Dark Layers Volume 2: Dark Layers (19 page)

Eventually he comes around as though he remembers nothing. He sits up and quickly pulls me into his arms.

“Princess are you okay?” He asks while stroking my hair.

“Elijah,” I whisper in shock, still panting, “you were having a nightmare, do you remember it?” I ask as I peer up at him with damp eyes.

He stops and thinks for a few seconds. He shakes his head.

“No, I do not remember a thing. Did I say anything?”

I swallow hard and repeat his bizarre language. “SruoY dnA luoS reH saH reficuL!”

He stares wide-eyed but says nothing.

“Are you okay?” I ask. I struggle out of his grip so I can look at him properly.

“Yes Princess. What time is it?”

What time is it?

"Elijah, don't do that!"

"Do what?"

Ugh, I give up. “I do not know what the time is, my phone is in my bag in your living area.”

He quickly gets to his feet and sombrely walks out of the room. My mouth waters because I notice he has taken his jeans off so all that remains on his delicious body are his shirt and his boxer briefs. His legs are so hard and lean; I long to touch him, so much.

My desire for him does not last long. Once he's gone, I have to admit, I'm a little grateful that I have a few seconds to myself. That language he was speaking in was disturbing, unlike anything I have heard before - and his voice; that voice was not his! I have no idea what that was about but I have a bad feeling that he's corrupted.

While he's gone I decide to have a little snoop around his snug - he said he watches movies in here alone so there must be something personal about him around here somewhere. I'm naked and thankful for the silk blanket that acts as my clothes for now. I get up and look at the photos that are beautifully set upon the mantle. His mother fills nearly all of the golden frames, photo after photo of this woman who really does look like me. I shake my head at the scary resemblance - is it okay for me to just dismiss this?

My attention is quickly drawn to something else; a photo of Elijah. I'm not quite sure what I see, so I pick up the picture to investigate further because it's practically dark in here. I kneel down to the fire so I can catch the light from the flames. I'm absolutely gob-smacked to see Elijah in some kind of cult. He stands alongside twelve men and they are all dressed in dark purple capes - like the wax men I saw in the house of hell. Elijah is at the centre of everyone, holding another man’s hand - he looks so young. Elijah is passing the man something. Oh my God - it looks like he's passing the other man the freemason compass. I cup my mouth in horror. I now also see Elijah’s ring. Although it's small, I can see some symbol on the gold ring, and it does not take a genius to put this puzzle together - he is a freemason, I know it!

Elijah makes me jump upright, “what are you looking at Princess?”

As soon as his voice fills the room I crap myself and drop the photo. It smashes onto the carpet into tons of little pieces.

“I'm so, so sorry.” I say quickly. I kneel down to clean up the broken glass.

“Anile, are you okay? Leave that, my maid will clean it up.”

“No, it's okay, I can, can. eh, I can clean it up.” I try to insist but he kneels down with me. He gently takes my hand in his.

“What’s wrong?” He whispers while he brings me to my feet.

“Nothing. What time is it?”

He eyes me for a second. His beautiful face filled with frown lines.

“It is three a.m. How about that movie?” He asks as he kisses my knuckles.

“I should probably head back home Elijah, Sophie will be wondering where I am and I have things to do tomorrow.”

“Sophie will be fine, what plans do you have? I can take you wherever you need to go?”

I look at him thinking,
why am I lying?
Ugh, okay - how do I approach this? Do I come right out and ask if he is in-fact a bloody freemason? And what if I have it wrong? I will look like a crazy lunatic who believes in The New World Order and everything else that the government are bringing with it. Or should I just forget about it and act like another statistic?

Option two.

“I just thought you might be tired of me?” I joke with a weak smile.

He pulls me close to him and breathes a huge sigh. I clutch at his waist, grasping the hem of his T-shirt.

“I could never get tired of you Anile. Please stop over thinking us, and stop worrying - you really should have more faith in yourself.”

I'm gutted by my discovery. If he is a freemason, that means he could be dangerous, or worse.
Errr, hello! Earth to Anile! Hester already told you he is dangerous and that you should stay away! Jeez, what do you want? A walking caution sign for confirmation!

“What movie do you want to watch?” I ask hoping to mentally forget everything. Stupid really, I know.

“I have no idea what genre you like, you pick.” He smiles.

He walks over to the dark mahogany cabinet in the corner of the room. I follow after him. He opens it, revealing hundreds of movies. I stand open-mouthed.

“Wow, you really do like watching movies.”

“More than you know Princess; freedom is in the mind.”

"That's a nice saying." I whisper, tilting my head to one side.

"It is true. People can control our actions, jobs, money and even our partners but no one can truly control your mind, not really, unless you allow them to."

His words make me think about him, his issues, my issues and I wonder, does he really believe that?

I notice a cupboard at the bottom of the cabinet that is locked but I play dumb and try to open it.

He quickly grabs my hand. “Not that one.” He warns with dark narrowing eyes.

“Sorry.” I apologise hoping he will let me go.

He releases me and seats himself back down in the vast pillow created bed. He removes his T-shirt with ease. Holy mother of god! He is hot, hot like God personally carved every inch of him. His body looks perfectly ripped as he catches the flames from the fire. The flames illuminate every inch of him. His hair points in every direction and looks like just fucked hair; hmmm. He looks good with just fucked hair. My mouth waters, my lips dry and everything south of me comes alive again. I start idly moving towards him. I suddenly find myself standing behind him - some force made me come to him. I reach out, almost touching his shoulders.
He has strong shoulders, like a man who carries a thousand worriers through Sparta.

