Embrace my night: Chapter 5

Peter is furious that he slams the door behind him. The sound echoes through the house alerting the owner. He made his appearance just as the door burst opened again only to shut with another bang.

Leo studies the two faces of his children wondering what on earth happened now. Shrugging his shoulders he leaves them alone but they have no intention of giving him peace.

“You are the rudest man I had encountered this week.” snap TheoFista.

Peter allows all his emotions to spread across his face alerting his sister about how close he is to bursting. “It was your own fault falling. Why in heaven’s name didn’t you look where you were going?” He removes his jacket.

 “It was your fault and you know it. Just admit it and apologized.”

“I won’t.” he goes and sits across from his father.

TheoFista grab hold of the container with water dumping it onto him. He is like an arrow from a bow chasing her. To his surprise she is fast and agile but he has strength and cunning. He ambushed her by pushing her into the swimming pool.

Smiling briefly for the first time that day, he holds out a hand helping her from the pool. Dripping wet but burning with curiosity she look candidly at her brother.

“Who was the woman you chased?”

“An illusion,” Peter turns and goes back to the enclosed garden hidden away.

“Father has a brand new wife,” says TheoFista going past them.

Leo watches the scowl crossing his son’s face. Apart from that he notices the signs of battle. Someone seemed to have tangled with him. Who was the winner though?

Peter, what’s going on?”

“I really don’t know. When I woke I was so happy I just couldn’t believe my luck. Then I blinked and lost the best part of me I had just found.”

“Tell me about her, son.”

Leo tenderly recalls the face of the young woman he wouldn’t mind calling daughter.

 “She is gorgeous and she married me; auburn hair the colour of the desert with tinted redness within the strands. Chocolate brown eyes that melted my heart, a place I thought no woman would ever own.”

“What happened?”

“I blinked after I promised her never to do that. Now I found a snake in the grass telling a truth or a lie, I am not certain. I chased her earlier but she had gotten away.”

“Are you sure it was her?”

“It was a bit of a distance but there was something familiar about her. I called her by her name and she stopped and turned. Why was she fleeing from me?”

“Tell me the name of the woman who caught and held my boy’s attention.”

Leo sipped from his glass.

“Sammy Hoffman.”

Leo choked on his drink. He quickly gathered his senses.

“Are you okay?” Peter look at him with concern.

“I am just peachy. My brand new wife just popped into my mind.”

“Who is she? I hope she is not another airhead. Why are you dishonouring my mother by marrying bimbo’s?”

“It’s all about the bosoms.” smirk Leo.

“Whatever, father. Where did you meet her?”

“In my garden sleeping in the most peculiar fashion. I took a liking to her instantly.” Leo conceals his satisfaction.

“Where is she now?”

“Run away the moment she saw your sister. TheoFista was as usual very inappropriate with her remarks. Did you know she had the nerve to say my girl must be yours? Poor girl since you have wife problems, why don’t you solve mine?”

“No thanks,” snap Peter.

“It will give you time to clear your head. All I ask is a couple of days from your busy schedule. Please, son,” Leo beg with a smile that annoyed his boy.

“What do you want from me?”

“Go to Namaqualand. I will make the arrangements. Just say yes.”

“Where,” Peter suddenly remembers what he read inside the first page of the diary.

Peter is sleeping restlessly, having the image of Sammy looking at him holding out her hands but when he tries to reach her she turn and run away.

Where she stood moments ago, now only a looming shadow is standing there looking at him with the menacing intent but it was directed at her not him.

“Sammy!” he woke startled drenched in sweat.

Getting out of bed he leaves the bedroom going down stairs and opens the door leading into the garden. The night is rather hot and humid but there is no star in sight.

The soft hands brush across his chest. His heart instantly fills with joy but when he opens his eyes, it was just in time to see her running away again. Getting onto his feet fast he gave chase but she was swift.

Reaching the gates he found them locked. Confused he search around but found no hidden place where she could have disappeared through. Going back he stepped onto something with his bare feet.

“Ouch!”

