Chapter 22

UNEDITED-

Marisol POV

"Luca.. that prick" Alex muttered under her breath.. Before I could speak she grabbed ahold of my hand and dragged me along behind her. Alexs strength is easily on par with mine, yet she's not crushing me like Nat did.

I almost flew down the halls at her pace.. we only saw a few people who bowed their heads as soon as they saw Alex coming. None of them looked that bothered by the fact she was dragging me through the corridors. It seems she forgot about me being injured pretty quick as well.

Alex burst through a door and pulled me inside.. "What's going on?" Luca jumped up from where he was sat reading a book by the window, at a small glass coffee table. Alex closed the door.

"What did you do to her?!"

"Hey Luca" I made a small casual wave.

He waved at me awkwardly before he replied to Alex.. "What do you think I did?.."

"Well you need to reverse it."

"Why would I do that? Lilith asked for this. Everything is working out exactly how Victor wants it too."

"No, I need you to take it down-"

"But things are so much easier now." I spoke up but was seemingly ignored.

"How do you even care?" He asked Alex with a confused expression, until his mouth opened in shock.. "Holy shit you're in love with her aren't you?" Luca gasped putting his hand over his mouth. I began laughing, we just cared about each other because we were good friends at one point. But then Alex didn't deny it.. she just stood there.

"No you're not." I shook my head chuckling. This is some bullshit joke I swear.

"I did the same thing to her as I did to you, and yet she still cares about you.. the only feeling strong enough to break through my wall, is love.."

"You're either lying or you're dead wrong.." If love is why she was going to shock me then I'm not sure I'm too happy about it.. and she didn't move when I couldn't have been killed by Roman, for some reason I still think this is quite funny. There was a point in time where I could have quite easily fallen in love with Alex. But now we are completely different people.

It's strange to remember what feeling was like.. I mean I guess I still have feelings but to just not really care about anything. Blissful. So quiet in my head. I don't doubt myself.. I'm not putting anyone above myself.

"Well I'm just going to leave you to it." Luca gave Alex an awkward smile before attempting an exit.

"Luca.." Alex pleaded..

"Even if I tried, it wouldn't work.. this is what she wants." He's probably scared I might see more of his secrets.

"Wait.." Alex called him before he left the room, he turned back to face her.. "Please don't say anything.."

"I'm not going to.." He said before opening the door and leaving us alone.

"Why would you want this?.." Alex sounded disappointed.. I'm not entirely sure why she sounded like that.

"Why did you?"

"I didn't want to feel alone or in pain anymore.."

"That about sums it up.. I also didn't want to hurt anyone but, I can't remember why.." I scratched my jaw in thought..

"It was because you cared about them.." Alex sighed..

"Right, well I'm glad that's gone.. it's such a heavy feeling.. anyway, what's this about you being in love with me?"

"God, I can't talk to you when you're like this.." Her voice cracked as she looked away from me. Perhaps I was being a little insensitive.

"Sorry, I just, find it hard to believe.."

"Why is it so hard to believe?" Alex spoke as she walked over to a tall wooden liquor cabinet lined with various shaped bottles. She opened one of the glass doors and pulled out a bottle and a small glass.

"You don't exactly act like it.."

"I know.. My dad will look for any weapon he can, any weakness to make you do whatever he wants.. it's easier to ignore feelings".. "Do you want a drink?" She asked as she poured the dark liquid into a glass.

"I'm not sure if I can.." I might just throw it up.. I took the glass anyway and brought it up to my nose to take a whiff, it smells like cinnamon and iron.

"You can. You won't be sick I promise.."

"How do you know?"

"Because it doesn't make me sick.." Alex looked to me before she took another few gulps from the bottle.

"So you can only eat people too?" I asked as I took a sip of the drink. It warmed every surface it touched as it went down.. It's kinda spicy.

"Yes.. Can I ask you something?" She turned to look at me again..

"Go ahead."

