Punished

PUNISHED AN ARELIA LARUE NOVEL #2

Copyright Kira Saito 2012

Victors never make the same mistake twice.

That is why the Warrior only risks his heart for something worthwhile.

-Paulo Coelho

Chapter 1

Major Trust Issues

“But, I thought-” Lucus was frozen as he stared at me.
 
Uncertainty softened his strong features, as he brushed aside the lock of dark hair that had fallen over his right eye. Why didn’t he just get a haircut? “I assumed you were leaving.”

“I can leave if you want me to.” I gave him a small smile, as I took a step back and wrapped the black and red silk kimono around me even tighter. I didn’t want to let on
 
that I was nervous or anything. I wanted answers. And maybe some fried Oreos.

“No, please come in,” he said, as he swiftly moved aside making space for me to enter the room. “I’m going to do as you requested and put on a shirt.”

“Thanks.” I attempted to gracefully stride into the spacious room and poured myself some overpriced cognac. A warm breeze wafted through the balcony window. The scent of fragrant jasmine filled my nostrils.
 

“I’m so proud of you,” whispered Erzulie, as she hovered outside the balcony. Apparently, in the span of twenty minutes, she had already changed her outfit and was now dressed in a flowing, red dress and matching headscarf. Strands of thick gold necklaces hung from her neck, and her arms were adorned with delicate, wooden bracelets.

“Not now, Erzulie.” I was mortified that she chose to make another grand entrance at exactly this moment. The moment I was pretending to be totally calm and in control rather than a raving mud-flinging lunatic that spoke to voodoo spirits.
 

Of course, she ignored me and continued. “Jasmine is the flower of love, you know.”

“Thanks for the random info,” I hissed, as I prayed that Lucus wouldn’t hear. I wasn’t entirely ready to let him listen in on my conversations with the spirits just yet. Even though, he wasn’t exactly normal, I wasn’t prepared to expose all of my own craziness to him. Lucky for me, he was too busy hunting for a t-shirt within the massive antique closet that sat at the other end of the room.
 

“You should always give love a chance my dear, even if it comes in unexpected forms.” She gave me one of her annoying motherly speeches again.

“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to make of that ominous advice, Erzulie,” I whispered, as I inched towards the balcony and unsuccessfully tried to shut the heavy, lace curtains on her. “Oh yeah before I forget, Brise thinks you’re beautiful so maybe you could give him a kiss or something?”

She laughed delicately before continuing. “He’s such a lovely spirit. And you do know what I mean, my child.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t exactly see any epic romance developing here. I’m just sticking around because you asked me to.”

“Sure you are.” Her hazel eyes shone brightly, as she gave me a small wink and disappeared.

“I thought you despised that,” Lucus said, as he put on a blue t-shirt and walked towards me. So, he didn’t own only white t-shirts.

“I do,” I replied. I didn’t want to tell him that I needed something to calm down my nerves. I couldn’t get his speech out of my head. How was I supposed to act around him now?

Lucus placed his smooth hand over mine. He took the crystal glass out of my hand. He raised his other hand up to my cheek and grazed it softly with his fingertips. His touch sent consuming chills through my body, all the way from my split-ends to my non-pedicured toenails. His scent mixed with the aroma of sweet jasmine and cognac was undeniably intoxicating.

“There’s no reason to be anxious. I’m perfectly harmless,” he said softly. “The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable or hurt you in any way.”
 

“Sure.” I grabbed the glass back from him, moved my cheek away from his hand and tossed back the cognac. “Gross! How can you actually enjoy drinking this stuff?”

A hint of a smile crossed his full lips. “You get used to a lot of things if you’re around long enough.”

“Well, I don’t think I’m going to get used to the fact that you’re basically a very old man.”

“Is that how you see me, as a very old man?” Lucus causally asked, as he walked over to the heavy wooden table and poured himself a drink. He studied me carefully, as he waited for me to answer.
 

“I mean, you don’t look like Mr. Dumpty or anything, but you’re just wearing a disguise to cover up who you truly are.” I reasoned as I clutched the crystal glass just a bit too tightly while I tugged on my hair.

He let out a dry laugh and took a sip of his drink. “Aren’t we all?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I raised an eyebrow.

He shook his head and took a step closer. His sharp gaze saw right through me. “If you see me as a terribly old man, why didn’t you leave? What reason do you have to be here wasting your time?”

He was right. If I did see him as just a creepy old man, I probably wouldn’t have stayed. I silently prayed that he wouldn’t come closer. I had a strategy, and it was to play it cool. I didn’t want to repeat last summer’s mistake. I
couldn’t
allow that to happen again.

“I don’t run away from a challenge. Your dramatic little speech in the garden worked. I guess.”

I shrugged playing off the importance of what he had said to me. “Besides, you’re the one that wanted me to stay, remember? Although I have no idea why, you don’t know anything about me except that you know I can help you.
 
You’re just being nice to me, so I can get you out of here.”

