Heart Song to the Moon

Chapter Four

After the meeting was adjourned, Lamar seemed to run back to his office. Locking his door, a wicked smiled curled his lips. “Finally everything is in place,” he moved effortlessly to his desk, “With Scarlet unknowingly giving her life to the Order, I can finish what my father started.” Lamar was unaware that his assassin was deceased as well as all of those he sent after her. He thought he was successful at destroying the last of the Shiniyuri clan and would be able to have all power bestowed upon him. “With Ta’Keo permanently removed, and Scarlet in my possession I will drain her life force to become the most powerful being to ever live.” There was indeed something special about Scarlet. Since birth Scarlet has always surpassed everyone in practically everything she did. But 6 months she was talking, 8 months she was walking, by one she was potty trained, by 18 months she was in school reading and writing. When she turned 3 she was a mathematical genius, by the age of 5 she was already study geometry and calculus. She grew faster than the average child as well, she was taller, and by the age of 8 she hit puberty. Her parents assumed that this was natural, but her grandmother knew better. Her grandmother Luna Toshiru, niece to Alexaundra Tsubaki, knew from the time that Scarlet was born, that she was her Aunt’s reincarnation. Not only did she have her aunt’s beauty but her demeanor. Scarlet nor her parents knew that she had Carpathian blood running through her veins, nor did they care.

Suddenly there was a knock on his office door. “Who is it?” He said with the nastiest tone. “Open the door boy; you dare speak to me in such a way.” Running to answer the door, “Sorry Father, I did not know it was you,” he bowed his head his eyes to the floor. “Have you completed your task?” Lamar’s father looked as though he hadn’t aged a bit. “Aye father I have, and Scarlet is now COO and has accepted her position,” he said proudly sure that the great and feared man before him would be too. “I see; have you spoken with your assassins?” the man questioned his son. “No I have not but I assure you we don’t have to worry about him.” Narrowing his eyes the man grew irritated. “You are an idiotic fool. To think you are my son. He must be dealt with and dealt with now.” Flustered by the accusations made by his father he sighed, “Aye father and he shall.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Smith,” Scarlet entered his office without the proper announcement. Stopping in her tracks, “Oh pardon me, I did not mean to intrude.” Lamar smiled at the sight of her, “It’s alright Scarlet, please come in,” he gestured to her, “Have you met my father, Priest?” She entered and smiled at the man before her, “No I don’t believe I have,” extending her hand, “A pleasure to meet you Mr. Priest Smith, I am Scarlet Toshiru.” Smiling he took her hand and kissed her knuckles, “A pleasure indeed to be in the presence of such beauty, Ms. Toshiru, I have heard a lot about you. Please just call me Priest.” Removing her hand she smiled and inclined her head slightly before redirecting her attention to Lamar. “Mr. Smith, I when over our budget for this year and I found a few discrepancies and thought I should bring them to your attention.” Scarlet handed Lamar the paperwork, she felt that he knew where the gaps in the budget plan came from but kept her thoughts to herself. “A keen eye as always Scarlet, I will review these a little later, or maybe we can review them over dinner?” A wicked smile played across his lips. “If I were to decline your offer Mr. Smith, would that cause me to have to fight to keep my job?” Her eyes narrowed at the thought. Priest interjected, “No dear not at all, I do believe my son here is just being coy with you.” Chuckling Scarlet looked to the man and raised a brow, “Priest I assure you, Lamar is not coy when it comes to me, isn’t that right Mr. Smith?” She turned to head toward the door, “Be ready by 6:45 approximately, or I will leave and return home.” What is the hell was she thinking? Giving this beastly man the opportunity to be in her presence alone again, hopefully she wouldn’t regret this decision. She walked out of the office before he could respond heading back to her office. “See father I have this all under control,” Lamar told his father with great pride and sound resolve, “We have nothing to neither fear nor worry about, everything will be fine.” He started to lead his father out of the office when suddenly his father looked at him, his eyes filled with fear. “My Son, there are things you know not in which you trifle, I fear that I have done you a great disservice in my lifetime, and that before I leave this earth I will watch my own flesh and blood be cast from this world.” The fear in Priests’ voice could have shaken you to the very core. Lamar had never seen such a thing in his father’s eyes nor heard such painful fear in his voice ever. This creature can’t possibly be that powerful that he can strike fear in the most feared man in the western hemisphere! Is he truly one to be feared or is the old man just trying to scare me into being more cautious? “Father please don’t be afraid, for all will be well I assure you,” he hugged his father and held the door open for him, “Now go home and rest, I will come over later this evening.” Watching his father leave he sighed and took the hint the old man gave him. It was time he became more cautious of what he was dealing in, but he would also do more research himself. He needed to know for himself who this Ta’Keo Vicctorio Shiniyuri really was and why he struck fear into his old man without being in his presence.

