Chapter 86: Sold my soul to the devil...

ELIANA

“Did something happen to you at the party? Did you get into a fight or something? Did…” My mother asks in a worried voice, taking a good look at me as though searching for something. An evidence maybe.

“NO!” I respond almost immediately, sounding defensive and I curse in my head.

“Then why are you limping?” Her eyes soften, her voice gentle as she inquires.

Damn it!

I should have known this already and maybe tried a little harder not to limp. She always notices everything. Even the tiniest things no matter how hard I try to hide it from her. I can't blame her. She's just being a responsible mother, always making sure that her daughter is safe and sound. She has always been attentive since I was a kid , saying that it's her responsibility to make sure that she protects me from anything and anyone that causes me harm.

“I…I slipped in the bathroom while taking a shower.” I stutter, almost biting my tongue in the process.

Heavens, when did I become this good at coming up with a cover story?

“You need a doctor to check on you. I’ll call Mark and ask him to come over right away.” Uncle Robert says and he reaches for his phone on the table to call the family doctor.

“NO!” I almost shout and everyone turns to look at me as though I have lost my mind or something.

Or maybe…I am.

Jackson too is looking at me with a raised eyebrow but I don't miss the little curl at the corner of his lips.

“I mean…It's nothing serious. Just a muscle cramp. It's a good thing I didn't sprain my ankle or break a leg.” I joke, trying to lighten the moment.

“It's just a muscle cramp. It's manageable. Did some stretch that uncle James showed me and applied ointment. I’m sure that it'll work. It has always worked. You don't need to call the doctor, uncle Robert.” I give him one of the sweetest smiles that I can master, feeling a little guilty for mentioning uncle James in my mess. Though it's true that he showed me how to deal with mild muscle cramps.

Robert looks at me for a minute way too long then his eyes shift to my legs. He turns to look at my mom who nods at him as they exchange silent looks.

“O-okay. If the pain intensifies, let me know.” He says doubtfully and I nod, “Sure. Thank you.” I respond in a soft voice, silently releasing a breath that I had no idea I have been holding all this time.

If only Robert knew that it was his son who did this to me. I think Jackson is the one who needs to see the doctor because it seems like he has high libido or something…

“You need to be careful dear.” My mom gives me a sympathetic look and the knot in my throat tightens, almost choking. God, she's worried sick about me. I want to tell her not to worry that much but…simply can't and I hate it.

“Aunt Vicky is right, you need to be careful next time,sis. Who knows,next time you might break a leg if you're not careful enough.” Jackson's voice comes and I turn to look at him.

“I don't want to lose you,dear sister. I would hate to be an only child because it wouldn't be that much fun. Just be careful okay?” He fakes concern. However, I don't miss the sarcasm in his voice. My mother and uncle Robert might be fooled by him but not me.

“Don't worry, I'll be very careful next time.” I fireback, keeping my voice neutral so that our parents don't realise the irony in it. I turn to look at my mother and she flashes me a smile.

She believes that Jackson cares and I’m tempted to tell her the damn truth. To tell her that he promised to do all the bad things to me that even the devil won't forgive him for. I want to tell her that he promised to ruin me. I want to tell her that the danger that she has been protecting me from isn't out there lurking in the shadows. It's right here with us, leaning on the kitchen counter, staring at me like a predator as it waits for the right time to strike.

A human-breathing-danger. My Stepbrother.

A chill runs down my spine when I feel Jackson's eyes burning on the sides of my face, intense, hard to ignore. I want to run for my dear life. Unfortunately, I can't. I'm afraid our parents would ask me what's wrong.

What would I tell them? How do I even begin to explain to them that I'm running from my dear Stepbrother because I think he's a threat to my life? Please someone save me. Anyone.

No one.

“Come on Eli, let's have breakfast before the food turns cold.” My mother's voice pulls me from my thoughts and I manage a small smile…

___________

Breakfast goes smoothly, a little chat here and there, and laughter. Every time my mother looked my way in concern, guilt rose up my throat but I swallowed it down and gave her a smile, letting her know that she doesn't need to worry that much about me. That I’m totally fine even though I can still feel that dull little ache between my legs.

