someone she could be proud to show off at all the events her father and she attended. It was one argument Felicia never won because she loved her daughter, even though she hadn’t been the prettiest girl, but Felicity refused to parade around and not fit in. Her mother’s fear was almost a palpable thing since coming to the island.

Now she wanted to explore. The new clothes had been hung up in the walk-in closet. Each piece was nothing like she’d normally wear. She shoved aside the frilly dresses, the silk shirts, and pieces of expensive things she knew cost a mint. The things she’d sold in the boutique on Rodeo Drive. Where were her jeans and T-shirts? Her flip flops? Out of lack of interest she’d been wearing caftans and robes, or loose palazzo pants and equally loose tops. Never once thinking where her normal clothes had gone. Felicity had assumed her mother would’ve replaced her clothing with similar ones in her new size.

“Mom, where are the jeans? You know, every day wear things?” Felicia Evans did not wear denim. Ever. They’d gone to a horse show once. Felicity had been sure her mother would bow to the masses and wear the sort of clothes that would seem normal. Instead her mother came in couture, right down to her Louis Vuitton boots. Her concession had been the color turquoise.

“Honey, you don’t need to hide behind ugly clothing. Besides, where are you going?”

Counting to ten before she answered, Felicity relaxed her fingers before she faced her mother. “I thought I’d get out of the villa for a while. Surely you are ready to go sightseeing?”

A helicopter would bring Dr. Watkins back and forth, but she assumed that was due to his actual office being in LA or somewhere in California. Her mother turned to stare out at the horizon. A sinking feeling took up residence in her stomach.

“What aren’t you telling me, mom?” She didn’t want to think negatively about her mother, but it was getting hard.

With a serene smile on her lips, Felicity faced her. “This is a retreat, Fliss. It’s a place where people come to reflect. Have you noticed the lack of television and such? Rest and relax, to recover. There are no boutiques.”

“Then where did you get all these clothes?” She slapped her hand at the closest hanging garment, the silky fabric mocking her as it fell to the ground.

Aches in her body began to make themselves known, only slightly, but she still felt them. She wondered when her days would become completely pain free.

Felicia reached out her hand. “You’re hurting. It’s time for your meds.”

Felicity wanted to tell her she didn’t need any, that she could take the prescriptions and shove them up her ass. The memory of those first few days had her reaching for the little white pills. “I hate taking these, they make me sleepy.”

“Well, that is why you’re here. Rest, relax and recover. When you are up to it we will explore some of the amenities. Come on, let’s get you in bed.” Her mother’s voice implored.

She let her mother lead her to the king sized bed, watched her pull the comforter down and slid under the sheets. Felicia wasn’t a bad mom, had never been anything but the sweetest mother a girl could ask for. However, something wasn’t right. A yawn caught her by surprise as all thought began to get harder.

When she woke night had fallen. Her stomach rumbled and the room was shrouded in darkness.

A plan formed in her mind of finding the man who saved her, and a sense of calmness fell over her at the rightness of her decision. Easing her legs over the side, she worked the kinks out of her neck. Gingerly she touched her jaws, making a resolution to build herself back up.

Her body protested the movements, the aches in her joints from lack of exercise intensified as she started her day by stretching out. She followed up with a light session of yoga.

Sweat soaked her shirt, making it stick to her breasts. Leaning against the wall, she took a calming breath, smiling at the image she assumed she must look like. Going into the bathroom to get a washcloth, she let the water cool before placing it on the back of her neck. Felicity didn’t think she had the strength to take a shower just yet. The exhaustion from the light workout let her know, more than anything, how weak she was from the lack of movement over the last three months. Trying to pull the face of her rescuer up she realized she had no clue what he looked like, the only thing she remembered was his deep, vibrating voice, and his size. Clearly the man was in top physical condition. If she was going to find him, and Felicity had made up her mind she was, then she needed to be fit too.

After using the facilities, she ran a bath, easing into the steaming water soothed her. She emptied her mind of everything except getting better both mentally and physically. Her face may be altered, but she was the same person on the inside.