"Where have you been all these years?" The sadness in her eyes would usually spark something inside me.. but I just sort of feel sorry for her.

"I crashed Betty's car and I guess my airbag didn't deploy, my head must have hit the steering wheel and I blacked out. I think I died.."

"You 'think' you died?" Her face changed to mildly concerned..

"Even August thought I was dead. It was like going to sleep and waking up the next day.. so I woke up, I went home, I came here.."

"Right away?" She asked and I nodded..

"So you was in the car for six years?" I nodded again "-And then you woke up to this?.. no wonder you didn't want to live anymore.."

"Yes well, that was before.. everything is different now.." I smiled trying to lighten the mood, I don't even know what for. "Now can I ask you a question?"

"Sure.." Alex shrugged.

"How long have you felt this way towards me?" As the words left my mouth her cool demeanor was replaced by a tense one.

"It's hard to tell.. Luca put the wall up not long after I came here.. until I saw you and knew that I still cared about you I didn't actually know what I was feeling." Finally some real answers.

"So you didn't know?" That's a weird concept to grasp..

"I did, kind of.." Her face screwed in frustration as she tried to find the words.. "-I always cared about you.. you must know that. I even got myself a detention just to see if you were okay.."

"I had wondered why you were there.. so what I don't get is why you are so against me now?"..

"You're supposed to be mad at me for leaving you, for lying to you, hiding things from you.. this isn't you." Her eyes began watering.

"I just want to live.. I finally just want to live for myself.." I sighed as I walked over and sat down by the window, placing my glass on the table.

She walked over with her bottle and sat down infront of me.. "I know.. but you can still have that without changing who you are.."

"Who I was wouldn't survive in this world."

"But I can help you now.." Her hand reached across the table where she placed it on top of mine.. I couldn't move away..

"What suddenly changed? One minute there is nothing you can do for me, the next you're knocking on my door.. you wouldn't have even known about what Luca did if you had left me alone like you said you were going too."

"Victor knows that I've taken an interest in you.." Alex sighed and went to take her hand back but my body surprised me by holding onto it.

"You've 'taken an interest in me'?" I laughed a little at her wording.. "-why does that matter to him?"..

"I'm next in line.. and you're you."

"Because I can fly?" I offered a simple answer..

"Not just that but it is one of the reasons.. He wants you to be loyal to him, and to want to be a part of this. That's why I didn't tell him we knew eachother, he would have used you to get to me, or me to you.. like he's trying to do now.." ..

"What did he tell you to do?" He sounds despicable..

"He just wants me to get close to you.. to get you to trust me.." Alex hung her head in shame. "But I just want you to be happy.."

"Why can't you be happy?" She never smiles anymore.. I think I've seen it once or twice since I've been here.

"What is there to be happy about?"

"Victor wants you to spend time with me.. you aren't happy about that?" I took my hand back from hers to take another sip of the alcoholic beverage.

"I was.. until I actually met you today"

"I really didn't have a choice.. I would have either ended up dead or with Roman."

"But I was going to help you"..

"That is just some fairy tale you have made up in your mind.. You said it before.. there was nothing you could do. I belong to Victor and so do you.." I nodded taking another gulp.. this stuff grows on you. I finished the rest of my drink and took the bottle from Alex, pouring some more into my glass. "Everything worked out the way it was supposed to.."

"No" She slammed her hands on the table smashing it, the glass flew everywhere.. She made me jump and in the process I squeezed the bottle so hard it burst in my hand, the contents splashed all over me. I had barely realised what happened before she leant forward in her seat and gently grabbed my hand turning it. "No matter what you're always the one that ends up getting hurt.." .. " I'm sorry.." She looked up into my eyes, a guilt ridden expression on her face.

"It doesn't hurt.. it's fine honestly.." I took my hand back and began removing the shards out of it. There weren't that many.

"How could anyone be so bad at that.." She smiled.

"Removing glass from my hands? I hadn't imagined it would ever happen again" One of the smaller pieces I tried to grab slid further into my hand.

