RED EPHEMERAL MOON

CHAPTER TWO CASTIGATED CARYATID Part 2

“So what is your excuse for running through the hall screaming another girl’s name?” Jolene’s tight ‘Bossy’ tank top showed more cleavage than I would want my woman to show as she bent down to talk, more like harass, me about the present situation.

“Uh…I…have no excuse” I sat up on the cold hall tile looking at her briefly then turning to look behind me hoping to see Adelia but she of course was gone.

“Hmph! Well I need some T to the fourth power Y like ASAP!” She constantly spoke in acronyms I could never understand what the hell she was saying.

“I don’t understand what the hell your saying Jo” I spoke with annoyance.

“God! Some time to talk to you as soon as possible Jeez! It’s like I’m talking to a wall” She twisted her hips and swayed to the side balancing her weight on mainly one leg as if she were posing for playboy.

“Oh Kay” I stood to my feet and crossed my arms I didn’t want her touching me.

“Be at my room in F-MOE” She began to strut off but I yelled.

“SPEAK FUCKING ENGLISH!” I was frustrated and very disappointed.

“BE AT MY ROOM IN FIVE MINUTES OR ELSE, GWTP (get with the program)!” She screamed back.

“ARGH! CRAZY BITCH!”

After I finished screaming at my ridiculous blonde bimbo girlfriend I smelled something very fragrant nothing like what Jolene would wear, this was earthly and gentle…like flowers. I turned and looked down the hall where I had last seen Adelia. I walked down slowly breathing in, the scent that was so familiar, I knew it well…Chrysanthemums. I wasn’t even thinking of anything else as I followed the sweet scent to a courtyard. It was a beautiful night, the fountain and evening primroses that dotted the landscapes of fine shrubbery were softly lit by bright moonlight and stars. I walked over to a nearby bench and watched the fountain. I didn’t notice it right away but I wasn’t alone. On another bench a few feet away lay a dog just lounging. As it sat there, our eyes met and it panted softly.

“Tck Tck, are you friendly huh?” I whispered to it. The dog was dark maybe black but with the lack of light I couldn’t really tell the shade of the fur. It was overall well groomed with pointy ears and a thin short coat but there wasn’t a collar.

The dog hopped down and walked over to me as if it knew me well. I let it sniff me and then I stroked it gently rubbing its ear, then the dog placed its paw on the bench and looked up at me.

“You can have a seat if you want.” I said gently and it took a seat, to my surprise, “Smart one aren’t you?” I looked up at the sky and thought of Adelia.

“She would have loved this. She dreamed of stars constantly my sweet Adelia. She always had her eyes to the sky, watching the constellations, planets, and her favorite, the moon. Adelia …where are you?” I spoke to myself mostly but then the dog licked my hand then soon trotted away but stopped to turn and look at me. I just sat there our eyes meeting…and its dark fur gleaming with a soft red tint…

I thought nothing of it then but I should have, that fur, the color was so memorable and after it was gone so was the smell of Chrysanthemums.

I sat there for a while just staring up into the night sky when I remembered Jolene.

“Why do I even care?” as I whispered to myself I rubbed my forehead. I stood and began to walk to her dorm, sighing the entire way I felt as if I were walking to my doom. I knew her dorm well; I had been there many times in the past. Jolene and I used to be such an item. Our first year was full of laughs and excitement then it all changed somehow she had changed. Colder and much more aggressive, too aggressive really, but I stayed with her. I thought I owed it to her but then I realized that I didn’t owe anything, especially to such a selfish arrogant little girl.

“B104” Her room was on the second floor and I sighed once again before knocking on the door.

“That better be you Dominic Otagi” Jolene spoke from behind the door. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

“Ello Darling” I spoke with a sarcastic fake British accent just to aggravate her further.

“Ha ha ha”, she spoke with irritation and anger, “Get in here now!” she pointed to the inside of her room.

I walked in staring at her slightly she was wearing only a pair of pink bikini panties and a tiny tank top to match. Her hair was loose and she wasn’t wearing a bra, most guys would have lost their mind at the scene before me but I was bored and annoyed by this girl and the last thing I wanted was to bone her. At that moment all I wanted was to get out of that room and search the entire campus for Adelia.

