Chapter 6
When the plane landed I realized no one knew I was coming back. I also had to trust that everything Delano had told me was true and he hadn't invented the whole thing for some other reason or another. It was a cold drizzly night but to my shock my new driver was there. He quickly had everything in the car and shuffled me in as well. "Let's get you home, you must be tired" he said as we whizzed through the wet familiar streets. 'Do all men speed like demons or is this a new thing?' I thought to myself.
I rested my head back and must have fallen asleep because the next thing I felt was him gently shaking my shoulder. "We're home Ma'am" he extended his hand to help me up and for a moment I breathed and smelled deep the familiar clean smell and wet Oaks. "You can just place the luggage inside the door and I will get it tomorrow" I said to him. The only thing I wanted to do was take a hot bath where the plumbing and the lights work. 'I will ask him tomorrow how he knew' I thought.
I walked in the door and everything seemed in tact and alright and sure enough the Pyramids were gone, there place seemed like a great gaping hole. 'I wish I hadn't pulled away from Delano and it finally hit me, I'd never see him again, I hurt his feelings I know I had. Just then my head maid came to me with a terrified look on her. She looked at the spot where they once stood and before she could even speak I told her it was alright and to say nothing about it at all to anyone. I told her that I didn't need her to do anything that I was going to take a bath and go to bed.
She turned and almost ran off. The terror on her face was enough to tell me she had nothing to do with it - just like he said. I made my way upstairs and to my room and was again glad everything was in working order. I went into my bathroom when from behind me I heard a voice I knew. "Where are they Anne?" I spun around to find Chad staring at me. "What are you talking about?" "You know what I'm talking about, I want them back" I tried to get past but he put his arm across the rest of the door that he didn't take up.
"Tell me who has them!" "What?" he reached behind him and repeated the same words. I was becoming furious with him, he then raised his arm up and I saw the knife just before I felt it plunge down into my chest. The force he hit me with pushed me back and I fell down, I saw he still had it and was coming to me when I tried to get up I felt the same plunge and hit. I heard a scream - then nothing..
'The water was cool and refreshing and when he pushed it closer to me I could see he had already eaten some, the bottle of water he pushed at me hit me, I couldn't look when he moved past me. I don't think he had anything on.'
'The smoke from the fires below, I could see it blowing clearly to the Sea, I could see and smell the coffee he left for me, the smell was coming under the door and I was hungry. He promised he wouldn't hurt me.
'The candles were always all over, he always had them lit. The lights were on in half the city but not near the fire. The wind was shaking the building - I wish I wasn't alone. I didn't think I would like him so much the way he held me and kissed me - what was his name?'
I began to hear the clank and bang of a hospital and the smell of the sterile came to my nose, I hated it. Was I alive? I asked myself, what was his name?. I began to become aware of the feeling of my body. I knew by the look on Delano's face I hurt him. I could feel a hand on mine. "Anne" I heard a gentle voice say, it was Emily. I felt a squeeze on it and started to hear the sound of machines, it sounded like a heartbeat. I must be alive then. I could taste the last piece of bread he had shared with me.
"Anne" I heard her say again and I opened my eyes, I had to blink several times to focus, I saw hospital white all around me and I was cold. I turned my head, my neck was stiff, towards the voice and I saw here there smiling at me. I always had thought he wanted to run his fingers through my hair but didn't.
"Anne, they said your going to be OK" I could feel she was holding my hand. I tried to speak but the words wouldn't come, my mouth was moving though. "Don't try to talk, just rest everything is OK." She got up "I'm going to get a nurse" and she was gone. I saw on the table a book and lots of cups. A doctor came back in and asked me how I was feeling, I shook my head yes. "Can you talk?" I tried and I heard a crackling grating sound come from me. "Can you understand me?" I croaked out yes. He smiled at me and said I would be fine and left.
