Wolf mountain peak compl.., p.45
Wolf Mountain Peak Complete Series, page 45
part #1 of Wolf Mountain Peak Series
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Melissa suggested, offering her hand, as he took a deep breath. Joe placed his glass on the tray of an oncoming waiter, sweeping his surroundings, as he slipped his own hand into her palm. Her heart rate slowed. He was aware now, not yet out of harm’s way, but with every step towards that gate, salvation was getting closer. Melissa smiled to herself. He had trusted her, without needing a shred of proof.
“This place looks like every man’s dream,” she remarked. “Half-naked girls are everywhere. Why is that?”
“Howard Mercer, the guy throwing the party is a porn producer,” He informed her as he clutched her hand. “He’s celebrating the release of his latest feature. His company is one of my firm’s best clients. ‘Pink Dreams’ grosses billions of dollars every year. They are ranked 4th in the industry.”
“Porn?” Melissa snorted in amusement, flashing him a bright-eyed look. “The girl you threw into the pool works in porn?”
“Yeah,” Joe replied, as they crossed the gate. “Susan Lane signed a contract with ‘Pink Dreams’ recently. She wanted my opinion on her decision to ditch her former employers.”
“Your world is a lot more complicated than I thought,” she confessed, smiling up at him. “These things didn’t even cross my mind.”
“My world is a cesspool,” he corrected her, his voice filled with annoyance. “I have to deal with scum, every damn day. Believe it or not, Mercer is one of the better people I socialize with. He’s actually quite nice. He pays everyone on time, and he doesn’t abuse his girls in any way, like most of the others do.”
“Get in the car,” Melissa urged, tossing a quick glance down at Kate’s Ford. “You can talk to me about him all you want after we leave this place.”
Joe reached down to open the rear left door, as she moved around the vehicle. A mere look at the clock on the dashboard told her it was 1:58am. Melissa tore her gaze away from it, and returned her attention to the uphill road in front of them as she swung the front passenger side door open.
“Please, drive us out of here, Kate,” she requested, seating herself, as Dean drove off in his truck. Nodding assent, her friend turned the key in the ignition. Melissa heaved a long sight of relief, as the engine roared into life. Her plan had worked to perfection. Joe was nowhere near the gate. He was safe, thanks to her. “Remember the witch you ran into yesterday?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, rolling his window down. “My throat’s still a little sore.”
“She’s got the ability to look into someone’s near future. She showed us your future, and told us where you were,” Melissa explained, glancing up at him over her shoulder, as she turned over onto her left side.
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Joe muttered, scratching his chin. “That woman nearly choked me to death without even touching me.”
“Those people who we saw do the shooting must be retarded or suicidal,” Kate interjected, as Dean’s truck rolled to a halt at the intersection. “I mean, who would open fire at a limo, in front of hundreds of people, and at the end of a dead-end street?”
Melissa would not venture a guess. After all, she wasn’t interested in finding the ones responsible for this brutal murder. She had only one thought: how to get back to Paxton as soon as possible. Tired by the long drive, she considered asking Joe about an alternative route. Still, before she could address him, the deafening sound of a powerful, revving engine, along with the odor of burnt rubber grabbed her attention. In a split second, a flash-red Porsche swerved into the opposite lane, its rear bumper missing Kate’s front fender by no more than a couple of inches.
“Someone very skilled and very-well financed,” Joe concluded, swirling his head around to look at the luxury car. None of them spoke another word. Dean’s truck remained glued to its spot. In a few seconds, the tires of the Porsche screeched, as it came to an abrupt halt. Joe slowly turned his head around, raising his hands to cover his face, as the crackling noise of numerous bullets tore through the night.
“Holy God,” Joe whispered, slipping both hands up into his hair, as Kate flashed her high beams to Dean. Her mate took the hint, and restarted his truck. He turned left and out of Actors Colony Road, as she followed behind him.
“I guess you ought to thank Helena,” Melissa uttered, turning to face him. “I’m sorry.”
“Damn!” Joe cried, banging both fists down on the seat. “Take me back there! I need to see who is hurt.”