"Would you like some help?.." She chuckled and I couldn't help but smile. It seems even when I don't feel anything she still has some control over me.. I just wish I could find the cause so I can destroy it. Maybe it would be good for me to get close to her though, It could prove useful. "We should probably pay Daniel a visit." Alex asked after I removed the largest of the pieces, it came slow at first then popped right out, followed by quite a lot of blood.. It's the same hand with the hole in it, at least I still have one hand that is uninjured.

"No it's fine.. I can do it.."

"Can you at least let me? This is painful to watch.".... I don't want to go to Daniel and I really am no good at this.

"Okay.." I held my hand out face up.. Alex moved her chair to sit right infront of me.. not minding the glass that was crunching under her feet. Slowly taking my hand in hers she carefully began to remove each shard.. "Correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like everyone here is scared of you.." I spoke and she looked up at me for a second before looking back down to my hand where she was continued pulling out tiny pieces.

"You're not wrong." She said simply.

"I can't imagine you being a scary person."

"You don't know me."

"I guess I'm partly to blame for that.. I never asked the right questions.."

"I probably would have lied to you anyway.. Go put your hand under the tap." She pointed to the sink..

"Thank you for being honest, and for this." I looked to my hand as I turned and walked to the sink. The cold water washed away the blood.. Alex walked over and started rooting through all the cupboards around me. After checking the fourth one she pulled out a first aid kit..

"Give me your hand." I held my hand out to her and she gently dried it on a fresh white towel..

"This really isn't necessary."

"Let me see your head." She spoke after bandaging my hand.. Alex reached out to check my head, I moved away grabbed her hands and gave them back to her.

"Why have you turned into Florence Nightingale all of a sudden?"

"If you don't want to go to the doctor at least let me see how bad it is.."

"Fine.." I rolled my eyes and she stood behind me, moving my hair in various places to check my scalp. "Are you scared of your dad finding out your true feelings?" I asked randomly.

"And I thought it was obvious." She retorted.

"Very funny. Do you think Luca will say something to him?"..

"Probably.." Alex sighed as she stopped touching my head and I turned around..

"So how's it looking?"

"I think it looks worse than it is.. a few deep gashes from the bricks but you'll be alright.."

"Yeah I didn't think it was bad.. can you take me to my room so I can shower now?"

"Okay.." Just as Alex replied the door knocked and opened..

Luca stood in the doorway, mouth agape.. "Khan what did you do to her?" He looked to the bloody towel and my bandaged hand.

"She didn't do anything, we just had an accident." As I calmly offered a sort of white lie he walked over to the obliterated table.

"Sorry about the mess, those tables aren't very safe you know. You might want to replace it with a wooden one.. anyway we were just going so see you later".. Alex waited till he looked back to the mess then began making her exit..

I walked up beside Luca and whispered very quietly so Alex wouldn't hear my words.. "You know something about Khan, but remember that there are things I know about you.".. He froze, only his eyeballs moved to the side to look at me.. "Okay?" I smiled and he nodded.. "Well goodbye for now then." I waved.. he didn't wave back..

"Bye" He responded almost sounding robotic. I'm sure he feels very vulnerable right now.. I'm not quite sure why I saved Alex yet again.

I walked out of the door and Alex closed it behind me.. "What was that about?" She asked as we began walking..

"You don't need to worry about your dad finding out."..

"Why not?" She furrowed her eyebrows clearly confused.

"It really doesn't matter why. You can just focus on how to handle your feelings.."

"What is that supposed to mean?"..

"You need to get over the fact that the old Marisol is gone.. it's this one or none. I can find my way from here.." I waited a moment before walking away from her, down the corridor and up the stairs to my room.

Why did I just help her? And I didn't even get anything out of it.. it might have even benefited me for Victor to find out.

I took all my clothes and stupid bandages off before turning on the shower. My hand had already stopped bleeding and my arm is healing nicely. The bruises on my neck are shining through, luckily the cut across it has already almost healed so Romans strangulation of me wasn't fatal or it probably would have been. Imagine if that tore back open.. fun stuff.