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6:45pm arrived at a rather fast pace. Packing up her briefcase there was a soft tap on her office door. “Ready to go Ms. Toshiru?” Lamar was standing at the door with a grin on his face. Sighing she had hoped that he would be late so that she could go home. “Mr. Smith where will we be going this evening, I do not wish to be out later than necessary.” Placing her jacket on, picked up her briefcase and purse and slowly approached Lamar. “Well I was hoping that you would accompany me back to my place, I hired a new chef and wanted to test his skills.” Narrowing her eyes she shook her head in disbelief, “I should have known there was a catch to you wanting to have dinner with me.” She brushed past Lamar, heading down the hall to the elevator. I can’t believe him; he actually tried to hoodwink me. Lamar sighed a followed her, “Scarlet it’s not what you think. I just thought it would be better than spending unnecessary money. That’s all.”

It was quite apparent that she was not hearing his nonsense. How many times had he tried to trick her into going to his house? She was not going to fall into his trap or play his games anymore. “You know Lamar; if I didn’t know better I might believe you, Good night Mr. Smith.” She got onto the elevator and started her descent to the front lobby. Once the elevator reached the lobby floor she realized that she didn’t drive into work and sighed heavily. She did only live no more than 45 minutes away walking or driving. So she decided she would just walk.

As she began her trek home something seemed different. She sensed something lurking in the shadows, watching her silently preying on her vulnerability. Quickly she grew tired of the cat and mouse game. Calling out to the darkness; “Show yourself, enough of this hiding amongst the shadows!” Surveying all that lie before her, he stepped into the dimness of light behind her. Wickedly he chuckled. Startling her she snapped around to gaze upon him. Examining his person from his feet to his toned thighs that seemed to be etched by the highest sculptors, to his sculpted waist to his rippled abs chiseled by the cherubs, to his wide chest to his broad shoulders, to his full lips to his heart stopping eyes. It was there that their gaze met seeming to do a waltz as hers sparkled and his twinkled in the dim moonlight. Fire seemed to ignite between them.

Was she not his prey? Was he not her hunter? Finally he spoke; “One so beautiful should never be out alone at this hour.” His voice was smooth like jazz but rich like chocolate. The baritone played at her heart like the strings of a bass. Narrowing her gaze she snapped; “Humph, coming from the one who was stalking me. Now be gone with you, I’ve had a long day!” Never taking her eyes off of him, she hoped he would leave. Yet a part of her wanted him to stay. He was strange and seductively mysterious. A smile played across his beautifully tempting mouth. “My dear lady, I was not stalking you simply walking on the same side of the road as yourself.”

Why did he have to smile? Suddenly she felt the icy barrier she had up slowly begin to melt away. It was strange; every moment she tried to look away he just drew her back in. What was he doing to her? “Yes that maybe the case, but still be gone with you.” Her voice cracked with nervous energy. The palms of her hands were sweaty, the pace of her heart began to quicken. Softly he spoke; “Very well Miss, however, I cannot leave you to walk home alone at this hour. I will leave once I know you are safely home.” Debating on her options, she sighed as she narrowed her gaze once more. “Fine but you must leave immediately afterwards.” Quickly turning on her heels, she once again headed up the street. Her strides seemed to lengthen drastically. Did she really despise company or was it just his presence that sent her senses soaring?

Another smile played across his lips, amused by her strange behavior. As she waited for her chance to cross the busy intersection, the Moonlight hit her. Bathing her in a luminescent beauty, her skin seemed to shimmer. It was then that she looked back at him; the amber brown radiance of her eyes stole his breath away. “You really don’t have to do this; I take this route every evening. I assure you I’ll be fine.” She offered him the sweetest smile he’d ever seen. Suddenly he frowned, a pain in his chest that he hadn’t felt in a Millennia, struck him taking him by surprise. “Now I already told you, I cannot allow that.” He knew she was watching him, observing and trying to figure him out. “Where are my manners?” The thought dawned on him he never properly introduced himself. “My name is Ta’Keo Shiniyuri, a pleasure to meet you.” He extended his hand gracefully and offered a warm smile. Slowly she extended hers in return. “Scarlet Toshiru, a pleasure I’m sure.” Once their hands connected, fireworks went off. It was then that Ta’Keo knew that she was the one. But was he ready for eternity? What if she didn’t ever want to……?

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