“Not a chance in hell, counselor,” Kate groaned, tightening her grip on the steering wheel as she stared at him in the rearview mirror. “It’s going to be a mess out there.”
“Then, I need to ask you a favor,” Joe sighed, leaning forward. “The police will want to know what happened. They’ll interview everyone at the party, including the ones who left earlier than me. It’s standard procedure. I got the Porsche’s license plate. Please, take me to New York. I need to enter my statement to the police.”
“He’s right,” Kate voiced her opinion, casting a sideways glance at her friend. “The cops are going to be looking for him.”
“And after that?” Melissa inquired of him, while her voice lowered as she gazed into his eyes. “What will you do? When will I see you again?”
“Tomorrow,” his response was sharp, as if he had been anticipating her question. “I’m taking a personal day. I’ll meet you up on Acheron River at seven.”
“Excuse me, counselor, but do you want to get out of that contract?” Kate asked him, her voice filled with frustration.
“Well, yeah,” Joe gave a quick nod. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Then, you need to tell Helena more about it, work with her, and you can’t do that while you’re driving back and forth from Paxton.” Kate concluded. “I suggest you take more than just one day off.”
“I hear you,” he said on an exhale. “I need to clear this with my boss first, though. I’ll talk to him, first thing in the morning.”
An intense desire to hug her friend rose within Melissa. Kate had done what she had hesitated to do. She was planning to suggest this to Joe, but she had not decided on “when” yet. Now, she had saved her that trouble. The next four hours in the car would not be spent in insecurity, but in calmness and good spirits. Joe’s innocence had been established, keeping Melissa’s hope burning.
Chapter Fifteen
Melissa went to bed in the early morning, utterly exhausted and barely able to keep her eyes open. This time, her fatigue was so profound that not even an issue as major as Joe’s could keep her attentive and awake. The last thing that popped into her mind was her triumph over the security for that mansion in North Haven, and the fear that she had instigated upon her – supposed – rival. Melissa might have not been intending to terrorize anybody that night, but she was too stressed to hold on to her temper. Her goal had been to rescue Joe, and Susan Lane was getting in the way. It didn’t matter to her how she got rid of her; just that she did. Despite the fact that she had achieved her goal, Melissa knew she had to be more careful from now on. In her anxiety, she had almost yielded control to her wolf, in front of hundreds of strangers. She could not allow that to happen again.
Hours later, as she was still lost in the sweet oblivion of sleep, two male voices faded in to her dark cocoon, causing her eyes to shoot open. Richness and depth characterized them both. One was slightly higher than the other. Melissa couldn’t believe her ears. It was Joe, accompanied by Raul, the single one of her brothers who had been infuriated by Joe’s presence. She was still too drowsy to make out what they were saying; yet, they didn’t sound at all like they were arguing. On the contrary, their roaring laughter resounded through the walls of her cabin, stunning her even further. Melissa rolled out of bed, at the same time wondering if this was real or just a figment of her imagination. The voices instantly became louder, as she pulled her bedroom door open. No. This wasn’t a fantasy. Raul and Joe were at her kitchen table. Her Alpha was holding a piece of paper before him, studying it, as her boyfriend rummaged through a stack of papers.
“It’s a miracle,” Raul smirked, as his gaze shot up to meet hers. “She’s awake.”
“I have two questions. One: What time is it? Two: Are you guys kidding me?” Melissa asked, curiosity written all over her face, as her brother rose from his seat.
“5:50p.m. and no, we’re not kidding you,” he retorted, attempting to use a serious tone, as she started down the stairs. “Joe came to me, saying that he means well. I asked for some proof. He showed me some of his writing. We talked for a while. He and I have a few things in common.”
“It’s true,” Joe agreed, setting the papers back down on the stack, as the corners of his lips curved into a gentle smile. “I hope we didn’t wake you.”
“I’ve been sleeping for almost twelve hours, Joe.” Melissa’s voice came out drowsy, with a pinch of playfulness, as she stepped off the landing. “I’m glad you woke me up.”
