Capítulo 9: Phantom Connection
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CHAPTER 9
Skai's stomach lurched at the mere mention of Damien. His abrupt call ending, his icy indifference at the company—it was all just too much.
Why was Kiera pushing a reunion she didn't crave? But then again, she couldn't blame her friend.
Kiera just did not know.
"Skai?" Kiera's voice cut through the fog. "Earth to Skai! You there, bae?" she asked, concern laced in her tone.
Considering the previous day he left with no word at all, Skai felt it would be nice having them meet and continue from where they had stopped.
"Yeah," Skai mumbled, blinking back the unwelcome memories. "Just... thinking."
"About our mysterious guy, huh?" Silence followed, confusing Kiera.
"Huh… Aren't you even a tad excited to see him again? I mean, you guys can hit it off again and who knows," she shrugged her shoulders as though Skai could see her, "have that hot sex."
A sharp "no" tumbled out of Skai's mouth before she could stop it.
"Huh?" Kiera's confusion echoed through the phone.
Before Kiera could pry, Skai cut her off. "Look, I just... I'm not interested, okay?"
"What do you mean by not—"
"Besides, I just got back. Let's leave it at that," Skai rushed out, interjecting her friend.
"But..." Kiera persisted, "what if you miss out? He seems like a good one. And hot too." Her concern crackled through the line.
"If another girl has him," Skai said, forcing a lightness she didn't feel, "my condolences to her pour heart."
She squeezed her eyes shut, recalling the phantom warmth of his hand on her waist, sending a shiver down her spine.
Nothing good would come out of thinking about him—about that night.
She could hear the soft sounds of music through the call. As much as she tried, pushing down those thoughts, the heat from their bodies, and the chemistry they shared was hard.
"Bye, Kii. Later."
Skai ended the call, taking a deep breath.
Kiera, on the other hand, remained stunned, and she could tell that something was obviously wrong.
A visit to her friend was inevitable. This went beyond the mysterious guy; something else lurked beneath Skai's facade.
She was sure of it.
Alone, Skai exhaled deeply. Rather than letting her mind wander off to her boss, Damien Raphael, she let it drift off to the gentleman who dropped her off.
There was something about him that ignited a flicker of familiarity—a déjà vu she couldn't shake.
Then, like a bolt from the blue, a scene from the previous night ripped through her mind, sending her reeling back.
Silver hair…
"He… N-no," she stuttered, her eyes darting around. "There's no way. Similar hair, maybe, but those eyes... No. No. No. He couldn't be."
Clutching her phone like a lifeline, she bolted into her apartment, the night suddenly feeling dangerous.
She'd danced with danger once and survived. But what if she was met with the same scenario again and there was no one to save her?
*******
The ride after dropping Skai off was quiet. No one dared bring up the issue with the mysterious girl their boss stopped for.
However, no one but his P.A.
His curiosity had gotten the better of him. Rather than letting it go without an answer, he took a chance. The worst that could happen would be him not providing an answer or just a glare.
"Boss."
His aquamarine crystal blue eyes darted towards his P.A., his eyes holding a certain emptiness and bore that made his P.A. gulp.
"Who's she?" He dared to ask.
This was the first time he had seen his boss get close enough to another female and subsequently let her that close or even attempt to kiss her.
There was something about her that he found intriguing, but he needed to know.
"Boss Jared…"
"Mind your business. She's no one," his velvety, deep voice enunciated, putting an abrupt stop to any future questions.
Those words were sharp, emotionless, piercing, and filled with deep intent.
"Yes sir."
"Take me home. And not a word about this to Mrs. Beck."
"Yes, sir," both his chauffeur and P.A. chorused at the same time.
Letting his eyes droop, Jared leaned against the backrest of the car's seat, his mind drifting off.
**FLASHBACK**
Jumping from one building to the next, Jared soared, his sharp red eyes scanning the city for an escape.
His powers had activated, and he knew it was time to feed.
Having suppressed his desires for so long, they were getting out of hand. Without being told, he knew if he didn't give in now, he'd end up hurting someone.
Prior, when things got heated, he'd been giving pills. But even he had stopped that since they were barely able to suppress his hunger.
And now, his usual shipment has been delayed.
"Urgh!" He clutched his chest tight and quickly landed on the roof of a building, his eyes closed.
"Stoopp arrghh!" The pain in his chest intensified as his feet staggered back, his body almost falling to the ground, but his quick reflex steadied him.
This was different. It felt as though his heart was being ripped open, torn over and over, and then suddenly all the pain, beats, and aches would stop.
Only to start five seconds later.
"What is happening?" he wheezed out, still clutching his shirt.
But the second he said that, he heard an all too familiar ear-deafening scream and steeled.
"That is… mum?"
The scream rang out again, his sensitive ears picking up the sound and narrowing the location.
Throwing caution to the wind, his fangs pushed out, his eyes turning redder, and within the twinkling of an eye, he disappeared.
A couple of seconds later, a silhouette appeared on the roof of a lonely street.
His eyes narrowed at the sight in front of him—a burly man pressing himself on a young girl.
The second he laid eyes on her, he felt the same pain course through him as his body reacted on its own.
All reasoning was lost. His only goal was to save her.
GBISH!
**Flashback Ends**
'Aah…' he sighed softly, opening his eyes as his fingers gently massaged his temples.
'She's the same girl but she isn't mum.' Pain flashed in his eyes at the memory of his mother.
'But why do I get this feeling when I see someone else close to her and when she is in danger? Why does she connect to me?' he pondered inwardly.
'I can't have anyone find out. I should stay away.' Jared finalized.
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