Chapter 11: Desire
Chapter 11:
Luis parked his car by the Crane Mansion. He was very confused why
Jullian wanted him to come up here. Jullian hated him. Luis just wanted to
get this over with so that he would never have to have anything to do with
Jullian again. Luis got out of his car and walked up to the Crane Mansion. He
knocked on it several times before the door opened and he was pulled in. It
was very dark and Jullian closed the door quickly after Luis was pulled in.
"Get your hands off me," Luis said. "Shh," Jullian said, "Not too loud. This
way." Jullian led Luis into his office.
"What is it that you wanted to talk to me about Jullian?" Luis said,
crossing his arms. "Would you like some whine?" Jullian asked. "Look Jullian.
Just tell me what you want to say so that I can leave." Luis said. Jullian
sighed and said, "I want to talk to you about Sheridan." "Sheridan. There is
nothing for me to discuss with you. I love Sheridan and I won't ever let you
tare us apart again." Luis turned around and walked to the door. Jullian
stood up and just before Luis reached the door, Jullian said, "If you care
about Sheridan's safety, you will listen to me."
Luis stopped in his tracks. He froze for a few moments. Sheridan's
safety? Could Sheridan be hurt? Did Jullian do something to her? Luis turned
around and ran towards Jullian. "Sheridan's safety?" He said and he grabbed
Jullian by the collar, "What have you done with her, Crane?" Luis had a look
of fear on his face.
When Jullian didn't answer right away, Luis pulled him slightly. "Answer
me!" He yelled. "I haven't done anything to her... yet." "God help me, if you
lay a hand on her, I swear__." "I am willing to make a compromise with you."
Jullian said, taken Luis's hands off of his collar. Luis said, "No, no, no.
There will be no compromise. There is nothing you can do to keep Sheridan and
me apart." Jullian gave a small evil smile and started to circle Luis.
"You claim that you care about Sheridan. That you really like her." "I
love her," Luis corrected. Jullian laughed inwardly and said, "So, since you
'love her' you would be willing to do anything for her." "Anything in the
world," Luis said as he turned to face him. Jullian continued, "And you would
sacrifice anything to make sure that she is happy and safe." "In a
heartbeat," Luis said. Jullian said, "So, you're saying that you would do
anything for Sheridan, even if it meant hurting you?" "You got it, Crane,"
Luis said. Jullian evilly smiled and said, "Well... then I suggest you listen
carefully to what I have to say, and think long and hard, because your
decision will decide Sheridan's well-being."
Luis hesitated. He knew that if he stayed any longer, he might give in to
the Cranes. The last thing he wanted was to have anything to do with the
Cranes, except for Sheridan. She was the only good person in their family.
Luis wanted to leave right now and never come back, but this seemed serious.
What if Sheridan could get hurt by the Cranes? He would never forgive himself
if he was responsible for her getting hurt. He would do anything in the world
to protect her, so he might as well listen. "I'm listening," Luis said.
Jullian said, "In exchange for not hurting Sheridan, I have one small
request." "And what is that?" Luis asked. Jullian smiled and said, "That
you'll never see my sister again."
Luis mouth dropped open. "What?" He asked. Jullian said, "If you don't
want Sheridan to get hurt, you have to promise me that you won't see Sheridan
again." Luis shook his head and said, "I can't do that. I love her to much to
live without her." Jullian smiled and said, "I'll give you a day to think
about it. But by tomorrow morning, I want an answer, or else." Luis shook his
head at Jullian and stormed out of the Crane Mansion.
He sat in his car and leaned his head against the steering wheel. He took
a few deep breathes and thought, "My god. I can't believe this. If I do what
Jullian says, I'll never get to see her again, but if I don't do what he
asks, Sheridan could get hurt, maybe killed. Oh god. What do I do?" He
finally calmed down and decided that a good night's rest would do him some
good. He drove home and got out of the car. He stood up and looked up at the
beautiful night sky. He inhaled deeply and imagined Sheridan's face painted
in the sky. She was the most beautiful woman in the world, even more
beautiful than the sky. Luis didn't want to stop seeing her, but he didn't
want her to get hurt.
Luis walked into the house and to his room. He fell onto the bed and
clutched his pillow close to him. The pillow still had the scent of Sheridan
on it. Luis inhaled the scent and imagined himself holding her tightly
instead of his pillow. He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep, but he
couldn't bring himself to do it. He kept thinking about Sheridan. Thinking
about how much he loved her and how he couldn't stand to be apart from her,
but how he couldn't stand for her to get hurt. He didn't know what to do. He
got up and walked to the kitchen. When he got there, Pilar was sitting at the
table drinking coffee. She was reading the newspaper when Luis came in. She
looked up at him and saw a troubled look on his face. "Luis. What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing, Mama," Luis said, sitting down. Pilar said, "Luis. I know that
something's wrong. Tell me, what is it?" Luis sighed deeply and said,
"Well... I went over to the Crane Mansion to have a talk with Jullian..."
"You? Having a talk with Jullian? Well, there's something you don't hear
everyday." Pilar said. Luis said, "Yeah... Anyway, he said that he would do
anything to protect the Crane Empire, even if it meant hurting Sheridan."
Pilar gasped, "Oh my gosh. Is Sheridan hurt?" "No... not yet at least." Luis
sighed, "Jullian said that if I stay away from Sheridan, he will leave her
alone." "I see. So, what's the problem," Pilar asked. "Don't you see, Mama. I
love her. I love her more than anything else in the world. How can I get on
with my life without seeing her." Luis said, standing up. Luis ran a hand
through his hair, frustrated.
Pilar stood up and walked over to his son. She touched him on the back
and said, "Luis. Sheridan could get hurt." "I know... I know. That's what's
killing me. If I stay away from Sheridan, she'll be safe, but I'll be
miserable, and if I stay with Sheridan, she will get hurt... Oh, either way,
I loose." Luis moaned. Luis sat down again and buried his face in his hands.
Pilar patted him on the back. "Luis. I know it's a tough decision, but you
have to think about Sheridan. You can't let her get hurt." Luis sniffed and
looked up at his mother, "So, you're saying that I should do what Jullian
says? And stay away from Sheridan?" "If you love her enough to want her to be
safe, than that's what must happen." Pilar said sadly. Luis closed his eyes
and tears spilled from his cheeks and he began to sob. Pilar wrapped her arms
around her son and tried to comfort him. But nothing could comfort him now.
Luis knew what he had to do. He had to stop seeing Sheridan. If it meant
keeping her safe, then that's what must happen. He loved her too much to let
her get hurt.
Luis looked out the window and saw that dark clouds were starting to
cover the sky. It was as if the sky knew his pain. Like it knew how hard it
would be for Luis to do this. How miserable he would be without her. But he
knew he had to do it. In order to protect her, he had to do it. After a few
minutes, Luis stood up and said, "I guess I know what I have to do." Pilar
said, "I hope you understand Luis." "No, Mama. I'll never understand. I'll
never understand why Sheridan and I can't be together. I'll never understand
why everyone wants us to be apart. I'll never understand why everything has
to be so painful," Luis said, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm so sorry,
Luis. But you're doing the right thing," Pilar soothed. "Yeah. I know you're
right. This is going to be the hardest thing I have ever done, but I have to
do it." Luis said. Luis took a deep breath and walked out the door and to his
car. Pilar sadly watched him leave. She sighed and thought, "My poor Luis.
Everything will be all right. Somehow, everything will be all right." She
closed the door and walked back into the kitchen, just as the clouds began to
cloud over the sky...
To Be Continued...
