I gasp, my mouth stays open, but the voice doesn't come out. He's half-naked.
He gives me a little smile, holding the bathrobe for me. «Don't give me time to look down, I don't want to, not yet, but you know I hardly control myself.»
«I can't...» I stammer.
He comes closer and I feel the warmth in his body as he drops the cloth. The water falling on my abdomen becomes hot near his abs that my hands slowly trace; my breasts pressed on his skin, trying to protect themselves from the cold reality around us. We raise our heads at the same time. He watches my lips and as he closes his eyes I push him away, but I'm the one that moves back. He stays where he is like a statue. A statue of an angry warrior.
«I meant that I can't keep going like this.» As everytime I'm with him, I say everything crosses my mind out loud, conscious that this is wrong like everything happened in the last few days. «Since I've been at your party I have hallucinations. I've seen you kill a man, your eyes becoming like vantablack, you running so fast it seemed you used teleport... what's happening? Am I crazy?»
«You're not.» He replies, serious.
I gulp and I ask something that always been in my mind, but I never even had the courage to ask myself. «What are you?» I breathe.
Keeping his eyes in mines, he takes the bathrobe. I put it on fast to take the distance from him again. Every second my fear grows and the cold comes back, my body shakes.
«I'm the something most far from a human.» He reveals.
«What are you talking about? Are you crazy too?»
«No, Katrina.»
I ignore his courtesy. «Why can't I be myself anymore? Why do I see horrible things everywhere?»
«I can't tell you.»
«You have to!» I shout at him, punching him on the chest.
He grabs my wrist, but this time he doesn't hurt me. He waits until I stop opposing.«You wouldn't understand, Katrina. All you need to know is that if you love me, you must accept to rot in hell with me 'cause as I already told you, I'm evil. My life, what I am, will always be a mystery for you. I just want to protect you from the world and myself, let me do it.»
«How can I...» I whimper.
«That's exactly what you shouldn't do, questioning about me or my existence.» He releases my wrists from his strong grip and I turn to hide my tears.
«I can't accept it. I can't live in a mysterious hell with an evil king. Do you expect me to ignore you while you're killing people?»
«You did, didn't you?»
«I...» I didn't do anything. I was shocked. «I thought that was a hallucination.»362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvTTK45flU
«You understood it wasn't later, but you didn't call the police anyway.»
«How do you...»
«Hush, little princess. I know you more than everyone else, trust me. You are sensitive, delicate, sweet, but also strong and obstinate. I'm old, but in all my existence I never met a girl so complicated and wonderful. I love you, Katrina. You're like a snowflake.»
«And you're like a cobweb, complicated and scary to catch your victims. I don't wanna be your next one, Mikael. I'll call the police and you better don't stop me, we're not alone here, if I scream...»
«Do you love me, Katrina?»
No, I don't. You fooled me for a night, but our love is going to end now. I won't be your next victim, your trap failed, keep going building your stupid empire, maybe one day you'll find the right gold-digger for you and she will accept to love a serial killer with vantablack pupils and live in her crazy visions! I look in his grey eyes with an air of superiority, standing on my tip-toes to reach at least his neck with my head. The light trapped in his limbal rings is still there. «I love the good side of you.» I say, trying to keep my voice firm.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMlQnawX4B
«There's not a good side of me, I already told you.»
«And I still don't believe you. I'm stubborn, you know me, don't you?» I take a step towards him and I mess up his dark blonde curls with my fingers. A little curly lock caresses his eyelashes and I admire it like the detail of a realistic portrait. This is definitely real. He's here, in Flint, in my bathroom.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNE5XxGNGB
«You can't love only the best of me.»
I sigh, putting my head against his chest. It seems I'm the gold-digger I was talking about, but I don't want his money, I want his body and his glowing grey soul. «What should I bear?»362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu8zDY5diq
«My anger, my needs, me. I want you to accept my nature, stop asking what I can't tell you and never be afraid of me. If you can do this, I promise you I'll make you live in your best dream. I live in hell, but I'm the king and I can build a little paradise for you. You just have to love me.»
«I...»
«Be my woman and I'll give you everything you've ever wanted.» He says it with decisively and I feel his little princess still.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzCb4HgQoq
I can survive to him, but I have questions that can't be ignored and I think I know how to have my answers. «Let me think about it.» I give him a sly smile and I go to my room. Before I can open the door to the corridor, he grabs my arm, paying attention to not hurt me.
«Ok, I'll give you some answers. Let's take a walk, our conversation should be intimate.»
He remembers me of my family and I can help but beam, daydreaming.
«Don't worry, I know how to deal with your parents and Nora.» He says with a smirk.
