Beyond the Fangs.

Chapter 6.

*****

Lei's POV

Walking along the pavers to get to Mikael's place, I start to think.

This has got to be one of the scariest moments of my life.

I'm coming face to face with a somewhat murder.

Totally something normal that happens every day.

The last time I saw him was when I was picking up my best friends lifeless body and putting her in my home, his eyes locked on me as I walked past.

What if he breaks free of the chains and goes on a killing rampage?

Ugh, stop it Lei, you're getting worked up over nothing.

Or am I?

"Mikael?" I ask, looking down, avoiding all eye contact.

"Yes?" He replies.

"How tight is this guy locked up?"

He snickers. "Awh, Lei is scared!"

"I'm suddenly sorry I ever communicated with you."

He smiles. "He's tied up with chains which are nailed into the ground. The chains are covered in Vervain, so every time he moves, he's just causing more pain for himself. His conscience is therefore tricked into thinking he can't move. So I don't think he'll be escaping."

"Uh huh, and is this 'friend' of yours going to be there too for extra backup?"

"I assume so?"

"Okay. What is he like?"

"Who? My friend or Tora's murderer?"

"Your friend dumbass."

He laughs. "He's a total dick."

"Oh."

"He lives with me though, so I've learnt to put up with it."

"What's his name?"

He stops dead in his tracks, fiddling with his thumbs.

"Oh look, we are here!" He says, looking at the house next to him.

I can tell he avoided my question, but I choose to ignore it. He probably just forgot his name.

The house is more beautiful than I expected it to be. A blue roof, white bricks, a timber door, followed by two old fashioned large windows by the sides of the door. Out the side of the house, there were spiral stairs leading up to a balcony overlooking the lake just across the street. There was a cute porch out the front, having a chair for two hanging from the ceiling, surrounded by numerous plants, and just shading over that, a big oak tree in the garden.

I feel like I'm in a dream.

Correction: A good dream.

"Wow!" I exclaim. I can't help myself.

"I know right!" Miranda follows.

"Please excuse the mess." Mikael says, unlocking the door. "My friends been planning things."

He unlocks the door, and I walk in to see a rustic home.

Not going to go into detail, but it's just as beautiful as the outside.

As I walk through the entry, I can see the living room, in paticular, a huge cabinet of alcohol.

And then, it's there.

The best kitchen I've ever seen.

Pots hanging from the ceiling, sleek benchtops, and a pile of recipe books in the corner.