Blackfall: No More Restraint

Blackfall Doesn't Do Small Talk

Chapter 4

Kael Arden had spent the better part of his life learning how to ignore distractions. It was one of the first lessons the world had taught him, though not kindly. Distractions got people killed. Attachments made decisions slower. Emotions introduced variables that couldn't be calculated, and Kael had always preferred calculations. Numbers were honest. Gravity was honest. A building either stood or it didn't. A bullet either reached its target or it didn't. A person either intended to betray you or eventually would. There was comfort in that simplicity. People were complicated because people lied, hesitated, changed their minds, developed attachments, developed regrets, and occasionally looked at you with a smile that made you forget why you had spent years convincing yourself that you didn't need anyone. Elara Finch was becoming a particularly irritating example of the last category. By eleven that morning, Kael had already decided he would not return to the café. By eleven twenty, he had decided that he might return later in the week. By noon, he had found himself standing on the roof of a building across from the café, looking down through the rain at the exact window where Elara was working. He stared at it for several seconds before muttering, "This is becoming embarrassing."

"You're talking to yourself again."

Kael didn't turn.

A woman was sitting on the edge of the rooftop behind him, one leg hanging over the side as though gravity was merely a suggestion she occasionally entertained. She wore a long brown coat, black boots, and a pair of silver-framed glasses that had absolutely no business surviving the kind of work she did. Her name was Mirelle Voss, one of the very few people in Ashfall City who could speak to Kael without immediately developing an overwhelming desire to leave the area. She had known him for seven years, which meant she had survived long enough to develop an unhealthy tolerance for his personality.

Kael looked over his shoulder.

"I wasn't talking to myself."

"You said, and I quote, 'This is becoming embarrassing.'"

"I was speaking to the building."

"The building looked moved."

Kael ignored her.

Mirelle climbed to her feet and walked toward him, peering over the edge of the rooftop. "You're watching the café again."

"No."

"Kael."

"I'm observing the street."

"You're staring at one window."

"There are many windows."

"You're staring at one."

He looked at her.

She smiled.

"You like her."

"No."

"That was very quick."

"Because the answer is obvious."

"Is it?"

"Yes."

Mirelle folded her arms.

"Then why have you spent three weeks following her?"

"I wasn't following her."

"You memorized her schedule."

"Information gathering."

"You know what coffee she orders."

"Pattern recognition."

"You know which days she buys chocolate."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"That's irrelevant."

Mirelle's smile widened.

"You know the chocolate?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

Silence.

Mirelle waited.

Kael looked toward the café.

"Dark."

She burst out laughing.

Kael sighed.

"This conversation is over."

"No, no. Please continue. I'm fascinated."

"You're annoying."

"And you're in love."

"I'm not."

"You don't even know what her last name is?"

"Finch."

Mirelle's laughter stopped.

Kael realized his mistake.

She slowly turned toward him.

"You know her last name."

Kael stared at the street.

Mirelle's expression became almost delighted.

"Oh, this is wonderful."

"Don't."

"You know her full name."

"Most people know her name."

"You know her schedule."

"That is relevant."

"You know her coffee."

"That is irrelevant."

"You know her chocolate."

"Stop."

"And you're standing on a roof across from her workplace in the middle of the day."

Kael looked at her.

"I have made several mistakes."

"Finally, something we agree on."

He turned away.

Mirelle laughed again.

Kael allowed her exactly three seconds of amusement before the air around her suddenly became heavier.

Her boots sank half an inch into the concrete.

"Kael."

"Yes?"

"Release me."

"You were laughing."

"I've stopped."

"Good."

The pressure disappeared.

Mirelle straightened her coat.

"You're impossible."

"So I've been told."

She looked at him again, this time more seriously.

"What's happening?"

Kael's expression changed.

"Nothing."

"That's not true."

He didn't answer.

Mirelle followed his gaze toward the café.

"She's different."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"Don't."

"I wasn't going to tease you."

"You're terrible at not teasing."

"I'm serious."

He looked at her.

Mirelle's voice softened.

"You don't look at people like that."

Kael said nothing.

She studied him.

"Whatever this is, you should be careful."

"I am."

"That's what worries me."

Kael looked back toward the café.

Elara was visible through the window.

She was talking to Daniel.

