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1418 Words
“You have so much power buried inside you. You’ve met him, haven’t you? You will have to awaken what you truly are, and it is far from being human.”
The man’s words followed me into my sleep, echoing in my mind long after everything else faded away.
My eyes flew open, and I was already panting. None of it made sense to me. His words kept replaying in my head, the way he said them like they were meant only for me. What did he mean when he said I was far from being human? I had been human my entire life, all twenty years of it, except for those strange dreams that started when I turned eighteen. The thought clouded my mind and refused to let go.
I got out of bed and stared at my reflection in the mirror. Or rather, my sister’s face staring back at me. I let out a tired sigh before turning away and heading into the shower.
Just nineteen days, I reminded myself. That was all I had left. Nineteen days and I would not have to deal with any of this s**t anymore.
At least, that was what I kept telling myself.
“Morning. Glad you’re all dressed up. Didn’t have to wake you up this time,” Celeste said as she leaned against my bedroom door.
I turned toward her while grabbing my purse.
“You look different,” she added, eyeing me. “You know this isn’t something I would wear. Those pants are too tight,” she said as we started down the stairs.
“And thank God I dress better than you do,” I shot back. “Why wear skirts when trousers are clearly superior?”
She rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched like she was fighting a smile.
I walked into the office after yet another lecture from my sister about not ruining things for her. At least this time, I knew my way around. Even though my heart still thudded nervously, I headed straight for the elevator.
When the doors opened, I walked down the hallway, trying to look confident. That was when I saw Greg again.
“Looking good, Jenkins. But you’re late,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “Once again, boardroom. Now.”
He didn’t wait for a response and walked past me with a stack of files in his hands.
Now I had to find the boardroom, and it took me nearly ten minutes of wandering through hallways before I finally got there. I could have asked for directions, but the last thing I wanted was to look suspicious.
I read the sign on the door again, my hand gripping the handle as I took a steady breath. Then I slowly pushed it open.
My chest tightened as every single person in the room turned to look at me.
I could feel his gaze on me even without looking. I didn’t want to meet his eyes, so I lowered my head and let my hair fall forward, hiding my face as I moved toward an empty seat near the door. I just wanted to stay unnoticed.
But before I could sit, someone gestured for me to move closer. Closer to Mr Arrogant.
I hesitated, my legs refusing to cooperate for a second too long. The room felt painfully quiet, and I could feel everyone watching me. Heat crept up my neck as I forced myself to move. I finally sat down two seats away from him, my movements stiff and awkward, my embarrassment settling deep in my chest.
Throughout the meeting, I kept scribbling with my pen, pretending to take notes just to distract myself. I wasn’t really paying attention to anything being said. For some reason, Mr Arrogant’s eyes were fixed on me, burning into my skin and making my stomach twist in a way I couldn’t control.
The room began to feel strange, like it was shifting around me. It reminded me of the dream all over again.
Does he see through my soul? Could he tell that I’m not Celeste?
“Mr. BlackFeather,” someone called out.
He didn’t respond. His eyes stayed locked on me, unblinking.
They called his name again, confusion clear in their voices, but he still didn’t look away. It wasn’t until someone tapped his shoulder that the spell finally broke and his gaze shifted.
When he finally spoke, his voice cracked, deep and rough, almost like a growl.
And then, without explanation, he dismissed the meeting.
“Miss Jenkins, wait behind,” he ordered.
I stopped in my tracks, my heart skipping hard in my chest.
Am I getting fired?
I watched everyone file out of the room, stealing curious glances in my direction before the door finally shut behind them.
The silence was heavy and suffocating.
I stood there, frozen, staring at him as his expression slowly darkened. His hands gripped the desk in front of him a little too hard, the wood creaking under the pressure as his breathing grew rough and uneven. Then he straightened, his shoulders tense.
“What are you doing to me?”
His voice came out sharp, deep, edged with a growl that sent fear racing straight through me.
He stepped closer, and I backed away instinctively. I couldn’t read his face anymore. It was too dark and too intense, like something wild was fighting to break free. Another low sound rumbled from him as he tried to steady himself, his grip tightening on the desk, but it was clear he was losing that battle.
When he looked at me again, I saw it.
His eyes were burning red.
I stumbled back, my shoulder hitting the wall as my chest raced and my breath came too fast. Panic clawed its way up my throat. I wanted to run. I wanted to scream.
But my body wouldn’t move.
“Look what you’ve done,” he said as he moved closer.
I was trapped before I realized it, his body boxing me in as he leaned down and drew in a slow breath, inhaling me like he couldn’t help himself.
My heart thundered so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
“Please don’t kill me,” I whispered, my eyes squeezed shut as his breath fanned over my face.
Before I could process it, his mouth crashed into mine.
The kiss was rough, intense, and desperate, like it came from a place of pure loss of control rather than desire. It stole the air from my lungs and left my thoughts scattered.
Then, just as suddenly, he pulled back.
My breath hitched as I struggled to process what had just happened.
“Leave,” he growled, stepping back.
He didn’t have to say it twice. My legs moved on their own as I turned and fled, the door slamming shut behind me.
I sat in my chair, my fingers brushing over my lips like I still couldn’t believe it had happened. Why did I let him kiss me? He had no right. None at all. I should have smacked him across the face.
I cursed under my breath, the anger coming too late to matter.
But his eyes kept replaying in my mind.
They had glowed.
How was that even possible?
My phone buzzed, pulling my attention away. It was a text from Celeste.
My heart sank the moment I read it.
“I think your boyfriend is cheating on you.”
I didn’t text back. I just sat there, unsure of what to say or what to do. My thoughts were a mess, and the kiss kept replaying in my head, distracting me no matter how hard I tried to push it away.
All I needed to do was get through the rest of the day and avoid him. That was it. Just survive the hours until I could go home.
But then I heard footsteps.
I glanced through the glass, and my breath caught when I saw him. Mr Arrogant in all his glory, walking straight toward my door, his eyes fixed on me like he already knew I was watching.
As always, my heart betrayed me and started hammering hard in my chest.
I stood the moment he walked in.
For a moment, he didn’t say anything. He just looked at me, his expression unreadable, heavy with something I couldn’t place.
Then he finally spoke.
“I need you to come with me.”
- Writer
