Fiendish Play (6 page)

“Wait,” Liam said stopping us both from leaving the room. “I have another idea. Why don’t the two of you come to the invitational dinner together this weekend as well? James needs a date after all.” The professor grinned like it was the best idea in the world. I mentally agreed with him. Though, it was more a statement than a request by Liam. I just looked at Anais wondering if she was going to agree or not. I had forgotten about the invitational dinner scheduled for the weekend with moving and last night’s events. Of course the strained look on her face looked liked she was about to resist. I was already getting used to her backing away every chance she got.

“But Uncle Liam, Deacon won’t let...”

“I’ll clear it,” he said, stopping her from saying more. Again, it was not a question but a statement from the professor. That was twice he had said that he would ‘clear it’ for her. I hadn’t missed the wording used, although I was grateful for the set-up. It would give me more time with Anais and I wanted every second I could get.

Anais didn’t refuse any further. “Okay,” she muttered, and left the room. I followed behind her, trying to catch up as she moved at a rapid pace down the hall and out of earshot. When we rounded a corner and walked down another hallway, Anais turned to me, her eyes lit up like they were on fire. I had to admit, I loved seeing such a burst of emotion coming from her right now, even if it was obvious anger.

“We...!” she whisper yelled, pointing her finger back and forth between us, “cannot go to that dinner together. It can’t happen. In fact, I shouldn’t be anywhere near you right now. I can’t show you around.”

I just smiled at her, not folding to her request. Not backing down. Not being understanding. I had already been too lenient to her needs. It was my turn to be selfish.

“Look Anais, I don’t understand what’s going on with you, but your uncle has asked that you’d be so nice as to give me a tour. And you kind of owe me for last night, I think. I’d really hate to tell him you were rude.”

Her back straightened at seeing me not give into her so easily. I don’t think she expected my resistance. “James. I’m not trying to be rude. I’m trying to keep you safe. I’m trying to keep you out of danger. Please, do what I ask. I don’t want anything bad to happen...especially to you. I know I owe you...And that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Her concern for my safety did make me feel all warm and fuzzy, but it was no way a deterrent. “What or who are you trying to keep me safe from? Those guys last night? Please...they were nothing. If they come at me again, it will be the same end result, I assure you. And that’s the other thing. Are we going to talk about what happened? What did I walk in on? And who were those guys and why were they tying you up...”

Anais’ hand was suddenly over my lips, forcing me to stop talking. Her hand’s touch on my body making all my senses ignite. There was an electric current coming from Anais’ hand and through my mouth. It was like I was experiencing touch from another person for the very first time in my life. The weird and powerful sensations making my mind go into overload trying to understand what exactly was going on. Anais must have felt it too because she didn’t move her hand off my mouth right away, rather she stared at its hold over my lips, keeping it firmly planted so we stayed connected. Her eyes locked on mine, staring deep. She was clearly fascinated and drawn to something I think we could both feel. When a minute had passed, Anais pulled her hand away from my mouth slowly, swallowing back a breath from breaking the connection we had made. I couldn’t help but notice she had licked her lips at the same time.

Finally, she found her voice. “James. We can’t talk about last night. Especially out in the open like this. I know that sounds crazy, but I really am trying to protect you...and myself. So please...I beg you...not now. No questions. Just pretend this is the first time we’ve ever met. Okay?”

Yes, she sounded crazy and overly dramatic, but I believed her. I believed every single word that came from her lips. “I’ll drop it, for now Anais...as long as you stay and continue to show me around.”

Anais took a few steps back, considering my request, trying to be reasonable. “Fine, but it will be a quick tour alright.”

I grinned at Anais. The gesture made her smile back at me too. Anais Aston had a beautiful smile. It was one I committed to memory immediately. She had naturally deep-red plump lips that were so sexy when pouting and even more beautiful when spread cheek to cheek in a glorious smile. I never wanted to forget that expression. It made my heart illuminate in a way I couldn’t even explain. It was like she was a switch to a light I didn’t know could be turned on.

