October and April (Bk 2 Of The Valhireya Series)-rewriting

Eleven

Idalia

How to hell do I make this feeling go away? All I can think about is him. I dreamt about him every night and I am supposed to just walk up to his house today and do what? Pretend like none of it happened? Like I am not obsessing about him? I could say it's all Jim's fault. That he is the one that dragged me into this mess. But he was just a simple tool. I should just do the logical thing and get it over with. All these feelings should go away after everything will be over. So I put on a black dress, do my makeup and leave for his house.

As I get closer to his house, the memories hit me: how we met, the first time he kissed my knuckles, the poker game. By the time I pull up to the house, I am a mess, but I can't let him see that. So I check my lipstick and change into my heels and go inside. I go straight to the kitchen and make myself a dark coffee then walk into his office with my cup in my hand. He turns to look at me and I am surprised, to say the least. What is wrong with him?

His skin looks lifeless and his eyes are bloodshot. His lips are almost purple looking. Did he get the flu or something? It's 1000 degrees outside. How did he get sick?

"Are you ok?" My words fly out my mouth as usually. This seems to happen quite often around him.

"Good morning to you too!" He says as he throws the paper file on his desk and rubs his eyes. "Could you please close the blinds a little?" He asks me and I put down my coffee cup and go and close the blinds. When I turn around, I see him drinking from my cup and I roll my eyes.

"That was mine, you know?" I tell him trying to play it cool.

"Technically, it is my cup." He says with his usual seductive tone.

"It had my lipstick on it, too'." I tell him with a sarcastic smile on my face.

"Hmm..." he slowly turns the cup and searches for the stain. I follow his movement and wait for his next reaction. My pulse spikes in anticipation.

"I can think of at least one better place that lipstick stain would look better on." His words make my mouth run dry. Of course you can! I mentally comment as I feel my cheeks flushing because I know exactly what he means.

"There is something I want to tell you." I decide to rip the bandaid off. The sooner the better. Jan walks into the office as cheerful as ever and gives Cade a weird look.

"Ida, darling! There are some samples of bottles that have just arrived. Do you mind if you go and check them? We will be with you soon!" He says and I smile politely and leave.

I guess I'll just have to talk to him later.

Cade

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Why haven't you fed?" He asks me and I rub my temples to soothe the headache.

"I did try yesterday. I don't know what is happening." I tell him and I see his look become worried.

"What do you mean?" He asks me and I roll my eyes.

"Do you want to know all the ways I fucked her or...?" I ask him visibly annoyed. He is being to intrusive.

"Her? You mean you fucked Ida?" His concern is visible now but I don't understand what is happening. Why is he so worried? Does he care about her that much?

"What am I missing here, little brother? Are you in love with my new toy?" I ask him as I stand up from my desk and walk towards him.

"No! Where did that come from?" He asks, feigning ignorance.

"You know very well where it came from. She is too pure, too sweet according to your words. And now you ask me if I fucked her?"

"She really is too pure, but, you know what? do whatever the fuck you want! I am tired of this game! I've been guarding your back for hundreds of years now. You can both hop on an unicorn and ride into the sunset, for what I care!" He takes his jacket and storms out the door. What the fuck was that all about? What did he mean by hundreds of years? He just came to the surface 20 years ago.

"What's wrong with Jan?" Her melodic voice pulls me out of my train of thoughts.

"He is just being more dramatic today. Ignore him!" I tell her and take another sip from her coffee. She looks at my hand holding her cup but doesn't say anything.

"He just told me to enjoy the ride. What is that about?"

"As I said: just Jan being dramatic. Now, will you please show me the bottle you selected?" I ask her and she finally smiles a little. She offers me the bottle to study it. It looks very old.

"Doesn't it look too 'old'? I ask her raising my eyebrow in amusement.

"It does. But again, I had time to think about this. The Seven Deadly Sins are as old as time itself, right?" She asks me and I genuinely smile at her. I like her approach.

"So I've been told." I answer her. She continues to look at the bottle, focused on her idea.

"So it didn't make sense to have a fancy bottle. I also notified the graphic designers. I sent them your initial logo idea and told them to reinterpret it. After all, it is your brand." She tells me and finally looks at me. I love that she is so passionate about her work and that when she speaks about it she is completely oblivious of other things around her.

"Thank you, miss Lumien!" I tell her and she frowns at hearing me use her surname.

"Now, if you don't mind, I would like to have that discussion?" She says and I feel my insides burning. I am in enough pain even without thinking of her lips and how wet she was. Fuck! I am slipping.

"Can we just have this discussion some other day?" I ask her and sit down behind my desk so she doesn't notice my growing boner.

"I quit!" She says and leaves me dumbfounded.

"You can't quit, Idalia." I tell her while smiling at her. Sweet innocent Ida!

"I think I can. I am still in my probation period or whatever they call it here. I can quit without notice and this is what I am doing." She tells me and I run my hand through my hair. Is this "drama day"? What has gotten into everyone today?

"Listen to me closely, miss Lumien. I forbid you to quit!" I tell her channeling every ounce of energy left inside me. I need to make her submit.

"Actually, you cannot do that!" She answers with a smirk on her lips. Fuck! I am too weak for giving commands. I didn't want to do this, Idalia, but you leave me no other choice.