True Nature

chapter #1

A.N. first story on this website, looking for some reviews to help me keep motivated to write. thanks guys. there is also a picture of Jasper to the right --->

I'm at the cafe, the one I always go to for afternoon tea. It's close to work so its easy to get out for a short break. As I walk in the door, Ray, who is always on the counter, greets me. He comes over and pulls me into a hug. Leading me to my usual seat, he points out the new customer for the day. Sitting across the room from my secluded and dark corner I see the young man. His hair is medium in length, a lightish brown. His eyes are blue. A rare combination for a guy. I look back, straight into Ray's eyes.

"Ooh, Adriana, is the meaning of your name proving to be true?" My eyes sharpen, glaring at him. My true nature rising to the surface. My name means "Dark, rich"...well, being rich was never something I could control, being a millionaires daughter and all. But hey, it's a nice life.

Ray sends looks my way all night. Finally in a huff, after glaring at him numerous times trying to stop him, I leave. I walk slowly down the street, taking my sweet time.

"Excuse me. Excuse me," I hear a voice calling from behind me. I stop. Turning around. There behind me stands a person that I never thought I would see again.

" I'm sorry, but a man named Ray asked me to give you this," he says holding out a piece of paper.

Slowly reaching out my hand, I take the piece of paper. Opening it I read what Ray has written. Smiling, I thank the stranger, and as I'm turning I feel a hand reach out and gently rest on the top of my arm.

"Let me walk you home. Please, it would ease my conscience." His voice rings like a song, a musical tinkle to it. Mesmerising me. Forcing my head to nod. I turn and start walking in the general direction of home.

His presence beside me, I walk, dreading the moment that he has to leave. His aura so calming that I'm not struggling to hold my true self in check. My gaze flicks up. At the same time our eyes meet. We stop walking, and I can't help but stare into his eyes. Realising that we aren't walking any more, I force my gaze away from his.

"Well, this is me," I look at him. Quickly turning and walking up the stairs, so fast that I am practically running. Putting my hand to the mechanical lock, I use my power to unlock it.

Throwing the door closed, I lean against it, my body shaking. Pushing away from the door, I race across the room and fling open the trap door. Jumping down into the dark room, I run to the chains, working in the dark is not a problem for me. I can feel the night sky and eerie emptiness of it with out the presence of the moon. I feel around and fasten the chains, first to my ankles, then my waist and lastly around my wrists. Then I'm waiting in the dark room, waiting for the bone breaking pain.

And then it begins. One bone snaps. A blood curdling scream echo's around the room. I lie shaking on the floor, my body unable to cope with the blinding pain. Another snaps, and then another. I lose count. All I can hear is an endless screaming. My own scream, I realise. My vision fades, my other senses take over. I hear the sounds outside. Someone is banging on a door. MY door. In a flurry I feel my way around the locks on my chains and undo them. As I reach the trap door, I hear the banging become less frequent and sound more like someone trying to force their way in.

"Just a minute!" I yell from the open trapdoor. Using the electrical currents flowing through my body, I walk to the door. Pulling a pair of leather gloves from my pocket and pulling them on, I open the door.

"Oh, hi... ummm.. I thought I heard screaming, is everything okay?" I recognise the voice as the man from the cafe.

"Yes, everything is fine. But seeing as you are here, would you like to come in for a coffee?" I gesture my hands, inviting him into the house. There is something different about this man. Ray must have known that. There is no other explanation as to why he would try to set me up with this man. I can sense the difference.

"Well, before we go any further I think I should introduce myself. I'm Adriana," my voice cuts through the silence like a knife through butter.

"I'm Jasper," and with that done our conversation begins to flow, it's like we have known each other for longer than we really have.

Walking Jasper to the door I put out my hand to shake his. Just as our hands are about to touch I look down and see the bare skin of my hand. I pull back sharply, preventing our hands from meeting. He looks at me. Stunned, shocked and hurt.

"It's okay Adriana, you can touch me without hurting me, your powers won't harm me."