Against The Odds Read online

  “Spaz?”

  “Yes, you know, what you call your annoying little brother or sister. I think some people still call him that.”

  Clayton was laughing. He could just see her, haughty and cool, degrading the man. The image pleased him immensely.

  “Brad Adcock is a good friend of mine. We hang out together, and he would step in that situation. I am so sorry he couldn’t join us this weekend. He knows how to have fun, but he had a car accident. But I think his ego is more bruised than his body. He met some woman who is driving him crazy.”

  Clay smiled at the image of Brad fuming incoherently that his red girl had hang up on him and just left him in the hospital. Brad had gone all mushy in the head. He knew the feeling. He thought about Rebecca. How he never understood her too. He had psyched himself up for a huge fight with her, when he would have to force her to come this weekend. But, to his surprise, she had called him and told him, ‘if it was still okay,’ she would like to come. She had so sweet and demure that he had been a bit suspicious. Will she just vanish at the last minute? Will she go to her parents or find some excuse to get out of it? He had anticipated this and had been happy to arrange his affairs so that he could leave later, when he was sure she was on her way. All this planning, however, had been in vain. Jackie had phoned him just now to tell him that she had arrived and was enjoying a sundowner with Blake. Well, I will never know this woman. What made her change her mind? Jonathan had said he thought she was tired of fighting and really wanted to see if it worked. How could it, when she does not tell me the truth? She is probably banking on charming me so that I can forget. But, he could not forget, how could he? The moment he touched her he would remember her butterfly and all the other things that bothered him. She could only get away with it if she never touched him. She is in for a rude surprise if that is her plan. They had two cottages with an inter-leading door. He had seen to that. He was determined that she would not escape him. He wanted her, all of her, but she had to be honest with him. This weekend, he was determined to know the truth about her and why she had his butterfly.

  Clayton did not know just how much truth he would find out and the cost of that truth.

  *****

  Chapter 14

  Everyone had arrived, except Clayton and Zane. The other couple, Melissa and Arnold Jackson, had settled in nicely. They were a quiet pair, who spent most of their time alone. Melissa was an interior decorator and her husband was an accountant. He was a sullen man who spoke very little, while Melissa seemed to enjoy socializing more. They chatted briefly to everyone and then went to their cottage. They only emerged again in time for dinner.

  It was already 8 o’ clock and they all went to dinner. Where is Clayton? He should have been here an hour ago. He is surely taking his time. Jackie was a little apprehensive. She knew that she had phoned a long time ago to tell him that Rebecca had arrived, so he should have been here already. Jonathan was worried. What if he has a ‘lion episode’ on the way? He might be killed and poor Zane, having to find out that the man is also a lion.

  Rebecca was starting to fret. What if The Darkness had got him? What if he changed his mind? She went outside and called him on his cell phone.

  “Hello?”

  Gosh, it is not his voice.

  “Hello, can I speak to Clayton?”

  “Rebecca? It’s Zane. Hi and hold on.”

  “Princess.”

  “Clayton, where are you?”

  “What’s wrong Princess, can’t wait for me, can you?”

  “Clayton, this is serious. Are you okay?”

  “Princess, relax and please stop tugging at your dress like that. It is so suggestive.”

  She turned round and there he was. Her heart missed a beat and she rushed to him.

  “I was worried about you.”

  “Thought I would be eaten by monsters?”

  “That’s not funny.”

  “Okay, relax. Zane had some present we had to wait for. Some art that Double J had envied and he had to collect it. Unfortunately we had to wait, because the guy went out to lunch. Sounds like one of your friends.”

  Rebecca was not listening to him. She had gone and hugged him. Okay, so far so good. No electric shocks. Also, she was happy to see him. At the back of her mind lived the fear that The Darkness would get him before she did.

  Zane was standing there, listening with absolute glee. Wow, the magic between them. Wow! Stud-muffin Clayton Giles, the untouchable is in the arms of a woman and he called her princess. He savoured the moment and imagined how he would captivate his audiences at dinner parties with this story. Especially since Ice Maiden had flung herself into his arms like that. Wow!

  “Listen you two, I am going inside. John is probably demanding that the police go and look at the bottom of the river for my body. See you inside.”

  “Hi Zane. Will see you later.”

  Clayton was beaming.

  “So, you phoned to check if I was alright? That is very adorable of you. I like it. Perhaps I should be late more often?”

  “Don’t you dare. Clayton it was getting dark and we were all worried. I think you had better go inside so that everyone can see that you are in one piece.”

  He kissed her and then led her inside the restaurant. Jonathan and Jackie were very happy to see him and Jackie gave him one of her special hugs. She was whispering something to him and he was teasing her. Zane thought it was so typical of Clayton to have one woman inside the restaurant and another outside. He clearly had not changed that much.

  Blake and Chad were simply staring at him, bemoaning the unfairness of the world, that he was not gay. Why are all the good ones straight? It was a sheer act of discrimination by the gods.

