Zephyr's Promise

30

One look at him and I knew what had been done. Last night he came in with his mind in another place. The object of his focus being the madman Augustus Czar. Throughout this whole ordeal the bastard has been trying to play coy. For what reason I don't know. Why he aimed to piss off the one man that would wreak havoc on not only him but this entire place is beyond me.

When he walked in after being up even before the sun I just knew. The air was filled with completion. The resolution being Czar with a bullet in his head. There was never any other option but for his death to happen. Now that he is six feet under or wherever Atlas has thrown his body, there is more. More questions that didn't seem pressing.

Where do we go from here?

After having Atlas letting him go, as if none of this has happened seems impossible. Like a poison he is embedded into my blood. After having drunk him time after time there is no cure or chance for immunity. From the time a woman is just a little girl she is warned about dangerous men. Not just the ones that rape or kill you. No. We are warned about the ones that find ways to make you addicted. The ones that latch themselves into every crevice of you. Men that have the power to break your heart.

Atlas is that kind of man. He never tried to hide that. But, God did I try to forget. For so much of the time that we were together I did. Those very hands that slid across my skin under the guise of the moon. Those same hands are ones that commit murder. Precious words beholden to only me seal others' fate of death. It is easy to forget a person's cruelty when you see the effort they make with you. For me Atlas was much more than that. More than the flaws I was warned about.

Each question about our future was put on pause with a kiss. Like an idiot I truly believed it was because he needed to enjoy the accomplishment. When has a man such himself ever needed to revel in achievements like this one? My mind was telling my soul the very thing it wished to not know. If so it would be surrendering me to another repeated mistake. No matter what he did I couldn't view him like that. A stain marring my spirit.

Even as he sweetly guided me away from the unknown I followed. Feeling hollow I let myself fall into him even further. Grasping at the connection we have had all this time. Somehow now when it matters the most there is something blocking us. Something I felt lingering since coming to New York. Now there is nowhere to run from it. For the night I let it go. If I had known I never would have.

It took one decision to have me right back where I started. Falling over myself all because of a boy. All because of my stupidity. His side of the bed was cold and empty. Chilling to the touch.

Wrapped in his robe I fled to the living room where he and his brother could be heard. And here I am staring at him fully clothed. One hundred percent prepared to leave this place without looking back.

How did I lose my way again?

Atlas faces me with a guilty expression. Funny, this isn't the first time I am getting that look from him. But it is the first time I truly understand what it means. Which leads me to believe this plan of his has been in the works for much longer than the time it took for him to leave our bed.

It's not your bed anymore Nile. Maybe it never really was.

"Nile." His voice is raspy. Unlike the sharp defined one I am used to. And I am truly starting to believe that this isn't my Atlas. "I have to get home." His eyes plead with me to understand.

"Of course. You have to check on your property." My skin warms at my words. We both know that is not what he means. If it were he would have said so. I can feel the tears forming above my eyes. They, like me, are preparing for the inevitable moment where the truth will come.