Emily came back in. "You've been here almost 2 weeks and this is the first time you've woken up. They said you also have exhaustion, what happened out there? I tried to call but the line was dead and your cell didn't pick up either. I heard there was fire and century winds they called them. I was so worried. Why didn't you let me know you were coming home early, how did Chad know?"
She started pacing back and fourth. "Those Pyramid things he gave you, someone broke in and stole them, I thought you had put them somewhere. Why did Chad want them back - Why did he try to kill you. I already told the police everything I know. They want to talk to you, they arrested him but he already made bail somehow.
She finally stopped and sat down. "I'm sorry, just so much has happened, you need rest" I saw a nurse come in and attach something to a drip that was in my arm. I felt a rush of warm through my body. "I'll come back later" I heard her say. The room went quiet it seemed. I turned my head towards the window and saw the sunlight and wanted to get up but couldn't. I breathed in deeply and felt relaxed.
"Anne" I heard his voice say, I turned my head and there was Delano standing in the door way. "How do you feel?" "Tired" I said, "That's understandable" he said. "Are you mad at me?" I asked him as he sat down on the bed. "No" he leaned down and kissed my forehead where he had before and then gently kissed my lips. I put my arms around him and he slid his underneath me. He was so warm and soft. Then I heard something metal fall to the ground and I jumped and woke up and realized it was only a dream.
"I'm sorry" the nurse said and quickly left me there alone. I thought of the way he said "The kiss he wanted to give you" the way he held me. I felt a kiss on my forehead and opened my eyes, it was Emily. She smiled at me. "They said they want you out of here soon, it will only be another day or so. The knife did not do too much damage and hit nothing major" I croaked back at her "Is that what is was?" She shook her head yes.
"There has been a man here wanting to see you, but I wouldn't let him because I don't know him and he won't tell me his name". "What does he look like?' I asked her. "He has blonde hair and brown eyes" It was Delano. "Let me see him next time he comes, I want to see him, I met him in California" "He didn't say he met you there, the police also want to talk with you." I said to her "I want to see him first" "He said that too"
"Anne" I heard his voice say and there he stood in the doorway. I turned to Emily "Are you sure?" she asked me. I shook my head yes. He moved completely out of her way so she could pass. She turned and looked at me and I shook my head yes again. She left us. He came across to me with that smile again and sat on the bed, leaned forward and kissed my forehead. It was nice to smell him again.
"How do you feel?" "Tired" "Your going to be alright" "How do you know that?" I asked "I can find most anything out" I just smiled at him. "I want to see you again, when your able Anne, I don't want it to have ended that way" I reached up to touch him and he took my hand. " I'm sorry" he put his fingers to my lips. "Don't say anything now - now is not the time or the place. The police, say nothing to them - he will be taken care of, I promise." Then I noticed the blue-gray eyed beauty pacing outside. "We have been appointed guards for you" Delano said. "If I am not here, he is" He then looked at me from outside in the hallway" Emily doesn't know about him."
He leaned forward again. "Nothing to the police" I shook my head yes, he kissed my cheek and ran his thumb across my forehead. "I have to go" I shook my head no "He will be here with you, he won't let anything happen to you - they trust him, I trust him. I have to talk with them about you, I will be back later on - just rest" He got up and walked past him and shook his head yes to him. He just stood in the door and looked at me.
"Excuse me" I heard Emily's voice behind him, she pushed past him and closed the door on him. "Who is this one now?'" "His friend" I said. "What is going on, what happened to you out there?" "I don't really know myself at this point" she plopped heavily in the chair. "So he gets to say too?" her tone was harsh and angry "Yes" she shook her head and go up and went to the window. "Emily why don't you go home - your frazzled and tired" "And leave you here with him?" "He won't hurt me" I could see she wanted to "Just go home and rest and come back tomorrow, I will be fine" She picked up her purse and told me she'd be back in the morning and stormed past him.