“What’s Up Domi-nick?” She crossed her arms and sat down on the bed I still stood in the middle of the room looking in the opposite direction.

“Nothing much Jo” I put my hands in my pockets and looked out of the room window.

“Ah ha then why have you been acting so damn weird lately Dom, are you having a mid life crisis or something you are only 21 so what the hell is wrong with you?” She spoke steadily I thought she was going to keep going until she took a breath.

“I’m just dealing with some past issues that’s all Jo, ok?” I looked at her briefly and she was in a sexy pose as she leaned against her bed’s head board as her legs sprawled out slightly so when I looked at her I could see straight to her panties.

“Shit” I said under my breath. She was trying to seduce me this was funny but unwanted.

“Oh I see where this is going…wow Dom” she spoke with laughter in her voice and a smug smile on her face.

“What are you getting at Jolene?” I still stood ready to leave in a moments notice.

“This is about your little dead girlfriend isn’t it Dom” It wasn’t a question, she was just starting, however that statement made me wince and she saw that.

“She died like a decade ago Dominic and you’re still clinging to her memory, you’re still grieving, you need to get over it” She stood up and walked over to me her tone was insincere and cold.

I bowed my head and stayed silent for a second and then chuckled.

“How could I have even thought that an ignorant bratty vain little bitch like you could know anything about loss let alone…love” I looked down at the carpet the anger in me building.

“ME? This isn’t healthy Dominic your going to make yourself sick?” Now she was trying to sound concerned.

“The only thing that makes me sick right now is you!” I looked up at her and she gasped while taking a few steps backwards.

“Your disgusting Jolene…You want to know why I haven’t touched you in months…it’s because I know where you and your friends go on the weekends and what you really do with your mouth…poetry reading my ass you couldn’t but two words together to save your life”. I spoke with total repulsion, my eyes narrowed as I snarled at her.

“SHUT YOUR GODDAMN FACE” She yelled at me and then aimed a punch my way, I caught it and her other hand, using my grip on her I threw her on to the bed. I peered down at her in shame.

“I don’t like you enough to feel betrayed. You are an insignificant hollow and utterly heartless girl who cares for nothing of any real value…I feel so sorry for your parents to have such a horrid child.” I scrunched my jaw up in disgust I was literally getting sick in her presence.

“Don’t ever come near me again” she whispered this time her voice full of fear as tears come down her cheeks.

“Don’t you even consider that I want to be near you” I walked out slamming the door behind me. I walked out of her dorm building feeling a huge sense of relief. Don’t get me wrong I found no joy in making a girl cry but she deserved it and had it coming. I breathed in the night air and began to walk to my bike.

As I made my way through campus only a few other students moved about many had gone in for the night due to the cold but at the moment I was really enjoying the frost that hit my face it cooled down the rage that had built up inside me. It was the beginning of April but the March chill was still sulking however it would warm up soon and then the showers would start.

“Get over it” I repeated Jolene’s words. Like it was that easy to forget, even if it were I wouldn’t allow myself to. Not Adelia, to forget her would be a sin.

Her laugh was so light and endearing. When we looked at one another and her eyes sparked I knew it was only me that could make her eyes sparkle like that. How could I forget her? How could I let her go so easily?

“Adelia, I’m going to find you” I whisper to myself.

I wasn’t looking where I was going but I heard footsteps on the path behind me, I whirled around to see a young girl with a bunch of books in her arms she looked very pale and dazed, she slumped passed me and I moved out of her way. She was like a zombie, but when you study too much that happens I shrugged it off and kept walking.

“Whatever” I spoke to myself again I had been doing that a lot today.

I saw another person on the path, a man, tall, light hair, sly looks, and he had on a suit that cost no less than a few hundred grand. What the hell was he doing on this campus? Harvard or Princeton maybe but a small city college with less than a five hundred students, no way, but there he was Mr. Money Bags apparently. I didn’t say anything and looked straight ahead as he passed me in that brief moment when we are side by side I say out of the corner of my eye, the yellow eye of a lizard looking back at me. I ignored it took on a different path toward my bike. I checked the parking lot for suspicious shadows and saw none so I got on my bike started it with no trouble or shadow people watching me and got home safely.

