Chapter 23

“I think she’s finally asleep.”

Holly closed the door to the bedroom behind her and walked out into the main living area. They’d put Fiona to bed in one of the spare rooms. Holly sat down next to Kendra on the sofa, leaning back with a sigh. They were alone for the moment, Emily having excused herself to the bathroom.

Kendra put one arm around Holly, hugging her gently.

“Bit of a draining morning, isn’t it? Not exactly in tune with the relaxing holiday we pictured.”

“No, not really. But there are good points along with the bad.”

“True! Adam’s worth it. Although...”

Holly leant her head on Kendra’s shoulder.

“What?”

“Adam better make it up to us later.”

“Hah! Yeah, he better.”

The two of them looked around the opulent room, taking everything in. The closed room where Fiona slept. The bathroom where Emily was.

Kendra blew breath past her lips noisily.

“How did this happen?”

“Hmm?”

“This! Look where we are! We got one of the cheaper rooms, even though it was tempting to look at the deluxe bungalows. We chose somewhere remote, where all there was to do was sit on the beach all day. When did we last do that?”

Holly let herself fall down across Kendra’s lap. The pretty blonde absently started playing with her hair, massaging her scalp. Holly turned her head slightly to plant a kiss on her fiancee’s thigh.

“Two, no — three days ago? When we took Adam down to the beach.”

“See? Way too long. It’s like there’s been drama after drama.”

“Not quite, K. Yeah, it’s more than we expected. But we did spend almost an entire day in bed with Adam.”

Kendra huffed.

“Yeah, I know. Actually, babe — about this morning...”

Holly turned her head so she was looking up at Kendra.

“Oh no. That’s your confession face. What did you do?”

“Nothing! Well...”

“Kendra...”

Kendra flashed Holly a nervous smile.

“Oh fine. Yeah, so this morning —”

“When Adam fucked you.”

“Hush! But yeah. We were in bed. After you left for your run! And we were naked. And cuddling...”

Holly poked Kendra in the side, making her jump.

“Are you trying to draw this out, or are you just trying to make me feel jealous?”

Kendra hesitated and then said everything fast.

“We were naked and didn’t want to get up, and we were cuddling, and then we started to fool around, and it felt so good you know, so we just kept going and we had sex and it was great and ... Adam came in me.”

Holly blinked.

“So? Oh, you mean — no condom?”

Kendra bit her bottom lip.

“Nope.”

“Kendra!”

“I know! But it felt so good and ... it was too far away.”

Kendra finished lamely. Holly poked her again.

“They were in the bedside table! You could probably have reached them without even getting up! What happened to you always being prepared with one?”

“Hey! I was still half asleep and Adam was holding me from behind! You try waking up to him playing with your tits and see how rational you are.”

Holly hesitated.

“Yeah, that’s pretty fair. Actually...”

“Ooh, this should be good.”

“Funny. Well, the last time Adam and I were together, I almost did the same. I might have even ... asked him to.”

“What! You did it too?”

Holly screwed up her face.

“No. We didn’t, Adam kept the condom on. But I did ask him to...”

Kendra paused, then she let out an explosion of laughter. She giggled, petting her fiancee’s head.

“Wow, he’s going to knock both of us up at this rate!”

Holly’s lips quirked, but she tried to stay serious.

“I don’t know why that’s so amusing. I’m too young to have a kid — not sure if I want one at all!”

“Then why did you want Adam to come inside you?”

“Um. I don’t know? It just seemed like ... it would have been the best thing ever?”

Holly flushed, but Kendra just beamed down at her.

“It is! And was! I know exactly what you mean. Adam tried to be responsible, the cutie that he is, but I wasn’t having a bar of it.”

Holly caught Kendra’s hand and squeezed it.

“I’m not sure if...”

The bathroom door opened, making them both jump. Emily walked out, adjusting the top she had changed into. She paused when she saw Holly laying across Kendra’s lap, flushing pink.

“Oh sorry — I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Kendra waved her hand lazily in her direction as Holly sat up.

