Intrigue (18 page)

As if reading my thoughts, Jazz tried to yell over the music, “Now, this is what I’m talking about,” then motioned her head to the dance floor.

I was not one of those people that my brain turns off very easily, especially when I have Thrace issues. But when I was at the rave and I was out on the floor dancing to the latest and greatest techno, it was as if my body became the music and my mind just took a break. I was engulfed in the base and the complexity of the music. My surroundings were surreal and my worries were far behind. Unfortunately, reality came smashing into me in the form of my drunken boyfriend--so much for Girl’s Night Out!!

Thrace managed to knock into both Key and me. Key, not one to suffer fools, immediately groused, “Thrace, what the hell…..walk much.”

Thrace didn’t respond well to criticism as he slurred an offended, “What! Only trying to greet my girlfriend.” He then proceeded to wrap his arm around me and leaned in to give me a peck on the mouth. That’s when I was hit with a distinct smell of whiskey.

I looked up into his face and yelled, “Tell me you didn’t drive.”

“Hey, give me some credit. Justin drove.”

I looked over at Justin just as he was taking a drink of mystery punch that a girl had just offered him. Greattttttttt. “I hope Justin is
not
your ride home.”

Thrace saw where I was looking and slurred out, “Man he’s fast. Gotta respect the skills.” Then he looked at me and said, “No, we got a plan. Justin didn’t drink at Spart’s house so he could drive, then Spart is not gonna drink the rest of the night to sober up, and I agreed to provide the place to crash. So I am free to indulge all night. Just like you are since Jazz drove you. You could always come back to my place.” He ended by kissing my neck.

I snarked, “Sounds romantic,” Key and Jazz snickered in the background.

Thrace started to get testy as well as handsy as he tried to lean on me while accusing, “Why did you have to tell your dad that stuff—just so he would hate me now?……Little Miss Ice Queen.”

I heard Jazz in the background gasp, “No he didn’t………”

Time to release my Inner Drama Queen, I straightened up, removed both of Thrace’s hands from various parts of my body, and gave him my best icy stare. “For once at a party, I was relaxed and having a good time until your crazy crew stumbled in.”

Key smirked beside me and quietly whispered, “True dat.”

However, I seemed to have lost Thrace’s attention. He was staring at a point that I could not see behind the dance floor. All of the sudden he grabbed me on both sides of my shoulders and yelled, “Now I see why you were having such a good time without me. When did Rafe show up? Did you invite him?” He actually physically shook me at the last statement.

Both Jazz and Key moved in beside me. I saw Rafe moving towards us as Jazz yelled, “Hey, don’t think you can go all caveman on my girl and not have consequences. You shake her one more time and your gonna be on your drunk eyas!”

Even in Thrace’s drunken state he realized the error of his “caveman” ways and dropped his hands to his sides. He looked me in the eyes and said, “Sorry, Cal. Rafe just makes me crazy. I know he wants to break us up. It’s like he’s stalking you.”

I looked at Jazz then Key and said; “Thanks girls, but I’ve got it from here.” I noticed Rafe had stopped coming forward, but was still intently watching the drama. Key and Jazz moved away slightly, but were definitely still in back-up range.

Then, I solemnly returned Thrace’s stare and said, “I didn’t even know Rafe was here until you went all postal. And the only thing that has the power to make me break up with you is
your
behavior.”

This was too complicated for Thrace’s befuddled mind at the moment and the only thing he seemed to hear were the words “break up.” And without another word, he whipped around and stumbled back toward Justin and Spart and their bevy of harpies.

“Could the dude be a bigger tool right now?” Key wondered aloud.

Jazz asked, “Does he
always
have to be
Mr. Hyde when he drinks? Cause I’m telling you even Dr. Jekyll is not worth that drama.”

I just shook my head and said, “He’s never been this bad, but we have been sliding downhill, and there is nothing I can say or do to stop it. And right at this moment, I don’t want to stop it.”

Rafe approached us and asked, “You ok?”

I warily replied, “I’m fine. Thanks for not jumping in. That would have only made it worse.”

He smiled and said, “You had plenty of back-up. And I know he would never have hurt you. Anyway, even on one of Thrace’s good days, my money is still on you.”

