Chapter 3.11

Chapter 3.11

He hated spiders, snakes, bees, wasps and ghosts; but the one thing Cedric feared the most was growing up.

Allegra and Dexter often complained about how difficult their homework was, and they seemed more than distraught when they had an outburst of spots.  Although Cedric realised he could do little about his hormones, he knew he could expand his logic and prepare for future academic challenges.

Rocio was more than happy to sit with him and teach him how to play chess and other games involving logic; but she also made sure he experienced a proper childhood too.

For his thirteenth birthday, Rocio threw him a memorable house party with a few close friends and family members.  Titus and Allegra even jammed together, providing solid acoustic tunes throughout most of the evening.

“Go blow out your candles and make a wish, son,” Leon encouraged excitedly as he wrapped his arms tightly around Cedric.

As he rushed over to his cake, all his worries about growing up dissipated momentarily.

Excitement coarsened through his body as he entered the world of teenhood.

Shortly after his birthday, Cedric decided he wanted to work his way into the publishing industry as either a journalist or an editor.  He loved writing and knew it was a passion of his which had been influenced by Leon.  Cedric’s talents could not be denied; even Leon recognised that his Son had a natural flair when it came to writing and proof-reading.

From then on, Leon was determined to help Cedric achieve his ambitions, and even bought him a shiny new computer as a gift so he could write all he wanted in the comfort and privacy of his own bedroom.

The Meerkato’s were seemingly sailing along steadily, despite certain secrets crawling underneath the surface.  Unexpectedly, one of these secrets belonged to Allegra.

Something intriguing had happened to Allegra at Cedric’s thirteenth birthday party whilst everyone else had been busy conversing and chewing on slices of birthday cake.  Just after she had placed down her guitar for what she thought was a well deserved cake break, a tall dark haired man in his late twenties, with a handsome face, approached her and greeted her politely.

She tried not to blush as he introduced himself as Clayton and explained that he was a friend of her Father’s; they had met at Honeyset Valley’s book club.  He had been watching her play for most the evening with an enthralled expression on his face.

“You’re very talented,” Clayton spoke in a smoky smooth voice, “I could get you recognised if you’d like.”

Allegra’s eyes sparkled with interest as he continued to speak.  Turned out Clayton was a part-time freelance photographer, he claimed he had helped several other girls kick-start their modelling and singing careers by helping them build up professional portfolios, and helping them contact the right agencies.  He even boasted of having his own studio in the basement of his house.

“Wow, that’s awesome!” Allegra gasped as excitement rushed through her body from head to toe.  What luck that her Father knew someone that could help her achieve what she had always dreamt off since she was a young girl.

“Here’s my number,” Clayton explained as he handed her a business card, “call me whenever and we can arrange your photo shoot.  For you I’ll do it for free.”

Allegra gladly took the small card from his hand and scanned her eyes across the sleek design and the bold text on top which read; ‘Klooney’s Photography’.  Beaming with anticipation, she nodded her head and briefly imagined herself standing on a giant stage, dressed in leather skinny jeans and bathing in the cheers emitting from her adoring fans.

Needless to say, she phoned Clayton the very next day.  After a small discussion about what the photo shoot would entail, he enthused she should meet him at the Little Corsican Bistro at four o’clock and reminded her to bring her guitar and a few changes of clothes.

She settled on a punky rock image for her first set of clothes; black fishnet gloves, a dark green t-shirt and dark skinny jeans.  After putting on a touch of makeup and letting down her hair, she was more than ready to say her goodbyes to her family and head out the house.

Allegra was slightly nervous by the time she reached the bistro, unsure on whether it was a good idea to take advantage of Clayton’s kindness like this.  However, all her anxiety melted away when Clayton actually turned up.

They took a taxi back to his house.

Once they had arrived Clayton wasted no time, leading her down a steep set of wooden stairs into his basement studio.