How do you know the name of my sister? Did you read my mind? «Good.» I grab the handle of the bedroom door.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gG4MTe6jI
«Wait.»
«What? You realized you can't bear my parents' look when they'll see us together?»
«No, but I suggest you to wear some clothes, they could think we fucked.» He says coldly, then winking at me with a smile when he notices I'm blushing.
«Turn, please.» He does it without hesitation, wearing a white t-shirt and a modern black coat. I wear only a simple white shirt and leggings, Mikael never looks at me and I don't know if I'm happy about it or disappointed. The inner me tells me I'm dirty and I start feeling this way, realizing I want so bad his eyes on me. «You can watch me, now.»
He turns and his eyes ignore my hard nipples under my tight-fitting, half-transparent shirt. He raises his arm and I put mine on it, trying to smile and repeating in my mind that I'm just an innocent girl in need of attentions, not a whore.
We enter the dining room. Nora, Shawn and mom and dad are whispering at the table. Before I can hear any words, Nora sees me and notify everyone of my arrival with a quick move of her hand. All the eyes are on me and my anxiety wakes up, but Mikael saves me.
He puts his hands on my shoulders. «Now that she's here, we can introduce ourselves. I'm Mikael, a friend of Katrina.» Everyone at the table says his name and Nora looks him wide-eyed. I think now she's the one to believe she has hallucinations. I can't help but giggle, but my amusement gives way to concern when I see my parents' angry faces.
«We take a walk. I'll take Katrina home in an hour, see you soon!» He says, taking my hand.
Obviously, my mother doesn't hesitate a second to stop us, standing in front of me with her hands on her hips. «Katrina can't go out of her room, it's her punishment for escaping home. And you can't stay with her, I told you to come in just for a greeting.» My mother's words are severe. I'm worried for her, I can sense Mikael's anger and I caress his arm to calm him a little, feeling my sister's jealous eyes on us.
«I know, I heard you.» He answers, then he walks past her, taking me with him by my hand.
«What are you doing?»
«I'm going out with Katrina. We are twenty and twenty-five, we can make our own decisions and if they are wrong we will pay for it. We don't need a manager, thank you.»
«Go out of my house! You are so disrespectful, my daughter won't stay with a monster like you»
As she says the word "monster", Mikael turns and glares at her, getting close to her face. Shawn and dad raise and comes behind my mom. They are so little near Mikael. «Don't dare to call me a monster. You are the one that gave me orders, insulted me and ruined your daughter's life.» He growls.
«You don't know our daughter!» My father shouts.
«Trust me, she opened with me in a night more than she ever did with you in twenty years.» He says without screaming as my father did. Dad takes a step away from him with a worried expression.
«You're lying, she barely talks with her bestie.» Nora says, folding her arms over her chest.
«She didn't need to talk, trust me.» He spits, leaving everyone speechless. «Let's go, love.» He says, giving me his hand.
I look at my parents. I can't see concern or sadness on their faces while they stare at me, just anger. This makes me almost cry. I take a long, deep breath and I take Mikael's hand.
«Come here, Katrina!» Mom orders.
«Don't dare to give her orders, never again.» Mikael says, moving me behind his body that covers mine almost totally.
I see my mother's eyes become lucid, but this time she can't fool me. She's faking. «If you open that door, you won't be welcome in this home anymore.»
«This never been my home.» I say, disgusted by her decision.
I turn away from her shocked face and I walk out of my nightmare.
I keep making specific questions, but his answers are all the same: I can't explain this, you wouldn't understand, it's too hard to say it, my answer could hurt you. Insisting will make him angry and I don't wanna fight with my love, a killer... but he accepted to give me an explanation and now I want it.
«What did you do to me? What will change in my life? I wanna be prepared.»
«I can control you because I bound you to my world. Your life won't change, you won't change unless you want it. Anyway, you'll conduct a human life, there's nothing you should be prepared for.»
«I know you don't want to tell me what kind of world is it, but is there something general you can say about it?»
«The darkness you saw in my eyes: that is the other world. Paranormal, scary, bad. As long as you'll stay with me, I'm the only creature of the other realm you will see and I will be your only fear, love and secret.»
«Have I ever see something of your world?»
He chuckles. «Yes, but as I told you, you can't see the light until you meet the darkness. At my party, you were the only human, surrounded by the three groups of the most influent creatures of the other world, but you couldn't know this.»
«Wait, the other world is this world? Nothing mystical?»
«Who said this world is not magical? You just can't see that side of it.»
I have many questions, but I can sense Mikael is getting nervous. «One last question. What kind of creatures are you talking about?»
«Witches. Werewolves. Vampires. Many others.»
