The Key to the Oleander

Chapter Ten - Athena

"I need to get some fresh air, Miles. I'll be back." I pat his shoulder, smiling softly. He hesitates before nodding. Psh, like I need his permission.

I take the trail that I've always taken since I was a little kid, the trail that leads down to the waterfall near the woods. The woods where I killed Cole.

I shake my head, brushing the thought away. He said he took care of it, don't think about it.

I stop dead in my tracks near the little cabin that you have to pass in the trail and frown. Would Miles do what Ace did for me? Would he go as far as covering up a murder for me?

I continue walking and think about the events that occurred at his house. If I was in the underworld, I wouldn't want to tell anyone either. Why'd I get so mad about it?

Guilt flutters inside of me. The image of Ace's face when I gave him the paper flashes in my head. I need to make this right.

I turn around and start walking back, quicker than I was before.

Miles is so... sweet, sensitive, and caring. But Ace is... well he kills people. Some people would say murders don't have the mental capacity to feel for others, but Ace's emotions around me are so raw and pure, even. I don't feel anything around Miles compared to what I feel when I'm around Ace. I just met him after ten years, why do I feel this way so soon? I-

My thoughts pause, as do my feet when I suddenly hear a twig snap.

"Who- Who's there?" I look around my surroundings, but no one is here. Maybe I was just imagining it.

I sigh before taking a step forward, beginning to pass the cabin again. I gasp when my mouth and nose are suddenly covered by something that feels like a blanket. I want to scream, but nothing comes out. Tiredness takes over me, my eyes control themselves, closing, and everything goes black.

I open my eyes but I still can't see a thing, well, not clearly at least. As my eyes travel left to right, all I see is blurry shapes. I try to sit up but I'm immediately met with the floor again. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to not to hiss in pain.

"Is she awake?" I hear an unfamiliar voice demand. I slowly raise my head up, my body shakes with all its strength to keep myself from falling.

A tall, blonde man stands with his arms crossed across from an older looking brunette man whose expression is anything but positive.

The blonde man looks down at me suddenly, not giving me the time to make it seem like I'm not awake. He flashes a satisfied smile.

"It seems so." He smirks, looking back at the older man.

"Great. Now call Ace. She's the perfect way to draw him in. Once we do, we attack. We attack and don't stop until he's dead." My heart drops.