Thorns of the Daffodils

Chapter 3

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Mysterious Marilyn's POV

There is a cool breeze when I walk out of the club, and I am instantly stricken by an unsettling sensation. I look around me and notice how incredibly silent it is tonight. I can feel eyes watching me, and am startled when I hear a deep animalist growl echoing around me. I stand frozen for a moment and see orange eyes in the shadows.

Suddenly a gentle hand rests upon mine, and I open my eyes, startled to see I am still sitting at the bar. My breathing is labored and I find myself looking directly into Justin's sapphire blue eyes. Fear overcomes me when I think of Brian. "Brandy?" I gasp out.

Justin looks at me with concern and his next words surprise me. "We can't let her leave here alone tonight. They are waiting for her." He seems startled by his own revelation and looks at me in shock. "Where the fuck did that come from?"

I shrug my shoulders, not offering the knowledge that I know of the spiritual gifts that lurk deep within his oppressed soul. There is something about his gifts that are different than anyone I have ever known, and I have yet to figure it out. Justin has always been a mystery to me in many ways. As I look deep within his spirit I see that his soul is interlinked with Brian's.

I stand up and walk around behind the bar and whisper in Justin's ear. "If anyone asks you about Brandy you refer them to me. No one, and I mean no one is to know anything about her."

"I kind of figured all of that out already," he replies knowingly.

I pat him on the shoulder affectionately. "Good. Now I need your help. I want you to follow Brian, I mean Brandy, home. She is staying at my place. Make sure she gets there safely."

He pulls back and nods in confirmation. "Do you want me to call you ?"

"Yes"

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Justin's POV

I step out of the club and instantly feel the pull of the waxing moon wash over me. The smell of rot and grime penetrate through my nostrils and a cold chill runs through my body as an unsettling sensation looms around me. I look up and down the street and am instantly concerned about Brandy. I just watched her walk out of the club and now she has completely vanished. I begin walking toward Marilyn's apartment in hopes that I'll see her.

Out of the corner of my eye I can see the beings that lurk within the shadows of the streets and alleyways. I do not tell others about what I see. Whenever I have in the past someone got hurt or ended up dead. In fact, I tell most people that spiritual gifts or the supernatural is bullshit, even though I know otherwise. Half the time I think I'm insane anyway, and that's why I keep a hard shell around my spirit. In hope that no one will be able to see through me, or see the pain I hold deep within my heart.

When I first saw Brandy tonight I felt so connected to her in ways I have never felt before. I walk swiftly down the street looking for her. As I draw closer to Marilyn's apartment I am startled when somebody runs directly into me from the open alleyway. I gasp in pain and am stunned to see Brandy, her eyes wide as she mumbles incoherently. "Watch where the fuck you're going."

She stumbles and I reach out to steady her. "Brandy, are you ok?" She stares at me blankly and I gulp, hesitating for a moment. Before my better judgment can stop me, I call her by the other name that Marilyn referred to earlier. "Brian, are you ok?"

She glares at me, pain evident in her eyes, and she growls. "He's dead."

After she is able to stand steadily on her own, I notice the cuts and smeared blood on her cheeks. Gently I take hold of her hand and feel an instant spark travel up my spine.

After we get into the apartment I notice a change in Brandy. She glares at me with pure rage, and with anger manifesting through her persona she stalks toward me. I gasp when she reaches her hands out, wrapping them around my neck, lightly pressing her thumb against my jugular. "How the fuck do you know who I am?" Her voice is stern and raspy, but I can also see the fear radiating from her eyes.

I cough slightly then speak. "Just before I left, Marilyn called you Brian. I don't think she meant to."

She lets go of me and then places her hands on her hips. "Shit!"

For some reason beyond my control I walk up to her cautiously and gently caress my hand upon her cheek. She glares for a moment, and then leans into my touch. I whisper to her reassuringly. "Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell a soul."

Brandy swallows heavily. "She had you follow me home didn't she?"

I nod my head. "Yes, but only because we both felt you were in danger."

"Her face becomes flushed with irritation as her voice begins to raise. "She had no fucking right to get you involved! You have no fucking idea what I am dealing with. Now your life is in danger. Fuck her! God! I can't believe she told you."

"She didn't tell me anything I didn't already know." I try to be gentle but I feel my voice rising

"How the fuck could you know?"

"I saw it in your eyes."

She shakes her head. "That has to be one of the most lesbionic thing I have ever heard." She takes a deep breath and continues. "Well, I can take care of myself, fuck you very much. I do not need someone shadowing my every move."

I touch the wound upon her cheek gently and suppress the laugh growing within me. "Yes, it looks like you were doing a fine job taking care of yourself." I take hold of Brandy's hand and lead her to the bathroom. I don't ask her what happened because I know she is not ready to trust me yet.

She sits down on the closed lid of the toilet and I carefully clean the wounds. I feel her watchful eyes on me, and see the tenderness and confusion in her soul. Caringly, I brush the curls out of her eyes

She grazes her hand over mine, stopping the movement, and speaks softly, concern evident in her tone. "You took a big risk tonight. You shouldn't have gotten involved." Then she practically whispers, "You had no right!"

I softly caress my thumb over Brandy's bottom lip and smile at her affectionately. "See, that is where you are wrong. The moment I saw you I was already involved, and you're going to have one hell of a time getting rid of me." She is about to speak when I cut her off. "We are both hiding behind a mask. I know the real you. I see beyond your façade. I lean in and kiss her softly on the lips. An unmistakable masculine groan emanates from her as I draw back. Smirking, I make my way out of the bathroom, leaving Brandy stunned, questions in her eyes.

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