  The dinner was great fun, with John entertaining them with bizarre and obviously untrue gossip. They all chatted to each other and Rebecca was pleased to be there. She had been so pre-occupied lately that she had avoided social functions and now she realized how isolated she had become. She looked up and saw that Clayton was watching her. His eyes were dark blue and she dreaded what he might say, or ask her.

  “No, Clayton, not here, not now.”

  Everyone stared at them and laughed.

  Blake said, “oh down boy, not now,” and giggled.

  Clayton joined in the laughter but was quick to point out, “but when, Princess?”

  He touched his heart in mock pain and the men nodded and laughed, identifying with his torture.

  “That is not what I meant, you beasts.”

  Zane was really happy he had come on this weekend. This is such a bonus. He would never have believed all this if someone else had told him. It is too juicy. Stud-muffin is badly, badly burnt. He is in love with the Ice Maiden. He saw how Clay looked at her, how his eyes would light up and then darken. The man was in serious trouble and Zane loved it. She was not exactly averse to him either. She kept stealing glances at him and he was sure they were having a little chit-chat of their own. It was in their eyes, the way he looked at her and she would look back, as if responding. Although Clayton had joked about it, he was quite sure that there was something serious about to happen before Ice Maiden stopped him. She is such a spoil sport. Clayton’s eyes had been dark and intense, not in a sexual way, but in another way, more serious, more important. Damn. It would have been interesting to hear what he wanted to say.

  Clayton had been watching her and thinking, will you tell me your secrets tonight?

  She had been thinking, he wants to know everything tonight. Do I have to tell him? Do I have to?

  Well, do you want to discuss it now, my dear?

  And that’s when she had spoken. They had not realized what had happened and in the joking and teasing that ensued, both of them forgot the moment.

  After dinner, while some were getting drunk and raucous, Clayton and Rebecca slipped away to their cottages. Rebecca was keen to get him into her bed and he was keen to hold her, get shocked and then be told everything. Those were their expectations.


  They walked in silence, in the dark, Rebecca hesitant, thinking about The Darkness, and Clayton, sure-footed, thinking how good it would be. At the cottage, Clayton went to take off his suit. Rebecca, in the adjoining cottage, decided to change too. It was well after midnight, but they behaved like the night was just beginning. Rebecca was trying to decide whether to wear the long negligee or a pair of cheeky shorts to seduce him, when she heard it. It hissed and sucked the air in great big gulps. It was angry, agitated. It came to the patio door, tapped on the glass and moved away. It wanted her to know it was there. Rebecca cried out.

  “Not now. No, not now.”

  She fell onto her knees. She could never win. She would never have the man she loved. Tears were streaming down her face when she realized she was not alone and when she looked up, the shock ravaged her body. She stared at him, motionless, unable to comprehend. There was Clayton, with nothing on but a white towel, his hair standing spiky and his eyes white and crazed. He looked like he would pounce on her.

  Clayton had gone into the shower, needing to calm his nerves. He had just run the water when he heard it, the hissing, threatening sound. His hair had stood up and he knew it was going for Rebecca. He rushed to the adjoining door, but they had not unlocked it. He saw no key, so he went outside and that’s when he saw it. It was a great, brown bat, tapping its beak on the window. It wanted Rebecca and he moved towards it. It looked at him and he saw its fear. Something about him had scared it, because it flew wildly away. Is Rebecca alright? He panicked and ran to her. He saw her, sitting there, crying. He could not move. Her fear and desperation shocked him. He was even more shocked at the way she stared at him, as if he was an animal.

  “Clayton, Clayton, you are the white tiger? Oh, Clayton. Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you keep it from me? Why Clayton? Why?”

  She was hysterical now, and Clayton just stood there. What was going on, white tiger, me? What is she on about?

  He moved towards her, but she lifted her hand.

  “Don’t dare touch me, you bastard. Don’t you dare! You liar! What did you think would happen? Tell me, tell me.”

  “Rebecca, please calm down. I don’t know what you are saying. Rebecca? Rebecca?”

  “How could I have not seen it? Those eyes, of course. You were staring me in the face the whole time. Those blue eyes. Of course, the harbor. Your office is right there, on Victoria Street.”

  “Rebecca, are you listening to me? Calm down. I am coming to you now, okay?”

  He moved to her and touched her arm. The electric shock hit them and she shouted.

  “Why do you try and hurt me? Why? You are supposed to me my Protector. You are not supposed to hurt me. Go away. You want to hurt me.”

  “Rebecca, Princess, please, I don’t want to hurt you. You are just scared, okay? Please, let me hold you.”

  Rebecca felt defeated. He had come straight after The Darkness. She was confused. Has my white tiger gone dark? Is that why things had been different? That he would betray me? Okay, he might as well get it over with. Let it be the end.

