The Cries of the Butterfly - A LOVE STORY (46 page)

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A
t first, he had been so taken aback by the suddenness of the assault, he had remained paralyzed. And when he had repossessed some, his instincts had been to fight back. Despite all her wild ferocity, he knew he could snap her spine with just one punch. So incensed was he, he could’ve killed her there and then. His hands had turned to fists and he was about to launch.

Then something flashed before him.

A face. A little butterfly’s face. Robin’s face. It stopped him dead in his track.

This woman mauling him was the only conduit he had to his girl. And in that, she held all the power. But it would be far worse—Robin herself would be imperiled. Seeing the Sister now, Wolf had no doubt that this woman was capable of anything. And he would no longer be there to protect his baby.

So he fell back, clenched his teeth, and withstood the battering. As she bit and scratched like some rabid komodo dragon, naked pain tore through the length and breadth of him unendingly. But he lay very still, his flesh quailing with revulsion.

.

“
B
ut something was seriously wrong with her,” Wolf said in conclusion. “Everything was restricted to the upper body, both mine and hers. She diligently kept her lower body away from mine, nor did her hands or mouth come anywhere near my crotch. Once or twice when in her heat her pelvis bore down on me, she recoiled violently. It was as if she felt dirty about the part below the waist. Boy, am I thankful for that!” He shuddered.

Maddy shook her head. “Incredible!” She looked at him. The hurt and the agony were on his face all over again and Maddy wished she had not asked him. “So what’re you going to do now? You can’t bloody go back there again.”

He blinked his eyes, as if to clear the pain from them. “But I must. My daughter needs me.”

A dry anger seized Maddy. “We’ll find some other way,” she said in a low voice. “For now you’re not to go.”

“Don’t order me around, woman!”

“Then use your head, retard! Do you want to commit suicide?”

Yes, that’s my favorite pastime!
“What will I tell Robin? She’ll be expecting me tonight. She’ll be heartbroken if I…”

“Phone her up. Tell her you fell ill and are bedridden, but that you’ll definitely see her on Wednesday evening. She’ll survive without seeing you for a couple of days, and so can you. Here, call her…now.”

It was eleven-thirty am. “She’ll be at school,” Wolf said.

“Then call her up in the evening.”

The doorbell rang. Maddy didn’t move; Knott would answer.

It was Rochelle. She gasped when she saw Wolf.

“God have mercy!” she cried, rushing to him, turning hysterical.

Wolf motioned her to calm down. But it was like addressing hurricane Katrina.

It was thirty minutes before he could talk to her sensibly.

And then he spun her the
it was really dark and I accidently fell into the thorn bush while jumping off the wall of the Children’s Home
yarn.

.

R
ochelle and Maddy Witcher stayed with Wolf all day, two hens falling over each other to pamper and fret and fuss over the wounded chick.

Though Wolf had now begun to trust Maddy (how could you not trust someone who basically saved you from bleeding to death?), there was something about her that didn’t quite add up, he told himself. Something in the way she looked at Rochelle.

Savannah called all through the day, starting off with a complaint about his cellphone being turned off all morning, then complaining about being bored to death, shut away in a rat-hole, complaining about not being able to see him, complaining about not having seen him in five-hundred years, complaining about how love-sick she was, complaining about not getting to kiss him—that deep rivering kiss. Complaining, just complaining…

Just past six pm, Rochelle reluctantly left Wolf, after one last smothering bout of mollycoddling. Ten minutes later, Wolf finally called Sister Clara.

He found himself begin to shiver as he waited for her to answer. When he heard the voice, his heart cramped. Maddy put a hand on his back. He shut his eyes for an instant, took a deep breath and somehow spoke.

“This is Wolf Butcher. May I talk to Robin please?”

“Well, she’s on the playground. Give me the message.”

“Can’t I speak with her, please?”

“It wouldn’t be a good idea. She is too immersed in play. We shouldn’t disturb her.” Her voice was even—normal—as if nothing had ever happened between them.

Wolf pinched his brow.

“Mr. Butcher? You want to leave a message?”

“I think I’ll call later.”

“Not today then. Robin is going to be really busy.”

Wolf swallowed. What was she trying to say? “Just tell Robin I won’t be coming tonight to see her. I’ll now see her on Wednesday evening, same time.”

There was sudden silence at the other end.

The voice when it returned was low. “You won’t be coming this evening?”

“No, Sister, I have some important work.”

“More important than your daughter?”

“Two days won’t make a difference.”

A hush again.

Then, “I think you
should
make it tonight. Robin is very eager to see you. All day long she talks about nothing but you.” She paused a second, then added, “You better come.”

Wolf looked at Maddy and she nodded at him encouragingly.
Do it,
she mouthed.

With a very weighted heart, he said, “I’m sorry, Sister, but I can’t make it today. But tell Robin I’ll surely see her on Wednesday.” And he cut the line and turned the cellphone off.

“It’ll be alright,” Maddy said and patted his thigh. “But why did you say you’ll be busy? You should have told her you’re unwell. She would understand that…after all, she was responsible for it.”

He shook his head. “You wanted me to get Robin worried? As it is she’s very sensitive about anything concerning me. I can’t do that to her.”

“Yes, I guess. … Anyway, relax now. All will be well.”

“I hope so. I truly hope so.” For, there had been something in Sister Clara’s tone that really bothered him—something almost sinister. He knew he
should
go and visit Robin tonight. But he also knew he couldn’t face the sight of the woman again. He needed a couple of day’s respite at least.

.

A
little later…

“I have to ask you something,” Wolf said.

