Chapter 21
Tonight is
the night.
Kris stared at
the seemingly decrepit house through the looming evergreens with a wicked grin
on his face. Tonight, he was going to get exactly what he wanted.
Tonight, he was going to take back his lil' Kitten.
Tonight, he
was going to ruin her life.
All he needed
was right in the palm of his hand. He stared at the items and nearly
burst out laughing. He knew his plan wasn't going to fail. He knew
Kat way too well. Once she realized what kind of hold he had on her and
her Prince Charming, she would drop everything and go home with him. He
stuffed his ammunition back in his pocket and rubbed his hands together in
anticipation...and also to warm them up. It was freezing! The
things I do for my Kitty Kat. He smiled again. But it'll all
be worth it after tonight. He let out a quiet chuckle.
It's gonna
be a happy new year for me!!
***
"There's
so many people here!" Billie gripped Howie's arm tightly while she stared
in obvious disbelief at the extravagance of A.J and Sarah's Malibu Home and the
people in it. There had to be at least 200 guests!
Howie patted
her hand in reassurance, although what he really wanted to do was wrap his arms
around her, embrace her, and whisper in her ear that she would be fine...that
she was the most beautiful girl here. But he couldn't. Since that
wonderful Christmas night, things between him and Billie hadn't been really
uncomfortable, but he sensed that she was plagued with guilt over their not so
platonic kiss. He wished he could feel just as guilty as she did.
Unfortunately, guilt was the last thing on his mind.
"Hey
guys!" Sarah greeted suddenly with a bright smile. "I'm glad
you could make it Billie."
She returned
her smile and Howie felt her body immediately relax.
"Thank you
for inviting me. I know we don't know each other that well still..."
"It was
no trouble, trust me. Besides, I have a feeling that somebody
would've been very moody tonight if you hadn't come." She grinned
knowingly at Howie.
He shifted
uncomfortably and shot Sarah a pointed glance while Billie turned a light shade
of red. "A.J really found his perfect match didn't he?"
Sarah laughed
and took Billie's hand. "Come on. Leigh and I were about to
get into some girl talk." She turned to Howie again, but this time
her face was much more solemn. "A.J, Bri, and Kevin are out on the
patio..."
Howie nodded
in understanding. "Thanks Sar."
Billie looked
at him in worry. "Are you going to be all right?"
Her concern
warmed his heart and he smiled. "Yeah. Me and the guys just
have to take care of something that's all." He put his hand on her
shoulder and squeezed gently. "I'll see you later?"
She gave him a
dazzling grin. "Okay."
***
“Hey,” Howie greeted
quietly a few minutes later as he stepped into the quieter patio of the
Brian, Kevin, and A.J
nodded in return. “Billie here with you?” Brian asked with a dim smile.
“Yeah, she’s talking with
Sarah and Leighanne.” Howie moved next to them and they all stood next to
each other silently after that, staring up at the starry sky, each lost in
their own thoughts.
“Do you think he’s
watching us right now?” A.J asked moments later, his tone somber and
thoughtful.
“I think so,” Kevin ran
his finger through his hair and sighed. “or maybe he’s playin’ some
practical jokes on the angels up there…”
“Yeah,” Brian continued,
“just like the fish flavored bubble gum incident.”
They all laughed at that,
recalling that memory so vividly.
“I remember when we had
that Millennium TV thing and I thought he was pretending to be Nick Washten…” Howie chuckled.
Brian grinned. “You
totally ruined that for him man!”
“I know!”
Their laughter mingled
with the night air like a cheerful melody as they recalled more memories of
Nick and his mischievous personality…until Brian suddenly broke into a quiet
sob.
“He had so much going for
him… I don’t understand why he was taken from us so soon…”
Kevin put his arm over
Brian’s sagging shoulders while A.J and Howie struggled with their own
tears. They could pretend all they wanted that things were okay, but the
truth was that they still missed their best friend...they were still
grieving. There had to be a reason why they couldn’t let go of his
memory…but what could it be?
“I’ll be back,” A.J
whispered and disappeared back into the party.
When he returned moments
later, the mood hadn’t changed, but at least Brian wasn’t crying anymore.
“Here,” he passed around some glasses and poured each of them some apple
cider. “Let’s make a toast. To Nick…that wherever he is, he’s safe…and
happy.”
They raised their glasses
and as they each took a sip the same thought passed through all their minds.
Happy New Year Nick.
***
He stared at his
reflection, hoping he looked okay. He sighed and sat back on the
bed. It was New Years Eve and Nick knew he should be feeling festive, but
for some reason, he didn’t feel much like celebrating. Tonight was the
last night of his first full year without seeing any of his family and
friends...everyone he ever cared about. He wished he knew what they were
doing this year. He wondered if they were having a big bash or if they
were just spending a quiet evening with close friends.
Don’t think about it anymore Nick. You’re
only going to ruin the night if you keep dwellin’ on
what you can do nothin’ about.