“Oh, you weren’t interrupting anything — you’d know it if you were! Feeling better, cutie?”

Emily sat down gingerly on the edge of the sofa, like she was unsure of her welcome.

“Yeah, much better. Is...?”

Holly nodded, giving Adam’s sister a reassuring smile.

“Fiona’s asleep. She seemed better now, just exhausted.”

“Good. That’s ... good.”

Kendra gave Emily a discerning look.

“Still not a fan of your cousin? I mean, I’m not really either.”

“No, I’m not. Even if everything is not entirely her fault, it’s just...”

Holly looked at her curiously.

“Is it about Adam? He told us about how he fell out with Fiona.”

“No. Well, yes — even if I don’t exactly have the moral high ground there. It’s all just so ... complicated.”

Kendra sat back, resting her hands across her belly. She looked contemplatively up at the ceiling.

“Your dad’s a piece of work. How much of everything is his fault, do you think?”

“Kendra...”

Emily shook her head, indicating it was okay.

“No, she’s right. I think I used the wrong way dealing with my father. I was trying to protect myself, but ... I might have made everything worse. For everyone.”

Kendra patted Emily on the knee, squeezing it gently.

“Sorry, we were already talking about somewhat serious things. I didn’t mean to hit you with something like that so early in the day.”

“It’s alright. I mean, I don’t mind talking about it with you two. Hah — that’s weird, right?”

Kendra grinned.

“No, it’s weird for sure! I thought you were an absolute bitch yesterday! But now I kinda like you.”

“I didn’t help matters.”

“No you didn’t!”

Holly cleared her throat, but she was smiling as well.

“I think it’s obvious why that changed.”

All three women nodded.

“My brother.”

“Yeah, Adam.”

Holly looked across Kendra at Emily. Her expression curious.

“Has he always been like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like the centre of attention? We’ve only known him like five days. He seemed unsure when we first met him. We even felt like we had to look after him! But then...”

Kendra nodded vigorously.

“Yeah, we don’t have to do that anymore. I mean, we still would! But now...”

Holly and Kendra exchanged a look. Emily, staring at the both of them, took a deep breath.

“Are you fucking my brother? Like, both of you?”

Kendra paused, her mouth open. She started to blush, uncharacteristically caught off guard. Holly’s cheeks were slightly pink, but her face was composed as she answered Emily.

“Yes we are. Are you?”

Kendra’s head whipped around to face Emily. Adam’s sister flushed, panicking.

“What? No! I mean, why would you even think ... that. He’s my little brother, there’s no way I — I mean, I couldn’t —”

Kendra breathed out.

“Holy shit. That’s so ... kinky! Holly, you insightful little genius, why didn’t you tell me?!”

Holly shrugged, but she was still watching Emily splutter.

“I wasn’t sure. There was just a few things I noticed. Like yesterday, in their bungalow, there was only one bed that had been slept in.”

Emily protested weakly.

“I’m not sleeping with Adam.”

Kendra giggled, poking Emily playfully.

“You’re not being very convincing, cutie. She doth protest too much, right, Holly?”

“I swear I’m not — hang on! So you are fucking my brother? I thought he was just talking himself up when he said he had somewhere else he could stay at night!”

“I don’t think Adam talks himself up, right Kendra? He could stand to be more confident, but he doesn’t brag. As his sister, shouldn’t you know that?”

Emily stared. She shook her head weakly.

“We never really spent much time together. But it’s not just that, he’s changed so much! It’s like he’s a different person now. A few nights ago, after dinner, he even —”

Emily stopped herself. She blushed furiously, but shook her head.

“Never mind. But how are the two of you with him? Isn’t that weird? You’re a couple!”

Holly looked pensive, like she was thinking about something else. Kendra just smiled, waving her hand dismissively.

“Hey, we can share! We’ve done this kind of thing before. I mean, not for a while, but it’s not too out there for us.”

“Really? With a guy?”

“Um, no? That’s a first. But it’s good! Adam’s different, right, Holly?”

