Having Fayth

White flag?

Fayth

I was standing in front of my house listening to both of them shout at each other, but none of the words could register over the sound of my blood rushing into my ears. A steady high-pitched hum against my eardrums clouding everything in front of me. The sticky texture of the blood that coated my skin and clothes met with a pain in my chest I couldn't fully comprehend and in a moment, I turned and ran for the woods behind my house. I needed to get away. My head is a mess. I feel like I'm drowning on land, sinking in quicksand. Talking to them will do me no good. I would either cry or kill one of them at this point.

My chest heaved as I slowed to a walk when I was sure I was well within the forest.

Their words started to become clearer in my mind as I continued to walk blindly, through the trees and the brush, and I've reached the realization that B really did use me, then he jumped on the first girl to bat her eyelashes at him. And Axel... he might just be insane. How could someone so easily end the life of another without a second thought? It couldn't have been the first time. No. He's had to have done it before. He didn't even hesitate. Who the hell does that?

My heart ached from the information of Blain's betrayal and fought with the anger at Axel's disconcert of human life vying for first place in my mind. B had women before me. It would be stupid to think that he would wait even a few days after me to find someone new. I didn't mean anything to him. Just a warm body to have fun with before he ventured out to the next thing. Sandra is a nice girl though; I hope she knows what she's getting herself into. He will break her heart. I can't find it in me to reach out though, I need some time alone. Time to sort out my thoughts and emotions.

I'd had enough of this night, this week, fuck... this whole god damned year! Part of me yearned for the simpler times. Times when my stepbrother was only my stepbrother. Times when my family was whole, and I never knew what a true broken heart felt like. Times when I was still a kid, and I didn't know what it sounded like when someone drowned in their own life source or watch the light fade from someone's eyes slowly as their blood leaked from their head and splattered against pristinely kept antiques. A time when I didn't hold the knowledge of how to dispose of a human body or wonder why it was that Axel held that information or didn't flinch when he pulled the trigger ending someone's life.

Gathering my jacket around me to stem off the cool night air, I slowed my pace while I weaved my way through the woods. The blood coating my hands left its mark on every tree and bush I touched. Red stains trailed behind me as if a beacon to anyone who may wish to follow. If they were smart, they would leave me be.

If I could shut my emotions off, turn the pain down, I would be fine. Just fine. But the only time I seem to be fine is when I'm in the devil's presence. The demon prince who opens my eyes to a whole new world. I shouldn't be drawn to him, but I am. It's like he calls to me. Blain says he's dangerous. I know it's true. I've witnessed his darkness with my own two eyes tonight, but he's never lifted a finger to harm me.

He only spoke the truth; every promise he's made he has kept. The storm within my mind continued to twist and turn, run, stay, broken heart, falling slowly, dangerous, already caused me pain I will forever carry in my soul. My thoughts jumped from Axel to Blain, Blain to my dad, to Tony and Ashley, to my mom who never wanted me, to the anger and disappointment I held for myself and by the time that I reached the edge of the woods I was fuming all over again. The anger didn't go anywhere. It fed off every other emotion passing with each beat of my heart. I was blinded by rage when I came through the thick curtain of the forest.

I could hear his voice. The devil calling to me, screaming my name. Even in a whirlwind of disaster I found him sitting on his porch waiting for me. Somehow, I had unknowingly found myself standing in his front yard and it set me off.

He walked to me slowly, reaching his hands out in a gentle offer to console me. I slapped his hand away and punched him in the face screaming at him. "How long have you known? You bastard!" he stood there not making a move to lash out or respond staring back into my eyes as if I could read his fucking mind. I punched him in the chest which still didn't do anything. No reaction. He watched me as if I were a puppy chewing on a shoe he cared nothing about. As if the turmoil and realizations I was coming to terms with were adorable. "Say something!" I screamed and smacked his chest. My eyes filled with tears as I screamed. I was caught between wanting to crumble and beating him into a bloody pulp.

I smacked his chest repeatedly. "Why did you kill him? Why didn't you tell me about Blain and Sandra sooner? Why do you know how to get rid of a body? What the fuck?! You're fucking sick you twisted son of a bi-Ahhhh!" I screamed as he grabbed my arms to his chest and pinned me to him.

He slammed his lips to mine. The action was aggressive, but his lips on mine moved in a slow tender caress. I pushed at his chest trying to fight back. My anger was at an all time high. He bit my lower lip causing me to gasp and plunged his tongue into my mouth. He kissed me as if he was made to do it. As if he knew my mouth and had a cheat code to every nerve ending connected from my tongue down to my toes. A deep groan escaping his throat is what shoved me back into reality and with it I slapped him across the face as hard as I could effectively escaping the clutches of his errant lips.

"No!" I seethed as I angerly wiped the tears from my eyes. "You owe me answers, Axel and you owe them to me now!"

His tongue darted out of his mouth running across his bottom lip to catch the small bead of blood that seeped from his split lip. A crooked smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He jerked my body back to his with his hand tangled in my hair. I could feel the way his muscles pulled and tightened beneath his shirt. The proud bulge in his pants evident of where his mind had gone.

"Do you want to try that again, sweetheart?" he asked running his thumb against my lips. They parted on their own accord, and I'm left fighting to keep hold of the anger that brought me to this point. I glared back and gritted my teeth as he stood grinding himself into me. "Answers, now or so help me I will leave, and I will never speak to you again." I watch his smirk drop from his face and something close to worry and hurt pass through his gaze. "Or who knows? Maybe the police will get an anonymous tip about the dead body rotting in the woods near your mother's cabin." I shrugged.

His hand fell from my hair as his eyes hardened for just a moment. In that instant I'm not sure what he might do. I'm surprised when he takes a step back from me, allowing me distance and speaks so softly I almost didn't hear him. "He could have killed you." He whispered into the breeze. "He hurt you. He could have killed you and he promised just as much when you were willing to let him walk free and clear. I did what I had to, to keep you safe." My pulse quickened at the sincerity in his voice. He locked eyes with me before he continued, "I knew how to make him disappear because he isn't the first, but you've already pieced that together, I'm sure." I took a step back from him needing more space. He wasn't telling me anything I didn't already know or at the very least suspect, but for some reason hearing it out loud sent a shot of fear down my spine. Just who exactly is Axel Vaughn?

"As for that dickhead you call a stepbrother, I only found out a few hours ago while we were at the cabin. It's all over social media. I didn't tell you because it wasn't my place, but I wasn't going to let him stand there and say I'm a danger to you when he is by far more dangerous than I am when it comes to your heart and safety. I've never claimed I was a good guy, Fayth. I only said I would treat you like a queen and show you what it meant to be loved and cared for and I intend to do just that if you only give me a chance. I've never broken my promises. I've been there when you cried. I've picked up the pieces and all I've wanted; all I want is you."

He was right in front of me in two big steps and I was frozen to my spot from his words. He brushed my hair behind my ear. "Don't make me break my promises, Fayth, because I can't walk away from you. I was your prisoner the moment I saw you dancing at that party and I'm telling you right now that I don't want to be set free." His large rough hand cupped my cheek and I feel the battle I've been fighting is set up for failure. My heart is waving a white flag in surrender, but my brain is screaming for me to run! But who would I be if I always ran from my problems and the real question, do I even want to?