Chapitre 3: Chapter Three: Seeds of New Beginnings
Chapter Three: Seeds of New Beginnings
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POV: *Lavender*
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I woke up to the sound of our doorbell chiming and the faint sound of Demi cursing. I crawled out of bed trying to be as quiet as possible. I wished my bedroom had windows. The basement would be monitored for a while. If I wanted to know who rang, I needed to be soundless.
I snuck down the stairs avoiding creaky planks. I tip-toed across the living room to the wall shared with the foyer. I heard a hushed hiss coming from my guardian on the other side.
“Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” she scolded, and I heard a man clear his throat close by.
“How else would you know I was here?” a man asked impatiently, and Demi huffed. I knew that voice. Funny how the next time I heard it I was sitting in another dark room.
“Let’s just get down to business. Do you live in a secured location?” Demi quizzed. I heard her heel click against the tile as she readjusted her stance.
“It’s not in pack territory if that is what you are asking.” The man barked in response.
Whispers cut the air before Demi spoke again.
“For goodness’ sake. I will take care of it. Can you assure me there will be no retaliation once she is back in your custody?” she asked with irritation, lacing her voice. I knew by the way she said it she wasn’t smiling. There was a brief moment of silence.
“I am going to insist on a yes or a no Mr. Morrigan.” Demi scolded.
I heard a soft thump followed by, “It’s fine.” from the male voice.“Yes I can assure you there will not be retaliation from us once she is released.” He added.
“Fine, I know you are back there, Lavender. Come out and meet your new guardian.”
I hesitantly stood and walked around the corner. The moment I got within arms reach she grabbed me and shoved me at two large men who stood on our doorstep. My bare feet caught on the door jam sending me off balance. I landed at one man’s feet, and he straightened.
“My agreement was not unconditional.” He warned before Demi slammed the door as if she couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.
The stranger reached out his hand to help me up, but I declined.
“I can stand on my own, but thank you,” I said a little defiantly due to the sudden change.
“Let’s start this again. Nice to meet you, Lavender Ash. I’m Fate Morrigan and this is Cerberus Rowe.” He said as he held out his hand to shake mine. I took it hesitantly and he shook it once before letting me go. The man behind him stepped forward. He must have been the Cerberus, Fate had introduced.
“You kind of go out of your way to get the name of a one-night stand, don’t you?” I accused before my filter could kick back in. It was as if I could feel his cheeks blush.
“Beautiful and a sense of humor. Better watch it ‘cuz, I may chase after her myself.” Cerberus teased. Fate tensed.
“You say chase, I say stalk,” I said under my breath and Cerberus choked on a laugh.
“Ok, listen, I understand how this looks, but I honestly just learned your name when your guardian, or whoever she was, emailed me.” He defended and I felt my pulse speed up.
“Do they know?” I asked with more panic in my voice than I wanted to reveal. He arched a brow at me, and his frown deepened.
“Not that I am aware of. Why would it matter if they did?” he asked as if it wasn’t something everyone worried about. I hadn’t questioned until that moment that maybe life with Demi wasn’t normal. The fact other people weren’t raised by abusive jerks never crossed my mind.
“Never mind.” I shot back suddenly, tired of the questions. He shook his head and reached for me. I took a startled step back out of habit. We weren’t in that bar. He didn’t stand in front of the fearless version of me. He was standing in front of the survivor.
“I’m sorry.” He said as my reaction caught him off guard. He looked me up and down as if checking for physical wounds before he glanced back at Cerberus as if to say, “Did you catch that?”
“Before I get in your car. Not that I have a choice here. What are your expectations? What exactly is it that you want from me?” I questioned. I knew that moment was one I probably should have held my tongue. He didn’t know me. I wouldn’t get brownie points toward his mercy because we shared an intimate moment weeks ago.
“Open communication and eventually maybe your trust.” He said honestly and I stared at him waiting for him to drop that other shoe. The one where he tells me I am supposed to be a concubine or his trophy skank. That was what Zeus used to say I was only good for.
“And what are your expectations?” I asked Cerberus and that same tenseness spread through Fate’s demeanor.
“He doesn’t have expectations,” Fate answered for his friend and Cerberus matched the tense stature.
“What were their expectations?” Cerberus asked instead of answering me. I shifted my weight between my feet and nervously looked at the ground.
Before I had a chance to answer Fate tipped my chin up with his fingers, tilting my face to meet him.
“Too much. They expected too much. I just want you to be happy and healthy. I need open communication to ensure that. I won’t expect your trust until I earn it. Think of it more as a wish list, Princess.” His words were soft and intimate.
The way he spoke the words directly to me and not at me was the first realization to melt me from my chest out. Maybe I just wanted to believe he meant it so badly that I couldn’t see any lies in his words. Either way, the intimacy of it made me blush and chew my bottom lip. I could have listened to him speak like that the whole night.
“Let’s get you home,” Fate said, breaking a silent pause as I took him in. I wasn’t sure where we were heading but I was certain that it would be better than where I had been and who I had been living with.
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Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone