Cardinal

Chapter 5

"What do you mean, Steel? Is this where you guys live or are you just fucking with me?" 

Steel smirks and laughs at me. 

"Lil, you forget who we are. Honestly though, props to you for not even caring about our family background when we met." 

How could I forget? I memorized and compartmentalized every detail I remembered about them. Every detail, touch, and memory replayed like a broken record in my mind. I was aware of how powerful their families were when the rumors circulated when they arrived at the academy. I wasn't aware they were also extremely well-off but I should have honestly put it together. The jet, the Escalade, Mr. Creep, the limousine. All my focus today was kept on my links and keeping my powers from spilling out. I could care less if they were rich or poor, to be honest. My only concern was that they were alive to live their lives.  

Keenan, William, and Damian are nowhere to be seen and I'm left alone with Steel. I look at him expectantly, waiting to hear instructions on where I'm supposed to be or what I'm supposed to be doing. 

He grabs my arm and leads me through the foyer where a massive chandelier, lined with droplets of glass, looking suspiciously like diamonds with gold trimmings. Holy shit. I look up at the monstrosity. I wonder why people need things like these. All I wanted was a comfortable bed and a TV. I shake my head at the ridiculous show of wealth and follow Steel. 

He leads me to a large room that is surprisingly modern and cozy at the same time. The floor is lined with dark mahogany flooring which mirrors the color of the exposed beams on the ceiling. There's a large floor-to-ceiling window on the other side of the room. The white walls contrast the dark wood, giving a modern but cozy element to the room. Best of all, there's a large fireplace to the right wall, complete with a large, gray, comfortable-looking couch facing the fireplace. 

To my left, there's a modern, clean kitchen with a modern island which was large enough to also function as a dining table. Whew, I'm really loving this setup. While I'm reveling in the impeccable interior design of this place, Steel tugs my arm and leads me up the stairs hiding further to the left of the kitchen. 

"Wipe some of that drool off your face, Lil." Steel humorously comments at my stunned reaction to their mansion. 

"The interior design here is stunning," I comment as we make our way up the ridiculously long staircase. 

"Julie designed it for us," Steel says a tad quietly, gauging my reaction. Julie. Otherwise known as Keenan's sister and my only best friend. She was my only friend really before I left. 

"When she found out that we found you, she wanted to come but we told her it was probably best we don't overwhelm you so you don't go running again." Ouch. 

"Does she hate me?" I ask Steel, hurt and worry seeping into my voice. 

"Do you hate me?" I murmur softly. 

"No one hates you, Lilac." He stops at the top of the stairs, his gray eyes staring at me intently. 

"William is coping in his own way. He doesn't know how to communicate with you. Damian is, well...We won't talk about him but he definitely doesn't hate you. Keenan would do anything for you if you haven't noticed but he's also not forgiven you for your abandonment. And I'm not dumb enough to believe that you just up and left without a reason. You wouldn't be like that." 

He stares at me with a passion and earnestness that fills my chest with warm butterflies. I can feel our bond, our link, pulsing in my chest with his nearness as he places his hand on my chest and cups my face. I lean into his touch as Steel starts to caress my lips with his thumb. I stare up at his face, my mouth opening slightly with his touch as he carefully traces a line around my lips. I feel an almost foreign response to his touch. A small moan escapes my lips and his pupils dilate almost violently in response, his hand tightening on my face and his other hand traveling to my hip gripping me closely to his hard-muscled body. I close my eyes, anticipating the touch of his lips when I feel the sudden loss of his hand and body. It leaves me with a cold feeling, like finding you're missing a puzzle piece after putting everything else together. 

He audibly sighs as he distances himself from me, running his hands through his hair as he backs away slowly. Desire and regret paint his gaze which pairs the confused and hurt look I give him. This brings reality crashing down again, reminding me that moments like this cannot happen again. I force an expressionless mask on my face and clear my throat, pretending like this didn't happen and pretending like it didn't hurt. 

"So where do I stay and what else is expected of me while I'm here?" 

I quickly change the subject to his confusion. He stays quiet for a second while he tries to figure out the change in my mood. He shakes his head, dismissing the change in energy, and motions for me to follow him. 

He leads me to a door down the hall to the right of the staircase and opens the door to the last room on the right. Steel opens the door to a large room that could have probably fit two of the last apartment that I stayed in.

"Here's your room. This is the only one that faces the pond and this side of the house," he relays to me. I look around in astonishment and take in the large room. 

"I really don't need this much space," I tell Steel, feeling uncomfortable with the largeness of it all. There's a sitting room in this bedroom for fucks sake. 

"This is actually our smallest room," Steel states in a matter-of-fact manner. 

"Damian and I are in the hall straight across from the stairs. Keenan and William's rooms are in the hall to the left of the stairs. Martha, our maid, has placed some clothing on the bed for you. We only have men's clothes right now so it'll have to do until we shop for some clothes tomorrow." He quickly explains. 

"Let me know if you need anything. We'll get you a phone tomorrow and other items you might need. You also have a meeting with the headmaster at the academy." Steel doesn't say goodbye and escapes quickly leaving me in this big ass room, confused as fuck. 

Is he trying to avoid me now? He's been the one making all the moves! I huff in frustration and decide to explore the room they've put me in to calm myself. 

Beyond the ridiculous sitting room that greets you when you first come in the room, there is an obnoxiously large, ALASKAN King-sized bed that is situated on the other side of the sitting room. That thing can probably fit five people comfortably. I feel my cheeks heat and choke on my spit when I remember why unit houses are usually equipped with Alaskan king-sized beds. I shake my head and decide to explore more of the room. 

My attention is drawn to the large rectangular window on the side of the room, displaying the greenland on the side of the house. There's a daybed attached to the wall under the window with empty bookshelves adjacent to the wall which houses the window. I walk over to the other side of the room with two doors, which I assume could be the bathroom or the closet.  When I open the door to the bathroom, my mouth literally hangs open. There's a floor-to-ceiling window to the side opposite of the sink which has a clawfoot bathtub in front of it. The large shower area has a rainfall showerhead, lined with light blue tiles. The door adjacent to the left of the bathroom door displays another ridiculously sized walk-in closet that could probably be someone's bedroom in a middle-class house. I sigh and plop on the bed, reveling at the softness of the bed. Well, here we are...My worst nightmare and my best dream came true. 

I get up and decide to take a shower and brush my teeth, using the toiletries that Martha had so graciously thought to place on my bed. I would need to remind myself to thank her if she ever came by. 

I don't feel comfortable reusing my undergarments after I've already showered so I decide to just go commando and wear the oversized black cotton T-shirt and gray sweat pants that were on my bed. I feel a sudden wave of tiredness hit me as I get dressed. I haven't eaten anything today but the comfortable large bed was calling my name. I decide to forgo eating and slip into the soft sheets which lull me to sleep, dreaming of the time before everything went wrong.