As Rafe and I made our way off the dance floor, he placed his hand in the small of my back as if to comfort and guide me at the same time. A shiver ran down my spine. Luckily, Thrace’s crew was on the opposite side of the room because I had definitely hit my quota of drama for the night.

“So how’s your evening been so far?” Rafe inquired in a teasing manner.

I turned around to face Rafe leaning my back against Jazz’s car as I pondered his question. “You can’t beat the vibe and the incredible atmosphere, but I could definitely stand a little less drama.”

Rafe considered my answer and replied, “I think your life is going to hold a great deal of drama the older you get.”

“Hopefully, it will be the type of drama I can observe and write about rather than the type I play the lead role in like on the dance floor tonight,” I countered.

“I doubt you’ll have a choice. Why are you afraid to be an instigator within your own life?” Rafe asked in a husky voice as he lightly brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen over my eye.

My breath caught in my throat as I stuttered my reply, “It’s just not me. It’s not in my nature. Even in karate, I defend. I don’t attack.”

He took a step closer and our bodies were almost touching, and the beating of my heart was almost deafening in my ears. But instead of trying to kiss me, he opened the door and leaned in to get the water. When he leaned back out, he handed me a water bottle and our hands touched. It was like my skin was sensitive to his touch as goose bumps raced up my arm.

As he took two more waters out of the car he casually asked, “So how does that work in relationships. I’ve already seen first hand your Calli walls that you use to defend yourself emotionally.”

“Ok, Dr. Phil. No need to analyze me in the parking lot!”

“Since I am playing the part of Dr. Phil today, then I have to say ‘How’s that working for ya?’” Rafe laughingly asked.

“Thrace and I are practically a bad made for TV movie right now about young teen love that goes wrong when boyfriend turns all jealous and abusive. We can’t keep going on like this. Something’s gotta give and when it does it’s
not
gonna be painless.”

Rafe hoarsely replied, “I’m sorry Calli if I have caused problems for you. It was not
my
intention.”

I’m glad both of his hands were occupied with water bottles as I took my free hand and placed it on his forearm. I stared directly into his hazel eyes, “I don’t believe you. You have relentlessly pursued me with your mixed messages. So now it’s cards on the table time. What are your intentions, Rafe?”

He just shook his head back and forth without looking at me as his voice caressed me, “They are more than they should be; they’re more than they can be, but I never have to act on any of them.”

“Ok, Mr. Mixed Message,” I rolled my eyes.

Rafe breathed out in an audible groan and finally returned my gaze as he dodged me with a smile, “Jazz and Key are going to be wondering where their water is. I know I said I liked air, but they probably won’t believe I like it this much.”

His words slapped me back to reality and the fact that I was: 1) flockin freezing, 2) still in a relationship with Thrace, 3) hittin on another guy. Total Party Foul. Apparently, I came to my senses too late to keep from making a complete eyas of myself.

He seemed to want to say something as he walked briskly beside me. As we entered the rave again, Jazz and Key seem flustered and were intent on blocking my view of what they were so recently interested in. Rafe being taller got a better view of whatever had transfixed my friends. His eyes scanned the room then his expression turned concerned.

“Ok chicas, what’s the deal?” I skillfully maneuvered around Jazz to get a full view of my boyfriend hooking up with some harpy on the dance floor while his buddies were doing the same with her friends. My mouth dropped open as he allowed himself to be led off of the dance floor by the dark-haired she-devil. Her harpies followed along behind them, leading Thrace’s buddies. They seemed to be heading for a hallway off the back of the dance floor.

I honestly don’t know what came over me as I bolted toward that hallway. I vaguely heard Rafe tell Key. “I’ll take care of Calli,” before he followed me.

When I hit the dimly lit hallway, I yelled Thrace’s name loudly. At least if I went all drama queen on him, there wouldn’t be much of an audience. The group seemed to stop for a second before they proceeded into a room off the hall. Only the harpy that Thrace was hooking up with was still in the hall as I approached the doorway.

I stated loudly, “Thrace, we need to talk
now
.”

The girl snidely replied, “Thrace is not interested in your
now
; leave before you get hurt little girl.” The last part almost came out of the harpy in a hiss.

