Blame the Three-Eyed Cąȶ. Alessandra often wondered if she should after what happened on the final night of the Dark Moon Month. She didn't know who else to blame. How could her simple life in which she was blessed with so much be torn apart so quickly? In one night no less. The only thing that made sense was that the tricky Three-Eyed Cąȶ had to be involved. Of course, Aless did not really believe in the Three-Eyed Cąȶ. Yet blaming them helped ease her pain as she suffered being chained like an animal, almost praying for Death to find her in its search for the Three-Eyed Cąȶ.
That night had started out great. Kay, Danny, DJ, and Aless had decided to go out dancing. The beginning of the First Sunless Month meant school would begin again soon, which meant vacation would be over. With Aless and Kayla both officially of legal age, they didn't have to sneak into a club or worry about drinking. They could just have fun and enjoy each other's company. Danny and DJ ended being held up at work, so the girls chose to meet them at a club called Jugᵫm. Thinking back on it, Aless thought it was a little coincidental that that terrible night began at club named after Death in Sᴔmian. Jugᵫm was another one of the big dance clubs in town. It had four rooms, each room playing different type of music. Depending on the night, the number of rooms open varied. That night, in honor of the last night of the Dark Moon Month, all the rooms were open.
Kay and Alessandra dressed to impress with Kay wearing a short, shimmering baby blue dress with a low back and Aless in a burgundy belly top matched with a skirt with a high slip the side. Both girls enjoyed the glances and stares from the male patrons of the club, giggling about the silliness of men. It was Danny's look of amazement and pride that Aless really cared about when he and DJ arrived thirty minutes after the girls. Immediately kissing her and wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Danny stood proudly, making it clear to everyone in the club that Alessandra was his girl. DJ would have gladly done the same with Kay, who he was still helplessly in love with, but Kay was too busy flirting her way around the rooms. All DJ could do was watch Kay with sad puppy dog eyes and steal a dance where he could.
That night the club pulsed with life and Aless could feel it vibrating through her. She danced for hours, taking breaks only when Danny insisted. Everything in her felt alive that night. The first sign of trouble came when Aless and Danny were in the classic room. As Danny spun Aless around again and again, she could have sworn she saw Bal on the edge of the dance floor. Her heart stopped in her chest, but, by the time she stopped spinning, he was gone.
"You are seeing things," Aless told herself. "You are just remembering when you saw him at that other club. And even if he is here, you don't need to talk him. He changed his number without telling you and you promised Danny never to talk to him again."
Mentally nodding her head, Aless refocused on Danny. Danny, her sweet Danny, looked handsome as ever, grinning as they danced, drank, and talk. Since DJ drove, Danny drank a little more than he normally did, making his kisses grow more passionate as the night progressed. Embarrassed at first, Aless tried to remind Danny that they were in public. Seeing how happy he was though made her decided that passion wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
She was wrong.
Towards the end of the evening, Danny disappeared to the restroom. Kay danced with some hot stranger in the largest room while Aless and DJ watched somberly.
"I'm going to see what's keeping Danny," DJ mumbled and stood up clumsily.
Even though he was supposed to be the DD, he had been drinking a little too and Aless could see his eyes were red.
"Okay…I'm just going to be waiting here."
"Fine."
DJ wandered off and Aless watched him with great pity. He was such a wonderful guy and it was a shame Kayla couldn't see that. Just as Alessandra thought this, Kayla appeared, beaming and giggling.
"Come dance with me!" she cried.
Kay grabbed Aless's hand and pulled hard, almost pulling Aless off of the seat she was on. Kayla had, of course, been drinking a lot. Aless had noticed with some worry that Kay had been drinking a lot more lately.
"No, I'm waiting for Danny to come back."
"Aaallesss!" she whined. "Come on! Dance with me so I don't have to dance with these losers!"
"You could have danced with DJ."
"Yeah, yeah, but I want to dance with my best friend!"
"Fine, fine."
Laughing Aless stood up and followed her best friend out onto the dance floor. Dragging Aless deep into the crowd, Kay didn't stop until they were in the middle of the dance floor. Once there, the girls began to dance, only pausing long enough to fend off drunk dance partners.
"Men are such pigs," Kay giggled.
Cheeks flushed, Kay's eyes glittered in delight at all the attention. In less than two minutes a rather handsome guy came and wrapped his arms around Kay. Not only was the guy handsome, but his clothes reeked of excessive wealth. Eying him, Kay did not protest; instead she allowed him to pull her close as they danced. Unable to stop herself, Aless laughed, shaking her head at the shallowness of her friend.
