Blossoms of the Dark

LXXXVI Selene: Damocles

Hanada-sama has returned.

For reasons that need no explanation, I am not happy about that.

To make things even better, he has ordered me to come to his office.

I should view this as an opportunity to get the answer to the question that has been eating away at me like a parasite, but in light of my past visits, that's not exactly easy to do.

Regardless, I do as he has commanded.

"Shut the door behind you," he says, without looking up from his paperwork.

That cold, strict tone does not bode well for me. My fear incites even more.

I shut the door and walk a few meters, keeping just enough distance between him, me, and the door. It would be foolish of me to try to escape should the situation escalate, but I feel a little more confident knowing that I have an escape route. "What is it you wanted to see me about, Hanada-sama?"

He finally looks up, scanning me. If he was expecting me to arrive clad in transparent lingerie with a defeated look in my eyes, then he is sorely mistaken. But if he is, he doesn't show it. He takes in my silver faerie ear shells, forest green dress shirt, ivory white waistcoat, choker, gloves, and onyx black breeches and boots. His gaze lingers longer on the dragon head of my cane, facing him, and on my devil-horned hair and the asphodels, tansies, and lobelias weaved throughout. I had considered substituting the flowers with deadly nightshade berries instead, but it's better that he doesn't see me as a threat. However, what he cannot see are the two poisoned daggers I've concealed in my boots, something I never dared to do whilst meeting him until now.

I may be afraid, but I am a demon, a fallen angel, a phoenix, risen from the ashes to destroy anything and everything.

I summon as much courage as I can from that.

"There is more than one matter I want to speak to you of," he responds. "Take a seat. This will take a while."

There goes all the courage. Warily, I sit. This is the first time in years he's asked me to sit in his office; before, I just stood in front of his desk as he talked. What makes this even more problematic is the extra five seconds it would take me to stagger to the door. An infinite number of things can happen within a meager five seconds.

"First, Scorpion has been missing for weeks." At my puzzlement, he elaborates. "The Pro-Hero you were sleeping with." So that was his hero name. Shame, he was an insult to the scorpion species and my zodiac. But why do you make it sound as though it was my choice to bed him? I keep my expression neutral, even though my thoughts are spiraling. "You don't seem surprised or saddened, Selene. Why is that?"

Now I let go of that facade. I scoff, "Do you actually expect me to care a shred for a rapist? Honestly, I'm elated he is missing." I'm elated that he is dead.

"Come now, Selene. It was a business partnership," he says, voice silky it makes me want to choke him right here, right now.

Instead, I suffice for coughing. "Yes, a business partnership where I was the barter piece. By all means, I should shower him with praise and treat him like a god. I don't recall you being so sentimental during all the other 'business partnerships' you made. In fact, I bet not once have you contacted any of them once the contract terminated, am I right? You don't know whether they are dead or alive, and you don't need to since you have amassed so much blackmail on them. So what makes this Pro-Hero so special?"

Hanada-sama's eyes narrow. "Your tongue has grown sharper. Were you always like this, or is this a new development? Regardless, a sharp tongue is no match for a sharp tooth. Watch yourself, Selene."