The man in the cloak stepped forward his movements unfolding like a dark sensual bloom, his velvet-black folds rustled softly as he emerged from the darkness. the hood fell away a tumble of dark silk hair cascade down his shoulders. His skin pale as alabaster seemed almost otherworldly.
"Neven I said not now" he murmured his voice like a gentle breeze on a summer's night.
"No need to trifle perhaps it's different she entered the heart of the forest herself." His words dripped with intrigue.
"For sure?" The hooded man's brow arched.
"Axel words not mine she's not ordinary."
His gaze snapped back to hers and she jolted her heart pounding in her ears like a blacksmith's hammer. She clenched her hand determined not to let fear betray her and held his gaze with a sharp defiant stare.
"Could you please tell me what you want from me?" She asked her bravery thinly veiled.
"Perhaps you may need her" Neven ignored her. "Or can we find out."
The man's smirk was mischievous."then try her" his voice velvety and alluring.
Her mind Swirled with questions anticipation and fear. Try her? What did they exactly want from her? They are going to........ No no never!
Neven approached her,dagger in hand, she crawled back her eyes never leaving his "what are you doing?" She sounded her voice trembling.
"Questions" Neven replied his steps deliberate his gaze piercing.
She crawled backward her palm scraping against the cold stone floor until her back hit the wall with a soft thud.
"Wh-what are you going to do with that?" She stammered her breath catching in her throat. "If you dare touch me" she hissed her voice low and venomous."I'll burn you alive."
"Burn alive" he whispered. "I wonder...... what would that look like?" The hooded man said before his smile grew.
"Good reputation, I like that one" he stepped closer his movements fluid and delicate.
"I don't think it would end well. Guess I can handle her." Neven voiced.
"No Neven I will." He smirked turning to her. "Your flames burn bright, don't they?."
He squatted besides her his crimson eyes locking onto hers like burning embers that held a mesmerizing intensity that terrified and intrigued her. They seemed to Pierce through her seeing her very soul. She found herself staring back at those crimson eyes that reminded her empty and darkness, she knew she should be afraid, look away but something about him make her want to know more.
"Red, like passion " he murmured his gaze lingered in her red hair. "Red, like fire"
Her cheeks burned her heart racing with a mix of fear and fascination.
"Red! You're afraid, yet fascinated. Why? " He sounded like a velvety vice.
"look I need to go. Untie me" she demanded.
"I will untie you soon" his gaze roaming her face predatory. "First what did you call yourself".
"Don't bother yourself with my name and mind your own business." She snapped.
"I will not ask you twice" his expression turned cold.
"Oh you really think I'd share that with you, I'm not telling you " her voice laced with a bitterness that surprised even her.
He chuckled darkly letting out a sound that sent shiver down her spine. "Brave! Red things may get unpleasant...... So play nice" he said, his voice a warning that make her skin crawl. "What is your name?" His voice cold and sharp.
"Hestia." She whispered audibly.
"Hestia" he repeated savoring the name on his tongue." A fitting name for a fire goddess. Wouldn't you say?."
Fire goddess! The term sent shiver down her spine despite his danger she couldn't quite name his attitude. He was a puzzle, a riddle wrapped in dangerous charm. His dark aura drew her in making her want to scream for her yet his eyes held her back.
For a moment her mind reeled from thoughts of her family, Raymond and Rylynn and focused on the puzzle man in front of her the calls her "Red."
Oh God, how was Rylynn? She wasn't well enough and here she was locked away with no idea what they were up to. She had to get back to her make sure she was safe.
"Tell me what do you know of your heritage?"his voice snapping back to reality.
"Heritage?" Her brow furrowed.
"Your family's secrets. Your own."
"I don't know what you're talking about". She tried to maintained her composure despite her racing heart.
"Neven!" He called his gaze still savoring her.
"I just tried and I heard nothing, it was quiet" he explained.
"Well I think we have a threat issue, Red what are you?" His tone turned cold and harsh.
"I'm Hestia" she said returning him a hard glare.
"I can't hold back my anger don't enrage me" he warned her.
How could she find it fun to have him frustrating, though inside her flames danced and roared a tempest raging through her veins.
"Neither can I, don't irritate me" she spat.
He let out a deep breath "stubborn creature I'm in a good mood don't upset me what are you? Tell me and I will untie you."
"Then what the hell do you think am I , I am just like you" Her voice was soft but deadly.
"Like me?" He emphasized. "Sure but you do entered the forest yourself what are you doing in the middle of nowhere"
"Doesn't matter you" she simply said.
"Neven you can't read her neither I and Axel said she is not ordinary, Red tell us what you are?" His gaze turned cold that make a chill run down her to spine. "Wait do you know what am I?" He raised a brow.
She looked at him confused her brows furrowed.
"Impossible" he leaned closer his face inches from hers.
His hot breath danced across her skin sending a wave of heat entire her body. He buried his face in the crook of her neck his lips grazing her tender flesh and inhaled her slowly deliberately as if devouring her scent. She clenched her fists tightly her skin tingling as if a thousand butterfly wings danced across her neck.
Drawing back leaving goosebumps in its wake his eyes blazing with hunger.
"Human" he whispered.
