“Draven it is none of your…”
“How many?” Okay so this time it definitely was his demon side and I knew better than to poke at it with my attitude stick.
“Fine! Three times okay, now will you get off my back?” I said reopening my menu with enough force I nearly snapped the spine.
“Three times!? And you put up with that?” Now it was my turn to growl out,
“I have put up with a lot worse before him!” Again it was below the belt and I knew this when I saw his face fall but I just couldn’t seem to help myself. I think if the most obvious fact didn’t exist and I wasn’t still in love with Draven, then I would have just let the past go. But we both knew that wasn’t the case and unfortunately with love and when it is unreturned, well it makes you do stupid shit and lash out in horrible ways. It pushes you to limits you never knew you had and drives you to hurt others in ways that you never knew you were capable of.
“I wish I could deny that statement…I wish it like you wouldn’t believe Keira but I can’t, because you are right.” The way he said this made me feel only pain and I couldn’t have helped my reaction even if I had wanted too. I reached out my hand and grabbed tight onto his, looking him straight in the eyes and holding his gaze.
“I am sorry, that was unnecessary and cruel. But Draven, you have to stop this with me and Alex. We both made our choices and now we need to live with them…the only question now is if we can live with them and still be in each other’s lives?” He first looked down at our hands and he turned his slowly. I started to pull back but his other hand flashed out and gripped my wrist, anchoring it in place so he could turn his other hand fully without me fleeing. He then interlaced his fingers with mine and squeezed them before releasing my wrist. It was only when he knew he had a firm hold of me that he finally raised his gaze to mine.
I didn’t know what to make of his expression but there was only one word I could find to describe it and that was intense. The purple flames licked the edges and although this was something I was used to, the burning crimson in the centre wasn’t. It was the first time I had seen the mixed parts of his soul conflicting with his demon side but that was what must have been happening. What other reason was there? But more importantly, why now?
“You are so very pure…it still takes my breath away, little one.” I swallowed hard, trying in vain to get the lump that just formed to drop back to my stomach like a lead gun ball. We just seemed to stare at one another for endless minutes until our poor waiter could be seen hovering around. At this rate we would end up being the only ones left and this poor guy would still be trying to get us to order. I was just about to speak up when my stomach decided to do it for me.
Draven let me go and finally I got his beaming smile back.
“Let’s feed you shall we?” I gave him a shy smile making him laugh. He motioned the waiter over and I heard Draven chuckle. I was just about to ask him what he found funny but it had to wait as the waiter was now at Draven’s side.
“What can I get for you, Sir?”
“To begin with something to drink…” Draven said opening the list and scanning the pages for what he was looking for.
“Ah yes that will do, a bottle of the Krug, Clos d'Ambonnay 1995.” As soon as the wine was mentioned the waiter’s eyes bulged, which told me all I needed to know…the wine was going to be ridiculously expensive.
“Oh that’s alright I can just…uh…” I stopped mid flow when I saw Draven’s pointed look and quickly shifted gears to his preferred speed,
“…What he’s having” I finished dejectedly.
“Uh sir, please excuse me for saying so but it’s part of my job to warn you it’s six thousand dollars a bottle.”
“That’s fine I will let you know if we need another and we should be ready to order by the time you return.” Draven said with an authoritative air that only came from people who had an extortionate amount of money.
“Of course.” The waiter replied and promptly left the table to no doubt start hyperventilating.
“What were you laughing at before he came over?” I asked dying to know.
“He was thanking God that we were ready to order.” I couldn’t help but find the funny side too, considering who Draven really was. Draven seemed slightly transfixed as he watched me throw my head back and start laughing. I only noticed he was still staring at me or more like my neck, when I had finished with my outburst.
“What is it?”
“It’s just, it’s still strange seeing you without it…that’s all.” I gave him a confused look and my hand automatically reached up to touch my neck but before I could ask he said,