Forced Affection

We got home, no word spoken, mumbles heard or any other arguments. I would like to think of it as a milestone as we hadn’t argued or threaten to kill one another in over 3 hours and well for that matter we we’re still alive. The rest of the trip passed quicker than what the first half had. I fell asleep after the first half an hour of driving and stayed that way for the rest of the trip.
I was only awoken when I felt a dropping sensation. I awoke to be found in Leo’s arms as he almost dropped me when trying to open the front door to a mansion that looked more like a modernised castle. The house was magnificent and I couldn’t help but smile-but then finally my senses awoken.
‘Put me down Parker’ I snapped as I tried to move myself out of his arms. Leo placed me on the ground and stubborn I turned around to go and get my stuff only to fall flat on my arse, apparently my legs hadn’t awoken fully. With my extremely graceful show at stupidity falling over Leo stepped over me and walked down the large room to the left and into another room. I couldn’t help but want to scream. I didn’t bother getting up; rather I just sat on the ground and felt the emotion over whelming me. I wondered where my handbag had gone, my entire luggage; the whole 2 bags and most of all myself. Taking a deep sigh I thought about getting up but decided against it.
Leo walked out of the door he was had walked through, ignored me still sitting on the ground and proceeded to walk up the stair case. ‘Oh Hallie your luggage is blah blah blah and I put your handbag here. Would you like me to show you around?’ ‘Why thank you Leo that was very nice of you. Thank you from showing me around this stupid new house that I’m being forced to stay in’ I finished talking to myself having a fake conversation still sitting on the ground with my legs crossed watching Leo as he walked across the hall upstairs. Even though I had only whispered the conversation I knew he had heard.
‘Your junks in the room. Turn around, your bags at the door. Don’t flatter yourself about being forced into staying here, for that to be true the people at the place must want you and try to keep you against your will and well frankly we don’t want you’ Leo replied as he walked out of sight and was gone just like that. Smart arse, so he thinks he can just leave me here and I’ll do nothing! Yeah well he has another thing coming!
‘Fuck you Parker’ I maturely responded as I got up and turned around. I grabbed my handbag and walked straight out the front door. If I wasn’t being forced to be here I wouldn’t stay. I slammed the door and made my way down the long driveway that had been paved with bluestone, very nice. It reminded me of Turkey, I had been there when I was seventeen-best time of my life.
To the big gates I had no idea how I was suppose to get out. There was no little gate and no one to open it, so I did the obvious. Even though it was about 10ft high I knew vampires could jump it, so it wouldn’t look strange if I climbed it. It didn’t take me long, one leap and a few heaves and I was over only to jump down and land perfectly taking in my force. Thank you years of sneaking out. Luckily I knew how to blend into a crowd, too bad this crowd all had a great sense of smell and well apparently fear reeks. I didn’t want to get caught or made obvious I wasn’t a vampire. I made my way down the footpath and took a left before I found myself on a busy road. Like in New York I hailed a cab that smelt really bad and was driven by someone who looked as if they had been awake 48hours too long.
‘Where to miss?’ the driver asked.
‘Um nearest portal that will take me to Costa Estralia. Thank you’ I said as the driver nodded and away we sped.

It didn’t take a genius to tell I couldn’t give a shit where Hallie was. I heard the door slammed and watched her walk down the drive way. Not once did she look back or even hesitate as she climbed the fence and was gone just like that.
‘Fuck’ I mumbled.
‘What?’ came a sweet little voice from behind me.
‘Ashlea? When did you get back?’ I asked to come face to face with the only woman I’ve ever cared about-my little sister, and even then I denied she was a woman-to me she would always be a child I had to look out for.
‘Um only just now. We came the back way. How long have you been home?’ she questioned walking into the study and staring out the window.
‘About 15minutes. Nothing too long. What about the others, when will they be home?’ I questioned and tried to see Hallie, only to realise I had lost her oh fuck this was not good.
