Well, things seem to be going well so far! As long as there's maintained interest in the story, I'll make sure to keep posting as quickly as possible! Also, the irony of this story for me: there's this really cute guy in my bio class, and I'm just like "Why can't my love life be as interesting as Nora's :'(" I'll just channel it into this story; makes it hurt less (Lol!)
Chapter Two
I leaned over the pool table, aiming my cue. I was known for my skills, and so when some arrogant rookies challenged me to a game of course I couldn't refuse. At the moment, every single one of those men were glaring at me. They were pissed because they couldn't crack my composure, and I was turning out to be just as much of a legend as I was reputed to be. I loved it; gambling and games were my way to relax.
I took my shot, and leaned back as three of the balls sank into the pockets. As the men grumbled over my success, and planned on the shots they could make, my phone began to ring. There were two people I'd expected to hear from tonight. One was Rixon, and the other…
"What's up?"
Her voice came over the phone, sharp and prim. "I'm calling to see if we can meet tonight. I know you said you were busy, but—"
"Nora," I said, making sure she could hear my sneer over the phone. How are those words tasting right now? "Thought you weren't going to call. Ever." She'd lasted longer than I thought she would, but I knew she wouldn't be able to resist.
"Well? Can we meet or not?" she demanded.
"As it turns out, I can't." I purred. I wasn't in the mood for a homework assignment, not to mention Bo's could be crawling with spies, Nephilim and Fallen alike. I had a reputation to maintain.
"Can't, or won't?"
"I'm in the middle of a pool game. An important pool game." Not really important.
I heard her scoff, and I knew she wouldn't take that for an answer.
"Where are you?" What?
"Bo's Arcade. It's not your kind of hangout." Sheltered as she was, she had to know of the place's shady background.
"Then let's do the interview over the phone. I've got a list of questions right—"
I hung up. That ought to be fun to deal with tomorrow. I could only imagine her face as I took away her control once again, and it made my next shot that much more successful.
Thirty minutes later, I was focused on making an excellent shot.
"Patch!"
Fuck, I missed! Who the hell—
I lifted my head and started in surprise when I saw Nora Grey herself storm purposefully across the room. Well, I'd be damned. She'd actually come to find me. I was shocked that she'd made it this far; normally Bo Junior stopped anyone at the door who didn't pay. Which meant she'd blatantly broken the rules to get to me. Even Dabria had been wary enough of me to announce herself before tramping down the stairs. I found myself looking at her in a different light. I didn't know if it was sexy or stupid for her to come alone; either way, she was here now, and under my protection.
Bo grabbed her shoulder, commanding her back upstairs, and I smiled threateningly.
"She's with me." When he let her go, she walked confidently towards me. Possessively, I walked towards her, claiming her, letting everyone around me know that she was mine.
"Sorry about the hang up," I teased. "The reception's not so great down here."
The words bullshit were clear on her face as she narrowed her eyes and pouted. I resisted the urge to grin. Turning towards the men, I nodded my head towards the stairs.
Get out.
They seemed to slowly take in my command, and began to exit. They must have figured Nora for my girl, because they glared at her. One of them actually pushed past her, and although I could have punished him for the slight, I figured a little intimidation wouldn't hurt. After all, it came with the territory. She rolled her eyes; straightened herself; glanced at the table and then finally, me.
"Eight ball? How high are the stakes?"
I smiled as I realized she had hardly a clue of what she was talking about.
"We don't play for money." I was just playing for dominance tonight, but sometimes stakes would get as high as houses, cars, warehouses, resources, and my favorite- secrets.
"Too bad. I was going to bet everything I have against you." She held her list in my face. "A few quick questions and I'm out of here." It was only fair, she'd come all the way. I began to sense out for any eavesdroppers.
I quick read the small list. "'Jerk'? 'Lung cancer'? Is that supposed to be prophetic?" I asked, cocking my head.
"I'm assuming you contribute to the atmosphere. How many cigars a night? One? Two?"
None. "I don't smoke." It had never appealed to me. I'd finished sensing around the area; there was surprisingly no one (that I need worry about) around, and I was able to relax.
"Mm-hmm." As she wrote, she nudged one of the balls. She looked so adorably out of place.
"You're messing up the game." I said, unable to help smiling at her awkwardness. She looked up, and for a moment I saw her smile softly.
"Hopefully not in your favor. Biggest dream?" she asked. I suppose she was trying to throw me off.
"Kiss you." Those lips looked quite edible, especially when they were pursed in annoyance.
She blushed. "That's not funny."
"No, but it made you blush."
She sat on the pool table, crossing her legs. Now I was checking out her legs. Long, nicely shaped. Would you like to lay on the table, next?
"Do you work?"
"I bus tables at the Borderline. Best Mexican in town." That job was the aftermath of one of the very few lost bets between Rixon and myself. In my defense, it was one of the few times I'd gotten drunk and I wasn't firing on all pistons that night. I also think he cheated.