Around the third song on the dance floor, Alessandra felt an arm slip around her waist. Positive it was Danny, she turned to look up with a smile. Stuttering in her chest, Aless's heart stopped. Sea glass colored eyes looked down at her as the arm around her glowed slightly in the black light, illuminating a large gotong.
"Bal…what are you doing here?" she asked.
In her ears, Aless's voice sounded mildly shrill.
"I come here to dance all the time. It's my favorite place," Bal smiled. "What are you doing here?
His eyes searched her as they both unconsciously danced.
"I'm here with my friends and my boyfriend."
"Yes…I saw."
His voice sharpened as his arms wrapped tighter around Aless. Struggling a little, Alessandra tried to pull away. Bending forward, Bal whispered in her ear.
"Aless, I just want one dance and then I will leave you alone. Please just one dance."
"Bal, I don't think it would be a good idea."
"Please, Aless, just one dance. It won't hurt. Your boyfriend won't mind one dance."
Knowing this wasn't true, Aless looked around to see if Danny was near. She had promised Danny she would not talk to Bal anymore. Dancing probably fell under that promise. Yet she was afraid to make a scene and part of her wanted to know why he had disappeared.
"Only one?" she confirmed with trepidation.
"That's all I want."
Stomach twisting, Aless knew it was a mistake and that she was being too nice for her own good again. With a nod of her head, Aless continued to dance with Bal. Bal danced as well as Alessandra remembered and she struggled not to have a good time. Trying to keep space between them, Aless kept taking small steps forward or to the side. Yet Bal wasn't having it. Every time Aless tried to create distance, he would pull her closer and tighter to his body until she felt as if they were practically one.
One song passed, and Aless tried to pull away. Bal's grip did not loosen. To her horror it tightened.
"Bal," she said over the music.
He didn't respond. Focusing on freeing herself from his grip, while simultaneously not causing a scene, Aless didn't notice the careful way in which Bal maneuvered them through dance steps. Soon Kay had disappeared into the crowd and Aless and Bal danced alone among the throngs of people. Noticing at last what Bal had done, Aless gasped.
"Bal! What are you doing?" she protested.
"I just want to be with you a little longer. I don't want to be around anyone but you. Just give me a little longer. You have no idea how much I've missed you!"
"Bal! Let me go. We agreed to one dance!"
Ignoring her protests, Bal seemed to engulf her with his arms.
"Haven't you missed me at all, Aless?" he asked.
Freezing, Aless didn't know what to say. The truth was yes. Despite her promise to Danny, Aless missed her friend. She had kept any eye out for him every time she saw a package truck. Yet he was the one who had disappeared on her.
"You're the one who changed his number," she responded coldly.
Working on his fingers, Aless tried to push her fingers under his so to break his grip. She could have used her nails on his cuticle lines or between the small bones of his hand, tricks she learned in Pakido, but Alessandra didn't want to hurt him.
"I had to. I was trying to respect your relationship. I changed my number. I changed my route. I did everything I could to forget about you."
"Forget about me? Bal, we were supposed to be friends."
Spinning her around so they faced each other, Bal's face was deadly serious.
"I don't want to be your friend. Do you know what it's like to like someone so much even though you know it's wrong?"
Wrong? What was he talking about? Sure, Aless had Danny and they were eight years apart but calling his feelings wrong seemed extreme. Nothing could or would ever happen, but not because it was wrong.
"I have always been in control of myself. It is something I pride myself on," he continued. "But with you, I can't. I want to be with you. I want to hold you and kiss you and…"
"Bal! Stop this! Let me go."
Bal was crushing me to him as if he was trying to immerse her in him. Gasping, her ribs started to hurt as he locked his arms tighter.
"Aless, please…I tried to forget you but I can't. I keep thinking about you and me on your birthday. You think I planned this? I never thought I'd want someone like you…someone as young as you…"
"Bal…please…my boyfriend…"
"Yes, your boyfriend. I have never been so jealous of another guy in my life. Your boyfriend doesn't deserve you."
Venom soiled his words as he looked around the dance floor. Becoming angry, Aless narrowed her eyes and fought his grip harder. She began to not care if she hurt him or not. Her nails found soft spots in his wrists and pressed. From personal experience, Aless knew how painful those places were, but Bal didn't even twitch. Who was this man?