Resolved to put his solemn emotions on the backburner he stood and moved toward
the door. Suddenly, an awkward feeling washed over him and he stopped,
his face contorting to a frown. What was that? And then he
realized, with sudden hope, that they were thinking of him…they hadn’t
forgotten him… He closed his eyes and smiled. Happy New Year Fellas...
With that same smile still
on his face, he walked out of his room and down the hallway toward the
stairs.
"Nickolas dear!
Dinner's ready!!"
"I'm coming
Caroline!" He called back to her as he descended down the stairs, the
smell of her cooking making his stomach growl. Feeling at peace, he made
his way into the kitchen and saw that Katarina wasn't
with her. "Where's Rina?"
"She went outside to
grab some more firewood. We could use it. This house isn't getting
any warmer." She smiled at him and winked. "I know you'd
like to go out there and help her dear, but I need you to set the table."
Nick feigned his
annoyance. "Ugh. I guess if I have to..."
Caroline laughed.
"Get working you lazy bum!"
***
Just one more and that
should be enough, Katarina thought to herself,
grabbing one more piece of firewood and adding it to the pile she would take
back into the house. As she collected the heavy pieces into her arms, she
wondered how her sister was doing. She knew something wasn't right even
though Billie told her otherwise...and she had the feeling that Howie was
involved. More than anything, she hoped he was. That way, Kris would
be out of her life forever.
She wouldn't have to live
in fear for the rest of her life.
She shook her head,
forcing herself to push those thoughts out of her head. It was New Years
Eve for crying out loud! It's time to celebrate the coming of a New
Year. 2003! It was bound to be a hell of a lot better that this
year was. She grinned. At least this year, she'd have Nick.
Joyful, she began to hum as she made her way back to the house.
"Leaving so soon
Kitten?"
No. She
stiffened. No. No. No. She did not just hear his voice. She
DID NOT hear his voice.
"What? Aren't
you going to give your brother-in-law a proper greeting?"
Shocked, she dropped all
the firewood and with her heart slamming against her chest, she slowly
turned...little by little...until she came face to face with her worst
nightmare. NOOOOO!!!! She wanted to scream so loudly, but nothing
was coming from her gaping mouth.
He grinned.
"Why so shocked Kitten? You knew I'd find you sooner or
later..."
Her stomach turned and she
knew that any second she would throw up. She tightly closed her
eyes. Please let this be a
dream...please don't let this be real...please God...I'm begging you...
She opened her eyes to find that he had moved...and was mere inches away from
her.
Just as she was about to
let out an earsplitting scream, he clamped his hand over her mouth.
"Shhh...you wouldn't
want your precious Nick to know I'm here would you? Besides, we have
things to discuss. In private." Kris's free arm snaked around
her waist and pulled her up firmly against him.
Katarina began to trembling uncontrollably and let out a
few muffled screams but with the wind blowing so forcefully, no one would be
able to hear.
His head leaned toward her
ear. "It's been too long Kitten...much too long. And even
though I'm barely touching you, I'm reacting to you so deliciously...can't you
feel me Kat...?”
Oh she felt him all
right. She could feel everything...especially the sour liquid that was
racing up her throat. Please not
again...please not again...
"But I suppose
there'll be plenty of time for that later." He grinned
maliciously. "Now, I'm going to remove my hand from your beautiful
mouth okay? But if you scream, I'll take you right here and now and I
know you don't want that, do you Kitten?"
She shook her head
vigorously, knowing that she had no choice but to do exactly what he said.
"All right."
He slowly stepped back and
Katarina immediately put plenty of distance between
them, not wanting to risk the chance that he would trick her. He laughed
at her then, not loudly, but quietly...making it seem much more menacing.
Oh Lord, how was she going to get out of this mess? "Wh...what are
you doing here? How did you...find me?"
Kris rolled his
eyes. "Does that really matter Kat? What you should be
worrying about is how your Prince Charming's going to take it once he finds out
that you've left him."
"Left
him?!" Gathering the last amount of courage she had, she raised her
chin and crossed her arms. "I WILL NOT leave Nick. And certainly
NOT for you Kris."
He laughed again.
"Oh you will Kitty Kat. I can guarantee that you will."
He slipped his hands into his pockets and fished out what looked to be an
envelope of some sort. "Hmm...I wonder what this is..."
Katarina watched with sudden trepidation as he opened the
envelope...
And then her heart stopped
dead.
His smile was so
ridiculously wide it made her cringe. This
can't be...how did he...!
"Ah yes! Now I
remember! There're the photos I took of Nick a few days ago while he
was chopping up some firewood for you and the old hag!"
He knows!
She realized in alarm and covered her mouth. He knows everything!!!
"Tsk.
Tsk. I wonder what would happen if I took these
photos to the media. I'm sure the whole world would love to know that
Nick Carter is not dead," his smile grew unbelievably wider, taunting Katarina torturously, "that he's very much alive...and
looks like sideshow freak!"
***