I followed her out of the arts building and across many landscaped lawn areas, near pathways, and under arches. We strolled through the intertwining and intersecting buildings. She pointed up and down at various bigger structures, going briefly over their history. She was definitely up to speed with the every detail and every brick ever laid here. Her vast knowledge was just another quality that impressed me. She also launched into conversation about her study in philosophy. How she loved to explore the concepts and criticism of beliefs. And that she one day hoped to become a professor just like her uncle and teach the great workings of the ancient philosophers. I couldn’t help but notice that when she was talking about what she loved, she really opened up with her personality. Physically and mentally, she had become a burst of enthusiasm and passion that only made me want to know her even more. The expression ‘
there’s something about her
,’ felt like it was made just for Anais. I couldn't take my eyes off this girl. Not even for a second.

Seeing her stand against the dark gray sandstone walls, her body gliding through the archways, her ballet flats shuffling on concrete, it hit me. Like a rush of wind hitting my face. It was all forming in my head so quickly. My final year piece. And then as her hair got swept up around her face as she walked in between some large leafless trees, her plump red lips moving back and forth against the sunlight, the pointed roofs set behind her as she adjusted her hair and the rays of sun catching and streaking in between — I saw it. As she moved against the university backdrop, it came together perfectly in my mind. Anais Aston had inspired something I had hoped would be my greatest sculpture to date. I couldn’t wait to get to the hardware store and find my materials to get started. Something had sprouted deep in the creative forest of my imagination.

By the end of the tour she was giving, she had moved closer to me. Our hands even touched and she didn’t immediately pull away. I loved that we fell into step comfortably. I was even working up the nerve to hold her hand. “
Be bold
,” I told myself. “
Chase the impossible dream
.” But that all changed when we heard a voice come up behind us. Because as soon as Anais heard
him
, her demeanor changed instantaneously. And this little intimate moment we were sharing, drifted away like a whisper in the wind.

“Anais, hey Anais!” the deep masculine voice yelled from behind. Both our backs turned at the same time, but Anais’ reaction was different to my own. Her face not even going up to see who it was. She looked stiff as she moved away from me, making sure we had a very noticeable distance that set us apart. The happy emotion that I saw on her face was long gone. There was a cold and distant glaze in her eyes and a frown which showed on her lips.

We turned to see a guy, who looked every bit our age or maybe even older, come striding over to us. Black hair, eerie blue eyes. The kind of eyes that pierced your own when you looked too hard at them. And tall, very tall, with broad shoulders. He looked all fraternity with his dressy beige pants and collared white Tee, but something about him didn’t seem that simple. No, this guy was something different altogether because he instilled fear into Anais by just calling out her name. That was her reaction, I was certain of it, especially after what I witnessed last night.

“Hello Byron,” Anais said flatly. It was weird hearing her voice sound so disconnected to the rest of her body.

“I was hoping I’d see you today,” he said looking her up and down very quickly, making some sort of assessment.

“And why’s that?” Anais’ tone filled with anger now. The edge to her words almost lethal. A protective feeling emerged in me at the same time.

“Oh no reason,” he answered, sounding musical, his eyes flicking towards me quickly before resting back on her. “Just wanted to see if you looked any different today.”

Anais sucked in a little breath and put her hands behind her back. From where I was standing, I could see her fists ball and tighten. “And how do I look?”

“The same.” He grunted. Now he switched his focus on me. “Still the beautiful sweet Anais we all know and love.”

Wow, what a performance I was getting.

“Introduce me to your new friend Anais,” the guy said, still trying to figure me out. His eyes looking me up and down.

“He’s not my friend Byron. He’s my uncle’s new transfer student he wanted me to show around. He asked me to his office this morning. You can check with him if you want.”

It did sting hearing Anais dismiss us being friends so quickly like that, but something told me she said it for protective purposes only. I was fast picking up her quirks for telling lies.

“Gee Anais. Don’t be so silly. You make it sound like I need some sort of explanation from you. Now please, introduce me,” he requested again, a little harder than before.