"You don't know what you are talking about. Don't talk about Danny like that. You don't even know him."
"That is where you are wrong. I know your precious Danny. I didn't know I did until I saw him tonight, but, trust me when I say, I know him."
A spiteful gleam flashed in his eyes. It spoke of an ugly history that made Aless pause. How did Bal know Danny?
"How do you know Danny?" Aless asked momentarily distracted.
"That's not important. What is important is how I feel about you and that Danny is not the guy you think he is."
"Stop, Bal. You are just trying to mess with my head."
"No, I'm not. I would never do that to you. I…"
Bal's voice trailed off midsentence. He seemed to focus on something behind Aless. Shaking her head, she gave up trying to break his grip and pushed hard against his chest. Bal didn't move an inch. Eyes narrowing, Bal's aura became intense. The hair on the back of Aless's neck stood up and suddenly she felt in danger. Turning to look behind her, Aless wondered what Bal was staring at. Not allowing her to look back, Bal grabbed Aless's face in both hands and kissed her. Boiling anger filled Aless as she slapped Bal as hard as she could. Suddenly she fell backwards as at the same time she heard bone crunching.
Kay caught Aless, whose eyes fell on Danny standing over Bal. Holding his jaw, Bal's eyes still remained on Aless.
"How dare you touch my girlfriend" Danny snarled.
Staggering to his feet, Bal laughed, sounding slightly insane. Covering his face with both hands, Bal laughed with whole body. Taking a step back, Danny looked around, unsure of what was happening.
"Is that the best you can do, Danny-boy?" Bal sneered in a very strong Alᵫmdaun accent.
Lowering his hands, Bal glared at Danny, whose face went pale. Resisting the urge to step back again, Danny jutted out his jaw defiantly. Clenching his fists, Danny sent Bal a look of pure hatred. It made Danny's normally handsome face very ugly.
"What are you doing here?" Danny barely managed to say through gritted teeth.
"I came to see our Aless."
"What?"
"Didn't she tell you about me? I was with her when you were too busy with your friends to even spend her birthday with her. Did she tell you about that night?"
Flushing plum, Danny didn't respond. The answer was clear, however. Sneering, Bal nodded. His Alᵫmdaun accent still heavier than Aless had ever heard.
"I see she did. Now, Danny-boy, did our precious Aless tell you about our wonderful kiss?"
Steam was practically coming off Danny. Rushing to his side, Aless tried to grab his arm, but he violently shrugged her off.
"Shut up!" he yelled at Bal.
"What, Danny-boy? Did I hit a nerve? Does it drive you crazy to know that someone else has kissed those sweet lips of hers?"
"I told you to shut up, you Alᵫmdaun bastard."
It was Bal's turn to blush plum. Taking two large steps forward, Bal appeared to grow in height as he challenged Danny through body language.
"You don't deserve her, Danny-boy, and you and I know it. Have you told her all your dirty little secrets? Does she know the real man she is dating or are you still playing the poor little boy who lost his father?"
"You shut your damn mouth!"
"What are you going to do, Danny-boy? You going to hit me again? Go ahead. You hit like a woman anyways."
Danny was beyond words now. He trembled visibly as a crowd gathered to watch what was happening.
"You dishonor your dead daddy's spirit."
Unable to take anymore, Aless strode up to Bal and slapped him again with all her might. The pain in her hand from the slap felt nothing compared to the pain in her chest. Angry tears burned her eyes, but Aless refused to release them. How dare Bal speak to Danny that way! How dare he pretend to be her friend and then act so cruelly to her! How dare he! How dare he!
Stupidly stunned, Bal stood still, staring at Alessandra blankly.
"Don't you dare speak about Danny or his father that way," Aless screamed.
People were staring openly now, surrounding the conflict in a tight circle. Even the music had stop. Kay stood with DJ, her hand covering her mouth. Pulling her hand back, Aless slapped Bal again. This seemed to wake him up. As Aless pulled her hand back, Bal snatched her wrist and squeezed. Yanking her in close, Bal frowned.
"Aless, what is wrong with you?" he whispered. "What are you doing with him? Don't you know what kind of guy he is."
"What kind of guy he is? He is my boyfriend. He is kind and loving and I love him! He doesn't pretend to be someone's friend and then abandon them or hurt them!"
