Fade Into Black - Shadows of the Night 5

Chapter 7

Hi,

Alexander's back again, only what's he planning to do? And: what was the secret he claimed to know? Find out in this one! :-)

Lara

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Chapter 7

Dark blue eyes, watching with the intensity of hot and cold feathers beating on bare skin. Goose bumps drifting over the back of my neck, appearing with the unexpectedness of a nervous tick.

"Really, little witch, after all that we shared, you will not give me a little honesty? I think I have made myself clear enough. I will, however, spell it out for you."

He started walking a slow circle around me, barely touching the outlines of my walls, long, controlled steps that made no sound.

"I told you once that you could not walk away from our bond. What I said back then, is still valid. You will-"

"Do nothing," I said. "I'm not your human servant. And I'm not your lover."

The last few words were out faster than I planned. In fact, I hadn't planned to say them at all, at least not at this point in time. I turned with him, watched his face, waiting for a reaction, something to happen.

Blue, unforgiving eyes. No reaction. Not even a blink.

"Ah, you believe I came here to rescue you and claim what is mine. You are mistaken, little witch. That is not why I am here." He laughed. "And I did not come here to drag you back to my bed, if that is what you believe." His eyes dropped, then went all the way back up to meet mine. "You are not worth it."

The words made something inside me implode.

"Well, there is the fact that you still owe me," he said. "After all, half of New York knows you as my human servant. But, little witch, and that is the odd thing, that is not the main reason why I came. Whoever first gets to you, will procure and learn whatever information you have. It is in my best interest to prevent either the Circle, or the Inri Brotherhood from getting their hands on it."

The words were cold, equal to the slow, annihilating lilt in his voice. It hurt, more than I liked to admit. I did a mental headshake. I couldn't lose it. Not here, not now.

I did what I always did, a familiar routine I had performed far too often to count. I fortified my heart, built that ring of steel around it like a metallic fortress. Became that me that didn't cry when she felt lonely. The Anna that could see past the death of her parents and move on. The Anna that wasn't hurt by anything or anyone. That part of me that was going to fight for survival, no matter what happened.

"It's pointless, Alexander. The Inri Brotherhood doesn't know anything about our master-human-servant-relationship."

I watched his face carefully. Nothing changed. Not an ounce of emotion, or reaction of a kind.

I was fishing for information, and he probably knew it. The real question I wanted answered was whether he knew about the secret Medici and Chris Hayes were protecting. Since Alexander knew about pretty much everything that went on in New York, I was fairly sure he did know and had for a while. Particularly if I was right about what happened the night Nathanial Norson died.

"We will have plenty of time to discuss it, little witch. You will come with me, without an ounce of protest. Once you are back in my lair again, you will learn the true meaning of loyalty, after giving me all the information you have on the Inri Brotherhood."