I burst out laughing. As I see his angry gaze, I immediately make a straight face. «I'm sorry, I taught you were kidding. It's hard to believe in your words.»
«I know. I don't want you to believe me, everything will be easier if you don't know who I am.»
«Yea, probably you're right. I'm starting to think we are both crazy.»
«We're not, trust me.»
«Listen, I can believe your eyes are totally black and for some reason you are stronger than an average human, but not that creature like the ones I see in tv shows live on the earth unnoticed.»
«Perfect, that's what I want.»
I shake my head, incredulous. «I can bear your mysteries, not your lies.»
He stops, sitting on a bench under a big tree. «I was right. I shouldn't have said anything about my world to you.»
«I didn't mean that. I apologize, I will try to believe you.»
«You better not. If you discover the truth on my nature, I will become your worst nightmare.»
I open my mouth, but the voice I hear isn't mine.
«I couldn't give you a warm greeting before, can we start again?» Nora sits way too close to him on the bench, crossing her legs slowly with a little growing smile.
Mikael glances at her and her friends that drool over him, then he stands up and walks away. I and my sister stare at each other wide-eyed. He's evidently not the type to disrespect a woman like this. As he calls my name, Nora's shocked look becomes an angry gaze. I can't help but smile and walk fast behind him, hugging his big arm and rubbing my cheek against his elegant coat like a purring kitty. Surprisingly he doesn't push me away and this makes me feel even better.
«Wait!» I hear my sister swearing, trying to walk on Flint's broken sidewalks. Thank goodness I choose to put my old ballerinas on to show Mikael I'm not the sexy diva he saw at the party. «Give me a chance, come on! You don't even know me. There are many assholes that can guarantee you I'm the best at blowjobs!» She screams in the quiet path of the park. I laugh, unable to hold it anymore.
«Is she always like this?» Mikael asks, not even annoyed by her pitiful scene.
«No, usually it's quite the reverse.»
«I would never want the heart of a woman of easy virtue.»
I shake my head, smiling. «Here we go again.»
He looks at me with a confused expression. «What are you talking about?»
«You dumped my sister and you're still noble. From a monster to the King in an instant.»
«I never switch, I'm both, you know.» He smiles, but his eyes run on my body with indecision.
«What are you thinking about?» I ask, leaning my head on his arm, now cold. Feeling his muscles tensing, I immediately raise my head and take a step away from his vital space. «Relax.» I dare to whisper.
After a long, frustrating silence, he talks to me. «Do you like it?»
I look at him and I feel he never stopped looking at me until I raised my head. «What?» I ask in a shy tone.
«Do you like physical contact?»
«Who doesn't?»
«Do you?» He asks, his tone suggesting me he's losing it already.
«I...» I don't have enough experience to know if I like it. «I don't have enough experience to know if I like it.» I open my mouth in shock. I let out a cry running my hands in my hair. «I won't ask you why the hell I tell you whatever comes to my mind, but whichever is the reason I want you to stop controlling me like this.»362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVC13aN59z
«The reason is you feel good with me and you trust me. Simple as that, I'm not controlling you.»
I'm ready to oppose, but his arms wrapping around my shoulders pushes my words back. He's cold and his skin is cadaveric, his grip scares me and makes me feel home; I close my eyes and put my head on his chest, loving it. I would like to get rid of those clothes separating us and feel his skin on mine getting warmer. I take his hand to feel it real.
«Hey! Wait!» Nora screams, running towards us. I pretend not to hear her shrieky voice and the dangerously high heels of the fat asses following her. «Stop!» She keeps going.
The sound of wheels scratching the concrete makes me jump far enough to let the car stop at a few inches from me. I look down, my heart exploding in my chest. «I was on the crosswalk!» I shudder in panic.
The laughs coming from the car confuses me, I hear them clearly when the driver wind down the windows. He puts his arm out the car, then his head. Royce.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpKYEfo8ZG
«Look who's here!» The car gets closer and I fall. Where is...362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBYPUTAZkJ
«Any problem here?» Mikael helps me up and his hand places on my hip, his eyes narrow and Roy's smile becomes a grimace of anger for a few seconds.
«Yea. The fat ass of your little bitch almost broke my car.»
«Your car isn't more important than Katrina's life, sir. Show her some respect, she's a strong, beautiful woman and she deserves it.» He says, politely. I can sense his anger behind his noble words, the monster is going to come out soon and since he's a mystery for me I won't be able to stop him. But I'll try.
«Jesus Christ, did you came out from an episode of Downton Abbey?» Everyone laughs, the two guys in the red Coupé with Roy and Nora's friends. As Mikael moves his arm, I instantly put mine on his, my heart beating so hard I can feel it in my chest. I feel stupid since we're too far from Roy to hurt him and Mikael just raised his arm to pose it in front of his chest in an elegant way, but at the same time my emotions don't let me relax and release his arm, so I start to caress him to calm both. He grabs my trembling hand, standing in front of me to divide us from the bullies. They sound the horn and we both ignore it, absorbed by ourselves.
