Chapter 4 The safe house

Chapter 4: The Safehouse

I stand above the figure in horror, the knife I had held in my hands falling to the ground as I step back, what have I just done? I couldn’t think fast to come up with an answer, Dante, taking the opportunity, hit him on the abdomen , shooting him on the chest before rushing back to pull me to the garage like door.

“Apriti Sesamo” he mumbles to the door. There is an automated female voice that comes after “Request granted” it said shortly after. The door quickly opens up, just as I stare at the man who is definitely unconscious and if by my calculations dead, Dante pulls me into the open space.

“Lily—Lily” I hear my name but my eyes can’t seem to focus, his thin lips looked succulent as I looked up to see his face, I tilt my head to look at where we are, unaware of my surroundings, he places his hand on my shoulder “He’s not dead” he said in a reassuring tone. I couldn’t understand why he would tell me that but it made my heart feel at ease, even though it couldn’t be true. I finally snap back to reality, I finally noticed that we’re standing in an elevator, a gleaming white space with buttons on the side and a sort of cushion on one end.

It doesn’t stop my heart from racing, I take in deep breaths, letting myself settle down for only a second.

“What’s going on? Who was that? Why did he try to kill is, what are you really into and why is this happening to me?” I ask swiftly all at once as my mental fortitude seems to be in peril, my breathing followed suit, it had become unsteady, wavering. This all felt wrong but for some reason, I didn’t run—

“You’re in the safe house, no need to panic, he’s just a guard outside” he smirked. Surely this man has jokes up his sleeves.

“Is this some kind of joke? You shot him in the chest, I stabbed him. I STABBED HIM” I repeated, placing my palm on my forehead “I never should’ve followed you—now I don’t even know where I am” I fall to the floor, tears trickling down my face.

“Lily, it’s too late to back out, they’ve been watching you, you can’t go back” he said with a stern voice, crouching down, he places his hand on my chin, lifting my eyes to look at him.

“I won’t let anything happen to you, if you just accept to be mine and do exactly as I say” he said, his gaze and scent sending signals into my heart, my brain wants nothing to do with this man, yet, my body does otherwise.

“You keep blushing Lily—don’t you think we need to do something about that?” He grins mischievously. I push his hand aside, turning my face elsewhere as my cheeks utterly betray my mind at every turn.

“We’re almost there” he announced. After a few seconds, a cling sound comes from the elevator and the door chimes open. Following right behind him as I have no choice, I clutched onto his shirt, walking in with him.

“Woah—” I mumbled as my eyes notice the large interior. I wasn’t paying much attention to know whether we went downwards or upwards because the grandeur that hit my feasting eyes made me believe we weren’t on this earth.

It had a gothic revival architecture, with towering spires and turrets, it made me wonder if truly his identity was a vampire lord of some sort. The stone walls were foreboding grey, almost black, my heart raced with a mix of excitement and fear.

“What is this place?” I asked, letting my inquisitive nature take the lead. Now feeling a bit secure, I let go of his shirt, walking beside him instead.

“It’s my safe house” he revealed. Too busy staring at the ceiling which looked archaic, I didn’t respond or utter a word, then I felt my arm jolt, my body collided with his, I wanted to make a sound, he covered my mouth once more, his cologne seeped into my nostrils once more, fresh sandalwood, musty and beautiful. He leaned in, his face closing the distance between us.

“Someone else is here” he whispered, catching me off guard. Suddenly the fear in my heart spiked. I thought this was a safe house and that was a guard outside, what did he mean by there’s someone else here? I feel his hand on my back, pressing my body towards himself.

What did I really sign up for? Is he just doing this to get his hands on me? I almost move my hands to push him away. Then I heard a clank, it came from my left.

“I see you’ve taken another toy Dante” the voice sneered. I’m definitely sure all these people are running mad. Do they not see that I’m not a doll? But this felt awkward, it was a feminine tone, maybe someone he used to like or someone still in love with him.

“Show yourself” he said in a mundane tone, nonchalant about whoever this shadowed voice was. I could tell that he knew whoever it was and although the animosity that filled the air tried to drown my judgement, I could perceive they weren’t on good terms.

I pull away from his grip, as she emerges from the shadows, her blonde hair shimmering even in the neon lights, it was lustrous, long as dangerous. I looked at her, those pair of blue eyes looking down at me from the railed balcony.

I knew that I had recognized that voice that I was sure where it came from and who had that tone.

“Long time no see—Lily Thompson” she cackled. It had been a while but I knew who she was and I stood there in horrid realization that I crossed paths with he

r again and this time, I seem to be her foe.