Beyond the Shadows || LADS Sylus FanFiction

39.

You

Sylus comes back a few minutes after the man had packed the protocores.

»Send them to the usual address.«, he orders and turns to me with a smile.

»Come. I thought we could have another round of poker again.«

»Wait. Again? Have you already forgotten what happened last time?«

»Absolutely not. But it's not going to be like that this time. You'll play with me.  Only with me. No one else. At least we're the only ones playing. There will be other people in the room, though.«

I stare into this magnificent red eyes and get flashbacks from last night.

We haven't talked about it as if it's nothing special.

Don't think about it! It was just sex, don't put more meaning into it!

»Alright, then. Prepare yourself to lose, Big Boss!«

He licks his lip and the corners of his mouth curl up.

»We'll see, Kitten...«

*

I win several rounds.

But so does he.

»Guess we can say we're pretty even when it comes to this game.«

»I'm not surprised after your last show. You kicked those prick's asses like it's nothing. Tell me. Where did you learn to play like this, Sweetie?«

»Well, my father taught ne how to play when I was very young. Every evening before bedtime we spend hours playing. Unfortunately, he was a gambler with a great addiction. And when I was older I found out that he didn't play with me for fun. He planned on sending me to tournaments to win the big pots for him.«

I don't like to think or talk about my past, but I'm sure Sylus already knows most of it.

»I see. And did you do it?«

»No. He was an alcoholic, too. One day he sold me to an organization that experimented on me. I don't remember my time there, though. The only thing I know is that I have the aethercore in me since then.«

»Experiments?«

Sylus frowns at me and seems to think about my words while I raise, having two kings on my hand and one on the table. He calls.

»Yes. My grandma told me about it a few years later. She took me in after that time. So she's not really my grandma. But I love her deeply.«

He nods, still in thoughts.

When we reveal our hands, Sylus also has two kings. So we split the pot.

»But I can tell it's still a game you like to play.«

He smiles at me again.

»Oh, yes. It's very fun to play. It's my favourite, despite all the negative memories.«

He's sitting in front of me, like that Gary guy last time.

In the background is a bar where a few guests are having conversations while drinking.

»What about this. If you win the next round, I will let you drive home. I know how exited you are about that car.«

»Oh, that sounds fantastic. I'd really like to drive with it!«

»Perfect. But if I win...«

He leans back and gives me a look that should be forbidden!

»If I win, we will play another game.«