“Hmm. Sorry, what?”

Kendra and Emily turned to look at Holly. The brunette’s brows were furrowed as she stared off into space. Kendra put a hand on her fiancee’s arm.

“What are you thinking about, baby?”

“It’s just ... isn’t this all kind of weird?”

Kendra blinked as Emily nodded whole-heartedly in agreement.

“What do you mean, Hols?”

“It’s just ... the two of us, with Adam. There’s nothing strange about that, I know. It’s just ... was it always not strange?”

Kendra laughed hesitantly.

“That’s a little esoteric for me. Sounds like a conversation to have when we are drinking.”

Emily frowned.

“No, she’s right. It’s strange! I mean, I think it is...”

Holly folded her arms.

“See, that right there! It’s strange, but it’s not. Like Emily having sex with her brother.”

“I’m not —”

“Hush, cutie. What are you getting at Holly?”

Holly sighed.

“I don’t find it all that strange, the concept of Emily sleeping with Adam. Do you, Kendra?”

“No ... huh. You’re right. If anything, I think it’s kinda ... hot?”

“I telling you, I’m not!”

Holly continued, ignoring Emily for the moment.

“Exactly. And Emily seems like she has more of an issue with us sleeping with Adam than vice versa. And she sounds more jealous than anything else.”

Emily blushed as Kendra narrowed her eyes.

“ ... interesting.”

“Yeah. I don’t know what it could even be, but sometimes I feel like there’s something else going on in this place. There was something when we first arrived, even before meeting Adam — so I don’t think it could be him. But there’s something...”

Emily leant in close to Kendra. Her cheeks were bright pink, and she looked like she was trying to ignore what they were saying about her and Adam.

“What’s she talking about?”

“I don’t know. But Holly thinks about things. She notices a lot of stuff that I miss. I just trust her when she says something.”

Holly sighed.

“I could be wrong. But there’s something about this place. It’s like it’s all connected somehow. Kendra, remember the night at the bar when we talked to Britt? She was telling us that this place had kind of a messed up past.”

“Oh yeah! There was a cult thing.”

Emily blinked.

“A cult? Get out.”

“She might have been exaggerating. Kendra does have that wide-eyed stare sometimes that makes you want to shock her. Maybe we should ask her again, this time sober.”

Emily raised an eyebrow, looking askance.

“Are you serious? Even if it’s true, why would it matter? It’s not like there’s some supernatural voodoo shit going on.”

Holly looked at her steadily.

“I know. I’m not saying that there is, it’s just that the more I think about it all, the stranger things seem. Something is going on here. And I want to find out what it is.”

Adam looked around the beach, Kalista hanging limp in his arms. There was no-one else around thankfully. He wracked his brains, trying to think of what to do. It was hard to concentrate. His adrenaline was still pumping after his fight with Todd, and he could still feel and hear the crunch as his fist slammed into the older guy’s ribs. On top of that, Kalista’s slight body in his arms was calling to a different side of him. She was tiny! Adam thought he wouldn’t have noticed her weight even before he had changed.

He didn’t want to carry her into Serenity Falls. Adam wasn’t sure how he would explain away an unconscious girl in his arms to anyone that saw them. So getting help was out. Taking her to his room or his mother’s apartment was also not an option. Even if he could get her there without anyone seeing, what would he say to his sister or the girls?

Thankfully, Kalista seemed okay. She was breathing steadily — she was just unconscious. Adam wondered at that. Why had she passed out? Her eyes had been so wide, her body trembling, when she’d stopped him from hitting Todd. Adam had initially put that down to her being shocked. It still freaked him out if he was honest.

Adam had stared down at Todd on the ground, his fists clenched. His heart pounding in his chest. Todd’s stupid face had been looking up at him, practically begging Adam to strike. It hadn’t just been rage at what he had done either either. No. It had been like Adam had intrinsically known that Todd was wrong. A rival?

