Jake

Chapter 15 - Imelda & Aldrek

Roses were aligned along the side of the broken fences, long and blooming bright red as we began to walk along a stone pathway towards a big modern wooden door to their home. I was aware Jake was walking behind me suddenly becoming paranoid as to how horrible the back of my hair probably was.

I followed Imelda in front of me as Aldrek pushed open the door and allowed Imelda and I entrance first, I gave him a polite nod as I followed Imelda towards a large living room sparkling with modernism and the sweet smell of lavender.

"Have a seat" Imelda directed as she held a hand out towards a plush red lounge horseshoeing around a coffee table placed in the middle.

I did as directed and sat, feeling the comfortable sink of my body as Aldrek sat opposite me and Jake uncomfortably close beside me.

"I'll get my equipment ready" Imelda spoke towards her lover before disappearing around a corner. Equipment? I was now worried again as I shoved my hands in-between my knees.

"How did that happen?" Aldrek smiled easing my tension as he nodded in the direction of my cast. Oh, the cast. The cast around my leg I had forgotten about in the midst of all the action. It was still there, more annoying than ever before, creating more of a damsel in distress image than needed.

It was due to come off tomorrow, and yet, here I was. I was dying to release my ankle, the muscles tense and desperate for air.

"Oh" I sniffed out my nose, hoping to account a lie of some sort.

Jake grew rigid beside me again, his posture changing as it did whenever he was agitated

"I fell" I stupidly came out with, classy and creative.

"Fell?" Aldrek raised an eyebrow, not convinced at all by my simple words.

I looked down at my foot and wriggled my toes.

"I um... an old friend, he was ah, I fell off a curb and twisted it" I mumbled, not even nearly making sense.

"Mhm" Aldrek mumbled as I glanced up at his slight smile, his eyes directed at his cousin beside me who began to ease his composure.

"I guess we should begin to explain to you what's going to happen for the next few days" Aldrek smiled, returning to his light mood as he clasped his hands together.

I just nodded.

"Well, I would assume Jake has told you the outline of what's going on, and I can imagine your confusion and worry, but I want to assure you that we aren't going to hurt you, we aren't out for anything but your best interest" He began as he kept his eyes firmly on me.

"I think at this point in time, we need a cooling off period, you are going to stay here for a few days, learn more about what has happened and what will probably happen, you will make choices, you will be frightened at some of the things you will hear, but it's all to aid you in making the decisions you need to make. Now, unfortunately, we will be applying some pretty non-argumentable rules upon you solely for the purpose of your well-being" Aldrek continued, his words crushing themselves inside my brain with the rest of the information I had received in the last 24 hours.

"I want you to believe me when I say this Haven, and it has no intention of scaring you, but you deserve to know" He spoke, leaning forward as his eyes locked on mine

"Hudson and his clan are very powerful, the most powerful of his kind and the interest he has in you, seems intense, he's fixated on turning your life upside down in an attempt to take your life away in the most hideous way possible all because of what you are to this man" Aldrek explained sending my skin cold, my heart beginning it's little race to the finish line as he pointed towards Jake.