*Jasper’s POV
I hoped to have the rest of today only for the two of us. It was Annabell’s birthday. Unfortunately it was also the day her mother was killed and I wanted to make sure Annabell wouldn't be alone, wishing I could keep her distracted from the sad things and help her enjoy the day. However, when we came back from the pine tree I saw a small yellow Toyota parked by the house. I stopped walking and frowned. "What is she doing here this early again?" Damn, nobody actually told her that there’s no need for her to come again when she was here last week…I realized and wanted to facepalm myself.
“Who?” Asked Annabell, surprised and confused at my abrupt stop and comment.
I composed myself a little to not worry her. “Catelyn is at the house. You slept through her visit last week and I kind of forgot to tell her that she doesn’t need to come anymore.”
“I see. Although, I think she’s this early today because she’s cleaning.” Explained Annabell. “Once a month she comes earlier and does the chores I can’t. Well, I do most of them, but once in a while they need to be done by someone who can actually see…” She bit her lip.
“Hmmm… understood. But you are doing great too.” I reassuringly squeezed her hand and we continued walking. At the door I pulled her to me. “I didn’t want to leave you alone today but since Catelyn is here, I’ll go and check if there’s everything ready for tonight.”
Annabell blushed a little while I played with a strand of her silky hair. “Alright, I better call Rosalie. She promised to kidnap me for a bit before our date.”
“Kidnap you?” I wondered. “What if I won’t let her?” Asking with a hint of threat, I reached down below her ass and pulled her up. Surprised as she lost ground under her feet, she gasped and locked her legs around my waist. “Mmmm…maybe I’ll kidnap you myself, right now.” I teased her and her blush deepened.
“I-I just didn’t want to fall!” She quickly explained. Her heartbeat was fast and despite her excuse, she did not attempt to move away.
Like I’d let you fall. “Don’t worry, love. But you didn’t answer me.” I reminded her.
Annabell gave me a mysterious smile and put her arms around my neck. “I told you I have a surprise too. Rose is helping me with it. I hope you’ll like it…” We were so close that our noses nearly touched and I couldn’t resist. As if reading my mind, she met my lips halfway in a sweet kiss.
Gently pulling away, I soon ended it. Because if we continued, I was very tempted to just grab her then and there and disappear to some quiet place. Place where we’d be alone without any annoying people. But that would completely ruin our plans for today and I wanted her birthday to be perfect. I set her slowly down on her feet. “I’ll be back soon.” I reassured her, kissing her forehead.
“Alright.” Smiling, she entered the house and I went to find Peter.
*
It appeared that everything was prepared so I quickly left again and went to pick up my gift for Annabell, to escape Peter’s jokes about how today was worth marking. After that I made my way back to Annabell. Walking out of the forest surrounding her house, I slowed down to human pace. Just a little precaution in case Catelyn was outside the house. She was not, but her car was still parked there so I was in no hurry to get in.
Once I reached the door I stopped to listen. They seemed to be downstairs so I walked inside. I could see Catelyn in the kitchen and rolled my eyes. As always, her attire was hardly appropriate and less than suitable for cleaning. Her light blouse with flowers was completely see-through and her pink miniskirt just barely covered what it was supposed to. Slowly walking towards the kitchen, I expected Annabell to be somewhere around her but she wasn’t. Looking around, I found her lying on the couch in the living room. Annabell apparently fell asleep while listening to something on her phone. It made me smile.
“Just a little bit higher…” Catelyn’s mumbling pulled my attention back to the female balancing on a chair in the kitchen. Of course she was wearing stilettos with crazy high heels and she was reaching as high as she could, cleaning the chandelier. There was nothing she could support herself on. It was a miracle she didn’t fall yet. I almost turned around and walked out again because so far she did not notice my arrival. However, just then she lost her balance. “No, no, whaa..!”
Barely two seconds, yet it was plenty of time to consider various outcomes. If I let her fall, she might get hurt. If she gets hurt badly, she’ll need someone to drive her to the hospital. What if she starts bleeding? I hunted on Tuesday but what if she’d bleed a lot…? In any case, her fall was nearly certain to ruin my and Annabell’s day.
“Oh!” I caught her and released her just as fast. Once she was standing on her feet again. I stepped away from her but she quickly recovered from the shock and closed the distance, grabbing my shirt. “My hero.” She smiled at me. “I didn’t know you were here.” She was too close and I found the heat of her body uncomfortable.