I attempted to get around her, but something incredible happened. Thrace’s harpy growled at me, and in doing so, she flashed her sharp canine teeth at me in a frightening yet cheesy B-movie way.

“What the FLOCK,” I yelled.

What was not so cheesy was they way the hussy hurled me into a wall then picked me up and hurled me toward an alcove 10 ft down the hall with little or no effort. She came towards me as if she was going to throw me around some more. But before she could even reach me, Rafe was standing between us and pushing her back toward the open doorway. The whole scene reminded me of the pivotal moment in
From Dusk Til Dawn
where the typical shoot em up action flik turned into a vampire movie. Had I landed in my very own Flocked Up Movie Night?

Rafe actually growled at the girl, “You touch the human again and your consequences will be severe, Aglaea.”

She hissed at him right back, “Awww…The Protector of Humans has found a damsel in distress. Don’t worry I’m not interested in your damsel. I was just trying to stop her from interfering with our fun. We’ll leave you to your business, so we can go about ours.”

“You’ve drawn too much notice. You need to leave here now,” Rafe commanded.

“Ahhh… You can’t protect everyone Hermes. You have to choose. You take care of the damsel, and we’ll take care our cute little prep school boys.”

With that, Aglaea slammed the door shut as Rafe blocked my direct route to go after them. Without thinking, I immediately went into attack mode. Rafe effortlessly blocked my blows, then pinned me to wall with my hands behind my back and one of his legs in between mine so I couldn’t even kick him. I was both dazed and infuriated by what just happened, and ironically I was out for blood.

Chapter 16: Evolutionary Ladder

“You need to listen to me very carefully, Calliope,” Rafe pleaded while I continued to try to loosen his grip on my hand or gain some type of leverage. “I promise you that Thrace will not be hurt.”

I attempted to head butt Rafe but he moved back just in time to avoid my attack. He did take his hand off my mouth so I could scream mindlessly “Let me go!”

Rafe decided to take a new tactic and pinned me to the wall with his whole body up against mine as he pressed his lips to my ears and hoarsely promised me, “When you calm down, I will try to explain the unexplainable to you, and then we can go rescue Thrace and get out of here.”

The intensity of both the sounds from the room and the hypnotic base of the rave sent my senses spinning. Rafe’s close proximity literally felt like he was glued to every part of me. This sensory overload distracted me momentarily from my fight or flight instinct. Unfortunately, it caused a much more electric and basic need in me. As my eyes dropped to his lips, I started to instinctively tilt my head, go up on my tiptoes, and sway towards him.

Rafe once again pulled his head back, moved his hands from my wrists to my shoulders and said in a frustrated growl, “No Calli, not now!”

His rejection was a cold splash of water in my face again which lifted the sensual haze from my mind and replacing it with guilt over my utter distraction from my boyfriend issues.

“Calliope, you need to focus if we want to get out of here unscathed. By now, I think you realize that your world is not quite what it appeared. I am going to give you the short version now, but once we get Thrace out of here, I will tell you the rest,” he promised.

“Fine. Explain this cluster flock to me!”

Rafe whispered, “Long ago Homer pieced together a group of myths and legends to chronicle the Trojan War. He described an extraordinary pantheon of gods and goddesses in his epic poems
The
Iliad
and
The
Odyssey.
In ancient Greece, humans worshipped these gods and goddess as their religion. What humans failed to realize was that these gods needed humans to survive—not the other way around. ”

I shook my head in disbelief as Rafe continued on, “Most of you’re your world calls immortals are merely human vampyre that are just one rung higher on the evolutionary ladder. They might live longer than regular humans and have faster reflexes, but they can be killed. These vampyre are made, not born. Their souls are in limbo until they are reunited in death. Then there are the demigods--these creatures were made thousands of years ago when a god or goddess mated with a human. They are immortal in that they are born and reborn when they are killed. However, their souls stay in limbo while they walk the earth unless Zeus grants them a special privilege. Finally, the Twelve Olympians are the tip of the sword in the immortal world—the fastest, the strongest, and the most powerful. They are also born then reborn if killed. However, their souls are carried within very special humans. The human skill-based equivalent of our immortal hierarchy would be like a high school athlete vs. a college athlete vs. a professional athlete.”