I Hate Everything About You: Chapter 5

Wrath:

As it turned out, V had me get dressed so he could take me somewhere. Where, I wasn’t sure. I was assuming it was back to the scene of the crime to relive my mistakes. That would be just like V.

No one else seemed to be interested in coming. It used to be, if I left the manse, there were at least two Brothers that flanked me at all times. I guess that was another dagger in the gut, proving that I was no longer looked at as the King of our race.

The car ride was insanely quiet. Fritz often didn’t say much, anyway. So, I wasn’t surprised that he wasn’t talking. But, V… V seemed as if he had a whole dictionary of things to say, although he was being tight-lipped. I had stopped talking after V had told me at the manse that if I didn’t get in the SUV, he would make sure to let the doggen know that I no longer wished to keep my Sire’s throne and to burn it out back with the rest of my things in the office.

V knew how to punch so it hurt. There wasn’t much I valued in this world, but my Sire’s throne was definitely one of them. LW was another. But, V knew way better than to threaten him. So, he had gone with the next best thing.

When the car stopped and I listened to the sounds outside of the window, I didn’t hear the normal hustle and bustle of the red light district. I heard the normal sounds of a somewhat urban area of Caldwell. I looked at V with narrowed eyes, completely unsure of where we were and what we were doing here.

Whicked:

The apartment was quiet,  Lana was out at work and technically since the explosion at the bar I was unemployed as there was not much of a bar left.  I padded through to the kitchen dressed in my pj bottoms and a tank.  Didn’t feel like getting dressed today since I didn’t have to be anywhere.  I put the kettle on to boil and snagged a mug from the shelf and plucked a mint tea bag from the box.  Leaning up against the counter I hummed along to an advert on TV while I was waiting for it to boil.  When the kettle was done, I poured the scalding liquid into my cup and headed back to the sofa, ready to catch up with the latest episode of a series I was watching.

It  was pathetic,  it had only been a few weeks since the explosion and me pulling Wrath out of the rubble, feeding him my blood and meeting some of the Brotherhood and already I was moping about the apartment like I have nothing better to do, wondering why I hadn’t heard from any of them,  not even a “Thanks for saving my life” card or text!  I picked up the paper that Lana had left lying around not so subtly open at the jobs page and checked out the vacancies.

Wrath:

V didn’t miss a beat. As soon as the car stopped, he swung open his door and got out. “Out, my Brother.”

Side-eying him the whole way, I slid out of the SUV on the passenger’s side. “Where are we?”

“Caldwell.” Was the only answer I got before he started walking towards the building. When I didn’t follow, he stopped, turned and said three words, “Your sire’s throne,” and swung his arm wide, directing me toward the apartments.

“God damn, motherfucking, psycho!” I could see that this was going to become a thing. Note to self: as soon as I get back to the manse, make sure the doggen know, the throne stays, no matter who says what! Reluctantly, I followed behind. “Are you at least going to tell me what we are doing here?” I asked as we approached a set of elevators, inside the lobby.

I could tell V was giving me a once over, as if deciding if he wanted to tell me now, or just wait until we got where we were going. Then he turned and entered the elevator.

Following him, I was getting pissed. Yes, I had done something that V and the rest didn’t understand, but I wasn’t a fucking leper! And I wasn’t some little kid that needed to get dragged around by his ears to show him his mistakes.

As the elevator started to slow at the floor of V’s choosing. I slammed my fist into the ‘Stop’ button and turned to look at V. “Why are we here, V? And your tongue better start wagging, or so help me!”

Whicked:

I tossed the newspaper to the side, seeing nothing that I was even remotely interested in.  I only needed something to tide me over until the paperwork the King signed off was closed and I could go to the bank manager at the First Bank of Caldwell and get my loan signed off, and finally open my own club!  I had a little savings and with Lana still working there was no reason we couldn’t cope till that happened.

I sighed a heavy sigh and snuggled back deeper into the couch, I checked my phone and saw a message from Lana telling me she was going to be home late, so I should just go ahead and eat myself…..again.

I scoped out the time on the wall clock and pushed myself up off the couch.  OK, I was gonna pop down to the local Chinese and get some food and come back to watch the late horror movie.   I walked through the apartment to my room and got the fleece that I came home with from the Brotherhood’s compound and picked up my purse, heading for the front door*

Wrath:

“We’re here to see the female that saved your life. You’re going to properly thank her, in person, like you should have before she left the compound.” Was V’s no-nonsense reply.

Now, I was fuming! V had no idea why I had no interest in ever seeing that female again, and I wasn’t about to explain it to him, but I also was not going to go along with this. “No fucking way, man!” I turned back to the panel and pulled the ‘Stop’ button back out. As soon as we hit the floor, I planted myself back to the entrance and hit ‘G’ for ground. “I am not getting out of this elevator, V. Not on your life!”