Taking another step back I tried to carefully free myself from her. Catelyn stepped closer once more. “Come on, Jasper.” She said seductively, batting her eyelashes. “I don’t bite. Don’t be shy.” Funny you’d mention biting. I thought. Although I felt no humor. At the very least I was annoyed. I opened my mouth to remind her that Annabell is right behind the corner and that she is in her house, seducing her boyfriend. “Annabell is sleeping, we’re alone…” Continued Catelyn, licking her lips.
Her audacity left me momentarily speechless, while she kept snuggling to me. Sound of movement in the living room caught my attention. I turned towards it and half hoped to see Annabell coming to the kitchen. However it was quiet again. She probably just turned in her sleep… I thought, a little disappointed for not having an easy way to get this outrageous woman away from me.
“Don’t worry, she won’t wake up.” Said Catelyn when she noticed that my attention was not on her. My head snapped back to the woman. She only kept on smiling.
“What?” Did she do something to Annabell? If she hurt our mate…! Not completely conscious of it, I grabbed her hands and while searching her face for meaning behind her words I listened out for Annabell’s heartbeat. It was strong and regular as it should be.
Catelyn’s smile widened. She obviously interpreted my reaction in her own way. “Yes! I knew you’d come, so I put a sleeping pill in her drink. There’s no need to worry about being caught, sweetheart. We have the house currently all to ourselves.”
I didn’t sleep for approximately two hundred years. But right now I had to blink a few times to make sure that I was not dreaming, while I wished that I was. “You drugged Annabell? Why?” I inquired. How could she think that I’d choose her over Annabell? She must be crazy.
“To celebrate and spend some quality time with you, of course!” She winked at me. “She’s finally eighteen today so she is eligible to use her family wealth and I am getting a nice sum from it for taking good care of her.” Family wealth? That’s what she’s after?
I could not believe my ears. “So you’re with her for money?” My disbelief kept my voice emotionless and so Catelyn did not realize what I’m really thinking as she continued revealing her true intentions.
“Why, yes! Just like you, darling. It’s obvious that such a fine young man like yourself can’t be seriously interested in a blind introvert like her. There’s no way she can satisfy you. She likes you but she’s so inexperienced and likes anyone who shows her a little kindness. I, on the other hand, know how to make a man feel good. Let me show you how thankful I am for your help when she fell down the stairs.” Her strong perfume almost made me gag. “I was worried I’d have to care for a cripple. She may be blind but care of her doesn’t require much. If she couldn’t walk though, that’s a different story.”
“I thought you were her friend. She thinks of you as family.” I didn’t have a good feeling about this woman from the first time I met her and with every meeting it grew stronger. Now every word that came out of her mouth irritated me to no end. Realizing that I’m still holding her hands, I slowly let go to not crush them instead. When I did, she attempted to take a hold of mine and I once again took a step back to avoid her touch. “Please don’t touch me.” However, Catelyn still didn’t understand.
“I told you there’s no need to worry. I gave her enough to make her sleep for the rest of the day.” She giggled. Clearing my throat to cover a low growl that was building up in my chest, as the woman before me increasingly irritated me, I felt a rapidly growing anger. Hoewer this anger, quickly turning into rage, wasn’t mine. Oh angel…
“We can have so much fun together. Oh!” Catelyn apparently remembered something and slightly lowered her voice when she continued. “You know, Annabell has life insurance and if anything happens to her after she is eighteen, I get the money. Maybe… Annabell doesn’t need to wake up anymore. All it takes is one pillow…” She mused, snuggling to me again. “And we can split the money.”
A growl I couldn’t suppress anymore escaped me and she finally pulled away with a surprised expression. “If you dare to touch her…” At that moment Annabell appeared next to me. I felt her rage, but her face was expressionless. When Catelyn saw her, she paled and backed away some more in fear and confusion.
“Annabell!? How are you awake?” She was so surprised she basically confessed. Even though she had no idea that Annabell heard pretty much everything she said.
Annabell’s voice was quiet and cold. “Get out.” She said, facing Catelyn. “Get out and never come near me or my man again. Also forget that you’d get another penny from my family.”
“But-” Catelyn had also no idea what Annabell was feeling. She looked quite calm from the outside. Although I was sure Annabell’s tone gave Catelyn chills.
“Get out!” Annabell exploded. “Get the hell out of my house or I’ll call the police! You planned to kill me in my sleep? Well guess what? Get in the fucking line!” Catelyn finally understood and made a haste leave. I waited until I heard the sound of the engine of her car fade away.
Annabell didn’t move the whole time either. Only her hands were shaking. “Ann…?” I tried softly, reaching for her hand. Suddenly she turned to me and sobbing nearly jumped into my arms. Gently pressing her to me, hoping to give her a feeling of security, I was stroking her hair. “I’m so sorry, angel.” I whispered.
