Deep Down (UNEDITED)

Playing Games

+POV. AMARA+

With wide eyes I gazed from Vladimir to Matthew, only one thought ran through my head.

He's lying.

He's lying.

He's lying.

Tell me he's lying, begged the little voice in my head. The only thing Vladimir did was look at me with one of his emotionless stares. I didn't expect anything else.

It had taken me years to find the smallest clues about my mother's murder and Vladimir just had to snap his fingers to find a key witness? It was a bittersweet feeling, the kind that eats away at you from the inside until there is nothing left. A knot formed in my stomach. If Matthew had actually seen my mother being murdered, why didn't he say anything to the police? What was stopping him?

"How?" was all that passed my lips. Matthew's blue eyes were blank, the little wrinkles around them betraying that he had to be at least over forty.

"I was the gardener for the neighbors across the street, the Smiths" he swallowed hard "That day I came to prune the roses at their house as agreed." We never really had good contact with the neighbors, so what he told could very well be true. Vladimir frowned slightly as he made a hand gesture for Matthew to continue his story. "I was almost done with my work when the black SUV arrived, some men in suits got out. I thought it was strange, but other than that I didn't think much of it."

I swallowed hard they had been with more than one.

"Do you happen to remember what they looked like? A vague description?" began Vladimir. Matthew rubbed his balding head with a hand as he shook from no. The small glimmer of hope I had was instantly destroyed.

"Oh god, I should have known something was wrong when I heard that scream." Matthew almost sobbed. I wanted to reassure him that it was okay, that he couldn't help it, that it wasn't his fault. I couldn't, not now anyway, not until I got my revenge.

Vladimir sighed. "If that's all, I think it's better that we go, Amara." I swallowed away the bile that had risen to the surface. Without protesting I let Vladimir pull me away from the lonely little table. Just before we were about to walk out of the room Matthew's hoarse voice sounded through the room.

"A snake." Vladimir was already about to go on but I stopped abruptly. Matthew's eyes bore into mine.

"Amara, we don't have time for this-" began Vladimir, but I ignored him.

"What did you say?" I asked curiously now.

"One of them had rolled up his sleeves. He had a tattoo of a snake on his underarm." Vladimir's face lost all emotion, as if it were stone. He knew more about this. Without a word, Vladimir stormed out.

I mouthed another awkward thank you to Matthew before rushing outside in an attempt to catch up with Vladimir.

After a short sprint, I was back on the street, but Vladimir was nowhere to be seen.

Stifled, I took a breath. Where did that i***t go. Desperately, I wandered the streets looking for that stupid handsome face of his. The bodyguards from earlier were also nowhere to be seen.

I was just about to give up when I saw Vladimir with his hands in his hair, leaning on the railing of a little bridge. The same bridge where we had stood a moment ago. With slow baby steps I approached him, finally standing beside him.

"Are you all right?" I asked. Vladimir snorted mockingly.

"I should really be asking you that." he snarled. I laughed softly; amazingly I felt better than I had in a long time. We had a clue, at least I thought so anyway.

"Don't worry about me," I patted his shoulder "I have hope." Vladimir looked at me like I was a stranger before nodding slowly. "That snake tattoo? You know more about it?" It was more of an observation than a question. Vladimir looked up at the far too blue sky, his Adam's apple going up and down hard.

"Some criminal organizations mark their members, as a sort of recognition point" Vladimir remained silent for a moment.

"And?" He gave me a look as if what he was telling me should provide enough clarity.

"That snake, is the mark of the Vipers, our biggest rival in the underworld." I took a deep breath at times forgetting that Vladimir was a part of that same underworld. "Then the question is, Amara. What business did your mother have with the Vipers?"

If only I knew. What had my mother gotten herself into?

I looked up at Vladimir his almost golden eyes stood serious.

"I think it's time we paid a visit to those Vipers." Vladimir shook his head and looked at me like I was out of my mind.

"Believe me even if you get in there, you won't survive there for a day," he licked his lips "It's too dangerous."

"What do I have to lose?" Vladimir remained silent.

"Your friends." I blinked slowly. Max and Rosaline could take care of themselves they didn't need me, right? I shook my head. who was I kidding. They did. "You're. not. going. end of discussion" I nodded

If Vladimir thought I was obediently following orders then he didn't know me yet.

I can and I will find my way into the vipers and once I do.

I will destroy them.