‘Um still about an hour, they went out for dinner. Leo, where is Hallie? I can’t even smell her besides on you? Which you reek of, by the way. ’ Ashlea quizzed not realising that Hallie had left, yet.
‘Leo all your stuff’s in the room, enjoy it’ Thomas said as he leant in the door and winked. ‘Couldn’t find the beauty though and believe me I tried. If she hates you, perfect opportunity for me to sneak in and be the comforting brother-shoulder for her to cry on perhaps?’
‘Leo?’ Ashlea asked.
‘You know what, go ahead Thomas. Um fuck. Can you see her? Let’s face it. I got into an argument with her and she left’ I answered honestly and read Ashlea’s mind, before she had time to even process what I had said.
‘Alavantas terminal’ I mumble flying out the room before anyone could respond. I was screwed. If Hallie actually left I was dead, why couldn’t she just be seen and not heard?!
I was out the front door before I had any other thoughts, getting on my Ducati I was out of there like nothing before.
There was no point trying to get the others or even tell them what was happening, Ashlea would work it out quick enough. There was only one thing I could do.
‘Nathan?’ I questioned ringing him, only to have a female answer.
‘Oh my god. Is this Leo Parker?’ a girls voice squealed to high for anyone to have to deal with. Before I had a chance to even shout at her or even swear to get Nathan he was on the phone.
‘This better be good Parker, I’m a bit busy’ Nathan complained as I turned to corner and weaved out in an out of cars. I was on the main road now and knew that Hallie would be in a cab, but there was no point checking everyone. It would just take too long. I speed as fast as I can to Alavantas Terminal; nobody had to know about this mishap if I could help it.
‘Cortez fucked off. She is heading to Alavantas Terminal. How quickly can you get there? I’m still 20mins away and well she has a 10min head start.’ I answered speeding through a red light hearing the roar of a car and a honk of the horn of some angry vamp, if only they knew it was me.
‘Fuck. I’m not at home. Lucas is back I’ll send him down. He will get her before she goes’ Nathan answered closing his phone and ending the conversation-we were finished anyway. Still I had no idea Lucas was back and well to be perfectly honest I wished he wasn’t the one going down to get Hallie-with my luck she would like him more than me. Wait? Since when would I care about that?

‘Thanks. Um I don’t have the correct amount. I’m so sorry. I assumed it was closer’ I pouted battering my eyelashes at the cab driver. He was probably use of this and I wouldn’t have any effect on him. I mean I was never use of having my looks work in my advantage-I knew I wasn’t dog ugly but I had never classed myself as something pretty.
‘Please sweetie, the pleasure was all mine. Just give me what you’ve got and I’ll call it even for a small kiss on the lips’ he replied. Ugh I knew that wasn’t going to work.
‘I have $35. How much am I short?’ I questioned.
‘$7.35. But not to worry one kiss and I will call it even’ he winked at me.
I handed him the $35 and thought about making a run for it.
‘Hold on. I just saw a friend of mine. I will get the cash from them’ I tried stepping away from the cab and heading to a complete stranger. I knew this was dangerous. Surely they would smell my fear and well even the fact I wasn’t a vampire.
Tapping a male on the shoulder, a guy in a dark coat turned around and looked at me in shock before smiling. Was that a good sign?
‘Um excuse me. I’m really sorry to ask this but that creepy cab driver is trying to make me kiss him coz I’m $7.35 short for a fare. I know this is so inappropriate but could I borrow some money and then I will go get some more and pay you back and even shout you a coffee. If you want one I mean. Once again I know this is super inappropriate and by all means feel free to walk away and just ignore me but if you could do this I would owe you so badly and well once again please. Sorry I’m rambling’ I said finally stopping only to look up into the man’s blue eyes and see them sparkling.
‘Sure. But you owe me a coffee’ he replied heading straight over to the cab. I’m not sure what happened but I assume he paid and as the cab drove off I waved ever so nicely, jerk. As if I would actually kiss him!!
‘So where are you heading?’ I asked the complete stranger.
