"What do you mean I'm going to have round the clock protection?"Â Camelia asked her parents.
The three of them were currently seated in her father's study. The room was slightly dark, except for a roaring fireplace and the soft glow of a lamp on a side coffee table. It was a little after six in the evening and Camelia had just returned from a full day of attending classes.
Both her parents shared a look, a silent communication passing between the two of them.
What was going on?
"We have reason to believe someone is out to hurt us...to be more specific, we have strong evidence suggesting a enemy of ours will attempt to hurt you to reach your mother and I." Julien stated. He shifted on the love seat he shared with her mother and released a deep exhale.
"Over twenty years ago, before your mother and I married...a vicious man verbally and physically insulted her. I was not going to allow him to get away with it so I accumulated enough evidence over the span of a few months that sent him to prison for a long time due many criminal offenses he committed before that particular encounter."Â Her father continued.
"His name is Nathan Diam." Her mother explains. "Remember the envelope that was offered to me on a silver platter, the night of the auction?"
Camelia nodded numbly.
"Well, it was a message from him. He used the same words he spoke to me that day with a threat. It read, IT'S BEEN FAR TOO LONG.  SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE ONE YOU HAVE. I PLAN TO GIVE YOU A LESSON YOU WILL NEVER FORGET..." Annie recited the note by heart and in a tone that held absolutely zero emotion.
She's never heard of the man let alone her parents speak of what happened years ago.  It was the first time she had heard they even had an enemy. It was a shock to her system to hear the detailed extent of how serious they sounded.
The only emotions Camelia witnessed was in her mother's India-ink blue colored eyes âher father's label of the color.  It set her on edge recognizing the identical colored pair cloud with unmasked worry. It was a sight Camelia was afraid she was not used to witnessing.
Annie was a force not to be reckoned with. It was hard to penetrate the walls she placed when matters turned sour. It frightened her to see her mother look almost vulnerable.
Camelia switched her gaze to her father's deep silver eyes. A simple glare from her father's icy stare was as sharp as broken glass. His aura oozed power and authority. He was a man who loved his family and would do anything to protect them. But his eyes appeared deeply troubled and the set of his shoulders looked as if they held a tremendous, unbearable amount of responsibility.
Goosebumps erupted all over her body and at the same time her heart somersaulted from the somber looks they were giving her.
"This is no joke, is it?" Camelia asked in a small voice, wringing her hands together. They knotted in her lap uncomfortably.  When her father shook his head silently, the fear started to creep further up her spine. "This man is after me?" She whispered, feeling lost and trapped.
"Yes." Came the answer she hoped not to hear.
Camelia's heart nearly stopped.
"For the past week I've had a string of undercover operatives follow you for your safety. We feel you need closer protection... so we have appointed a bodyguard to accompany you wherever you go. We don't mean to frighten you, love, but we need to take certain precautions with your safety. " Her father explained with a pained expression.
The more she heard, the more heightened her fear became. Their looks alone were enough to intensify her boiling anxiety, resulting to further tense and lock in place her already stiff shoulders.
Someone was out to hurt her. Someone out there was going to threaten her safety. It felt like a movie or a scene out of one of her books.
This can't be real.
The hair on her head felt like it stood on end as the terror and shock set in her bones.
There was one point in life she wished with her whole heart that the boring, simple existence she was living had some adventure and excitement, but hearing this made her want to crawl behind a rock and never leave.
Careful what you wish for...the voice in her head whispered.
"Why me? I don't understand!" She burst out in a shriek feeling a flush of frustration surge through her body.
"The bastard..." Annie clears her throats delicately, "... intends to punish us and make us suffer. He's using our only weakness, and that's you." Annie explained as the worry in her eyes diminishes. It was replaced with raw determination and anger.
Camelia bit her lip, buying time to calm herself to think, overcome with emotion.
