Chapter Ten
“Evil will be there for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till it makes you die.”
-Unknown
I want to keep my eyes closed for as long as possible. I sneak a tiny peak and see James, or whatever his name is, dressed like he was when I last saw him. His armor is all black and looks like he is a knight out of a fairy tale. His hair falls in his face like drapes covering his deep blue eyes. I don’t know whether to cry or run to hug him. I decide to just stay where I am and pretend that I am still back in reality. I try to picture my world outside this house. I can tell that it needs some tending to. I re plant some lilies and make it rain, which is a bad idea. I open my eyes just the tiny bit and see James looking outside. Next thing I know, he is laughing.
“Not very smart: making it rain while you are pretending to not be here.”
I let out a huge sigh and sit up. Believe it or not, I have nothing to say to him. I am not an idiot. I know what I saw last time I was here. I look around and realize that we are all alone. Thank goodness because I don’t think that I could end it with him while people were watching. He just kept staring outside the window for awhile then finally turned towards me. He looked older, more chiseled. His lips had gotten bigger and plumper. His arms had enlarged to almost the size of Mason and Connor’s. He grew about half an inch and had a scar on his chin running down his neck. He spoke first.
“Je-“
I hear a knock on the door and in barges Ravi. He is dressed in the same attire as James but doesn’t look half as good. He walks right past the bed I am sitting in and straight up to James. He puts his fist in hand and bows to him.
“Master Exapataó.”
James pats him on the back.
“Ravi, have you done what I have asked?”
Ravi stands up straight, holds up a finger, and closes his eyes. After about 30 seconds, he opens his eyes and lets out a huge sigh. He punches James in the shoulder and starts to take off his armor. James stops him.
“There is a lady present.”
He nods towards me and as if realizing me for the first time, Ravi nods in my direction then laughs. He punches James in the shoulder again.
“From what I have heard, she has seen plenty.”
He winks in my direction and I almost barf. Ravi was good-looking but not in an “OHMIGAWD I WANT YOU TO STEAL ME AWAY” kind of way. Instead he was a more “dad looks good today” kind of handsome. When he smiled my way, I almost shivered. This time James punched him in the arm and told him to get out. He shrugged and left, while taking off his belt. When the door closed behind him, James rushed to my side. Completely sure of how I felt about James, I almost flew off the bed. He sat on the bed and patted the seat next to him. I shook my head and walked across the room to the windowsill. He let a huge sigh before starting.
“I get why you would be mad but you have to let me explain, Jess.”
I held up a hand.
“I don’t think that you do get it James. I told you that I didn’t want a relationship with you, from the beginning, because of what happened with Connor. I told you that I didn’t need another heartbreak and you promised…”
I had to hold back the tears.
“… that you would never hurt me. YOU PROMISED AND LIED! Do you know how stupid I felt talking to Don about how I wanted you released and then finding out you worked for him?”
“Jess…”
“NO! Not only do you work for him but you are his number one man? You have lied to me this whole time and didn’t even care what it did to me. I don’t know if you figured this out but we are done.”
At that very moment, I cracked the window and jumped out. If I was in this house then I had no control over anything. I sprinted as fast as I could through my world. I ran down the flexuous path that I knew led to where James and I used to live and love. I made the weather bad behind me to make sure that no one followed. The tornados I made were vicious but I could still see James running behind me. He was dodging all my attacks. Every snowstorm, every rainstorm, every drop of hail missed him by just a second. I tried to set up a couple of fifty feet walls but by the time they appeared, he had rushed to another position and I soon realized that instead of trying to delay him, I should just try to find myself protection from him. I ran to a newly made cave and enclosed myself in it, sealing off any entrance to my outside world. I made a candle, sat in a corner, and cried. I was actually a normal teenager. I wasn’t strong like Connor or even nonchalant like Mason. Anything someone did hit straight home with me. I used to wish that I could be strong like the main women characters in most novels, headstrong yet extremely irresistible. When I was young, I used to practice not crying but usually failed horribly. I simply could not be brave, no matter how hard I tried. I was not a damsel in distress, for I could take care of myself but I was far from what one would call a hero. I could feel James approach. He knocked on the new brick wall I had built and whistled.
“Nice. I never thought you had it in you.”
I could feel the smirk coming across his face and made a rock go straight to his temple. Knowing me better than I do, he ducked before it hit him and skidded across the ground.
“Jess, let me in before he gets back and does something horrible.”
She knew he was talking about Don but she didn’t really comprehend what he was saying. He wasn’t here? Does that mean it was safe to bring someone in from the real world to help her with James? She thought of whom she should bring but no one but Mason came to mind. She tried finding him but apparently he was wide awake, for she couldn’t even get a small message to him. She knew that she would regret it but she searched for another person who could possibly help her and prayed that they were awake. He appeared in her little cave, perplexed and disoriented. He was sitting on the other side and when realizing where he was, he stood up. He walked over to her and stood awfully close. He looked at her with confused eyes and she just held her finger to her lips so as to say to be quiet. He nodded and she opened her cave. When James saw who she was with he became angry; she could feel his eyes staring at their arms intertwined together. He looked at her eyes, hurt written all over her face.