Allegra was in complete awe as she gazed around the brightly lit room; her eyes eagerly roaming around each set Clayton had obviously organised and constructed himself.

“This is… incredible!” Allegra gawped before her eyes were drawn once more to the double bed, with a heart shaped head and foot board, on the set nearest to the door.

She could not help but feel uneasy about the bed being involved with her photo shoot.

‘Maybe it‘s for another client?’ Allegra thought in a petty attempt of reassurance.

“Let’s get started then!” Clayton exclaimed, clapping his hands together.  Allegra managed to push her thoughts aside as she picked up her guitar and hurried over to the urban street set in the corner of the studio.

Allegra felt alive and lavished with each and every click and flash of the camera.

After taking several pictures of Allegra rocking out, Clayton went and stood around the corner, flicking through the photographs on the display screen of his camera whilst Allegra changed into her next outfit; a silky blue dress, complete with a top hat which she had pinched from Dexter’s wardrobe.

“Very sexy!” Clayton complimented moments after he had strolled back around to corner to see how she was getting on.  “You have a divine sense of fashion.”

Allegra smirked and rolled her eyes before she cheekily raised her hands up her face and stuck out her tongue.

“Hold that pose,” Clayton ordered in a serious tone as he lifted up his camera and started to snap away once more.  He occasionally dictated how Allegra should pose, and what face she should pull.  She felt on top of the world as he uttered that she was gorgeous and naturally photogenic.

After Clayton had taken the final photo on the set with the ivy covered wall, he marched straight over to where Allegra was stood.  She thought he was going to show her all the photographs he had taken, but instead he smiled somewhat unnaturally and pointed a finger straight at her.

“You should take off your dress.”

Allegra’s heart practically skipped a beat and she stared back at him as it he was mad.

“Err,” Allegra muttered uneasily, “I didn’t think…”

“Just for some underwear shots; tasteful, of course.  I know you’re only sixteen,” Clayton clarified with a hand on his hip.

Allegra’s eyes looked beyond his shoulder, towards the remaining set; the one with the heart themed double bed.  Her own heart felt like it was sinking as she looked back at Clayton.  She did not quite feel like a glamorous star anymore.

“I don’t want you to take pictures of me like that,” Allegra admitted as she nervously bit down on her lower lip.  “I want out of this.”

Clayton tapped his fingers against his chin as he studied Allegra’s face, then tilted his head up towards the ceiling.

“It’s a shame you’re not up for it, I guess fame doesn’t mean that much to you after all.  The pictures we have so far are wonderful too; it’d be a shame to just get rid of them…   Oh well, I know a couple other girls who would kill for this opportunity, so…”

“Fine!” Allegra sighed in defeat, “I’ll do it.”

She was desperate for the recognition, so she figured perhaps it would not hurt to sell out to her morals and believes just this one time…

“I feel ridiculous,” Allegra muttered in her embarrassment as the heat from the lights above her made her increasingly aware of her exposed skin.

“You look fantastic, Allegra, stop fretting,” Clayton chuckled before asking her to stand closer to the bed.

Despite trying, Allegra could not relax at all.  There was something about Clayton which she had previously overlooked, and now it was starting to emerge.

After taking just two more photos, Clayton lowered his camera and stared openly at Allegra’s body.  She only had to briefly look at his clouded lustful eyes to realise the perverted thoughts circling through his mind.  Trying to swallow her fear was hopeless now; the realisation had hit her like a ton of bricks.  She had already played with fire, and now she was about to get burnt.

Clayton dropped his camera on the floor and rushed towards her like a wild animal.

“You’re so beautiful,” He breathed as he stretched his arms out and tried to encircle them around her skinny waist.

“What are you doing?!” Allegra shrieked as she roughly pushed him away with a horrified expression pasted on her face as her stomach churned in disgust.  Clayton, on the other hand, appeared to be rather bemused.

“Don’t tell me this isn’t what you want; I’ve seen the looks you’ve been giving me.”

