A While to Find you

Sophia felt the mist of slumber slowly evaporate as early morning rays flickered over the tops of her closed eyelids. She remained semi unconscious as long as possible trying to chase a dream already lost to oblivion. A tingling sensation lingered at the centre of her forehead. She raised a hand to it and winced. What the hell? She thought. She swung her legs over and looked into the vanity mirror only to notice a small burn mark right between her eyebrows.

Before she could inspect further, the windows of her caravan suddenly started to tremble. The word 'earthquake' flashed through her mind, then she realised someone was pounding on her front door. Any sleep fog still present lifted in a nanosecond. No-one knocked on her door. Ever.

She reached under her pillow and gripped the handle of a small bone-carved knife. It was her most prized possession. Not in terms of value, but priceless in sentiment. It had helped her stave off many an attempt of abuse over the years, and as such had quickly become her lucky charm.

“SO-PHI-AAAA!” another series of hammering fists rained down, “I know you're in there Soph! Open the door!” a male voice boomed.

Images of a snotty, mean faced, boy with cold steel blue eyes triggered best forgotten memories. She cursed under her breath. Johnny Lomax. She opened the door with force and greeted her foster brother with disdain.

“What the heck do you want?” she hissed.

Johnny threw his arms out for a hug.

“Oh come on, don't be like that” he shrugged, “what's it been? Ten years?”.

“Not long enough” she quipped.

“That hurts” Johnny said with a fake sulk and two interlocked fists sitting on where his heart should be.

Sophia snorted her disbelief and checked her watch, she was going to be late for work.

Johnny's jaw clenched as he saw the small knife in her hand, “haha” he chuckled nervously, “You still have that hey?”.

Sophia loved the effect the knife had on people. She knew it was silly but she really felt it had some kind of hypnotic power or something.

“What do you want Johnny?” she asked almost melodically, the knife giving her a confidence she didn't always feel.

Johnny looked her in the eye, sighed heavily and put his hands out in supplication.

“Ok, listen, I'm in a bit of a tight spot right now. I just need to lay low. Can I stay with you?” he asked.

"And what makes you think I'd want to help you?” she asked suspiciously.

“Because no-one will think to look for me here” he reasoned, “and because you were always the good one out of us all” he said.

All he got as a response was a dark stare and heavy silence, “you always stood up for us, even when that meant taking a beating. I never forgot that” he carried on.

“Didn't stop you from being an absolute demon to me though, did it?” she questioned with not-so-veiled bitterness.

“I know” he hung his head in shame, “All I can say is that I was a real angry kid, with a lot of issues. And that I am really, really sorry”.

“We all had issues Johnny”

“Yea, but you were different. I don't know, you had this inner strength, and I guess I was jealous of that” he shrugged defenceless.

Sophia sighed heavily and checked her watch again. She didn't have time for this.

“You can hang out at the diner while I work my shift” she relinquished, “but that's it!” she warned.

Once at the diner Sophia sat Johnny at a corner table, “I don't want any trouble Johnny. You you make yourself unseen, understood?”

“Yes Mam” he confirmed with a soldier's salute.

Sophia busied herself clearing tables and chatting to regular customers. The diner was a favourite amongst truckers so they were always very busy. She kept watch on Johnny with the corner of eye. She didn't trust him, and she certainly didn't like him.

The entrance door went again and her scowl turned into a real smile for the first time that day. This didn't go unnoticed on Johnny who had been carefully watching her every move.

“Lucan, hi” she smiled, aware that her cheeks were turning a faint shade of red, “your usual?”.

He had been coming here for a week now. Always at the same time and always for the same thing, Wi-Fi use, coffee and bacon. She figured he was some kind of businessman given the nice suits he wore but she never asked. She personally hated being asked questions about herself so tended not to ask them of other people either. But she was curious about this man, who to her, looked like a real life rendition of a Greek God.

Lucan sat down and nodded, “yes please Sophia”. He noticed the red blotch on her forehead and pointed to his own, “hurt yourself?” he asked with what seemed to be genuine concern.

“Oh this?” she waved a hand through the air, “I must have scratched it in my sleep”.

“Mmmm”, he tilted his head in contemplation, “maybe you were kissed by an angel?” he suggested with half a smile.

“Ha!” she scoffed, “the way it stings? It's more likely to be the Devil” she concluded before walking away to fetch his order.

Upon her return, Lucan placed a hand over her wrist and gently pulled on it.

“Come here a minute” he commanded softly, and with his other hand rubbed some sort of balm over her forehead.

“Better?” he asked after a few seconds.

His touch on hers sent a wobble to her knees and she had to concentrate not to lean her head against his for support. The pain, she noticed, disappeared immediately.