“Helena will be up in grandpa’s sanctuary tonight, if you need her,” Raul stated, as his sister brushed past him. “I’ll see you later.”
“I thought our date was at seven. It’s not even six yet,” Melissa continued as she seated herself beside Joe.
“I had a long, crazy day,” Joe sighed, leaning closer to her. “I gave my statement to the police, which lasted two hours, and then went straight to work. I tried to talk to my boss about the shooting, but he wouldn’t let me. He thought I’d seen the whole thing. He gave me the rest of the week off. He even offered to pay for counseling. I went back to my place, got some sleep, packed a bag, and here I am. Before I took off, I read online that the police had found the shooters. They’re members of a local gang, hired by a rival studio to take out the girls in that limo.”
“And you visited my brother…” Melissa faltered, “…because?”
“I wanted to be straight with him,” he explained, his voice coming out softer. “Call me old-fashioned, but if I were him, I’d like to know who’s dating my sister. I showed him a couple of pages I’ve written for you. I read some of the stuff he’s written for his wife. He’s very talented.”
“You write? You’ve written? For me?” She pointed at herself, as heat blazed up her neck and landed in her cheeks. Joe did not speak. He merely gave her a crooked smile that sent her pulse rising, as he picked up the page on the top of the stack.
My raging fire – My brightest star
Save me tonight from my darkest dream
Take my hand like the fairy you are
Heal the soul in my twilight scream
My bitter heart your name is calling
This hollow night, your face I seek
Before you, in the abyss I was falling
Crying in the darkness of my eternal sleep
“You’re my muse,” Joe whispered, as she held the paper with trembling fingers. “You’re my hope: my only hope.”
Melissa set it down on the table, unwilling to take her eyes off his kind words. She squeezed her eyes shut, sucking in a deep breath, unable to utter a word. Joe Stanton was indeed the man she believed him to be. She had not fallen for an illusion. He was real, made of flesh and blood. And Melissa was his inspiration. She could feel it in her bones. Hear it in his racing heartbeat. Read it in the verses he had written for her. Her eyes snapped open, as she lifted them to meet his.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered, her lips quivering, as he rested his hands against the soft skin of her cheeks.
“I could write for hours, as long as I could gaze upon you,” he breathed, trailing his thumbs over her cheekbones, as he leaned towards her. “Let me sail in that tiny little sea in your eyes, Melissa.”
His request made her heart melt: filling her with an uncontrollable urge to taste his lips once again. She bent her head slightly, as he eased her closer. Something stirred inside her, as their mouths joined in a long, tender kiss. Emotions welled up, ones that she had never felt before: true; pure; unadulterated; shocking every single atom of every cell of her essence. Melissa was losing herself in the dream that was this very real moment, recalling his confession, as he snaked his left arm around her neck. There was no demand in Joe’s kiss, just a desire to demonstrate the tenderness she inspired in him, a will to prove to her that his feelings for her ran deeper than lust. Melissa had no need for any more evidence. She already had his writing, but she could not resist the temptation for one more of his kisses. Joe rested his forehead against hers, his eyelids slowly lifting up, as his face lit up with a smile.
“Do you have to live two and a half hours away from me?” he whispered, pushing his hand into his hair.
“I could ask you the same thing,” she uttered, circling her arms around his neck. “I don’t care about the distance, though. My brothers and their girlfriends faced the exact same problem, and they worked it out. It’s the deal that concerns me.”
“I’ve been dying to know what that witch can do to help me,” Joe admitted, heaving a long, heavy sigh, as he dropped his gaze from her. “Every priest I’ve talked to said I couldn’t do anything about it. Some of them told me I don’t even deserve a funeral.”
“Helena is no priest,” Melissa shook her head sideways, speaking in a more mellow tone. “She’s come through for me and my family before. You should also call her by her name. She’ll get mad at you, if you don’t.”
“Point taken,” he smiled, nodding at the same time. “Where’s your grandpa’s sanctuary?”
