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Donja, beleaguered by emotion she feared she could no longer hide, grasped Torin’s arm. “I apologize for her manners, but she’s right. You need to get out of here so that I can get ready. She took his hand, leading him to the front door. Just out of sight of the kitchen, her affect shifted dramatically, her eyes a mix of boiling rage. “Be back here in three hours. We need to talk.”
“You look so beautiful when you’re angry,” he said as he kissed her nose. “I have always thought anger and passion are closely related, the way the pupils dilate. Three hours,” he whispered as he stroked her cheek with a bent finger, then took his leave.
Donja whirled and headed for the stairs, hoping to avoid her mother’s sorrow, but as she passed the kitchen she saw her in Carson’s arms sobbing. She took the stairs, two at time, her mother’s sobs, her pounding heart and the creaking of treads like a tempest of demons ravaging her soul. She ran down the hallway to her room and inside the door, fell into Makayla’s arms.
“I can’t believe he did this. My mom’s devastated.”
Makayla hugged her tight. “Shush, it’s going to be okay.”
“No, it’s not ever going to be okay,” Donja sobbed, pulling back, wiping at her face. “He just destroyed her, and he doesn’t even care.”
“I know it doesn’t seem that way, not just now, but she’ll get over it, Donja. Talk to her. You have the power to convince her that you love him.”
“Convince her,” she snarled. “That won’t be easy because at this moment, I detest him.”
“Oh really? Makayla smirked, that’s a bit strange. I heard you calling his name in your sleep.”
“But it’s not real,” Donja blubbered, “it’s not love. It’s just an illusion. He has some weird power, pheromones or what I don’t know. Mom’s right, I can’t be in love with him, I barely even know him. It’s just like…like he has me under a spell. My body wants him, needs him, but my head knows something is just not right!”
“I think it is real,” Makayla whispered, “and maybe it’s your head that’s wrong, lying to you because it hurts your mom. Maybe your body is telling you the truth. I watched you in the middle of the night, tossing and turning, calling his name. To thine own self be true.”
Donja dropped her head. There was no denying her dreams, but to call his name out loud. Unbelievable. “I’m not responsible for my dreams, maybe I did, maybe I didn’t, but I can tell you this: my family’s off limits and the more pain he inflicts, the more I…I…fear I will hate him.”
Makayla’s empathy faded, replaced by measurable concern. “Careful, sister, hate’s a powerful word and it leaves scars for a lifetime.”
“Powerful,” Donja hissed. “Really? More powerful than love? All I know is that hate has never hurt me, but love sure as hell has.”
Makayla dropped her head. “I hear your pain, hell I’ve lived it, but you need to think, not only about your feelings, but the lives of this family.” She snapped her head up and they shared a teary look. “Just be careful, sister. Once you cross that fine line with the Council, it’s difficult getting back on solid ground.”
Donja spun to the window, she didn’t want to hear it, she wanted to scream, beat his chest till he wailed in agony, but who was she fooling? Lying to herself wouldn’t change the facts and like it or not, Makayla was right. He held her life as well as the lives of her entire family in his hands. She sighed, and though she knew better, she couldn’t capitulate, he was hurting the people she loved. Her jaw tightened.
A knock on the door forced a look from them both. The door creaked opened and Lisa, red eyed with tears glistening her cheeks, came in. “Makayla, can we have a moment please?”
“Sure,” Makayla said with a glint of warning in her baby blues as she held Donja’s gaze. She spun, gliding for the door and took her leave but not before a final look to Donja that required no words.
The minute the door closed, Lisa blurted. “Anna is coming up for a visit and when she leaves, I want you to go back with her, see your friends, who knows, maybe you and Kevin will hit it off again.”
Donja, shook her head. “No. It’s not gonna happen.”
Lisa took a step forward. “Donja, please, something’s going on here, something I can’t put my finger on, but I’m terrified. Anna warned me that bringing you here was dangerous, she said something about an evil presence in the Soo, but I didn’t believe her. I thought she just wanted to hold on to you. Now,” she paused, “I’m not so sure she wasn’t right.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Donja said turning away, certain she could read her thoughts.
“You’re possessed by this man, I can see it in your eyes.”
Donja turned and fired a look. “I’m not possessed, I’m in love and I’m going to marry him, so accept it and help me plan a wedding or else you better chain me to the bed because I’ll leave and never come back, do you hear me?” she wailed. “Make your choice!”
“Your father would be so ashamed of you right now,” Lisa mumbled, tears streaking her cheeks.
Her words hit a nerve and Donja felt it like a stab to the heart. “My father’s dead! I may follow in his footsteps, who knows, we’re not promised anything in this life but until then, I’m going to live for me, not for you, not grandma, not for anyone, so get that through your thick skull!” She raised her chin defiantly. “After losing the man you loved, or at least the one you once loved, I would think that you of all people would understand.” She turned her back, biting her lip. “I guess I was wrong. Now go away. I need to get dressed,” she said with as much malice as she could muster.
“I don’t know you anymore, Donja,” Lisa sobbed, “but I love you and I won’t give up on you.”
Donja whirled. “And if that’s true, be happy for me. I love you too, Mom, but I can’t live without him. Has it been that long since you felt that way about a man or have you gotten so old you can’t remember?”
Lisa dropped her head. “Perhaps I did…once, but regardless, I’m not too old to be a mother,” she sniffled. “You’re still my child and if you force my hand, I’ll call the authorities and have him locked up and labeled as sex offender.”
Donja’s eyes widened, impaled by fear.