“Wow, actually yes” she said flustered, “what is that?”.

Lucan put the lid back on the viscous substance then lifted it up to the light, “it's my grandfather's recipe. Heals pretty much anything”.

“Well, thank you” she nodded her gratitude, “if, um, you need anything else, let me know”.

She went to walk away but he called her back, “actually” he paused, “could I get a slice of that chocolate cake over there?” he pointed to the dessert counter behind her.

Sophia grinned slightly, “you don't strike me as someone with a sweet tooth” she teased.

“Well”, Lucan paused as if weighing his words, and for the first time looked directly across to Johnny, “today is a special day” he winked, then buried his eyes into the screen of the his laptop.

The hours seemed to pass unnoticed after that, and day quickly turned to night. The last few remaining customers left and she was getting ready to lock up. Lucan was still sat at his table completely lost in whatever he was doing. She walked over to him to let him know she was closing, and noticed he hadn't touched his cake yet.

“Not to your liking?” she pointed to the unscathed slab of pure chocolate temptation.

Lucan looked up and smiled in a way that made her feel like a fluffy gooey mess herself.

“No, actually I was waiting to see if you wanted to share it with me” he offered.

“Oh” was all she could respond, taken off guard. She went to sit down and Lucan pulled out a small knife from his inside jacket pocket.

“Where did you get that?” she asked, suddenly uneasy. She had never seen one remotely like it before, except for the one she owned herself.

“This? It's a family heirloom” he stated, “only two of its kind”.

“Where's the other one?” she asked cautiously. It's not like she had stolen the one she had, but she hadn't exactly bought it either.

Lucan gave her a smile that told her he held a secret, “I think you know the answer to that” he replied smoothly.

She frowned, confused but intrigued, “who are you exactly?” she ventured hesitantly.

Before he could answer, the entrance door swung open and two bodies walked in. Sophia didn't look up, too focused on the mystery man in front of her, “sorry, we're closed” she shouted across the diner.

“Not for us, you're not” the threatening tone of voice made Sophia's head snap up and she found herself confronted with two masked, armed men. She stood up abruptly, almost falling over the chair behind her.

Johnny caught her by the elbow and held her up.

“Now, now sis, don't panic” he whispered into her ear. His hot breath made her cringe and she tried to step away from him, but his grip held firm.

“You guys were supposed to be here half an hour ago!” he shouted annoyed.

“Keep your knickers on Johnny boy” the bigger of the men touted as he pointed the gun in Sophia's direction. “You. Safe. Now” he ordered.

Johnny yanked at Sophia's elbow and pushed her none too gently towards the back office. This gesture sent a wave of fury through her as she remembered all the times he had cornered her as kids.

She turned on her heels and without thinking launched herself at him in a flurry of nails and venomous curses, “you absolute low-life scum! How dare you come here and...”

Before she could get the rest of her words out she felt a fist collide with her cheek bone, and crumbled to the floor.

This is where Lucan stood up. He stayed composed, not an ounce of fear showing on his chiselled features.

“Wrong night gentlemen, and certainly the wrong woman to hit in my presence” he shook his head, disappointed in them.

The two men laughed despite themselves, “and what do you think you can do about it?” the one asked mockingly before pointing a shotgun to Lucan's head.

“I suggest you sit back down and mind your own business if you know what's good for you” the man threatened.

It was Lucan's turn to laugh.

“ Ah, but you see, turns out Sophia here is very much my business” he stated as matter of fact, “as for knowing what's good for me, well” he shrugged, and in a blink of an eye turned the gun around on the man and hit him in the face with it, “I think I know more than you”. The one man blacked out on the floor whilst the other stood in momentary shock before squeezing his finger on the trigger. But the bullet wasn't aimed at Lucan.

Sophia watched it all as if in slow motion. The tip of a bullet flying straight for her. Lucan's fingers catching it just as it touched the surface of her skin. The man's legs giving way as that same bullet entered his own skull. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened.

Johnny picked his heels up and scampered out the front door not wanting to be next, he didn't care about understanding.

Lucan crouched down to Sophia and brushed a palm over her bruised cheek, “looks like we are going to need some more balm on that” he said softly. He offered her a hand and she took it. He pulled her up as if a feather and sat her at his table. She was lost for words. Her thoughts weren't making sense, “I don't...I...” she stuttered, her head shaking side to side of its own accord.

Lucan smiled for a moment, the same secretive grin as before.

“To answer your earlier question” he stood himself up to full height and took a slight bow, “the Devil's Son, at your service”.

He sat himself down opposite her and picked up a fork, “now, how about we finish that chocolate cake and celebrate? It's taken me a while to find you”.