Trying as hard as she could, Aless could not break free from Bal's grip. Searching her eyes, Bal's gaze was desperate as if trying to tell Aless something without words. Slowly, Bal's free hand brushed Aless's hair back from her eyes. The gesture was so kind and tender that Aless stopped breathing. What game was Bal playing at?
Something painful grabbed Aless's shoulder and wrenched her backwards. Falling against Danny's chest, Aless looked up to see his eyes were hard and cold. Before she could even attempt to say anything, Danny grabbed her upper arm and dragged her out of the club, leaving Bal standing in the middle of the circle alone.
"Danny, you're hurting me!" Aless cried.
His fingers dug into her flesh, bruising her. The only response she got was another hard yank as Danny dragged her by the shocked security guards. Where were they when this fight was happening, Aless briefly wondered. DJ and Kay ran close behind, faces creased in concern.
"Danny, I'm serious! You are hurting me!" Aless repeated.
Still Danny did not reply or release her. Tripping in her stilettos, Aless felt her ankle twist and she let out another cry of pain. Danny ignored it, pulling her fast behind him. Reaching their cars, Danny practically pushed Aless away from him. Stumbling, Aless caught her balance only with the quick help of Kayla. Rubbing her arm, Aless winced as her arm and ankle throbbed. Pacing, Danny seemed beyond words.
"How…when…why…"
His body was shaking.
"Why didn't you tell me about him?" he shouted.
"I did! Remember at the pizza parlor?" Aless responded equally loud.
"You said he tried to kiss you!"
"He did!"
"Trying is not the same as did!"
"Danny!"
"Why didn't you tell me it was him?"
"I didn't know you knew him! He was just some delivery guy I became friends with. It was nothing. I love you! Why does it matter who he is?"
"It matters! He was a delivery guy you became friends with? You are so cheap you would kiss a random delivery guy."
Taking a sharp intake of breath, Aless stared at Danny in disbelief. How could he say? Hovering around them, DJ and Kay froze in their tracks. Closing her eyes, Aless counted to ten. Her temper was also edging up and she didn't want to get into a screaming match.
"You don't mean that. You are upset. Who is he to you, Danny?"
"That's none of your business."
"None of my business? You better believe it my damn business. I love you and he was obviously trying to hurt you! That makes it my business."
"He didn't hurt me, Ale. You did."
"Danny…"
Reaching for him, Aless wanted to go back in time, to make it all stop or never happen. Moving out her reach, Danny turned his back on her.
"I can't even look at you right now. I can't deal with you. Don't call me. I may call you."
Without a backwards glance, Danny climbed into the car and slammed the door shut. Running for the driver's door, DJ gave Aless an apologetic look.
"He doesn't mean it, Ale. He loves you. He's just upset," DJ said.
"Who is that guy Bal, DJ?" she asked.
"I honestly don't know, Aless. I'll talk to Danny, though. Don't worry."
Nodding, Aless could feel tears pushing to break free. Loud music blared from the car as DJ and Danny took off. Wrapping an arm around her, Kayla led Alessandra to their car. Back at the club entrance, Bal stood watching in stormy silence.
The ride back home was quiet. Shaking from a mixture of anger and sadness, Aless couldn't bring herself to speak. After a few weak attempts to talk, Kay gave up and sat in silence. Nervously, she watched Aless drive, her hand's shaking on the wheel.
"Are you sure you don't want to pull over and let me drive?" Kay offered.
"Kay, just shut up!" Alessandra snapped. "I don't want to talk and I don't need you treating me like a child."
"Aless….I…."
Screeching to a halt outside of Kay's house, Aless glared at her friend until she got out. Looking like a whipped puppy, Kay slid out of the car, barely able to wave before Aless took off with her tires screeching. It was all Kay's fault. If she hadn't dragged Aless out on to the dance floor! No, it was Bal's fault! Who kisses a girl who has a boyfriend? Who says all the crap about missing and caring to a girl with a boyfriend? He was supposed to be her friend! A real friend would never have done that!
Peeling into her driveway, Aless turned off the car and headed inside. In her anger, Aless missed things that she would later realize were signs for future trouble. The front door was unlocked, despite Aless locking it when she left. A light was on in the kitchen when she had turned off all the lights before she left. A smell, similar to the odor that Bal had on the night of her birthday, lingered in the air.
