Knights in Versace

THREE | HER, AND ONLY HER

“How sad.”

It was only then that it finally happened.

A powerful grip held her slim wrist.

The hooded man chuckled, “Tell me, if you have no reason to live, then how about I give you one?”

The girl was flabbergasted. Adrenaline coursed through her body while confusion wrecked her mind. Who was this man? Why was he doing this? And how was he so strong?

“What the f*ck do you mean?” She lost her cool again. The girl couldn’t even give up and accept her fate, that every time he’d interfere.

Without a word, the man pulled her body up with relative ease, until her feet were firmly planted on top of his own. Up close, she once again realized how tall he was, and why from the very start she had been sure he was no acquaintance of hers: even standing on his leather shoes, she could barely see his face by straining her neck, being over 6 feet as he was. As she was lost in her thoughts, his muscular arm wrapped around her waist and brought her close to him. In her daze, she found her hand resting on his chest. He was wearing clothes, but she could feel the sculpted muscle beneath the cloth all over his body, no matter where she touched. Finally, he pulled down his hoodie.

His pitch-black pupils were adorned with irises of molten gold. At first she thought they had to be lenses, but something within her told her that she should know otherwise. He had a lightning tattoo on the right side of his neck that stood out on his caramel complexion. His sharp jawline was cleanly shaven, his thick lips parted to reveal two flawless rows of pristine teeth. She found his left ear to be pierced, and a rather familiar necklace was now dangling in front of her after having escaped the constraints of his shirt. But ultimately, she lost herself in those eyes again.

The panicked girl gulped. She couldn’t help it. Her heart was beating faster and faster, as if she were still free-falling. Her blood vessels seemed to have exploded as a result, causing her face to quickly redden.

As far as she was concerned, she was a young maiden. She had never been this close to a man, especially one who made her go gaga with his gaze.

As one big hand was tightly wrapped around her waist, she felt his other rise to her neck, and his large fingers pass through her purple hair, and then rest on the back of her head. In that one moment, comfort overcame her and she found herself wanting to drown in that reliable palm, to melt into an embrace that, in some strange manner, she had been missing all this while. The cold had vanished, all that was left was the warmth of his body.

From nowhere, just as she was feeling parched for them, his lips met hers. She closed her eyes in delight, wrapping her slender arms around his sturdy neck, and abandoned herself in him.

It was a rough, yet gentle kiss. It tasted sweet at first, like honey, and then a nostalgic taste of tobacco assaulted her as their tongues intertwined. It was heavenly bliss for the young girl. What should have been a first kiss, her body masterfully navigated for her, and the man who looked like he had come right out of her fantasies was happy to let her find her way throughout it.

He finally let go of her after a few minutes, much to her chagrin. She was shocked to find herself craving for much, much more. Before she could come to terms with this strange sensation however, he lifted her over the railing and onto the bridge, away from that nightmarish edge that had almost taken away her life three times in the span of that long evening. He followed soon after, displaying an unparalleled athleticism worthy of his frame. He looked at her gently and wiped off the tears that at some point had started trickling down her cheeks, and had by now dried on her face. Her purple hair waved in the wind, yet even battered by such cold currents, she felt nothing but warmth.

“If you have no one to live for, then live for me. Give me one year. One year, and I’ll come find you. With your life mine, don't you dare think of leaving me behind.” With those few words, He put his hood back on and walked away.

The girl wanted to say something, but none of the countless words in her head could escape her mouth. Too many wild thoughts were running through her mind. By the time she regained her focus, his visage had already disappeared, like a shooting star in the night.

She had lost sight of him, but he could still feel her presence as he walked away. After a few moments his arrogant demeanour had gone. Instead, pangs of unbearable pain tortured his mind and body. It was even worse than he had expected.

“Purple...”

His wide shoulders trembled and his fist clenched tightly. In a fit of rage and frustration, he then tore his hoodie off.

“Just the one more year. Wait for me until then. Your revenge… I'll take care of it!”

A black SUV with a number of suited bodyguards were waiting for him a few blocks away. Among them, one held an expensive-looking black jacket in his arms. As he saw the hooded man approach, the bodyguard well in his forties expertly walked over and placed that very same jacket on the youth’s shoulders. The action was completed so flawlessly, the boy needn’t even slow down. After that, the subordinate even offered a cigarette.

The youth bit down on it and, before he could even say a word, ten rough, experienced hands were waiting with a lighter at the ready. To the sides, dozens of able men grimaced for having lost their chance to their knowledgeable elders, as their hands were still rummaging through their pockets. Indeed, they were their seniors for a reason, havings served the boss for much longer. Still, they didn’t dare not offer a light and hurriedly followed suit.

As the dozens of flames reflected in his golden irises, the young man motioned for one at a whim. The cigarette was lit. He thus closed his eyes and breathed in blissfully, the taste of tobacco reminding him of hers. With a wave of his hand, the dozens of flames that had been trembling in the night air were extinguished at once.

The older bodyguard had already opened the car door and was waiting for him whilst bowing respectfully. With an incensed gaze, the boy entered the vehicle. The bodyguard with grizzled hair quietly followed him inside and closed the door behind him. His hand then rested in his pocket, grasping onto the handle of a concealed firearm.

The youth thus motioned for the driver to push it, as if he was ashamed of even finding himself in such a place. As far as he was concerned, no place on this earth was worthy of him.

‘Only by her side...’

Only her.

That’s why...

‘I’ll make you regret ever touching her.’

He puffed a cloud of smoke and his golden eyes glowed menacingly.

At the sight, even the bodyguard found himself trembling. As cold sweat dripped down his cheek, he couldn’t help but tighten the grasp on his gun, fully aware that even if that had been a rocket launcher, he would rather face a lion bare-handed than to cross the young man with the lightning tattoo.