“I heard you were busy in reality but I hadn’t realized how busy you were.”
Connor squeezed onto Jessica’s hand for he felt that she was about to topple over. She loved James more than she had ever loved anyone, excluding Mason, and his betrayal hurt more than nails on a chalkboard. He sat on a rock and put his head in his hands. He let out a huge sigh before starting.
“To be honest I do not care who you are with only that you are safe and I know that no matter how much I hate to deny it, you are safe with him. Jess I want you to know that Don is lying. I have not worked for him my whole life, nor is my name Exapataó, whatever that means. You must believe me for what I have to tell you next may shock you.”
She looked at him and realized that he was telling the truth but was utterly confused.
“Why did you go along with him, then?”
He shook his head.
“He said that he would hurt my mother and my little sister Emily. Worst of all, he said he would torture you and make me watch. I have seen what he can do to people and I did not want you going through that. He would peel your skin with a butter knife or pluck out your eyelashes one by one.”
James seemed utterly disgusted with the words coming out of his mouth and she could understand why. Despite James being in her world most of his life, he still loved his mother and sister dearly. He would talk that, if one day they could meet in real life, she would love his family. She shook her head in order to get it clear. Connor, probably already caught on to her making James think they were an item, picked her up and brought her to a soft spot of grass. She gasped as he cradled her and she begged him with her eyes to let her go, for this brought back to many once happy memories. Once he put her down, he turned back to James.
“You will leave her alone, do you understand?”
James scoffed and walked towards her. She shook her head and he stopped. He started pacing and pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Jess, I don’t care about your love life right now because if I did, I could not get anything done. I have to tell you this right now, though, before he returns. I am not his worker but I must continue to pretend to be. I must continue to actually start to like what I do for him because then I can get more information out of him.”
He turned to stare at Connor, who had taken it upon himself to sit right next to her, playing with her hair; every stroke killing her inside.
“Angel Connor, this pertains to you; for you see he will try and contact her in the real world. What you must know is that he cannot even see her in there, for if he does he will capture and never ever let her go. I need your word that you will protect her because, even though she will no longer even look at me…..”
He shifted so that his blue eyes were peering into her green one.
“I still love her more than life itself.”
That was the last straw for she could not be mad a man who was only trying to protect her. She got up and as Connor rose with her, she held him down and shook her head. He stayed where he was while she waltzed over to James, held him, and kissed him more passionately than she ever had before. She remembers her first kiss with him when they were much younger. He was telling her about boy scouts when he was young and how his mother would have to replace his absent father in putting badges on him. The fire lit his eyes so perfectly and he was speaking so lovingly that she could not help but lean closer to him. As she did, he understood what she wanted and had no problem giving it to her for just moments later she was basking in his amazing kiss which made her feel alive as it was at this very moment. She worked her way in his mouth and did not want to stop. She loved this boy and she would do anything to protect him, as he was protecting her from the wrath of Don. He pulled away but continued to keep his hands around her waist.
“Love, do you forget we have company?”
She had almost forgotten Connor, who was now standing and leaning against a tree. She looked at his eyes and saw no hint of any sadness. He smirked and almost chuckled.
“So I guess this means that we are over, my precious?”
She laughed and so did James. Still holding to her waist, James walked towards Connor.
“I do not know how much longer he will be gone but there is something you must know. He knows of all the High Helkers’ secrets because of Celia and plans to do something horrible with them. I do not know what his plans are, exactly but I do know that your leaders will not expect it. Apparently, he has found a way to get past your Helkers minds and control them in come way. I don’t know the specifics but I do know that Jessie is not safe with them or anyone but you. Do you understand?”
Connor was now on guardian mode and was listening intently to ever word James said. She could see that he was processing his words and fully trying to understand them. She also knew that whatever James was talking about was pure crazy because no one was more mentally protected and advanced than the High Helkers. She wanted more answers but at the same time just wanted to be with James and hold him for as long as she could. She stared at him while he explained to Connor all that he knew of Don’s plan, which wasn’t much. When he realized I was staring at him, he cleared his throat then tried to continue to talk. Distracted, he cursed something about losing his train of thought. Connor looked from her love struck self to a frustrated James and shook his head.
“Jessica?”
She looked at him and raised her eyebrows as if to say “what?”
“If you could please put me back in my regular dream for I believe that I can catch the hint of you two wanting to be alone.”
She mouthed a thank you and sent him back. She was alone with James and happier than she had ever been in a long time.