Then she laughed.

Kael felt something warm move through his chest.

He hated it.

Mirelle noticed.

"You really like her."

Kael's eyes remained fixed on Elara.

"I don't know."

It was the most honest answer he had given anyone in years.

Mirelle didn't make fun of him.

Instead, she nodded.

"Then figure it out before someone else does."

Kael looked at her.

"Someone already has."

Mirelle's expression hardened.

"The message?"

He nodded.

"Who sent it?"

"I don't know."

"Then find out."

"I will."

"And Elara?"

Kael looked back at the café.

"She doesn't know."

"Keep it that way."

He nodded.

For several moments, neither spoke.

Then Mirelle looked at the café again.

"So."

Kael immediately frowned.

"So?"

"When are you going back?"

"I'm not."

Mirelle smiled.

"You're going tonight."

Kael walked away.

"I have work."

"You're going tonight."

"I said I have work."

"You're going tonight."

Kael stopped.

He looked over his shoulder.

Mirelle grinned.

"She'll probably be waiting."

Kael said nothing.

He turned away.

But the corner of his mouth betrayed him.

Elara Finch had spent the entire afternoon trying not to think about Kael.

She had failed spectacularly.

It didn't help that Daniel had become insufferable.

Every time the café door opened, he looked toward Elara.

Every time a customer ordered coffee, he looked toward Elara.

Every time Elara touched her hair, Daniel looked toward Elara.

At one point, she finally snapped.

"If you keep staring at me, I'm going to throw a spoon at you."

Daniel smiled.

"You keep touching your hair."

"So?"

"You only do that when you're nervous."

"I'm not nervous."

"You've done it seventeen times."

Elara stared at him.

"Have you been counting?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Entertainment."

She sighed.

"You have too much free time."

"I work in a café."

"That's not an excuse."

"It is absolutely an excuse."

Elara turned toward the coffee machine.

Daniel leaned closer.

"So..."

"No."

"I haven't even asked."

"You were going to."

"I was going to ask whether your mysterious dangerous man is coming back."

"He isn't my mysterious dangerous man."

"Yet."

Elara turned around.

Daniel was smiling.

"Daniel."

"Elara."

"Stop."

He raised both hands.

"Fine."

The bell above the door rang.

Both of them looked up.

Elara's heart skipped.

It wasn't Kael.

A delivery driver.

Daniel slowly turned toward her.

She glared.

He smiled.

"Not a word."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were going to."

"I was."

She rolled her eyes.

The afternoon passed.

Then evening.

The rain became heavier.

The café slowly emptied.

At nine thirty, Elara looked at the door again.

She hated herself for doing it.

She had told herself she wasn't waiting.

She wasn't.

Obviously.

She simply happened to look toward the door every few minutes.

That was normal.

Probably.

At nine forty-two, Daniel came over.

"You should go home."

"I have another twenty minutes."

"You've been here since six."

"So?"

"So you're tired."

"I'm fine."

"You've been staring at the door."

Elara sighed.

"Do you ever stop?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because it's fun."

She threw a napkin at him.

He laughed.

At nine fifty-eight, the final customer left.

Daniel grabbed his coat.

"You locking up?"

"Yeah."

"Don't stay too late."

"I won't."

He stopped at the door.

Then turned.

"Elara."

"What?"

His expression was unexpectedly serious.

"Be careful."

She frowned.

"Why?"

He glanced outside.

"Because that man isn't the only one watching you."

Her smile disappeared.

"What?"

Daniel nodded toward the window.

Elara turned.

Across the street, beneath the rain, stood a man she didn't recognize.

He was looking directly at the café.

She felt a chill move down her spine.

Daniel stepped closer.

"I saw him earlier."

Elara's heart began beating faster.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wasn't sure."

The man outside lifted his phone.

Took a photograph.

Elara's stomach dropped.

Daniel reached for his phone.

"I'll call—"

The café lights went out.

Elara froze.

Daniel swore.

The darkness lasted only a second.

Then emergency lights flickered on.

Red.

Dim.

Unnatural.

The front door opened.

Elara looked toward it.

The man outside was gone.

Daniel stepped toward the door.

"Don't."

Elara grabbed his arm.

They stared at each other.

Then a voice came from behind them.

"He's right."

