The cold ones. Part 1, In two worlds

Chapter 16 - A haunting scent.

Kyans POV:

As we carried on with our search after four hours of being out here, I could tell the guys and Kiko were all growing weary of being out here and missing the gathering. Some of their families were here to visit and as much as I couldn’t be bothered with it, I knew they wanted to be there. f**k it! I thought as I whistled loudly for them all to trace back to me.

As soon as they were all in front of me, waiting for further instructions, I decided to be done with our search. “Come on, let’s go back and you can all join the party”.

“Really?” Kiko asked, looking excited, and the others had widened eyes in anticipation.

“Yes, you should all be there. We can do another search tomorrow”.

“But what about Lord Talon? Wouldn’t he be angry to know we’ve returned already?” Del asked.

“We’ve done over four hours, that’s enough and if he is, then just let me deal with that! Let’s go”. I told them and we headed back together in a flash.

The celebrations were already underway by the time we returned, and I had no intentions of hanging around as I quickly moved through the throng of people.

“Wait!” Del called out as they all followed me. “You’re joining us for a drink, right?”

“No actually I’m going to my room and staying there”.

“Ah come on man, just one drink with us!”

“Pleeeassee!” They all cooed with silly expressions on their faces.

“We’ll all get washed and ready and meet back here, just one drink, Kyan”.

I sighed as I looked at their pleading faces. “f**k it, fine, one drink!”

“YES!” They all hummed with clenched fists, reacting as if they had just won a challenge…albeit a small one!.

The shower washed away my irritations from the day, constant questions with nothing to answer them, and every day I grew bored and restless at being here. Tracking the forest every day just to find nothing and being here with that scent lurking around like it was trying to tempt me into returning to Bluebay town.

I put on my black suit, tie and crisp white shirt, thanks to Constance, who’s got expert skills at ironing out every crease and somehow made all my clothes look brand new. I loved my suits, but I wasn’t one to go and buy more s**t that I didn’t need and with Constance’s skills I needn’t bother.

I made my way back down to the celebration and there my team stood all fresh faced just like I was, ready with their drinks and Kiko had one waiting for me. “Glad you didn’t skip out on us boss”. She said cheerfully.

“One drink, then I’m out”.

“We know”. Del chimed in as he patted me on the shoulder. “We’re flattered that as much as you don’t like to socialise, you came back for us anyway”. He said with a chuckle.

“Oh, here they come already… She-vamps on the prowl, that didn’t take long, good luck boss”. Vaughn said quietly to the rest of us as three women made their way over, all of them with their eyes fixed on me like wolves hunting their prey.

“Kiko, put your arm around me, it’ll scare them off”.

“Sorry boss”. She laughed. “But this is just too funny not to watch. You should have worn your mask!”.

“Kiko!” I exclaimed as the women pushed their way into our group.

“Hello, sir”.

“Hello there Kyan”

Hi, I’m Megan”. They all spoke one after another in seductive voices as their hands trailed across my arms, all trying to get a look in.

I sighed heavily at the stink of their desperation and lack of boundaries as they tried to ask me for a dance or join them for a drink, all of which I had absolutely no interest in. They’re all the same and I’ve been there, done that way too many times in the past.

Just as I was trying to move one of their hands off of my chest, that sudden familiar scent hit me like a wave. I perked up my nose and looked around, it was strong and warm mixed in with everyone else’s perfume, the food and the wine. I instantly moved away from the women and my team as I went on my very own hunt. I moved past the bustling, noisy crowd to try and get close to where it was coming from when I found myself at the bottom of the staircase.

And, as if like a cloud, the scent led me up each stair as I let it sink deep into my senses. When I got to the top, I could feel I was close. Moving past yet more people, I kept walking, kept looking around, trying to see who shared the same scent as the human girl.

As I moved along, that homely, sweet warm smell surrounded me, and I felt myself wanting to give in to the temptation of seeing her again. I got past another group of people, when I saw Zekan, Lyra , two other men with my father and stood next to him was a young woman with long brown hair and a backless black dress that curved down to her bum and showed off her soft white olive skin. I got closer, wanting to grab her and ask her how she shared the same scent, when my father’s voice shook me out of my weird trance.

“Kyan, you came, why don’t you join us?”

“Brother! Share a drink with us”. Zekan asked, looking pleased to see me as I stood just behind the young woman.

“Son, I don’t believe you know these two funny young lads, Lyle and Johnny”.

I gave them a little nod as they nodded and smiled back.

“And I don’t think you’ve met Ellie yet”. He said as he nodded to the woman who still had her back to me.

I looked at her as she slowly turned around, and as she looked up at me, her blue eyes made my stomach bolt like something was trying to jump out of it. Those pink lips, those blue eyes! I stared at her trying to catch my breath as I found myself slowly taking the edge of her mask and lifting it up to her hairline.

Fuck! My heart hammered. I couldn’t f*****g believe she was stood right in front of me and with my father no less. “It’s you!” I said in a loud whisper as I managed to finally catch my breath.

“You know each other?” My father asked, looking surprised.

“Ohh, this is where we get a spoiler alert, and it turns out she’s a spy!” Lyra cackled, but our eyes didn’t move from one another.

“Briefly! I… I saw her in the forest not long ago, that’s all”. I replied as I finally took my fingers off of her mask and tucked them away in my pocket, trying to refrain myself from touching her soft face again.

She finally broke our staring competition and turned her attention back to my father. “I just wanted to sit by the river and no, I’m not a spy”. Her pretty little voice spoke to him, and I just stood there suddenly feeling completely bewildered and unable to focus.

“Don’t be silly Ellie, I know you're not a spy”. My father smiled.

And it all came to me, it’s her!... Her! The girl that had been staying in his quarters. f**k! She’s been here this whole time! How the f**k did I not put two and two together? The realisations just kept flooding in, not only has she been in that room all this time, but she’s the girl Lyra was bullying the first night I got here. It was her!

“Lord Talon, may we speak with you please”. Lincoln asked as he and Vivian approached, who were keeping watch over the forest from the towers.

“Of course,”. Father sighed, then looked at Ellie. “I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Kyan, just for a moment, ok?”

“Wait, father!” I quickly spoke, hesitating at the thought of her holding my arm the way she did with him. Just standing by her was like I was forcing myself not to succumb to a drug that my whole body seemed to want to try.

“It’s ok”. She suddenly said to him, “I was going to find Melanie and Faye anyway”.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, it’s ok… go!” She reassured him before she walked away straight past me as my eyes followed her until she was camouflaged within the crowd.

What the f**k! Was all my brain could fathom right now. All of that effort to stop myself from passing by Bluebay to see her and there she was, right in front of me. That f*****g human girl, who, for some reason, I felt completely nervous and confused around. Why? What could possibly be the reason?.... Unless she has those tricks of a witch?.... hmm it is possible!