Apollo, p.14
Apollo, page 14
“Huh?” He turned to her.
“Ellie the Elephant.” She raised the stuffed animal to his eyes with a girlish smile.
“You’re cute, you know.”
“You think so? I’m glad. I truly am.” She reached an arm around his waist. “Thank you for Ellie.” She paused for effect. “And for you.”
“It’s what I do.”
She pulled away in a mock show of rejection.
“Oh? You win pink elephants for all the females in the park?” She backed up several steps and waved the stuffed animal in front of him, mocking him. “Do you want this one back to give to someone else?” She turned to walk away but he caught her around the waist, laughing into her hair. He pulled her to a dark spot underneath a tree out of anyone’s line of sight, brought his hand back, and smacked her hard across her rear end. She yelped.
“Ow! What did you do that for?”
“That’s for being bad. I love it when you’re spunky and defiant.” He turned her around and hugged her tightly. “You know you’re the only one for me.” He massaged her rear through her dark-colored pants. She tossed her arms around his neck, Ellie dangling from one arm, and gave in to his most passionate kiss.
“He hit me again.” Her friend lifted her dark, flowing locks to display the bluish tint tattooed around her eye and across her entire cheek. The bruise was hidden under a caked-up batter of tinted makeup.
“Delia, I told you to leave the bastard. Why don’t you ever listen to me, girl? He’s no good for you.” Lauren threw her arms up in the air and then around her friend, embracing her tightly and allowing her friend to break down into low sounding sobs.
Delia pushed out of Lauren’s arms. “I told you I can’t be showing no emotion here. You know this is my place of work even if it’s not yours anymore, now that you’re a big, bad waitress.” Delia wiped the tears streaming from her eyes.
“It’s not all that, but it’s good for now.”
Delia pointed at Lauren. “And you going to college to make something of yourself. It’s all because of that man of yours and to think you met him here. Now, why can’t I find a man like that? All I find is losers with wives to go home to.”
“You’re funny, Delia. But finding Apollo was—huh—I can’t describe it. I never thought I’d find someone like him. It’s like a dream come true. It doesn’t happen to everyone, and I didn’t think it would ever happen to me. But don’t you worry. Yours is out there somewhere, I know it.”
Delia scoffed. “Girrrl, if he is he’s hiding real well in the bushes or something outside of this place because I haven’t seen him.” She angled her head to one side. “You know Mitzy left, right? Yeah, she went out west with some mister and she’s never coming back I hear, so good for her. And Ms. Kitty Kat misses you. She talks about you a lot. You girls were tight. Now she got no one to play the field with.”
“Yeah, I know but I’m not into that anymore. I have someone.”
“Yeah, Apollo, I know.” Delia rolled her eyes. “I still don’t know what kind of name Apollo is. Isn’t that a planet or something? I mean, who has a solar system for a name, you know what I mean?”
Lauren doubled over laughing.
“The man got no decent name, but I can’t tease him about nothing else. Mmm-mmm. That man is fine. His ass is fine, his chest, his face, and I mean everything else got to be too but I’m sure you are the only one to know about that, right?”
“I hope so.” Lauren nodded. “But, hon, I’m not here to talk about Apollo. I’m worried about you. You have to leave Brandon before he hurts you anymore. Did you call the police?”
“The police? Are you kidding me? Tsk. Tsk. They’d probably take me to jail like I did something to provoke him.” Delia pointed to her chest. “What time is it? Five? I gotta go.” Delia raised her hand up in a wave and opened the door.
“Wait.” Lauren grabbed Delia’s arm. “You need a place to stay? You can stay with me if you want.”
Delia slapped her hands on her hips. “I can’t run away. You know what he’ll do if he finds me.”
“No. For the night. Just stay tonight, okay? I worry about you.”
Delia nodded. “Okay. Fine. But just for one night.”
“I’ll meet you at ten out here. I’ll wait for you. Okay?”
“Yeah, girl, I better go.”
“Thanks. Love you.”