‘Terminal. Have to be in San Lorenzo by 11pm. So thought I might try my luck here. Every other flight is booked already. Can you believe that? What about you? Where are you heading? Do you have time for the coffee now?’ the kind male asked I noticed him bite his lip as he spoke to me and I knew straight away that he was a vampire but I wasn’t sure if he had worked out I wasn’t. I hope that Leo’s smell was still one me and that was enough to keep him guessing.
‘Wow booked already? I’m heading to Costa Estralia and well the sooner I can get out of here the better. But I do have time for a coffee. Um do you know where one is? I’ve never been here before.’ I mumbled.
‘Costa Estralia? To be perfectly honest I think you might have missed the last flight. You know what we shall check but first that coffee. We’ll go to the cafe in there’ he smiled leading me in to the packed terminal. It was full of everything I could smell werewolves, faeries and nymphs but the most over powering smell was the vampires. I just wanted to kill them but knew I probably couldn’t, not without risking my own life anyway.
‘Two cappuccinos please?’ the guy asked the lady at the front counter as I leant forward and paid by card.
‘Any money out love?’ she questioned blowing a bubble with her chewy.
‘Yes, $50 please’ I replied as she finished the transaction. Handing me the money as the guy and myself took a seat waiting for our coffees.
I handed him back the cash.
‘Thanks again. I owe you so badly, that cab driver was creepy’ I responded taking a seat near the window of the small cafe, the guy sat across from me a smiled again.
‘Yep no doubt he would have been creepy. Most are. You know you shouldn’t have taken a cab by yourself. I’m not going to give you a lecture, but well it isn’t safe for a woman like yourself. You never know what kind of strangers you could run into around here’ the guy finished his lecture and I guess I had never really thought of him as a threat, I was in an open place but as soon as he finished speaking the alarm bells in my head started ringing. I needed to get out of here and quickly. I wish I had an opportunity.
‘Sorry I have to take this’ the guy said standing up and answering his phone. Please, that was far too easy. I didn’t want to ruin my chances; I stood up immediately after he had walked out of the cafe. I knew he would probably watch me so I tried to scout out the place. Walking over to the counter I checked for any exits as I grabbed a couple of sugars and 2 spoons. I needed a cover after all, I returned to the seat realising that was another exit place conveniently near the toilet. So if I spilt my drink and went there to clean up, I could totally make a run for it. Sitting back down the girl brought over our two drinks.
‘Wow you’re so lucky to know him’ she nodded place our drinks on the table as she stared lustfully at the guy outside the door as he closed the phone and walked back over to us. I was confused and before I could question anything he was back.
‘Thank you very much for that.’ He responded to the girl as she walked away and winked at me. I was exceptionally confused and dazzled before I could even think about legging it.
‘So what is in Estralia?’ he asked taking a sip of his coffee eve so graciously. Why was I so stupid to ask a complete stranger for help? I started to get nervous and well I think it was pretty obvious.
‘Um f-family’ I stuttered. Oh real smooth. Like he won’t realise now?
I was too caught up in my immediate threat of this guy that I failed to pay attention to my surroundings. I heard a couple of people gasp and the guy looked up and nodded as I wanted to run.
‘Um excuse me’ I tried as I stood up. But a hand grabbed my arm. Before I could even shout, I realised it wasn’t the guy in front of me. His hands were still on his cup. I turned around to hit the person, they grabbed my other hand and realised that it was Leo. I didn’t even bother screaming but tried my best not to look relieved to see him.
‘Thanks Lucas’ Leo said nodding to the guy I had been sitting with.
‘Not a problem I had nothing else planned. Besides I got a free coffee. You’re lucky you turned up though. She was just about to do a runner and well I didn’t think it would look good if I chased after her-even if I was Lucas Marchello’ the guy-Lucas finished.
‘Fuck’ I mumbled slipping back down into the seat. I was set up majorly. Leo realised before I had even gotten here. Everything was probably planned or it was my own stupidity that got me here.