Oh...did she wish she was as strong as her mother.  Just witnessing her display slightly reversed and helped lift her own discomfort. It made her want to be brave.
She had to remind herself, she was not completely helpless and defenseless. Annie made sure Camelia and her siblings took self defense classes just in case they needed to protect and defend their safety. All three of them were trained for years until they mastered the techniques of martial arts. She could fight and incapacitate an assailant if the opportunity presented itself.
But, she was sure she never would have to use her learned skills. Until now. Physically she was prepared but emotionally she wasn't.
It was unsettling, scary and too close to home. To think she would ever be in danger seemed so distant, almost delusional but the reality was right in front of her.
The threat was real.
Building the courage and bravado she did not feel, Camelia adjusts her slightly slumped posture and looked her parents in the eye. "What does this low life look like?"  She asked them instead of voicing her fears.
Her mother smiled gently, witnessing her display of strength. Julien shifted to his left and picked up a file laying on the table. He opened the Manila folder and took out a picture, handing it to her.
"He's disgusting!"Â She exclaimed with a upturned expression, holding the photo away from her body.
Her mother chuckled and nods her head knowingly.
"That's the first thing I thought when I first laid eyes on him."Â Annie confessed.
The man was not handsome. He was nasty.
Camelia studied the plains of his rugged face. His features were hard, cocky, confident. His eyes stood out the most. They were dangerous...no they were evil. A monster disguised as a human.
A sneer appears on Camelia's lips.
His hair looked like it was once brown, now streaked with gray's. It was cut in an army style. His lips were thin set and they held a small secret smile, that said...I'm out to get you.
Camelia had a strong urge to rake her fingers down his ugly face. The previous rush of fear she once felt, disappeared. It was replaced with cold fury, loathing and hate. She despised the man already. Priding herself on being the invisible one in the family, Camelia already hated the unwanted attention she was receiving, and it appeared it was only the beginning.
Nathan.
A criminal with no morals. A sick, narrow minded individual with nothing better to do with his time but torture others. For somebody who wished to hurt people because of a grudge was no better than scum.
The bastard.
Crumpling his picture in her palm she threw it on the velvety textured Persian rug beneath her feet. Camelia stands and stomps, disfiguring his face with the heel of her shoe. Realizing what she did without thinking, she raised her head and noticed her parents look at her with expressions resembling pride and approval.
"Sorry, I got carried away." Camelia apologized with a small blush. She smoothed down her light blue skinny jeans and sat back down. Once a tumbling long mess over her shoulders, her hair slightly shadowed her face. Out of force of habit, she tucks the layers behind her ears.
Exhaling, she appears to act as the ever obedient daughter once again.
Usually Camelia was a calm person who didn't resort to violence nor ever fed her anger. It rarely happenedâa reserved side very few knew about. It was never obvious, only if a situation required further action and the opportunity presented itself, did she show that part of her character.
But this situation put her on edge. It wasn't an everyday occurrence when somebody was out to hurt her, or maybe even try and kill her. Her parents didn't have to say it, for it was possible. A person like him was capable of many things. To kill her, eliminate her, from her parent's lives to make them suffer was a plausible solution for someone so twisted.
"That's what we will be doing to him soon, my love, don't be sorry.  He's the one who's going to be sorrier, I promise you. Nobody messes with this family and gets away with it." Her mother said with determination.
"All we need you to do is stay with your bodyguard at all times. Always take precautions wherever you go as we try to narrow down the search and wait for him to make his next move." Julien advised.
"Who is this bodyguard you keep talking about?" Camelia asked, changing the subject before she started to hyperventilate from the worry the whole situation was causing her. The more she sat and talked about itâ the never ending scenario of the worst possible things happening kept invading her mind.
"His name is, Kent. He was in the military. I briefed him on the situation a few days ago and he has full knowledge about your everyday schedule, he knows exactly what to do and is more than capable to out man a small army. Feel safe with him. I don't want you to worry too much with him accompanying you. Go by your day like nothing is happening." Her father assured her.
