Golden Crown Series 02: The Twin Dragons (6 page)

I stood up in my gown of which I had had for years and never worn. Ryan started to descend the stairs in front of me. Evidently he was in the mood to shine as much as I was. I stood there in red, completely shocking him, as he had only seen me in white for years. He had changed into a nice suit, costing more than many people’s yearly salaries, something he was so good at doing when he wanted to impress anyone and I will not lie and say that he did not look amazing. I am assuming he thinks that Mani will be dressed down, perhaps giving him an edge and making him feel inadequate. I know Ryan too well and it can bore me at times as I am sure some couples experience when they have been together for so long. He then paused as he looked me over and then walked the rest of the way down and held his hand out to me. I let a smile curl my lip as his facial expression said more than words ever could.

He placed my hand to his mouth
and then flipped it, his lips brushed my palm and I kept my emotions in control, as he knew it would unsettle me. I then took my hand back from him and he looked me over slower this time, stepping to my side and then behind me and stopping.

“Beth, your ass is
amazing.”

“Oh, well that
is a compliment I will cherish,” I said as he laughed and stepped back in front of me.

“You used to love my lack of civility.”

“‘Used to’ being the key phrase,” I said softly as the door opened behind us. Mani walked in dressed like he was about to accept the presidential nomination. I smiled and looked down, I had to. Mani seemed to understand that this was a “show me yours” type of situation and my fascination with him deepened even more as he stopped and looked at nothing but me. It was as if the house did not exist, nor Ryan at my side.

“Dear God,” h
e muttered under his breath as he walked towards me and looked me over. He cleared his throat as he brought a small box out in front of him and held it towards me. I reached up to take it but Ryan intercepted it. Mani looked at him and grinned as he snapped to our butler and he walked to us.

“Take this to Beth’s r
oom where she can open it later,” he said and then he looked at Mani and extended his hand to him.

“Ryan
,” I said quietly as Ryan nodded and Mani took his hand, grasping it firmly.

“I hope that did not offen
d you,” he said and Ryan grinned at him then glanced at me. I know I looked a bit flush and Ryan noticed it.

“I just think that gifts are
to be opened alone and not in public,” Ryan said and I looked at Mani, hoping he understood that Ryan is a lion.

“I appreciate your gesture and I am sure I w
ill like it, whatever it may be,” I said to him, meaning it wholeheartedly.

“I thought it would be a nice thank you for inviting me to your beautiful home. I mean
, this place is amazing,” he said.

“Rental?” Ryan asked as he let his hand go and stared at Mani’s suit. Mani looked down and then smiled.

“Is a tag showing?” he asked and I laughed and then reached out and touched his lapel as he watched me closely. I knew Ryan would be bothered by it.

“You have very good taste,
better than some people I know,” I said and Ryan sighed as I placed my arm into Mani’s and started to lead him to our dining area. I would say it is a dining room, but honestly there is nothing ‘room like’ in this house or homey, it is as if this place is built to simply be propped up and shown off and with Mani I suddenly felt a bit embarrassed by it for the first time in my life. His refreshing honesty and selfless nature was something I did not know in my life, but it was like a breath of fresh air that I desperately needed. It also did not hurt that Ryan was bothered by it, which was a plus. Mani could not be more the opposite of Ryan and that alone made me want to know more about him.

We stepped in and August and Cas were already seated, Zoey and Zane had also joined us tonight and it was nice to see the two of them. They had both come to
the house more often when they were smaller and served as playmates for the twins on so many occasions. I did hope they would remain friends and it seemed they had. I wish I could say that I had friends, but there are not many in the circle I belong to. I mean I am “familiar” with people and their homes and money, but friends? No. My one true friend had died long ago and I had no need to replace her. I stopped as I thought I heard Holland’s voice echo in the house and looked around the room but she was nowhere to be found. I really do believe that I should adjust my medication, it seems to allow for hallucinations far too often. I mean I know I have my problems, if they can even be called that. Maybe I should refer to it as damaged, because I am. I am not looking for sympathy so don’t even feel like I am digging, I know what I am and I embrace it as I should, just like you should embrace who you are. Don’t try to tell me you have no evil dwelling in you. It dwells in the heart of everyone, some are just better at beating it down and some…like Ryan and myself, let it shape who we are. I mean what would life be if Miko were not buried in the garden? I have to assume that Father would have fallen from abuse to his body with alcohol by now but not Miko. Miko would have thrived for a thousand years like a fucking vampire sucking my life force away and turning August and Cas into Satan himself. Am I any better? I glanced at Cas and his softer features than August, and smiled. Cas is the future of this family and I hate to sound as if I am favoring him, but I have always known that August would never be a light in the darkness, it is Cas who holds that in his heart. He is the only thing I have ever done that I am proud of.

August stood up
, as well as Cas and Zane. Zoey remained seated in her beautiful blue dress, beaded and capturing light in the room. Her headpiece, with a bit of black netting covering her one eye, was stunning as was she. Zane was a striking boy too, and although they were what would be considered twins, they did not look alike at all. They each favored the perfect embodiment of the female and male roles as some would see them. I mean in an age of models and beauty. I had no doubt they would do well in life, even if they simply lived on the vast amount of money their mother has which is the closest to rivaling our own. The only thing that left a stigma on them was their mother’s eccentric nature and her refusal to name their father. It would remain a mystery and quite honestly I did not care. The rumors would fly of incest but looking at Zane and Zoey no one could possibly think it was true. They were just beautiful creatures.