«Don't worry, I can handle them easily.»
«I know. I just don't want anyone to be harmed.»
«I won't. They will.»
«No. Please, don't be violent.»
He gives me a confused gaze. «You don't have to watch if you don't like violence.»
«I don't want this to happen. I don't wanna see, hear, feel and know this 'cause you should stop getting mad and nobody here, now, should die today. No one deserves it.» I cry out, searching for comfort in the danger, his arms that hugs my little, unperfect body tight.
«In this world we need both the bad and the good. You're in the bad part of it now, and you're a good girl, that's why you should turn and let me be myself.»
«No! The bad should be stopped. We have rules...»
«I have my rules too and they are different from yours. You should accept the bad and live your life, nature can't be stopped or changed and if you try you have a big chance to end up in your worst nightmare. Ignore the blood around you, you can if it's not on you, and you can do it as long as you're with me. If you would cry over every innocent dead corp you would end your tears before you can do it for them all. Katrina...» The horn brutally interrupts him and makes my heart jump. «Don't try to stop me or the blood will end up on you too. Let me be myself without regret it.»
«Are you telling her goodbye? If you won't move she's not the only one I'll knock down with my lady.» Roy taps the car's door.
I beg with my eyes Mikael to ignore them and run away with me one more time, but he gives me a slow kiss on my forehead and turns to walk near Royce's door.
«You won't run over anyone.»
Royce leans out of the window, his grin disappeared. «You were right, uh? We have a problem here.»
«Seems we do.»
It happens all so fast my mind doesn't have time to realize what's happening and make me turn. Mikael throws out the car Roy by the neck and pushes his elegant shoe on his chest as he screams in pain. The other two idiots get out of the coupé and as one runs behind the car to reach the others, the one that came out on our side gets a fast and strong punch on his jaw. I hear the clear, loud sound of his bones breaking, his jaw moves right and stays right as a big cut opens on the left part of his face and his smile becomes bigger and bloodier. The guy takes two steps back to keep the balance, then he falls, his eyes emotionless and his jaw jumping like it's not part of his body anymore when his still turned head hits the ground. All my body is shaking hard and my legs seem jelly, I need to look away, so I raise my head and I see the terrorized gaze of the last guy, his eyes glued to the dead-like body of his friend.
I'm frozen. Mikael was right, I should have turned. He's always right and wrong at the same time, all I can do is decide to trust him or run away from his business and I think I already made my choice more times. But not this one, I can't let him destroy my city and every person in it, I don't care about his rules and his behavior problems. As soon as I see him strides to the poor guy, I call his name in a shriek. He turns and I'm shocked to notice he's not angry. He's… amused, happy. He wasn't lying, he likes hurting people, he's a King that can't wait to fight for his loves and his allies. It's so good and so bad I can't decide if he's evil or just right.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm8FnGPNM1
The guy runs away and Mikael releases also Royce, walking to me with a proud smile. «Did you like the show?» He asks like he did something romantic.
Suddenly I remember there are the girls too. They are all frozen, glancing at Nora to see her reaction. She looks at me, the girls and the (I hope not) dead guy that stays on the ground with his crooked mouth and his eyes wide opened, then her eyes find Mikael and a smile slowly appears on her face.
I look at Mikael and I feel an incredible desire to put my lips on his, then I meet the dead guy's eyes. «This is sick.» I spit in a whisper.
Mikael chuckles. «I didn't hear...»
«This is sick!» I burst out, laughing, feeling some warm tears running on my cheeks. «You are mad. I'm out of my mind.»
«Perfect, we will be great together!» He says, but neither I nor him laugh.
«No. How can I like you? We shouldn't be together.»
«How can you like me?» He asks, incredulous. «I'm strong, powerful, rich and handsome. Let's go home, we need to talk.» He takes me by the arm, but I step away from him and he releases me.
«No.» I say, looking right in his confused and angry eyes. «We don't... I don't need to talk to you, I need to... think.»
«Katrina...» He takes a step towards me and I take two away from him.
«Alone.» I clarify.
He stays there, waiting. Images of me and him try to become my reality, but I remember the power of the ring he gave me and I take it off, immediately coming back to reality. Now, all I feel is disgust, anger and fear towards the monster in front of me and I don't try to hide it. He's something I want to forget and I want him to know this.
I put the ring in my pocket, I turn and I walk home. The only home where I feel happy and loved.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIgnLT1A5B