It was difficult to comprehend. A person can take so much all in one day. It was overwhelming and Camelia could not help but be anxious.
Camelia closed her eyes for a moment. As much as she believed her parents, they could not predict the future. Anything could happen.
Anything.
"Okay, I'll try." She replied simply, keeping a stoic non-readable expression plastered on her face. She did not want to express how she truly felt. Her whole body was cold, numb.
"He will drive you to and from school. Wherever you go he goes. I know you like your privacy my love, it will take some adjustments on your end. Please be patient with him, don't be too difficult. Remember he is there to protect you. I cannot stress this enough, always have your phone with you and fully charged at all times." Her mother advised, watching Camelia's frighteningly pale face carefully.
Annie noticed her daughter trying to be brave. It hurt more than she was showing. She hated to see Camelia suffer and hide behind a facade. Seeing through her daughter's walls, much like the ones she used to set in place broke her heart.
She had the power to emotionally distance herself and control what she shows others. The maturity she executed outmatched her age. Of all her children, the most level headed was Camelia.
The silent one who suffered in silence. The one who never argued. Never asked for anything.
It was agonizing to witness her youngest, her baby, as a target. Someone so young, barely starting her life, should not be going through such a dangerous ordeal. Annie could only picture and analyze the situation, understanding her pain. She may not have experienced the same problem but she definitely went through her own hurtles and obstacles.
Annie stood and with a few steps she slides on the couch beside her daughter, embracing her in a warm hug.
Camelia melted against her mother, her head in the crook of her neck. "No matter what, I want you to be strong. Be confident and don't let this problem weigh you down. Whenever you need me or your father we are always here." Annie murmured against her daughter's forehead lovingly as she stroked her long thick hair.
Camelia nodded against her not saying anything. She felt safe and cocooned in her mother's arms. But what about when she was out there where she was vulnerable?
"I'll try."
"We will do everything in our power to keep you safe..." Her mother reassured her while tightening her arms around her. "I'm so sorry you have to go through this."
The doorbell chimes loudly.
Her father stands and her mother loosens her grip.  Camelia frowned delicately. As far as she knew they were not expecting company. Turning to face her mother, Annie smiled encouragingly and patted Camelia's knee.
"We felt like you needed to meet your new bodyguard. He's arrived to meet you." Her mother explained her unanswered question and stood.
Her father exited the study to greet the new bodyguard, Kent. Camelia felt nervous all of a sudden. Everything was happening so fast and all in one day. She felt like she was in a beginning of a nightmare.
Her independence and freedom no longer ceased to exist.  She was to be watched by her 'guard' and most likely by the monster out to get her.
Her skin felt two sizes too small. The lightweight white blouse she wore was not loose enough anymoreâit was suffocating. The urge to flee to the safe confines of her room sounded like a better idea than meeting her bodyguard. She wanted to curl up on her bed and cover her head with a pillow and never leave hoping it was all a bad dream.
Voices could be heard in the foyer and they were coming closer to the study. With every footstep her heart pounded loudly like a beat of a drum. She sprang to her feet, running her stiff fingers down her blouse and jeans. Taking deep breaths to calm her nerves, she waited in anticipation.
A deep manly voice vibrated against the vast high ceilings of their grand home. The male's voice sounded young and not old at all like Camelia was initially imagining. She expected a older middle aged man. Her ears perked as their footsteps approached.
Standing as stiff as a marble statue, Camelia's eyes fixated on the entrance of the doorway.
"Please come in and make yourself comfortable, Kent. Julien and I will give you two a moment to speak." Annie announced, closing the door to the study.
Camelia's watchful gaze caught first glance of his body. Her eyes travel over the length of his warrior like physique.
