Chapter 9

Javier slammed his fist on his table angrily. He could barely control himself. He grabbed the glass bottle on the table and tossed it against the wall causing it to shatter. He could feel his blood boil in anger. No, he can't let anything happen to her. He had failed to protect zenni. He can't fail her too. He had to end this madness, this fantasy that was going on in Andrew's head. They did not belong to together but Andrew's psychotic mind won't let him reason. He knew how dangerous Andrew was but Javier did not care, he needed to end this and fast. 

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Hattie walked round the mall as she kept looking for a suitable dress to buy. She had five dresses already but that was not enough, she needed one more. Her eyes spotted a pink dress that was hanging not very away from her. It was perfect and just her type. It had a silver lining at the bottom and pink little roses all over the dress .She took the dress from where it was hanging and held it far from her as she looked at it in admiration. This had to be the best dress among the five she had bought. 

Hattie had finally decided to step out of her boring life and have a taste of a better life. After listening to an online motivational speech, she realised that her life wasn't that bad. No man should make her cry and feel worthless. Women should be loved and cherished and if your man makes you feel the opposite then walk out of that toxic relationship.

Making more friends was the first step and that was exactly what she was going to do. She really needed a thorough rehearsal before approaching anybody though because her introvert nature would mess things up. 

Thank God Peter showed up when she needed somebody the most. She wasn't looking at having any romantic relationship with him, she just wanted someone, a friend that she could talk to when she needed to.

It was exactly two months of her and Javier misunderstanding. A part of her heart still ached but she promised herself to never think of him again. Hardly. He was now a constant part of her heart that she could not shake off, No matter how hard she tried. She always wondered why she felt so attached to him.

She walked to the counter and dropped her accessories on the huge table as she waited for the cashier to calculate her expenses. 

"That would be, $500 ma'am" the cashier said politely with a little smile on her face.

"Ok sure, do you take credit cards?" Hattie asked as she rummaged through her purse in search of her card.

"Yes we do"

"Ok then, here you go" Hattie handed it over to her. The cashier inserted her card into the machine, Hattie provided her pin and payments were made. She finished up everything and carried her stuff which was now package in a bag. On it was written CLARE'S. 

Hattie walked out of the mall as the fresh air outside hit her soft skin. She took out her phone as she dialed Daphne number, Peter's girlfriend. She held the phone to her ears as it rang continuously.

Daphne returned the call on the fourth ring

"Hey hattie" Daphne said

"Hello daphne"

"Whatsup girl"

"Nothing, I just finished shopping"

"For groceries?"

"No, I thought I could use a change of wardrobe"

"Sure thing girl" she said, Daphne always complained of how Hattie dressed. She was sure that Daphne was more than delighted to hear she was changing her wardrobe.

"I would be stopping by at your saloon to get a new hairstyle later today" she added

"Ok, please come early, I won't stay more than 4pm"

"Alright, Mrs bossy" Hattie teased which made Daphne chuckle 

"Bye" Hattie said ending the call.

Peter had actually introduced her to daphne. He had mentioned that he didn't want to be friends with any girl without at least telling his girlfriend about it. Hattie had remember how much she laughed at his fragile nature. How thoughtful it was of him to consider always making his girlfriend happy but Hattie always thought he went too far sometimes. Daphne had even complained to her once of how clingy Peter was to her. 

Yes, her and Daphne were that close. Daphne practically told her everything about her life but Hattie in her nature was still hurdling things. She really needed to start trusting people more. The most important thing was that she was finally happy but deep down she still missed him, alot.

*******

"What is the meaning of this?" Javier roared. He looked at his already frightened secretary who already spilled her drink out of fear.

"Am sorry I tried my best sir" she said shakily. Rachael knew how scary her boss was but he suddenly became more scary lately. Getting angry easily and relieving people from their jobs for the slightest reason.

"And your best was not enough" he snapped flinging the papers Rachael had handed to him earlier.

"He was very persistent about having 50% gain from the contract"

"And how the hell was that supposed to be possible, you should have done a better job in persuading him"

"I tried, am so sorry sir"

"And you think that sorry can fix everything?" He asked, Rachael stood there not knowing what to say.

"I gave you one job and you messed it up, What do I pay you for?"

"Sir persuading that man to accept the deal of 30% was almost impossible"

"Almost, not impossible. How the hell would he dream of having 50% when am the one doing most of the work"

"I don't know sir" she said looking at the floor nervously.

"Why am I surrounded by incompetent people"

"Am sorry sir" she said almost crying.

"Get out!" He shouted angrily at her. She rushed towards the door and shut it when she got out.

Shortly the door opened and Bella his older sister walked in, In her black dress with blue heel. The dark makeup she had on her face was just typical Bella. He had always wondered how she would look with regular makeup. she walked majestically and sat down on the seat just opposite javier's. She turned the seat around to face Javier who was standing, angry as ever. She knew that the contract deal wasn't the only thing bothering him, there was something else eating him up.

"Why so upset?" She asked calmly playing with her newly done nails.

"Can you imagine that Harry, demanding a whole 50%....."

"Oh please, we both know that there is more to your mood than a contract deal" she said cutting him off

"And what do you mean by that?"

"Something else happened and you are using this contract as an excuse to vent your anger" she stood up and walked slowly over an antique by his desk, feeling it with her hands. "Tell me, was it Andrew?"

Javier sighed. Of course it was Andrew. The cat that never dies.

"Who else would it be?" Javier asked

"What did he do this time?"

