Guilty

Sucking in a ragged breath Harper stepped out of her apartment, her travel bag clutched to her side, her fingers digging into the worn out leather. She kept her gaze set ahead, her back stiff as she shut the door behind her, the small click of the lock causing her to flinch.

No turning back.

Despite the pounding of her heart against her rib cages Harper started forward, her knees wobbling as she strayed further from the safety of her apartment. Part of her wanted to look back in yearning, sadly she wished she was still in her apartment, snapping shots of the next amateur model that lived in her building. This was the same part that convinced her staying coped up in her apartment for the last three days was a good idea and downing coffee like it was water would be great way to avoid the dreaded nighttime.

A shudder ran down her spine as the unwanted scenes from the other night returned to the front of her mind. The heat, the scorching kisses, the feeling of burning starting in the pit of her belly threatening to tear her up from the inside out. Her hand fell across her chest, her fingers grazing the spot over her heart. Every emotion felt so vivid, like he was actually touching her. Perhaps that was what frightened her the most about the dream, how real it felt for her yet it seemed surreal. As if it were her yet another version of her. It puzzled her when she tried to figure out what exactly that meant, she would go in circles hoping to try figuring out what happened yet she reached a dead end. With more questions than ever Harper had decided that she needed answers. She couldn't continue on going about the small facts she remembered from when she was still in hunter's training, she couldn't walk around lost and awaiting Kiev to show up and touch her. She refused to become a victim.

  Growing up she had heard cases about how demons have tortured and pleased humans and even other supernatural creatures into an early grave. Her father and the other teachers at the school had been clear to drill in how the victim fell into the desire the demon gave them and from there it only grew worse. They would do anything the demon asked, losing any interest in their life, dropping friends and family. Demons were a drug, the worst kind that could and would kill a person. Harper wasn't about to turn into a victim.

  Picking herself up this morning she cleaned up and covered the slowly fading hickeys with some foundation she found in the bottom drawer of her bathroom, from her last night out which seemed so long ago. Grabbing her camera bag she left her apartment before she could convince herself otherwise and set out to find Olivia. Her sister said she couldn't remember much last time she asked about her encounter with Kiev but she had to try again. Maybe she remembered something she hadn't remembered about Kiev, then she would stop by Elena's for a little reading. If her memory served right the witch had a collection of books about the supernatural. Elena might not be able to tell her anything about Kiev but perhaps one of those books could.

  With a plan in mind Harper released a low breath and continued out of her building, uneasy as she stepped out on to the pavement. Hands clenched at her sides she steeled her posture, willing her legs forward she pushed past the nagging voice that told her to stop being foolish and return to her apartment. Harper knew she couldn't go back up to her apartment and cower like she has been the past few days. She needed to face it, she was in debt to a sëx demon that wanted nothing more than to kill her slowly. He could command her to do anything, he knows more about her than she originally thought and he was able to enter her dreams. She wasn't safe to sleep and she couldn't after that encounter a few nights ago. All the sensations felt too raw, too fresh for her to be able to ignore them and put her head down on a pillow. So she didn't.

Wrapping her arms around her torso she started toward the bus stop at the corner of the block, it was the coward's way out she knew that but she couldn't risk bumping into Kiev and being in a bus full of people insured she couldn't. She loathed how she was running from him, cowering wasn't something she enjoyed and it hurt her pride more than she would care to admit. Yet there she was. Harper swallowed the shame like a bitter pill, her throat raw as the emotions creeped up on her. She had her fair share of crappy experiences with men, you could say she had poor luck when it came to the other gender. Always a sucker for a guy who was fücked up more than her made her feel great and it complicated things, the breakup's never ended pretty.  Yet no matter who or what the man was Harper never found herself this rattled, none of those men shook her up as much as Kiev did. He made her question herself and wonder why she was so willing to lean into his touch? Wondering what magic he had that could have her tingly so easily?