Bending he picked it up. It is a very delicate necklace. With it in hand he walks back into the light to have a closer look. His heart is wild with coldness that settled around him.

“Sammy!” he read out loud.

The necklace is a delicately made piece of jewellery with the name daintily grafted. With it in hand he goes back into the house going to the bedroom. He reaches into his jacket’s pocket and removes the wedding-engagement rings. It is placed beside the necklace.

His wife is a mystery he was going to solve. Lying back on the bed he allows his mind to wander. Remarks she said was slowly coming back to him

Who betrayed and lied to her? Was it that voice on the line? He was connected somehow but how? His already spoken version was highly doubtful. What was his game really? Who were the demons she had run away from?

The whirlpool of questions is driving him crazy.

Peter step from the building where his offices were. Instantly he is aware of the presence of a person watching him. He stands still just looking. It is clear she was female and he was her object of attention. He can’t see her face clearly she was hidden beneath a wide brimmed hat. Her attention is suddenly divided. He turns also to look when he looked at her again she is moving fast.

“Wait!” he calls chasing after her.

The woman rounds the corner. Running full speed, he catches her going into the shopping centre. Searching he sees her sitting at a corner table. Going over he sit down across from her. She still conceals her face. Waiting patiently he just sits there she look up revealing her face at last. Spellbound he just looked at her. Same auburn hair, same expression, same face but the eyes were different. These eyes look seriously frightened.

 “Who are you?”

“Where is Sammy?” she ignores his question.

“I want to know too. Who are you?” he asks again.

“You can’t help me. I need Sammy.” She move to get up but Peter stilled her actions.

“You are going nowhere. What is going on here?”

“Let me go. He is watching me.” She tries to remove his hand from her arm.

“Who,”

Peter immediately searches his immediate surroundings. He sees the shadowy profile of a man a distant away. He looks back at the woman.

“Who are you and what is going on here?”

“Where is Sammy?” she asks with angst in her voice. “She told me to find her but she wasn’t where she said she would be. Instead I found you but you are no hope either.”

“Sammy vanished. I was searching for her but instead found you. Are you her sister?”

“We are marital sisters, entwined since birth.”

Before Peter could question her remark she jump onto her feet and vanished into the crowd.

Peter stirs before opening his eyes. They feel hurtful and something sticky claws the side of his face. He realized his hands were tied.

“Glad to see you are waking up. A while longer and it would have been a rude business you safe me the trouble.”

Peter recognizes the voice on the phone. The man stayed in the shadows however.

“What am I doing here?”

“You and I are going to do some business, since we share the family bond. It’s just right that you do your share.”

“I am not going to do one ounce of business with you.” Peter spit the blood from his mouth.

“You won’t have a choice in the matter. My collection of wives is growing rapidly but my finance is a bit on the shaky side. Since you help yourself to my wife it’s just right that you pay. If you don’t, I discovered you had a feisty sister.”

“Where is Sammy?”

“Where she belongs but don’t concern yourself any longer with her. Her cycle of wanderlust is over for the time being. She has duties she must fulfil. Are you going to be agreeable with the payments due to me or are you going to be difficult?”

Peter tries to focus his mind needing to learn more.

“The only way you are going to get the money if you tell me where Sammy is. I want her to tell me in my face that she no longer wants me.”

“Would a phone call do?” the man is very smug.

“I’ll know if she lies. Don’t even try to play that look alike onto me.”

“You’re a clever man. Probable the reason you are so successful in business. The deal is you have a minute conversation with my wife then you pay. Agreed,”

“Fine,” snaps Peter.

The phone is placed against his ear.

“Peter?” the familiar voice fills his ears.

“Where are you my love?”

“I am sorry I played you the fool. It was just a game I pushed too far. Forget me.”

“What did I sent to the suite for you?” challenge Peter.

“My love, against all logic or reason I had just like you known your beautiful face long before I knew what name to write onto my heart.” The words were quote to perfection. “I left everything because it didn’t belong to me. I ask again don’t search for me. Don’t make him angry.” The line goes dead.

“Take me home now,” says Peter.