Uncle Robert left for the study room, saying that he has company paperwork that he needs to work on, reminding me to let him know if the pain becomes unbearable. My mother is in the laundry room checking on clothes. She didn't miss a chance to remind me to be careful or inform her in case something comes up.

And about Jackson, I don't know…

I gasp when someone pulls me from the hallway into one of the rooms in the ground floor and shuts the door behind me.

“Jax?” I whisper yell in fear that someone will hear us, my heart thumping wildly against my ribcage as though it would escape from my chest the next second.

“We can't be sneaking around right now. What if one of our parents walked in on us?” I reason out.

The corner of his lips curves into a smile, “ You slipped huh?” He asks with a raised eyebrow, bluntly ignoring my question as the corner of his lips stretch into an inch more.

“What did you want me to tell our parents? That it's you? That my Stepbrother is the reason why I’m limping? That he fucked me like a psychopath? That he fucked me all over his room? That he had me screaming my guts out but no one came to my aid? No thank you.” I let out a dry laugh, finding my words ridiculous.

Damnit, I needed to rant because I’ve been feeling overwhelming while he played it cool.

A deep chuckle rumbles through his chest as if my words are funny and I roll my eyes. Of course they're funny to him because I didn't ask him too stop.

“Maybe… if you told them the truth, they would have understood and they wouldn't be so worried. Your dear brother was only trying to help, you know.” Jackson says, leaning into my space and I suck a sharp breath. He slowly trails a finger down my face, drawing an imaginary line and I can feel goosebumps rising on my skin.

“You're sick!” I bite out, “Maybe…” He shrugs and a smile tugs on the corner of his lips like it's a compliment.

“I need to go before my mom thinks I have broken a leg this time. And before your dad calls the doctor on me,” My words drip with sarcasm as I push off the door but Jackson blocks me from going.

“Not so fast, my Eli.” He says, his voice dangerously low.

“Don't call me that! I’m not your Eli. I'm not yours and I’ll never be!” I say through gritted teeth, loud enough for him to hear my words so that it would get through his thick skull.

“Of course you're.” He says in almost a groan. His voice sending a shiver down my spine. He grabs me by the neck, not too tight to cut off the air.

“You're mine, Eli. Mine to ruin. Mine to break, mine to mend. Mine to do whatever I please.” He whispers in my ear, his grip tightening a little.

“In case you forgot, you gave me full authority last night. You gave me permission to do whatever I please. You asked me to make you mine! You begged me to make you mine!” He pulls back a few inches away and looks me deep in the eyes.

His eyes turn a few shades darker and I can tell that he means it. The memories of the previous night come back crushing in my head and…I recall saying the words.

“I-I didn't mean it. It was just the heat of the moment. I wasn't thinking straight. My mind was messed up…” Jackson crushes his lips on mine, kissing me passionately and possessively, leaving me breathlessly when he pulls back.

“You can't take back the words, Eli. That's not how it works.”

“But…”

“No buts.” He cuts me before I can finish my statement.

“Eli?” I inhale sharply when I hear my mother's voice calling in the hallway. She's nearby, I can feel how close her voice is.

“She's walking in our direction. She'll catch us. I need to go.” Panick takes over me.

“No! Not until you say you're mine.” Jax insists, pinning me in place.

“Please let me go and I'll do anything you want me to do.” I plead desperately when my mother shouts my name again, inching closer.

“Anything?” He asks and I nod almost immediately, not giving it that much thought because all I want is to be far away from him.

“I want you to be mine!” My throat runs dry upon hearing his words.

“What? No fucking way!” I almost scream.

This has to be the stupidest thing that I have ever thought of. I should have known that he would use the words against me.

“Choose one, say the words or…get caught.” A wicked smile tugs on the corner of his lips. God, I want to kill him.

My mom's voice comes again, she's a few steps away…

“O-okay. I am-” I stop, the words too heavy to roll over my tongue. I suck in a deep breath when I hear my mom's steps outside the room, twisting the doorknob.

“Yours.” The words finally escapes my lips, leaving a bitter taste.

“Wise choice. I knew you’re smart, my Eli.” He compliments and that's when reality dawns on me.

I think I just sold my soul to the devil…