‘Yeah no doubt, but not to worry now. Think I might head back. Coming?’ Leo asked Lucas.
‘Yeah. Listen she’s easy to smell. Give her your jacket or something.’ Lucas ordered.
‘I was going to. C’mon Cortez’ Leo said lifting me up and putting his jacket around me. ‘Stick close.’ He snapped.
‘So she was easy?’ Leo asked Lucas as they walked away. Leo took my coffee and started drinking it as he left me standing at the table. I should run. That would teach him. I turned to run, but as I took one step Leo grabbed my hand.
‘Nice try’ he muttered into my ear pulling me away.
‘Actually she found me. Got stuck with a shifty cabbie and asked for my help. Couldn’t have worked out better honestly’ Lucas replied taking another drink of the coffee I bought him.
Leo pulled me along, in a terminal I had never been in before I wonder if I fell to the ground and cried he would send me home. I contemplated the thought but decided I might bring to much attraction from other vampires. Maybe I could threaten to start killing these vampires until he sent me home? Actually I think that one could work much better.
I didn’t want to admit defeat but I’m pretty sure this round was over.
‘Thanks again mate’ Leo said to Lucas as the stopped at the door. I guess I had tuned out their conversation. Let’s face it I didn’t care.
‘Not a problem. Catch you later. Nice meeting you Hallie’ Lucas answered nodding and disappearing into the crowd.
‘C’mon.’ Leo snapped pulling my hand.
‘I don’t want to go back there. I hate it there’ I mumbled knowing Leo wouldn’t care.
‘Cortez. Let’s just go before they realised what happened’ Leo responded sounding exhausted. I guess it had been a long day.
‘Well I don’t want to go back. I want to go home. I want to be free. I don’t want to have to worry about every stupid little thing. I don’t want to be your stupid wife when you get your mistresses on the side and I’m stuck back at the house.’ I turned bright red as soon as I finished. I have no idea where that last comment had come from. I didn’t care, remember? I tried to convince myself.
‘Just hurry up’ Leo snapped pulling me over to a red Ducati parked under a tree.
‘Here’ he said shoving a helmet into my hand and putting on one once he had gotten onto the bike. I stared at him, helmet still in hand looking at him on the bike. He looked perfect and I had no idea where these feelings were coming from.
‘Fine stay.’ Leo snapped starting the bike. I knew I was supposed to get on but I couldn’t make myself. I wanted him to chase me and want me. But it wasn’t going to happen. I was an idiot for thinking otherwise.
‘Whatever.’ I mumbled. Putting on the helmet I climbed onto the back of the bike and put my handbag in the back hatch so I didn’t have to hold onto it. I refused to wrap my arms around Leo. I held tightly onto the back of the seat and made sure my legs weren’t touching him in anyway-and believe me that was hard.

‘I don’t want to be your stupid wife when you get your mistresses on the side and I’m stuck back at the house’ was running through my head. I guess she didn’t realise that since kissing her I couldn’t even think about another female in that way let alone look at them and wish.
She got on the bike and didn’t touch me. That alone made me smirk. She had no idea; she wouldn’t be able to stay on that way. I could have just taken off and made her grab me, which would have been a turn on. But I also knew that she was that stubborn she would rather fall off then hold me. I did the unthinkable. I grabbed her leg and pulled her down closer to me. Her thighs now leaning on either side of my legs. I could feel her chest pushing onto my back as I leant around again and grabbed her right arm and pulled it around to my pocket of my jacket so she could hold something besides me. Before I even had to grab her left arm it was at my side on my pocket. I smirked again and was glad that I had the helmet on. Taking off quickly she didn’t squeal like I had expected, but her legs got tighter around me, I felt her muscles tense and I knew she was scared but would never admit it.
