Waiting for a Miracle

Chapter 1

I sat on my black suede sofa, absently rubbing the rough-textured arm as I watched the man seated in front of me struggle with his bonds. He struggled with vain desperation to free himself from the metal cables bound tight around his wrists.

He was completely mindless of my presence, perhaps because I’d told him I was leaving the room, and then made the appropriate sounds to give him said impression. He would not know otherwise for the pillow case over his head, which I bound around his throat to keep him from peeking. I like to tease my victims in this way all the time. It makes them more, shall we say, receptive to negotiation?

However, I cut my usual intimidation routine short, reminding myself that I was on a very different kind of quest tonight, one which would alter my destiny forever. Leaning forward, I cleared my throat, smiling when the man froze.

“You are being restrained by braided titanium ropes, so I very much doubt you will ever wiggle out of them,” I said, resisting the urge to heave an evil laugh when my victim whimpered.

I stood up and walked over to the man, who sat on a folding metal chair. The padding was removed to make it more uncomfortable, as I don’t enjoy having company over.

The man whimpered more at my approach, almost hyperventilating as I unlocked the cable around his neck to remove the pillowcase. I slid it off of his head to gaze once again at his rugged, handsome features.

Though they were filled with apprehension, his crystal blue eyes still threatened to consume me. I looked up to his dark blond hair that was beginning to show some signs of greying. My gaze drifted to his strong jaw line firming as he clenched his teeth, and I noted that he didn’t need an airbrush artist to touch up his publicity photos.

I could have tried smiling at the man to calm him, but I was still wearing my mask. Instead I reached out to pat his cheek, sighing when he jerked away from me. Sure, I’d just kidnapped him only two hours ago, so I’m sure he was petrified.

Still, I had hoped that he wasn’t so shallow that we couldn’t move past this little snag in our relationship. I snapped my hand out and peeled the tape off of his face quick, smirking as he grunted and flexed his lips to ease the sting.

“W-who are you?” he stammered fearfully.

Ah, the moment was ripe, I tell you. I could have rocked his world all night long, and my mind was filled with fantasies that might follow his wary query.

Instead I killed the moment. “My name is Duggan Masters, but most of the people in this city know me as Light Master,” I said, standing over the man as I folded the pillowcase.

I set it on the coffee table beside him, smoothing out a wrinkle on the top before I went to the wastebasket to throw the tape away. Mom would have been so proud.

“Rather,” I corrected myself, “I was the Light Master until last week. I’m trying to retire, you see.”

The man stared at me in confusion before shaking his head. “You’ve made some kind of mistake. I’m not wealthy, so there’s no point in holding me for ransom.”

I walked over to the man and smiled behind my mask, reaching out to pat the side of his face. He didn’t shy away this time, and I felt a surge of electricity at the stubble covering his cheek.

Pushing aside yet another dirty thought, I shook my head. “You are mistaken about my motivation in kidnapping you. I assure you that I don’t need money. I’ve got millions in loot from my last four capers alone. That doesn’t include the cut I get from everyone else’s schemes, so I’m quite comfortable, financially. As the overlord behind every foul plot in this city, I’ve amassed a vast fortune from the huddled masses.”