Drakan (The Chronicles of Eli) [#Wattys2015]

Chapter 9

“Sorry I got home late I was…well me and Abigail was busy”. His nervousness got the best of him as he quickly mumbled out the words.

                        “Don’t worry about it” Valen said smiling. “I’m sure you had fun.”

                        “Yeah, you can say so” he said scratching the back of his neck.

            He put his hand in front of his face, palm outwards, and checked his nails. Dirt had accumulated underneath them. With his thumb he plucked the dirt out and flicked it to the floor.

                        “Come here. There is someone that would like to meet you” he said in sketchy tone.

            Eli squinted his eyes and nodded. Something was off about Valen tonight. His facial expression showed happiness but his eyes told a sad tale. As he walked over, he thought about Abigail. What would he say when he went over there tomorrow, better yet what would she tell him. When he got to the door Valen stood to the side.

                        “Well come in, don’t be shy” the woman’s voice said slowly.

            Eli stepped through the door and saw no one. Is this a joke? Strangely Valen closed the door and went to go sit in his chair at his desk. He clasped his hands together on top of the desk and looked to his left. Eli followed his eyes and met a pair of bright blue eyes staring at him.

                        “Is it not polite to greet a lady?” she said with no expression.

            He stood stiff. The view of her was breath taking. She sat on Valens single person couch effortlessly producing such a beauty only a goddess could emit. Her curly autumn hair rested gently on top of her shoulders, lying on her breasts. She teasingly licked her almost thin lips, as she smiled at Eli. Her cute small nose, completing the package, made it hard for him to turn away. She moved a strand of her hair from her smooth youthful oval face and placed it behind her ear. She didn’t look any older than 25.

                        “Well. I guess Valen never taught you proper manners.” She crossed her legs and held out her hand, “I’m Claire”.

            Still stuck in the aura that surrounded him, he absent-mindedly reached for her hand. “I-I’m E-Eli, p-pleasure to meet you”.

                        “Oh, I know exactly who you are.” She smiled and leaned forward a bit before continuing, “I also know what you’re capable of, whether it be good or bad.”

            Those words brought him back to from the high heavens he was sitting in. He closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. He turned and gave Valen a confused look but ran into a brick wall. Eli looked behind him and saw a metal folding chair leaning on a wall in the corner. He went to get it and brought it to the middle of the floor, placing himself between both Valen and Claire.

                        “Good or bad?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, as he squared his leg on the other.

            Claire didn’t reply, she only stared into his eyes. Nervousness crept under his skin once more and his heart began to beat faster. Her eyes lowered as she leaned even further forward. To Eli it felt as if she was searching inside his soul for her own personal needs. He cleared his throat and forced a cough covering it with balled up fist. He felt so empty, so lost at that very moment. What is she doing? And why is she still staring? For some reason he wanted to cry. He broke eye contact and looked at the ground, while he ran a hand through his sweaty hair. He inhaled deeply and when he exhaled, the shifting of her feet made him look up. She had her back against the couch again with the ends of her lips curled causing her mouth to barely part.