Adam shook his head, dispelling the thought. He had to deal with Kalista. The girl — okay, she was the same age as he was — had been knocked out somehow. It had been like she was having trouble speaking at the end, every word being forced from her mouth. He was glad she had been there though. Adam didn’t want to think about what would have happened if Kalista hadn’t stopped him.

Deciding what to do, Adam carried Kalista off to the side a bit, going into the dunes. He put her down carefully on the sand, being mindful of her head. It looked like she was just laying there enjoying the sun. Adam sat down next to her, drawing his knees up to his chest. She seemed fine, just asleep. He would give her a few minutes, and see if anything changed.

Adam couldn’t help but eye the sleeping girl. She really was quite beautiful, if a different kind of lovely from Holly or Kendra. She was so slender, but without the firm muscle that Holly sported. She was short too, being five foot nothing. Adam gently reached down and took hold of Kalista’s wrist. He could wrap his thumb and index finger around her wrist easily. Adam could feel her pulse under his grip. Her heart was beating slow and steady.

Adam wondered at the girl, at how she had been so brave and daring. She’d practically dragged him along to spy through the window to his father’s bungalow! He wouldn’t have thought she was like that, just by looking at her.

Kalista made a soft noise, stirring. Adam leant over the girl, taking her by the shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open, and she stared up at Adam, blinking owlishly.

“A—Adam? What is —”

Kalista’s eyes slammed fully open and she sat up quickly. The sudden rush of blood to her head made her grimace, but she looked around wildly.

“Is everything okay? Where is —”

Adam patted her on the back soothingly.

“Everything is fine. You ... fainted, I think. But there’s no need to worry.”

“Todd? Did you — did you let him go?”

Adam frowned.

“Yeah, he left. Don’t you remember?”

Kalista heaved a sigh.

“I think so. I was just scared that ... you’re a bit terrifying, Adam.”

“I am?”

Kalista eyed him for a long moment. She sighed.

“Isn’t that just interesting as well. Anyway, where are we? And why do I have sand all through my hair?”

Kalista raked her fingers through her tawny mane, grimacing at all the sand that fell out. Adam winced guiltily.

“Oh, sorry. We haven’t really moved. Just to one side off the path. You were ... asleep, and I wasn’t sure what to do. So I just put you down, and —”

Kalista shook her head, flipping her hair back and forth. Adam blinked as a spray of sand hit him in the face. A plaintive note crept into Kalista’s voice.

“Aw, man! It’s everywhere! My hair’s too thick for this. I keep telling my Mom I want to cut it short, but she keeps going on about how she likes it long. In fact, she — oh shit, Mom?”

Adam looked up to see a man and woman walk out onto the beach. They were looking around, but stopped when they spotted Adam and Kalista sitting in the dunes. The woman — she looked eerily like Kalista, but instead being tall and quite curvy — grabbed at the man’s arm, pointing up towards them. The man — who looked a little younger than the woman, and quite well built — shaded his eyes, squinting over at them. They hurried over, the woman looking relieved.

“Kali? Are you alright? You were supposed to meet us for breakfast! Where have you been? And who’s this?”

Adam shifted uncomfortably as the woman narrowed her eyes at him. She was quite striking, with the same colouring as Kalista. Exotic, if Adam had to describe it. He began to shift a little further away from the girl next to him, but Kalista took hold of his arm.

“Yeah, sorry, Mom. I got distracted. This is Adam. Adam, this is my Mom. Mirela. And that’s Cole. My step-dad.”

“Nice to meet you?”

“Hmm. Quite. I haven’t met you before, have I? How do you know my Kali?”

Before Adam could answer, Kalista got to her feet. She brushed the sand off her legs and behind, smiling winsomely up at her mother.

“What, do you have to know everything about my life, Mom?”

Mirela snorted indelicately, but it was Cole who stepped forward. He raised his hands soothingly.

“It’s not like that, Kali. We waited at the restaurant but you never showed. Your mother was worried, that’s all.”

Kalista sighed.

“Yeah, I get that. Sorry, I just lost track of time.”

Mirela looked at her daughter searchingly, and then glanced at Adam.