“I’m only sixteen!  Even you made a point of that!”

Allegra shivered violently as he continued to gawk at her.

“I want you Allegra,” Clayton whispered in a low unnerving voice, “you’ve grown up into such a beautiful young woman.  I’ll show you what pretty young girls deserve.”

As he stepped towards her once again and placed both hands on her skinny waist, Allegra froze like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car.

She felt sick as his hot breath panted against her neck, before his moist lips traced against the curve between her neck and shoulder.

Flinching as his teeth grinded against her collarbone, Allegra shrieked loudly and pushed Clayton away from her once more.

“Get off me!” Allegra she growled before she swung her fist back and drove it straight into his solar plexus.

The blow instantly knocked him to the floor, living him winded and dazed as his head smacked hard against the ground.  Allegra released a loud cry from the pit of her lungs as adrenalin continued to coarsen through her veins.

She then leapt straight over Clayton’s withering body and made a beeline towards the door.

Allegra grabbed the handle and tugged hard.  Nothing happened, so she tried pushing it.  The door still refused to budge and Allegra whimpered out in a mixture of fear and frustration.  The situation was turning into a nightmare before her very eyes and she prayed she was dreaming so she could wake up in the safety of her own bed.

“Going somewhere?” Clayton’s voice rang out loud and clear.  Even though she had anticipated him climbing back onto his feet, Allegra still jumped in shock.

“Did you think I was stupid enough not to lock the door?” Clayton chuckled after she had gradually turned her body around to face him.  She felt horribly self-conscious as his eyes roamed up and down her scantily clad body, hungrily gazing at her feminine curves.

“Now, be a good girl and I‘ll be gentle.”

As he started to edge towards Allegra she was rooted to the spot, her brain desperately racking for means of escape.  Where else was there to go though?  The only door was locked, and she was not to know if there were any hidden doors in the room.   There was no way out.  Allegra’s were now wide like saucers.  She wanted to just disappear into thin air…

…Of course!  There was a way out.  There had been all along.  Allegra suddenly felt stupid for not realising before.  Before Clayton could reach out to grab her, Allegra raised her hand in the air and waved him farewell.

“Have fun in jail,” Allegra trilled.

And then she teleported away right before Clayton’s startled eyes.

Allegra mentally kicked herself the moment she materialised in her bedroom.  She could not believe she had forgotten about her ability.  Then again, she rarely used it as much as Dexter or Apollo did.  She preferred a bit of normality in her life to remind her she was partly human, not just the descendant of some Chinese super life form.

Her thoughts now spinning back round to what had happened over the past hour, she giggled softly as she imagined how confused and frustrated Clayton felt, and not to mention terrified with the assumption she was going to phone her police.

As she gazed around her room she wondered whether to phone the police or to even let her parents know about Clayton’s true nature.  Then again, she had never truthfully been all that close to Leon, and she felt too ashamed for putting her personal safety on the line, just for the sake of perusing her dream to be an entertainer, to summon up the strength to tell Rocio.

Still, Allegra knew she had to tell somebody.

Her clothes had been left at his house, although if he had any sense he would have already started to dispose of them.  And her guitar…

“Shit!” Allegra cursed, her blood running cold as she cupped a hand over her mouth.

Of all things, why did she not think to grab it?  It was her prized possession, her little wooden baby.  Clayton would surely destroy it for what she did to him before escaping, regardless of whether she decided to report him to the police or not.

Clayton, however, had no plans to destroy her prized possession.  He knew things could pan it in his favour, even if Allegra got the police involved.  It had been common sense from the beginning for him to take careful steps so he did not end up with any incriminating evidence hanging off his back.

All he had to do now was to simply make the right moves now that he taken into account that she was different than any other girl he had ever groomed.

Poor Allegra was unaware just how much danger she was actually in…

~~~

A/N:  Eep, well, now it’s almost heir voting time.  Will throw the poll up tomorrow, stay tuned