Beauty and her Beast (Nokto)

~Chapter 3, Part 5~

Veronica: ...Nokto. 

I frowned immediately as my memories from the night before surfaced. 

Nokto: You called?

Veronica: Ahh-

I hadn't heard anyone come in, and I jumped at the sound of Nokto's voice, turning to find him standing just inside the door. 

Nokto: Let me guess... you came here hoping to have a chat with King Highness. 

Veronica: Something like that. 

(I swore to myself just this morning that I'd never go near you again.) I moved towards the door, avoiding his gaze as I tried to slip past him, but I couldn't avoid his voice, or the laughter in it. 

Nokto: Don't you want to ask me if I know where he is? At the very least, I'm bound to know more about him than any of Leon's faction. 

Veronica: No, I don't want to. I don't trust a word that comes out of your mouth. And I'm never going anywhere with you again. Especially not alone. 

Nokto: Damn, you're breaking my heart. Just think of last night as me tossing you in the deep end. Now that you know how to swim, I promise I won't play dirty tricks on you like that again. 

(Dirty tricks, huh? Which means...) 

Veronica: I knew it-you DID give me that alcohol on purpose.

Nokto: Hmm, did I? Well, you can interpret it like that if you want. I don't mind either way. 

(I can't trust you at all, and I can't ever let my guard down around you. Ever.) He reminded me of the crafty foxes I'd read about in so many fairy tales, always ready to trick the unwary heroes, and I felt exhausted just talking to him. I turned away, intending to leave for real this time, but suddenly his arm was in the way, blocking the exit. 

Nokto: You know...

His voice was a slow suggestive drawl, and I knew I should just duck under his arm and leave, but in spite of myself, I stopped again. I felt his warm breath on my ear, reminding me of the night before, and I turned my head to find those deep red eyes close, too close, as they met mine. 

Nokto: You seem to have forgotten all about how you felt in my arms when we were dancing. And the way you snuggled up to me later...

Something smoldered in his gaze, something that made me catch my breath, because I hadn't forgotten. I'd just wanted to forget. 

Veronica: ...Does it matter?

Nokto: I don't know. Does it? Do you want it to? 

A moment ago, I'd been desperate to leave, but suddenly I wasn't so sure, and I felt his arm around my waist, the way he'd held me when we'd danced. 

Nokto: I mean, you're free to leave any time. So why haven't you? Why didn't you just keep walking out the door the first time? Why did you even stop to listen to me?

I was already wondering that myself, and regretting my choice, and yet I couldn't tear my gaze away from his. He swung me around once, in an imitation of our dance under the dazzling chandeliers, and I felt an echo of the exhilaration I'd felt then. 

Veronica: Nokto-

Nokto: What? Don't you want to have a little more fun with me? 

He turned his head a little, his breath warming my skin, and his lips brushed against my ear as he spoke. 

**LETTER**

"Letters aren't really my thing, but I guess I'm in the mood to give it a try. 

I bet you love letters. You're definitely the type to prefer the written word. 

You know, I really enjoyed our first night together. I hope you haven't had enough of me yet... because I can still think of all sorts of ways we can have fun together. 

Who knows? Maybe you won't even get to read this until after I've had the pleasure of making you my next meal. 

What do you think, Veronica?"

                                        

                                                                                                                                                                             06/21/2024

                                                                               Nokto Klein