  Harper hadn't realized the bus arrived as it came to a slow and noisy stop a few inches away from where she stood lost in her own thoughts until the doors squeaked open. Shaking her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts she stepped into the full bus, her eyes set downwards as she paid and made her way to the middle of the isle. With no seats available she reached for the bar above the occupied seats. Turning towards the window she stumbled forward a few steps as the bus pulled on to the street once again. She hadn't taken a bus in years, since her junior year when she convinced Liam to sneak out with her and some friends to go to the mall. She didn't recall then the loud rumbling beneath her feet, or the strange smell but she was busy calming a frightened Liam. He was worried their father would find out, worried what he would do to them when he found out. Although Harper knew they would get caught and be punished she couldn't help but sneak away, the temptation to great to ignore. So she lied to her older brother, assuring him their father would never know.

  A fantom smile spread across her lips, Liam was terrified the entire trip and it was the funniest thing for her to see her older brother so nervous when she wasn't fazed a bit. Later that night their father had grounded them and gave them the honor of cleaning both locker rooms in the training areas. Liam learned his lesson and never again snuck out yet Harper brushed the punishment aside and continued to disobey her father. No matter what punishment he gave her, no matter how many guards he put outside of her room she found  herself cooking up a new plan and a new adventure. She just couldn't be as good as Liam, for a while she tried but it didn't feel right. Following the rules just wasn't her style. Some nights she was certain her father would kick her out of hunting school, every time she was surprised when he gave her a punishment and sent her away for the remainder of the night. Liam said it was the fact that she was a great hunter that kept her at home and she knew he was right. No matter how much she acted out her father couldn't deny her talent, she was good and partnered with her brother she was great.

   The floor beneath her feet rumbled and shook as the bus came to a halt. The force of the stop caused her to tumble forward, losing her footing and nearly falling on the young couple in front of her. Luckily she was able catch herself and started for the exit, her eyes darting around her. Paranoia eating at her insides as she reached the first step out of the bus, she slowly made her way back out to the street. Recognizing her old neighborhood Harper wondered if Kiev would be foolish enough to show up here.

  If he knew as much about her as Elena said than he'd know this was her childhood neighborhood and it was infested with hunters and witches. Not even the arrogant Kiev would pull such a foolish stunt like that.

A sigh of relief passed her lips and for the first time in days Harper felt safe. With a new profound confidence she started forward, eyes gliding over the suburb like homes. Each home two floors, surrounded by a special metal fence that was doused in a magical powder that protected all people within the fence from danger. Not that it was necessary for all the homes anymore. Harper turned around looking directly at a elder woman sitting on a rocking chair, her peppery hair tied back as she looked ahead seeming deep in thought. Harper scoffed knowing the sweet old lady rocking wasn't deep in thought but concentrating on the sounds around her, she was the guard set for the corner. Each corner of the neighborhood had a person on watch, keeping an eye out just in case. To some she was an old lady but in reality she was a deadly hunter armed and ready to kill if it were to come to it.  Every hunter set on watch duty was different, varying from young to old, male and female.  Either one would blend in.

  Starting up the street Harper looked around the block recalling the times she ran around these streets with her brother and the other kids in the block. Life was simple then. Play, eat, go to training and go to bed. Sometimes she missed those days, when life was so simple. When demons were a part of stories her father told her. Growing up really sucked.

   Finding herself standing at the front door of her childhood home Harper inhaled deeply before slowly releasing it. With her eyes trained on the front door she marched forward feeling like a solider in battle, every step heavier than the last until she was lifting her hand to ring the doorbell.

It's now or never.

   With that she rang the bell. For a moment nothing happened, no sound of footsteps or even a shout. Waiting a bit more Harper tried the bell again. Stepping back she used her hands the back of her hands to block the sunlight as she looked up to Olivia's room, the blinds were shut. Sighing Harper hit the doorbell again in frustration, of all days for Olivia to have left the house. Twisting around with her hands on her hips Harper shook her head, trying to figure out where her sister could be when a loud crashing sound came from the other side of the door.

Startled Harper whipped around, her heart slamming violently against her ribs. Kiev.

  Her entire body tensed as the thought crossed her mind. Would he really follow her here?

The front door opened, a wave of relief flooded her as Olivia stepped out. Never before had Harper experienced such relief. She released the breath she hadn't known she was holding, one hand rising to slow her racing heart. She was being paranoid, of course Kiev wouldn't show up here.

