Adrenaline

Chapter 10

***

Seth Silver

***

"Looks like you've got yourself stabbed, Princess." Slinging the tanned limb around my shoulder, she leans against me instinctively, still managing to let out a distasteful hum at the nickname. The scarlet blood drips over my fingertips and I apply more pressure, keeping her stood as straight as possible without rupturing anything vital.

"Well done, Sherlock. What could have possibly given you that impression?" Almost white eyes peer up at me, filled with indignation even given her current state.
She's a fucking mystery.

I'd been watching for all of five minutes, catching the last few moments of her previous victims life before watching with slight, unfiltered confusion as Kian appeared from the shadows, moving forward with hesitation before fully committing, launching himself forward with force. There was no way of predicting his original movement but he practically left himself open for a counter attack, admittedly one that came minutes too late. It had been immediate, the submission to death, her acceptance that this is what she needed, what she deserved.

Against my better judgement I'd been seconds from stepping in, refusing to allow such a devilish force to die with such regularity. It didn't fit. Alas, at the mention of Alec, the familiar glazed look of detachment switched within moments, like a buffering video finally making the necessary connection, she pounced. It was merciless, most definitely not fit for the faint of heart as she demolished his bone structure with every hit, obviously refusing to look at her destruction.

Asking his name had seemed cruel, a demand to a once monstrous creature to admit his frail weakness but it quickly became a plea, a chance for Athena Rose to become her trademark again, allowing for her to come back to the now. He'd done as she asked, acknowledging that dying at the hands of a Rose twin was not a dishonourable death, just a predictable one but not before picking the keys from her pocket and slamming the offending object into her side, groaning when she barely registered the pain, watching his slow death instead, not a glimmer of emotion crossing her features.

Eventually, he breathed his last breath and she finally looked down, doing the next best thing and attempting the stop the blood flow before standing, stumbling and nearly collapsing under her own weight.

Fuck it, the last thing you need is a grieving Alec Rose.

Guiding her to the kitchen, thankfully uninterrupted, I lift her onto the wooden table, choosing to ignore her vague Italian murmurs on how she's 'perfectly capable' as I swiftly move another large cupboard in front of the only entrance. Turning back to the grumpy Italian, I grab a first aid kit from the wall and swat her wondering hands away; loosening the belt and roughly tearing the drenched material away from her flesh. The wound runs from just below her ribs a few inches right, hiding behind the remains of the dress.

"Take it off." I pull at the flimsy material once, locking eyes with her neutral expression as a small scoff escapes her lips, causing a wince immediately after, the tan hand gripping the table turning a shade paler.

"Take me to dinner first."

"Athena." Ignoring the comment, I tug at the dress again, reinforcing my original demand and taking the moment to wonder if she had time to grab any underwear before pushing the thought aside.