August walked to my chair and pulled it out as I let go of Mani’s arm and August watched him closely. He then leaned in and kissed me on the cheek and I smiled and touched his face. Ryan stopped and
stared at me and then walked to his regular spot at the head of the table and stood there as he smiled.

“I would like to welcome Emmanuel to o
ur home tonight, he saved your mother today from certain death.”

“What?” Cas said as he looked at him in horror and then ran to me. I shook my head as Mani took a spot across from me and August watched him even closer.

“I am fine,” I said and Ryan continued on.

“Your m
other was practically raped in an alley and Emmanuel came to her rescue and beat the men down.”

“Oh my God!” Cas said as he hugged me and sighed.

“Your father is being dramatic.”

“Not really,
” Mani said and I looked at him as Cas and everyone else did too.

“One man had a knife held to her
throat and the other was groping her when I saw them.”

I cleared my throat and Cas stood up and held onto my chair.

“Disgusting,” he said. August walked to his seat and sat down as Ryan did too.

“Go on,
” August said and Zoey took a drink as he eyed me and I glanced at her too. She looked as if she was amused with the situation. I guess one bitch can always smell another. Despite the difference in our ages I have to say if we had been born at the same time we probably would have been friends.

“Well, like I said, they were about to assault her and I ran up and threw the man who had her pinned to the wall.”

“And the man with a knife?” Cas asked as he gripped my chair.

“Well, I broke his arm at the elbow and it snapped like wood.”

“Sweet.” August said as Cas hissed.

“Backwards I hope, like an action film.”

Mani looked at August and grinned. “Just like that.”

“So tell me Emmanuel, where did you learn to do this type of stuff…you know, assaulting people.”

“Ryan,” I said as Cas left me and sat down next to Zane.

Mani looked up as the staff started to bring in the first course, that of
a lightly braised lamb. His was placed before him and he looked at it with the bit of blood colored sauce drizzled on it and he took a breath.

“Balls,
” Ryan said and August laughed.

“August,
” I said as I looked at him and shook my head.

“What?”

“Balls in sauce…I mean we eat what we like here.”

“Um,
” Mani said and I stared at him.

“It is
lamb, not balls,” I said as I laughed and shook my head.

“I mean putting balls in my mouth in not something I am used to
, but I guess you are,” he said as he looked at Ryan and Cas laughed just like I did. August and Ryan did not, but even Zoey and Zane seemed amused. I know that I was, no one ever really talked to Ryan like this and it was fun to see it happening. Mani had just stepped up and let Ryan know that he would not be bullied even at another man’s table.

“So where did you learn to beat people up?” Ryan asked him as the laughter stopped.

“At the academy and it is self-defense. I think everyone should be able to defend themselves,” he said as he looked at me.

“Academy?”

“FBI, I am an agent,” he said and Ryan dropped his glass and the wine ran down the table like a deep pool of blood. It travelled past me and I sucked in my breath. As it stopped, I saw my reflection in it as well as Mani’s. I could not believe an FBI agent was sitting in my home with Miko’s bones just outside in the garden. I took a drink and before I knew it I had it gone as Mani watched me closely. Ryan stood up and wiped his hand on his pants.

“Well
, shit,” he said as a maid ran to him and started to wipe his pants off with a large white napkin. She went to her knees and looked up at him as he shook his head and looked at me. I waved to the other maid and she brought me more wine.

“We should move this outside,
” I said. “It is a beautiful night and the air will be nice.” I stood up as Mani did too. I smiled at him and stepped away from the table, walking towards the large glass doors and staring out into the garden as I knew this would kill Ryan to have him even closer to Miko’s remains. For some reason the idea of it excited me and if that sounds horrible then so be it.

A phone went off behind me and I turned as I watched Mani take his call and step away from the table. He slowly placed the phone back into his pocket and then turned back to all of us.

“I have to go, I apologize. Work calls,” he said and I nodded to him as Ryan looked relieved that he would not have to sit in the garden dining area and endure what he knew would be my way of torturing him some more tonight.

“We can reschedule,
” I said, and Ryan looked at me and then back to him.

Mani smiled and nodded to me. He pulled a card out and walked to me as he placed it in my hand. I looked down and saw his number and then looked back up to him.

“I would love that,” I said quietly and he left me standing there, holding his card and a line to him I wished to keep open regardless of the danger.

****

I sat in my room and stared at the small box Mani had given to me. I had not opened it yet and I was slightly shocked that Ryan had not had it conveniently disposed of and then blamed a staff member of theft. I touched the small black bow on the white and black box and then decided to tear it open like a child on Christmas morning. I even glanced back as I made sure my door was closed and Ryan had not barged in unexpected as he was starting to do. I opened it up and there was nothing in it and I sighed as I knew then that Ryan had taken it, whatever it was and would be sure to not allow me to have it. His hatred for me was never ending or was it love? I cannot honestly tell you if I ever knew the difference. Does he? Will he ever? Or is it only when he feels as if his toys are being played with by foreign hands does his heart start beating…

****

Ryan sat in his room and held it up as he sighed and smoked a cigarette slowly. The smoke rolled from his lips and he let the small diamond swing on the chain that he had wound on his hand. He stopped it and looked closely at it as it was smaller than anything he would ever give to me but he knew that the size was not the issue. He tossed it across the room and let it slide to a stop.  He looked at the door between our two rooms and walked to it. He leaned in and let his head rest against it as he closed his eyes and I did the same on the other end. Such a short walk to freedom and yet neither one of us could take a step forward.