Elijah felt a presence beside him, and his consciousness returned with full force. His eyes fluttered open, and he jerked into a sitting position."Finally! He's awake." Cleo said pulling out a whistle. She blew it and broke into a clap."Why?" The question floated in Elijah's head, as he took a few minutes to wait out the stiffness, so his body could function normally again. "Welcome back man. I brought you your favorite chicken soup for your fever." Tobias said, setting a table beside him."Fever?" He said. "I don't have a fever." He protested, feeling active again."Sure. That's why you spent the last two days moving like a small towns recovering addict. Wake up long enough to eat something, and then return to your sleep. I almost searched for the ring you put your powers in, and shove it in your finger so we could call it a day." She snorted."Why didn't you?" He asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement."Well Mr goody two shoes here said not to do it." She shook her head i
"I can't believe you insist on going for the party tonight. I know you're obsessed with the girl, but I didn't think you were totally helpless." Cleo queried, as she helped Elijah put his jacket on."Okay, first of all, I'm not obsessed with anyone. Secondly, I'm going because Mr William Carter, Winnie's grandpa invited me. Not because of Winnie, but because of her grandfathe. Get that?" He moved away from her, and went to stand before his mirror. "Sure Elijah. That explains why you're putting extra efforts in your looks. Whatchu going to do next? Shave your beards?" She scoffed, drawing closer to him again."You know for someone who is so against me going to this dinner party, you sure look overdressed. Why didn't you turn me down when I suggested you come along, huh?" He turned to face her, with an accusatory squint."What?" She chortled. "I'm only going because you asked me to go. Remember, you're still a little vulnerable. Also too stubborn to put on your ring. Since we don't
Elijah pulled his car into the former Carter mansion. As expected, they were already cars lined up, with even more approaching. It was a testament to how good of a person William Carter was. Sure he had a tongue sharper than a sword, and his cane could be swiped, pushed, and thrown at any moment, but never towards an undeserving person."Wow, it's huge!" Cleo said."A huge house with a murderer running through it." Tobias sucked his teeth."Tobi?" Elijah raised a confused brow."What? You're the one who said the patriach of the house was almost killed." Elijah rolled his eyes. "Let's just get tonight over with."He found a space to park, and they stepped out of the car."Quick, how do I look?" She twirled around for the boys, her short flare skirt floating from side to side."Alright.' Elijah shrugged.She shot him a furious glare, and he threw his head away, smirking."You look stunning." Tobias said breathlessly."Right?" She brightened up, and stretched out her hands to
"Wait, I thought we were going to stand by ourselves?" Tobias already nervous asked."No baby. We're not going to let these snobbish rats think they're better than us. Let's go." Cleo raised a stubborn chin, her lip pursed. Elijah and Tobias communicated silently, through a quick look. Elijah shrugged in defeat, pointing at Cleo."Got it," Tobias said under his breath."Common guys, let's go," Cleo said, already sashaying ahead.Rhonda held her breath when she spotted the trio coming over. She had been so upset with the new woman in Elijah's life, that she had failed to notice how different he looked. She didn't usually like this style in a man. She preferred a clean fresh shaved man. That's why she was surprised at how hot she found her husband. Yeah, her husband. As long as she had not the divorce paper yet, he belonged to her and only her."I can't believe you called him over." Nathan hissed. If Colin wasn't his friend, he would have been suspicious of his motives.He didn't
"Your wife is pretty," Cleo whispered, poking Elijah's arm playfully."Ex-wife." He corrected but with a smile."Still, I can see why you stayed married for three years. She also looks like the only sane person in her family.""Tell me about it." "You know what I feel like doing right now?" Her voice took a dangerous tone, and alarm bells instantly blasted in his head."Cleo---""Gauging that Blue witch eye." She interrupted before he could warn her about doing too much."Hmmm," His head tilted to the side, as he nodded. "I don't argue against that."Nudging him with her head, she laughed."Just look at them. Something is going on between them." Nathan watched, irritated by the display right in front of him."Good for me." Colin rocking from side to side to the music responded absentmindedly. Nathan hissed, drowning himself in some more whiskey.He wasn't the only one irritated by the display. Rhonda beside him had a scowl on her face. It wasn't just because the new girl
The security guy didn't hesitate to open the mini gate for Winnie and Lexington. But as they drew closer to their friends, Cleo suddenly felt a shift in the air."Did you feel that?" She turned to Elijah, who by the look on his face was completely oblivious."See what?" His eyes squinted."Nothing. Forget it." She said, but she couldn't.Standing like that with her head to the ground, everything seemed fine. But the moment she raised her head up to watch Winnie approach, it felt like a clammy hands had wrapped around the base of her throat.The closer they got, the tighter the hand. She tried to control it's effect on her, but there was a recoil of effort. The force of the hand made her stumble forward, and she quickly grabbed a hold of Tobias to keep her from falling face flat."Are you okay?" He held on to her, his voice shaky with panic.Elijah took a notice too, and stooped. "Cleo? What is it?""I don't know. It just fe--- I need to get out of here." She struggled hardy bu
"Thanks for the offer. We'll take it." Tobias said before Elijah could reject the offer. He knew how proud his friend was. He never wanted to owe anyone, so he never took favors.Winnie smiled. "You're welcome. Come with me please." She said, walking past Elijah who just stood there, unmoving with the blankest stare on his face.He turned when he heard footsteps moving, and saw they were already halfway out of the room."Why don't you go with them? Your friend needs you by her side." He felt Rhonda's hands on his sleeves, and he turned his face to the side to see she was standing there.Suddenly, he felt guilty for even conceiving the thought of kissing Winnie in her presence. She had been nothing but supportive. Even stood up against her family on his behalf. He couldn't thank her enough, but if there was something he could do, it was to let her know he appreciated all of her efforts. "Thanks for everything, Rhonda. Sincerely, I mean it." He covered her hands with his and was goi
Elijah wanted to ignore the footsteps. He finally admitted to himself he wanted this for too long, and now he was about to get it. But when he felt Winnie twisting uncomfortably in his arms, he raised his head, curiosity burning in his eyes."Someone's coming." She simply said.Immediately after the words left her mouth, two heads burst into the scene. Reflexes kicked in, and they jumped out of each other's hold."Winnie?""Grandpa!"' She swirled, coming face to face with her grandfather, and the stranger beside him.Her eyes dropped to the ground, and she found his cane. Strange she didn't hear its sound. She would have known it was her grandfather approaching."Are you okay?" He asked, staring at his flushed-faced granddaughter.She seemed nervous, and he wondered why."Yeah. Of course, I'm fine." She waved a dismissive finger."You are," He looked past her to the man she was standing with. He still had his back turned to them, but he still looked familiar. "Elijah?" Elija