“Yeah, bye, babe.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Half an hour before ten with the engine off, Lauren pulled the sweater over her body, molded her back into the driver’s seat, and huddled down for warmth. The last thing she needed was for Brandon to find her waiting to escape with her friend. Delia was never going back to him, not if Lauren had anything to say about it. She knew what it was like to live in fear and Delia had done enough of that. It was time for her to live and experience life, joy, peace, and find a good man, like Apollo.
Apollo. She breathed out his name with a wistful smile. He weakened her knees with a mere eyebrow lift, mischievous smirk, or deliberate wink. Apollo desired her and only her and that, in itself, was a blessed miracle—one she’d never understand. Her friend Delia deserved the same or at least the opportunity to find a kind, caring man of her own—or angel—if she could ever convince Delia to try. She chuckled softly at the thought. Her friends didn’t put much faith in beings like angels and most likely they wouldn’t consider any type of relationship with one, even less a carnal one—not that her relationship with Apollo ventured in that direction, at least not yet sadly. Lauren was beyond curious though she remained scared of the idea of her angel between the sheets with her. He said he’d pleasure her in any way she desired and as long as she wanted. Oooh. The sensual images of them intertwined sent shivers down her spine and raised goose bumps across her arms. She shook her head free of the sordid thoughts. She was on a mission and any attention not diverted to her friend was an opportunity for Brandon to win. She had to be alert and cautious for their survival. Besides, Apollo had been absent for nearly four days.
A blast of light and crackling electricity jarred her awake. She sucked in air when she found Apollo standing in front of her, his eyebrows scrunched into a look of concern that replaced his normal, amused one. He strode with purpose toward the passenger side of her car. Her eyes widened when he walked through it to sit beside her. She’d never get used to his powers.
“What are you doing, wildflower?”
“You must know if you’re here but why are you? I’ve got this covered.”
“Oh?” He arched one eyebrow in that super-sexy, toe-curling way that only Apollo could do. Only he could affect such strong emotions within her. “You’ve got a plan then against this monster walking on two feet?”
“You know about Brandon?” She realized how silly her statement was only after she said it. “Can you help me? Us?”
“I am not allowed to interfere.”
“Well then, why are you here?” She swayed her body toward the door and away from him.
“I’m here to warn you. He has a gun, and he is apt to use it if provoked.” Apollo grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “I don’t want you harmed in any way.”
“Then help us, please.” She looked into his eyes. “Please, Apollo. I’m scared.”
“Then don’t do it. Find another way to help her. Take her to a women’s shelter, far away from him. You don’t know what he’s capable of and I do.” He squeezed her arm. “Lauren, walk away. Heed my warning. It will not end well.”
“But—but—aren’t you my protector? Aren’t you supposed to defend me?”
“Don’t use me as a shield. I am here to watch for you and ease your way through life.”
“But you helped me with Carl.”
He dropped her arm out of his grip, a look of disgust accompanying the dark shadow moving across his face. “That was different. I will be punished for it, I’m sure, but The Council hasn’t called me yet.”
“The Council? Punished? What?”
He grabbed her hand and held it. “Never mind. What are you going to do now that you know.”
“If he’s that dangerous, I have no other choice. Delia was the one woman to show me kindness when I started at Layla’s. She was the only one. She was—she...” Lauren’s voice cracked. She blinked back tears and tried again. Apollo’s arm shot out. He caressed his fingers across her cheek. “She took—” Apollo swiped several tears away.
“I know, beautiful, she took a beating for you from Carl.”
“You see why I have to help her? Now she’s with Brandon and he’s beating her, abusing her, and treating her badly, like Carl used to do with me. Please, I want Brandon gone. I want him to go away so he won’t continue hurting my friend, but he won’t leave. If she left, he’d come after her no matter how protected the place is. He’s already threatened her life. I have to do something. I can’t continue watching her hurt or find her dead one day, I just can’t.”
He pulled her to him and held her as she cried into his shoulder. “But you can’t do this alone.”