Elara's breath caught.

She knew that voice.

She turned.

Kael stood in the doorway to the back room.

She stared.

"How did you get in here?"

He looked at the locked front door.

"Doors are suggestions."

Daniel stared at him.

"That's not reassuring."

Kael looked at Daniel.

"You should leave."

Daniel looked at Elara.

Then at Kael.

Then back at Elara.

"Yeah."

He grabbed his coat.

As he passed Kael, he stopped.

"Don't hurt her."

Kael looked at him.

"I won't."

Daniel nodded.

Then left.

The door closed.

Silence settled over the café.

Elara turned toward Kael.

"You really need to stop appearing out of nowhere."

"I'll consider it."

"You won't."

"No."

She folded her arms.

"What are you doing here?"

Kael walked toward her.

"I told you I'd come back."

"You did."

He stopped a few feet away.

His expression was serious.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded.

"I think so."

"Did he speak to you?"

"No."

"Did he enter?"

"No."

"Did you recognize him?"

"No."

Kael's shoulders relaxed slightly.

Elara noticed.

"You were worried."

"Yes."

The answer came immediately.

She blinked.

Kael seemed to realize what he'd admitted.

He didn't take it back.

Instead, he stepped closer.

Elara didn't move.

"You shouldn't stay here tonight."

"I have to lock up."

"I'll do it."

"You?"

"Yes."

"You know how?"

He looked offended.

"I know how doors work."

"Apparently."

A small smile appeared.

Then disappeared.

Kael looked at her.

"Come with me."

Elara hesitated.

"Where?"

"Home."

"My home?"

"Yes."

"You're going to walk me?"

"Yes."

She smiled.

"Are you always this protective?"

"No."

"Just with me?"

Kael's eyes remained on hers.

"Yes."

Her smile slowly faded.

Something about the answer felt more intimate than it should have.

Kael stepped closer.

The space between them narrowed.

Elara could feel the warmth of him now.

She could smell rain on his jacket.

Her pulse quickened.

He noticed.

Of course he did.

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

Then returned to her eyes.

"You keep doing that," she whispered.

"Doing what?"

"Looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like..."

She couldn't finish.

Kael leaned closer.

"Like I want to kiss you?"

Her breath caught.

The café suddenly felt too quiet.

Elara swallowed.

"Maybe."

Kael's voice dropped.

"Maybe?"

She looked up at him.

"You're very confident."

"Not usually."

"Really?"

"Not with you."

That answer surprised her.

She had expected arrogance.

Instead, she saw something else.

Uncertainty.

Just for a moment.

It made him seem less like Blackfall.

More like Kael.

Elara reached up and touched the front of his jacket.

His eyes dropped to her hand.

Neither moved.

Then Kael lifted his hand.

His fingers brushed the side of her face.

Slowly.

Carefully.

His thumb rested against her cheek.

Elara's breath caught.

He leaned closer.

Close enough that she felt his breath against her skin.

His lips were only inches away.

Then—

The front window shattered.

Kael moved before Elara could react.

One arm wrapped around her waist.

He pulled her against his chest.

Glass exploded across the café.

Gravity slammed downward.

Every shard stopped in midair.

Elara stared.

Kael stood between her and the broken window.

His expression had gone completely cold.

The romantic warmth was gone.

Blackfall had returned.

He lifted one hand.

Every piece of glass flew backward through the window.

Outside, something screamed.

Kael's voice was quiet.

"Stay here."

Elara grabbed his sleeve.

"Kael."

He looked down at her.

The anger in his eyes softened instantly.

"Don't worry."

"You say that like I'm supposed to believe you."

"I'll be back."

He gently removed her hand from his sleeve.

Then he stepped through the broken window.

Elara ran after him.

"Kael!"

He turned.

She stopped at the edge of the pavement.

Rain poured between them.

For one second, the terrifying man disappeared again.

It was simply Kael looking at her.

He gave her the smallest smile.

Then gravity shifted.

He disappeared upward into the darkness.

Elara stared after him.

She should have been terrified.

Instead, one thought kept circling through her head.

He had almost kissed her.

And somehow, despite the broken window, the armed stranger, the rain, the danger, and the fact that Blackfall had just launched himself into the night—

that was still the thing she couldn't stop thinking about.