Night had fallen again and Andreas manage to restore his depleted energy levels. His anger had dulled, but returned with a vengeance when he decided he needed to test just how strong he was or if he needed more food. The breeze turned into a strong gust of wind, flapping his cape around him, messing up his already disheveled hair.
He raised one of his hands to his right, his eyes glowing a fierce gold and uprooted a hundred year old oak tree as if it was a mere twig on the ground he simply bent down to pick up. He threw the tree against the strong wind. The tree hit the ground with a loud thud and shattered into thousands of twigs and branches scattering about, leaves drifting in every which way.
Andreas was exhilarated. This time he uprooted ten trees at one, five on the left, and five on the right and brought his hands together, causing the trees to smash into each other, sending waves of wind and leaves in both directions. His efforts caused a mini tornado to form. A twisted laugh escaped his lips as he dragged the tornado toward him, his eyes shining brighter and brighter. The tornado stopped a hair length away from him, trapped in a confined area, drilling a hole in the ground because of its inability to move away across the ground.
His eyes dulled as he grabbed onto the wind, holding its power in the palms of his hands. The tornado disappeared into thin air and all the leaves, twigs and branches still in the air fell to the ground at exactly the same time. Andreas was smirking.
“It’s good to be free,” he said out loud, the smile still plastered onto his face.
Out of nowhere, an unfamiliar, melodic voice addressed him. “Aren’t you a little old to be throwing a tantrum?”
Andreas’ eyes narrowed as he turned to the voice. It was a woman. An almost naked woman. She was wearing a very tight, very short light blue dress, the same color as her cold eyes. Her skin shone with a blue tint, and her ivory hair stood out against her already pale complexion. Thin strips of blue threaded through her hair, giving her an unearthly look that demanded attention. Andreas regarded her with suspicion. She was obviously no ordinary human girl. He noticed she was quite beautiful, like an ice sculpture. He preferred fire.
Fire like in Lana’s eyes.
He quickly averted his mind of the thought. “If I were throwing a tantrum, I would have leveled this entire forest, not simply crush a couple of trees.”
She cocked her head to the side, her lips set into a slight pout. Those cold eyes were trying to beckon him to her. She knew she was beautiful. Everything about her demeanor seemed to beg him to approach her. He stayed where he was.
“So you just like displaying your power for everyone to see? Don’t care much for the element of surprise?” her voice sang. Andreas smirked when he realized it was meant to entrance him. His suspicions about what she was started to sharpen.
“That,” he pointed at the destroyed part of the woods, “was a mere fraction of what I’m capable of. Trust me when I say that even if someone other than you saw that, I still have the element of surprise on my side.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “You are some kind of big shot then?” she chimed.
“Have you not heard of me then?” Andreas asked, his tone amused.
Her eyes narrowed curiously. “I’m not exactly from around here, in case you haven’t noticed.”
Andreas raised his eyebrows. “Nope, haven’t noticed. You look exactly like any other girl you would find in every kingdom. Nothing different about you. Although no one else has blue in their hair. Yes, that has to be it.”
The woman walked closer and she seemed angry. Andreas’ amusement only continued. Something he said must’ve upset her. “Do not try and tell me that there is a mortal woman that can match my beauty,” she accused, her voice low and dangerous.
Andreas found her about as threatening as a kitten – a very pissed off kitten. “Yes, of course, no human girl. Human girls are far too boring and plain, nothing special about them. But you and I both know that human girls aren’t the only girls – or women, out there.”
She raised her eyebrows. “I amend my statement, no woman or girl can be more beautiful than me, no matter what race or species.” Andreas could think of one.
“You are a vain little thing, aren’t you?” Her eyes froze over. He was enjoying getting this girl mad. He had forgotten how fun it could be sometimes. “And what would you do if I disagreed?” he challenged.
She was now standing only a couple of feet away from him. “You are strange…” she said, he eyebrows now furrowed. “Any other man would’ve caved into me by now.”
Andreas crossed his arms over his chest. “Obviously you have the order of events wrong here. Around me, women do the caving. I do not cave for anyone.” When the words left his mouth, he realized that wasn’t quite true. There had been one woman he had caved for. One woman he would do anything to get back.
“I’m a siren. You are not supposed to have a choice!” she said, her words cutting through the cold air.
“And I’m a sorcerer. I can choose who the fuck I want.” His tone had grown darker, his amusement lifting. “What are you doing away from the water, fish?”
That made her angry and she lunged at him. Andreas side-stepped in the nick of time, examining his nails as she pulled herself from the ground. She started toward him again, but he suspended her in the air with just a look. He found her almost too easy to control.
“You know, so many people have underestimated my power before, and it never goes well for them. I don’t understand how this keeps happening unless the world is filled with morons.”
“Let me go!”
“Are you going to try and attack me again?”
She groaned, anger rolling off her in waves.
She shook her head when it became apparent that her efforts were futile. Andrea let her go and she fell to the ground in a thud.
“Asshole.”
“I’ve been called worse,” he answered with a shrug.
She straightened herself out, brushing the dirt from her knees. “So are you going to tell me your name then as I’m not going to be able to have you for a snack?”
“Oh, so you weren’t kidding about the whole siren thing. Interesting.” Andreas cocked his head to the side. “I’ve never met a speaking fish before. You’re not what I expected.”
She looked like she was about to claw his eyes out. Andreas laughed at that. “If you must know, I’m Andreas Scott Grigoli.”
“Such a long name. Waste of time I’d say.”
“Then just call me Andreas.”
She smiled, once again trying to draw him in, and let out a string of curses when it didn’t work. “Well, Andreas, my name is Leita, and I’m a powerful mermaid.”
Andreas scoffed. “You must be a very weak race then.”
Leita dove at him again, and this time he grabbed her around the waist and sat her down on the other side of him. “I’m not in the mood to play games, little fish.”
“Stop. Calling. Me. That,” she enunciated slowly, flashing her razor sharp teeth.
“Or you’ll do what? Tackle yourself to death?”
“You must have no friends,” she said through clenched teeth. Andreas hid the fact that she had struck a nerve since it was true. His friends were all dead.
“And here I thought we were getting along so well.”
She smiled, her eyes narrowed dangerously. “You are delusional.”
Andreas pretended to weigh this over. “Nope. Unfortunately I’m still sane. Frankly, insanity would be a welcome escape to my life. But no such luck.”
“You’re looking for an escape?”
“You’re offering?”
She grinned mischievously. “I’ll try anything once.”
Andreas smirked.
YOU ARE READING
Haunting Shadows (Book 2)
Fantasy"What if my sins are all I've become? Will you still love me if the Andreas you once knew is too far gone to ever get back?" Lana had survived burning on the stake, but at what cost? Every time she closes her eyes, she revisits the horror of burning...
