Kane’s decision to move her as quickly as possible had to be changed. Kiera was still recovering from the injury on her ankle. It turned out not being as bad as they thought it was. She would have to stay off her leg for some weeks but after that, it would be as good as new. They would have to clean the wound to prevent it from infection like any normal injury but other than that, she was alright. She got lucky. They were making preparations to leave, though, so as soon as they packed everything, they would go. Kane didn’t want to leave any of her father’s ‘souvenirs’ behind. He was more attached to them than Kiera would ever be. Now that she knew why her father stayed in holed up in his office for so many hours just observing the artifacts, she couldn’t look at them the same way again. It was twisted and sick, though she didn’t say the words out loud. There was no point in speaking her mind. Simone and Kane would disagree with her. They didn’t think there was anything wrong with hi
Kiera looked around at the office she had been in a million times. Perhaps even more. It looked different. She couldn't describe the changes as nothing had been moved, not that she could tell. But the room looked different somehow. Vacant. The light green walls looked greener than usual. The desk and swivel chair looked ordinary. The floor made a sound when she walked. She hadn't noticed that before. It was the little things. Even the numerous artifacts lining the shelves looked ordinary. They stared back at her with judgmental metaphorical eyes. She could only swallow and look away. Kane said, "Now you know the truth."The truth. It felt more like a tall tale, a sinister one. Yes, she had seen with her own eyes what Kane had become right in front of her. A beast. A clawed animal, just like that. Then he melted into his human body. It was all so natural that she couldn't find it alien when she saw him transform. It was strange to describe. She sometimes caught herself wondering if
The move was easier than Kiera thought it would be.It also helped that Simone was taking care of the whole thing with Kane's assurance. Because she was still debilitated, everything was done for her. They wanted her to make a full recovery and avoid unnecessary strains and injuries. She didn't mind helping. In fact, she would have preferred to help. But those two were always protective over her. There was no fighting them when they made a decision. Kiera couldn't say that the move wasn't exactly what she needed to clear her head. She had barely left the house and already felt better. The change of scenery would do her good. She didn't know how toxic her environment was until she left. It was poisoning her slowly. She was losing herself back there. Being in a place where she knew Mikael wasn't around and couldn't find her was helping her establish a clear understanding in her mind. He was a toxic asshole who shouldn't have included her in his revenge plot. She had nothing to do with
Only her happiness didn't last. The trip was great for the first two weeks. She criticized herself for not thinking about doing something similar sooner. If she had, after her break up with Jared to be precise, she wouldn't have met Mikael and none of this would be happening. But even as the thought raced through her mind, she knew it was an irrational one. Mikael would have followed her anywhere, even here. Maybe he would have lied about being a neighbor. She would have believed him because at the time, she wanted to be fooled. She wanted to feel desirable so that she could forget Jared's cold words and actions. To have a man as handsome as Mikael Samson love her was everything. Only now that she knew it was all a lie did she wake up. She didn't forget about him during the two weeks, though. She constantly thought about him and why he let her go when he had prepared everything to kill her. It could be that it had all been a strategy to get Celia or someone else—the other woman—to
There was a knock on the door. Simone jumped up so quickly and swiftly that Kiera almost dropped her cup of coffee on her lap. "What's the matter?" she asked. "Simone, what is it? Who is that?"She didn't answer her. Frankly, it felt like she wasn't even listening. Kiera only had a few beats to wonder who it was at the door. She would have never guessed that it was in fact Kane. She was shocked for two seconds before she got up and walked toward them. He wrapped an arm around his mother's shoulders, not in greeting but for support. "Kane?" Kiera said aloud. She couldn't recognize her own voice. He was limping, she saw. She noticed as soon as she got close to him that his pants were torn and covered in dried blood. He made eye contact with her but said nothing. She felt terrible. Her heart weighed in her chest and she felt useless. Simone was practically carrying him into her bedroom and all she could do was follow mutely. He was hurt. Kane was hurt. It couldn't mean something good
Simone wrapped the last bandage around Kane's thigh. "All set," she said. He sighed and Kiera did the same. The whole cleaning was an intense moment and the smell of disinfectant tickled and burned her nostrils. She felt that she had been the one who was being cleaned and treated the entire time. His pain was palpable. Now that he was lying back in bed with his eyes closed and seemingly relaxed, she could be more at ease. "Tea?" Simone asked him. A chuckle left his lips. His forehead was beaded with sweat and his chest moved up and down as he breathed. "Please."Simone placed a hand on Kiera's shoulder and the two of them walked out of the bedroom together. She closed the door on their way out and they crowded the small kitchen. Simone was in charge of making the tea—she knew how Kane liked it—and Kiera watched while rubbing her hands together anxiously. "When do we leave?" she couldn't help but ask. "Kane will want to be stubborn about it," she said, placing a teabag in a small
"So what do you want to talk to me about?" Kiera asked as she neared the bed. Kane shifted a little to the side so that she could sit down. She was curious about what he had to say, especially because he didn’t want his mother to hear it. She groaned as he tried to lift his leg but she assured him that she had enough space to sit down. “I’m fine,” she told him. “It’s about Mikael,” he said. “There’s something about him that I have to tell you. About our last meeting.”Kiera gulped and nodded. “I didn’t realize that they had been following me but I did notice that there was a car behind me that would disappear and reappear occasionally. This was two hundred and twenty or more miles from here. I stopped at the nearest gas station and filled up the extra bottles I had and the car as well. They stopped as well. The windows were tinted so I couldn’t see who was inside but I could smell them. Or not smell but sense. It’s difficult to describe.”Kiera nodded. “It was Mikael?”“Yes,” he s
Kiera shook her head and said, "I'm done with this. Done."Kane sighed and slapped the bed in frustration. "Kiera. I'm just trying to help. Ki? Ki. Where are you going?"She slammed the door behind her. It felt like the whole cabin vibrated. She then remembered Simone but it was too late. She has already slammed the door and made it clear that she and Kane had been in some kind of argument. The worst part was that Simone was standing in the kitchen. Kiera didn't know what to say to her. She looked like she had heard the whole conversation but it could easily be the other way around. She hoped that Simone hadn't heard anything. It was clear that Kane didn't want her to know and explaining her reaction was difficult. There was no reason why she should be trying to defend Mikael, especially after what he did to her. She was pathetic and she hated that her true feelings gave her away. Simone said nothing. She only watched her. Kane called her name again but she ignored him. She really