“It’s up in the mountain side,” she winked at him. “It’s full of books, pictures and memories. I didn’t know it existed, until a few months ago. I was surprised to hear about it at first, but I loved that I found dozens of my grandpa’s pictures and my grandma’s in there as well. I don’t remember him. He died when I was just two years old.”
“Let’s go, then,” Joe suggested, leaning back, as he removed his hands from her. “I’d really like to see it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Enthralled and completely overjoyed to have read Joe’s writing, Melissa decided to grant Joe’s wish. She could tell that he was much too tense to stay in her cabin. After all, she was probably just as anxious as he, and a visit to Helena was probably the only thing that would set them both at ease. However, his next request came as a surprise to her. Joe rejected the notion of driving up to Roman’s sanctuary, insisting that crossing the forest on foot appealed to him much more than a mere, five-minute drive. Melissa did not think twice about it. A stroll would be a lot more romantic, and was guaranteed to give her some alone time with him. Yes, she knew that she would have him all to herself until the end of the week, but a chat under the thick shade of the towering trees would be much more enjoyable than a conversation in her cabin.
The sun was still high in the sky, its stimulating light washing over every roof in Melissa’s birthplace, when she and Joe left the Bradford property behind them. Holding hands, they strolled down the short hill drawing close to the edge of the forest. Very soon, she discovered yet another reason why this was immensely better than just a drive. Sunlight and shade were flowing like dark and light ink over his face, as they strode through the trees, painting his light-brown hair darker or lighter.
“Beautiful,” Melissa commented, moving around a tall bush that blocked her path.
“Thanks a lot for the compliment, but there are a lot prettier sights in the forest than me. And I don’t mean just you,” Joe declared, scanning a massive cedar tree across from him, from top to bottom. “Look at that; nature at its finest. When you’ve spent your whole life in the city, you learn to appreciate it more.”
“It’s the same with me,” she replied as she gave a short chuckle, and he trailed his thumb up her wrist. “Living among brutes, I learned to appreciate the value of dating a refined man.”
“Refined men don’t give up on their souls, Melissa,” sadness sent his voice down an octave, as he clenched his jaw.
“Your despair got the better of you,” she lowered her tone, tossing a loving, sideways glance up at him. “You made a mistake; that mistake doesn’t change who you are.”
“Actually, it defines who I am,” he countered, bitterness spreading into his voice, as he passed by the cedar tree.
“Don’t think like that,” Melissa urged, squeezing his wrist in her hand. “You need to be more positive.”
“I keep trying, but…” Joe faltered, drawing in a sharp breath, as they headed towards the main road to the right. “Every time I try, I get this thought that just ruins everything. Imagine if my life story became public. ‘Underachieving lawyer loses his wife; then sells his soul to a demon, in order to get eight years of professional success.’ Nothing I did before that will ever change people’s opinion about me. To them, I’ll always be an evil bastard, a devil’s puppet.”
“I don’t care!” Melissa cried, her feminine voice echoing through the untouched forest, as she halted beside him. “Public sentiment isn’t always right, Joe. Why would you let it affect you? Are you trying to punish yourself?”
“Maybe I am,” he shrugged his shoulders, his tone calm, unaffected by her short outburst. “I knew what I was doing, Mel; but, I did it nonetheless.”
“I’m not having the same old discussion,” she murmured, narrowing her eyes at him. “The man who’s written that wonderful poem for me is no evil bastard. He was just vulnerable, and that demon exploited his vulnerability: end of story.”
Joe parted his lips, ready to come up with a rebuttal, but as he did, she noticed, a red, spherical object, hovering over a balsam fir tree, on the side of the road. It slowly descended, its color deepening, as Joe turned around to face it. Much to her surprise, the sphere began to expand as it approached them. This had to be Helena’s doing. The color and the fact that this bubble had a will of its own left Melissa with no doubt. The spot on the surface where it made contact with Joe’s hand shone black, as the sphere slowly engulfed him. Inch by inch, his entire body was being sucked in, right before her eyes. As soon as he found himself in that bubble, Joe spun around, and then leaned forward. Melissa’s gaze remained focused on his face. The movement of his jaw indicated that he was speaking to her, but she could not hear him. The surface felt soft on her fingertips, as a white sparkle spread across the bubble. She watched, asking herself why Helena had chosen to play this trick on them, as her entire arm got pulled into that odd object. What did the witch have in mind? Why didn’t she allow them to simply walk to Roman’s sanctuary?
