Dark Layers Volume 2: Dark Layers (15 page)

"Come." He orders, grasping my hand.

Hmmm, his house smells nice, like freshly baked bread. I follow him out of his hall and through a double archway. Once we are in the next room - a massive double height living area that's low lit - I'm again shocked at the appearance of his home. The furnishings are so... surreal for Elijah. It's open planned and warm. A huge sandstone open fireplace that crackles with the sound of spitting commands the grand palatial room. Gigantic green and cream Persian rugs dress the oak wooden floors below the sofas. The peachy sofa's look... homely, there are two of them directly opposite one another. The cushion colours are beiges and greens and speak volumes of piece and serenity. I'm gob-smacked. This just doesn't seem like Elijah.

As we walk further into the living area, sweet piano music fills my ears, making my entire body tingle with every note. I know it's Jenvy Hou,
A Breathtaking Piano Piece
. Such an amazing pianist.

I instantly clock a stunning extra ordinary piano that looks about ten feet long. It's futuristic! Glossy white - it's so shiny, almost like a mirror. The lid is clear crystal glass, you can see every piece of craftsmanship inside; thousands of golden strings, too many shiny black buttons. The stool is white also, and the seat cover is white leather. I have never seen anything like it. It's set nicely by the back French patio doors.

"Elijah, that piano... it's -"

"Stunning, I know."

"What is it?" I gasp.

"It is called the Heintzman-Crystal. It is a work of art." He's watching me intently. His eyes are warm, fond.

"Yes, it is. Is that the piano that sold to an anonymous bidder? I was watching it online about three years ago."

He nods - answering yes. He returns my smile with his own.

"Do you play?" I ask curious.

"No, my mother did - you?"

I smile a winning grin. "I do actually."

"Really?" His eyes are wide. He bites his lower lip.

I nod, slowly.

"Play for me Anile, I would love to hear you play."

"What - now? You want me to play now?" Panic rises in my tummy.

Wow, playing sweet music for Elijah Darks, I never in a million years thought this would be possible.

"Now is a better time than any. I have you all night long." He shoves his hands in his pockets and dances his eyebrows up and down. He's trying to challenge me.

Oh my! I bite down on my lower lip too hard. I'm excited and nervous - what a combination.

"Okay," I crack my fingers together, "what do you want to hear?"

"What can you play?"

"I can play lots Elijah. My mother made sure I became an impeccable dancer, and pianist."

He pulls one hand free from his pocket and scratches his stubbly chin.

"Hmmm, what shall I have you play?"

I stand dead still in front of him. I know he's going to think of something really hard for me to play.

"How about... Carter Burwell? He is current, starring in a bestselling movie -" I cut him off.

"Twilight." I turn into a marshmallow. Twilight and I have been in a relationship for years. It started out as a book only relationship - until the movies were released.

"Ah, you are a Twilight fan." He jokes with a wink. He turns the background music off with a black controller that he collects off of the sofa.

"I'm sorry, but Edward is my first love." I joke, pouting away.

He smiles fondly. "Play for me Princess." He pulls the glossy white stool out for me. I get seated and to my utter horror, he seats himself right next to me!

"Now I feel under pressure!" I gasp.

"You always look under pressure when in my company - I look forward to the day that haunted expression does not possess your beautiful face, Anile."

I turn to look at him. He looks wounded.

"Elijah, I -"

"Stop Princess, I know I am overwhelming. Play for me, please."

I turn my head to face the piano. It hurts that my expressions pain him; it hurts me deep within my chest.

"Are you ready?" I ask sweetly.

"Yes." He breathes into my ear.

"This is Bella's Lullaby - The Advanced Piano Cover. This is not for beginners."

"I never thought it would be Princess." He smiles.

I start playing. The pressure of Elijah's presence drowns into the background as I become nothing but music. My fingers glide all over this beast of a piano. Every note touches my soul. I'm mentally dancing on soft clouds. Elijah touches my neck which causes me to miss a key. I steal a quick glance up at him but keep playing.

"Beautiful Princess." He whispers into my ear.

He slides my hair back. I feel every strand with extra awareness. He kisses my neck, one peck at a time. I can smell him; I can feel his warm breath. I continue to play while he caresses my skin with his magnificent lips. The song finishes and I'm not sure if I'm glad. I love to play but I also enjoy Elijah on my skin.

"Play another song."

"Why?" I whisper. He's still nuzzling my neck.

"Play another song Anile." He whispers.

I don't argue, I become head drunk; his touch is a rush of ecstasy to me. I sensually play Colorblind, Counting Crows - Cruel Intensions. The song hits a hard limit for me, but, Elijah is also a hard limit. I do not take him in my stride, but I'm still alive.

"Anile." He whispers. His lips continue to slide across my neck. "Can I blindfold you? Can you play in the darkness?"

I blink rapidly - why would he want to do that? I stop playing.

"Do you trust me Anile." He whispers.

I turn to look at him. Do I trust him? Yes, yes I do.

"Yes, I do." I confess, staring back at the keys.

I catch a glimmer of the silk green scarf he brought for me as he pulls it out of his jeans pocket. He slides it around my neck first. The material leaves a lingering sensation of memories, memories of me tied up in that damn alley. I want to laugh but the mood is hot, erotic. He moves it to my eyes and ties it at the back of my head. I am in complete darkness, but I feel safe. I feel the keys so I can blindly become acquainted with this machine. Elijah moves off of the seat.

"Where are you going?" I say.

"Shhh - play. I want to watch you."

