A SHADE'S REVENGE

SHADE'S POV

I stood in front of LA VIE GRAND HOTEL. The infamous New York Times once described it as 'A beauty that could steal your soul'.

But I couldn't even keep my mind on it. Maybe it's because all I could think of was Sex.

My sultry imaginations driftimg off to what might happen tonight and the sensation between my legs got worse.

What would I do when he slips his hands under my skirt? What if he wants to watch me stripe down first?

My cheeks flushed.

What if he wants to lick my cunt first? More importantly, if he pulls down his pants, will I scream if he turns out to have a large pp? Can I handle it? Would he let me touch it?

I shock my head vigorously.

'Mind stop wondering!' I yelled at myself, pushing my body through the door. Hoping to find some kind of distraction from my lewd thoughts.

The ecstatic scents of cold Martini met me first. The cool Autumn breeze whooshed in through the windows and seemed to mystify the room. Jazz playing on loop on the stereo and people tapping their feet to it while they sat across each other in playful romantic chatter.

There I was, in the middle of it all, standing alone by the entrance door, hugging a BTS ARMY SIGNED tote bag and completely lost in my reverie, again.

'Maybe I should go back. I am not ready for this'.

I suddenly grew cold feet again. Contemplating turning around for the twentieth time but I didn't. I wouldn't be a coward, not this time. Tomorrow morning would mark our Fifth Anniversary as Dating Couples. He already bought me a bloody expensive gift but what had I ever gotten him- A tie, a new pair of socks, an ancient meal made out of some archaic cuisine.

Well, not this time around. I pressed my lips together and took one step at a time. The long blonde hair resting nicely on my shoulders, slipped off strand by strand as I sauntered towards the fine wooden countertop.

I would give him the surprise of a lifetime. The one treasure no one in the world would give him. The only thing I owed that could really show him how much I loved him.

My eyes met the Ladies in emerald green standing behind the computer, wearing glittering smiles. Their names displayed angelically on brown tags hanging on their breast pockets. Jolie was the woman I was looking for.

Immediately we took notice of each other, she examined my face. I could tell she grasped why I was here, after that.

"Sia." She called me by my nickname, bending over slightly to pull a key card from amongst the plenty hidden underneath the counter.

"Mr. GrandStone did not mention you were coming." She flashed me a smile. A plastic smile. For a moment, I furrowed a brow. She never pretends, not with me.

"I did not tell him because I wanted to surprise him." I replied, meeting her gaze. Searching for answers.

"Oh. I see. Well, he will certainly be shocked to see you." She slipped the card into my open palm.

I grinned a little and turned, briskly walking towards the elevator. Something is wrong. The only time Jolie made that look was when Milan had been forced into his suite by some gangsters.

He was in trouble, again. The closer I got to him, the more I felt it. That chilling feeling. The heart racing, nail biting distress, it was all over like me like I was wet with anxiety.

I dialed Hover, his bodyguard, immediately the elevator slid open on the last floor. The perks of being the girlfriend of a multi millionaire.

I took a moment to wait for his response. He wasn't picking up. The Phone put me through voicemail four times. I bit down on my lips.

"Come on Hover, pick up. This isn't the time to play Mr. Disappointing." I muttered trying his number one last time. I still got voicemail.

"Dammit." I threw the phone into my bag and yanked out a crowbar. After that first incident, I developed a weird habit of keeping it around.

The hall was quiet. The humid breeze, cold but sweat drenched my crop top as I neared the golden door of SUITE 145. I placed the key card over the scanner, and the door opened. Some one's voice came through, into the passageway.

It sounded like a heavy gasp. My heart stopped.

'Oh good Lord'.

My grip tightened, legs shaking a little as they guided me past the entrance, the small picturesque pallor and over to the bedroom door.

I gulped. The sound was coming from there. I could hear the creaking of wood. Ruffling of sheets and groans. Deep groans.