“Mom I’m home”


“I hate you,” Jolene sat on her bed pouting and crying as she glared at Dominic’s picture.
“Who do you think you are? You stupid little prick,” She stood up and threw the picture at the wall shattering it…then the real tantrum began.

“BASTARD!” thrashing lampshades, and posters ripped to shreds.
“LIMP DICK PRETTY BOY!” over turned desk and chair.
“DAMN YOU!” a flurry of papers flies through the air.
“FUCK YOU! GO STRAIGHT TO HELL!” window curtains pulled down and shredded.
“GO FUCK YOUR LITTLE DEAD WHORE, AAAHHHH!” books thrown and damaged.
“I NEVER LOVED YOU!” the final aggravated move was her disheveled bed sheets and stabbing her pillow with a metal knife letter opener causing feathers to fly around.

Breathing heavily with a ragged scowl on her face she grabs a pair of jeans, sneakers and a light jacket, with feathers in her ruffled mane, Jolene storms out of her dorm room slamming the door behind her. Her hands in tight fists steady at her side as she walks briskly. Thinking vicious thoughts Jolene spots an empty bench near a dimly lit lamp post, feeling weary from the exertion in her dorm, she takes a seat and leans forward resting her forehead within her palms. Jolene didn’t notice the fine gentleman walk up to her until she felt the weight on the bench shift.

“Hello” The nameless man speaks gently without any expression on his face. Jolene looked at him stunned. He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. His hair was a silvery blonde that was cut in a short professional style that accented his charming features, soft pink thin lips, very clean shaven skin, not a blemish or bump in sight. He had high cheek bones with a firm jaw line and a toned neck. He wore a very expensive suit the color of a dark sapphire with a pale grey under shirt with a few buttons undone revealing a muscular collar bone and chest.

“Uh…hi” Jolene quivered as she spoke. His presence sent a chill down her spine which she enjoyed.

“How are you this evening?” The man did not look at her as he spoke his eyes were locked straight ahead, sighing Jolene answered.

“Fine and how are you?” Jolene held a thick frustration in her throat and the stranger next to her caught it easily.

“Fine…now” he finally turned and looked at her. Jolene was caught in his willful gaze his eyes were a bright emerald green that dazzled her, however she only felt horrid at that moment her mind steadily on Dominic. Tears began to pour and the stranger looked surprised if only for a moment.

“Have you ever had someone’s insults make you fell so awful that you start to believe them?” Jolene leaned forward feeling miserable and stupid for asking a complete stranger that question...

“You shouldn’t care what anyone says about you. What do they honestly know about you to even begin to understand the reasons for your actions? Your parents do not even have that ability so why should others” The strange man stared at her as she gazed into his deep emerald eyes.

“Who are you?” Jolene stared in awe.

“Bes Nor Forbes…” He leaned forward inches away from her lips.

“I’m Jolene” barely a whisper there was that chill again and she could hardly hold back the urge to kiss this man.

“The pleasure is all mine.” After he spoke those words Jolene didn’t have to wait for his touch as his lips came down on her own in a searing kiss she had never experienced.

Blood, splattered and dripping from the walls, that awful gnashing and tearing sound, I could see the damn animal eating her, Adelia’s brown eyes were wide and void of life as the creature hovered over her gorging itself on her flesh. I could do nothing but stand there, suddenly Adelia moved her dead eyes to look at me and she reached out a little hand, her lips spoke silent words I couldn’t understand but just as I awoke I heard her.

‘Save me…save me” in a short gasp.

I felt sick to my stomach, I ran to the bathroom just in time, dry heaving soon turned into a steady flow.

“Honey, are you alright?” My mother softly called to me from down the hall, I must have woken her.

“Yeah mom…I’m…I’m fine, go back to sleep” I listened for her footsteps but they never came. I sighed flushed the toilet and washed out my mouth. As I looked into the mirror I felt like a mental patient.