Shutting the door after her Olivia gasped, her hand dropping to the green cross body bag at her side.  "Harper... you scared me."

"I can see that." she said. Her gaze fell on the bag Olivia clutched to her side, "Where are you going?"

Her mouth parted, eyes dropping down to the bag "Just....to the diner."

Harper perked up at the opportunity that presented itself. "Great, I'll join you."

Eyes widening in a moment of shock, Olivia looked from side to side. Harper didn't miss the squirming her younger sibling was doing. She understood that Olivia most likely wouldn't want her joining her yet the nervous look her sister wore had her belly tightening in nervous knots of her own. Something didn't seem right. Olivia loved it when they went out together, her hesitation didn't go unnoticed.

Narrowing her eyes Harper spoke "Unless you have somewhere to be."

Olivia tucked a short strand behind her ear, shaking her head. "Just the diner." she shrugged

"No one to meet?" Harper added

The way Olivia tensed, the few seconds of silence that followed answered the question before Olivia mumbled a no.

  Biting her tongue on her reaction Harper offered her a small smile "What are we waiting for then?"

The challenge was set. Olivia could fess up and admit why she was acting so strange or she could take the Grant road and stick to her story. Of course Olivia followed what every stubborn Grant would always do, stick with the lie. She gave a nod and started forward, her shoulders tense.

Part of Harper was proud of her little sister for not caving. Growing up with their father down their throats about training affected each child differently. Liam grew to be a perfect solider, Harper grew more rebellious the more the reins were tightened and Olivia coward to their father. Harper didn't know when she realized it but it didn't change her disappointment in Olivia. She couldn't so much as talk back to their father let alone go against him. Seeing her this way was refreshing yet irritating.

On the other hand Harper didn't like the sudden strange behavior from her sister, not at a time when Kiev was lurking behind every corner. She didn't voice her concerns as they walked the familiar path to the diner they had spent nearly every other Sunday and birthdays.

The memories that flooded her with each step she took brought her closer to one of the most emotional places of her childhood. A place where she had many Sunday morning breakfasts, a place where she met with friends at late hours of the night, a place she had been brought to after her mother's funeral.

It was years ago, a distant memory but as Harper entered the diner it felt fresh. The vinyl booths reminding her of the guards her father assigned to protect her. The loneliness she felt as she sat here for hours with strangers, waiting for her father or anyone to explain what happened? No one came.

Harper spent the entire day sitting there, hands in her lap, cheeks streaked with tears both fresh and old and waited for comfort that never came. For an explanation. For her father to ease her fears and rid her of her doubts. It was only when Harper began to doze off around closing did the guards help her out to the car and home.

A short middle aged woman greeted them at the door with a smile that neither sister returned.

"Table or booth?"

"Table." she blurted

Harper ignored the strange look the waitress gave her as she guided them to a near by table. The last thing Harper needed was to have memories chasing her.

Taking their seats neither Olivia or Harper spoke as the beaming waitress handed them their menus and babbled on about the specials today. Harper cut the woman off, ordering a coffee and waffles. A small smile pulled at the corners of Olivia's mouth as she ordered an omelet with extra bacon.

"You hungry?" Olivia teased

Resting her elbows on the smooth table top she shook her head "No. I just wanted that woman to leave." Harper admitted

Olivia laughed "Tell me about it. My face hurt just looking at her smile."

Laughing along with her Harper realized she missed this. Moments with Olivia, or anyone for that matter. Leaving the hunting business meant losing her family and her ability to make friends, real friends anyway. She would be lying if she said she didn't feel lonely sometimes.

Leaning back against the chair Harper sighed, her mouth setting downwards at the reminder of her past life. The reason for her visit darkening her thoughts, her sudden seriousness didn't go unnoticed. Olivia sat up, her features schooled. "So why are you here?"

Harper started to speak but was interrupted when Olivia shook her head "The truth." she said with a pointed look.

"What gave me away?"

Olivia shrugged, her finger traced the scratches on the table top. "Last time I mentioned going to this diner you literally paled."

