The Soul of Shadows

Chapter 2

Ian's POV:

To say I was irritated was an understatement. She barely went out and if she did, it was a sleepover with her beloved best friend. My anger, getting the best of me began crowding the room more. She thought what she read from that book I dropped was to live in the moment. 

But I was trying to remind her of what happens when you aren't careful, her brother's death is a perfect example of that. 

Now here she was, walking out of the bathroom after changing from her overused sweats to skin-tight jeans and an ever-curve-loving top accentuating her mouth-watering body. 

I couldn't get enough of seeing her in any state. I tried not to look whenever she was changing or naked, she deserved that privacy. That respect, at the least. 

I would wait until I made myself known before seeing her completely. A treasure I desperately yearned for. She looked at herself in her long mirror. Readjusting her outfit and fluffing out her brown locks. To me, she was perfect yet all she saw were imperfections. 

Over time, I noticed how she barely glanced at mirrors unless it was to criticize every piece of herself. It tore me to shreds to witness. She was so beautiful. She was the savior of my realm and my beautiful, beautiful Maeve. My future.

She began packing things in her purse. Glancing over at the corner I'm settled in. I know she can feel me even if she doesn't know what pulls her. 

Her phone rang, signaling that the pathetic boy toy was here to pick her up. She rushedly says she is coming while applying a last coat of lipgloss to her full lips. With a quick click of the closing door, she ebbs farther and farther from me. 

I only have to wait a little bit longer before I can make her mine. Before I can be hers. We will rebuild the world that once was and eclipse what once existed. 

My heart lurches at her absence. Luckily enough, I can join her even at this mortal party. After all, lurking in the shadows is what I do best. 

Maeve's POV:

My palms are slick with sweat as I leap into the BMW.  Xavier's minty and musky scent wraps around me bringing a sense of comfort. The exhaust from his car could be heard from miles away as it rumbles underneath me. For me to get through drives, I always remember that the person driving is someone I trust and that I can only control so much. 

"Hey Maeve, you look nice," he says with a small smile. His hair is pulled back in a bun, dark curls still poke through. His brown eyes fixate on me briefly as I pull on my seatbelt. He slowly pulls the car into drive and revs it forward. 

"Thank you for getting me. I really didn't want to go out but you know how Leila can be," I say shyly, getting comfortable in the seat. My breathing and heart begin to steady. 

"No problem at all. You know I'd do anything for you, Maeve." He says casually driving down the end of my street.

I quickly inhale at his statement. Xav and I have known each other since my freshman year of college. He has been a firefighter for 4 years. Initially, I met him in my English class, we got paired to work on every assignment together. 

And my sophomore year, I happened to get stuck in an elevator by myself in the parking garage of the school (terrifying, I know). Guess who opened that elevator door and rescued me from a panic attack? Xavier. He picked me up out of the elevator and reassured me that everything was okay and I was safe. We've been friends ever since. And he knew Leila already from partying and being her boyfriend, Aiden's, best friend. 

"Thanks, Xav. I'm surprised you weren't already pounding down beers with Aiden." I nudge his shoulder lightly. 

"I would have been but I was taking care of Steph. She's going through it again." He sighed, his jaw flexing.