My heart is practically in my mouth. I need to focus. I can still feel him near me and that's almost enough to cause a mental eruption, but, I want to do this for him. I take a deep breath, calm my fingers, and I play Cruel Intensions with all that I have. The song seems to last forever. Note after note almost brings me to tears. My mother used to love listening to me play, and I'm sure Elijah used to love listening to his mother. I'm filled with deep happiness that we can share this moment together. I finish the song and Elijah's hands are on me, removing the blindfold. How strange that he wanted to watch me play blindfolded?

"That was beautiful Anile, thank you."

"You're welcome." I say when the low light of the lounge hits my eyes.

I turn to face him. He looks... happy, utterly happy. I have never seen him look so rosy cheeked. His eyes are beautiful; his pupils are fully dilated, dark and sexy.

I get to my feet. "Can I have a look around your home?" I ask sweetly. He nods his head while smiling.

I firstly head to the fireplace - it's so enchanting. It's a full size open fireplace - it could swallow me whole. Once I'm close enough to see the huge painting above, I'm star struck. It's another oil painting. The colours are dark and mysterious but bold and engaging. The frame is golden also - like the ones in the hall. What the hell? It's a woman - I have no idea who she is but if I were another person looking between the painting and me, I would swear we were the same person!

"Elijah, wh... who is that woman?" I stutter.

"That is my mother Anile." He freezes, waiting for my reaction - I think.

"Jesus, I..." I stand open-mouthed, blinking and trying to look closer with double takes, hoping that what I'm seeing is just my mind playing tricks on me. But no, it's still the same painting, and it still looks like me! I'm a little freaked out. Words literally fail me.

"Yes, I am well aware that you could be her double Anile."

Double! I am her! I'm not really sure what to make of this; this is... strange to say the least.

"Elijah, do you not think it's weird how alike we look?" I ask baffled.

"No, your looks were what drew me to you Anile. I must admit though, I am shocked to notice how much your personality resembles hers."

“That is even weirder!” I gasp.

He sighs long and hard, “please do not over think it Anile. Yes you look like my mother and even act like her but you are not her. You are you.”

I stand very, very still, trying to digest this. I just do not know what to make of it? Does he have an Oedipus Complex? Jesus if he does, that is just… fucked up.

"Okay, can, can you grab my butt - I mean, bag, can you grab my bag." That did not come out right! Ugh! This is turning into a disaster!

Elijah laughs loud, "with pleasure."

He walks over to me and snakes his hands around my waist, grabbing my behind. I close my eyes because I can feel his body heat and his smell does strange things to me. I mean really - am I not drunk enough without Darks intoxication? Hmmm, he is my own personal shot of ecstasy - legal ecstasy. My brain is thankfully jumpstarted back to life by his deep voice.

"Relax Princess. I am not planning on mauling you - well not yet anyway." He winks.

"Great choice of words." I say sarcastically while still trying to breathe.

He smacks my behind which makes me jump.

"Come. You need to eat. I have taken the liberty of having my maid cook you pork and apples, followed by coconut macaroons."

I smile knowing that he has used apples in the recipe so casually but his motive speaks to me. And the macaroons, oh the macaroons; they were once cookies and I could be happily caught with my hand in his cookie jar - undoubtedly! I laugh to myself.

"What a great food selection Elijah." I joke.

He glances to the side and smiles at me. He takes my hand and pulls me alongside him. I almost struggle to keep up with his long strides. I thought we would be heading to his kitchen that is part of the open planned space, but we walk past it and he takes me down another hall. The hall is not double height but it's still huge and wide.

"Where are we going?"

"You will see."

My curiosity is getting the better of me and my body is paying the physical price. My hands sweat and I feel my fingers sliding through his grip due to the moisture overload. We suddenly stop in the middle of his light oak panelled hall. I look around, wondering what is happening.

"Are you ready?" He asks full of amusement.

"I was born ready!" Although, I don't know what I was born ready for!

He laughs as he opens a door to a room that looks hidden in the wooden panels of the hall. Once the door is no longer visible, it reveals an astounding room.

"Oh Jesus!" I gasp.

BEFORE I VISUALLY
register anything, I'm consumed by an overwhelming scent of flowers - sweetness, vanilla, mint -
heaven
– it literally overpowers my nose. I gaze into the room to see what's inside. I stand open-mouthed. It looks like
The Garden of Eden.
Flowers command the room. An array of captivating colours from bold reds to satin purples to heavenly whites. Each specie grabs my attention. I feel my head thrash from left to right, trying desperately to eye every petal. They cover every wall and almost every inch of the floor, mountain after mountain -
wow.
The furnishings are basic. Beautiful white wicker seats and baskets that scream,
this belongs to a woman!
The first thing that pops into my head is - he must be in love with me to do something like this.

"Who did this?" I whisper, visually engaged.

"I had it done for you. I know how much you love flowers and I wanted you to have a garden that can capture your secrets and desires. No one will enter this space unless you want them too. The doors over there open onto the garden." He points past the crowd of flowers.

My mother fills my mind - oh God. Tears try to fight free from my eyes.

"This is the most magnificent thing anyone has ever done for me."

I look up at Elijah. He's standing very still while gazing down at me.

"Do you like it Anile? It was just a spare extension. I had the walls removed and turned into windows for the sun to penetrate and reach the flowers."

I slowly walk into the room, momentarily paralyzed. I make acquaintances with every plant, touching their beautiful petals. Fuschia plants, Massaenda erythrophylla plants and many, many more. They are so soft.

"My mother would be in heaven here." I whisper, sad that she will never experience this. I turn to find Elijah still standing in the hall, "you can come in." I whisper with a smile.