Lucus let out a low sigh. “That’s not why I asked you to stay.”

“Sorry, but I don’t exactly have any reason to trust you.” I sank into an oversized leather chair that sat next to a large bookcase.

“I know more about you than you assume,” said Lucus rather cryptically, as he took another sip of cognac.

“Like what?” I was a little curious.

“Your favorite color is black. You have an unhealthy obsession with chocolate, and you are extremely rude when you’re uncomfortable, a rather endearing quality.
 
Your life hasn’t been easy especially over the past year. You lost your grand-pere last summer, and your grand-mere had a heart attack a few months ago. You carry the burden of providing for you and your grand-mere since she can no longer work. You’re too proud to accept financial help from Sabrina because you think it makes you appear weak.”

I felt a massive lump forming in my throat. Hot tears threatened to slide out from the corner of my eyes. “How do you know all of this?” I demanded. Had Sabrina told him? Is that what they did when they were alone, talk about how much of a mess my life was?

Lucus came closer until he stood in front of the leather chair. He ignored my question and continued. “Underneath your seemingly strong exterior, you have a kind and loving heart. You defend those you love viciously despite the mistakes they make. You are quick to forgive but cannot bring yourself to trust so easily, which is understandable, considering the absence of your parents.”

I shot up. “I don’t know what kind of sick game you’re playing! Get the hell out of my way.” I pushed Lucus with all my strength. Sadly, it was a pathetic effort because he didn’t budge an inch.

He quickly placed the glass on top of the book case. He was close enough so that I could smell the alcohol on his breath. “I’m not playing any games,” he said calmly.

“Then how the hell do you know all of this?
I knew it.
You are a stalker! Or did Sabrina tell you?” I tried to think of all the possible ways he could have found out.

“No, I’m not a lurker, and I don’t discuss you with Sabrina. Your Aunt Mae talks, I simply listen and observe.”
 

“Observe what?” I asked confused.

“You,” he replied, as he gave me a wide smile. Damn him for being so effortlessly smooth and self-assured.

“Why?”

“I find you interesting, is that so hard to believe?” he asked easily. “You challenge me. You’re not afraid to speak your mind.”

“I don’t believe you. Get out of my way.” I tried to shove him again, but it was useless considering he was twice my size. He was clearly lying. He was only pretending to like me because I was the only one who could help him. “Arelia, not everyone is an enemy and not everything has to be a battle,” he said softly, but with passion and conviction. “Is it so hard to believe that I care for you?”

“Since you know so much about me, you can clearly see that life is a battle!” I cried bitterly.

“No, it’s not,” Lucus said gently. “It doesn’t have to be.”

“Maybe not in your perfect little world,” I spat back. “I’m sorry if I can’t understand why being trapped in a huge house with loads of money is so awful.”

“My world isn’t perfect.” For a minute, Lucus sounded hopelessly defeated.

“Isn’t perfect? Just look around you!” I walked up to the table where rows of expensive spirits rested and picked up a bottle studded with diamonds. “Do you realize how many shifts at Lola’s I would need to work to dream of buying something like this? Like a billion.”

 
I picked up another bottle covered with rubies and held it in the air. “Can you comprehend how many month’s rent this bottle is worth? For crying out loud, you have candlesticks in this room worth more than everything I own! So excuse me for being more than a little suspicious that someone like you would ever be interested in someone like me.”

There I said it, the ugly truth that I had been denying for a year. What happened last summer had been a traumatizing experience.

Lucus swiftly grabbed the bottle from my hand and placed it back on the table. Unexpectedly, he placed his left arm around me and pulled me close to his chest. His eyes radiated with a magnificent intensity that made me weak. “What’s wrong with someone like you?”

I didn’t answer. I wanted to shake myself free from him but deep within, a secret part of me wanted that moment to last forever. Being next to him was sweet torture. His lips brushed against my ear sending dizzying shocks through my body. “What’s wrong with someone like you?” he whispered again.

“Poor,” I said finally. “I’m poor.” The words lingered in the air like an awful smell.

“What’s so poor about you?” he asked. His lips grazed my cheek making my knees weak.

“My bank account,” I said quietly.

Lucus laughed deeply and wound a lock of my dark hair around his finger. “You can’t see all that you have, can you?”

“You can’t see all that you have,” I fired back. “You can’t say that you know me when you don’t. I know almost nothing about you.”

“What happened to make you so untrusting?” he asked. His face was rigid.

My eyes were aloof as I thought about what had happened. “I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

I shook my head. “Well, since you seem to know me so well, you should know,” I snapped.
 
A small part of me wanted to tell him, but I was too embarrassed. I hadn’t told anyone, not even Sabrina. It was my little secret. Besides, Lucus was a billion years old; he probably wasn’t interested in relationship drama.

“Maybe in time?” he asked hopefully. “I have plenty of time and—”

 
“Shh,” I hushed him by pressing my index finger against his lips.

“What—”