I made a cross sign over my chest and sucked in a breath. 'God give me strength...'

I burst into the room, eyes half open.

"Stay away from him. The police are on their way. Get your filthy han..."

The two figures hidden in the dim, met my gaze. I froze. They stared back, non-pulsed. My mouth fell open.

'What the hell? No... no this... this isn't...' I struggled but I couldn't deny it. Right in front of me were two of them, Naked. One on top of the other.

The crowbar fell crashing to the floor. Tears pooled up. I screamed.

"Milan how could you?!!!"

My voice, like shockwaves, sent him scampering out of bed. He was still stunned. Standing before my eyes in absolutely nothing.

The girl on the bed covered up. Not that I cared, my burning gaze was on Milan. His lips parted over and over but no words came.

He couldn't explain himself. Tears drizzled down my cheeks. Pain laced his eyes.

"Sierra, It's not what you think.... I... I can explain."

I erupted into a sarcastic chuckle. My tears streaming down. I stared at him, then let out a scoff.

"What are you going to say? That you don't know what come over you? What, do demons make people cheat now, huh? Answer me, Milan. Do demons make people fuck girls now?!!!"

"Sierra..." he took a step, his hands reaching for me.

"Don't touch me!"

I shrieked. He shrunk back. I had never been this angry before. He was scared.

"Why would you do this to me? I love-" my voice trailed off. "I loved you."

He was silent and it made the rage worse. I threw my bag on the floor and rolled up my sleeves, revealing a red double heart tattoo.

"You swore never to cheat on me. How could you brand me with this lie."

I was shaking, the tears burned my eyes. My legs hurt. My head spinned and I felt like the world was crumbling. Like the ground should swallow me.

"I'm sorry."

His last words were like an off switch. He turned my sanity off with those two words.

I reached down for the crowbar, so fast he didn't even notice until.... I flung it.

In that split second, I regretted but it was too late.

A loud cry pierced my ears, a body falling to the floor. Blood splashed on my boots.

My eyes widened, I stepped back, covering my mouth.

'God, what have I done?'

SLADE'S POV

I ran out of the hotel immediately I hit him. I could faintly remember the lady on the bed, rushing to him, she seemed horrified just like me. I was out the door too fast to get a good look at her.

Not that it mattered. My mind was in a daze. Remorse and heartache hit me at the same time. I still couldn't picture how I got home but I did and now I was sitting in the dark hugging a red bowtied gift box.

I was trembling, muttering to myself.

"Don't cry, Sierra. He hurt me and you hurt him back. The torn bleeding forehead of his makes us even. You just gotta get over him, I just have to..."

I bit my lip. Fighting the tears that burned my eyes, gripping the gift tighter. My heart hurt. I found myself pressing a hand on it, folding up my shirt in-between my fingers, trying to make the pain stop. It didn't. It couldn't.

I gasped unconsciously as my tears dripped onto the floor. Sobs escaped my lips. Milan's face haunting my mind.

'How could you?nYou promised. You swore on your life never to hurt me. You... How could you?'

I was shuddering, hugging my knees. My vision blurred. The room seemed to be closing in. Flashes of him over that woman played before my eyes.

Sardonically, I found myself chuckling. The exotic emotions that inflated me the morning of yesterday when I picked up his parcel, felt like torment now. Before he went for his business trip, he sent me a gold necklace and in its box was a letter. He wrote;

'Quit trying to hide, you can't fool me. I know you are an angel in disguise'.

Every word of his letter felt suffocating.

He knew he would hurt me and still wrote something like that.

A pang of rage gripped me. I flung the box, it hit the standing mirror and it shattered. My sullen reflection marred as I looked at it. For some sickening reason, I remembered the girl on the bed. I didn't get to see her face but from behind she looked mature, tall, curvy, her skin luminous and her hair silky. She was beautiful, more beautiful than I was. More appealing.

'Maybe this is my fault'. I rose to my feet.

