A Hunters Prey

Chapter 6: Wildcard

"Where are you going?"

Why did even her voice have to sound so intriguing? I bet she could even give Ingrid a run for her money, if they the same enticing game.

"None of your business." I replied and mentally cringed at how childish it sounded. I forced myself to keep my temper in check, "I have other jobs to complete; responsibilities."

Lilith was unfairly attractive. I could tell from the way Callan's gaze had admired her earlier, and maybe that played as part of the reason I didn't like her. Or, perhaps it was because this Syndicate had assassinated three women who I had been in classes with.

Both were good enough reasons.

"Liar." Lilith smiled, a predatory smile that reminded of her reputation. I wondered if she smiled like that at my sisters before murdering them, "Your sister's tried to lie to me too, but I'm very good at catching lies."

At the mention of them, I bristled. Lilith wanted a fight, I could tell it from a mile away, she was trying to provoke me so that I would slip up and she'd have a logical reason to kill me. Add another notch to her collection, another name to a list- but she would not get mine.

I hadn't even gotten to the bottom of the stairs yet and she was already getting on my nerves. It made me question whether if I would walk out of the doors without any blood on my hands, "It's sad that you feel the need to brag." I smirked indifferently, those sisters would not want me to take the bait, "How many of them took the cyanide before you killed them?"

Something feral flashed through Lilith's pretty light eyes but a throat cleared behind us, earning our attention. Callan and...I'm sure his first name was Elias, descended downstairs at a measurable distance from one and other.

"Ladies." Callan greeted curtly, not oblivious from the thickening tension between us. It was like this team was formed to personally vex me, "How about we let whatever bygones here, be bygones. It's not like we have time for personal issues right now."

Lilith's gaze roamed over his broad shouldered figure, in a slow and appreciative manner, before she met Callan's gaze again with a spark of interest, "Not at all." She purred, leaning against the banister of the staircase with a grin, "We were just discussing perhaps some drinks."

"I think that's a fine idea." Elias announced, taking the steps as he bypassed Callan. His gaze locked onto me, "We have much to catch up on, Halen. Do you have a place in mind?"

When opportunity strikes, we were taught from a young age that only the stupid or the inferior let them slide by. So, before Lilith could even think of parting those full lips, I grabbed it for myself.

"I know a place." I addressed grimly, knowing it was the only way I could keep them out of my business, "It's not too far away."

Callan's piercing gaze was drilling a hole through the back of my head as I walked towards the door, making no attempt to slow down for them to keep up. All I needed to do was extend an invitation - which I did - and now it was up to them to keep up.

Outside, rain had began to fall from the gray sky and I flipped up the hood from my jacket as the puddles splashed against my black boots. Ingrid thought it was outrageous how I preferred walking in the rain, rather in than in the sunshine.

Something about the coldness comforted me, I enjoyed the feel of it seeping through my jacket. It felt like being woken up after days worth of sleep. Ingrid hated getting her hair wet, and her entire body, she was more of a sun lounger but I hated being in the heat for too long a time.

In fact, when the sun wasn't out she rarely walked anywhere. She was rather fond of her personal driver- Bryan.

Not once did I glance over my shoulder as I took the bustling streets, purely because I didn't care if they were behind me or not. Although, I did feel a pang of disappointment when Elias fell in step beside me without a single glance in my direction.