Avriel Kaplan: Well dressed, well groomed, beautifully handsome, quiet and brooding and exactly the kind of man Ariel Declan doesn't need to know. But, that is not for her to decide.
Alexander Kirk: wickedly handsome, well known and well liked, egot...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Austin removed his phone from his pocket when it went off. 'Wait there. Protect her please.'
He didn't need any further commands. He knew who 'her' was. He would do as he was asked. He sat just a few feet from the end of the bar and watched over Ariel for the rest of the night. When last call was made, and it was nearly time for him to go he looked up at the balcony where Scott and Esther were preparing to leave. He then looked to the mezzanine to find Alex. Alex had busied himself with some blond. He sent a simple message. 'Last Call'
'Please, go to the car.' Again, Austin did as Avriel had requested of him. When he returned to the car he got in the driver's seat and waited. The back of the car was empty. Avriel returned to the club shortly after closing time. He opened the back door and got into the car. Austin would have rattled and hedged if Avriel hadn't let him know he was there. It was more a feeling than any words shared. Most of the time Austin and Avriel didn't need words to communicate. Austin just understood whatever it was that Avriel wanted. That night a new routine was established. Avriel spoke. "Can we see her car?"
"It's there." Austin pointed at Ariel's car. Avriel nodded.
"Let's wait for her." Avriel closed his eyes and concentrated opening his mind to his surroundings. He heard Austin's nod as the skin on the back of his head gently brushed against the headrest. He picked up the sound of his breathing and the beating of both their hearts. He pushed his senses out beyond the car and into the shadows. Nothing. He was relieved, but he didn't let his guard down. He put up the barrier that would let others know she was protected. He hadn't put his mark on her. He wasn't sure what it looked like anyway. He didn't want to mark her or claim her in any traditional way. He wanted her safe from harm, happy, whole and safe. He liked her a lot.
Avriel sat quietly in the back of his car. To an onlooker, it would have looked like he was meditating. He essentially was. He listened to the world outside and waited for Ariel to get off work. Darius and Sam walked her to her car. They shone a flashlight in the back seat to make sure that it was empty before opening the doors. Avriel smiled and thought. 'That's a good girl.' She got in her car started it and drove away.
"Home please." He sat back, relaxed and enjoyed his ride home letting thoughts of Ariel continue to occupy his mind. She was truly a fascinating girl. He didn't mind letting his mind wonder at the possibilities of knowing who she was and letting her know as much as he could about himself. He could imagine that she would be a good and solid friend. Someone he could trust and count on. He had always wanted to know someone like that. Yet somehow in all his life the closest he had ever gotten to a friend was Austin and some of the other people in his employ. He had never taken an interest in anyone for any reason outside of what service they might want to provide for him, which they would be good at, and if he wanted to be close to them should he choose to talk. Austin was an exception.
Time seemed to move just a bit slower as Ariel drove home. Though her bed was calling, she took her time. She was still feeling shaken and giddy over that little kiss that Avriel had left on her cheek. She could still feel it there. His lips soft and warm, unexpected against her skin. It was very pleasant. He smelled so good. Clean, a bit woodsy mixed with a touch of warm spice. Whatever cologne he wore he wore it sparingly. She hadn't even known that he wore it until he was literally in her face. That was a very pleasant break from typical. Most men overcompensated with not only their choice of cologne but their heavy-handed use of it too. He had gotten it just right.
She was distracted driving home. She almost didn't see it as she drove past one of the side streets on her way home. Then she couldn't not see it. There was a car. It had crashed into a telephone pole. The driver's side was smashed. Was there someone there? Did she see someone get out of the passenger's side of the car? Was that a set of yellow eyes looking back at her from the face of a hooded figure? Certainly not. Things didn't go bump in the night and people didn't have yellow glowing eyes. She didn't hesitate to grab her phone and call in the accident. It was a sad and lonely little side street with nary a soul but her the driver and that escapee passenger with the yellow eyes. But the car door was closed. She hadn't heard it close. The accident must have just happened. She parked several feet away and jumped out of her car without further thought of the abnormality she had observed and rushed to the victim's side.
She called out to the woman as she approached the car. There was no answer, just the whir of the still spinning tire that had been left in the air. The engine of the car was still running. She thought to reach in and turn the car off. One look at the woman sitting in the driver's seat and she quickly changed her mind. Her eyes had already gone pale with death. The woman was dead. She'd leave it to the professionals.
She suddenly found herself wishing Avriel was near. She felt very cold and alone. Even hearing the sirens in the distance could not make the eerie feeling go away. It was far worse than with the creep at the bar touching her arm. She just wanted to run away, jump in her car and leave, but she knew she would have to give a statement to the police when they arrived. She looked in her car to make sure it was empty then climbed back behind the wheel, locked the doors and waited.