“No. Will you help me?”
He sighed. “Your will rules me. I can’t say no, not when you are in emotional turmoil. If ridding Delia of Brandon will give you joy, then I must do what you wish, regardless of the consequences because I love you. You don’t understand it and you may never but my love for you is endless, limitless and I will do whatever you wish to make you happy.”
She stared at him, wordless. The compassion and gentleness pouring from his eyes warmed her. With Apollo, she was protected, loved, and taken care of in a way no other ever had. How did she end up in the ideal relationship everyone on Earth strove for but never found? With the perfect man, she didn’t nearly deserve, and blessed with the supportive, giving, nurturing love that remained stable and steadfast, even if she wasn’t. How did it happen and why her? She might never know but with Apollo she was safe, and that one word gave her more comfort than any other could. When safe, one could grow, experience, and become their true, authentic self. She no longer had to hide who she was. She was free to express her opinions at will and he accepted everything about her. The relationship with Apollo was the best. In sorting her feelings for him, she tossed around ideas, came to certain conclusions, and was decided but hesitant to confide in him that she might, and quite possibly, loved him. How and when she fell, deep and hard for him, were mysteries to her. She’d been more intimate with others in her past and divulged being in love with them, but she knew now that the emotions she felt for those men, were nothing as profound as love because here he was, sitting beside her, the epitome of what love should look like, feel like and be. Apollo was love and to love him was a privilege, one she never wanted to let go of. If only he’d stay with her. She shied away from him, shameful that this beautiful angel would even consider her lowly presence.
He crooked his finger under her chin and turned her toward him. “Beautiful, why do you turn away from me?”
“You say I’ll never understand how you love me but Apollo, you’ll never understand why I feel I don’t deserve you.”
“But you do. It is I that doesn’t deserve you.”
Her jaw dropped. How could he say that? He was pure and she was not. This heavenly being didn’t deserve her? Preposterous! Her lips drew together, ready to form words but she didn’t get the chance.
“Where is she? I’m going to kill her.” A form walked out of the shadows and toward Lauren’s car. Brandon aimed the gun into the driver’s side window but before he could act, Apollo grabbed the gun and whirled him around.
“You. Be gone!” Apollo shoved Brandon away from the car. Throwing the gun off to his side into nothingness and the gun disappeared.
“You okay?” Apollo peered over the window at Lauren. She nodded but cried out at the fist barreling toward Apollo’s head. He ducked, grabbing the fist with two hands. He launched it away with a warning. “I told you to be gone. You are not welcome.”
Brandon shouted with a grimace, spitting his words out. “Who the hell are you telling me what to do? Man? What the heck are you?” He held his arms out to his sides in a gesture of intimidation.
“I am someone you don’t want to mess with. You will no longer bother Delia or come near Lauren.”
Brandon bowled over laughing, grabbing onto his knees as waves of laughter flowed out of his mustached mouth. “Are you serious? You serious, aren’t you?”
Lauren caught a glimpse of Apollo’s face and squirmed away at the menacing scorn adorning her beloved’s countenance. Apollo lengthened his height to his full six-foot-five-inch stature and widened his shoulders. He pumped his fists by his sides and leaned toward Brandon, lowering his head, never taking his eyes off Brandon, reassuring him he was up to the challenge. She’d witnessed Apollo upset but never to this intensity. She figured he wasn’t capable since he was an angel but boy was she wrong. If Brandon tackled him, he’d be sorry as his lifeless body was tossed around like a rag doll and beaten down to a pulp.
However, that’s not what happened. Brandon did charge him, but Apollo only held his right hand out in front of him in a gesture to stop. What she didn’t expect were the long, tentacle rays of white light flowing from his hand reaching around, surrounding Brandon, and muffling his screams while his body jittered as if electricity shocked its way through it. The thin light wove into a wall around him, encasing him like a mummy.