I could hear the doors sliding shut behind me and V threw his foot in the way. “You either get out of this elevator, right fucking now, and go thank that female, or you don’t deserve that throne you are so desperate to hold on to. And, trust me, if you don’t do this now, the whole of the Brotherhood and I will see to it that you never sit on that throne again. You have made some really stupid choices lately, true? Don’t make this your worst.”

Whicked:

I closed the apartment door with a click and shoved my keys into my purse.  Thankfully the closest chinese was only a block away so it was quicker for me to go get it than to get it delivered.  As I made my way down the hallway I could hear raised voices,  raised male voices, and one that sounded exactly like Wrath.  I paused where I was and heard what sounded like Vishous shouting at the King.  Oh this was bad…this was really bad.  

What the hell were they doing here in my building? Just as that thought left my head, I remembered that I was in my PJ bottoms and slippers.  Oh shit…! My life just kept getting better!  Maybe if I was quick I could get to the fire escape stairwell before they saw me, then I could avoid what was bound to be a very awkward sitch on both sides.  

I hurried down the carpeted corridor, my slippers shuffling along.  I curled my spine, making myself seem small, wrapping my arms around my torso.  I lowered my head and looked up under my lids checking the corridor intermittently.  The coast was clear, but the voices seemed like they were getting closer.  Was it just me getting closer or where they coming my way after all?

I was almost there,  only another 50 steps or so and I could sneak out the door and they would never see me and vice versa. 40 steps…..35….SHIT!  2 pairs of black shitkickers appeared at the end of the corridor, followed by the huge bodies of the King and Vishous.

Wrath:

The thought of losing my crown dug in deep. I was surprised by how much the thought of it had me spinning. A few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have cared if the whole race wanted me off that throne, but now… now, it was a different story. It was almost as if it and LW were the only two things keeping me going anymore. It had been a constant for so long that I had never thought about being without it. For years I didn’t want it, but it had been my birthright, belonging to no one but me. Then, after I had decided to take on the role, I actually discovered I enjoyed it. After that, the whole of the race had actually voted me in as their choice to be their king, until I was no longer capable. That was a high honor I had not taken lightly. I had, however, taken it for granted. Now, having it taken away from me was a real possibility, and that thought pretty much had me floored. I turned to V, “You wouldn’t dare.” I gritted. But, his unresponsiveness told me they had already discussed it and this was my test. I either get out of this elevator now, and go thank the female that saved my life, or I was going home, a useless no one. No longer a Brother due to my sight, no longer a hellren, and no longer a king. The only thing I would be able to claim would be father and I hadn’t been much of that in a long time.

Begrudgingly, I stepped out of the elevator and started down the hall. I swear, my feet sounded as if they would hammer right through the floor as I stomped down the corridor. V followed sure footedly behind me. I could feel his grin burning into my back. He was smug about getting his way on this. He was always smug about getting his way, but today he was even more smug.

As we neared the end of the hall, I scented the female we had come to see. What the fuck?! Had V told her we were coming and called ahead to have her waiting on us? I turned toward V and gave him a look that screamed, “You’re an asshole!” Then turned back to the female in the doorway. “Annalee.”

Whicked:

I kept my head down, hoping against hope that they wouldn’t notice me and I could slip through the door unseen, but as soon as I heard my childhood name pass through the lips of the King, I knew that hope was lost.  I paused and looked up at Wrath and Vishous as they barrelled down the narrow corridor toward me,  Wrath looked pissed and Vishous just looked like a smug asshole, as always.  I nodded to Vishous and straightened my spine,  I felt completely conflicted seeing Wrath again.   Part of me hated the sight of his grumpy, unrelenting ass but the other side felt like a stupid pre-trans,  giddy with excitement about seeing the Male she crushed on. I shook my head softly, trying to clear it before I spoke to the hard ass pair before me* “My Lord, how…..uh nice to see you again.  I am glad to see you back on your feet again”.  

*I chewed on the inside of my cheek trying to keep my tongue in check and not piss Wrath off any more than he seemed to be.  I moved closer to the fire escape door, ready to make my move,  surely they couldn’t be here to see me, right?   I am sure they were tracking a Lesser or something like that.  It must just be a coincidence,  because I am sure the King of the Race, is not here to say thank you for saving him…..2 weeks later!  If he wanted to do that,  the Brotherhood has my number,  he could have called or text or something…right?

“If you guys could excuse me I am just on my way out…..?”

Wrath:

A massive whiff of the female wafted up into my nose. This was no ordinary female. There were things about her that threw everything in my world off its axis and that pissed me off even more than the fact that V had forced me here. This was the only ‘her’ that Beth could have meant. ‘Welcome her…’ Fuck that! I was not going to welcome this female anywhere, much less into my life. I was here to do one thing. That was it. Then I was going back to the manse and getting on with my life.

