The Pursuit

Twenty-Four

⬻Damien⤖

She was like a vixen tonight, but unaware of her powers. I pulled this favor out of the clear blue sky this morning. I had opened one of my restaurants in Los Angeles last month and featured a new rum from the singer who was playing a concert in town this week. His manager practically threw the tickets  at me for the investment I made in his boss' new venture. Was I ever the thankful fool for this blessing.

When we got to the concert I could see Maggie's  eyes light up like a giant star was burning behind her. She was illuminated and I was so ecstatic thinking about the carefree night she was going to have. The whole time she hung onto me. She swayed in my arms, she held my arms around her and I squeezed her tightly. I felt like a young teenage boy again, falling for the first time into the warm and ethereal pull of love.  I never wanted to let go of her. I could feel the light coming off her body in waves. She would let the music pull her back and forth as she closed her eyes and moved  me with her.

I couldn't resist the stolen kisses I placed on her ear or neck. I held and rocked her knowing she was on  the better path now. This is the woman she was supposed to be. She was going to get better and I was going to make sure she knew I was with her. This week had been the blessing in disguise we both had needed. After all I knew about the Maggie of the past I was seeing her in the present aware of the opportunity for growth and healing. The trauma of her past was slowly fading the more she healed.

By the time we were on our way back to the house she was dozing off in the passenger seat. I would steal glances of her as she caught herself drifting into sleep. She would jolt up when her head slumped forward. I was so thankful she was able to let herself have a good time, to forget for a moment the heartache that was haunting her.  I wonder if I was putting myself in a bad place with her though. I didn't want her to be reliant on me. I did not want her to resent the time we had together when this was over. I wanted her path of healing to be as independent as possible but I knew my guidance would have to be a force of  skillful patience and attention.

As we pulled into the long  driveway I knew something wasn't right. I could feel the air change and my body go  on high alert. In the back of mind I connected the present to the phone calls at dinner time. Sam had called at least three times and I knew he would know where we were. If he had any connections to my friends in Boston they would have shared my possible whereabouts without second guessing that they were giving the information to a stalker.

If he had found my truck at the airport he would have probably found his way into the airport to trace our whereabouts, if not assume I was at one of the four homes my family owned. He would have had to have started tracking us and if he had the resources I thought he did then the timing would mean he would have caught up to us by now.

I pulled the Jeep to the side of the driveway and turned off the lights. The palm trees swayed above us but offered no protection from the intruder. I looked up the drive to the house and the outside lights shined back at me. I looked back over to Maggie and I knew I couldn't bring her into that house. I knew he'd be waiting for us.

I backed the Jeep up and pulled away  to the main road. I put my lights back on and traveled the half mile up the road to Haku's house. The worry crept back when I saw his house layered in darkness. I had to hope he was home and he could help us. 

I pulled up to the house and the sensor light came on. The breath I was holding released and I saw a light come on in the back of the house. The lights gradually began to turn on as Haku made his way through his house. I turned to Maggie who was passed out next to me and gently rocked her awake. She began to turn and I saw her eyes peer open .

"Hey", I watched her sit up and wipe her hand over her face. She looked around and saw the strange house in front of us. Haku had gotten to his door and was watching us in the jeep. "Where are we?" She asked innocently.

"We're at Haku's", I replied as emotionless as possible. I didn't want to alert her. Her stalker was on the mainland, and I knew we had to remain vigilant.

She grabbed her bag at her feet and pulled it to her lap. I looked to Haku who was sporting a cheeky pair of pajama bottoms and a Boston University t-shirt he got when he came to visit me my sophomore year. I moved  to get out of the vehicle but Maggie's hand caught my arm. Her soft hand held me in my place. Her eyes peered through mine and I look at her and she takes my breath away. She just looked into my soul and I could feel her heartbeat coming through my skin. She was the only piece of light in this dark night.

"He's here isn't he? He's on the island ?" She asked with fear gathering in her breath. She searched my eyes and I pulled her hand into mine and kiss it.

I nodded to her but said reassuringly,  "I don't know for sure but this is the best option to be safe incase he is". My admission to her made me angry. This man literally caused her genuine fear and anxiety. He was hurting her through his actions and the actions he was making were going to ruin her. I wasn't going to let him get to her. She let go of me and opened the door. I followed suit and we walked towards Haku.

"Boy, do you know what time it is?" He asked with a gravelly voice. I knew he wasn't irritated, but there was concern in his voice. 

"Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, your majesty", I snarked back to him and tried to calm my anger down. I wasn't ready for this.

"Care for a slumber party?" Maggie said with sass next to me. Thank god she's seeing some lightness  in this.

Haku chuckled and he moved to motion us in. I let Maggie pass through first and then put my hand on my uncle's shoulder. "I owe you one", I said to him and he shut locking us in. I watched him peer out into the darkness from the window at the top of the door.

He turned to me and said, "No, keikikane, you would never owe me anything. Come in and rest", he looked at me with awareness. Maggie found the couch and I saw the exhaustion take over her body. I sat down on the edge and held her feet in my hands. Haku took a blanket from the chair across from us and laid it gently over Maggie..

"Mahalo 'Anakala", I said and a yawn escaped me.

Haku came over and grabbed my head in his hands and kissed the top of my head. "Rest easy", he paused and looked at Maggie and then back to me. "We'll talk in the morning".

He turned and walked away turning off the lights as he goes. I could hear the slight hum from Maggie and silently prayed that this nightmare of hers would all be over soon.

The darkness took me and I could only hope that Sam didn't come looking for us here.