Midnight Playground

Chapter 4

Before midnight, as if casted by a spell, she was back home once more, creeping through the hallway at the dead of night. Although she had expected a successful infiltration to have been very unlikely, the house remained silent and she somehow managed to reach the door without alerting any unwanted attention. She let out a sustained sigh of relief but her suspicious nature was evident by the way she flicked her head from side to side, noting the shadow that skulked across the wall, outlined by the dim light of the window at the end of the corridor. Her feelings of triumph quickly vanished as she listened attentively to the subtle creaks of the floorboards on the landing. She felt her body tense up but she dismissed a shiver. Someone was watching her and had probably been watching her since she had stepped inside. The peaceful atmosphere very quickly turned into a stifling hallway, tension wrapping itself around her throat to rob her of breath. She lightly placed her hand on the doorknob, having no real intention to enter until she could learn who it was that was stalking her and why. She wasn't willing to be trapped with them in a confined space, just yet. 

"I know you're there." She called out to them, unable to see through the blinding darkness. "Come out!" She swung her gaze either side of her but only silence greeted her frantic mind. The eeriness of the quiet made her heart beats thump loudly, her fingertips pulsating as she leant over to switch on the lamp that was set next to her door on a small end table. The vague light didn't bring much relief to her and it barely lit up the doorway to reveal the old scratches of the wood on the doorframe. After all, the demons hadn't always been so unconcerned with her and Kayne had very often scraped at her door, like a cat that wanted to be let in. Over time, that behaviour had declined considerably but that didn't mean that she would stop locking her door at night. Of course, if a demon truly wanted in, there would have been no stopping it. So for that, she was grateful to them and their strong self-control.  

She lifted her head up and turned around, recoiling back suddenly as a pair of glowing blue eyes hovered in front of her face, illuminated in the darkness. She jerked backwards, inadvertently staggering into the end table and clumsily catching the lamp in her hands. 

"J-Jace...!" She panted, watching him step into the low light. A tremble passed over her body, her heart pounding manically to the sound of his discreet hisses. "Why do you have to sneak up on me like that!" She snapped at him breathlessly, taking an uneasy step backwards towards the door as he slowly approached her. She glared at him in warning but he took no notice of it and continued forward. 

"Why must you sneak around?" He quipped back at her in amusement, smirking at the emotion of shock that tightened across her paled face, obviously searching for a believable answer that she hoped would throw him. 

"I didn't want to wake anyone." She replied back in a snarky tone, fairly impressed with herself that she had managed to think up something on the spot. She nibbled anxiously on the corner of her lips, staring at the way that the warm light kissed his cheeks and defined the handsome features of his face. He was deceitfully beautiful and even the scar that ran along his jaw line appeared almost wicked to have marked such an envious creature of sin. She couldn't help feeling distracted by it, her thoughts cascading into utter shambles. He leant forwards and placed his hand on the wall behind her, enclosing her in a distant embrace of heat. His swift movements made her flinch, trapped like prey, exposed to his examining gaze that filled her with anticipation, and dread. He sniggered under his breath and a rush of colour darted across her cheeks. 

"Then, where have you been?" He asked her in a whisper, in a deep voice that thawed her stilled body, his lips pressed to her ear. Against her wishes, her body eased to his allures and her legs dipped weakly, helpless to his powerful advances. She didn't even have a chance to question how it was that he had entangled her in his clutches. She had become entranced by his gentle gaze that made her bottom lip quiver with both fright and interest, so much so that even when the warmth of his fingers stroked against her cheeks it didn't immediately register in her mind.