Page 9 of The Devil's Heir
"It's not the gift itself but the thought and the gesture. This is my first gift in twelve years." Before I lose my nerve, I throw my arms around him and give him a quick hug.
It's not quick enough, though, because he shoves me away, causing me to fall back into the lockers. "Don't ever touch me without permission."
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything—"
He cuts me off, "Just open your gift, will you?"
With trembling hands, I rip open the wrapping paper and then open the box and see a small note that says, 'Happy Birthday, Liliana.' Under the piece of paper lies a beautiful silver ID bracelet, but I gasp when Iexamine it closely.'Property of Jarek Falcon'is engraved under my name,Liliana Sumner. The underside of the bracelet has an inscription that says,'To my pauper on her birthday.'
When I glance back at Jarek, he's wearing a knowing smirk, "Now everyone knows that you belong to me, and they will not bully you."
Dropping the piece of jewelry as though it burned me, I slam my locker closed and run. I don't stop until I'm back outside. It's now pouring rain, but I don't care how wet I'm going to get; I just need to get away. I turn when I hear the doors open behind me and see my tormentor following. He calls out my name, but I ignore him and take off again. I hear him calling out to me, but I continue running. The rain is pelting down on me, making it hard to see anything before me.
A hand grabs my arm, and I swing around, slamming into Jarek's chest. He's soaked from head to toe and looks angry as hell. "What are you trying to do—get yourself sick?"
"I'm nobody's property, Jarek, least of all yours!" I yell over the pouring rain.
"That's where you're wrong, Liliana! As long as you are my assistant, I own you!" he growls.
"Then I quit!" I try yanking my arm away, but he has it in a tight grip.
"Let's talk about this inside; we're getting soaked!" he suggests and tries pulling me back toward the school.
"I'm not going anywhere with you, Jarek!" I yell, pulling back.
"Cut the shit, pauper! We will both get sick, and then you will really be sorry!"
"Stop threatening me and stop being a bully to me; I am a human being!" I slip on the grass and fall, taking Jarek down with me.
"See what you've done now? You haven't even seen me bully you yet, little pauper! You belong to me, Liliana, don't forget that!"
"No, I don't belong to anybody. I'm nobody's slave and never will be!"
Jarek stops suddenly and smiles maliciously at me, "Oh, but you are, little pauper."
"You are completely insane!" I stare wide-eyed at him, and then I bring my knee up, knocking him away from me when it lands right between his legs.
Scrambling to my feet, I slip and slide when I run across the grass, but I keep going because, for some reason, Jarek is still following me. I can hear the traffic up ahead and know I must stop because it's a busy intersection. I'm hoping that Jarek will get tired and turn back, so when I stop to catch my breath, I'm stunned when I see that he's only a few meters away. I don't think; I turn and run right out into the middle of traffic, and the last thing I hear is Jarek screaming, "Liliana!"
SIX
Jarek
These past few weeks have been both heaven and hell for me. Being so close to my little pauper puts me on cloud nine, and yet, the ache of not being able to have her the way I want is pure torture.
Knowing today was Liliana's birthday had me in a good mood. Well, as much of a good mood as my warped mind could muster, but it all took a turn when I approached her by her locker.
Liliana running away from me was the last thing I expected, and it pissed me off, so I went after her.
However, I've taken it too far this morning. I never intended to see any actual harm come to my pauper. I only wanted to be here when she opened the birthday gift that I got her. Her reaction to the expensive ID bracelet was not what I had expected, and her running away and getting hit by a car wasn't on my list of her reactions either. So, now I sit and wait for her to wake up, but I keep my presence unknown because I don't want to upset her while she's healing. I need her to get better so she can return to school and continue our little game of cat and mouse.
For the first two hours after her surgery, I sat with her only because I felt guilty. I've never felt guilty before, and I hope I never do again. My pauper's beautiful face is bruised, but at least she's alive.
I wanted to talk to her foster parents, but during the whole time I was there, in her room, they never showed. I made the decision that I would pay for her hospital bill, gave the front desk all my information, and thenI left.
Now, I'm back, but I don't dare wait in her room. The nurses know I'm taking care of the bill, so they update me on her condition. Of course, I don't necessarily have to be here for them to do that, but it helps with the guilt.
When my phone pings and I see the message from Carmen come across my screen, I curse and practically crush my phone in my fist. Another fucking party tonight, and I'm being requested. I can't keep doing this—it's not right. How do I know that the bitch was even telling me the truth about my inheritance?