'Maybe I should have...'

I scratch my hair, scattering the brown curls, my steps no different from a sulken staggering drunk.

'I should have offered him sex a long time ago. Maybe he got tired of waiting and found her. Found someone better.'

The tears pooled again. I wiped a hand on my cheek, cleaning the droplets of water.

'Ifbhe was tired, he should have said something. Cheating on me, it's sick. He wasn't meant for me. Someone who can't wait isn't meant for me. I am better off without a bastard like...'

My eyes roamed the room frantically then unconsciously, It fell on something. I froze on the spot.

Framed and painted on the reading desk next to a artifical rose, was our last anniversary picture, taken on his yacht.

The memory seeped into my head. His voice echoing in my mind. The taste of his lips lingered in my tongue. His touch, his light kisses rippled through my skin.

My legs felt weak, I stumbled backwards and crumbled to the floor.

I couldn't fight it anymore. I let go and started crying.

'I can't do this. I can't. I... I love him. I love him so much it hurts. Someone make this pain go away, please.'

I buried my face in my knees. The sorrow overwhelmed me and for hours it felt like it would tear me apart but after a while, it went away.

I felt numb, staring at the emptiness that was my shattered mirror, hopelessly yearning for this to all be just a bad dream but time ticked on and nothing changed. The pieces of the shattered mirror lay close by. All the while I was looking at it I was mustering courage. Courage to end everything.

There was a throbbing ache at the back of my head. A crushing tightness in my chest. I felt lightheaded as I slipped off the floor and lurched to the glass pieces lying next to the reading desk.

I looked at it for a moment. That thought swirling around my disoriented mind.

'If I do this, if I cut myself, it will all go away. I will leave this wreaked life forever. I will feel fine again.'

My hands quivered as I bent over to pick it up. An oval piece in-between my fingers, I tried to bring myself to straighten up...

Someone knocked.

It was like something had hit me. The thud sound on the door broke into the silence. It startled me, dragging me back to reality. My fingers shuddered and the glass cut me. I cringed back, staring at the blood.

"Sierra are you in there? Are you alright?" Mum's anxious voice came through, sinking into my bones like ice water. "Mummy had a bad dream, are you sure you are alright?"

I had my hands over my lips. Suppressing the sobs. Fighting to hold back a wail. Mother did not have to know. I couldn't make her worry.

"I'm okay. Just sleeping mum." I lied, my voice low like a whisper.

"Are you sure, dear."

"Yes... I am.... I am just sleepy."

"Alright." Her tone still held a hint of worry.

"I will leave you then so you can rest well for school."

I heard the floors creek as her footsteps disappeared down the passageway.

I shut my eyes, slipping back to the floor. Mum just saved my life.

The night passed in silence. Somehow mum's perfect timing and her words calmed me so much I actually slept that night and in the morning, I had a clear head, clear enough to make up an amazing story about how a rat broke the mirror. Clear enough to convince them I could not go to school.

Mother knew something was wrong. I could see it in her glassy gray eyes but she knew better not to probe further. Immediately she left for work, I found my way to the large cushion in the sitting room and slumped on it. A bowl of Ice cream in hand. That's what all the heartbroken girls in the movies do right? Lick ice cream .

I tried to see if it could work for me but before I could start filling my mouth with chunks of icy creamy sugar. I heard a knock on the door.

'That's weird. Did mum come back? I didn't hear her car pull up on the driveway. It must be the neighbors'.

I scurried to my feet and hurriedly opened the door.

'Good morning, sorry my mum isn't...'

Our eyes met and the words stuck in my throat. He stared at me. In his ever-changing calm demeanor, accentuating his polished appearance.

A deep frown settled on my lips. I swung the door, he held it, forcing it open.

"Sierra stop, I just want to talk to you."

"Get out of my house! Get out of my life!" I yelled, standing a little from the door he had thrown ajar.

