Time After Time

Chapter 14

As Lexi drove home, Dante soared above her, his sharp eyes sweeping to and fro, keeping a vigilant watch for any danger. When she climbed out of the car, before heading inside, she looked up and winked at him. Landing in the tree by her window, he preened, ruffling his feathers. God she is fascinating, he mused. He waited patiently in the tree, for her to come up and open the window. Her face popped up, and she whispered into the night " I have to have dinner with my family, but I'm leaving this open, so come in and wait for me." As quickly as she appeared, she was gone.
Dante braced himself to fly into her window, just as he was about to take off, he noticed a red fox scamper across the yard. While a fox wasn't unusual around these parts, they were not usually in peoples yards. He sent a tendril of power towards it, but nothing came back. Just a regular fox then. Putting it out of his mind, he flew into Lexi's window, transforming once he was inside. Below, the foxes eyes gleamed, a flash appearing in them for just a moment as it stayed curled up below the tree Dante had just left.
Once in Lexi's room, Dante walked around quietly. He had been so consumed with Lexi when he was in here before, but now he had time to look around and see what her room said about her. Her jewel blue bedcover was haphazardly thrown up, her attempt for it to look somewhat made, he assumed. Her furniture was all white, with clean lines. Cheer trophies lined a shelf on the wall, which made him smile. Walking over to her vanity, he lightly traced the silver brush and mirror set, remembering a time when those were quite in fashion. Peering at the photos tucked into the edge of the mirror, he saw photos of Lexi and what must be her Dad, along with her mother and sister. There was her and Cass, with a curly headed blonde he knew from listening to her must be Emma. The picture was folded, so he pulled it out to see the other side. Taken aback, he thought he was looking at Kalista. But that was impossible! Taking the time to look again, he realized the girl in the photo wasn't Kalista, she just had the same flaming red hair and deep green eyes. Her smile held that same sense of secret contempt and cunning though. This must be Jade, Erik had mentioned her, when he was off to some boring high school event. Although he had mentioned the hair and eyes, he didn't mention the similarities to their former flame. Something about her didn't settle well with Dante, and he made a mental note to find out more about her. Why did Lexi have her folded out of sight?
Just then, he felt two hands cover his eyes, he had heard her coming up the stairs of course, but decided to let her have her fun. " Guess who?" Lexi whispered playfully.
" Hmm, I don't know. The most stunning woman on the planet?" He teased back, turning towards her. She smiled at him brilliantly, tilting her head up for a kiss. He obliged willingly. When they broke apart, he held up the photo and asked " Who is the redhead you folded to the back?"
Taking the photo back and tucking in back into the mirror the way it was before, Lexi shoulders tensed when she replied "Jade" coming to stand behind her, he began kneading her tense shoulders with his hands, as she relaxed back against him he questioned " Why is she folded away?"
Lexi turned to face him " Because we used to all four be best friends, I am not sure what happened but Jade changed. She hates us now and then" she trailed off, not wanting to tell him about Erik.
Dante just quirked an eyebrow " Your face tells me you don't want to tell me anymore, I must assume it has to do with my little brother."
Sighing, Lexi continued "Jade already didn't like me, I don't know why, but I felt jealousy comping from her. When Erik arrived, they became friends and I" Lexi looks down at this point,blushing, ashamed of how manipulative and childish she was. Dante just stroked her cheek encouragingly. She continued " I don't like to lose, and when I want something I don't let anyone stand in my way, so when I got Erik to be interested in me, it didn't help the Jade situation at all." She hurried on to add " that was before I met you though." Lexi looked at him imploringly, squeezing his hand.
Dante chuckled and wrapping her in his arms, replied " My darling, you can't think I would judge you for going after what you want? Your determination and dare I say, cunning, are part of what I adore about you. I can't fathom you not getting what you want ever." He began playing with the ends of her hair softly.
She relaxed against him, but said hesitantly " Since then, I can't read Jade's emotions. It is like there is a wall there, unless she wants me too. Then it is like she is throwing them at me. It is the strangest thing."
Dante's hand stilled in her hair for just a second, before he forced them to continue. He was definitely going to check out this Jade girl, he thought to himself as his sense of unease grew. Out loud he just said " That is strange, perhaps just avoid her as best as possible. Hmm?"
Lexi nodded into his chest and then surprising him, began pulling him over to the bed. As she laid down, she looked up at him beguilingly " I'm so tired, hold me?"
" As you wish." He murmured in a voice as smooth as velvet.