Stripped to the Heart

Chapter 25 - Satan's Brother

A/N OK HOLY MOTHER OF WORDS!! I just saw that there are about 650 reads! Thank you so much, I hope you enjoy this chapter and don't forget to vote, follow and read!

-Thanks so much!

-Phoebe

"Knock Knock" so who is it? Who on Earth says the words instead of the action. Well Leo of course, we made up but he never told me why he ran out on me, maybe it was the last part... I don't even know!

"What is it Leo?" I ask, pulling the door open before feeling a lot more awake after watching him fall down against the carpet. "I like what I see" he smirked and I realised where he was, underneath me. Surely he didn't, "Yes, so are they Prada or some other very revealing undergarments?" he asked, the smirk grew and I bent down before slapping him.

I sauntered up the stairs, a smirk of my own invading my face the entire time. Even when I brushed my hair, got dressed and brushed my teeth the smirk didn't fade. It didn't matter how much he saw, we were good friends. Although the nagging thought at the back of my brain was saying we should be more. I pushed it away and packed my bag, before heading downstairs and into the car that was waiting outside.

"What are you smiling about?" I ignored his question and instead fired back with one of my own "Why did you run out of my house that night?" He sighed and I watched him, his brows furrowed and then arched.

"Because... that Dylan bloke you mentioned, he was one of my brothers." I saw the hurt flash through his eyes before they became emotionless again. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pushed you to say that but I needed to know." The ride to school was plain and silent, all day I watched Leo flirt with other girls and ignore me.

It hurt but I wasn't even his girlfriend so how could I say something without me sounding jealous and posessive. I left early, skipping 6th period and hoping to avoid Leo. I forgot for a moment that I left my car at my house.

Great I was going to have to walk home.

"Need a ride?" I heard a voice behind me and before I could say no he slowed his car, hopped out and opened the passenger side door. Such a gentleman, "Uhhh, why are you suddenly acknowledging my presence?" I asked, suspicion and annoyance invading my tone and making it impossible to be nice. "Because my dear lady, I need to show you something. If you have nothing planned - which I presume you don't then jump right in!" He said it with a touch of pleading but my day had been boring and I sensed this might be fun.

"Why should I? First of all I don't even know you, second you ignored me the whole day and finally you're the brother of Satan."

Oh yeah, I said that.

My conscience quickly quietened my mouth and my whole body began to shake, I was going into shock from all the memories that flooded me instantly.

I would not cry, I promised to never cry for him again. Ever.

Leo stood there awkwardly, holding the car door and slowly losing his smile. The clouds above us let out tears of their own and both Leo and I began shaking from cold.

"Hurry up, hop in before you get a cold" he said it without emotion.

Slowly I walked towards the door and glanced at his face, only to be met by a glare.

I couldn't tell if it was directed at me or not, he seemed to be out in space and dreaming of other things.

The drive was a long one and it was silent, even when I attempted at small talk and apologies he just watched the road. Not that I'm suggesting he should look elsewhere but the radio was turned off and nothing moved.

Nothing in the car and nothing made any noise except for the car itself.

I watched as a house came into view, a lakehouse it seemed. It sat on a floating pier about 100m out on the Lake. As I looked at the approaching sign and I saw it said 'Nickleson Lake'. Below the name that had been written in a faded black paint there lay five words that both startled me and relieved me.

In memory of Daniel Nickleson-A great friend to all

I laughed at the last part because it was such a lie. He was never good, even in a good mood. The only reason I stayed with him was because I was scared of him and he was popular.

Even when Daniel left I didn't completely feel safe, not until I knew he was out of my life for good. When he died, it was convenient and not to say well-planned.

I had never killed someone but I knew people and that was all it took, he tried reaching out to me again. Even through the barriers I tried so hard to keep up, he smashed them down and through me until I couldn't take it anymore.

He knew too much, he knew my weaknesses and past. That alone would've been too much but he also knew my thoughts. It was as if he could read my mind and that was not a good thing.

"Anna, we're here" I heard a far off voice that came from Leo, who oddly enough sat just next to me. "Ok" I managed and slid out of the car.

"Aaah!" I started falling and if Leo hadn't reached over I would've been in the water, without a hope of survival. The water was deep and dark, it held a mystery with all of that sand and dirt spinning around.

One that later I may explore but not today, not after that close miss.

"Anna, you better hop out my side. Bad luck is swarming around you today" He said, I had to agree but there was one thing I needed to know.

"Why was this place dedicated to Daniel? He's still alive right?" I asked and honestly I was hoping he would think I was innocent, I mean they knew who killed him but the men told them someone put them up to it.

They didn't tell but it cost a bit to keep them quiet.

"He was murdered, right here in this lake. They told us it was by two men called Jacob Bussag and Elijah Bussag. Brothers, apparently. They claimed someone told them to do it, someone who was wealthy, female and attended the same school as him." He looked at me with a curious and pointed gaze before continuing.

"You wouldn't happen to know them, would you?" He asked and at that moment I knew he was too far into assuming for me to persuade him otherwise.

"Ok, I put them up to it but he was starting to plan my death too. Did you ever see him at your dinner table? Or was he too busy in his room? Did he ever let you into his room or was that private territory?"

I knew then that after I spoke those words they were true and that he was distracted with everything else. All those words spoke lie after lie for me but perhaps they were true, perhaps he was planning on killing me.

Ok so I've taken this book down another road and I'm very close to finishing but you'll just have to see how it ends...