Gently running my uninjured hand through my hair to wash the out the blood, my thoughts traveled back to Alex.. Has she really always cared about me? She thinks she loved me even before this.. I don't love Alex. Why do I feel bad for not loving Alex?.. If I'm able to feel something negative about it then that means I love it? But I don't love Alex. Why did I help her then?. There must have been a reason but I guess I've forgotten what it was.

After dressing myself and redressing my wounds I decided to get an early night.. It didn't take long for me to wander into night night land. It seems today has been a long one much like the rest

A knocking at the door woke me up.. "Lilith are you awake?" Nat shouted through the door..

"I am now.." I replied groggily..

The door opened and she came walking inside, as soon as she saw me she covered her eyes.. I realised why when I looked down, I'm wearing a baggy t-shirt with just underwear on my bottom half that you could clearly see since the t'shirt had ridden up to my stomach. "Have you never seen a half naked woman before?" I asked sitting up and covering my legs with the quilt.. "There you can look now.."

"I have actually seen many fully naked women.. but only with their consent." Nat spoke matter of factly.

"I'll give you that one." I chuckled rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. "Where is Khan?" Why did I even ask that.

"Surprisingly she decided she didn't want this job anymore.. Who does that? Volunteers for a job and gives it up after one day. I've been around her long enough to know something is off.." I guess Alex made her decision. Is that a twang I feel in my chest? No it can't be..

"So what are you doing here anyway?"

"Victor has talked Bean into healing your wounds.. I've come to get you before they leave.."

"Really? How did he manage that? Does Roman know?" I asked clearly surprised..

"Sorry, I should have said that Victor talked Roman into talking Bean into healing you.. did I get that right?" Nat looked off into space as she wondered..

"Yeah I think I get the point.. so do you want to turn around or wait outside or what?"

"I wouldn't say I 'want' to do any of those things but I will out of respect.." Nats reply shocked me enough to raise my eyebrows.

"You do whatever you want.." I chuckled throwing the cover back and walking to the wardrobe.. I looked to Nat, the second I looked to her she looked at me and away again.. for someone who has supposedly seen many women fully naked she seems pretty nervous to even see me like this.

I picked out my clothes and walked back past her to the bathroom where she stayed looking straight ahead. Once I was finished I opened the door.. "I'm honestly surprised Roman agreed to this since you were the one that killed Jeremy.".. Well that was random.

"I didn't want to kill him.. I think Roman understands that."

"Maybe, but I've never seen forgiveness in his skill set.."

"We'll I guess we will find out. But whatever happens don't get involved this time.. he is not going to kill me. The initial shock is over, if he really wanted that I would be dead already.."

"I can't say that I won't.. You didn't even fight back, what was going on in your head?"

"If I killed his son he had a right to hurt me.." I stated simply..

"But even Bean admitted you were just defending yourself?" Nat clearly disagrees with my reasoning.

"If someone killed my little brother because he was doing a bad thing I would still tear them limb from limb. Regardless of why he died.." Well I clearly still love my brothers.

"I guess it's different if you look at it like that..."

"Yes anyway.. can we go now?"...

NOTES-

Thank you for reading, I really hope you enjoyed!!

If you have donated power stones-

You guys are the sweetest. Today I received the most amount of powerstones than I ever have before, it was a good day haha. I honestly feel like I'm not doing a great job and I don't know anyone personally that reads my writing so it's difficult to know how I'm doing. To see that you are enjoying my story means so much to me.. I hate saying that it means a lot because it sounds like I'm begging for stones or whatever but I'm not. I can't exactly say it doesn't make a difference to me when it's a huge motivator, you're using up your power stones for my story so I think you'd want to know that it does mean something. If that makes any sense at all. I'm probably going to repeat myself loads in notes.. I probably already have. Annnyywway.. have a lovely day!!! Peace.