The Calling

THREE

ELARA

I stood and backed into the kitchen. My eyes fell on the front door, where a tall and menacing figure stood. The air caught in my throat, and my heart sank. He was there, with his black curls hanging over his hazel eyes that seemed to glow. Dexter looked back at me with a wicked grin and spoke in a slithery tone.

“Mmm. Naughty Penelope. I said no guests.”

Penelope threw herself across the room and collapsed to her knees at his feet.

“Dexter, I tried to make her leave. I promise I was good,” she sobbed, curling into a ball and whispering “please” over and over again. I remained frozen, staring into Dexter’s eyes, torn between the urge to run or confront him. Every instinct screamed that I should run.

Dexter smirked and finally looked away, his gaze shifting to Penelope.

“It’s okay, my sweet darling. Elara just wanted to check on her friend, and if she’s a good friend, then she won’t say anything about this.”

He pulled Penelope up from the floor and hugged her against him, stroking her hair like one might comfort a small child. Then his eyes met mine again.

“Elara doesn’t want anything bad to happen to Penelope, now does she?”

I swallowed hard, confusion and dread swirling inside me as I looked at Penelope, who clung to him as if he were a lifeline.

“What did you do to her?” I growled, my voice trembling with barely contained anger.

Dexter laughed, clearly amused by my threatening tone.

“We are in love, Elara. I can provide Penelope with things you cannot.”

I scoffed and let out a humorless laugh.

“Yeah, I’m fresh out of roofies and Stockholm syndrome.”

The amusement faded from his face, and he glared at me, his expression intense.

“Elara, it’s time for you to go, and if I hear you utter a word about any of this, Penelope will be punished.”

Penelope whimpered in his arms, then looked at me, her eyes pleading.

“Elara, I know you don’t understand, but I love him. I’m happy. As long as you don’t tell anyone about us, I’ll be safe.”

She looked up at Dexter and smiled. He returned her smile, his expression softening in a way that seemed almost genuine.

“I promise I have not, and will not, harm her as long as you don’t tell anyone about tonight.” he said with a sincerity that caught me off guard.

I didn’t want to believe his words, but something in the way he spoke made them ring truer than anything he’d ever said, even when it came to work-related matters.

He cupped Penelope’s cheek and gazed deeply into her eyes. Her breathing quickened, her cheeks flushed, and she seemed to melt into his embrace. His fingers traced down from her cheek to her neck, and she moaned softly.

The whole scene made me uncomfortable, like I was intruding on something twisted and private.

“I won’t say anything. But I want to see Penelope,” I said defiantly, trying to maintain a shred of control in the situation.

Dexter ran his finger over the fabric of Penelope’s silk camisole, circling the spot above her n****e. She bit her lip and ground her hips against him, her voice breathy as she murmured,

“Please, Dexter.”

“Penelope, what the hell?” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I was done with this night.

“Tell me that I can see Penelope, or I’m going to the police.”

Dexter turned his bored gaze back to me and shrugged.

“Deal. You can see her, but keep your mouth shut. Don’t break this deal.”

“Fine,” I spat out, marching past them toward the front door.

I heard it close behind me, and I lingered for a moment. What the hell had I just gotten myself into?

It didn’t matter. I would move mountains for Penelope. As I started for my car, I glanced back at the living room window. I saw Penelope, now topless, straddling Dexter. Her head was tilted back, and his hands trailed slowly down her spine. She wore a soft, contented smile, and then she looked into his eyes. He stared back at her, and I was certain I saw his eyes glow for a brief moment before he looked past her and met my own gaze through the window.

A strange longing stirred inside me, but I quickly squashed it. I glared at him, flipped him off, and stormed to my car.

Just as I reached for the door handle, a man came sauntering down the sidewalk. He was striking, with moonlight shimmering across his white hair and pale skin. Even in the darkness, I could see the definition of his muscles through his deep purple leather jacket and black jeans. In his hand, he carried a strange bottle.

I was awestruck and couldn’t look away. He unsettled me in the same way Dexter did, but unlike Dexter, I felt a magnetic pull toward him. It was as though I wanted to get closer, despite the warning bells ringing in my head. As he approached the driveway, I dropped my keys. When he looked up, his eyes glinted like molten gold, and a shiver ran through me.

“Is this Penelope’s house?” he asked in a velvety tone. His voice was so captivating, I could have listened to him speak all night.

Thoughts flashed through my mind—wild, reckless thoughts about him throwing me against the car, about giving in to the pull I felt toward him right there on the driveway.

What the hell? Get a grip, Elara.

I snapped back to reality just as he reached me and handed over my keys. He was taller than me, and I had to look up to see his eyes. He gave me a crooked, almost shy smile before repeating his question.

“So, is this Penelope’s place?”

“Oh. Yes. Yes, it is. Sorry, you just caught me off guard,” I said, shaking off the spell he seemed to cast over me.

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want with Penelope?”

He chuckled and raised a hand as if to surrender.

“I’m actually here to drop off some mineral water for Penelope. We’re old friends.”

He held up the bottle, and the liquid inside shimmered like moonlight. I knew it wasn’t water, and I was certain he wasn’t a friend, but I needed to play it safe if I wanted to protect Penelope.

I took a moment to steady myself before replying, “She has company right now, and they’re... busy. You might want to wait.”

He chuckled again. “Thanks for the heads up. What’s your name?”

“Elara Sullivan. And you?”

“I’ll remember that, Elara. My name is Silus.”

“Got a last name, Silus?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

“Curious, aren’t we?” He smiled again, then took my hand and kissed it.

“I hope to see you again soon, Elara.”

The way he said my name made me shiver. I felt a dangerous pull toward him, an urge to give in to whatever wild possibilities lay ahead. Instead, I just nodded, got in my car, and sped home. When I arrived, I dropped everything on the kitchen table and ran to my bedroom. I threw open my dresser drawer, grabbed my vibrator, and let my mind drift to fantasies of Silus until I fell asleep. He filled my dreams that night.

I woke up feeling ridiculous the next morning. I never reacted to men like that—or women, for that matter. I prided myself on being controlled when it came to my desires. I shoved the vibrator back in the drawer and got into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of my dreams about Silus.