Tossing her keys on the counter, Aless didn't bother to call out to see if anyone was home. Her father was out of country again. Stripping as she walked, Aless cursed out loud to herself as her twisted ankle ached with each step. Leaving a trail of clothes behind her, Aless smiled bitterly at the fact that no one around to give a crap about her mess. Reaching the upstairs hallway, Aless paused outside her bedroom in her undergarments. Fingers fumbling with the clasp of her bra, Aless paused. Something had moved inside her room. Peering into the almost absolute darkness, Aless saw nothing but her skin crawled.
"It's just the spirits of the last moonless night," she scowled.
Scuttling off to the bathroom, Aless kept looking over her shoulder at her bedroom, spine tingling.
"It's all in your head," she told herself.
Even knowing this, Aless waited until she was locked in the bathroom to finish undressing. Turning on the hot water, Aless allowed the tub and bathroom to fill with steam before she slipped into the tub. Once submerged she turned on the radio built into the wall of the shower, raising the volume to drown out all sounds of her own crying.
Crying until she was exhausted, Aless dozed off in the tub. The chirping of her phone woke her hours later. Groaning, she reached up, drying her hand off, and turned down the music. Then with apprehension, she answered. Taking a deep breath, Aless closed her eyes and spoke.
"Hello?" she said in a monotone voice.
Crossing her feet, Aless hoped it was Danny.
"Aless," Kay sobbed.
"What is it, Kay?" Aless sighed.
"My parents…"
Kay could barely speak through her sobs. Through the phone, Aless could hear screams and crashing. Heart falling, Aless felt instantly guilty.
"Come on over, Kay," Aless said.
"T…th..thank you."
The phone disconnected. Aless turned the music back up and sunk deep into the water. Blowing bubbles, Aless wondered how it had come to this. How had everything gotten so messed up? After another five minutes, Aless drained the tub and stood to shower. With her hair and face clean, Aless stepped out of the shower and dried off. Just as she was slipping into a pair of cute sleeping short and tank top, the doorbell rang and rang and rang.
"Jeez, Kay," Aless grumbled.
Padding down the stairs, Aless winced at the dull pain in her ankle. The doorbell kept ringing. Standing in front of the door, Aless rolled her eyes.
"I hear you! Enough!" she shouted.
Swinging the door open, Aless gasp at the sight of Bal on her front step.
"Get the hell out of here," Aless shrieked, slamming the door.
Bal grunted as he slipped his foot and arm between the door and the frame. Looking down, Aless found his hand wrapped in her shirt. Grunting, Aless tried to pull free, but the tearing of material forced her to stop.
"Let go, Bal!"
"No! I won't unless you listen to me."
"Bal! What is wrong with you? Let go of my shirt."
"I will if you open the door and talk to me."
"Hell no!"
"Then I'm not going to let go."
"Why are you doing this?"
"I told you…I want to talk to you."
"N…"
He pulled harder on the shirt and the sound of ripping repeated. Aless thought for a second. She could try and slam the door on his arm and foot, but, if he moved faster than her, Bal would push his way in the moment she pulled the door back. If she stayed as she was, he could rip her shirt off and it was one of her favorite shirts. She would have called the police, but her phone was upstairs by the bathtub.
"Okay…okay…I'll open the door, but you have to let go of my shirt and stay outside."
"Okay."
"You promise?"
"Of course, Ale."
A heavy feeling sank in her stomach as Alessandra slowly opened the door. Bal smiled coldly at her. His eyes shown so clear in the night light and his smile was sweet even as it was cold. For a moment Aless forgot she was mad, until his foot stepped inside her house.
"Bal!" she said, taking a step back. "You said you'd stay outside!"
"I lied."
Closing in the space, Bal backed her up against the door. Eyes flickering around them, Aless searched frantically for a way to escape. Twisting his wrist, Bal pulled Aless closer by the front of her shirt.
"You said you'd let go of my shirt!"
"Again, I lied."
"You asshole! Leave me alone!"
"You said you'd listen to me."
"Well, I guess we are both liars."
"You aren't a liar, Alessandra."
His hand stroked her hair and she flinched. Bal's eyes suddenly saddened, and Aless could see hurt in his eyes.
"Are you scared of me? Do you really hate me?"
"I'm not scared of you, Bal…"
"You hate me though?"
"You hurt Danny! He may never forgive me! You ruined our relationship!"
"Danny! Danny! Danny! I'm so sick of your secondary school infatuation with him."
"He's my boyfriend…. or was..."
Tears started to brim in her eyes. Aless looked away from Bal. She wasn't going to let him see her cry.