“I love you.”
She whispered in his ear and then ran away because she truly loved being chased. She saw a smile cross his face and run after her. She stopped, hid behind a tree, and tried not to laugh. She could tell that he knew where she was but he had not come after her. She laughed and turned around.
“I thought that you would be better at hide and seek my darling lover.”
She stood frozen because it was not blue eyes she stared into but lime green ones that she recognized all to well. He was standing in front of James, who was in army stance at the moment. She peered at Don and did nothing more. He had a smile plastered to his face but she did not return the favor. He hugged her and she went stiff. He laughed and pulled away.
“I see you have been busy, Exapataó making my sweet little girl love you once more.”
James answered in a monotone manner, as if he actually did have high respect for Don.
“I guess true love conquers all, master.”
James was good at deceiving Don but Jessica could tell her was unhappy calling him master because of the way his jaw flexed when Don called him that strange name. Don looked back at James and smiled.
“My boy, how you have grown; why, I remember when I sent you in here to keep an eye on my daughter. You were so small and fragile and now you are strong and very handsome. No wonder she has taking a liking to you.”
James put on a fake smile and looked at Don like he actually cared for him as a person and a master.
“Master, you have given me these good looks for you have been like a father to me.”
He turned to her.
“Love, you are lucky that Don is your true father for you are his only child and he is a great man.”
Don turned around to look at her and a chill went up her spine. He slapped his forehead as if remembering something and almost double over in laughter.
“Oh, speaking of how amazing I am, I have something I would like for you to see.”
He motioned her forward and she followed. She stayed back with James, who grabbed her hand and squeezed it to reassure her that she was safe. She looked at him and wondered how she was so lucky to have him. He sensed her eyes because he looked at her and smiled. They walked all the way back to the mansion. Before she walked in, she said one last goodbye to her world outside the house for she had a feeling that she would not be back in awhile. She followed Don down to the basement, James still right next to her. He opened the door that had the same symbol that was on the dining room door. She nudged James and pointed to it but he just shrugged. She went inside and what she saw made her scream. As her scream echoed through the room, Don laughed a hearty laugh. In the back of the room on a damp floor was an angel whose wings had been mutilated and whose back had been beaten raw. The pools of blood around the angel were dry, so this abuse had taken place awhile ago. She buried her face into James’ shoulder and squeezed him tight. Don stopped laughing for a moment and looked at his daughter, sad that she did not share in his happiness.
“Now do you understand why you should join me? I am more powerful than any angel.”
She shook her head and spoke through James’ shirt.
“That is cruel and impossible. You are making me see things for an angel is unbeatable when infuriated, which is the only times their wings come out.”
She tried to get the image out of her head and failed terribly for the picture of that angel facing the wall, lying on its side in its own blood was unbearable. She felt nauseous and wanted to sit down.
“Sweet child, do you not understand that I am more powerful than any other thing on this Earth and above and below it? Join me and we can rule the world as father and daughter.”
She wanted to scream at him, attack him, kill him, anything but what could she do? If he could conquer and angel with its wings exposed then he could do almost anything. She just stayed attached to James, listening to his heartbeat and trying desperately to erase the angel’s image from her mind.
“Pumpkin, if you would kindly turn around.”
She shook her head.
“If you do not then I will be forced to do something horrible to your love.”
She stayed where she was because she knew that he would not do anything to his supposed first man. She heard Don let out a big sigh and mumbled something unintelligible. Next thing she knew James was on the floor, writhing in some sort of unseen pain. He was screaming and she yelled at Don to stop.
“Okay! I will do as you ask! Just please stop! STOP!”
James was relieved of the pain but she couldn’t tend to him too much because she had to turn to look at what Don was so adamant on her seeing. When she turned around she nearly threw up at the sight in front of her. Don had managaed to face the angel towards her and she saw his cut up front. He was covered in bruises and slashes and his skin was as raw and pink as a pig’s. His legs were sliced up and down and looked as if they were barely even operational. His torso looked as if one more beating would knock his entire digestive system would spill out. That was all she could make out because they rest the angel had wrapped his wings around, most likely as some form of protection. The angel cried out in pain and crumpled up into a bigger ball.
“Remove your wings so my daughter may see your face, foul beast.”
She wanted to scream at Don to please have mercy just when they the angel unwrapped itself and looked at her. She froze then fell to the floor. She started to bawl and call Don every name in the book, with which he laughed. She crawled over to the angel but dare not touch him for the fear of touching a spot too tender. She knew this angel. Even though his body was destroyed and his face peeled almost to that of an orange, she recognized he jet black hair she got from him and his lips which she also got from him. She laid down next to him and cried more than she ever had. He tucked her hair behind her ear, and spoke in a raspy voice.
“Be still, my sweet Jessiefish. Daddy is fine.”………………………
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