"Sierra, please, let me explain."

He pleade. His chest rose and fell in palpitation. Tension filling the atmosphere.

"There is nothing I want to listen to. Please leave me." my time was final.

"Sierra it's not what you think it is. I didn't know what came over me. I swear I didn't even know she was there."

He had a terrified look in his eyes as he spoke. I had never seen him like that before. He seemed as though he was losing something worth more than his life.

"But you still fucked her anyway." the words fell from my lips. I didn't care infact, at that point, I wanted it to break him like he broke me.

"It was a mistake. I didn't even go all the way."

I scoffed. "Oh so I am supposed to be happy. You didn't go all the way so I should forgive you? Kiss and make up right?"

"Sierra-"

"You promised!" I yelled, tears trickleed I wiped it immediately.

"You lied to me."

I ran a hand through my already tousled hair, I felt like I was loosing it.

"Please just leave. Please!"

He held my gaze. Breathing slowly. Contemplating what to do next. We stood there, in silence until his footsteps broke it. He turned his back and made for the door slowly.

"I will come back when you've cooled. Just remember this, Sierra. I could never do anything to hurt you."

I banged the door, slipping to the floor.

All the pain came flooding back, it felt like last night all over again. I curled up into myself. Wishing so badly that I had gone to school instead. In the midst of all this distress, the only thing I could think of was calling my best friend Kale.

I thought I could find salvation in her. But that phone call, our conversation on the roof, was the beginning of a nightmare I spent the rest of my life trying to escape.

SLADE'S POV

~ THE NEXT DAY ~

"Mum, I am off." I snagged the black Alan Walker decorated tote bag, poured tea down my throat, took one bite out if thr bread and raced for the door.

"For school? I thought you weren't feeling well." She appeared from behind the mahogany kitchen door, Her forehead wrinkled in slight surprise.

I stopped, lightly turning to give her a soft, assuring smile.

"I'm better now and... I will be fine".

She gave me a long look and then weakly returned the smile. "You know you can tell me anything."

I beamed and spurn around. She watched me out the door and into the Kimberly Memorial Highschool's early bus.

The threadbare brown seat dipped down immediately as I sat. It felt like plummeting into a dream of hallucinations, my mind floating out of the bus and back to that night.

I sighed for the umpteenth time. My attention diverting to the call with Kale, this morning. If there was anyone who understood how to fix broken hearts, it was Kale Mayfield.

She was waiting at the bus stop just as she said. We escaped to the roof top of the third grader's class building, our little secret hideout.

"You can speak now, Sia." Kale said. We stood side by side now, my head on her shoulders. The breeze fluttering our curls.

"I broke up with Milan."

She was silent. I looked at her, she seemed to flinch, beaming immediately. It seemed artificial.

"Kale you don't look shocked."

"Why would I be." She took a stop forward. I straightened up.

"You are the sweetest girl I know. If you ended things, it means he fucked up big time."

She tucked so adventurous strands into place. Her hair was straightened and blonde, not curled like it used to. The edges a fading shade of black. It was beautiful and odd. She didn't have blonde hair. She was a brunette.

"You don't seem sorry for me."

I held her gaze, searching her ocean blues. She rolled them.

"I am here to make you get over it. Not wallow in self pity like you probably have all these days." She threw her hands on my shoulders. "I know you love him but you cannot let the wrong guy steal your prime, Okay?" She turned my face to meet hers. She flashed me a broad smile, her rosy cheeks and dimples forced me to return the gesture.

"See. That's more like it. Get over the loser boyfriend and forget his Cheating ass." She snickered.

I pulled away from her, laughing now at her childishness. My eyes searched for her, she was a bit distracted by the breeze fluttering her sleeves and messing with her perfect folds. She turned them up a little to refold.

Something red etched on her arm caught my attention. I looked closer. It seemed to be a....

'Wait... what in God's name.'

