Unholy Desire

Ch:2. Her Brother

Jade and Elias stood in silence again, the sound of the city below providing a backdrop to their tentative truce. Jade felt a small sense of relief at having found common ground with Elias, even if it was a fragile one. His intense stare at her brought unexpected emotions to her.

The evening air on the rooftop garden had a cooling effect, the light wind swung Jade's loose red-brown hair on her bare shoulders. Elias seemed in his own thoughts, staring into the starless sky, so she decided to take a few moments to herself before heading back inside. As she wandered among the plants and the softly glowing fairy lights, she allowed her thoughts to drift.

The tranquility of the garden was abruptly broken by the sound of a door open. Jade turned to see a tall, disheveled young man, entering the rooftop with an air of urgency. His face seemed flushed, and he spoke in a hurried, agitated manner.

"Elias, there you are!" the guy called out, his voice echoing slightly in the night. "We need to talk. It's about that thing we discussed earlier."

Elias's relaxed demeanor shifted to one of annoyance. He straightened up, casting an uneasy glance toward Jade. "Not now, Jake. Can't you see I'm busy?"

Jake's eyes briefly met Jade's, and he frowned, clearly uncomfortable with her presence. "Sorry, didn't realize you had company."

Elias sighed heavily, running a hand through his already disheveled black hair. "Look, Jake, can't this wait? I'm not in the mood to deal with this right now."

Jake glanced around, clearly agitated. "No, it can't. This is important. It's about the deal we've got going. You need to be there."

Jade watched the exchange with growing curiosity. The tension between Elias and Jake seemed palpable, and it was clear that whatever they were discussing was significant. She felt like an intruder in their private conversation but couldn't ignore the intrigue it sparked.

Elias's frustration was evident. "Fine. I'll be there in a bit. Just give me a minute."

Jake nodded curtly and turned to leave, casting one last, wary glance at Jade before disappearing through the door.

Elias sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair again as he stared out at the city lights. The casual, rebellious façade he had maintained seemed to slip away, revealing a layer of stress and burden.

Jade hesitated but decided to break the silence. "Everything okay?"

Elias turned toward her, he seemed irritated. "Just some stuff I have to deal with. Nothing you need to worry about."

Jade nodded, Elias clearly cut the conversation short. "I guess I'll head back inside then," Jade said, lowering her head and turning her back on him.

"I do love the view of you walking away," he said, somehow standing closer than Jade anticipated.

Jade glanced through her shoulder, scanning his face. "You can't talk to me like that," she said.

"Who is gonna stop me, Jade?"

Jade turned back, her curiosity piqued. "I'm supposed to be your sister,"

"And yet you are not," Elias looked into her eyes. Her breathing deepened, and the smirk on his lips suggested he won the battle. Jade felt unprepared and words failed her, she turned around, and walked away from him. "The view is truly mesmerizing." He shouted as Jade closed the terrace doors.

Soon she reached her bedroom, the space seemed pristine with white walls and dark furnishing. Her new room had a distinctive smell, which Jade assumed it was due to new furniture, she pressed the bed with her palm, and the mattress seemed sturdy. The day felt exhausting as it was but Jade knew she needed to unpack.