Chapter 3

Eric Vanhelsing

I got out of the car, setting my face cap firmly on my head before passing through the throng of reporters standing outside the hospital. I did not feel the white light of the flashing cameras as I walked past them. The unending questions that I couldn't answer even if I wanted to annoyed the hell out of me;

Is it true that Justin has gone back to taking hard drugs?

Is it true he was recently charged for drinking and driving?

An old man said he was almost killed by Justin tonight.

Is Mr Vanhelsing aware of the accident?

Do you have any statement to give on behalf of the family?

What about your girlfriend, Diana. Why isn't she with you?

Eyewitnesses reports he just left the club after a fight with his girlfriend, how true is that?

The last question almost had me pausing, but I stiffled the urge to inquire what they meant, telling myself it was just a bait. As I stepped into the hospital, the uncomfortable feeling of ants running over my body came upon me, casting me back to the time our mother was here. Ever since she died in the hospital, I tried as much as possible not to set foot in any hospital unless it was absolutely necessary. This morning, it was more than necessary. A young nurse directed me to the floor my brother was on, currently receiving treatment. I thanked her and moved to the find the elevator. After waiting some seconds for the lift to arrive, the elevator pinged and the doors opened to reveal the most astonishing pair of eyes I have ever set my eyes on. It belonged to a face that looked weary and lost in thought.

The woman remained standing, her arms around her body like she was cold. Apparently, the leather jacket she had on cold not keep her warm. I didn't know why, or what pushed me, I just found myself taking off my varsity jacket and draping it on her shoulders. 

It was that moment she chose to look at me. We remained like that, gazing into each others eyes. Her violet eyes connecting with my grey eyes. It was a connection I knew we were both reluctant to break. Her lips parted as she tried to speak, but nothing passed through her heart shaped lips. Even though I didn't hear a thing, I knew she wanted to tell me to take it that it wasn't needed.

“Take it. You need it more than I do.” My phone vibrated loudly in my pocket. I ignored it.

“But—” she tried again but stopped when I placed a feathery light kiss on her forehead. 

“I have to go and see someone. Take care.” I told her and walked into the elevator. She stepped out, turning to watch me till the doors closed, breaking the weirdest connection I had ever felt with another human being. 

~

The steady beeping of the heart monitor was not enough to drown the wails of my father's wife as she cried over a n heavily sedated Justin. The drama was so off-putting that I almost wanted to kick her out of the room. It was obvious to every one but my father that she didn't give two figs about what happened to Justin. The great Adam Vanhelsing was just so blind when it came to Lyra. 

My father kept his arms around her, consoling her like she was his son's mother. From the corner of my eyes, I spotted my sister barely holding in her anger. Her husband, Jake, stood beside her, holding her back. Knowing we all needed it, I asked them to come with me for some fresh air. 

As soon as the door closed behind us, Amelia's mouth took flight. “How dare she act like she is concerned about, Justin? They never got along. And it pisses me off that father is just taking it like it is normal.” She punched a fist into her open palm. Jake pulled her into him, telling her to calm down. Grudgingly, she stopped complaining.

“Have you called Max?” she asked me. I shared a quick glance with Jake, before looking her way.

“No, I didn't.” I lied, not wanting to tell her that I called our big brother living his life in the wilds of Africa, trying to save people that weree not family. And that his response and been to keep him informed. The only reason why I made that call in the first place was because Jake begged me to. So, imagine hearing that crap after swallowing my pride. Amelia would always argue that Max's mission of saving people was very important to him. She didn't see the truth because of her love and understanding of her brother's choice. I saw it though. Max was running away, running from the demons our mother's death unleased on us. Each and everyone of us had been badly affected by her death. 

“Why didn't you? You should have. He would have taken the first flight to see him.” She said with so much conviction I almost wanted to knock her on the head.

I scoffed, turning my face away from her hopeful face.

“What is that face supposed to mean?” she asked angrily, pulling out of her husband’s embrace. 

“I am not getting into this argument again with you. Not in public. Not now.” I shook my head, moving away from her tightly coiled body. 

“Babe, please just take it easy.” Jake pleaded, turning her face to him. They held their gaze of a moment, reminding me of the same moment I had with the red haired lady with the mysterious violet eyes I met in the elevator.

 Amelia wrapped her arms around Jake’s middle before resting her head on his chest. 

As I watched the two, I realized that my relationship with Diana, was nothing but a cheap imitation of love. It was nothing like this two had, and it certainly never felt like what I felt for the woman on the elevator.

~

Nadia's pov

“Hey you! Why are you still sleeping so late in the afternoon? Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for work? Besides, I called your phone but it was switched off.”  My Godmother, who was now my mother through adoption, said as she opened the tiny blinds covering my window. I squeezed my face as the light from the afternoon sun poured like water over my face. My tiny four poster bed squeaked loudly as I moved away from the sun.

