Manners with the Devil

45

G I A V A N N A        A M A T O

Decorations clanged and rattled as I ran through the dark hauls, which were only lit by ancient-looking candles. Painting faces on the walls stared at me. Floorboards creaked under my step. My loose hair swept in my face. My hands increased getting sore, each time I slam the doors open.

No one is here. I don't think Lucas is here.

"My God, my legs are so fucked up right now," I exhale deeply, pausing to swing open the main lounge doors, "Lucas, you in here?"

My visions rapidly scan over the enormous lengths of the room, to capture the sight of Lucas' figure laying asleep, his body along the dark red couch, at the back wall. And a sigh escapes my lips, knowing he is here.

I drag my feet to him whilst talking, "What a coincidence, the last fucking room I search, and here you are." I pause in front of him, his back was faced me, placing my hands against my hips, waiting for his response. Yet, he never gave one as I expected. "Wake up, it's only like, six." I wait again. "Lucas?" When he doesn't move, I shift closer and began tapping his shoulder. "Lucas? Hello?" I stopped, but he still never moved. I tapped more and more viciously, this time, screaming in his ear. "LUCAS SANTORO-"

"AAAHAAA!" he bellows and jerks his body up from laying down, creating an odd-looking clown face at me. Meanwhile, my heart rate soared out of my body as I practically crash into the glass coffee table beside me.

His hands usher me forwards to stabilize me, however, I slap them away, glaring at him. "Seriously?"

A chuckle arises from his lips as he looks at me, "I didn't think that you would be that frightened."

"It was the ugly face you made." I cross my arms

"Really?" his smile remains.

"Yes, it was hideous."

"Well," he breathes, "You sure didn't flinch that much last night, with my-"

"Absolutely not. Shut up, Lucas. I'm not here for that stuff."

"What stuff?" he leans back on the couch, spreading his legs apart, "I wasn't hinting anything."

My eyes travel down to his legs, "Well..." I pause for a second but then, I snap from my sights, bringing my eyes up to his eyes again. "I'm here for something else anyway."

He closes his legs and shuffles to the end of the couch. He pats the couch space beside him, gesturing for me to sit.

I nod, lowering myself down on the couch and slightly twisting my hips to face his body. Then, without hesitation, I tell him what I have to, "I'm going to Vivian's apartment for a couple of nights."

Obviously, he instantly makes an effort to switch his voice on, but I mess up his tracks by smacking my palm over his lips.

"Let me finish." I glare.

He nods, slowly removing my hand from his mouth.

"I'll obtain guns, and I can use them. You know I can. And, you can position as many security guards as you want around the entire building. I'll call if anything abnormal happens, and I'll be wary of everything." I breathe out, nodding my head towards him, motioning that he can speak.

"Why?"

"What do you mean? I haven't seen her in months. Only on the phone."

He moves his eyes away from mine, down to the floor, then after a while, he brings them back up to me, but not in my eyes, behind me. I turn my head around, to see nothing. "Is it me?" he speaks, my head snaps back around, "Do you want a break from me? From us?"