Maybe I am going mad maybe the girl I saw in class was just some new girl and I freaked her out by chasing her…HaHa Hehe ah if it were that easy. I flicked off the light and returned to my room. I laid there for a moment then closed my eyes as I imagined her face in the dark. As I remembered her face and body I eased into sleep feeling a sense of determination renewed in me. Tomorrow I will search for her. Soon after, a deep sleep claimed me.

Across the street from Dominic’s home the same black red dog from earlier sits on the sidewalk staring up at his window, it moves across the sidewalk onto the lawn making it’s was to the side of the house, the dog stands still and then leaps onto the roof, with paws light and quiet, it walks over to his window. The shadow of the animal swifts and turns into a naked young woman, she pulls on the window and it opens, creeping in quietly she kneels next to Dominic as a tear falls from her eye she reaches for him but her hand just hovers above his face. Adelia uses the very tip of her finger to move a few strands of hair off of his brow. Dominic snorts loudly in his sleep and Adelia places a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter.

“You haven’t changed…sleep well” she whispers, turning to leave, until she hears him say something in his sleep.

“So beautiful, my Adelia” he was sleeping but she heard every word, climbing out of the window, closing it and turning back into a dog she jumps off the roof and runs into the night.

“Dominic!” a little girl’s voice resounded in my mind.

“Wake up Dominic” there it was again that sweet little voice was so familiar. As the voice faded my eyes opened. The first thing I see is my clock on the nightstand those bright red numbers stared at me.

“12:54 am” I whispered to myself suddenly a chill came over me, the second thing I see is my bedroom window slightly cracked open. I don’t remember opening it or my mom opening it. I walk over to the window and close it. My groggy eyes scan the neighborhood the trees were still, even though a breeze had just blown through my window.

“I can’t sleep tonight” I told myself over and over. I felt nervous, eager, annoyed, and utterly restless. I had all this built up energy and no outlet, at least not a positive one. I pulled on a pair of ragged jeans, steel toed black boots, and a regular t-shirt . I needed a drink and a good fight.

I know my mother has an idea of where I go in the middle of the night, I come home with bruises and cuts then I sleep for hours until class or work. I know it hurts her, and I know she wants to keep me from doing this but she won’t. Along with every thing I don’t know, there is one thing I am sure of…my mother understands why I do this. So as I get on my bike I do not bother to look up at her bedroom window because I already know she is standing there, I already know her eyes are pleading with me not to endanger my life once again but I will not look, I refuse simply for the fact that this urge will continue to harass me until dawn and there after. So I start up my bike and I take off toward the downtown district.

The night is quiet as I drive through the suburban streets. Then a house comes into view, a residence I had avoided for a very long time. I was so stupid, why did I go this way? I stopped for a moment and stare at the abandoned home, the once creamy beige sidings were dirty brown and the pale grey roof covered in leaves and grime gazed out in sadness, the door and windows with the faint reminder of the pale blue paint that once coated them now had a decrepit quality. The house it self seemed to be in mourning…this was their home…Adelia and Connie. I feel my eye twitch, anger boils inside me and my teeth grind in my head. I take off, going nearly a 100 mph.

“Liquor and blood, liquor and blood…” I speak these words like a mantra. I’m so anxious it causes vicious tingles to go up my spine down my arm and into my fingers.

The downtown lights begin to blur in my vision, I’m not looking for a girl or a good dance so all those glam joints were the least of my concerns. I’m looking for a back alley bar with evil bastards, rough angry sons of whores who only know how to shed blood. Then I see a bar in the back streets fit for my taste with the name “Hell’s Kin” I know it will be promising. I park my bike, take off my helmet and walk in; there is no bouncer, what a surprise. From the glance I take at the bar dwellers, they are the type I was hoping for. A group of ugly criminals with brutal violence written all over them, I smile in satisfaction and sit down at the bar.

“Drink?” The bartender was a cute little brunette with grey eyes, no more than 26 yrs old, her face was stern however and I know why, if you’re a woman and you smile at the wrong guy in this place you can end up raped or worse. She must be a real tough chick to want to hold down a job at this sort of place.