“Mom, close the window!” I grumbled sleepily, still tired after this morning's affair. My body was heavy and got, and I really didn't feel like getting up.

“Would you get your lazy butt off that bed. You were supposed to come help at the bakery today, but your father said you were so tired, and that I should give you time to rest well. So, I waited till past one but you never showed up.” She said without pausing to take a breath, her hands on her hips as she glared at me. “I left your father alone at the bakery so I could come wake you up. What's wrong with you? Are you feeling sick?” 

I shook my head gently to answer that I was fine, but the action had me wincing.

“Nadia, are you okay? What's wrong?” she plopped on my bed and placed a hand on my forehead to feel whatever it was mothers felt whenever they did that. 

“I’m fine. Just tired. I need to rest my body, mother. Just give me today to rest.” It's not like I would have any place of work to go to after yesterday.

She eyed me suspiciously, studying me more than I was comfortable with. Her eyes rested on my forehead and I immediately wondered if she could see the kiss the grey eyes stranger placed on it this morning. My cheeks flamed hot as I thought about the sweet moment with a man I didn't even know. To avoid eye contact, my eyes went to the BTS poster on the wall before moving to the Coldplay poster. I looked at my electric sewing machine placed by a corner of my bed room. It literally travelled round the room before landing evasively on my mother again.

“Are you pregnant?” she asked on a loud gasp. I shook my head crazily, making me look more guilty than innocent. “Is it Jospeh?”

My closest friend, Jamie Corner, chose that moment to knock twice on my door before entering my room. 

“Your father told me I would find you here. Hello, Mrs Ross.” She said to mother, taking off her boots before climbing my bed. The small bed was cramped, so mother got off. 

“Just because Jamie is here doesn't mean I won't ask what I want to ask.” The stubborn woman was not planning to drop the subject. I turned my head towards Jamie, pleading with my eyes to postpone the questioning. She looked at Jamie, the realisation dawning on her face as she remembered Jamie was hopelessly in love with Joseph.  Jamie, who didn't know what we had been talking about, looked curiously between the two of us.  “We would do this later. I just pray young woman that you are not pregnant.” With that parting statement, she left the room.

“Thanks for...” I trailed off when I caught the incredulous look on her pretty face. “I am not pregnant.”

”Then why did she say that?” She managed to ask.

I rolled my eyes, before resting back on the bed with my face facing the ceiling.

“She’s just worried about me staying in bed all day. It's unlike me.” 

She nodded, causing strands of her blond hair to fall out of her pony tail. “When your father told me that you are resting in the house, I really didn't believe it. Are you okay? You look kind of pale.” I could hear the worry in her voice.

I expelled a breath, staring at the poster of Daliah Vanhelsing on the wall opposite me, “Yeah, I am. I just had an eventful night and morning.” She tried to ask what happened but got distracted by my intense stare.  She followed my gaze to the photo of my idol, Daliah Vanhelsing, wearing a silver shiny ball gown with an award of designer of the year in her hands. 

“Do you think you can get into House of Daliah this year?” She asked, her eyes carefully studying mine. I turned my eyes to the half body mannequin wearing the cloth I had been working on whenever I had some time to myself. It was covered with a black polytene bag to prevent prying eyes.

“I pray I will.”  she squeezed my leg to show her support and I gave her a smile full of hope.

“By the way, whose varsity jacket is that?” she pointed at the jacket hanging on the hook behind my door. A slow smile came on my face as I stared at the jacket that had done more than keep my body warm. It had also kept my heart calm, soothing the anxiety I felt. 

“A friend’s. He drapped it on me to keep me from shivering.” I wasn't the type to gush about incidents with men. I didn't even know how, but something about this man was very different. He had passed through walls that took others months to get through in one moment. Jamie, knowing me well, giggled excitedly. I closed my eyes, acting all cool and indifferent even though my insides were bubbling like champagne bubbles. 

“It’s no big deal.” I declared. “So, don't go screaming like I am getting married tomorrow or falling in love.” 

“Please don't do this to yourself. You know this means a lot. For years now, I have been trying to set you up with different guys, but they never came back after date one, so please excuse me that I am excited you are discussing this with me. It just means it's a big deal to you.” I didn't say anything, choosing to look at her instead. “You’ll be fine. You deserve love and more and I am glad you seem to have found one you like. This is no accident.”

The word ‘accident’ had me recalling what happened in the morning, causing me to flinch as I tried to remember the fairly familiar face of the person I saved. It still wasn't coming to me.

“Speaking of accident, did you hear Justin Vanhelsing was involved in an accident this morning?” She asked me before pulling her phone out of her purse to show me an article containing the picture of the badly damaged car. Because my phone wasn't with me and I haven't been close to any tv since the incident, I didn't see the news. Still I doubted my ears and eyes even though I heard Jamie and saw the article with the name Vanhelsing.

“Justin is a Vanhelsing?!” I shrieked in disbelief. Jamie nodded.