"I don't even want to talk about it" he said as he walked over to his table, grabbing the glass of vodka which he gulped.

"Do you want me to take care of him?"

"Trust I would have done that a long time ago, but the Cartel family would have our necks"

"And when did you start caring about that, Javier"

"It's too dangerous, What about mother?" 

"I can protect her. " she paused" what has come over you, why do you care all a sudden?"

"I just feel like the Cartels would go for someone I cherish the most"

"And who could that be Apart from mum?" Bella stood with hands akimbo 

"Nevermind" Javier wondered why his mind went to Hattie. He didn't have any sort of attachment towards her. Why did he feel that need to protect her.

He looked at his puzzled sister. Growing up, they were really close, they always had each other's back. At exactly 12 years old, Javier started noticing strange energy within him, he ignored it at first. Silly him thought it was puberty. He started noticing how powerful he gets whenever he was angry. The way his blood boils and his sudden need to end the cause of the agitation. He knew he could no longer ignore this when he almost killed his classmate over some project work. At that point, he knew how dangerous he could be. He made up his mind to tell sister, hopefully she could help him since she was older. To his astonishment, his sister was also experiencing that same energy. She told him she started noticing at a young age too and she did a lot of research and found out that she portrayed the characteristics of a rare mystical being known as 'lashedta' and so was Javier.

Lashedta were known to be extinted, one of the calmest mystical being all round but real devils when triggered. They made a promise not to mention their discovery to anyone including their parents out of fear chastisment.

Javier learnt how to control his powers as he grew but sometimes he couldn't. It got worse when he started hearing voice In his head telling him to kill innocent people. His sister found it strange because she wasn't experiencing that. She thought he was just going through a phase and it would stop, but it never did.

Javier met Andrew in college. They realised how much they had in common. They both heard strange voices in their head, they both were lashedta, they thought alike, they acted alike, they pretty much did everything together too. it turned out that the whole of Andrew's family, popularly known as the Cartels were lashedta. Javier realised how dangerous they were. Javier also started noticing how obsessed and possessive Andrew towards him. Andrew believed they were meant be together in a sexual way. He was always triggered when Javier went close to any girl in college. Even to the extent of sending death threats. Javier knew he should stay from Andrew when he committed murder all in the name of love for javier.

Lashedta were very good at hiding their tracks in cases of murder so Andrew wasn't caught. Javier and his sister moved to Chicago after some years, living their mother in california, it was her choice to stay there. They thought about convincing her but she was bent on not listening. She said she felt closer to her late husband in California. Javier on the other hand knew he had to save his father's already crashing company in Chicago, so moving there was very important. 

Javier started noticing how powerful and stronger he was getting. He couldn't control himself anymore. He needed help. He finally found help after so many years of searching. That person made him suddenly have a hold of himself, that person made him calm down, that person made him look forward to seeing the next day. Now he had lost her 'Oh Hattie' he sighed 

"But do you think there is a way we can take care of him?" Bella asked

"I don't know, I actually thought that moving to Chicago would get rid of him. But I was wrong"

"Oh common how stupid is that assumption, lashedta are best in tracking and Hunting down" 

"I know, but I did not think he would go that far to the extent of coming here? I thought he would just forget about it and move on."

"No that guy is a bloody psychopath. When they want something, they could kill for it" Bella said

Javier couldn't help but feel guilty of the laid down accusation. He was just like Andrew, probably even worse. He had always been possesive toward someone he loved. He couldn't stop, no matter how he tried. That was why zenni said he needed help. He couldn't bear the thought of anybody leaving him. Leaving him, was just the same thing as walking freely to ones grave. If he loves you that means you are entitled to him, married or not married.

Javier sighed in frustration as he ran his hands through his hair. He cursed himself himself and the monster he had become. 

**********

Hattie hurried, walking as fast as she could. This time she was sure that someone was following her and no matter how many turns she made, she couldn't get rid of this person. The street was dark and lonely, not even a single soul. She felt a huge lump in her throat but she couldn't cry, she was too scared. She should have taken her car to Daphne's, that way, she wouldn't have to go through this trauma. She recalled the other night she was been followed when she finished from work. The night was too dark to make out anything but she was sure that the person behind her was also the same as the one from the other night. They kind of had the same body frame, at least that was what Hattie could decipher. Her heart was beating so fast that she felt she would pass out any moment. She increased her pace, walking as fast as she could, almost running. She turned around after some time. She couldn't find the person anymore. She breath in a sigh of relieve. She kept on walking but she still felt like she was still being followed, nobody was behind her, but she felt a really strange aura. She kept on walking with hope of reaching home as soon as possible. Words couldn't explain how scared she was. She knew something was trailing her but she couldn't find anybody. She began to run so as to reach home on time, she wasn't ready to risk it. The wind blew against her face as she ran. She noticed how strong the wind was getting, the more she ran, the stronger it became She looked up, the stars were fading as thick clouds overshadowed them. The sky roared with thunder making Hattie to shriek. She suddenly felt something rush past her, she turned around and couldn't find anyone. Strange, she was sure something passed her.

"Hello?" she called. How stupid was it to call out to just plain air, but she was sure someone was playing with her head. She turned around as she continued running, this time faster. The wind was getting stronger as both sand and paper filled the air, she could barely see where she was going. She began to mumble a little prayer. She wasn't the religious type but at that moment, she felt the need to pray. She was running as fast as she could. Then suddenly, a force tugged her hair, flinging her to the floor. She groaned in pain as her back made a forceful impact against the hard floor.

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