“This place looks like every man’s dream,” she remarked. “Half-naked girls are everywhere. Why is that?”
“Howard Mercer, the guy throwing the party is a porn producer,” He informed her as he clutched her hand. “He’s celebrating the release of his latest feature. His company is one of my firm’s best clients. ‘Pink Dreams’ grosses billions of dollars every year. They are ranked 4th in the industry.”
“Porn?” Melissa snorted in amusement, flashing him a bright-eyed look. “The girl you threw into the pool works in porn?”
“Yeah,” Joe replied, as they crossed the gate. “Susan Lane signed a contract with ‘Pink Dreams’ recently. She wanted my opinion on her decision to ditch her former employers.”
“Your world is a lot more complicated than I thought,” she confessed, smiling up at him. “These things didn’t even cross my mind.”
“My world is a cesspool,” he corrected her, his voice filled with annoyance. “I have to deal with scum, every damn day. Believe it or not, Mercer is one of the better people I socialize with. He’s actually quite nice. He pays everyone on time, and he doesn’t abuse his girls in any way, like most of the others do.”
“Get in the car,” Melissa urged, tossing a quick glance down at Kate’s Ford. “You can talk to me about him all you want after we leave this place.”
Joe reached down to open the rear left door, as she moved around the vehicle. A mere look at the clock on the dashboard told her it was 1:58am. Melissa tore her gaze away from it, and returned her attention to the uphill road in front of them as she swung the front passenger side door open.
“Please, drive us out of here, Kate,” she requested, seating herself, as Dean drove off in his truck. Nodding assent, her friend turned the key in the ignition. Melissa heaved a long sight of relief, as the engine roared into life. Her plan had worked to perfection. Joe was nowhere near the gate. He was safe, thanks to her. “Remember the witch you ran into yesterday?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, rolling his window down. “My throat’s still a little sore.”
“She’s got the ability to look into someone’s near future. She showed us your future, and told us where you were,” Melissa explained, glancing up at him over her shoulder, as she turned over onto her left side.
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Joe muttered, scratching his chin. “That woman nearly choked me to death without even touching me.”
“Those people who we saw do the shooting must be retarded or suicidal,” Kate interjected, as Dean’s truck rolled to a halt at the intersection. “I mean, who would open fire at a limo, in front of hundreds of people, and at the end of a dead-end street?”
Melissa would not venture a guess. After all, she wasn’t interested in finding the ones responsible for this brutal murder. She had only one thought: how to get back to Paxton as soon as possible. Tired by the long drive, she considered asking Joe about an alternative route. Still, before she could address him, the deafening sound of a powerful, revving engine, along with the odor of burnt rubber grabbed her attention. In a split second, a flash-red Porsche swerved into the opposite lane, its rear bumper missing Kate’s front fender by no more than a couple of inches.
“Someone very skilled and very-well financed,” Joe concluded, swirling his head around to look at the luxury car. None of them spoke another word. Dean’s truck remained glued to its spot. In a few seconds, the tires of the Porsche screeched, as it came to an abrupt halt. Joe slowly turned his head around, raising his hands to cover his face, as the crackling noise of numerous bullets tore through the night.
“Holy God,” Joe whispered, slipping both hands up into his hair, as Kate flashed her high beams to Dean. Her mate took the hint, and restarted his truck. He turned left and out of Actors Colony Road, as she followed behind him.
“I guess you ought to thank Helena,” Melissa uttered, turning to face him. “I’m sorry.”
“Damn!” Joe cried, banging both fists down on the seat. “Take me back there! I need to see who is hurt.”
“Not a chance in hell, counselor,” Kate groaned, tightening her grip on the steering wheel as she stared at him in the rearview mirror. “It’s going to be a mess out there.”