"You could do so much better than him…don't you get that?"
"You think that you are so much better?"
"You don't really know him, Aless. He is a bad guy."
"From what I've seen you are the only bad guy."
"You've made me this way!"
His fist slammed against the door right by her head. Cringing, Aless stared wide eyed at him.
"I told you in the club, all I can do is think about is you! I changed my route so I wouldn't go by your house. I tried to fill up all my time so I wouldn't think about you. Yet you kept creeping in like a spider into my thoughts."
He tapped his spider Josӕng three times with his free hand.
"I'm sorry you have been having such a hard time, but that is not my fault! I didn't do anything…" Aless stammered.
"You didn't have to! All I have to do think about you. Think about you in that robe of yours or dancing with you in the club. Do you remember that?"
His eyes became misty and Bal leaned in towards Aless, licking his lips. Feeling the hard door against her back, fear skittered across Aless's stomach. Yet no matter her fear, Aless could not tear her eyes from his.
"You were so cute in your little robe, not noticing it was half open. You blushed such a precious color of periwinkle. It made me want to see more. And then the way your face flushes in excitement and your body moves so effortlessly to music. It is all so enticing."
Bal yanked Aless closer by her shirt, causing her to blush as she tried to pull her shirt free. Sneering, he tugged a little harder and Aless shook her head. Using her free hand, Aless grabbed his wrist, hoping to make him release her. In her panic, her mind flooded with adrenaline, knocking out her calm, rational thought and all her years of Pakido lessons. Why did they abandon her now?
"Come on, Aless. Don't you think about that stuff? Don't you miss me? Don't think about our kiss?"
"Get out! I never want to see you again!"
His gripped tightened and his eyes narrowed.
"How can you say that to me? I know you felt something between us too!"
"No, I didn't! I thought you were my friend! That is all."
"No, you are lying. I felt how you kissed me back."
"I was drunk!"
"Look me in the eye and tell me that you haven't thought about me! That you haven't missed me and that didn't want to kiss me!"
Yanking hard, Ball pulled Aless on to her tippy-toes. Shaking her head, Aless didn't know how to convince him.
"No, Bal. Please stop!"
In mind, all Aless could think about was how this man had saved her from Tyler and now was the one not taking no for an answer.
"I will leave and never come back if you can kiss me then honestly say that there is nothing between us."
"You said that you hated people who mistreated others! And yet you say this to me! I can't believe I ever liked you! You are the worst kind of guy! I hate you!"
The words spilled from Aless's mouth before she could censor them. Bal's temper seemed to snap. Shoving Alessandra against the door, Bal grabbed her by both shoulders. Wincing, Aless looked at the ground, afraid of what she would see in his eyes. Her mind still remained a buzzing, horrifying blank.
"Look at me!" he roared.
Jarring her, Bal slammed her against the door twice, not hard enough to hurt her, but hard enough to shock her. Shaking, Aless raised her gaze to find so much hurt and anger in his eyes that she shivered.
"I…love…you, Alessandra!"
"No."
'Yes, I love you!"
Shaking her head, Aless wanted him to just leave her alone. He was ruining everything. His hands grabbed her face, yanking her close.
"Stop, Bal. I love Danny."
"I don't care."
Bal's mouth clamped over hers as she tried to pull away. He was so much stronger than Aless that she could do nothing but struggle against him. All her Pakido training was just out of reach in her mind, slipping through her mental fingers like a raw egg. Pushing Alessandra hard against the door, Bal kissed harder and she could feel his teeth nick her bottom lip. Between his forceful kisses, Aless begged for him to stop. Her words were useless. Bal didn't seem to hear any of them. It was the sound of someone coughing that broke him away from Aless. Bal pulled away from Aless, allowing her to collapse to the ground, gasping and shaking. Both Bal and Aless looked for who had coughed to find Kay standing a few feet away looking horrified.
"I better be going," Bal said in a monotone voice.
Briskly, he stormed off the front steps to an expensive black sports car. Kayla watched him for a moment then rushed to Alessandra. Light bruises were forming where his hands had been on her shoulders. As Bal got in his car, he looked back at the girls almost sadly.
"Be careful, Aless. There are people out there and they do not have good intentions for you."
Yeah, because he was so noble. Kayla and Aless looked at each other than back at Bal as he slammed his door shut and drove off. Staggering to her feet, Kay helped Aless get inside the house, locking the door behind them.