Falling Into Ruin.

A Visitor

[Briar’s POV]

I stare in disbelief at the psycho bastard who watches me until the doors to the elevator I stand silently in closes, making a decisive line between us both. Only when I can’t see him anymore do I collapse against the wall while my heart begins to hammer in my chest.

“f**k,” I hiss, reaching up and pressing my hand against it. “What the f**k is wrong with him?”

This single question repeats itself again and again in my mind as the events that unfolded this evening flash in my mind, making me realize that I really dodged a bullet, but that wasn’t even the thing that mattered the most. Now that I could think straight, I was realizing that all along Jeffrey could have had the answers that I was seeking in regards to my brother.

“f**k!” I growl, punching the elevator wall as I try to come to terms with the fact I let a golden opportunity get away from me. “I almost achieved my mission!”

My voice reverberates around me like they belong to others who mock me for not realizing this sooner and letting things go the way they did. And when the elevator doors slide open in front of me, I stand in place, debating whether or not I should go back up to that room where that handsome monster is and demand that he tell me what Jeffrey was and what he was.

However, before I get the chance to do so, a buzzing sounds, and the man in question’s voice booms out of a speaker above my head.

“Get out; otherwise, I’ll call security.” He announces in amusement.

“If you see me standing here, why don’t you let me come back up?” I challenge, though I know that I may be poking a sleeping beast.

“Didn’t I already tell you what would happen if you appeared in front of me again?”

Shivering, I let his threat wash over me, enticing and terrifying me. However, I just couldn’t find it in me to leave here without getting the answers that I was desperately seeking.

“I’ll give you til the count of three.” He continues when I don’t respond. “If you don’t leave by then, then you’ll regret defying me.”

Will I? I think inwardly, feeling my adrenaline beginning to build up.

“One,” he rumbles, his voice dripping with danger, causing all my nerve endings to come to life. “Two,” he continues, making my knees weak. “Th…”

“Fine!” I hiss, losing my courage as I realize that if I died tonight, I would never avenge my brother. “I’m leaving!”

Shit. I was being a coward. A f*****g coward who was running away after so many years of searching.

“That’s a good girl.” The man chuckles, mocking me like a f*****g creep. “Remember my warnings.”

“And if I don’t?” I ask, unable to fully drop my defiant nature. “What then?”

“You’ll end up like your friend.”

As the man speaks, the elevator doors in front of me slam shut, ending any and all chances I had to go back up and question him. But even then, I stand in place, staring and debating whether or not I truly was brave enough to push, to test his limits, to really push the last bit of luck I was given, and when it feels like it just isn’t worth it, I turn and storm out of the parking garage that I’m standing in. However, as I step out onto the sidewalk, I turn and look up to the highest villa in the whole damn building, and I see a shadowy silhouette watching me, and even with the distance between us, I know that his alluring golden eyes are mocking me.

It pisses me off that he’s being so f*****g cocky and so f*****g annoying, and before I can stop myself, I’m lifting my hands and flipping him off, then storming away.

[Ciaran’s POV]

I stare down at the street, taking in the tiny figure that is most certainly glaring up at me, and when her small hands rise and her middle fingers shoot up, I burst into laughter over just how ridiculous her actions are.

“Curse me all you want, little mate.” I murmur, hating to watch her go, but knowing that this was the best thing for both of us. After all, I shouldn't have approached her or even helped her in the first place. “But you’ll eventually thank me for letting you go free instead of doing what I want.”

Sighing, I take a drag of the cigarette I hold between my fingers before looking up at the roof above me.

“You can come out now.” I call out to the darkness where I know my brother’s lackey is hiding. “Or would you rather I make you come out?”

As I speak, I reach behind me and pull my gun from its holster and point, but before I can pull the trigger, a laugh erupts from the shadows.

“Impatient as always.” Ryu chuckles, spreading his large, black, feathery wings and then dropping to the ground in front of me. “Haven’t I told you that you need to work on that?”

Ryu was one of the few people I allowed to get close to me, and that was simply because we grew up together. His family was in charge of protecting my family, and even when I decided to not take the place as leader of my pack, he still kept loyal to both me and my brother.

“And haven’t I told you that you need to stop spying on me?” I counter, keeping my weapon aimed as my finger itches to pull the trigger. “Now, why don’t you tell me why the f**k you’re here?”

Of course, I had a general idea of why he was here since he only appeared when my dear brother needed something, but I wasn’t much inclined to do his bidding. However, even I knew that there was no way I could deny what he wanted since he was currently the king of the underworld and I his lackey.

“Your brother wishes to see you.” Ryu responds, his slanted eyes flashing with amusement. “You’ve been avoiding him for quite some time. Word on the street is that you’re even running missions for worthless thugs just to keep yourself too busy.”

“That’s my business.” I shrug. “Putting my gun back in place. Anyway, tell that bastard I’m not interested in visiting.”

As I speak, I kick off the banister that I lean against and begin to move to go inside, but before I can, Ryu’s wing shoots out, stopping me and pissing me off.

“Is this your way of asking me to break it?” I growl, shooting him a look. “Even if we grew up together, I won’t hesitate to f**k you up if you try to force me to do anything.”

“Isn’t it about time that you stopped running away?” He asks, only making my mood drop even more. “That’s the reason that you’ve been avoiding him, yes?”

“And what exactly am I running away from?” I ask. “I don’t know what the f**k you could be referring to.”

At my words, another laugh escapes Ryu, and before I can stop myself, I’m grabbing his wing and twisting until a sickening crunch fills the air, followed by a shriek of pain from the man himself.

“f**k, Ciaran!” He snarls, his injured wing drooping. “What the f**k are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” I ask, moving past him and heading inside. “I’m making it clear that my patience is running thin. Tell that bastard that I won’t be coming to see him. Now, get the f**k out of here before I kill you.”

“If you keep this up, he will come to you himself.” Ryu warns. “And you know what the consequences will be if that happens.”

“I welcome him with open arms.” I chuckle. “If he can actually take me out, I will welcome him.”