Until Death Do Us Part

5

*Darian's POV*

We scheduled our first date for a week away, next Saturday. It was just a simple little thing, not fancy, just basic, but I was actually excited for it. 

I worked Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm, and so we couldn't talk all day long like we had been over the weekend. But Athena continued to text and Snapchat me before and after work, and had been slowly getting less nervous talking to me.

I had been thinking about our date, and how to really get into her life. It was imperative this went well, because if it didn't, I would've failed. But I had high hopes for Saturday, and the bosses seemed very happy with the progress I had been making. 

I had made a few actual friends while I was here, and Layla and I had become quite close, which was nice. I didn't have many friends, and when I started this line of work, there wasn't time to be making friends on the job. But this time, I made an exception; I quite liked having someone to talk to and hang out with after work or at the weekends. It was different and new, and I found myself smiling more than I used to and just being generally happier. 

So I passed the evenings talking to Athena and meeting Layla, and I felt really comfortable here, in this life. I wasn't really playing a character like I had before, it was more I had just changed my style a little bit, but my personality was the same. And people seemed to like me, and I liked that. 

~~~

Saturday morning was finally here and I needed to get ready. I didn't know whether I should make the effort or just wear a hoodie and jeans like normal; was it too desperate to dress up? No. I had to make some kind of effort. So I did a mix of both, jeans and a top, nothing special, but a little more than a hoodie. 

We had planned to go to the cinema to see a horror film, which I was happy about. Horror was one of my favourite genres, and I had wanted to see this one for a few weeks now. 

Do I buy her something? Flowers maybe? I didn't know why I was making such a fuss, this was business, but it was more than that now. I really wanted this date to be real. Maybe if we dated, I could convince the bosses to drop her? 

My brain was a mess, and I needed to stop thinking like this. It was business nothing more, and Athena was a horrible person. At the end of the day, even if we dated, I'd still have to do my job, and so I couldn't have feelings or be anything more than an actress. 

I drove to her house in Gosport, just the other side of Portsmouth, and knocked on her front door. There was a dog in the back garden that I could see through the fence. He was a smaller built Staffy, and he was very energetic, playing with a solid plastic ball on the patio. 

It wasn't Athena who opened the door. She was about 13, maybe, with a strong tom boy look, and her looks were similar to Athena's.

"Hi, I'm Cara, Athena's sister. I'll go get her. Hang on here, yeah?" I nodded as the girl ran up the steps and round the corner out of view. There was a huge book case at the top of the stairs that I could see was rammed with all sorts of books. She was well read, then. 

Athena looked lovely, dressed casually but nice, and she came bounding down the stairs with a happy energy that was infectious. Her smile was wide and it reached her eyes; she was genuinely happy. 

Her mum and sister were standing by the front door as we got into the car. I smiled back at her beaming face. 

"You're mum and sister seem nice." 

"Thanks, sorry about them being so in-your-face today, I've not been on a date in a long time, and they're excited." She laughed softly as she spoke, slightly embarrassed by her family. 

"Right, come on then, time for this movie."

~~~

The movie was a big let down, despite others saying they loved it. Athena looked just as unimpressed as I did, so we didn't hang around at the end. 

It was still sunny outside, with the sun casting a golden glow over the whole complex. Athena's hair glowed in the light, giving her some sort of halo, giving her the look of a goddess like her namesake. 

Our dinner was lovely, and we found common ground in our love for spicy food. We both ordered spicy chicken wings, and shared them with grins across our faces as our mouths began to burn. I was really having fun, and I liked Athena more and more as the evening went on. 

Then it hit me. What if Athena was my one? What if the horrible, twisted girl that did those things was my soulmate, the one I was supposed to spend my life with? How could I do my job if she was? 

I pushed the thought from my mind again. There was no way I wasn't doing my job. I couldn't back out or let her get away with it. But that thought stayed at the back of my mind, eating away.

~~~

By the time we finished dinner, it was dark outside, and the night life of Portsmouth was just starting to awaken. Athena started shaking as we left the restaurant, so I wrapped my jacket around her. 

As we walked along the marina path, looking at the yachts lined up in the darkness, I slid my hand into Athena's. She squeezed it and I couldn't ignore those feelings anymore. Maybe she was my soulmate. I had to live this life for a while. Even if Athena was a criminal, even if I had to kill her, I had to let myself see what it was like to love. Because I really believed I could love her. 

I leant on the railings, staring out, wondering what to do. The gentle lap of the marina water was soothing and peaceful. I felt her close to me, her perfume sweet and comforting. I wanted to breathe her in all day long. 

I turned suddenly and grabbed her face. I paused, just breathing her in, trying to work up the courage. I pressed my lips against hers and for that few moments, I was so at peace with the world. This was the confirmation I needed to know if it was true. 

I knew this was a dangerous game, but I had to follow my heart, and I had to let myself love.