“Then, I need to ask you a favor,” Joe sighed, leaning forward. “The police will want to know what happened. They’ll interview everyone at the party, including the ones who left earlier than me. It’s standard procedure. I got the Porsche’s license plate. Please, take me to New York. I need to enter my statement to the police.”
“He’s right,” Kate voiced her opinion, casting a sideways glance at her friend. “The cops are going to be looking for him.”
“And after that?” Melissa inquired of him, while her voice lowered as she gazed into his eyes. “What will you do? When will I see you again?”
“Tomorrow,” his response was sharp, as if he had been anticipating her question. “I’m taking a personal day. I’ll meet you up on Acheron River at seven.”
“Excuse me, counselor, but do you want to get out of that contract?” Kate asked him, her voice filled with frustration.
“Well, yeah,” Joe gave a quick nod. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Then, you need to tell Helena more about it, work with her, and you can’t do that while you’re driving back and forth from Paxton.” Kate concluded. “I suggest you take more than just one day off.”
“I hear you,” he said on an exhale. “I need to clear this with my boss first, though. I’ll talk to him, first thing in the morning.”
An intense desire to hug her friend rose within Melissa. Kate had done what she had hesitated to do. She was planning to suggest this to Joe, but she had not decided on “when” yet. Now, she had saved her that trouble. The next four hours in the car would not be spent in insecurity, but in calmness and good spirits. Joe’s innocence had been established, keeping Melissa’s hope burning.
Chapter Fifteen
Melissa went to bed in the early morning, utterly exhausted and barely able to keep her eyes open. This time, her fatigue was so profound that not even an issue as major as Joe’s could keep her attentive and awake. The last thing that popped into her mind was her triumph over the security for that mansion in North Haven, and the fear that she had instigated upon her – supposed – rival. Melissa might have not been intending to terrorize anybody that night, but she was too stressed to hold on to her temper. Her goal had been to rescue Joe, and Susan Lane was getting in the way. It didn’t matter to her how she got rid of her; just that she did. Despite the fact that she had achieved her goal, Melissa knew she had to be more careful from now on. In her anxiety, she had almost yielded control to her wolf, in front of hundreds of strangers. She could not allow that to happen again.
Hours later, as she was still lost in the sweet oblivion of sleep, two male voices faded in to her dark cocoon, causing her eyes to shoot open. Richness and depth characterized them both. One was slightly higher than the other. Melissa couldn’t believe her ears. It was Joe, accompanied by Raul, the single one of her brothers who had been infuriated by Joe’s presence. She was still too drowsy to make out what they were saying; yet, they didn’t sound at all like they were arguing. On the contrary, their roaring laughter resounded through the walls of her cabin, stunning her even further. Melissa rolled out of bed, at the same time wondering if this was real or just a figment of her imagination. The voices instantly became louder, as she pulled her bedroom door open. No. This wasn’t a fantasy. Raul and Joe were at her kitchen table. Her Alpha was holding a piece of paper before him, studying it, as her boyfriend rummaged through a stack of papers.
“It’s a miracle,” Raul smirked, as his gaze shot up to meet hers. “She’s awake.”
“I have two questions. One: What time is it? Two: Are you guys kidding me?” Melissa asked, curiosity written all over her face, as her brother rose from his seat.
“5:50p.m. and no, we’re not kidding you,” he retorted, attempting to use a serious tone, as she started down the stairs. “Joe came to me, saying that he means well. I asked for some proof. He showed me some of his writing. We talked for a while. He and I have a few things in common.”
“It’s true,” Joe agreed, setting the papers back down on the stack, as the corners of his lips curved into a gentle smile. “I hope we didn’t wake you.”
“I’ve been sleeping for almost twelve hours, Joe.” Melissa’s voice came out drowsy, with a pinch of playfulness, as she stepped off the landing. “I’m glad you woke me up.”
“Helena will be up in grandpa’s sanctuary tonight, if you need her,” Raul stated, as his sister brushed past him. “I’ll see you later.”
“I thought our date was at seven. It’s not even six yet,” Melissa continued as she seated herself beside Joe.
