"Bree.... Hey. Stop!"
He pulled her closer to himself till she lightly touched him. He then cupped a gentle palm to her temple and found out it was throbbing.
Hot and so hard it was scary.
"Fuck.... Ashley." He swore and began to feel for his mobile. "Call Ashley!" He yelled and with a beep, the call connected. Bree blinked, glassy-eyed and looked at him.
"Are you okay?" Alejandro asked, forcefully. "Bree? Can you see me?"
She didn't say anything. Not even a blink happened. She didn't seem to be seeing him. She was just there, but somehow she could stand on her feet.
"Fuck!"
"Alejandro, what's going on?" Ashley's voice came through the speaker.
"Something happened to Bree...."
"Oh my God...."
".... Wait for me at the house. Now."
★★★
★★★
"Alejandro she won't remember a single thing when she wakes." Erwina said as they stood around the bed where Bree lay unconscious.
Everyone stared down at her calmly but Alejandro had some kind of tension around his broad shoulders that he just couldn't shake off. He seemed to be deep in his musings.
"We'll have to confirm first."
Ashley gave Erwina the "just ignore him" look and Erwina succumbed.
"Well, we need to go down and discuss this. It's a sign." Erwina said, and the others gave half-nods and followed Maverick as he led the way out and downstairs.
Everyone sat and for a long moment, there was silence.
Ashley was the first to speak.
"There are things we need to take note of.... In Bree as a whole. One, out acceptance of her...."
Alejandro made a face but it disappeared fast.
"Where are you going with this?" He asked, frustrated. "Stop beating about the bush."
"To make it easier...." Erwina snapped in, pissed at Alejandro's aggression. ".... Bree is the mirror and you're gonna die for...."
"No, Erwina!" Maverick put in fast and instantly the blonde paused and held Alejandro's gaze.
Now, the guy was looking wounded but she knew she'd struck a hard cord just now. He seemed to be thinking of what Erwina had hinted and couldn't hold back a pissed frown.
He diverted that angry look to the table before him.
"As I was saying.... Uhm.... Bree is showing signs. Signs of being the.... precious mortal we have read and heard about all along. I mean, we should have guessed."
"I guessed. Her hair." Rolando said and Maverick nodded really hard, supporting his statement.
"Yes. And now, her ability to sight The Paragon...."
"What's the Paragon?" Alejandro asked grimly.
Ashley sighed.
"Brother, I'll tell you all that later, ok? It's a deity."
"So, it'd inflicted pain on her.... Showed itself to her. Scared the fuck out of her." Alejandro said, still deep in his musings.
"It shows that Bree might have some abilities too."
"And no one should dare think of unlocking it." Alejandro growled in a dangerous voice.
"No one's gonna do that, man. Promise." Maverick said and there was silence again.
Then....
"Now, I want to remind everyone. She's fatefully amongst us and I'm sure we know what it might bring to the city."
"The BLOOD WAR." Rolando said.
"But we hope not. It's only likely to happen."
"With Alejandro here, it shows that it will." Erwina said.
Everyone looked at the guy in particular and he looked back at everyone defiantly.
"Will you all just take your eyes off me? Erwina, don't just open your mouth and say shit. There was never any hint as to signs...."
"But at least...."
"Just, don't talk to me."
Silence again. And in it, Ashley sent her brother a disappointed look and went back to her speech.
"What we have to do is protect her first. That's the greatest we can do right now. Then.... We also have to keep a lot of things from her and not draw towards this whole shit. We need to help Alejandro."
"I mean, that's his baby, right?" That was Rolando teasing Alejandro now.
Expectantly, everyone glanced from Rolando Steele to Alejandro and back but Alejandro didn't raise his head up.
"Let's not talk too much now. Her locations need constant tracking."
"I'm not asking anyone to do that for me." Alejandro put it in again.
"Okay. But, at least, we'll have to help at some point...."
"You can keep her in place whenever she's being a mess. The rest is up to me."
Quickly, the others glanced at each other then shrugged in defeat.
"Well, if you need any help." Rolando muttered but Alejandro still insisted.
"None."
★★★
★★★
Bree walked toward the hardwood bedroom door and looked around as she did. Automatically, it slid open.
"Wow."
A walkway.
Rosy. Glowing. Irresistibly beautiful.
She could easily guess where she was and a great smile pulled up onto her lips.
She felt like she had slept a lot but remembered that she'd bought groceries and Alejandro had been there with her.
With her!
Her heart thumped softly and she smiled.
"Jesus, isn't that something? You'll keep seeing the man of your dreams each day"
Quietly, she found her way out and was soon up the steps.
Then, the view downstairs hit her straight on the face. It wasn't inevitable to see.
The five fine friends she had just made seemed to look normal but something about them still made her feel there was something different going on.
What exactly was it?
Everyone sat with their legs crossed and backs straight —except Ashley, whose head rested gently on Erwina's shoulder.
They looked so unreal. Otherworldly. Outrageously beautiful. But it was Alejandro her eyes kept returning to —the one she couldn't stop thinking of and falling for.
His presence —built like a storm with physiques and charisma to match —had it all. He would never smile, yes. He dressed in shades and dark colors, but he still played with her heart like a wicked angel.
At the moment, Ashley was the only one on a colorful shirt. A green one. And it stood out like a burst of spring on a very dark day.
Bree stood up there watching them in silent awe.
They completely had no idea she was standing there, lost in wonder.
Then Bree blinked twice, stepped forward, and cleared her throat.
And instantly — they all turned.
Sharply.
In sync.
Every head and every eye.
As if triggered by something unseen.
Bree stopped in her tracks and her head gave a dull ache.
"What the hell...." She whispered under her breath.
My, her words had echoed a little louder than she'd intended. They all rose — together. Again — unnaturally in sync.
Calm.
Too calm.
Too perfect.
Everything in the room seemed frozen till Bree began to come down the steps.
Breaking formation, Ashley hurried forward and the others followed behind her. Slowly....
"Bree!" She cried, concerned. "You're awake."
Everyone's eyes stayed trained on the brunette in particular. Watching her like she was a riddle only she didn't know she held the answer to.
"Are you okay?" Ashley asked this time and placed gentle hands on Bree's arms. "You fell and fainted. The doctor saw you and said you're gonna be fine."
Bree blinked. Ashley let go off her and watched. Fainted? Bree was wondering.
Instantly her hands went to her head. "Fainted? I kinda have an headache."
Alejandro was standing at a distance now, arms crossed. Watching her closely. Studying every move and every word.
Ashley was already replying fast.
"Yeah. Strange, right? The stress of the whole day. Alejandro brought you here earlier. So sorry."
Bree glanced at Alejandro and he didn't give anything away. His jaw was locked and he stared her down, his face unreadable. Bree didn't know what to think or do but look away.
"Do you remember anything?" Maverick asked for the first time. He sounded casual. "Yes.... Groceries...." She glanced at Alejandro again. "The room and.... I guess that's it. My head kinda hurts now though."
"Oh dear, don't think too much. You need to lay down." Erwina said, softly then Rolando added:
"You're okay now. That's what matters."
He offered her a warm smile.
"Come and sit." Ashley said, smilingly moving behind Bree.
She gently held the girl's shoulders and shut her eyes.