My non-existent fingernails dug into the skin of my palms as I stood before this female, my body stiff as a board. I was afraid to move, for fear that I might move one inch closer and her scent might get that much stronger. This was not happening. Beth. Beth. Beth. I started a chant in my head. I would not allow this female to get under my skin.

Gritting my teeth I thanked her for the well wishes and began, “I, uh… I owe you a debt of gratitude for what you’ve done. So… Thank you.” I turned back towards V and threw my palms up, in order to see if that was good enough to get me out of here.

“You’re an asshole. You know that?” Was all I got in response.

Whicked:

I could tell Wrath was uncomfortable being here,   clearly this visit was not his idea.  V was looking from Wrath to me like he knew something that he wasn’t prepared to let either of us into.  My eyes roamed over Wrath, taking in all the changes in him since the explosion and the feeding after.  He looked whole, healthy but he still had that haunted look on his face.  I wondered what his eyes would hold.  Rumour was they were the most amazing shade of green, not that I would ever know.  

I traced the carpet with the tip of my slipper anxiously,  waiting for someone to say something.  Wrath straightened up and I could see him stiffen as he prepared to talk,  his scent changed, giving off waves of light anger,  finally he rushed off an insincere spiel about thanking me for saving his ass.  

As he turned away from me, clearly feeling that he had done whatever V had brought him here to do, he raised his hands as if to say “There,  you happy now”?  V glowered at the King in a way that only he could do and I heard him call Wrath an asshole,   how true that statement is!  My blood was boiling,  how dare he be so disrespectful.  I lost my job,  I risked my life to drag him out of that burning and rubble strewn alley,  all for what?  This poor excuse of a thank you.  Fuck I would have preferred a fucking text message!

“You thank me?  You thank me for saving your fucking life, do you?  The rumour is that you wanted to die out there, but here you are being fake as fuck and thanking me for saving your shitty life?    Well….you know what Wrath,  I don’t accept your thanks!  You can take your fake thanks and ram it up your Kingly ass!   Now how about you do me a solid and get your fucked up ass and your goateed sidekick out of my life,  and stay the hell out of it?  

Wrath:

The fire in this female ignited something in me that I’d never experienced before and I swung back toward her before I even realized I had done it. Taking two steps into her, I could feel her breath on my chest, as I towered over her. “You’re right.” I growled, “I didn’t want you to save me that night. I didn’t want anyone to save me. I wanted to be left alone and allowed to drift off into the Fade. Instead, your ass found me and decided that you would be a hero and save the fucking Blind King. I was so fucking close I could taste it! Actually, from what I was told, I succeeded, until you decided to thrust your wrist down my throat. Do you have any idea what it is like to finally be standing at the doors of the Fade, your one true love standing in front of you, only to be ripped away from her?! So, pardon me for being an ungrateful, sorry son-of-a-bitch, but you took me away from my end-all, be-all.”

I turned back to V and stepped away from the female. “You fucking happy now?! Did you expect this to go any other way? You should have just had Saxton mail some thank you card with my royal stamp on it, or something. This has been a shitshow ever since stepping out of that elevator.” The fucking nerve of him, dragging me out here to do something he should have know I wasn’t interested in doing. Sure the female saved my life. Why should I be thanking her for that? I didn’t want my life saved. I found my way back over to the elevator and hit the ‘Down’ button.

Whicked:

I stood my ground as Wrath stepped closer to me,  ignoring the aggression washing off of him and over me.  He was trying to intimidate me, but I sure as shit wasn’t going to let him.  I squared up against him and I could sense that Vishous was worried where this was going to go,  he took a step in towards us.  There was no need for him to intervene however,   Wrath said what he needed to say and he said it in front of V and I.  At the mention of his Shellan however, I blanched.  I knew what it was like to lose someone you loved, I am sure that if he knew what happened to my family and my proposed Hellren he would have toned back his little rant.  I really wanted to let him have it with both barrels,  my anger still running through my veins but slowly dissipating.  I gave him all I had left.

“You think you are the only one who ever lost someone Sire?  You think you are the only one who watched their family die at the hands of Lessers?” Out of the corner of my eye I could see Vishous flick his diamond eyes my way and I knew that he knew my story,  sorrow filled his face and he dropped his gaze, I nodded slowly as tears flooded my eyes,  thoughts of my Mahmen, Papa, younger sister and my betrothed danced through my mind,  memories that I thought i had under lock and key.  The dam broke and I used it to shore up my reserves of anger, angry tears replaced the sorrow ones already shed.    “I watched my entire fucking family die, the Male that helped me through my transition,  the one who I was so excited to marry.  All of them dead,  bodies burned.  My family never made it to the Fade!  At least you know your Shellan is safe and waiting for you when it is your time to die,   who is waiting for me?  Get off your high horse Wrath and open your eyes…..the world does not revolve around you,  or your dead Queen!”

I ran then,  straight down the fire escape and into the darkness of the night beyond.  Fuck I never meant to say that, but he pushed me too far!