Chapter 96

Ksenia snapped to attention the moment she heard the urgent banging on the door. Richie frowned as he unfolded from the couch, reaching the door just as Ciara lifted her hand to apply a rapid round of cacophony to the door yet again.

“You knew!”

Richie started at a finger pointing to his chest. The mahogany curled woman was ablaze, her eyes spewing shards of jade.

“Calm down sweetheart. What are you talking about?”

Ksenia’s panic stricken face emerged from behind Richie’s huge frame.

“Jon! You knew all about Jon and his sick games and yet you kept it from me.”

Richie and Ksenia shared worried looks.

“How did you find out wha....who he is?”

“He almost pounced on me tonight. Jesse got hurt and...”

“Jesse got hurt?!” rushed from both people’s mouths.

“It’s not serious, he fell and cut himself. He is fine...stop changing the subject!”

“Why don’t you come in?” Ksenia pulled Richie backwards to make some space for the flustered woman.

Ciara had the strange sensation that they were keeping something else from her, what it was she was sure to find out. Could she really trust these people? She was the intruder after all, looking in.

“I take it things didn’t turn out well ” Richie’s dark eyes flashed worriedly.

“No! Things didn’t go well! He so much as told me I’m incapable to look after his son, almost crushing my arm to get me away from him.”

She lifted her arm and displayed purplish smudges of fingerprints on her skin.

“I’m sure he didn’t mean that. Shock does strange things to parents.” There was a tick in Richie’s cheek as he stared at the marks.

Oh suuuurree! Why see the strange girl’s point of view!

Ciara turned her attention towards Ksenia.

“Today when I told you about the guy I met in...last night. You knew who I was talking about. Why didn’t you say anything? I thought we were friends.”

Ksenia sat down next to her, patting her hand gently.



“I’m sorry about that. I only realised it this afternoon. I went to see Jon and he promised that he will stop what he was doing and introduced himself. Which he did?”

“Just because his son was screaming to high heavens!” Ciara snorted irritatingly.

“I’m sorry it happened that way. I told him he was playing with fire....geesh!” Richie didn’t look too happy himself.

It seemed that everything was going to hell sooner than he anticipated. What will happen if she realised that he was the vampire that almost caused her death? Or the fact that they all knew about it and brought her here nonetheless?



Watching the couple, Ciara felt the undeniable warning that they were keeping something from her.

“Is there anything else I should know?”

Richie stared at her neck for a fleeting second before he turned his gaze towards Ksenia. His eyes told her to keep quiet.

Ksenia broke their eye contact and turned towards Ciara.

“There is something that needs to be said and explained to you. But now is not the right time but I promise you the moment the time is right, I’ll be the one to tell you myself. Ciara I need for you to understand that I treasure your friendship. I don’t want this to cause damage to our friendship. I’m sorry I haven’t told you about Jon’s identity sooner. I was wrong to keep it from you. “

Ksenia’s soft sincere words was like a water hose to a fire and she felt her anger seep from her.

“I’m sorry for barging in this time of night.” She flicked a quick look over the naked chested

man.

“I’m glad you feel the same way about our friendship. It means so much to me as well. Since I’ve been here I haven’t been myself, everything seemed out of whack and its great to have a girlfriend to talk to.” She leaned over and hugged the slim girl.

Richie smiled.

“Well! I guess I better get going, its late and I’ve been rude. Sorry again.” She stood up.

“Have breakfast with us tomorrow?” Richie invited.

It was on the tip of Ciara’s tongue to decline but Ksenia’s hopeful smile kept the words from slipping from her tongue.

“What time?”

“Eightish?”

“Eight it is then!”

Ciara kept a careful distance as Richie walked behind her.

“Have a good night.”

“You too hun, G’nigt.”

Ciara heard the slight click as Richie closed the door behind her and suddenly she felt so lonely.

~~~

Ciara grunted as her eyes rested on the table from across the room. Jon was at the breakfast table with Jesse. As if he suddenly became aware of her, his head raised slowly, turning towards her.

Forcing her feet to move forward she could swear she felt his eyes burn into her, peeling away at her emotions.

“Morning all.”

The shocked faces as David and Tico stared at her then Jon was comical and a giggle slipped from her throat unguardedly.

Jon cleared his throat with a growly scrape. His clear blue eyes kept her captive and only the high pitched voice of his son broke the moment.

“Ciara!”

“Hello big man. How is your knee?”

“It’s better. Daddy said I shouldn’t take the band aid off, he doesn’t like to see my cut. Will you put a new plaster on for me? This one is full of dry blood...see?” He lifted his tiny knee for her perusal.

“Hhhmmm..yeah I do. After breakfast I’ll quickly clean it for you. If that is ok with you?” She looked at him challengingly and immediately cursed herself for doing so.

Why would he have such an issue with cleaning his wound? What a strange man he was!

“That’s ok with me.” He kept himself busy with his breakfast.

David gaped at her, the words threatening to spill out.

“Ok, now what did I miss? How did you two finally meet?”

“Last night.” Jon offered.

“That’s it?” the blonde curls bobbed around. He could feel the arctic swirling around the table since Ciara’s arrival.

“That’s it.” Jon’s eyes were on her again. No one but the people watching him saw his eyes morph from sky blue to intense shimmering cobalt.

“So Ciara, what do you think of your boss?” Tico was ready to stoke fire.

Two red blotches painted her pale cheeks. If her mama taught her one thing, it was to be honest.

“I don’t know him very well, but from what I’ve seen...I don’t like very much.”