“I had a long, crazy day,” Joe sighed, leaning closer to her. “I gave my statement to the police, which lasted two hours, and then went straight to work. I tried to talk to my boss about the shooting, but he wouldn’t let me. He thought I’d seen the whole thing. He gave me the rest of the week off. He even offered to pay for counseling. I went back to my place, got some sleep, packed a bag, and here I am. Before I took off, I read online that the police had found the shooters. They’re members of a local gang, hired by a rival studio to take out the girls in that limo.”
“And you visited my brother…” Melissa faltered, “…because?”
“I wanted to be straight with him,” he explained, his voice coming out softer. “Call me old-fashioned, but if I were him, I’d like to know who’s dating my sister. I showed him a couple of pages I’ve written for you. I read some of the stuff he’s written for his wife. He’s very talented.”
“You write? You’ve written? For me?” She pointed at herself, as heat blazed up her neck and landed in her cheeks. Joe did not speak. He merely gave her a crooked smile that sent her pulse rising, as he picked up the page on the top of the stack.
My raging fire – My brightest star
Save me tonight from my darkest dream
Take my hand like the fairy you are
Heal the soul in my twilight scream
My bitter heart your name is calling
This hollow night, your face I seek
Before you, in the abyss I was falling
Crying in the darkness of my eternal sleep
“You’re my muse,” Joe whispered, as she held the paper with trembling fingers. “You’re my hope: my only hope.”
Melissa set it down on the table, unwilling to take her eyes off his kind words. She squeezed her eyes shut, sucking in a deep breath, unable to utter a word. Joe Stanton was indeed the man she believed him to be. She had not fallen for an illusion. He was real, made of flesh and blood. And Melissa was his inspiration. She could feel it in her bones. Hear it in his racing heartbeat. Read it in the verses he had written for her. Her eyes snapped open, as she lifted them to meet his.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered, her lips quivering, as he rested his hands against the soft skin of her cheeks.
“I could write for hours, as long as I could gaze upon you,” he breathed, trailing his thumbs over her cheekbones, as he leaned towards her. “Let me sail in that tiny little sea in your eyes, Melissa.”
His request made her heart melt: filling her with an uncontrollable urge to taste his lips once again. She bent her head slightly, as he eased her closer. Something stirred inside her, as their mouths joined in a long, tender kiss. Emotions welled up, ones that she had never felt before: true; pure; unadulterated; shocking every single atom of every cell of her essence. Melissa was losing herself in the dream that was this very real moment, recalling his confession, as he snaked his left arm around her neck. There was no demand in Joe’s kiss, just a desire to demonstrate the tenderness she inspired in him, a will to prove to her that his feelings for her ran deeper than lust. Melissa had no need for any more evidence. She already had his writing, but she could not resist the temptation for one more of his kisses. Joe rested his forehead against hers, his eyelids slowly lifting up, as his face lit up with a smile.
“Do you have to live two and a half hours away from me?” he whispered, pushing his hand into his hair.
“I could ask you the same thing,” she uttered, circling her arms around his neck. “I don’t care about the distance, though. My brothers and their girlfriends faced the exact same problem, and they worked it out. It’s the deal that concerns me.”
“I’ve been dying to know what that witch can do to help me,” Joe admitted, heaving a long, heavy sigh, as he dropped his gaze from her. “Every priest I’ve talked to said I couldn’t do anything about it. Some of them told me I don’t even deserve a funeral.”
“Helena is no priest,” Melissa shook her head sideways, speaking in a more mellow tone. “She’s come through for me and my family before. You should also call her by her name. She’ll get mad at you, if you don’t.”
“Point taken,” he smiled, nodding at the same time. “Where’s your grandpa’s sanctuary?”
“It’s up in the mountain side,” she winked at him. “It’s full of books, pictures and memories. I didn’t know it existed, until a few months ago. I was surprised to hear about it at first, but I loved that I found dozens of my grandpa’s pictures and my grandma’s in there as well. I don’t remember him. He died when I was just two years old.”