A nurse gently brushed past him and came in. "Is it OK if he stays?" she asked. I shook my head yes. Then I felt the needle in my arm and she was gone before I could look at her again. I felt the warm rush again. "Anne" I turned to see him "May I come in?". I reached out for him, I tried fighting the warm rush, I wanted to talk to him. "Don't fight it, relax, I'll be here - no one will hurt you. Then I heard and felt nothing.
I began to become aware of two male voices talking quickly and quietly, it was them. I listened to them for a bit before I completely woke up. They both had soft deep voices. I could smell the hospital smell again, it was quiet besides a monitor and them. I opened my eyes, it was dark in the room, the cracked door was the only light coming in. I turned my head towards their voices and saw only their shadows, I reached out to them. One took my outstretched hand and the other sat on the opposite side of the bed and took my other hand. My mouth was so dry and I was so thirsty.
"I'm thirsty" The one sitting on the bed put his arms under my shoulders and put his hand under my head and held me up, while the other one put a cup to my mouth. I drank it all, I couldn't tell which one was which. "More?" I had thought it was Delano "No" the other laid me back down and I fell asleep again.
When I woke up again it was morning and only Delano was there. "They are putting you in a private room today and tomorrow you leave, Emily was here earlier - she said she would be back later. The police were also here and will be back later too. Tell them nothing, tell them you didn't see who did it and you have no idea who it was, say nothing about the Pyramids, tell them the maid was mistaken and no Pyramids were stolen". I shook my head yes to him. Then a nurse came in and told him to leave, she told me they were moving me and that the police were waiting to talk to me there.
When we got to the room sure enough the police were there. The nurse left us and there were just two officers and myself. They asked me several questions, I told them what he told me to say, they never once mentioned Delano or our time in California. When they left for a very few moments I was alone and I realized once again, I didn't even know his name. This room did not smell so much like the other room.
Emily then busted through the door and Delano not too far behind. "Get rid of him, I want to talk to you" She shouted at me "Why can't he stay?" At this point I was wondering 'Why is she so angry' "I am sick of the sight of him, I'v e gotten rid of the other one, I told the hospital to remove him and not let him back; I tried the same with this one but they told me he came here with you, it was harder getting rid of the other one but I did. Now get rid of him." I just stared at her.
'She got rid of him, I didn't know his name and she got rid of him'. I looked over at Delano, he was motionless and expressionless just leaning against the wall - watching. She glared at him, 'What had he done to make her so angry?'. "Why do you hate them so much?" "I don't like the look of them" "What wasn't to like' I thought. "Have they done anything to you?" She looked at him "I am sick of the sight of them, get rid of him." she shouted at me again. "No" I said "He can stay" she stormed out the door.
"She did get rid of him" he said "Neither one of us has said more than ten words to her" He stood up straight and walked a few feet towards me. "Then I can stay?" I reached out to him, he sat on the bed next to me. He took my face in his hands and just held me for a moment, he gently kissed my forehead and then my lips. I put my arms around him and he kissed me harder. I opened my mouth to his lips and he pulled away and just held me. "Not here" he whispered in my hair.
He walked over to the window with his back to me. "When they discharge you in the morning I'm taking you back to your house, she is furious about that. Amaury is there now and will be there when we get there.". 'His name, he told me his name'. A nurse came in just at the wrong moment. "It's her bath time" His eyes almost fell out of his head. "Oh, well I will just wait out there" he said and left.
After the bath she left some creme that she had put on the wound, she said it would help a bit with the scarring. It burned. She told him he could come back. We spent the rest of the afternoon just talking and making up games with a deck of cards he had. I really wished I didn't enjoy my time with him so much.
When visiting hours were over a nurse came and told him he had to go. I didn't want him to go, he whispered in my ear "I won't leave the building" "Maybe you should go and get some rest yourself for a little bit." "No" He kissed me again. "I'll see you in the morning" He quietly closed the door behind him. I was alone. I felt that a part of me was gone, just like I felt when Amaury separated us before, but this time it hurt more.