He casually looks around to find me obsessing, “have you found a movie Princess?”

Hmmm, I really want him; I'm desperate to kiss him - somehow, anyhow.

"Sorry, what movie?" I say.

"I said, have you found a movie?" He laughs.

I shake my head because words are currently lost to me.

“Shall I pick one?” He asks.

I just nod and get seated, trying my best to restart my jumbled brain. He laughs a little, shaking his head in amusement and gets to his feet. I'm thankful that this worked out so perfectly, now I get to watch his half naked body glide through his room - I can just sit back and enjoy him. Hmmm; naked Elijah.
No longer than two seconds ago you were disarmed by the fact that he might be some Satanic worshiping monster! And now you are visually worshiping him!
I grab my head knowing my thoughts are right - God what's wrong with me?

“Devil’s Advocate?”

“Sorry?” I gasp thinking, ‘what the fuck’.

“The movie, Devil’s Advocate, do you want to watch it?”

“Um, sure, why not.” I smile and frown in sync.

“It is your decision Anile, your choice. If you want to watch it we can, if you do not want to watch it, pick another movie Princess.
Free will and all that
.” He jokes, mimicking a line from the movie –
how ironic.

“That will be fine Elijah.” I say to high pitched.

I sit thinking about the irony of that movie; jeez there is no escaping my wild mind! I think I need to employ mental security to keep me in check.

He turns on the huge television and something forces me to ask questions. There is a ritual dvd on pause. A group of men in some kind of cult are standing inside a pentagram, dressed in them damn purple capes.

“Elijah, what is this?” I mutter as I unknowingly get to my feet.

“It is nothing Princess.” He insists as he tries to quickly take it out of the dvd player.

“Elijah, let me see.”

He grabs both my arms and insists, "sit down Anile. Whatever is on your mind, let it go!"

I have just about had it with his orders!

"No, what is it Elijah?" I snap while narrowing my eyes at him.

"Anile, I will not tell you again."

"I'm not a bloody child Elijah. You cannot keep ordering me around." I point a stern finger at him.

He sighs long and aggressively while lowering his head. "Do you want to hate me?"

Whoa! I stare wide-eyed. "Why would I hate you?"

He narrows his eyes at me. "Because you will not be able to handle what I have to tell you."

I think to argue further but cave immediately. I really do not want to hate him and I have a nagging feeling that what he would tell me is Satanic. I instantly sit back into the circle of pillows.
Let it go Anile, just let it go.

He puts the movie in and sits across from me. He's crouched with his knees almost touching his chest. He folds his arms around his knees.

"Are you okay Elijah?" I ask wondering why he's staring at me and why he's not sitting next to me.

"What plans do you have tomorrow?"

"Why?"

"Anile, you said you have things to do tomorrow, what are they?"

"Um, I need to find another apartment Elijah. I cannot afford two thousand pounds a week just on rent - and before you offer up my rent, the answer is no."

He smiles at me with a, 'holy crap', expression.

"I have taken care of your apartment; the papers will be finalised over the next few weeks Anile. You can stay put."

Boy oh boy did I see this coming.

"Look, I really appreciate everything you are trying to do for me Elijah but it really is not necessary. I earn good money and I can take the toll of moving to a different location - but thank you though."

"It is done Anile, just stay put." He forces with a firm hand.

"Elijah, you are not bloody Jesus. You cannot insure I'm not made homeless!"

He smiles deviant. "I may not be Jesus but I am as good as one of his disciples." He jokes and I literally burst out laughing at the irony.

"Let's just leave it and enjoy the rest of our evening, please?" I beg while still laughing.

He gets on all fours like a dog. He comes over to me and lays down, pulling me beside him. I go willingly, desperate to concentrate on the good as appose to the bad.

"How is your neck?" He asks out of the blue while kissing my temple.

Fuck, that Basque. I grab my neck and instantly feel a pang of soreness.

"Um, it's fine - thanks."

"Are you sure? You passed out Anile. I would love nothing more than to take the credit for your unconscious state but I somehow think the Basque strangled you."

I gasp, "take the credit for my unconscious state? You sound like you are into necrophilia."

"Anyway I can have you Sweetheart!" He jokes.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

"I'm fine. Let's just watch the movie, yeah?" I ask, desperately trying to stop this weird conversation.

"I was joking Anile. Always so serious." He jokes, pulling me closer.

I indulge in his scent while I wrap my arms around him. This is good; this is the Elijah I know and adore.

The movie starts and within no time at all, it's a complete head fuck. I do not like it - especially given the situation I'm over analysing regarding Elijah.

He lies with me in his arms. He's tenderly kissing my head while being drawn into the movie. I close my eyes, allowing myself to fall asleep. Hopefully my dreams will capture only the good between Elijah and I.

ELIJAH IS STANDING IN
front of me with
crossed arms. He's not listening to me as usual. He's holding my overnight bag firmly over his solid shoulder.

"Elijah, I am not staying the entire weekend." I say firm, crossing my arms also.

"You are. Sophie kindly packed your weekend bag for you - here." He passes me my grey chequered overnight bag. "My driver collected it for you. Sophie also apologised about bringing Roman back to your apartment and she told me to tell you that she is going back to Kent. You are to call her when you no longer feel angry with her."

Sophie is such a sucker! - falling at his beauty. I appreciate her apology though; she is just a dangerous party girl - a Sagittarius - never thinking of the consequences.

I narrow my eyes at Elijah for taking my sleeping arrangements into his own hands. I cannot stay around him all the damn time - I do not want him knowing how much I desire him. I have to keep something back!