The Key to the Oleander

Chapter Sixteen - Athena

I walk up the stairs looking through the sections to see which one he was talking about. I begin to feel impatient after around five sections of no luck finding any familiar faces until I see Miles standing visibly uncomfortable with his hands in his pocket. As much as I want to laugh, I don't. I walk in.

"Athena." He smiles, relaxing completely. I shut the door behind me before leaning against it and forcing a smile.

"Miles." I greet him with a fake enthusiasm. I lock the door and begin to make my way towards him.

I adjust his tie, ignoring as he gulps down his nerves.

"I see you want to marry me." I say, smiling as I look up at him. He blushes instantly. Pathetic.

"Um, yeah." He couldn't be any more awkward.

"There's a small problem though." I look down as I pat his chest gently.

I look back up to see him waiting for me to continue, but once he realizes that I'm waiting for a response from him he says, "What is it? I can fix it."

"I'm afraid you can't, Miles," I chuckle, shaking my head before reaching for a chair from the table he's leaning against. "Sit." I order. He flinches at my sudden sternness, but he listens to my demand nonetheless.

I turn around and pull the mask out before turning back around. He gasps, the color drains out of his face instantly.

"You're the-the-" He stutters, I can't help but smile.

"The Masquerade Killer, yes." I adjust my mask after putting it on my face. "But that isn't the point." I take a step forward. He sits frozen in fear. He could run if he wanted to, but he doesn't. Men can be such stupid creatures sometimes.

"You're in my way, Miles," I sigh softly. "And you know what I do when people are in my way?" I ask, reaching under my dress for my holster as I make my way closer and closer to him until I'm directly leaning down inches from his face.

"I move them." I grit out, leading my dagger into his stomach. He gasps, it almost sounds as if he's choking. I turn it in, deeper and deeper. Each time his head jerks forward, his mouth wide open, tears brimming his eyes.

I jerk it out of him, blood quickly pools through his white shirt and onto the chair. I watch as he tries to hold the wound with his hands but fails to do so. I almost feel sympathy for him.

"I'll give you mercy." I murmur to him before slicing the dagger across his throat. I feel his blood splatter on my face.

I take my red lipstick out from my bra and quickly write, M.K., on his cheek.

I head to the bathroom and wash the blood off my hands and dagger, who never lets me down, before deciding it's time to leave. I tuck my mask and blade in my holster before unlocking the door and walking out.

I don't mind washing my face because people are too drunk or distracted to see, and the lights will easily blind them from noticing. I'm not stupid, I know I need to leave now.

Once I reach Ace, I take his hand and lead him to the exit and speed to his car as I look down at the ground.

"Athena, stop." He resists my pulling. I'm beginning to feel impatient and irritable, but I pull him into an alleyway where no one is.

I look up at him, the flickering old alleyway light is somehow enough for him to notice the blood on my face. His eyes widen, his face instantly flickers to worry.

"Who hurt you? Tell me, I swear I will kill-" He fumes.

"It's not my blood." I let out quickly before he can finish.

I need to tell him. He's in the Mafia, I'm a serial killer. We're the same.

"Wait," He pauses for a moment, confused as ever. "Whose is it then?"

"There's something I haven't told you." I say, avoiding his eyes.

"Tell me then." He takes a step towards me.

"I'm not as good as you think I am, Ace." The words come out wobbly.

"Nothing you do could make me love you any less, Athena," He holds my face in his hands, not caring about the blood.

"Can't you see I am madly in love with you, Athena?" He exclaims desperately.

"I'm the Masquerade Killer." I blurt out. He looks at me in shock for a few seconds but then begins to laugh. He stops once he notices I'm not laughing with him.

"You're... you're not joking?" He asks softly. I shake my head.

"I guess we're both murderers then." He mumbles. I'm confused.

"You... you don't care?" He looks at me as if I'm crazy.

"You act as if I don't kill for my job, love. When we get married, we'd be even more powerful and-" His smile quickly fades, and somehow I know why.

"Miles-" He drifts off, but I shake my head quickly, putting my hands in his.

"Whose blood do you think this is?" I point at my face. His eyes widen.

"I think I love you even more." He says with all seriousness. I begin to feel all warm and fuzzy inside like I always do when I'm around him, except this time there's more emotion to it. He loves me and my flaws.

Without thinking, I squeeze my eyes shut and pull him closer until there's no space between our lips. He freezes for a second, but only for a second. He starts to kiss my back and I can feel his smile against my lips.

So many emotions are running through me right now. My body begins to heat up, adrenaline pumps through my veins and I want him closer even though this is the closest I can get him.

He deepens the kiss, one of his hands grabs my waist, pulling my body closer while his other holds my cheek. He tastes so good, like peppermints but sweeter.

We pull away to catch our breath, his hand still lingers on my cheek. He leans his forehead against mine, there's barely any space left between our lips as we try to catch our breath.

"What was that for?" He whispers, smiling. I pull away and look up at him, and I can't help but smile.

I love you, I want to say, but I don't.

"What? You didn't like it?" I tease, biting my lip. He rolls his eyes, smiling. I yelp in surprise when he suddenly picks me up bridal style and begins to walk out of the alleyway and to his car.