Zephyr's Promise

4

"Ah, so you've heard of me?" Sinisterly he moves from the kitchen door frame. He walks around as if this is his own space. Stalking like a lion on the hunt. "I'm assuming you will answer my questions then?"

"Duh, we would like to keep our heads attached to our bodies." Ira mumbles under her breath.

"That's unfair. I've only severed a head twice." He pouts. "Ladies sit." It isn't a question or even a hard suggestion rather a demand. One that we follow quickly.

We both take a seat at Ira's kitchen island.

Ira shifts under the intense gaze of Axel. His eyes feast on her, drinking in her appearance. I'm getting hot myself just by the way the two of them are staring so intently at each other. Like they want to rip each other's clothes off.

And who could blame him? Ira is one of the most beautiful women to roam the earth. Aphrodite could be her mother with her stunning looks, long legs, and confidence. If our lives weren't hanging in the balance I would totally tell her to go for it. Maybe I should tell her anyway. If he is enamored by her then killing us will fall lower on his list of priority.

"Ira Russo." One of the shots left on the counter he downs himself. "Your husband has been a very busy man. I hired him because of his energy. When I first met him he was enthusiastic about this work." He stops in front of the refrigerator. Opening it he pulls out half of some sort of sandwich. "You don't mind, do you? I've been too busy plotting your husband's death. Haven't had much down time to eat." He bites into the sandwich while shuffling something inside the fridge.

"Help yourself." Cynically Ira grumbles. "The drawer in the bottom has seltzer water and ice tea."

"Aren't you a life saver?" He pulls out a can of tea and shuts the fridge door. "Good sandwich." Making a show of it obnoxiously he chews.

"Thanks. The pickled cabbage and spicy mayo are home made. Not that you asked." Her arms cross over themselves in annoyance.

"Your husband didn't seem to ask before making decisions that were not his to make." His smile is easy going. Underneath it I can see the curl of his lip. How his smile is anything but comforting. Great, we're back to that. "Cat got your tongue?"

"What would you like for me to say?" I swallow hard at Ira's abrasiveness.

Axel has been cunning. Elusive thus far. I can tell it's just an act. For whatever reason this is how he's deciding to play this interrogation. Lulling us into a false comfort so that when he rips us apart we won't even realize it is happening. I don't think Ira has caught on to that fact. Or maybe she has and just does not care. Either way I can see this going downhill fast.

"What is your husband up to?"

"I would think he would be the best person to answer that question."She snarls.

"Trust me he will answer many of my questions when his time comes. Right now I plan on playing the long game." His blue eyes pierce ours. Goosebumps pepper my skin when he does. "I will ask only one more time Ira."

"How could you expect me to know?" Her arms uncross themselves. On the right wall a small circular window rests. Ira looks out of it avoiding his eye contact.

"Is that really the answer you want to go with?" Voice low I wiggle in my seat. The tension between the two is rising. Why won't she just tell him?

"The few details I know are hazy." Her voice cracks.

"You're a beautiful woman Ira. But, that voice. That voice is a siren call." He muses. "I would hate to have to cut out your tongue for the disrespect you display." My heartbeat races.