It's become a habit of yours to feed crows. While their dark feathers are far from beautiful compared to doves, most people underestimate the intelligence crows possess. Not only do they remember someone by their faces, but they also display a sort...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Prying information from the twins was a hard task. It didn't help that they blabber and joke a lot, to the point I couldn't discern between facts and jokes. So, instead, I chose to stay quiet as I listened to them talk to themselves about anything and everything. Once they're done, I asked if I could know where the kitchen was to get some water.
Walking through the enormous hallway, there was only one thing worth noting - the entire mansion is nearly black, save for the accents of silver and red every now and then. It looked fancy and elegant, but a bit too somber for my liking. It would've been the perfect set for a dark age type of movie.
Finally, the hallway ended. The room was spacious and had no walls, so the kitchen area was connected to the dining room and, what I assumed to be, a shorter hallway leading to the main door of the mansion. In other words, the exit.
"If I were you, I wouldn't dare go outside unarmed, sweetie," Sylus's voice bounced off the walls, catching me off guard. Turning to the kitchen, I saw him standing behind the bar, holding a rocks glass, back leaning against the kitchen counter. Ruby red eyes stare directly into my eyes, looking into the nooks and cranies of my mind.
"I just want a glass of water," I lied, but leisurely advanced closer towards Sylus. I sat on the bar stool. It was high enough to make me come face to face with the tall man, his eyes following every inch of my movement carefully.
Sylus hummed in response, swirling the crimson liquid in his rock glass. "Just water?" he took a deliberate sip of his drink, noting the slight movement of his lips, I can tell that the alcohol is sweet.
"What do you have?" I asked in response, eyeing the peculiar red liquid.
"Whatever you want," he responded in a flat tone, glancing down at the watered down alcohol.
I thought for a moment. "What do you recommend?"
Sylus put his glass on the bar counter, pushing it with enough strength until it smoothly slid to the front of my hand. "Try it."
"What is it?" I asked, eyeing the glass carefully. He wouldn't try to poison his new friend, right?
"Hibiscus liqueur," he unfolds his fingers, gesturing with his hand for me to drink.
Reluctantly, I took the glass in my hands. Raising it up to my chin, I took a quick sniff of the drink all the while maintaining eye contact with Sylus, catching a strong yet sweet aroma. Raising the glass up, a small sip was all it took for me to taste the alcohol — it was too early to get wasted, especially in front of a stranger.
"Not bad," I passed the glass back to Sylus, which he took with a ghost of a smile on his face. "I thought you were drinking your enemy's blood for a moment."
"No, but I like to imagine so," he responded with a chuckle.
"So, Mister—"
"Call me Sylus," he corrected, finishing off what's left in the glass.
"Okay? Sylus," I inhaled a deep breath of air. "I'll cut to the chase. I have a life and a job, and considering it's probably night time right now, I have to go back home."
Sylus threw away the remaining ice cube from his glass into the sink. Taking a clean rag from the edge of the counter, he began to wipe the glass clean. "No."
"What do you mean no?" my voice unexpectedly raised by an octave, reflecting my annoyance. "You can't just control my life."
"What's in it for me?" he asked nonchalantly, taking his precious time to tenderly wipe the edge of the glass. It almost seemed sexual, with how he was looking at the glass, I could almost imagine him making out with the glass.
"Huh?"
"I saved your life earlier," he reminded, eyes glancing up to meet my own. "And, now that you know my identity, what can you offer in return?"
It made me ponder for a moment. Sure, I'm not inclined to do as he said, but again, he had saved my life. I owed him my life, literally. But, what do guys like him would want from me? Judging by the mansion alone, he has an awful lot of money, so riches were out of the option.
"How about," I fidgeted for a moment, thinking whether or not my offer would be a great idea. "I'll take that shattered protocore back to my HQ and I'll tell you everything about it when I get back?"
Sylus set aside the glass he'd been cleaning on the table, turning his attention towards me fully. "I can easily get that info elsewhere," he spoke flatly, eyes boring into my soul. "That aside, I need you to come with me later. If you're willing to cooperate, then I might just give you the freedom you wanted."
"Where?" I quirked my eyebrow curiously, eyes glancing off to the marbled counter to avoid his gaze.
"Let's set a few rules. Rule number one, don't ask too many questions," he stood upright, crossing his arms over his chest, possibly agitated. "Rule number two, when we're speaking, look me in the eyes."
At the second rule, I felt a harsh push lifted my head up, ultimately facing Sylus who walked around the counter and was now standing by my side. Red and black mist slowly dissipated in the air, the harsh force earlier disappearing along with it. "Right, okay," was all I could muster as a response.
"Good choice, sweetie," a crooked smirk graced his lips. "If you need anything during your stay, ask. We're leaving in an hour," was all he said before walking away towards the long hallway, leaving me to my own thoughts.
