Solitude Grace

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lisa, for a moment, only looked at Harper's brother, expecting Harper to say that whatever this man wanted to say to him, he could say before her.

But she was rendered speechless at what his actual words were. "Go inside, Lisa." She noted the gruff tone in his voice and the restrain evident in it, something was not right.

Harper noticed Lisa's baffled reaction to his words. He had not expected to sound so vain towards her, he never wanted to scare her. But now she looked at him as if he were a stranger to her, that stubborn glint in her eyes making its appearance as she readied herself to protest against his words.

"I would like for you to go inside, we will talk later." He said before she could add her own opinion.

Lisa frowned at him, those almost violet eyes turning angry, then hurt, then the emotion was wiped from them as she turned her back on him and stormed back into the house, her eyes footstep almost shook Harper's world at the realisation that he had yet again managed to hurt her in a way. It seemed as if that was what he was good at, hurting the one human person who he could care for.

Harper turned to Raphael who wore his usual snarky grin as he watched Lisa's departure as well.

"I am no expert with women, but I have a feeling you will be groveling a lot, brother." He almost chuckled but held back, he could see the girl's anger towards Harper had somewhat troubled his brother. "Walk with me."

Raphael didn't wait for a reply, instead he walked away and soon heard his brother follow in step with him.

Silence fell upon the two brothers, Harper worried about what he would have to do to make Lisa forgive him and Raphael worried about the eyes that may be upon them. They were both lost in their own worlds which seemed impossibly far apart.

For a brief moment Raphael wondered what his brother was thinking, bringing a human girl into his life. Could she really be that worth it? He could have any other girl but yet, even after meeting the girl just once, Raphael could see the lure the girl provided. She had the golden locks of a graceful dancer, the blue eyes that pulled in their prey, the body that would bring any man to his knees and the personality of a fox, bringing in her prey with stealth and one quick flick of her hair.

Raphael couldn't blame his brother now after thinking about it, the girl seemed like Harper's type. He was quiet while Lisa was popular and energetic.

"Why are you here, Raphael?" Harper finally asked as they rounded the corner into the next block.

"You should stay away from her, you know?" Raphael shrugged, knowing the his brother's reply.

"So I have been told."

"Everybody is planning on ways to be rid of her once you tell your secret." Raphael turned to his brother. "So for her best interest, you should stay away."

"I will protect her, I cannot physically stay away from her. Even now as we speak, all I can think about doing is fixing what I have caused with her." Harper didn't know why he was wasting his time with one of the people who wanted nothing more than to destroy Lisa's life.

"You cannot protect her on your own."

"I suppose you can help me?" Harper didn't know what game Raphael was playing, but he certainly wasn't interested and knew he needed to get back to Lisa.

"Correct!" Raphael replied triumphantly. "I assigned myself to be your messenger. Our brothers don't know I'm here, I am here to help you with your little parade."

"She is not a parade." Harper almost snapped, turning his back on his brother and making his way back down the street towards Lisa's.

"All right, but I want to help." Raphael appeared in front of Harper. "I am on your side."