Dark Layers Volume 2: Dark Layers (22 page)

"She is smart, she trusts me, and she's learning patience - for me. I care about her."

"As I can see. I have never seen you so taken with a woman. Let's discuss her appearance boy."

"Father, that's enough."

"It is enough when I say it is enough. Why does she look like your mothers doppelganger?"

Oh my God! I quickly grab my chest because my heart feels like it has stopped -
resuscitation, resuscitation!

"Miss, are you okay?" A waitress appears in front of me. I fall back into the wall in shock. I blink rapidly.

"Sorry - I'm listening in." I say with a weak smile. She returns my smile and leans closer to me..

"Be careful not to get caught, the Darks family are known for their punishment." She says and quickly scurries off.

What the hell does that mean? I stare wide-eyed. My heart is now in my throat!

"I do not know why she looks like mother. Her looks are not what I am besotted with. Her smart mouth, her testing tendencies, her dare to try new things with me are what make me want her so badly."

"Most women want you. What's so different with her?"

"Father, how long are you going to question me?"

"Answer the question boy." Mr. Darks says firm.

"The girl likes me, for some reason she likes me. Not for my money, not just for my looks, she just likes me, and cares for me. That is why I want her."

"And her innocence?"

"Adds to my desire of course. But both my wives were virgins; that's not the only appeal."

"Yes, but both your wives were strumpets, straying after just a few months of marriage, and constantly flirting with other men."

Elijah goes silent. What's he thinking? - damn him!

"She is not promiscuous in any form. That is her greatest appeal. She has no idea of her beauty, therefore, she does not use it to her advantage - happy now?"

"I knew it was her strange sexual appeal." Mr. Darks laughs.

"Keep your hands off of her." Elijah warns.

I cut the conversation short, I have heard enough.

"Hi, sorry I took so long, there was a queue."

Everyone rises to their feet again. I sit in Mr. Darks desired seat, still feeling uncomfortable. I smile at Elijah affectionately.

"Are you okay?" I whisper.

He nods with an impassive face. Oh dear, he really does not like his father.

"So, Anile. When are you planning on becoming a Darks?" Mr. Darks asks.

My mouth is agape. Did he really just ask that? I stare at Elijah. He hides his hands under the table; he's gripping the cloth; I can see how he's making it wrinkle. Fuck - he's more nervous than I am!

"Um, Mr. Darks. I do not ever plan on marrying. It's not on my life agenda."

Mr. Darks almost spits out his whisky. Elijah has now narrowed his eyes at me and Cast has sat back smiling.

"That's news to me." Elijah says in a low voice.

"Well, the subject never came up between our... innuendos." I say firm but low.

"That is unacceptable. You must marry. You are a beautiful young woman and must - in the eyes of God - be married before improper intercourse."

Oh my bloody God! I cannot believe he just said that. My throat is dry. My hands are numb. You would have to be dead not to notice my pique expression.

"I have to go." I say, rising to my feet.

"What?" Elijah says worried.

"Sorry, I just remembered, I have this thing."

I leave the table in a frenzy of offbeat steps. That man is something else. How dare he tell me my opinion on marriage is unacceptable. How dare he even comment on my sexual status - I just met him!

I make it outside and gasp for air as claustrophobia leaves my system.

"Taxi!" I scream at a black passing cab. The taxi thankfully stops and I jump in quicker then lightning. Elijah comes running out of The Dorchester but I quickly look away from him and head home.

I ARRIVE HOME.
I'm so grateful for some time alone. That family are a little much, gorgeous but still, they are so... intense. The lift pings and my heart immediately stops; Elijah is sat in front of my door. He looks so... broken, sitting there on the dirty floor.

"Elijah? What are you doing here?"

He looks up at me with damp eyes. Holy fuck! He's been crying! My brain crashes; my tummy tightens in pain, knotting with a sickening tightening sensation.

"Elijah." I rush to him. I kneel down beside him. "Are you okay?"

He peers up at me; his eyes are red and rimy, soulless. Oh Jesus this is painful. I clutch at my aching tummy while gazing down at him.

"Why did you leave like that? I thought you said you would try." He says in a broken croaking voice.

I frown deeply. "Elijah, I wasn't officially leaving you. Your father is just too intense. I could not handle his questions. All of your family seem to knock me off balance - including you."

"I'm sorry." He whispers. He moves towards me, resting his face in my lap. I hug him with everything I have. Wow, Elijah in tears and desperate for some affection; I almost want to cry myself.

"Do you want to come in?" I ask, desperately hoping he will say yes. He nods, still looking extremely traumatized.

"Please don't cry Elijah, I cannot handle it." My hands tremble while I try to hug him.

"I'm sorry." He says.

"And please stop saying sorry. It's not your fault your family are... intense."

I pull him with me and set us both on our feet. Elijah reveals a set of keys and strangely opens my apartment door.

"How did you - when did you get a key?" I ask flabbergasted.

"I own this place now."

I close my eyes. Boy oh boy this is annoying! And when did my father sell? I'll call Scarlet later, I need to know what the hell has been going on.

"Elijah, I am still leaving."

"If you leave, I'll just buy your new place, so you might as well stay put."

"You cannot buy all of London!" I gasp. I'm all pointing fingers.

"Actually, I probably could." He snaps deadpan.

Okay, is he upset or angry? I cannot tell.

"Please stop this Elijah, it's too much."

"I do not want you struggling for money; I do not want you living in squalor; just stay put. I'll charge you rent if it makes you feel better? Or you can pay me in kind." He smiles.

