Chapter 89 (Clare)

Nikolai slowed down turning into a driveway with a black gate. The automated gate revealed another
paved driveway with a mermaid fountain on the right. Clare didn’t say anything else. He pulled up to a
yellow mansion, with high top tinted windows as big as the Whitehouse and face brick walls.

Bending over her, he opened the cubby, “I forgot to give you something,”, he took a journal out and
handed it to her.

“I don’t want it.” She said, pushing it back.

“It was Franchesca’s, she never could get herself to write in it growing up.” He paused as if
contemplating the right words to use, “I think it’s best if you hang on to it,” Jaw taut, he sighed, in
defeat, “I know you feel that I’ve hurt you, and but trust me, Love, I am a big chunk of evil.”

Not wanting his pity, or to admit that he was wrong, and she was riddled with guilt and regret, she took
the book and without a backward glance jumped out of the car, still barefooted. She was walking
toward the house when a Calub ran toward her. Now changed into a blue short and a black golfer,
carrying a pair of shoes in his hands. He looked so tall and grown-up, not the little boy she
remembered, who had teased her- grizzly.

Clare could see the innocence faded from his face, nearing her. There was something else that made
her heart sombre. She'd seen the same thing in Nathan. It was the pain of loss, the guilt of killing, the
weight of it all.

She pasted on a smile, which wasn’t difficult to do, “Hey.”

He threw the shoes on the ground, for her to slip on, “I thought you weren’t coming back, you just
vanished, good thing Kole phoned.”

He looked behind her, “You are in deep shit man, Kalbreal and my dad went flip after he called you.”



Nikolai- Kole smiled and ruffled Clubs hair, he was inches taller than Calub but much tinier built. Her
brother looked buffed, he had muscles showing on his arms, which gave the impression he was older
than her.

“Good thing I’m immortal.” Kole declared, comically.

He didn’t look at Clare, before walking toward the house, chatting to Calub, who clearly, had a bond
with him.

The mansion's walls were washed in bright red as you entered. Two meters down the centre was a big
staircase leading to the upper part of the mansion. On the left were an open-plan lounge and dining
area, with a see-through glass piano, and black leathered couches, complimenting the black and glass
dining table.

The place was fitted in ceiling lights which tempered to a dull glow in the room.

On the right was a passageway, which Clare followed, leading her towards a room with a satellite
plasma television and beige couches. Further down, was an entertainment area with a pool table and
bar area, which fed off to four glass sliding doors.

She opened the door. On the terrace was black tweed couches with green cushions and matching
outside table, leading to an Olympic size pool.

“Lost in thought!”

She turned, facing Phillip, “Hi, I. I didn’t know you were here, I was just checking the place out.”

He arched his eyebrows at her disapprovingly “I leave you for less than a week and you are already
breaking my heart.”



She was surprised, and confused, not knowing what to say, he had never spoken to her like this, “I
didn’t know it was mine to break,”

“Everybody is waiting in the kitchen,” he walked off. Clare followed a few steps behind him, through the
passage. He turned grabbing her by the arm and pushed her against the wall. He moved so close to
her, that she could smell his unfamiliarity, something different about him.

His voice etched with sharpness, “I forbid you from seeing him.”

“What? don’t tell me what to do.” She flinched trying to get away from his grasp, but he was too strong.
Snarling at his scared and angry face, she spat, “You didn’t want me before, and I don’t want you now,
so deal with it, you are being a dick.”

She pushed him hard against the opposite wall and stormed towards the kitchen where the others
waited.

The kitchen was separated from the lounge and dining area, it was four times the average size and in
the centre, were two separated black marbled tables. One of them had a sink and stove, with silver
pans hanging from the top, and at the other sat, Tash, Calub, Kole, Nathan and a girl who looked
Elvan. She was holding onto Nathan and smiled showing surprisingly normal teeth. Her platinum hair
saying otherwise, which sat on her shoulders and didn’t do much for her paled skin.

Clare could have compared her to Snow White. They all turned at the sound of her entering except
Kole. He sat, staring blankly at a glass of brandy in his hand,

“Where are we?” she said finally, walking towards them.

Tash replied, “Kole’s house, ours not far from here.”

Clare repeated, “Ours?” sarcasm splattered out,



Tash got up slowly, walking towards Clare, she had a hardness to her as did them all. She was older
than Clare, but something familiar about the way she made her lips.

She dressed different from the night before, her hair now curly, wearing black denim pants and a light
pink t-shirt, “I’m your sister, in case you forgot, WE live at the HOL, house of legions, you are one of us
now.”

Clare rolled her eyes, she was already regretting why she was back, “Good to know, so why are you all
here? Why am I here?”

“Were you hoping to be alone with Phillip,” The girl holding Nathan spoke matter of factly, she had a
constant flirtatious smile on her lips.


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