Kiss From A Rose
The Storm
xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
Samanthastyle='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>:
I’m glad you like the story.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>ShadowandFlamePantherlang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'>: Ah yes, wasn’t the last chapter just sweet and happy and … boring?
Well, that will change soon enough, like… now! *Insert evil laughter*
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Tdklang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'>: Don’t worry, the sweetness is over already :D
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
Yawningstyle='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>:
Aww, thank you!
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Tenshistarlang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'>: Thank you. I’m glad you like the story.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
Lady Acaciastyle='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>:
Aww, thank you. But sorry, I won’t update faster than
once a week.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Well,
since one can consider the last chapter as the calm before the storm I thought
it was a perfect way of naming this chapter. Hope you’ll enjoy.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
Chapter 18
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
The Storm
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“And
I guess you have also already planned when we will do it?” a whispering voice
asked into the darkness.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“He
is meeting with some of his friends at Saturday. It is the perfect
opportunity.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“It’s
supposed to snow again this weekend.” A third voice whispered.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“class=GramE>All the better. Then they can’t track us.” The second voice
answered just as quietly.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Where
shall we go to?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Leave
the country. As fast as possible.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
need to go somewhere first.” The first voice spoke up again.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'>“Where to?” But he didn’t
receive an answer.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Don’t
tell us you want to see that woman!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“This
is none of your business!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Hey!
Be quiet!” Another whisper interrupted them.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“What
do you want with her? She’s married with one of them!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
know that there’s more to that marriage! She wouldn’t stay with someone like
that if she had another chance! He has her under some spell or something!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Sure.
Whatever you say.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Stop
it! Or do you want to stay here?” He was met with silence.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'>“Hadn’t thought so.”style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
He mumbled and with that the conversation was over.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Angelinalang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'> frowned at her reflection and pressed her hands against her stomach.
EN-GB'>Adrian
watched her from the bed and sighed.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You’re
far from being fat.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I’m
not far from being fat. I will be fat
in a few weeks. And it won’t only be my stomach; my arms and legs will swell
with all the water and I will end up looking like a balloon.” She whined.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>Adrian
closed his eyes and counted slowly to ten before he opened his eyes again.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
thought you said the mood swings should have happened in the first months.” He
murmured. As it seemed, her hearing had increased with the pregnancy for she
turned away from the mirror and glared at him.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Well,
I didn’t know I was pregnant then. I have a right for my mood swings and the
want to eat everything I can think of. And since I couldn’t do this before I
have to do this now.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Is
this some female logic?” He knew he shouldn’t have said that as soon as lang=EN-US style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-US'>Angelina’s mood changed from
whiny to angry. She had her hands on her hips and glared dangerously at him.
EN-GB'>Adrian
sighed and arose from the bed, slowly walking towards her.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>When
he stood in front of her he put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer
to him, leaning his forehead against hers while he looked into her eyes.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You
are not fat. You won’t be fat.” style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Angelinalang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'> opened her mouth to speak but he silenced her with a gentle kiss.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You
are beautiful. And you will always be beautiful.” He whispered against her lips.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
won’t be beautiful once I carry a style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>ball in front of me.” Angelina
replied half-heartily.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Of course you will.”
EN-US'>Adrian
smiled. He kissed her once more and guided her slowly to the bed. He lay down
on it and pulled her gently on top of him, never leaving her lips while he did
so.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“
EN-US'>Adrian
Angelina sighed but it was obvious she wanted to say more.
EN-US'>Adrian
released her lips and looked expecting at her.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
want chocolate.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Chocolate?”
he asked disbelieving.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
lang=EN-US style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-US'>“Chili chocolate.”style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
She confirmed and kissed him one last time before getting off the bed.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
lang=EN-US style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-US'>“Chili chocolate.”style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
EN-US'> repeated, still not sure he had heard right. But the pleading look in Angelina’s
eyes was not something he was able to resist. Now all he had to do was find out
where the hell he would find some chilly chocolate. He would be lucky if he
could find some at all in
EN-US'> he guessed.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
still can’t believe we really came here! I can already see us getting caught
because this idiot can’t see that his whore has become one of them!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“She’s
not a whore!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Shut
up! Both of you!” The speaker turned to face the man
who had first spoken.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Let
him go and see her Dave, and then we’re gone.”
He turned to look at the other man now.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“And
you, be silent for Merlin’s sake! You want to talk to
that woman, good, but don’t make any noise! I’m not letting myself be caught
over some woman who decided against you!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“She
hasn’t decided against me!” The reply came through gritted teeth.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Angelinalang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'> stopped on her way out of the living room when she heard something
outside. She reached for her wand and slowly walked towards the glass doors
that lead outside. As soon as she had opened the door she saw a movement to her
right. She turned around and found herself face to face with
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Fred!
What are you doing here?!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Fred
grabbed her arm and tried to pull her towards him.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“We’re
leaving the country.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'>“We?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Yes.
We. Come on, Angel, I know you don’t want to be here –
with him. I know you better. He must have some kind of spell or…”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Angelinalang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'> pulled her arm away from him and took a step back.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Are
you completely out of your mind? In case you have forgotten, I left you years
ago! I’m certainly not going anywhere with you! And now leave!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Fred,
come on! We have to go.” One of his friends called to him from the darkness.
Fred turned again towards Angelinalang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'> and grabbed her arm a second time.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
know that’s not you talking. I know you don’t want to stay here!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Fred,
leave this instant!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
know you don’t want to be here!” He insisted again.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Fred,
either you come this moment or we’ll go without you!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Hearing
this Fred did the only thing he could think of. He pulled lang=EN-US style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-US'>Angelina close to himself and
put his hand on her mouth to keep her silent. He took the wand away from her and
moved his other hand around her waist when he started to pull her along with
him.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Angelinalang=EN-GB style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'> could feel her necklace falling from her neck into the snow as she
tried in vain to get away from Fred. She took a desperate look back to the
house as she was dragged along.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“What?”
Dyson asked when
EN-GB'> stopped as soon as they entered the house.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Something’s
wrong.” His cousin replied.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“What
do you mean with that?” Marcus asked behind him.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
don’t know what it is. But something is definitely wrong here!”
EN-GB'>Adrian
walked slowly through the hall, not sure what exactly he was looking for.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Angie?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>Adrian
turned around and looked at the top of the stairs where Julia was standing in a
nightgown, her teddy in her arm.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Julia,
where is your sister?”
EN-GB'> asked, the feeling that something was wrong increasing. Julia only
shrugged and came downstairs.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“She
isn’t in your room.” she yawned and clutched her teddy to her chest.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“
EN-GB'>Adrian
Dyson called from the living room.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Julia
followed the men into the living room and walked to stand beside
EN-GB'>Adrian
when he stared at the open glass doors.
EN-GB'>Adrian
took a few steps out into the snow and reached down to take the necklace into
his hand.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“
EN-GB'>Adrian
Dyson asked him as he watched his cousin staring off into the distance.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>