Liquorice

4.Fire

*Kristen's POV*

The day after felt like a rude,but strangely calming awakening from a dangerous,pretty dream, until I heard my phone ring once again.

It was an unknown number.

My heart jumped and cold shreds of anxiety split my throat,making it impossible to breath.

-Hello?said a voice. 

-Is it you?I asked without thinking,although already having recognized the voice.

-Yes,it is me.

-R i g h t.I said.

-Wanna go out for a drink later?

-Where?

-I was thinking the Shepard's Crook on Tottenham Court Road.

-I'll be there at what?Six? 

-Six will do.See you there,Kris.

-Bye.

***
I decided to walk to our meeting point.

The weather didn't differ much from the day before that,and the day before that and it would,most likely,not be much different from the following one.

The location she chose was as pretty and quiet, as old and posh as the very soul of London.

Upon arriving I found her wandering the halls of the building,throwing dreamy looks at the paintings on the walls,the hem of her spotless white dress brushing the carpet with a sound like dried leaves,her cinnamon hair curling like grapevines.

"You came."she said,not taking her eyes off the walls.

"Didn't you expect me to?"

"It's not that.It's just...For a moment I thought you were just in my head,a phantom,a mere manifestation of my thoughts."

There was something different about her.

She didn't seem as driven and bussines-like as she had seemed the day before.

In that sunny corridor,on that spring evening,I saw her in a whole new light.

She was like a little girl playing a pink violin.

That new side of her made me less afraid of her,of what she might think of me.

"Was I now?"
She only gazed at me in response.

A long,searching,firy gaze.

"Are you mocking me,child?"
"And what if I am?"
"Of course you are.You are mocking me by existing,by coming here,by suggesting that I'm not what and who I thought I was.This whole world is mocking me,damn it!"she positively screamed,her foggy,hurtful words staining the walls,blood staining my palms where my nails dug into them.

Who did this woman think she was?

"What is your problem?
If you didn't want me here,why the bloody hell did you call?"
"I did,honey,and I still do.You did nothing wrong,you sweet,sweet child."she said in a much calmer tone.

" I'm sorry,I shouldn't have said that."she lowered her gaze,a mascara soaked tear blackening her cheek.

"Then why did you?"
"People are selfish and cruel at times.I was cruel to you and to myself and to this beautiful world we live in."
I didn't even know what to say anymore.

She was a siren,an enchantress.And she could lure me into the depths with a few well spoken phrases.

"No...please...don't give me that look..."she whined.
"What look?"I asked.
"You're looking at me like I've hurt you."
"You have."

She came closer,rose on her tip toes,her red ballet flats bright as flames and wrapped her arms around my limp form.

She was warm and pleasant,like there were ambers burning under her skin.

I picked her up and spun her around once,maybe twice. Not exactly light as a feather,but close enough.

She laughed and rested her head in the crook of my neck once I put her down,her breath causing tingles to spread on my flesh like little drops of cyanide.

"She will be the death of me" I thought,and oh boy was I right.