Mesmerized

next meeting."
    "Hopefully, our next visit will be more pleasant."
    "It ended well. What more could we ask for?"
    "Can I ask where you are going? It wasn't easy to track you down."
    "I have some loose ends to tie up here, and then who knows? Wherever the path takes me. If you need me, I'll be there." 
    They hugged and said their goodbyes. 
    Sandra watched as the most powerful woman she had ever known slid into a taxi and drove off into the night. 
    ***
    Adam stared at the gold key in his hand and twirled it in his fingers. Henry had left everything to him. A few words from a lawyer, and he'd gone from a homeless kid on the street to a man that held so much power. He had loved Henry like a father, but he had always known he was evil to the core. Henry had fought it on a daily basis, but the evil always won out. Adam could still hear the screams from the young girls, and cleaning up after. They lawyer had handed him a key to a safe deposit box with a note. ‘You are like a son to me. Continue the tradition.’ 
    Adam sank back in the plush chair. Henry had wasted his whole life searching for the key to immortality. He never found happiness. He was driven to find something that was always out of his reach. Adam had been given a new lease on life. Did he really want to waste it chasing after a crazy dream? He hesitated briefly, tossed the key in the trashcan, and walked out of the room. 
    Camille was standing at the bottom of the step. "I knew you would make the right decision." 
     

Chapter Twenty
     
     
     
    It wasn’t until later that Lily really felt the ramifications of the past couple of weeks. She was sitting alone in her room when the tears started coming. She couldn’t stop them, they poured down her face. She had come close to killing a boy, been kidnapped, tracked down a mad man, and almost died. 
    Her body shook as she sobbed. She lay down on her bed and cried into her pillow. Images flashed through her mind as her emotions ran wild. She felt angry and sad. 
    There was a soft knock on her door. Lily didn’t even have the energy to call out. 
    The door opened, and Jake walked in. Seeing Lily lying there on the bed—her  whole body shaking—broke his heart. He quickly went to her and sat down on the bed. Rubbing her back, he asked, “Are you okay?”
    She responded by crying harder and gasping for air.
    “Lily? Are you okay?” Jake asked concerned.
    Lily rolled over. “No. I’m not! We were both almost killed! I am not okay with that…I…I…” she stammered.
    Jake pulled Lily into his arms. “We’re safe now. I’m sorry…so sorry. I didn’t mean to put you in danger or worry you.”
    Lily buried her face in his chest and soaked his shirt with her tears. “I can’t lose you. I just found you.”
    He cradled her face in his palms. “I know. I’ve only known you for a short amount of time, and I know I want to be with you forever. And now we can be. Lily, it’s over. The fear of being caught is gone. We’re both safe and we can be together.”
    The crying subsided as she looked into his eyes and realized he was right. They didn’t have anything to worry about anymore. She pressed her lips against his and drew him into a long, overdue kiss.
    He could taste her salty tears as they kissed and he held her closer, running his hands down her back. What he would give to be alone with her right now. He wanted to show her they were safe and he loved her. But, he couldn’t do that in her parents’ house. 
    She bit his lip a little and pulled it back, then let it go with a smile. 
    “You’re a tease,” Jake said.
    “I know.”
    “I wish we were alone right now.”
    “Me too.” She kept her eyes locked on his. 
    Jake brushed the hair out of Lily’s face. She was all blotchy from crying, but she was still as beautiful as ever. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “I want you so bad.”
    Lily couldn’t resist her own feelings. She pulled him down on the bed with her and began kissing his neck. Her body tingled as it always did when she felt this way. Her body knew what it wanted. 
    A strong voice from downstairs yelled, “Lily!”
    Lily stopped kissing Jake and groaned. How did her parents always know when they were fooling around? “This has got to stop!”
    Jake laughed, but immediately quieted when Lily shot him a look. He gave her a crooked grin.  "It is your parents' house. Their rules." 
    She pouted and threw a pillow at him. "Fine, let's go