Anais made a hand gesture to me, like some kind of game show hostess showing off a prize. “Byron Fraylock, this is James Riley. He’s my uncle’s new prodigy all the way from France.”

Prodigy? Is that what the professor thought of me?

Byron reached out for a handshake, obviously impressed. I shook his hand back. “Nice to meet you,” Byron said, his voice sounding much different to how he was addressing Anais. “If Liam thinks so highly of you, that says a lot. Believe me.” His eyes flicked to Anais and then back to me. “I hope Anais is being a good host in showing you around.”

“Thanks. And she is, being a very nice host. She just gave me a very informative tour of the campus. I didn’t realize how much history there was here. But Anais here brought me up to speed.”

Byron looked very pleased by what I said. “Good to hear,” he began. “Because here at Cloverley, we’re always on the lookout for the best and brightest. It’s what we pride ourselves on.”

“You sound like you’re scouting for something. You in a fraternity?”

Then Byron laughed, amused by such a question. “Fraternities are for people who are sheep. They’re for the weak-willed.”

“Okay...And you’re in?” I asked curiously.

“Something far more superior,” he clarified, but it wasn’t a specific answer. He was purposely being vague for a reason. Not that I was about to ask him to go into more detail. I wasn’t looking for answers. I was just making pleasantries to diffuse Anais’ obvious mental agony over his presence.

Anais cleared her throat. “Ummm, so I’m going to go now...I’ve done my bit for my uncle.” She quickly glanced at me, her eyes seeming apologetic as she tried to escape. “I’m sorry James. I have to go. I’ve got some research to do...” She trailed off.

“That’s fine Anais. And thank you for the tour. It was very nice meeting you.” I shot her a quick smile, hoping she could see my support.

She quickly spun on her heels in the opposite direction, but not before remembering Byron was next to me too. “See you Byron,” she said sharply. She waited a moment for him to say goodbye as well, but it was almost like she was waiting to be dismissed. Byron saw her discomfort and waited another minute before saying anything back. He was certainly making it very clear that the power was in his hands...or more specifically, his words. “Alright then,” he said after an excruciating long pause. “See you later Anais.”

As soon as he gave her his seeming dismissal, she took off in the opposite direction, quickly disappearing out of view. Byron stared off after her but then turned his attention back to me. His persona becoming friendly, almost chummy as he made conversation. He asked about where I was from, my study and my work with the professor. He was interested to learn more. But I knew that for whatever reason Anais had vanished, it had something to do with Byron’s presence, and how much she looked like she feared for her life. I was certain that what had happened to Anais being tied to that tree was somehow linked to this Byron guy. How he was involved or why...I would need to find out, and I was about to make it my mission. But I figured if I was going to get anything out of him, I should at least pretend to be friends. You know what they say about keeping your enemies close and all.

{6}

Twenty-one years ago...

DELIA

Fishnet stockings, garter belt, black satin corset, long ice blond hair set in ringlets and the tinge of ruby red on my lips. I knew I looked every bit the fantasy. It’s how we had to appear after all. Goddess like. Mythical. Magical. An illusion. A brand new shiny toy. Being an ‘Elite’ Lappell woman meant I was reserved only for worldly chapter presidents and leaders within our special group, so I had to be perfect. I had to be the best on offer.

I was rinsing out my mouth with mouthwash as I prepared myself. I couldn’t even bring myself to look in the mirror. If I did, I would probably spit the mouthwash out at my reflection. I had to control the hate I had for the Lappell...and myself. Being Elite in the Lappell had only got me so far. I still had to perform like a common prostitute, except I wasn’t getting paid. So what do they call a woman who gives herself up like this without money? A slut? No. Not here. A slave? No, there were no shackles on my wrists...no gun to my head. Then what was I? Emotionally blackmailed with fear? They could hurt and destroy my family and friends. Turn my life upside down. They had taken away my choices with their power and threats and turned me into one of their soldiers. A person who would obey their commands and lie down and play dead if they asked, or in this case, lie down and spread my legs.