“Jack Daniels…two shots.” I look behind her into the mirror searching for an opponent. She nodded and brought the shots. Drinking each quickly I feel the heat of the liquor fill my gut and a sense of blood thirst comes over me stronger than before. I turn and stare at the man who caught my eye. He was a big dude with a series of scars and prison tats on his forearms, his girl was hanging over his shoulder as he plays cards with two other guys. I stare at her trying to get her attention. She was the hooker type of course with red hair, a short skirt, tight top and too much makeup. I didn’t want her but if it would piss him off to see me eyeing his girl…all the better. She saw me and smiled softly, one of the card players saw that and pointed it out to the big guy. He looked at me with a flamed glare.

“HEY BOY!” Bingo, it worked faster than I thought.
“Me?” I answered nonchalantly.
“Yeah, you got a problem?” he stands and walks up to me.

I pulled out a twenty and asked the bartender girl for another whiskey, I drank it as he stands behind me.

“Don’t fucking ignore me you little bastard!” he has a booming voice and it vibrates my eardrums forcefully. The guys who were seated near me get up and move to the other side of the room.

“Well since you seem to be her pimp I was wondering how much for a go at her?” I didn’t even turn around to look at him. I heard his bitch gasp then using her shrill voice, spoke to him.

“Are you gonna let him talk about me like that Lonnie-baby?” Lonnie cracked his knuckles I finally turn around.

“Yeah Lonnie, what are you going to do?” I gave him a sly smile and there we are staring at one another for a brief moment.

“FUCK HIM UP LONNIE!” his woman screamed. That’s when I felt the first punch to my gut. Damn it hurt, this guy had one hell of a swing but I’m tougher than he is.

Lonnie smiles as he punches me over and over. I could hear his friends cheering him on and people betting I would die. I felt the blood in my throat rise to the peak and explode from my mouth as another blow landed in my gut. Pain is all I fell, but at this moment, I rather fell pain, it drowns out everything else…the sorrow and regret, that endless feeling of loss and worse of all the need dare I say lust for her love.
Why do I do this to myself?

I feel my body hit the floor with a hard thud then Lonnie wraps his hand around my neck picking me up our eyes meet as he slams my body to the floor once more. His fists beat into my cheeks a few times then he walks away proudly as I lay there staring at the ceiling. I can feel the pulsation of cheering and approvals from the bar occupants for Lonnie’s hands down win. But all I hear is her voice…

“Save me Dominic save me” Adelia’s sweet little voice in my ears…who took her from me and why. What sick bastard would want to hurt her like that? I remember the day after her abduction, in her room blood was all over her bed, the floor leading in a trail to and over the window sill. Connie, her mother, was on the floor with a bucket beside her and a sponge in her hand crying and sobbing as she had to clean up her own daughter’s blood. I remember taking the sponge from Connie and holding her tight. I remember her words.

“God why? Why Adelia? Please tell me why?” she sobbed those questions into my tiny chest.

I stand to my feet, blood covers my chin and the front of my shirt, and I hold my fist so tight that I soon cut my own palm. There is no expression on my face as I look at Lonnie.

“Hah, you ain’t had enough fool” Lonnie smiles triumphantly.

“NO” I ran at him jumped and landing a full force kick into his chest, he stumbles and falls back onto a table. As he stands up my fist land in the middle of his face, jab to the throat, kick to the ribs, dislocate his left arm from his shoulder, multiple hits to the gut and jaw. I’m breathing hard and Lonnie soon collapses to the floor. Everyone in the bar stands back, silent, even Lonnie’s girl is too afraid to move or see if her man is alright. I walked out of the bar and over to my bike where I wipe off the blood and change into another shirt.

“Bastard! We’re not gonna let you get away with that” One of Lonnie’s friends speak as he stands in the small group of about six guys, some held weapons. There was a long chain, two knives, a brass knuckle, a broken beer bottle and a bat between all of them. Damn how more cliché can you get?

“Fine” I spoke without emotions standing ready for the attack. Just then the bartender comes out, she looks mad as hell and she holds a rifle in her hand.

“Shit” I said out loud, I was not in the mood to dodge bullets.