Embarrassed by her past actions Harper realized Olivia didn't know about her past. All this craziness occurred long before Olivia was even born and no -including Harper- filled her in on the past. All Olivia knew was that their father's first wife died. In a way Harper was relieved her younger sister didn't know too much about their past.

Clearing her throat Harper attempted a smile "I don't have the best memories from this place." she lied. Actually Liam and Harper spent a large part of their afternoons here before training. The corners of her mouth pulled downwards "That doesn't matter though." Placing her hands on the table top she shook her head "I wanted to talk to you about him."

Olivia's fingers stilled their tracing "You mean the...demon." she added the last part in a small whisper

Nodding Harper didn't know where to begin. Wringing her fingers on the top of the table she mulled over the questions she came up with earlier, unsure how to start.

"I told you everything I know." she muttered, her voice lower than before.

Leaning forward Harper nodded "I know, but maybe you left something out. You were pretty shook up when we last spoke about it."

Looking over her shoulder Olivia tensed, her eyes staring past the street stretched out ahead, far beyond this moment. The sudden closed off look that masked her features didn't surprise Harper. Being with Kiev had this painful affect on a person. Harper felt her hard exterior soften at the look on her face, the far away look in her eyes. This was the look of a girl who was haunted. Her heart ached for her younger sister, for what she had to endure with Kiev in the club. Olivia's tear streaked face from that night materialized before her, the pure fear filling her eyes, suspended from the ground by her throat.

  Dropping her gaze to her clasped hands Harper was reminded why she struck the deal with Kiev. She didn't regret trading places with Olivia, far from it. After the blow she suffered from her last encounter with Kiev Harper knew making the deal was the best option. There was no doubt in her mind that Olivia wouldn't have survived one run in with Kiev. Her fists clenched at the mere thought of Kiev laying a single finger on Olivia.

Grinding her teeth, Harper had to reminder herself to remain calm and stay focused on the goal for this meeting.

"I don't like talking about him anymore than you do but I need you to help me Olivia. I need you to help me beat him."

Her head snapped up "You can't, you signed the contract."

"There are other ways to get out of a contract." she said. "Every contract has a loophole and I intend to find it."

She nodded, her lips set firmly in a firm line. "I'm sorry." Olivia started at the table, the same distant look from earlier returning. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this. I didn't mean to."

"Olivia-"

"Don't say it Harper." she interrupted, her voice sharp.

With her head still hanging low she shook her head, regret and guilt heavy in her tone as she spoke "I shouldn't have called you, I shouldn't have brought you into this. I brought you to him."

Harper hated Kiev more at the moment, hate wasn't a strong enough word for it. She loathed the bastard! Sitting across from Olivia, her younger sister and watching the guilt etched into her face causing her to seem older than she was.

  A low sigh passed Harper's lips, her shoulders slumping as she stared longer at her sister. Dark circles hung under her eyes, the deep creases on her forehead spoke of the worries plaguing her mind. Olivia looked like hell. Harper always swore to keep her away from this world, away from the drain it had on a person both mentally and physically. She never wanted Olivia to have any of this weighing on her mind let alone her conscious.

No words could erase the regret and guilt plaguing her thoughts, Harper knew it from experience. No words could ease the darkness within. Opting for something different Harper reached her hand across the table, placing it on her clasped hands.

"We'll get through this Liv, together."

Olivia didn't meet her gaze as she gave a small nod. Her lips pressed firmly together. Despair filled her heart as she lowered her gaze to their clasped hands wondering how deep did her Olivia's guilt ran. She prayed it was no where near the guilt Harper has had eating at her for years. The festering guilt that hadn't left her since her mother's blood pooled by her feet, marking her forever.

Harper swallowed hard and retracted her hand. Clearing her throat she decided to lighten the mood. "So how has house arrest been?"

Olivia shook her head, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards "You wouldn't believe the films he has had me watch."

  Leaning forward Harper listened intently, a smile of her on forming as she watched the dullness fade from her sister's gaze. There were plenty of opportunities to ask her about Kiev. For now she'd rather enjoy breakfast with her sister.

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What do you guys think? Any predictions? Theories? What do you guys think of Harper?