Amaury, "The kiss he wanted to give you" Did they know each other before, if Delano brought me here - how? I had wanted to ask him that all day, I agreed with him though, this was not the place for that. The nurse came in shortly after he left and asked if I wanted a pain killer. Though it hurt I didn't want any, I was enjoying my clear head and thoughts. I fell asleep soon after.
I rested my head back and must have fallen asleep because the next thing I felt was him gently shaking my shoulder. "We're home Ma'am" he extended his hand to help me up and for a moment I breathed and smelled deep the familiar clean smell and wet Oaks. "You can just place the luggage inside the door and I will get it tomorrow" I said to him. The only thing I wanted to do was take a hot bath where the plumbing and the lights work. 'I will ask him tomorrow how he knew' I thought.
I walked in the door and everything seemed in tact and alright and sure enough the Pyramids were gone, there place seemed like a great gaping hole. 'I wish I hadn't pulled away from Delano and it finally hit me, I'd never see him again, I hurt his feelings I know I had. Just then my head maid came to me with a terrified look on her. She looked at the spot where they once stood and before she could even speak I told her it was alright and to say nothing about it at all to anyone. I told her that I didn't need her to do anything that I was going to take a bath and go to bed.
She turned and almost ran off. The terror on her face was enough to tell me she had nothing to do with it - just like he said. I made my way upstairs and to my room and was again glad everything was in working order. I went into my bathroom when from behind me I heard a voice I knew. "Where are they Anne?" I spun around to find Chad staring at me. "What are you talking about?" "You know what I'm talking about, I want them back" I tried to get past but he put his arm across the rest of the door that he didn't take up.
"Tell me who has them!" "What?" he reached behind him and repeated the same words. I was becoming furious with him, he then raised his arm up and I saw the knife just before I felt it plunge down into my chest. The force he hit me with pushed me back and I fell down, I saw he still had it and was coming to me when I tried to get up I felt the same plunge and hit. I heard a scream - then nothing..
'The water was cool and refreshing and when he pushed it closer to me I could see he had already eaten some, the bottle of water he pushed at me hit me, I couldn't look when he moved past me. I don't think he had anything on.'
'The smoke from the fires below, I could see it blowing clearly to the Sea, I could see and smell the coffee he left for me, the smell was coming under the door and I was hungry. He promised he wouldn't hurt me.
'The candles were always all over, he always had them lit. The lights were on in half the city but not near the fire. The wind was shaking the building - I wish I wasn't alone. I didn't think I would like him so much the way he held me and kissed me - what was his name?'
I began to hear the clank and bang of a hospital and the smell of the sterile came to my nose, I hated it. Was I alive? I asked myself, what was his name?. I began to become aware of the feeling of my body. I knew by the look on Delano's face I hurt him. I could feel a hand on mine. "Anne" I heard a gentle voice say, it was Emily. I felt a squeeze on it and started to hear the sound of machines, it sounded like a heartbeat. I must be alive then. I could taste the last piece of bread he had shared with me.
"Anne" I heard her say again and I opened my eyes, I had to blink several times to focus, I saw hospital white all around me and I was cold. I turned my head, my neck was stiff, towards the voice and I saw here there smiling at me. I always had thought he wanted to run his fingers through my hair but didn't.
"Anne, they said your going to be OK" I could feel she was holding my hand. I tried to speak but the words wouldn't come, my mouth was moving though. "Don't try to talk, just rest everything is OK." She got up "I'm going to get a nurse" and she was gone. I saw on the table a book and lots of cups. A doctor came back in and asked me how I was feeling, I shook my head yes. "Can you talk?" I tried and I heard a crackling grating sound come from me. "Can you understand me?" I croaked out yes. He smiled at me and said I would be fine and left.
Emily came back in. "You've been here almost 2 weeks and this is the first time you've woken up. They said you also have exhaustion, what happened out there? I tried to call but the line was dead and your cell didn't pick up either. I heard there was fire and century winds they called them. I was so worried. Why didn't you let me know you were coming home early, how did Chad know?"
