Galaxy Of Hope

I knew I shouldn’t have betrayed their trust like this, but it was my first opportunity in weeks to be out and about with Sky without my big boy detail. I was getting stronger in all aspects of fighting, I was perfectly capable of handling myself. And if they wanted me to comply, they should tell me what I was complying too because all of them where hiding the real reason why I must be protected at all cost. It bothered the shit out of me that they kept me in the dark. I was not going to be the compliant little girl any longer, since that had never been me anyway.

Sky and I were dressed more casual than we were used to when going into Rivellin Central. I wore a casual black dress, with spaghetti straps and a square neckline. It reached mid-thigh. I also wore my white sneakers.

It was only ten o’clock and the night was full of possibilities. Sebastian would be back around two, so that was our curfew. Still four hours to kill though.

We entered Terra Town, the busy nightlife on this street was a 24 hour thing. Casino’s, bars, strip clubs and dance clubs open all day every day. You could also buy any number of illegal substances on any of the four street corners. It was sin city.

I knew Dom was owner of several clubs and we had been to one of his already a few months ago. Back when I had just started knowing him. It had ended with a shootout and a huge fight in that one club. The sexual tension was already very high that evening, I should have known then that we did not have normal relationship. Yet I was blind to it all, and still thought I was human.

Skylark was indeed bouncing of the walls. Very excited to have a night out on the town with me. We decided to go for a small bar, at the beginning of the street. It was dark and brown, gritty and all the right type of danger I was allowing myself to be in tonight.

Danger of food poisoning if you dared order anything that was on this rough menu.

There was an elder couple sitting at the farthest side of the bar, already very deep in their drinks. A tough looking guy, fortyish, with a leather jacket on smoking a blunt and a rather young looking bartender behind the stained bar. That was it.

‘What can I get you ladies?’ he said with a slight accent. We decided to go for the simple Jackson, one I appreciated more and more. It was gin tonic like. Something that reminded me of home. I had stepped away from the sweet cocktails, by no influence of Andrew at all, like totally had nothing to do with it, and had taken Skylark along for that ride.

After that gritty bar we moved two houses up and entered a lively cocktail club. Also rather small but everything inside was pink and red because it was covered in those coloured neon lights. There we ordered another Jackson and worked our way up to The Crossing. Which was the main attraction of Terra Town. It was a round building in the middle of the four streets, like a roundabout. It had four floors of madness, downstairs a dining area and several shops, first floor were all bars, second floor was a strip club and casino and the top floor a dancing area. I think it was owned by Vincent Orion, the only one owned by the Orion’s in this entire Terra Town. All other things belonged to Rios and one or two were owned by the Barrington’s. Sky and I had wanted to check it out many times but never got the opportunity.

The Crossing connected all four major streets and it was quite a sight for sore eyes. Music was booming loudly, several drunk Rainers were loudly fighting or making out outside of the main entrance. Which had large double glass doors and two very mean looking bouncers guarding them. The Crossing was highlighted in black neon, with yellow lining. It looked mad cool.

Both of us squealed in delight, were catcalled a few times when entering the building but the bouncers paid us a little mind. Inside we stepped into a giant corridor, illuminated by purple neon lights along the floors. There was a place to give our coats to and we received a purple chip with a number on it. We put some coins on the digital card and could use this to buy anything in all of the four floors. Excitement bubbled in my stomach.

‘Are you hungry?’ Skylark asked with wide eyes. Spotted a diner like restaurant next to the vestiarie.

‘Are you serious?’

‘I could go with a shake and some fries before we indulge upstairs.’

She just ate an entire popcorn bin made for two, a snickers bar, two candy canes and a brownie while watching half a movie.

‘You turn into a different woman around that time a month, Sky. Damn girl.’ But she had a good idea. We had already downed three Jacksons and I wasn’t planning on getting black out drunk tonight anyway. Something greasy in my stomach would do some good. Sebastian and I had eaten a salad for diner, since he wasn’t getting anything healthy in his system all week and Andrew had forced me on the salad and protein diet. That wasn’t much to build on.

The milkshake was delicious. We had ordered one and both of us were dipping our fries in it. I had ordered onion rings and jalapeno cheese puffs on the side and was living my best live. We had ordered two beers to down it all.

‘So what’s been going on with that hot bodyguard of yours?’

I dipped my fry in a little too deep. The cold strawberry shake touched my finger. ‘Nothing Sky. I told you.’

‘You two have been getting mighty cosy…’

‘We have been training a lot.’

‘Not what I meant.’

I took a bite from my onion ring and pointed it at her face. ‘You are clearly interested. I’d say go for it, but he is the male equivalent of an ice queen.’ My stomach dipped slowly at him dating Skylark and I had no clue why it bothered me so much. I already had to deal with five men in my life. Gathered that I only dated two of them currently, but that was already way too much. I thought about Ash and how he had rejected me and I flinched. Took a big gulp of beer to drown it out.

‘I wish I could get with that. He makes me all kind of hot with that silent, serious treatment of his.’

I rolled my eyes.

‘So what’s the deal with my brother anyway?’

I knew she wasn’t referring to Oak.

’He’s.. being difficult.’

’I knew he had trouble sharing but damn Asher….’ Skylark sipped from her beer. ‘He would not let his mate get away from just a jealousy thing…’

‘I don’t think it’s a jealousy thing Sky.’

‘Than how do you explain that cold behaviour?’ those words hit me hard because I had wondered that myself.

‘He thinks he’s… protecting me somehow.’ That was the only explanation I could come up with.

‘From what?’

‘God knows…he says that I keep on making the same mistakes. He won’t watch me die.’ I quoted his literal words.

‘Well…’ Skylark waved around the place. ‘We are currently sitting in the middle of Terra Town, in The Crossing.’

I threw a fry at her head. ‘Not helping.’ But smiled anyway.