Two weeks later she was feeling much better, except her mother kept putting off exploring the island. Anytime Felicity brought up leaving, Felicia became agitated, or worse had a spell. She’d never known her mother to have any health issues until her attack. When the doctor had been called and informed them it was a form of PTSD, Felicity backed down and didn’t force the issue. Her mother wanted to make her feel safe by wrapping her in a cocoon and, in turn, it made Felicia feel safe by not having to worry about her. A parent’s worry over their only child’s safety could cause them to go a little crazy, the doctor said. But it was driving Felicity crazy.

This was the first morning she hadn’t woken with any aches or pains, although she would always be aware of her jaws feeling slightly different. As long as she was careful with how she ate, they assured her she would be fine. Her nightly workout had progressed, but hiding it from everyone was getting harder. She wasn’t ready to run a marathon, not by a long, long shot. Her dreams were still interrupted by nightmares, but she refused to take a sleeping pill. The last time she’d taken one, an image of red eyes reaching out to pull her to him, or it, had freaked her out to the extent she’d woken up in a tangle of sheets on the floor. The dream had been more real than dream like. It still sent chills down her spine at the thought of the being who’d been reaching for her, even though she tells herself she’s safe, she has a niggling feeling he’s waiting for her. Her subconscious mind warred with her conscious one. Felicity chose to go with caution.

There was something in the dreams that screamed real, even when she kept telling herself the jackhole was dead. As fear stole through her, she shivered. Being alone, except for her mother and staff, she missed the hustle and bustle of the city. The look of dismay in Felicia’s eyes when she’d said as much, made her want to call them back and not leave.

Felicity watched her mother greet Dr. Watkins, for what seemed like the hundredth time at the patio doors leading out to the verandah. She was shocked that the man didn’t preen.

After a few more air kisses and some more gushing from her mother, then the doctor was coming toward her.

“Felicity, you are looking wonderful. I think the sun and all this rest is doing you fabulously.” He cupped her face in his palm, rubbing his thumb along her cheek. “I think you are by far my best work yet. Too bad I can’t showcase you in my offices.”

She pulled away from him, although he didn’t repulse her, his touch wasn’t one she welcomed. Her mother looked at the doctor and nodded, like a silent message was passing between them. No way in hell did she want her face, good or bad, plastered all over his office for everyone to see.

“I think it’s time for us to head home now. Staying here is just postponing the inevitable, mom.”

“You really want to go home?” Felicia asked.

“Normalcy. I want that. Taking back my life one step at a time can’t help unless I am off this…where ever the heck this is.”

Her mother’s deep sigh was followed by the elegant folding of her hands. Felicity knew she would be hearing an excuse why they wouldn’t be leaving.

“Fliss, let’s give it a few more days and then we will revisit this conversation. Don’t you agree Dr. Watkins?” Felicia’s expression was placid.

Dr. Watkins nodded. “I’ll be back at the end of the week. We will see how you’re feeling then.”

“Fuck that, and fuck you both. I’m ready to go home now.” Anger had her lashing out.

“Felicity, watch your mouth young lady. I apologize for her outburst. She never speaks like…that.” Felicia’s entire body shook.

Fed up with being talked about as if she wasn’t there, she pushed away from the doctor. “I’m getting on that helicopter, with or without your approval. You can either come with me, or you can stay here, mother.”

“She’s definitely got your spunk, Felicia. You’d better call your husband and let him know you’re coming home.” Dr. Watkins seemed unfazed.

Felicity left them both to pack up her belongings. She trusted her mother not to allow their transportation to leave without them. Walking into the bedroom she’d occupied for the last few months, she paused at the end of the bed. She debated leaving her new outfits, but the thought of shopping back in California held no appeal.

It took her more than fifteen minutes to pull the dresses, shirts and other new items her mother had purchased for her down, and into the luggage that had also been bought for her. Felicity shook her head at the price tags on all the items. Sure, she sold things in the boutique she ran for the same price and more, but that was to customers. “Fuck it.” That was her new motto.

“Seriously. You need to stop with the foul language.”

“Don’t start with me, mother. I’ve been held here for months, allowing you to keep me locked away for my own good. Wait.” She held up her hand. “Mom, I know you love me and did it because you were scared. Seeing your only child beaten the way I was, I’m sure was horrific, but you have to realize you can’t keep me locked away forever. Now, let’s go home.” Lifting the bag from the bed she let the bottom hit the floor.

They walked out of the room Felicity had called home for far too long in her mind. What awaited her back in the real world was frightening.