There was a tatoo on her arm, shaped like a cross.

The smile disappeared. Hazy memories flashed before my eyes.

Milan's naked body, blood damping his jet black hair, filled my consciousness . The girl on the bed. I couldn't picture her face again but I remembered her blonde hair. They were straightened and faded into black at the edges. Her nails were white with star shapes pinned on them. Her pale skin seemed a bit tanned under the incandescent lights. She had a tattoo, shaped like a crooked cross on her left arm.

For a second, I felt exhaustion wash over me. My legs threatened to break beneath me. Fear crawled up my spine.

'Is Kale.... No, it can't be. Kale couldn't. Hell ofcourse it's not her.'

Kale looked at me, still cheerful.

"Hey are you crying? I thought you already got over your cheating boyfriend."

My eyes widened. The pooling tears, I didn't notice, dripped down my cheeks.

"Kale, how did you know Milan cheated on me? I never said that."

Kale went cold. Her smile fading into a grim frown. She threw her eyes around and then, returned it to me.

"Honestly, I didn't think you would have thought about it, Fairy princess. I expected you to remain in your perfect life fantasy." Her tone was sardonic.

I lurched towards her, grabbing her hand.

"It's can't be you1 right. Kale you would never betray me, right?"

Our eyes were crossed. Mine, begging for her to say 'Yes'. Kale was my heart and soul. My best of all friends.

"Get off me." she shoved me away. "I was remorseful in the beginning but seeing you do this. I am kinda happy I fucked your man. Well he fucked me. I guess he too got tired of your pretty princess virginity shit."

"Kale-"

"Well, it's not like I am lying."

My mouth opened but no words came. For a moment, disbelief rocked my mind. It didn't make any sense. Kale would... Kale never hurt me. She never would. But now she did. She took the only man in my life away from me and she didn't even have a tiny bit of remorse. I loved her and she trampled on my love just like Milan.

The dread faded into anger. The once astonished look of my decayed into hate. I held her eyes, glaring at them.

"Kale. Why did you do it? Did you two plan it together? To betray and hurt me?"

She scoffed. "Does it matter? I suggest you let it go princess. I am sure some else will be willing to bang your virgin ass."

She exploded into a mocking chuckle, on her hip and sauntering away from me.

My fist tightened. The tears burned, my heart thumping faster. I grit my teeth, holding back the raging desire to hit her.

"Sierra!"

Her voice sounded close.

I spurned, my face met her balled fist. I stumbled forward, lost my footing and crumbled, my left arm colliding with the hard concrete floor.

"You bitch!" I threw Kale a bloody glare. One eye purple.

"Hey, it's just a punch. You are obviously gonna tell your mother about me and Milan, I'm sure of it so I want to shake you up a bit. You know, so you will shut up." She grinned. I could see the switchblades in her eyes.

'God, this is not the Kale I know'.

I scampered to my feet and limped, running. "Get away you sick bitch!"

She followed me, looming like the doom she had evoked. Rubbing her fist, readying it for another hit.

I staggered on, looking behind me. Because of that, I didn't notice the brick on the floor. I stumbled and fell on my face right at the edge of the roof.

"Get up, princess." She grabbed my hair and yanked me off the ground.

"Let go. I won't tell. I promise." I searched for her hand with my fingers.

"After this," her lips come close to my ears. "of course you won't. Look at you, so pathetic. I wonder what Milan saw in some trash like you. He should have been with me. He was always meant for me. I wanted him first!"

I winced. Her yell piercing my ears. My tears blurred my vision but I could feel something. Her grip loosening. If I tried, perhaps I could make a break for it.

"Kale, let go of me."

I scratched her hand. Her skin split and bleed.

"Ah!" she shoved me.

I stumbled forward, staggering, struggling to maintain balance. I didn't instead, I missed a few steps. I felt my body falling forward. Her yell echoed through my head.

"Sierra!!!"

Before... I fell off.