The Darkest Shadows

Chapter 3

With an expert flick of the wrist, I apply the last of my make-up, the lipstick I just put on softening the eyeshadow I had done earlier. I am surprised at how quickly I managed to make myself look put together considering the whirlwind that was work. As soon as Pierce left, the place picked up again till six when Damian came in and I was saved from the horrid Rush Hour The Sequel. Hm that'd be a good movie name.

I scan over my makeup and hair in the mirror, trying to find anything I forgot to do or cover. I decided to go light on the cosmetics this evening, and no it's not because I'm bone-tired. It's because I'm lazy as all hell and also tired to boot. Cosmetic-wise I seem fine and the braid I have my hair in doesn't look like it'll come falling apart. As far as I can tell nothing is amiss so now it's time for the final accessory. Shoes. I walk over to the closet, almost tripping on my work uniform I had discarded on the ground. Thankfully I righted myself before I went tumbling down. Then, acting like it never happened and that I'm a flawless goddess, I open up the closet to grab some shoes that might work.

I've got two in mind, but the question becomes which of the two do I wear? Do I pick the silver flats or the black heels? I tap my chin thoughtfully before holding each pair in my hands, contemplating my reflection in the mirror. Finally I decide on the silver flats, mainly because it sounds like we'll be doing a lot of walking during the date night and I don't want to have to end the night because of heel problems.

I set down the two shoes and slip my feet into the flats, checking my outfit in the closet mirror for anything I should change before I need to meet up with Pierce. He had all the stuff for tonight set up before I even got off of work, and I assume that he's at his friend Joey's house getting ready. He made it seem like I should go more fancy, so I decided on a grey-blue dress with a smooth gradient from the grey-blue to a darker blue. The silver flats make the grey stand out a bit more, making the outfit brighter and more calming.

I'm about to go out the door to our scheduled meeting place when I feel for my necklace. Shit! I forgot to put it on. I've worn the silver necklace since I was seventeen. It feels weird to be without it, and I can't leave without putting it on. So...where did I put it?

I hastily scour the closet, the bed, and the bathroom. As I'm jogging through the bathroom and back to my kitchen, my feet catch on my uniform that I had almost tripped on before, but this time I actually fell. Thankfully I'm not hurt but as I fell, I felt the silver key pendant under the clothing. Triumphantly I hold it up before putting it on. Then I run a hand over my hair to make sure that it didn't get messed up in the fall.

Thankfully everything is in place and I can finally get going to the restaurant Pierce had reserved us at, The Gold Leaf Lounge, which is where we tend to go for dinners and dates of the fancier variety. I grab my phone from the nightstand next to the bed and send a quick text to Pierce, letting him know that I'm on my way.

Just before I'm about to hit send, I hear the a window open from the front room. Cautiously I set down the phone and walk into the room, my body immediately going into defense mode. Pierce drove the movements into me so that now it's basic instinct. As I creep into the room, I see the window is open and letting a chill breeze flow into the room. I scan over the room before closing the window.

I hear movement behind me and jump to the side, dodging a elbow that would have hit me between the shoulders had I not moved. My attacker spins and uses his inertia to throw a kick at my stomach. I block with my arm and twist their leg causing him to lose balance and crash into the coffee table. Splinters and glass spray everywhere. As soon as he hits the ground he kicks out his leg at mine and sends me to the floor too, my skull slamming against the windowsill as I go down. My head is ringing and I can feel a wetness at the base of my skull, but I try to get up. I need to fight.

My attacker doesn't like this and throws himself on me, pressing his arm against my throat. I choke, trying to buck him off of me but it's no use. The last thing I see before darkness takes me is his dark blue eyes staring at me through the black mask.

~~~

Pierce Clarkson is worried. Elethia hasn't shown up to their date night which should have started an hour ago. He's received no texts, no calls, no nothing. And it's stressing him out. She's usually pretty good about checking in if she's going to be late.

This worry is what drives him to their shared apartment, checking his phone for new messages from El at every possible moment. When he finally is able to get into the building, he bolts to the elevators, fervently pressing the button until the elevator opens up to take him up.

It's a stressful and tense ride up to their apartment on the top floor, every atom in him wanting to burst into flames and fly up to the window that leads into his home. Their home. When the elevator finally dings open, he almost sighs in relief. Almost. The door to their apartment is cracked open and all the lights inside are off.

He carefully walks through the doorway, glass crunching underfoot. All senses on full alert, he treads lightly through the darkened room. Debris of wood and glass litter the floor, and visible in the moonlight streaming through the window are drops of crimson blood. Pierce can feel his stomach twist with fear and nausea, his heart jumping into his throat as he takes in the wreckage but he continues on. Quickly he checks the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen for anything any sign of what happened, where she is, anything. Terror crawls up his spine as he sees that no one is here.

When he twists around to head out the apartment and call the police, he sees a large dagger stabbed into the door, a thick red liquid sliding down the blade and dripping onto the wood floor. Pierce falls to his knees as the realization strikes him, the weight of the world pressing down on his chest and the weight of a gold ring burns against his side, suffocating all the breath out of him. The Scarlet Blade has Elethia. And he won't let her go alive.