“Let’s go, then,” Joe suggested, leaning back, as he removed his hands from her. “I’d really like to see it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Enthralled and completely overjoyed to have read Joe’s writing, Melissa decided to grant Joe’s wish. She could tell that he was much too tense to stay in her cabin. After all, she was probably just as anxious as he, and a visit to Helena was probably the only thing that would set them both at ease. However, his next request came as a surprise to her. Joe rejected the notion of driving up to Roman’s sanctuary, insisting that crossing the forest on foot appealed to him much more than a mere, five-minute drive. Melissa did not think twice about it. A stroll would be a lot more romantic, and was guaranteed to give her some alone time with him. Yes, she knew that she would have him all to herself until the end of the week, but a chat under the thick shade of the towering trees would be much more enjoyable than a conversation in her cabin.
The sun was still high in the sky, its stimulating light washing over every roof in Melissa’s birthplace, when she and Joe left the Bradford property behind them. Holding hands, they strolled down the short hill drawing close to the edge of the forest. Very soon, she discovered yet another reason why this was immensely better than just a drive. Sunlight and shade were flowing like dark and light ink over his face, as they strode through the trees, painting his light-brown hair darker or lighter.
“Beautiful,” Melissa commented, moving around a tall bush that blocked her path.
“Thanks a lot for the compliment, but there are a lot prettier sights in the forest than me. And I don’t mean just you,” Joe declared, scanning a massive cedar tree across from him, from top to bottom. “Look at that; nature at its finest. When you’ve spent your whole life in the city, you learn to appreciate it more.”
“It’s the same with me,” she replied as she gave a short chuckle, and he trailed his thumb up her wrist. “Living among brutes, I learned to appreciate the value of dating a refined man.”
“Refined men don’t give up on their souls, Melissa,” sadness sent his voice down an octave, as he clenched his jaw.
“Your despair got the better of you,” she lowered her tone, tossing a loving, sideways glance up at him. “You made a mistake; that mistake doesn’t change who you are.”
“Actually, it defines who I am,” he countered, bitterness spreading into his voice, as he passed by the cedar tree.
“Don’t think like that,” Melissa urged, squeezing his wrist in her hand. “You need to be more positive.”
“I keep trying, but…” Joe faltered, drawing in a sharp breath, as they headed towards the main road to the right. “Every time I try, I get this thought that just ruins everything. Imagine if my life story became public. ‘Underachieving lawyer loses his wife; then sells his soul to a demon, in order to get eight years of professional success.’ Nothing I did before that will ever change people’s opinion about me. To them, I’ll always be an evil bastard, a devil’s puppet.”
“I don’t care!” Melissa cried, her feminine voice echoing through the untouched forest, as she halted beside him. “Public sentiment isn’t always right, Joe. Why would you let it affect you? Are you trying to punish yourself?”
“Maybe I am,” he shrugged his shoulders, his tone calm, unaffected by her short outburst. “I knew what I was doing, Mel; but, I did it nonetheless.”
“I’m not having the same old discussion,” she murmured, narrowing her eyes at him. “The man who’s written that wonderful poem for me is no evil bastard. He was just vulnerable, and that demon exploited his vulnerability: end of story.”
Joe parted his lips, ready to come up with a rebuttal, but as he did, she noticed, a red, spherical object, hovering over a balsam fir tree, on the side of the road. It slowly descended, its color deepening, as Joe turned around to face it. Much to her surprise, the sphere began to expand as it approached them. This had to be Helena’s doing. The color and the fact that this bubble had a will of its own left Melissa with no doubt. The spot on the surface where it made contact with Joe’s hand shone black, as the sphere slowly engulfed him. Inch by inch, his entire body was being sucked in, right before her eyes. As soon as he found himself in that bubble, Joe spun around, and then leaned forward. Melissa’s gaze remained focused on his face. The movement of his jaw indicated that he was speaking to her, but she could not hear him. The surface felt soft on her fingertips, as a white sparkle spread across the bubble. She watched, asking herself why Helena had chosen to play this trick on them, as her entire arm got pulled into that odd object. What did the witch have in mind? Why didn’t she allow them to simply walk to Roman’s sanctuary?