"Just come in Elijah." I say in a weak voice. I'm mentally exhausted.

We walk into the living area. I don't say anything, I'm observing him. He feels different, I cannot explain it but things feel sort of relationship-ey - I know that is not a word but it's the only way to describe things right now.

"So you do not want to marry me." He says, lowering himself into the sofa. He crosses one leg over the other and places his hands comfortably in his lap. I just stand in front of him like an ice sculpture.

"I don't want to marry anyone." I frown, pocketing my hands because of my nervous spout.

This is so awkward - it's way too early in our... relationship to be discussing this. I have given up on taking things slowly - skipping the heady merry faze - and decided to move forward with us, practically on his terms. I have forgiven him of everything - what else does he want? Blood?

"Elijah, I have not gone forward with my desire to take things slowly with us - I am moving at your pace. I have forgiven your disappearing act. I am trying - why is this not enough for you?"

"You never fail at making me want you," he frowns, "everything you do, is it calculated?"

"What?" I gasp.

"You heard me."

"What do you mean 'calculated'?"

"Do you mentally plan everything for an outcome that lands in your favour?"

"No I bloody well do not."

"Oh come on Anile; dropping your virginity when I had you trussed up on my fucking wall - when I wanted to fuck the shit out of you; defying my decision to sack you; playing me at my own game by flirting with the bar tender the other day when you told me 'no'. If that is an unknown tactic, maybe you should start teaching women how to reel men in."

He gazes at me; he's watching me intently. I'm so sick of games between us. I lose my jacket and shoes and fall beside him on the sofa. I pull my skirt up my thighs and pull my legs up. I cross them while turning to face Elijah fully.

"Elijah, are you not tired of wondering all the time?"

He frowns, "what do you mean?"

"I mean this; you thinking I have an agenda; people wanting to know our private business; the stunt you pulled with Angel the other day - are you not tired of it all?"

"It is all I know Anile." He says soft.

I take both his hands in mine while leaning closer to him. A hot rush fills my brain immediately. I breathe a low *sigh*. He is my own personal drug - my ecstasy; I desperately need this feeling to forget all the bad between us.

"You can learn new things Elijah," I stare up at him, "you do not have to stay the same. I am telling you that I have no agenda. It may be hard to believe - from where you come from everyone plays dirty - but I'm not like that, I'm desperate for normal."

"Normal being - no marriage?" He smiles weakly.

"Elijah, we have not been dating that bloody long - how can you know I'm right for marriage; right for you?"

He tugs on my hand, "because of 'this'." He says affectionately.

Oh I feel it too baby! I want to tell him, but I don't. My reticent ways keep me safe, and also leave things to the imagination. I'm not on Elijah's level when it comes to lust, but mentally, I can take him.

"Elijah, I overheard you and your father talking today."

"What did you hear?"

"Everything. You know him saying Darks Lawyers is only yours if you are married is a load of crap, don't you? That is not legal."

"Anile, Princess, it does not really matter. My father has every Judge and Police Chief in his pocket. If he wants something, he will just take it. He thrives on control."

I smile, "I see the apple has not fallen far from the tree?"

He raises his eyebrows but then frowns. "Why is marriage such a no go for you Anile?"

"Why is it so important to you?"

"My question first." He says surely.

I breathe a huge *sigh*. How the hell will we ever get past all this?

"Elijah, you trust me right?" I say while looking right into his eyes - I need his trust for what I am going to propose to him.

"Um, yes - I try to daily."

He tries? Well, with a family like his, it's understandable that he has trust issues!

"Shall we play a game, a safe one?" I ask.

He bites his lower lip. "What game?" His eyes are wild, alight, penetrating.

"Truth or dare. If you win I'll marry you - one day, not now - if I win, you will drop that question?"

He smiles, revealing all his teeth. "This could get messy, and last all night."

"It doesn't last for only one day - we will use our truth or dares over time. But you can stay here tonight if you like. Don't take things too far with the game though Elijah - let's learn about each other."

This is the only solution I can think of - fucked up I know but I'm trying desperately to think like Elijah. I can learn about him while he learns about me. We can test one another, fail with one another and hopefully come out on top - together.

"Okay," he says stroking my knuckles with the gentle pad of his thumb, "are there any rules?"

"Yes, there are always rules. You get ten truths and ten dares. Use them wisely. If you lie, you lose one question to ask me - a truth. Once a truth has been answered, we get three further questions to ask but only whys and when's. Whoever forfeits the most loses. Does that make sense?"

"Yes. And what if you forfeit your dare, what do you have to do?" He asks serious.

I can sort of understand why he is so curious about the dares. I almost want to laugh. I think about his question properly. What is an appropriate forfeit?

"What do you want me to do if I forfeit?" That is fare - I think.

"Hmmm, the possibilities. If you forfeit, I will kiss another woman in front of you. You know how painful I find kissing Anile, so I will be punished also because of your weakness."

"Elijah, no." I snap, pulling my hand free from his.

"Anile, that is the only way I can insure you will do your dares."

I grit my teeth - why oh why did I give him free reign of the consequences?

"Okay, deal. And if you forfeit, I will kiss another man."

"Deal - just know that I will never forfeit." He smiles viciously. "Shall we shake on it? A blood deal." He says.

"A what?" I frown and narrow my eyes at him.

"It is -" he starts to say something but doesn't finish, "it is a final deal, it cannot be broken."