She started pacing back and fourth. "Those Pyramid things he gave you, someone broke in and stole them, I thought you had put them somewhere. Why did Chad want them back - Why did he try to kill you. I already told the police everything I know. They want to talk to you, they arrested him but he already made bail somehow.
She finally stopped and sat down. "I'm sorry, just so much has happened, you need rest" I saw a nurse come in and attach something to a drip that was in my arm. I felt a rush of warm through my body. "I'll come back later" I heard her say. The room went quiet it seemed. I turned my head towards the window and saw the sunlight and wanted to get up but couldn't. I breathed in deeply and felt relaxed.
"Anne" I heard his voice say, I turned my head and there was Delano standing in the door way. "How do you feel?" "Tired" I said, "That's understandable" he said. "Are you mad at me?" I asked him as he sat down on the bed. "No" he leaned down and kissed my forehead where he had before and then gently kissed my lips. I put my arms around him and he slid his underneath me. He was so warm and soft. Then I heard something metal fall to the ground and I jumped and woke up and realized it was only a dream.
"I'm sorry" the nurse said and quickly left me there alone. I thought of the way he said "The kiss he wanted to give you" the way he held me. I felt a kiss on my forehead and opened my eyes, it was Emily. She smiled at me. "They said they want you out of here soon, it will only be another day or so. The knife did not do too much damage and hit nothing major" I croaked back at her "Is that what is was?" She shook her head yes.
"There has been a man here wanting to see you, but I wouldn't let him because I don't know him and he won't tell me his name". "What does he look like?' I asked her. "He has blonde hair and brown eyes" It was Delano. "Let me see him next time he comes, I want to see him, I met him in California" "He didn't say he met you there, the police also want to talk with you." I said to her "I want to see him first" "He said that too"
"Anne" I heard his voice say and there he stood in the doorway. I turned to Emily "Are you sure?" she asked me. I shook my head yes. He moved completely out of her way so she could pass. She turned and looked at me and I shook my head yes again. She left us. He came across to me with that smile again and sat on the bed, leaned forward and kissed my forehead. It was nice to smell him again.
"How do you feel?" "Tired" "Your going to be alright" "How do you know that?" I asked "I can find most anything out" I just smiled at him. "I want to see you again, when your able Anne, I don't want it to have ended that way" I reached up to touch him and he took my hand. " I'm sorry" he put his fingers to my lips. "Don't say anything now - now is not the time or the place. The police, say nothing to them - he will be taken care of, I promise." Then I noticed the blue-gray eyed beauty pacing outside. "We have been appointed guards for you" Delano said. "If I am not here, he is" He then looked at me from outside in the hallway" Emily doesn't know about him."
He leaned forward again. "Nothing to the police" I shook my head yes, he kissed my cheek and ran his thumb across my forehead. "I have to go" I shook my head no "He will be here with you, he won't let anything happen to you - they trust him, I trust him. I have to talk with them about you, I will be back later on - just rest" He got up and walked past him and shook his head yes to him. He just stood in the door and looked at me.
"Excuse me" I heard Emily's voice behind him, she pushed past him and closed the door on him. "Who is this one now?'" "His friend" I said. "What is going on, what happened to you out there?" "I don't really know myself at this point" she plopped heavily in the chair. "So he gets to say too?" her tone was harsh and angry "Yes" she shook her head and go up and went to the window. "Emily why don't you go home - your frazzled and tired" "And leave you here with him?" "He won't hurt me" I could see she wanted to "Just go home and rest and come back tomorrow, I will be fine" She picked up her purse and told me she'd be back in the morning and stormed past him.
A nurse gently brushed past him and came in. "Is it OK if he stays?" she asked. I shook my head yes. Then I felt the needle in my arm and she was gone before I could look at her again. I felt the warm rush again. "Anne" I turned to see him "May I come in?". I reached out for him, I tried fighting the warm rush, I wanted to talk to him. "Don't fight it, relax, I'll be here - no one will hurt you. Then I heard and felt nothing.
