Celtic Cross | #ONC2019

XI.

"Nick," I breathed through my surprised gasps. "What are you doing here?"

"Other than it being my store? I suppose I can ask you the same thing." The grin remained on his face as the light from the streetlamps outside flickered over his face. His eyes shimmered with something that could only be compared to sheer delight, but I had no idea what we so gleeful in our current situation.

"Where's Mac?"

His grin faltered. "What is it with the two of you and always insisting on knowing about the other's current location?"

I glared at him. "He called me. He told me to get here because I was worried about you. Now where is he? I heard you two talking."

"Ah." He nodded. "I thought I heard someone come in sooner, but alas, I was a little preoccupied. And Mac, well," Nick chuckled. "He's a little tied up."

My gaze darted towards the now-opened door of the backroom, but of Mac there was no sight or sound. "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing... yet."

His tone made me whip my head back to his direction, but I wasn't fast enough.

The marble statue of the Goddess came crashing down into my temple and it sent me sprawling across the floor, sending the sword flying from my hand across the room. Stars danced behind my already poor vision, and I had to close my eyes to keep the nausea at bay as I tried to climb to my hands and knees.

"What did you think you were going to do?" Nick asked as he walked towards me. "Save him? Do you have any idea who he is?"

I hissed as I brought a hand to my head - I could feel the warmth of the blood beginning to trickle down my skin.

"The bastard should have learned to leave well enough alone," Nick went on, stopping before my huddled form. "But no- I couldn't move on and start over. He had to pack up and follow me here, and you couldn't leave well enough alone."

He kicked my thigh at that, and it knocked me back down to my side against the hardwood floor.

"Everything would have been fine, Siobhan. Everything would have worked out perfectly. New home, new store, new employee. New unexpecting city. It was almost too easy."

I blinked away the haze as I listened to him. "What?"

Nick continued on as if he hadn't hear me. "Leo an unfortunate casualty, the poor guy. Great drinks, nice ass, but he started asking too many questions, and I got bored. Mr. Johnson, however- he deserved what he got."

"What did he ever do to you?"

"Other than being a nosy, homophobic bigot?"

"He was not-"

Another kick connected with my side and I wrapped my arms around myself to assuage the pain in my ribs. I couldn't breathe and words escaped me as he kept talking.

"Did you like the Tarot cards? I had a feeling you would. Though not necessarily done for you, of course. And I couldn't help but borrow a couple from your deck- now I know why everyone loves it so much!"

He was rambling like a madman, but it gave me enough time to try to get my bearings. "Nick... what did you do?" I asked hoarsely

It was almost as if he'd forgotten I was there. His talking ceased and his attention was focused down at me. I saw him crouch down, arms resting on his thighs as his head tilted to the side as though he was assessing my current situation.

"Didn't you hear a word I just said?"

Before I could answer, a strong hand came to the back of my head and gripped my hair hard. I yelped out in pain, tears streaming freely down my cheeks, as he began to stand and made me move with him.