Chapter 5 : Mysterious Masked Stranger For My Rescue
1336 Words
Emily Rosewood's Point Of View.
As I stood there, feeling increasingly helpless with Vincent's advances, a sudden interruption shattered the tension that had been building between us. A commanding voice, rich with authority, cut through the haze of my discomfort, and I turned to see a tall, dark-haired man standing beside us. His masked face concealed his identity, but there was an undeniable air of power about him, and his stern eyes sent a clear message that he was not pleased with Vincent's advances.
"Hello, Vincent." The mysterious man greeted him with a polite yet chilling tone, while his gaze was not leaving Vincent alone. It was a greeting that held more weight than mere words. It felt like a warning that things were about to change.
Maybe for good, or worse?
"Yes, do I know you?" Vincent asked, seemingly taken aback by this unexpected intrusion, as he turned to face the newcomer. There was a palpable tension in the air as the two men locked eyes, neither willing to back down. I could not help but watch while my heart was racing with a mixture of anxiety and curiosity.
"Do I need to hold your hand for you to recognize me?" He answered back with another question, while forming a smirk on his masked face. Vincent's arrogance seemed to wane in the presence of this enigmatic stranger, whose true identity remained hidden behind his mask.
Who might you be, my mysterious savior? I could not shake the feeling that there was more to this encounter than met the eye.
"Of course not, Mr. Adrian Thornwood," Vincent spoke with a fake smile, while their facial expressions revealed a silent battle of wills, with raised eyebrows and narrowed eyes conveying a sense of challenge to each other.
Adrian's concealed face turned slightly towards Vincent, but his tone was polite yet laced with an underlying warning as he said, "I trust you are enjoying the evening?"
Vincent's response was equally cryptic as he said, "I could say the same for you, sir. Enjoying the evening?" His eyes darted subtly towards me while a mocking glint was hidden within their depths.
Adrian's response was calm, while his voice was laced with an edge of mockery that only a keen observer like me could detect as he spoke, "Oh, absolutely. This masquerade has been quite the spectacle. What about you, Vincent? Any special reason for being here tonight? Tell me, have you come here with a particular purpose in mind? You know like having your death confirmed from a wolf bite?"
Vincent's lips curled into a thin smile as he replied, "Are we not all here for a purpose, sir? Some more explicit than others, perhaps." I gasped in shock after encountering the rawness of his words.
The tension between Adrian and Vincent escalated, and their conversation turned into a verbal battle of wits in a matter of seconds.
Adrian, while his voice was dripping with disdain, remarked, "Oh boy, I see you are still clinging to your father's coattails. How predictable the following is, you know?"
Vincent, unflinching, shot back and said, "...and you, Mr. Adrian, ever the responsible alpha. How is the pack these days?"
I felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere as Vincent's words lingered in the air. My brows furrowed in confusion, and I could not help but wonder about the cryptic mention of a pack. My gaze flickered between Vincent and Adrian, searching for context in their exchanged words.
Internally, a flurry of questions raced through my mind as I stood in between these men. What did Vincent mean by "the pack"?
Was it some metaphorical expression, or did it hold a more profound meaning? It then, carried an undertone of something I could not quite grasp at that moment.
A subtle guardedness settled in my expression as I tried to decipher the unspoken dynamics between Vincent and Adrian. The revelation of a hidden layer to their conversation left me feeling like an outsider, caught in the crossfire of a discourse laden with secrets.
Adrian's jaw clenched beneath his mask as he retorted back in a response, "Better off than your reputation, I imagine."
Vincent chuckled darkly and said, "Touché, Adrian, but we both know how these games go in our world."
Adrian leaned in closer, while his words sounded like a hiss as he spoke, "This is not a game, Vincent. Not tonight."
Their cryptic exchange continued. One could say that it was laced with tension and one could feel with certainty that there was an unspoken history in between them, and I was a hundred and infinity percent sure that their masked faces might reveal nothing, but their words cut deep. It was hinting at a rivalry that went beyond the surface.
The atmosphere around them grew colder, and I could not help but wonder once again about the secrets they held.
It was then that Adrian turned his attention to me, his eyes finally felt like softening as he addressed me in a polite but firm tone, "My apologies for the intrusion, my dear. You see, you are my date for the evening, and I should be spending the night with you, but, Vincent and I have some unfinished business to attend to."
I blinked in surprise at the unexpected declaration, but I nodded, not wanting to disrupt the enigmatic exchange between the two men any further and at that moment, Adrrian had rescued me from Vincent's advances, and I could not help but feel a sense of gratitude towards my mysterious savior. On the other hand, Vincent seemed surprised for a moment too but quickly composed himself in front of Adrian. It was clear that both of them had some unfinished business, and I was just happy to be out of it.
His lips curled into a mocking smile as he asked, "Ah, Adrian, always the protector. Who is your new friend?"
Adrian's gaze remained steady behind his mask as he answered back, "None of your concern."
Vincent's tone turned more sinister as he spoke, "Oh, but I think she might find my concerns quite... intriguing." He glanced at me with a sly look, which made me feel uncomfortable in my skin and, later on, shifted his attention towards Adrian.
The tension in the air grew palpable, and I felt like an unwitting pawn caught in their unspoken battle. I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flitting between the two masked men while the two men exchanged glances, and it felt like they were silently challenging each other. No doubt, their conversation was filled with tension, like they were trying to outsmart each other without saying too much.
Adrian, though maintaining his composure, responded with a steely gaze, "Vincent, you are playing a dangerous game. Do not overestimate your hand."
Vincent chuckled; it was a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, Mr. Adrian. You are always the cautious one, but remember, caution does not always protect what's dear to you."
Adrian's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Vincent leaned in, while his lips were dangerously close to my ear. "I will come for you, darling. That's my promise to you." His whisper sent a cold shiver down my spine as I looked towards Adrian.
His eyes flashed with a sudden intensity, and pushed Vincent away from me as his response carried a cold and calculated threat, "Vincent, you may play with fire, but be warned, some flames are beyond your control. Let me simplify what I meant for your pea sized brain. You might think you are clever, but messing with the wrong things can get you into serious trouble. Step over the line, and you will regret it and that's my promise to you."
Vincent's smirk faltered for a moment, his face contorted with frustration, but he quickly regained his composure, offering a mocking salute and final smirk before walking away, leaving Adrian's warning hanging in the air while an unsettling air could be felt in Vincent's wake.
- Writer