Her eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets when she noticed his very broad muscular chest and arms, outlined in a simple black v-neck t-shirt. The muscles of his arms were carved immaculately like a sinew masterpiece.  Camelia continued to trail her gaze down his figure, sculpted like that of Hercules, the Demi-God described in Greek mythology.
His waist was narrow and tapered down into low waisted dark jeans. He was well over six feet tall, as tall as her father if not a couple inches taller.
Camelia shook her head a little dazed from the shock and surprise. She was sure she had never felt so many emotions in one night let alone a day. She was also positive she looked like a gaping fish with her mouth hanging open. She quickly closed it and adjusted her gaze to Kent's face. She had barely spared it a glance at first but now her eyes widened like saucers when she finally noticed his features.
His hair was as black as the night sky and swept to the side slightly. He wore square shaped, black rimmed glasses. The glasses did not match his appearance though. They seemed oddly out of place but cute nonetheless. His nose was straight and strong, easily completing the beautifully sculptured plains of his features and high cheekbones as a light beard grew along his chin and jaw.
Kent smiled kindly, revealing straight white teeth and a pair of perfectly full manly lips.
Oh my... she thought flushing, feeling all the blood rushing to her face. He was worthy of any feminine admiration. Everything about him screamed alpha male.
Kent approaches with swift strides that seemed to claim every inch of ground beneath his feet, moving with self-assurance and stopping before her. Camelia blinked several times to clear the haze, the fog that seemed to take over her mind. Her eye level met his hard chest. She needed to crane her neck to gaze at him.
"Hello, my name is Kent, it's nice to finally meet you Camelia." Extending his arm, he held out his hand to shake hers. His voice sounded reserved, nerdy almost. It didn't match his physical exterior.
Camelia's eyebrows furrowed delicately as she continued to study the sky blue eyes behind the lenses. They were strong eyes, sensing they held nothing but warmth and security deep within their depths.  Now that he was close she could smell the sweet spicy cologne along his neck. It was strong yet surprisingly sweet and welcoming.
It was attractive.
Camelia's arms were held stiffly by her sides with palms clenched. Unlocking them from place and before she made a even bigger fool of herself, she met his hand and shook his large waiting one.
"It's nice to meet youâ." Cutting off her sentence, flinching from the warmth and strength as his large hand engulfed her small icy one.  His grip was firm and strong feeling the power radiating off his skin into hers. The tingles skimmed over her skin like faint lightning bolts leaving a trail of heat in it's wake.
It was another shock to her system to feel his flesh make such an usually, oddly, remarkable reaction onto hers. Touching him was like soothing aloe Vera on a sunburn.
"...Kent."Â She finishes breathlessly, staring with wide eyes and raised eyebrows.
Camelia tried retracting away from further contact but she couldn't. Kent held her fingers tightly, squeezing in a firm grip. No matter how subdued she was with tugging her hand back he kept a restraining hold as if she'd disappear if he let go.
The smile slipped from his face.
A confused expression crossed his features as his gaze briefly met her eyes then quickly down to their intertwined hands.  He looked back up again, blinked several times as if to rid himself of a silly thought, released his constricting hold and cleared is throat. A mask of indifference took over his features.
He showed no signs of being affected as his face remained blank staring down at her, as if waiting for her to say something. Trying to ease the turmoil racing through her jumbled emotions, Camelia backed away and swallowed heavily as if distance would make what occurred disappear.
The tension in the air turned thick.
He takes a step closer, invading her personal space, and for a second she was certain he was trying to question what passed between them. Camelia's breath hitches as she takes another step back. A flash of disappointment flashes in his eyes before he masks it again.
She wasn't sure why or how it was possible but it was evident he felt the current that shot between them too.
____________________________________________________________________________
Thanks for reading!
Hope you took a peek at the pics. Notice the many different faces of Stefan? And yes they are all the same person. Isn't it amazing how different he looks with every picture? More (progressing) pics of him will be uploaded in the next chapters.
Please don't forget to vote, share and comment!
-Shaz