  She felt him lift her and put her on the bed. He was holding her and he let her cry. He rocked her gently and she fell asleep. Clayton covered her, but he could not bear to leave her. He had no clue what was going on, but her fear had been shocking, to say the least. What is that thing? Why has it come for her? Why does she think I am a white tiger? What is she accusing me of? These questions plagued his mind, until he fell off to sleep, holding Rebecca.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Rebecca woke up and felt Clayton’s arm around her. She turned and stared at him. He was sleeping, a frown on his face. He opened his eyes to see Rebecca staring at him. She saw the confusion in his face and his fear that she would attack him again. She looked at his blue eyes, as they got darker and she finally accepted the truth she had been too scared to accept. Clayton was her Protector, her white tiger. He did not know. She felt slightly silly. Nana had given her such a clear description of him. His azurite eyes were unmistakably those of a white tiger. Also, he walked in that slow deliberate way and often paced when he was agitated. Why had she not accepted this truth?

  “Rebecca?” Clayton sounded so unsure of himself, it broke her heart.

  “Clayton, hello. I think you should put something on because that white towel is not hiding a thing.”

  Clayton did not move. He was looking at her, trying to decide if he had been dreaming. She was behaving as if nothing had happened. Was he hallucinating, as Jono would say?

  “Rebecca, what happened last night?”

  “Clayton, dark blue questions so early.”

  She tried to move away from him, but he held her.

  “No, no more running away. Now Rebecca, now.”

  “I know, but can we just sit properly, have some coffee and talk? Please. I need it. I really need it. I know that there are things we need to talk about Clayton, but some coffee first? And clothes for you? Okay?”

  Clayton could see she was trying to buy some time and he could see she was afraid.

  “Alright, let’s do it your way. But Rebecca, we are not leaving this place until you have told me everything. I don’t care if we stay here forever. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. Now, can I make us some coffee?”

  Clayton got up and found the key and opened the door. He left the inter-leading door opened as he dressed. He did not want anything to happen while he went out, so he listened carefully as she made the coffee.

  They sat in the kitchen at the table and Clayton waited patiently for her to begin.

  “Clayton, I don’t really know what to say. It is so complicated and strange and I want to tell you that, if at the end of this, you think I am crazy, I will understand. I also want to say that I have tried so hard, in my mind, to keep you out of this. You must believe me. I tried to pretend that I didn’t know, so that I could protect you. Okay, what do you want to know?”

  “Rebecca.”

  His eyes were icy blue and he was getting annoyed with her. He waited a long time to hear what was going in their lives and all she was doing was trying to stall.

  “Rebecca, I want to discuss this rationally. But, you are determined to make me angry. What do I want to know? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Are you playing with me?”

  “Clayton, please calm down.”

  She got up and paced around, coffee in hand. What should she say? Where to start? Clayton’s eyes followed her as she paced. He did not move from his seat. He was starting to frighten her. He looked like he would explode. This is not helping. Where should she start?

  “Tell me what that bat-thing was outside last night. Why he came for you.”

  “Okay, well that’s The Darkness. It is a creature which was created or rather born when I was born. It has the sole purpose of destroying me, my life basically. Oh Clayton, how do I say this? Okay, let me tell you what happened. I was fourteen years old when I became aware of the problem.”

  Her eyes clouded and her mind meandered its way back in time.

  *****

  Chapter 15

  Rebecca was fourteen years old when she first realized that something was odd about her. All the boys feared her and very few tried to ask her out on a date. She knew she was beautiful and was confused why other less attractive girls got more boys interested in them. Rebecca felt hurt and isolated and fought back with her intelligent wit and soon was very popular at school. However, boys were always hesitant with her. One boy, Malcolm, a tall thin boy with shy smile, often walked her home and chatted to her. He clearly liked her and they spent a great deal of time together. She desperately wanted him to touch her, but he always hesitated. She asked him once why he did not like her and he simply replied.

  “I am afraid of what you will do to me. Oh Rebecca, I want to kiss you so much, but I know you will hurt me.”

  She had pushed him for more information, but he said nothing. She felt rejected and confused. That night she went to see Nana, who lived c
lose by and asked her why boys were afraid of her.

  They sat on the patio and Nana was silent. Rebecca became hysterical. “Oh, no, there is something wrong with me. Nana, please, not you too. My parents stare blankly when I ask and you too.”

  Nana, her short red hair blowing in wind, had held her close and tried to comfort her.

  “No, I do not want your comfort, tell me the truth.”

  Nana had gone inside and returned with a dusty photo album. The whole album was filled with pictures of men, some young, some old, some recent pictures, some fading.

  “These are all the men that I have loved or who have loved me through my life. None of them have lasted long in my life. Each of them, for some reason, would turn away from me in fear. Only your grandfather remained with me. He was my Protector, as your father is your mother’s Protector. That is what the special man is called ‘The Protector’.”

  What is Nana on about? What protector? From what?

  “You see my child, all women born from my family have been cursed. This is an old curse and nobody has been able to break it. It seems that one of your great grandmothers, Portia, was quite the favored one with men. Because she was so beautiful, she always got the men she wanted. One woman, Felicia, finally put an end to it. Portia and Felicia were best friends, until Portia tried to steal her friend’s husband. Felicia went into the forest, where she met with a black witch. They made ‘The Curse of The Darkness’, a spell which binds many generations to its power. It creates a creature, which looks like a bat with yellow, owl eyes. It is born the day a female child in the family is born. It lives and watches and its lone task is to frighten men away from the woman concerned.”