I began to become aware of two male voices talking quickly and quietly, it was them. I listened to them for a bit before I completely woke up. They both had soft deep voices. I could smell the hospital smell again, it was quiet besides a monitor and them. I opened my eyes, it was dark in the room, the cracked door was the only light coming in. I turned my head towards their voices and saw only their shadows, I reached out to them. One took my outstretched hand and the other sat on the opposite side of the bed and took my other hand. My mouth was so dry and I was so thirsty.
"I'm thirsty" The one sitting on the bed put his arms under my shoulders and put his hand under my head and held me up, while the other one put a cup to my mouth. I drank it all, I couldn't tell which one was which. "More?" I had thought it was Delano "No" the other laid me back down and I fell asleep again.
When I woke up again it was morning and only Delano was there. "They are putting you in a private room today and tomorrow you leave, Emily was here earlier - she said she would be back later. The police were also here and will be back later too. Tell them nothing, tell them you didn't see who did it and you have no idea who it was, say nothing about the Pyramids, tell them the maid was mistaken and no Pyramids were stolen". I shook my head yes to him. Then a nurse came in and told him to leave, she told me they were moving me and that the police were waiting to talk to me there.
When we got to the room sure enough the police were there. The nurse left us and there were just two officers and myself. They asked me several questions, I told them what he told me to say, they never once mentioned Delano or our time in California. When they left for a very few moments I was alone and I realized once again, I didn't even know his name. This room did not smell so much like the other room.
Emily then busted through the door and Delano not too far behind. "Get rid of him, I want to talk to you" She shouted at me "Why can't he stay?" At this point I was wondering 'Why is she so angry' "I am sick of the sight of him, I'v e gotten rid of the other one, I told the hospital to remove him and not let him back; I tried the same with this one but they told me he came here with you, it was harder getting rid of the other one but I did. Now get rid of him." I just stared at her.
'She got rid of him, I didn't know his name and she got rid of him'. I looked over at Delano, he was motionless and expressionless just leaning against the wall - watching. She glared at him, 'What had he done to make her so angry?'. "Why do you hate them so much?" "I don't like the look of them" "What wasn't to like' I thought. "Have they done anything to you?" She looked at him "I am sick of the sight of them, get rid of him." she shouted at me again. "No" I said "He can stay" she stormed out the door.
"She did get rid of him" he said "Neither one of us has said more than ten words to her" He stood up straight and walked a few feet towards me. "Then I can stay?" I reached out to him, he sat on the bed next to me. He took my face in his hands and just held me for a moment, he gently kissed my forehead and then my lips. I put my arms around him and he kissed me harder. I opened my mouth to his lips and he pulled away and just held me. "Not here" he whispered in my hair.
He walked over to the window with his back to me. "When they discharge you in the morning I'm taking you back to your house, she is furious about that. Amaury is there now and will be there when we get there.". 'His name, he told me his name'. A nurse came in just at the wrong moment. "It's her bath time" His eyes almost fell out of his head. "Oh, well I will just wait out there" he said and left.
After the bath she left some creme that she had put on the wound, she said it would help a bit with the scarring. It burned. She told him he could come back. We spent the rest of the afternoon just talking and making up games with a deck of cards he had. I really wished I didn't enjoy my time with him so much.
When visiting hours were over a nurse came and told him he had to go. I didn't want him to go, he whispered in my ear "I won't leave the building" "Maybe you should go and get some rest yourself for a little bit." "No" He kissed me again. "I'll see you in the morning" He quietly closed the door behind him. I was alone. I felt that a part of me was gone, just like I felt when Amaury separated us before, but this time it hurt more.
Amaury, "The kiss he wanted to give you" Did they know each other before, if Delano brought me here - how? I had wanted to ask him that all day, I agreed with him though, this was not the place for that. The nurse came in shortly after he left and asked if I wanted a pain killer. Though it hurt I didn't want any, I was enjoying my clear head and thoughts. I fell asleep soon after.