Something Darker; Chapter 18

I stare up the stairs where Micah had disappeared. I knew they wouldn't be staying much longer, but I hadn't thought they'd be leaving this soon. Turning, I pull the ledger from the shelf and set about settling their tab.

xXxXx

A creak from the stairs pulls my head from the ledger. V stands at the base of the staircase, her saddlebag over her shoulder. The thought that she shouldn’t be carrying that much weight around considering her injury crosses my mind as Zanthus pads easily across the floor.

I decide to be grateful she’s up and about with a clear mind, lifting a hand to give her a short wave. "Hi."

V waves back. "Hi." Slowly she begins crossing the floor.

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel like I should be asking you that." V slides onto one of the bar stools, letting her saddlebag drop to the floor. "I. . . I'm sorry about yesterday." I can see the pain and regret in her eyes.

"You don't have to apologize. I don't know what happened, but I know you didn't mean to hurt anyone." I flip the book shut. "Just try to stay out of too much trouble, at least until you’re fully healed.”

V smirks.

xXxXx

I watch the door swing shut. Janice sighs. I look at her.

"I don't know why," she says, "But I'm going to miss her."

I roll my eyes, turning away. "Come on, we've got work to do."

xXxXx

Eren goes running by, bumping into me, but not even faltering in his steps. "Eren!" I call in warning.

"Sorry!" Eren yells over his shoulder, bursting out the front doors.

"Jax!" Janice calls, walking down the stairs. "Did you mix up the keys? This should be the one for the room V was in, but it won't unlock the door."

"That's odd." I hold out my hand for the key which Janice hands me. I examine the key. Sure enough, it has three X's scratched into it. "No, it's the right key."

"Janice," Mum says, entering the main room, "Come with me, will you? I could use help shopping for tonight."

"Are you good finishing up the rooms?" Janice asks me.

I nod. "Yeah, it's simple enough."

Janice turns to Mum who hands her a basket. "We'll be back shortly," Mum promises as they head to the door.

I wave before turning for the stairs.

Outside the room, I slide the key into the lock. "Please don't be jammed," I whisper before turning the key. It turns easily and the lock clicks open. Pushing the door open, I freeze.

The man in the room also freezes, gold eyes locked on me.

Well, this couldn't be good. I reach for the closest object, which happens to be the washbasin from the stand by the door. As I brandish it as a weapon, a small voice in the back of my head points out that a washbasin will be absolutely useless against him. It doesn't stop me from speaking though. "Who are you and what are you doing in here?"

The man slowly lifts his hands up, black marks fully exposed. "How about you put that down?"

I readjust my grip on the basin. "Not going to happen."

The man flicks his wrist and the basin goes flying from my hands. This was not going to end well if I stayed. I turn for the door which slams shut in my face. I jerk back, spinning to face the man again, balling up my fist, preparing to fight.

"Stay back," I warn him.

The man sighs. "Look, I just want to talk."

"You can't stay here."

"Wasn't planning on it. All I want to know is if the girl staying in this room happen to mention where she was going?"

"Why would I tell you that?"

The man clenches his teeth, running a hand through his dark hair. "I'm trying to protect her." Was he seriously trying to play for annoyed?

"Protect her from what I demand as my mind flashes back to last night. V's panic and terror. She had been using her powers on reflex. Had someone been trying to kill her? Had she been poisoned? Is that why they had left as soon as possible? "How do I know it wasn't you who tried to kill her?"

Fear flashes through his eyes. "What?" He takes a step toward me. "Is she alright?" He actually sounds concerned.

"Why do you care?"

"Just tell me where she went."

"No."

"Please don't force my hand."

I lift my fists a little higher. "Stay back."

He sighs, closing his eyes. He opens them, words I can't understand slipping from his mouth. The strange words come to an end and he smiles. "Now. Where is she?"

"I don't know." I snap my mouth shut. Why had I said that?

"Did she say where she was going?"

I can feel the words forming, fighting to get out.

He tilts his head. "Did she say where she was going?"

"No, but-" I clamp a hand over my mouth, fighting to keep the words in. Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut?

"But what?"

My other hand joins the first. I couldn't tell him anything. I couldn't do that to V.

The man chuckles. "You have an admirably strong will."

I glare at him. I want to demand to know what he did, but I know that if I try to do that, the words I don't want to say will come out instead.

"Just stop fighting it," he tells me. "But what?" He repeats.

I let my eyes narrow, letting them convey the curses I want to scream at him.

He crosses the floor, coming closer to me. I take a step back and find myself pressed against the wall. I glance towards the door handle. It's right next to me, but I know I can't risk reaching for it. It's taking everything I've got to keep my mouth shut. Grabbing my wrists, he pulls my hands from my mouth. "Let's try this once more. But what?"

"But I doubt she's going home with Micah," the words rush out of my mouth.

"Not going home?"

"The castle."

"Why do you think she's not going there?" He drawls as if it should have been obvious that’s what he had meant with his previous question.

"It's Micah and Gaitan's plan. While they were finishing the details I noticed she looked like she was talking with Zanthus and she seemed remorseful. She kept glancing towards them."

"She said nothing to them about going her own way?"

I shake my head. "No. Not that I heard."

He nods, stepping away. He turns towards the window. "Where are you planning on going next?" He muses before suddenly spinning back towards me, uttering more words that I can't understand. "Don't worry. If anyone else comes asking after her, you won't be able to tell them anything, regardless of what they do to you."

Without another word, he walks to the open window and jumps out.

Where ever V was planning on going, I prayed she had enough of a lead to stay far away from him.