Insatiable Habits

Burn

💋Cecily💋

Burn. Like the bile in the back of my throat.

Burn. Like the bruising handprint left on my arm.

Burn. Like the tears staining my cheeks.

We watched it burn, all of it. I stood tiredly, in shock and utter disbelief beside Teseo Elias, I looked up at him, his face glowed with the blaze in front of us, beautiful, catastrophic, stoic and completely manic.

He was unfazed, unmoving and unbothered by the fact that he just had a fight to the death with another man, he easily took the life of another human being without looking the slightest bit guilty, no remorse gleamed in his eyes, they remained fixed on the burning house, looking as shattered and conflicted as usual, a beautiful and emotionless façade on his face with the merest smirk. At least he had clothes on now...

His eyes shifted as an eyebrow rose. "Stop staring at me, let's go!" He commanded and I looked away obediently. If he killed so easily, my life was just as worthless and easily disposed of.

He turned and walked for the passengers side door and I treaded along behind him and crawled into the car as the door opened and then closed gently behind me, I sighed and sunk into the seat...I'm now an accessory to murder, wow.

He settled into the drivers seat, inspecting me from his proud posture. "Buckle up, sleepyhead!" He chuckled and I immediately buckled up, I just wanted to get back to my mother and sleep and maybe, just maybe when I wake up again, this will all have been a sick nightmare.

As we drove in the most serene silence, my mind replayed every second of the night. But it got stuck time and time again on one word, spoken by the faceless man named Vice, he said 'Parricide' and Donny said 'killing his own pa-' Partner? Did Mr Elias have a partner?

'Parricide' I played with the word silently, letting it roll off of my tongue without actually vocalizing it. I wanted to remember it, so that I could look it up.

God, one little word shouldn't be my biggest curiosity or concern right now, I must be losing it.

I turned in my seat, eyes blurry with overwhelming physical and emotional exhaustion, I looked across at him.

He instantaneously noticed my gawking. "What is it?" He beckoned, glaring but I could tell he was tired too, though he hid it well.

"Are we going home now?" I really wanted to go home. "I promise-" he cut my off with a raised hand.

"Save your promises, I'm not driving home tonight, we'll stop off once we are far enough away...and please don't tell me you have to piss again!" His eyes moved away from me and focused back on the road ahead, ending our conversation with his bitter tone.

About thirty minutes of renewed silence later, Teseo pulls off the interstate and into the parking lot of a rather nice hotel, I don't know why I was envisioning a motel-8 or something creepy sketchy.

He parked and got out without word, first collecting his bag from the back then opening my door.

'What a God Damn Gentile-Man' I joked with myself but didn't voice my distaste, I just swung my legs out of the car and stood up.

Teseo then closed my door and pressed his hand gingerly against my lower back to guide me forward, his hand was warm and I was embarrassed by the fact that his touch did something for me when it should disgust me, that same left hand slit a mans wrist just a few hours ago.

Once we made it inside and to the front desk, an overly tired but enthusiastic woman met us with a smile. "Welcome, do you have a reservation?" She spoke kindly, looking between Teseo and I. We probably looked like hell.

I looked up at Teseo, damnit he's smirking and still looks hot 'I guess I'm the only one who looks like hell.' I thought, leaning into his hand which stayed lightly on my back and I know he did it for show, he was repulsed by the sensation. Before he could notice me staring again, I stared back at the lady behind the desk.

"I do not, I'll take whatever you have!" Teseo responded, dryly but hey; it's two in the morning. This man has already murdered somebody and burned their house down, give him some slack.

"Let me see!" The receptionist said, clicking her manicured nails on the computer keyboard while scanning down her room list, her lips pursed.

"I have a queen bedroom available tonight!"

"You don't have two of those beside each other, no?" He requested, of course he would never choose to share a bedroom with me, I was becoming impressed that he could keep his hand on my back this long.

"Unfortunately not, Sir. There is an event in town, booked out." She frowned and I could feel Teseo tense up beside me, it might not have been abrupt or even visible but I could feel it in his hand.

"That's fine, we'll only be here for the night." He said, looking down on me. I knew the way he said it and the tone of his voice made it sound like I was some prostitute.

I glared into his eyes the moment his met mine but his thumb circled my skin through the thin material of my summer dress and his eyes flickered down to my lips before a smug smirk grew across his face and he winked.
He winked...what the?

"Great, it'll be one-hundred-twenty." She smiled and just like that, façade was back in check as if nothing at all had happened and I suppose nothing really had happened, but the finest details and reactions from Teseo, always meant something, that I have quickly learned.