Set Voland--a homeless young man who attacked a child in the midst of hallucinations--has been caught by the police and sent to a psychiatric hospital. There, he's stricken by a meeting with a Shining White Being who will completely overturn his lif...
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22. ROSEMARY
If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game
If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory, then mine must be the shame
You want it darker, we kill the flame
(You Want It Darker, Leonard Cohen)
The custom let out a loud roar and swooshed on the road like a butterfly, despite its size. Maria clung to Joe, slightly leaning forward to keep steady on the bike. As her breasts pressed against the man's back, a tingle of excitement crawled between her thighs.
The bike sped down Queensboro Bridge and the beautiful sight of city lights reflected on the river's dark waters gave her a nostalgic feeling. It kind of reminded her of Sybil's eyes.
They'd just crossed the bridge when a light rain started tapping her fingers. At the muffled sound of water splashing under the tires, her grip on the man tightened. Their helmets didn't clash when she rested her head against the man's back – she was that much smaller than him. Her visor blurred by the droplets, she still recognized they were heading to Astoria.
Fifteen minutes later, Joe was pulling in front of an old four-story building with exposed red bricks. He cut the engine and slipped off his helmet. Maria gave him a puzzled look from behind, but he didn't seem to notice, maybe because of the rain. She got off the bike and gave back her helmet before he quickly ducked it under the bike's seat and turned back to her. Some wet strands of his blond hair had fallen to the front, making his crystal clear eyes stand out even more. Pulling closer, he stretched out his arm, using his leather jacket to shelter her. Standing side to side with him, she felt small and frail. As the warmth of his body leaked to hers, she doubted her decision. Her instinct told her she needed to stay alert and her eyes wandered to the building. There was no trace of a pub there, and surely not a pool hall. He had tricked her. Her gaze shot back to him, her lips pulled together in a tight line.
He smiled innocently. "Would you mind if I clean myself up too?" he asked, a pang of sweetness mellowing his deep voice. "The rain could stop meanwhile," he added, looking up at the dark sky.
Feeling awkward, Maria pushed his arm aside and got out of the improvised shelter. Still, she didn't want to look like a child who's afraid of everything. She frowned at the building again and shrugged.
"A few drops of water aren't going to kill me," she replied flat. "If you need a shower, I can wait."
"Forgive me, but I can't leave you waiting under the rain." He sighed and ran a hand through his wet hair.
