Behind the Evil (Villain Series Book Two)

The Impossible Deed

Chapter Four -The Impossible Deed

Duke paces around the room in front of me where I sit on the couch. We’ve been here for around a half-hour and I’ve given him the basic information. “So, Ikol and Roht are both recruiting Medius?” He sums up, slight humour in his voice.

I nod; eyes follow him as he walks the few metres back and forth before me. He lets out a small burst of laughter, shaking his head before joining me on the seat. He laughed but for a moment I see a look of worry in his eyes.

Ignoring this, I take a breath and look into his eyes, “Will you join me?”

Duke looks away; his eyes cloud over with uncertainty. For me to randomly seek him out after all this time and ask him to become a high-class criminal with me is a big question, I don’t blame him for being uncertain.

I hold his hand in mine; he jumps slightly as I knock him out of his thoughts, “Valentine will treat you like his son, just like he treats all of us, we are his family.”

Duke looks at our hands, his hands are big and muscled but still soft. Mine have long black nails with small scars from previous battles. His hands look like those of a protector yet mine are destroyers.

Blushing, I let go of them. “You don’t know how great that sounds.” He mutters, lifting his head up and smiling.

I don’t understand and stare at him. He just sighs with that smile on his face. A loud explosion sounds from outside breaks our silence. I jump up from the couch and run to the window. Duke calmly walks over behind me.

The night sky is lit with beautiful colours, fireworks, all exploding into unique designs and symbols. “Wow,” I breathe, a smile finding its way to my face. I don’t get to see fireworks that often.

I can feel Duke look at me but when I look back at him he’s watching and smiling at the sky, the fireworks reflecting in his eyes. I look back at the sky and we stand in silence, enjoying the lights as they dance around in the dark.

Under this enchanting night sky of fireworks it’s like everyone can forget the war and finally enjoy themselves.

My loud ringtone wakes me up, I sit up, startled. On instinct I thought I was going to be murdered but I calm myself down, looking at the time, 4.15am. I roll my eyes and pick up the phone. Of course the rude sleep disturber is Jett.

I’m about to snap at him but he speaks first, “Eva, I’m sorry.” He whispers.  

“Why, what happened?” I ask, copying his quiet tone.

Jett sighs, clearly tired, “The file you found was deliberately put there so you could find it, all of this is a trap, that Duke in your room… he’s our enemy.”

My pulse stops and my mouth goes dry, “What?”

“Duke is already on Henry’s side,” Jett says, “They always seem to be a step ahead of us.” His voice is frustrated and I feel that too.

Memories of the dance, the fireworks and just seeing Duke and his emerald eyes again flash into my mind, Why did he join him? Was everything else he said a lie too? My head throbs with weary and fear of what has to happen, why did I trust him so easily?

As if summoning me to my unhappy reality Blade takes over the phone and speaks, “Eva, you know what to do.”

The one thing that I can do so easily and without a second thought now becomes the most difficult task, “Blade, I can’t…” I barely whisper, wiping a loose tear from my face.

“Yes you can, because if you don’t, he will.” He hangs up the phone.

Blade is right, unless I get him right now when he’s asleep, he’ll fight me when he’s awake and alert and then I’ll probably end up holding back and he’ll win.

I look to the door of my room, a sickening feeling of dread running through me. I step out of my bed, I’m only wearing my nightclothes which is just an overly large top and shorts but I can’t change, every moment passing is a danger.

I move stealthily through the hotel room, edging my way across the hall towards the room Duke is sleeping in. The whole floor is dark and cold, but it’s not the temperate that has caused me to shiver.

My hand quivers as I reach for the knob and slowly turn it. I close my eyes and push open the door, luckily nothing squeaks. My grasp tightens around my knife and I walk slowly over to Duke’s sleeping figure.

I stop at the head of the bed, Duke’s eyes move under his eyelids, exploring the world of his dreams. The blankets are pulled up to his chin and he’s curled slightly underneath them.

I breathe in steadily, trying to hold back the tears that are building up in my eyes. I gently touch the blanket next to Duke’s neck and pull it down slightly, exposing his neck. I look away for a second, wishing that someone would run in and stop me, one of his friends who can come and fight me, causing me to flee so that Duke can be saved.

But that’s never going to happen. It’s just me and Duke here and I have the advantage. I don’t want to do it, my palms are sweating and my grasp on the knife is loosening.

I need to do it quick before I lose my nerve completely.

I bend down and kiss him on the cheek, “I’m so sorry.” I whisper and straighten up.

I clutch the knife with both of my hands and send my power through it; I will need more than just a normal blade to pierce his skin. Closing my eyes, I exhale and with great speed I open them, thrusting the knife at his unguarded, bare neck.

The knife stops, only centimetres away from Duke’s neck. He’s wide awake and his fingers grip my wrists with great strength. What looks like anger flashes through Duke’s eyes, “I was wondering when you’d find it.”

I glare at him, ripping my arm from his hand and jumping back. He jumps out of his bed, fully clothed and a bright sunlight knife shining in his hand. I squint my eyes from the blinding rays.

I bare my teeth furiously and charge at him, my body colliding with his and we both fall on the bed. He rolls me off him and we swap positions, his body on top of mine and holding me in place.

He brings his knife down to my neck, “You’re not so sweet now that you know I’m your enemy.” He murmurs a look of genuine sadness on his face.

I grunt, pushing him off me, kicking him in the shins then punching him in the jaw, “Why would you join that asshole?”

Duke recovers, throwing a punch at me which I dodge. His other hand grabs my long hair, which I didn’t have time to tie up and am paying for it now. He kicks my leg and I fall backwards. He kneels down before me, still holding my hair. I growl and kick him in the neck, then legs. He scrambles away from me and jumps up but I pin him against the wall, my knife slightly piercing into his skin.

Neither of us move, I have Duke and I can kill him. My hands don’t move though, I continue to glare at him to hide my hesitation.

“I had to join him, I had no choice.” He mutters, the sadness is definitely clear in his voice now.

My hand wobbles as I lose my strength slightly, my guard is gone and Duke pushes my hands down. Instead of attacking me however, he grabs my waist and pulls me into a kiss.

My eyes widen with surprise but I close them, kissing him back. I drop my knife and instead put my arms around his back, pulling him closer to me. His kiss is sweet and it sends shivers through my body. His mouth opens to mine and his hands trail across my back.

Suddenly Duke pushes me away, snapping me back to reality. He looks hurt, as if I was the one that pushed him away. I’m too stunned to move and he quickly moves to the window, flinging it open.

I blink, stepping closer to him, “Duke…” I don’t really know what to say, I’m meant to be trying to kill him yet all I know is that I don’t want him to leave.

Duke’s body shrinks and grows fur; he morphs into a black cat. His small head looks at me one last time; his eyes still the same green. His tail twitches and he jumps out the window.

I run to the window, sticking my head out. It’s raining and a wind blows against my body. Duke’s slender cat body treads along the thing railing; his body soon blends in with the gloomy night.

He’s gone; he’s left me…again.