“Alright Erica! Blast him away” one of the guys calls out to her.

“SHUT UP” Erica shouted at all of them and then pointed the gun at the group.

“Whoa Erica what are you doing?” the guy with the bat asks with a shaky voice.
“Have you last your mind?” Mr. Brass Knuckle looks like he wants to piss himself.
“Point that thing at him over there…at him” and the guy with the broken bottle is sweating bullets.

“I said shut up, damnnit,” Erica looked over at me gently, “Get out of here and don’t come back ok” Erica turned back to the group of idiots and I got on my bike and rode off. It was now about two a.m. in the morning and I had to go to work in seven hours. When I got home I noticed the lights in the front room were on. That was very unusual.

I walk through the front door and hear voices. One of which is my mother’s and the other I recognize immediately I had not seen him or talked to him in three years, my older brother, Keitaro.

“Dominic come here and say hello to your brother” Mom came out of the living room and smiled brightly as she spoke to me, I don’t think she even noticed the look of anger or the rising bruises on my face. Her sweet brown eyes were filled with so much happiness I did not want to ruin this for her. She pulled my hand and I followed her into the room, my eyes staring at her back that is, until he came into view.

“Hello little brother, how are you doing?” Keitaro smiled gently at me I could tell it was forced. He gave me a condescending look but I wasn’t offended by it.
Standing there in your refinement and ideal smile, so perfect, you make me sick
A wealthy businessman and entrepreneur regardless of his wealth he was a kind man and very generous often sharing his assets with other small businesses in need of capital and the less fortunate.

“Fair enough, how about you?” I look him straight in the eye; it alarmed him to see me so tense.
I don’t like you, fucking bastard
Keitaro paid for this house and took on much of the burden after our father died but when I needed him most he was not there, he pushed me aside for other matters he deemed more important.

“Business as usual, I came by to see if mom and you were in need of anything.”
Acting as if nothing has changed like we are the best of friends, the best of brothers, that’s funny.

He said I was being foolish and selfish but I was a child who had just been through something traumatic even more so than the death of dad.
“You could have called instead…why show up now and in the middle of the night?” I narrow my eyes at him in suspicion.

I held onto the thought of being bothersome to my big brother however ten years ago, the week after Adelia’s death, he came home only because my mother pleaded with him.

“I’m heading back from a trip and I was passing by, I’m staying for a few days…hey Dominic what happened to your face?”
Yeah right, you just came by for mom’s food, no use lying, don’t do that to me
By the end of that conversation we had a grudge against one another. So it really annoys me that he is standing right in front of me.

“I got in a fight” I speak blandly.

My mom suddenly jumped in, I really wish she hadn’t but she was trying to avert the conversation, my sweet dear mother.

“Keitaro, dear are you hungry? I can make you something or how about some tea?” She tried to push Keitaro into the kitchen but he wouldn’t budge. He simply held mom’s shoulder, and looked at me with hard eyes.
There you are dear brother…the real you …the side that hates me so damn much.
“So you’re still having those ridiculous street fights…aren’t you?” Keitaro moves closer to me.
“I do not have to explain myself to you” I grit my teeth and hold a lower tone as I speak to him, our eyes dead locked in a heated gaze.

“Don’t start you two, Keitaro, leave him alone…” Mom pulled on his arm.

“So how long now, how many fights, how many times has mom had to watch you drive off on your little scooter to have another brawl at some filthy bar, tell me!” he grabbed my collar.

“I’m not gonna repeat myself Keitaro, I owe you nothing, not an explanation or any answers…forget you” I held no emotion as he shoved me but my feet stand steady and my shoulder sways from his push I hardly flatter.

“Your pathetic Dominic, I doubt Adelia would want to see you this way” he growled that out at me like anything he said about Adelia would matter to me.

“How would you know Keitaro? Her death did not matter to you, so her personality doesn’t concern you either…you have no idea who Adelia was.” I walk over to mom.

“Sorry momma, I’m ok, and I love you…good night” I kiss her forehead as her sad eyes look up at me I didn’t want to cause a fight but it was expected, I walk up to my room and go to sleep, I’ll take a shower in the morning.