Page 53 of A Dark Duet

She nods, expecting me to tell her more. I can see it in her eyes, but I can’t. I’m rendered speechless by her beauty. Her dancing seared in my memory, for me and only me. She is the light to my fire. I want to burn with her and only her. She is the light to my darkness, and I am the darkness to her light.

Giselle

Inever thought he would watch me dance. I was dancing out my feelings for him, feelings that have grown deep inside my broken soul, trying to make sense of the need I have for him.

The need for pleasure and pain only he can give me. I thought he would say something, but I sometimes forget it’s Nate. He doesn’t love or do emotion, he’s closed off and private. I don’t know what demons haunt him because he won’t tell me.

I am convinced he never will. So, I will hold on to the lifeline he gives me, his pleasure mixed with the pain that I crave, continuing to live another day. I am nothing more than a shell, a body for him to keep his demons at bay while they feed off mine. Trading one monster for another won’t matter, because either way, I’m lost and alone.

He makes love to me in his bed after we shower. I go through the motions and enjoy it, but I won’t look into his eyes. He senses me withdrawing from him, not physically, but I’m lost in his darkness, I can’t find my light.

The rest of the week is the same, except he doesn’t watch me dance. I give the ballet lessons and wait for him. I talk to Brie, and she catches me up on town gossip.

Jace reached out to her and Jaden wasn’t happy. She told him they were just friends. Jason asked about me, hoping I was happy over here, and he said to let him know if I needed anything.

If he only knew. There is nothing he can do for me I’m an emotional baggage that he doesn’t need. He deserves someone better that is not fucked up like me.

Brie senses I’m not okay, so she hides the fact that she isn’t either. She was there, it haunts her, and she feels responsible. I keep telling her it wasn’t her fault. If she had gone alone, they would have killed her, and I couldn’t lose my best friend.

I have no one else that is like family. She hasn’t spoken to her mother, and the last she heard was that Jack has been staying in the trailer, most likely waiting for us to return to finish the job. I’d rather die than have them rape me again.

They should’ve killed me, and I sadly wish they had. I keep having nightmares. Nate is there, holding me and rocking me. Tears I once had stop falling.

It’s just the screams and the feeling of not being able to breathe that gets me. Nate’s fight is five days away. I keep to myself so I don’t distract him. He has been training at the gym and even at home.

I leave him working out in his home gym and work on the next lessons for the girls, watching videos of techniques. I want to get new dance outfits for the three of them. Lenora could only supply two, but they have worked so hard.

Brie agreed to come along so we can pick some out at a dance store close to the area. I think if I ask Nate, Charlie will come along, and it would be okay. I spot him coming back to the room from his workout

“I wanted to ask you something if that’s okay?”

He looks at me while I sit at the edge of his bed with his white, expensive sheets, my feet on the lush gray carpet underneath his massive king-size bed. I clasp my hands together in my lap. I’m wearing a black T-shirt with my scrunchy socks on.

“What is it?”

“I wanted to buy the girls new dance outfits tomorrow. Lenora only gave them two, and they have been working so hard. I wanted to go with Brie and Charlie if that’s okay?”

He looks hard at me. “No.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s crazy with the fight. People will take pictures and bother you with questions about us. Remember, at the burger place, how everyone was?”

“I didn’t ask you to tell them I was with you, you planned to do that all on your own and you didn’t bother to ask if I was okay with it,” I retort.

“You didn’t object, either. You didn’t deny it, you played along. I did it to keep you safe. You need to have eyes on you so they don’t go after you or Brie. It won’t be safe until after the fight.”

“Is that the only reason?”

Secretly hoping for a different answer, he closes his eyes and inwardly sighs. When he opens them again, the words that come out are not the words I expected.

“Yeah, that’s the only reason.”

I should feel hurt like before, but I don’t. Deep down, I expected it. There really is nothing he can hurt me with. I look up into his eyes, expressionless.

“At least we are clear on that. Don’t worry, I’ll order it online.” I get up and leave his room.

“Where are you going?”

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