“Seek,” Maddy said.

“Why have you been looking at Rochelle
that
way all day?”

“What way? Oh…”

“Yes?”

“Because I like her.”

“Like her?”

“Yes. She’s very pretty.”

“Very pretty?”

“And very sexy.”

“Sweet shit!”

“And very hot.”

“Sweet shit!”

“Indeed. She makes me water between my legs. She has made me water all day. Why else do you think I stayed back the whole time?”

Wolf inhaled deeply, shut his eyes, and shook his head in disbelief.

“I’m a top. And I feel she’ll be the perfect bottom for me. What do you say?” she added.

He had nothing to say…he was speechless.

“Don’t be a prick...you can do better than that! So tell me, honestly—won’t we make a great couple?”

“She’s married. And she’s not
that
type.”

“Oh, all girls have it in them. It’s only that they have to find out.” She winked. “Gosh, Wolf, you should’ve been a woman. You’re so pretty yourself. I’d have gored you to death myself.”

His eyes turned deadly serious and a hurt came into them.

“Okay, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I’m very sorry,” Maddy quickly said. But then she was back. “But you know what? I haven’t had it in six months now and I’m really desperate. I need it bad. Either you arrange Rochelle for me, or I’m donning you up as a woman and laying you hard. God, I wouldn’t even have to use a dildo…”

“Are you serious?!” he scowled, the shock loud on his face. “What are you saying?! What sort of talk is this?!”

“Then do one thing,” she continued calmly, suppressing a giggle. “At least show me your dick. Let me hold it for a second. I’ve never seen or held a superstar’s dick, you know, and I don’t want to die wondering.”

“I don’t fucking believe this…you are sick!”

“Come on, make a girl happy. What do you have to lose? It’s not as if I’m going to swallow you up. I only eat pussies.” She moved toward him arm extended.

“Hey, stay away! STAY AWAY!” he blurted, hastily backing away. “Geez, REALLY, Maddy?!” He shook his head in utter disbelief.

She exhaled in a long stream. “Okay, if you so insist. Perhaps some other day then,” she said with mock-regret. She checked her watch. “Time for me to leave too, brother. You’ll be okay?”

“I’ll flourish when you’re gone.” He slapped his palms together.

“So ungrateful!”

At the door, she abruptly stopped. She turned back to him. Her face became suddenly sober.

“That thing you did the other day on the phone—threatening me about Piers…my brother,” she said. “Not a good thing to do.”

“You deserved it,” he said matter-of-factly.

“No, I didn’t. No one does,” she said. “You know, he is an invalid—he has no limbs at all. No arms, no legs. He was born that way. Still, he’s my brother, my only sibling, and I love him dearly.” She bit her lip.

“I’m…I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

She nodded.

“He lives with you?” he asked.

She shook her head. “With my mom. In Somerset in England,” she said. “My mother is a widow. These two are the only family I have.”

“Why don’t you get them here to stay with you then?”

“They wouldn’t come. Somerset is their home. They’ve lived there all their lives.”

“So what happens when your mother dies? I mean, your brother…”

Fondness flooded Maddy’s eyes. “He may have no limbs, but you must see him function. He is pretty independent and does virtually everything by himself. He can eat and drink and have a bath and move around and even make and receive phone calls—all by himself. He refuses help from anyone, including Mom. His eagerness has to be seen to be believed. He is something else totally.” Great pride came to her eyes.

Wolf wondered how that was possible. We lose the use of one finger and can’t do half the things in life.
But then there are amazing people around. … Perhaps it would do us a world of good to pull back a little before cribbing about the smallest things in life
.

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W
ednesday, April 30…two am.

The cellphone rang and Wolf groaned in his sleep. He fumbled around in the dark and grabbed the handset.

“Yeah, who’s it?”

“Mr. Butcher?”

Something nasty shot up his spine. “Yes.”

“This is Clara from the Home. I’m sorry to disturb you, but I need to talk to you.”

He sat up.
The fucking cunt!...why can’t you fucking leave me alone!

“Yes,” he repeated mechanically.

“Is Robin with you?”

“What?”

“Robin. Is she with you?”

“What do you mean she is with me? She is with
you!
”

“I’m afraid not, Mr. Butcher. She isn’t in here. Her bed’s empty.”

“Check the terrace, will you?”

“I checked the whole property. Repeatedly. She’s gone, Mr. Butcher.”

“
Gone?!
” he barked. “Gone where?”

“That’s what I’m asking you, Mr. Butcher. Perhaps you took her.”

Wolf’s hands turned to fists. “Look you little piece of fuck, if this is one of your screwy jokes, I’ll strangle your hideous neck till you die. You…”

“Please don’t talk to me like that, Mr. Butcher!” she said. “I’m telling you the truth—Robin’s missing…and it has nothing to do with me. I swear in the holy name of Jesus!”

WOLF
could feel his heart pounding so violently, it sent shockwaves through his whole body, making him tremble like a tin house in an earthquake. He thought he was having a heart attack. The pain in his chest was so excruciating, it made him sweat like a marathoner and gasp like an asthmatic.

Yet, at some level, he realized he couldn’t afford the luxury of incapacitating terror.

His first cognizant thought had immediately run to Sister Clara. The fucking cunt had taken it out on him for defying her. But the tone in her voice when she had said,
I’m telling you the truth—Robin’s gone…and it has nothing to do with me. I swear in the holy name of Jesus!
had been so spontaneous, so ingenuous, and so full of her own fear, Wolf instinctively knew she was telling the truth.