Serpentine Desires

The prey

"You did a good job. He'd be impressed."

"I'm not trying to impress anyone. I just want to get out of this mess."

Ivan's smile widened as he casually placed his hand on my shoulder and I flinched. "You'll be out soon. Just follow the plan, and you'll be free."

Shrugging his arm off my shoulder I looked around. "How can you be so sure? " My voice was barely above a whisper, drowned by the murmurs of distant conversations and the clatter of dishes in the cafeteria.

Ivan leaned in closer, his voice almost lost amidst the noise. "My brother is a man of his words."

I stared at him.

After Kyle slept last night, sneaked back into Judas's office and clicked the pictures of those photos and some documents. After sending them to Ivan, I deleted them. Though I ponder how that'd help Lucius, but I didn't care.

I just wanted to clean my hands of this whole affair.

"Whatever, I just—"

Before I could complete Ivan took a step forward and invaded my vicinity. My breath hitched as he wrapped his arm freely around my waist. "You won't suffer in his hands anymore. I promise you that, Sera."

His words lingered in the air, wrapping me in a cloak of uneasy reassurance.

I nodded trying to get him off me. "I'd look for anything else if I could find. But there's not much in his office, except some... papers and..."

"Papers will be all."

Ivan's eyes gleamed with a certain determination that was infectious. He released me, and I took a step back, inhaling deeply. I glanced at the bustling cafeteria, suddenly feeling the weight of the secrets I harbored.

"I just need time," I murmured, trying to convince myself as much as him.

Ivan nodded, understanding the silent struggle twisting inside me. "Lucius wants to see you on Thursday. Keep him satisfied if you want to escape Romanovski sooner."

I swallowed. Fear and anticipation mingled in the pit of my stomach. "I'd try."

Before Ivan could say anything, I side stepped him and walked out of the cafe to my next class. I did not trusted Ivan. And neither Lucius. But that didn't mean I trusted Judas.

They could ruin each other for all I care what I needed was my freedom. And I was ready to pay whatever cost it took.

Judas was a criminal, and Lucius would be one for all I care. I just needed to play my part carefully, walk the path I found myself stumbling upon.

Before Judas would come back, I needed to gather as much evidence against him as I could.

Time was slipping through my fingers, and Thursday would come sooner.

After attending two more classes and taking extra time in the washroom so that I wouldn't stumble upon Ivan or Alina, I exited the college.

Like a routine, Kyle was already there. I sighed walking past him and settling into the car. He started the car and drove into the foggy streets.
None of us said anything. And I was glad. I had no clue what to say.

So I stayed quiet. His words from last night were still echoing in my head.

Monsters were not born but made.

I wondered if that was true, thinking of Judas. I knew what he was. And I knew he freaking enjoyed it. But maybe, just maybe, there was a part of him that wasn't completely lost. Perhaps that was foolish hope, yet it lingered in the back of my mind, urging me to find even the faintest glimmer of humanity within.