The entire trip back to the house she didn’t once wrap her arms entirely around me, or even lean her head on my shoulder even though I knew she was exhausted. She didn’t scream once, not even when I went through a red light, she didn’t even falter when I weaved in front of oncoming traffic to over take another car. Yep she had self control and apparently I couldn’t waiver it, as much as I tried. Still though the comment was all I could think about-‘I don’t want to be your stupid wife when you get your mistresses on the side and I’m stuck back at the house.’
As soon as we got to the gate, they opened. I expected Craig or Arianna to be on the other side. But they weren’t luckily. Instead Drew stood there smirking like an asshole he was-man I cared for that guy in the very least gay possible way.
I pulled up next to him and lifted the visor on my helmet.
‘What you doing here you cocky bastard?’ I asked reading his mind. Nathan had called him; he wanted to be there if anything exciting was going to go down. From his thoughts I could see Hallie still refusing to make too much contact with me; I could also see him thinking about a red head from the dinner.
‘Finished reading my thoughts yet bro?’ he asked leaning on the bike and looking at Hallie. Taking in her legs, the way that hugged mine, her hands in my pockets now, after all she was only in shorts, a skivvy and my jumper. The weather had dropped so no doubt she was cold. He also noticed my jumper on her, that one he loved. But the look on her face confused him. It wasn’t the anger he had been expecting-rather regret. That confused both of us. I could feel him try and make her happy, but his power refused to work on her. He was unable to manipulate her emotions like he could anyone else’s including mine.
‘I wouldn’t’ I snapped as soon as he started analysing me. Drew smiled.
‘I’ll meet you inside. Go park that baby’ he said patting the bike as he turned and walked away.
I took off quickly as I spun the tires and flicked the stones everywhere. Hallie still didn’t tighten her grip but rather relaxed a bit. I guess she felt a bit safer here.
I parked the Ducati in the shed, next to the hummer, Porsche, Lamborghini and Mustang. Dad’s Bentley still wasn’t home-that was a good sign. Hallie jumped straight off the bike and walked over to the Lamborghini running her hands along the side of the green beast that belonged to Ashlea.
‘It’s Ashlea's’ I replied already missing her closeness as I grabbed her handbag and threw it to her. She caught her bag and ran to catch up to me.
‘Think she would let me drive it ever?’ she quizzed stepping in line with me trying to keep up. I forced myself to slow down for her.
‘No’ I answered. Actually she probably would, but I couldn’t care less now. I wanted to be angry at her. But couldn’t as much as I was trying.
‘Ok so dude. I want answers. I shall wait for your boyfriend to go home, but after that I want some information. I need to know what I can and can’t do without you flying of tap and shit’ she questioned and ordered at the same time as she opened the back door and walked in.
‘Fuck off Hallie. You have pissed me off so much I don’t want to see you for at least 24 hours and still then the time will pass to quickly’ I snapped closing the door. I have no idea how she could change me so quickly. One second I want her, the next she couldn’t repulse me anymore.
‘Hey Leo?’ she said as she swung around and put her hands up to stop me from walking any further down the hallway.
‘What?’ I snapped.
‘I don’t care what you’re doing, or how you feel. Your emotions mean nothing to me and well frankly I couldn’t think of you being anymore weak if you were to open up to me. But the truth is I still need to know some things, so run off and go and find your little boyfriend and go do your bro-mance stuff. Then when you feel like living back here in reality come and find me’ she tried again making me even more angry.
I grabbed her wrist from my chest and pushed her up against the wall and leant in closely hoping she would understand this time.
‘Cortez, I don’t think you got this. I don’t feel like speaking to you let alone being around you. So I’m going to go out with Drew find some whore to fuck back at my place and I might, just maybe see you tomorrow. Now if you have any questions or if you need help feel free NOT to ask me and find someone else. Someone you could amuse is Ashlea; she seems to enjoy your company. So we are in agreement. You will leave me alone. We shall only be near each other when we have too, not by choice.’ I finished letting go of her and leaving. I walked straight up to my office where I knew Drew was. It was time to be typical Leo and leave. There was no point in being here; I would only cause more trouble.