“One last chance. Will you stay away?” Apollo shouted over the loud crackling and periodic pops. Lauren didn’t hear Apollo’s answer but apparently Apollo did for he shook his head and actually apologized for what he was about to do. He flung his hand back like a pitcher at a baseball game, winding up for the first pitch and throwing it forward. Brandon hollered a sound higher than his male vocal cords should allow and flew back into nothingness, disappearing before Lauren’s eyes.
Apollo swiveled on his heel, and she cringed. His dark eyes softened and the emerald green reappeared. He opened her door and offered his hand, but she fell further back, struggling to escape whoever this was in front of her, who took her sweet angel away.
“No!” she screeched when he pawed at her side. “Don’t touch me. Nooo!”
“Lauren, please, it’s me. You asked me to take care of him and I did. I did as you asked for your protection.”
“No.” She kicked at his hands and then his torso.
“Stop it. Stop this.” He grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder.
“No!” She pounded her fists at his back. “Let me go. Let me go. I don’t know who you are anymore. Let go!”
He set her down, gently onto the ground but instead of releasing her, he held her fully into an embrace that shattered her walls. His body warmth poured over her and through her, softening her heart, melting it with his whispered words of comfort and love.
“Enjia sabine durum calli.” He repeated the words in a language she didn’t understand, murmuring them to her soul, caressing the bare skin around her neck with his hot breath. “I love you, wildflower. I’d never harm you, little one. You mean the world to me. Calm now. Be at peace. Durum calli.” One hand supported her back and held her to him and with the other, he ran his fingers through her hair, soothing her anxiety, and calming her nerves on edge.
Lauren took a deep breath, striving to regulate her intake of oxygen as her world fell apart. What was he? Was Apollo still an angel because what he did scared her to death and where did Brandon go?
“Be still, little wildflower. You are safe with me. Brandon is gone. He will never return.”
“Where did he go?” She shouted.
“To the other world.”
“To hell?” Lauren pulled back enough to look straight into Apollo’s eyes.
“No, I’m not that powerful. He went into what you’d call a black hole, an abyss. He is unharmed, in a dream-like state until He calls him home.”
“But, his life, his friends, his parents… What have you done?”
“Only what you wanted.”
“But I didn’t.” She shook her head.
“Wildflower.” Apollo touched the side of her cheek. “It’s only temporary. It’s up to forces beyond me and he may live again, as you say, but nowhere close to you or Delia. In another part of the world.”
“What? But this isn’t what I wanted.”
A bright, yellowish-white beam of light slammed the ground, forming a wide ring around Apollo. Lauren lifted her hand over her eyes to shield them. She found Apollo’s look of concern had returned. He pressed his lips together and looked at her for several long seconds. Next, his eyebrows drew together, and his jaw tightened. His eyes darted back and forth, searching for something within hers.
He murmured, “I must go. I love you.”
“But where? Where are you going? Will you be back?” she said in a panic-stricken tone of voice.
A low timbre voice boomed out of the clouds. “Rule number ten. You have broken it. An egregious act.”
Lauren pointed to the sky. “What did he mean? Apollo? What did he mean by that? What is rule number ten?”
“Principles. It’s the Council. I have broken their rule for you. For your happiness, wildflower. I would never break a rule, otherwise. Only for you.” She grabbed the hand he extended to her and gripped it tight within her own.
“What does it mean?”
Apollo lifted into the air.
“No! Where are you going?”
“I have no choice. They are taking me.”
“No. Don’t leave me. Please. Apollo, please, I need you.” She fell to her knees when his hands slipped out of hers, too far out of her reach. “Please, please don’t go.”
“I’m sorry, wildflower. I did it for you. Be happy.”
“Please.” She cried out, stretching her hands up into the air. “Whoever you are, you can’t take him from me, please. Don’t do this to me. Don’t take him away from me.” Her cries turned to whimpers and loud gasps for air. “No, please. I love him. Please. I love him. I love him.”
“Lauren.” Apollo reached for her. A long sword sliced out of a bright ball of light and held him back. A hint of a gold star on a crown appeared out of a cloud and then he was gone.
