Golden Melody

Chapter 5.5

Thyron Sebastian POV

Mark arrived shortly after, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

He knew me well enough to sense the change in me.
He wouldn't pry, for now, but I could see the questions in his eyes.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice low.

I nodded, my heart hammering in my chest.
"Let's go."

We drove in silence, the city lights blurring into streaks of color as we sped through the streets.

I had chosen a secluded café, a place Aleanna frequented with her friends, a place where I could meet her without raising suspicion.

As I watched her walk through the door, a familiar warmth flooded me.

She was graceful, her smile as bright as the sun.
But the spark I once felt had faded, replaced by a cold, calculating awareness.
I was here to use her, to manipulate her, to make her a part of my plan.

"Hey, honey," I said, my voice was softer than usual.

She looked surprised, a flicker of joy in her eyes.
"Honey, what a surprise!"

"Just wanted to see you," pulling out the bouquet of roses.
"I got these for you."

Aleanna's face lit up, her eyes widening with delight.
She took the roses, her fingers tracing the velvety petals.
"They're beautiful, Honey. Thank you."

"You're welcome," I said, my voice a low murmur.
"I thought they were perfect for you."

The café was quiet, the soft murmur of conversation and the clinking of cups creating a soothing background noise.

But I could only focus on Aleanna, on the way her eyes sparkled as she inhaled the sweet scent of the roses.

It was a reminder of everything I had lost, of the happiness I had once felt with her.
But that was a lifetime ago.
Now, I was playing a different game, a game where love was a weapon, a tool to be used and discarded.

"So, what's going on?" Aleanna asked, her voice laced with a hint of concern.
"You seem... different."

I forced a smile, trying to appear nonchalant.
"Just stressed, that's all. The Pet shop, you know. It can be overwhelming."

She nodded, her brow furrowed with worry.

"Honey. I'm always here for you." She reached out and took my hand, her touch sending a jolt through me.

I felt a familiar warmth, a flicker of the love I had once felt for her.
I had to push it away, and had to focus on the task at hand.

"I need your help, Aleanna," I said, my voice dropping to a near whisper.
"I need you to do something for me."

She looked at me, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Anything, honey. You know I'll do anything for you."

"Good," I whispered, leaning in close, my voice barely audible above the soft hum of the café.
"I need you to find out some information for me. Something about Zatariel."

She looked at me, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Zatariel? What about him?"

"Just... some things I need to know," I said, my voice a low growl.
"Things that can help me, I wanted to be the class valedictorian."

I could see the gears turning in her mind, the realization dawning on her face.

She knew I was up to something different, but she wouldn't question me.
She would do this for me, for the love she thought she had for me.

"What kind of information?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "What do you want to know?"

"Anything you can find," I said, my voice hardening.
"Anything that can help me get the upper hand. Anything that can bring him down."

I watched her face, a flicker of fear in her eyes.
But she nodded, her lips pressed tightly together.
She would do this for me.
She would help me destroy Zatariel.
And I would use her, just as I had used everyone else.

I leaned in, my lips brushing against her ear.

"You're a good girl, Aleanna," I whispered, my voice husky with a mixture of desire and malice. "You're going to do great things for me."

I pulled her closer, my hand cupping her cheek.
Her eyes closed as I kissed her, my lips moving against hers with a possessive hunger.
She responded with a soft sigh, her arms wrapping around my neck.

The taste of her lips was bittersweet, a reminder of the love I had once felt, the love I was now using as a weapon.

But as I held her close, as I felt her body trembling against mine, I knew I had won.

Aleanna was mine, and she would do everything I asked.
She would help me get what I wanted, even if it meant betraying her own cousin.
And as I pulled away, my eyes burning with a cold, calculating fire, I knew that the game had just begun.

The kiss ends with the sound of a soft, contented sigh from Aleanna, her eyes still closed, her lips swollen from my kiss.

I let her believe that this was about love, about our connection. But the truth.
This was about power, about who is in control.
And I was determined to win.