Chapter Two - Nobles?
1300 Words
I couldn’t run fast enough from the restaurant.
I’m usually only grateful for my magic that allows me to transport small distances.
In moments when I don’t feel like walking home from work in the rain, or when I want to remove myself from awkward situations quickly.
I’ve never needed it to run from a murderer.
My apartment materialises in front of me, my magic dissipating as I launch into a run up the stairs.
I don’t stop until I’m on the fourth floor, in front of my friend’s door.
She opens it after only seconds of my incessant pounding.
“Woah, Naya…” she stumbles back as I barge inside, gesturing wildly for her to lock the door behind me while I try to catch my breath.
“He’s a murderer,” I gasp out.
She tucks her bathrobe tighter around herself, yawning.
“Who?”
“That guy you set me up with. He told me he’s a murderer,” I say frantically, raking my hands through my damp hair.
She wanders over to her kitchen counter, filling her kettle with water.
“Like actually?”
“Yes, actually!”
“Sit down, you’re going to have a panic attack.”
She gestures over her shoulder for me to sit on her couch while she flicks the stovetop on, heating the water.
She sounds bored.
Tired.
She doesn’t believe me, and why would she?
“You sent me on a date with a murderer.”
I flop onto the couch, sinking deep into the cushions.
Damien’s striking eyes flash through my mind.
I should have known someone that beautiful couldn’t be entirely sane.
It wouldn’t be fair if he were.
Lucia turns, resting her back against the counter, regarding me with a raised brow.
“He’s not a murderer, Naya. I met him. He was very gracious and sweet with me, so I assumed you would enjoy a date with him.”
“He’s a murderer, I mean it. He told me himself!” I insist.
The way he sounded…
He was revelling in it.
Taunting his next victim to fulfil some sick fantasy in his head.
Lucia waves her hand through the steam rising from the kettle.
“Was he not just joking?”
“He whispered it in my ear. No hint of amusement or anything.”
I shudder, as if I can still feel the ghost of his breath against my skin.
“I don’t think Damien is joking.”
I watch Lucia pour the hot water into two cups, dunking the teabags.
She’s always reasonable.
Always pragmatic.
Of course she doesn’t believe me.
I sound unhinged.
“How did you meet him again?” I ask, twisting the damp ends of my curls.
She hands me the tea.
“I met him at the library. We were reading the same book, and a conversation started.”
“Which he encouraged.”
“Well, yes… you know how shy I can be…”
She trails off, turning away.
I stare at her back.
Maybe it’s just a coincidence.
But Damien knew about my magic, and didn’t seem overly interested in actually dating me.
What if he set this up on purpose?
“He’s going to kill us. Did you tell him where we live?”
I glance at the door, as if he might burst through at any moment.
Lucia rolls her eyes.
“No, of course not.”
I stare into my tea, as if I can see his eyes staring back at me.
He let me run.
Why?
He knows something I don’t.
“I can’t believe that just happened,” I mumble.
“If you don’t want to see him again, you don’t have to,” she says, sitting beside me.
I take the blanket she hands me, draping it over my legs.
“There was something seriously off about him.”
How am I supposed to sleep tonight?
How am I supposed to go out tomorrow without thinking he’s watching me?
“Fine. Say he is a murderer. Why would he tell you that?” Lucia presses.
“Maybe that’s part of the fun. Scaring his victims before stalking and killing them.”
I sip my tea, ignoring the sting of heat.
“Tomorrow we’ll go to the authorities. Will that make you feel better?”
I take a deep breath.
“Much better.”
I doubt they can do anything.
But maybe they’ve heard his name before.
“Sleep here tonight.”
“Why do I have such bad luck with relationships?” I mutter.
“Even a blind date goes terribly for me.”
He was meant to be perfect.
I was meant to bring him back to my apartment.
Into my bed.
With Damien… I definitely imagined it.
“This one date doesn’t mean others will go bad,” Lucia says softly.
“You know what he told me? He said I might have more power than I think. That I had a bad mentor.”
Lucia freezes.
“You told him you have Dove blood?”
“No. Of course not. He said he saw it in my eyes.”
I touch my face instinctively.
Lucia scrunches her nose.
“What a creep.”
A firm knock on the door makes both of us flinch.
We exchange a glance.
Lucia moves toward the door, but I step in front of her.
“Don’t answer it,” I whisper.
She rolls her eyes and gently pushes past me, standing on her toes to peer through the peephole.
“It’s probably our—”
She stops.
Stumbles back.
“What is it?” I ask, my voice shaking.
Slowly, she turns to me, eyes wide.
“Sector 1,” she whispers.
My stomach drops.
“What?”
“I’m not joking. There are two of them standing outside.”
Why would they be here?
Lucia presses her back against the door.
“I should open it.”
I grab her arm.
“No. That could be dangerous.”
“They’re Sector 1. They run this place. I’m sure it’s fine.”
Her voice trembles.
Carefully, she opens the door.
“I apologise for the late hour. Is Naya here?” one of them asks.
“We need to speak to her,” another voice adds.
Lucia’s grip tightens on the door.
“Why?”
“It concerns a man she met tonight,” the first says.
Damien.
Lucia looks back at me.
I nod once.
She steps aside.
“Come in.”
Two men enter, their presence filling the apartment instantly.
I’ve never seen them this close before.
“Hello, Naya. My name is Eros, and this is Oren.”
Eros gestures beside him.
I fold my arms.
“I know who you are.”
Oren’s gaze locks onto me, sharp and heavy.
“We want to talk about a man named Damien.”
My blood runs cold.
“What about him?”
Eros’s tone is calm.
“Do you know him personally?”
“I met him tonight. On a blind date she set up.”
I point at Lucia.
Oren’s fingers tap slowly against the couch as he sits.
“What did you discuss?”
“What is this about?”
“Answer the question,” Oren says.
“It was… strange.”
“He told her he was a murderer,” Lucia adds quietly.
Eros frowns.
“Did he?”
“Yes.”
“And then?” Oren presses.
“Nothing. I left immediately.”
Eros and Oren exchange a glance.
“Tanya,” Eros says quietly, “you went on a date tonight with the most dangerous man in this sector.”
Oren leans forward slightly.
“And you might still be in danger.”
- Writer