"Religion?"
Dead. I frowned.I didn't even want to get into anything involving Heaven. "I thought you said a few quick questions. You're already at number four."
"Religion?"
I dragged my hand across my jaw. Pushy. Fine then.
"Not religion. Cult."
"You belong to a cult?" she asked, surprised. So apparently she had a little faith in me, to be surprised.
"As it turns out, I'm in need of a healthy female sacrifice." I grinned, enjoying the irony that was me telling her the complete truth. She didn't even know. "I'd planned on luring her into trusting me first, but if you're ready now…"
Her small smile slipped off her face.
"You're not impressing me."
Aren't I? "I haven't started trying yet." And look how well I'm doing.
She jumped from the table and stood up, looking me in my face.
"Vee told me you're a senior. How many times have you failed tenth-grade biology? Once? Twice?"
Never. "Vee isn't my spokesperson."
"Are you denying failing?"
"I'm telling you I didn't go to school last year."
"You were truant?"
I laid the stick across the table, and crooked my finger seductively for her to come forward. She leaned forward only subtly, but controlled herself and didn't move. I leaned forward anyway.
"A secret? I've never gone to school. Another secret? It's not as dull as I expected." You aren't as dull as I expected, either.
She pursed her lips, and I smiled. "You think I'm lying."
"You've never been to school, ever?" Her well-behaved mind probably could never wrap around the concept. "If that's true- and you're right, I don't think it is—what made you decide to come this year?"
"You."
She paled, and it seemed like she wanted to leave, but I knew she wasn't going anywhere. Finally, she responded with "That's not a real answer."
I stepped forward, leaving only an inch between us, and I heard her gasp.
Nora Grey had impressed me tonight. She refused to back down from me, regardless of her fear, and I found myself respecting her a little more than I wanted to. Besides the very few friends I'd ever had, no one ever stood up to me. Her passion demanded my attention, and this night I was willing to give it to her. So I told the truth when I spoke.
"Your eyes, Nora. Those cold, pale gray eyes are surprisingly irresistible." I leaned my head, almost as if I were going to lean in to kiss her. "And that killer curvy mouth."
She stepped back, shocked by the sexual tension. "That's it. I'm out of here." She answered, her voice husky. I waited for her to come to her senses.
"You seem to know a lot about me. More than you should. You seem to know exactly what to say to make me uncomfortable."
I smiled. That was true. "You make it easy."
She glared. "You admit you're doing this on purpose?"
"This?" Come on, tell me what 'this' is, Nora.
"This—provoking me."
At the moment, I want to do more than just provoke you. "Say 'provoking' again. Your mouth looks provocative when you do."
Her face flushed, and she grabbed the pool stick and pushed it at me. "We're done. Finish your pool game."
I didn't take it from her. She wasn't finished.
"I don't like sitting next to you. I don't like your condescending smile." Her jaw twitched, and my cheek lifted. Who was she really trying to convince? It must have been herself. "I don't like you." She placed the pool stick on my chest.
"I'm glad Coach put us together." I said, smirking. I lifted the stick out of her hand, barely caressing it.
"I'm working to change that," she retorted. I smiled so hard at the thought. No matter how much she asked, I'd just make sure she'd end up right next to me. I noticed something white in her wild red hair, and I reached to pull it out. I noticed that she didn't move from me.
"Piece of paper." I commented.
"That's an unfortunate place for a birthmark," she blurted.
Hmm. Anyone close enough to see my birthmark was a little too close.I slid my sleeve down.
"You'd prefer it somewhere more private?" I teased, trying to take her attention away from the birthmark.
"I wouldn't prefer it anywhere." She stated. I raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't care if you didn't have it at all." My cheek rose. "I don't care about your birthmark, period." I was full on smirking by that point.
Sure, Miss Nora Grey. "Any more questions? Comments?" I asked. I could see that we were pretty much at an impasse.
"No."
"Then I'll see you in bio." I answered, dismissing her.
Without responding, she turned and left. I leaned on my pool stick, watching her walk away. She had a little sway to her hips, and moved gracefully without being aware of it. I liked it. It shocked me a little as I realized that I enjoyed having her around. I hadn't desired any woman for a long time, and yet something about Nora Grey's demeanor- well, teasing her turned me on. Most shocking of all: despite my remarks about her being my sacrifice, I hadn't once thought about the fact that she'd have to die for me.
Interesting.
One of the human men returned after what could have been minutes of me standing there, thinking about Nora.
"Clyde says he's willing to up the stakes to his Jeep." he asked. I didn't even look at him.
"A car, you said?" I answered, distractedly.
"Yeah. So are we going to finish or what?"
I wasn't going to be able to finish tonight.
"Tell Clyde to save the car for me. I'm here tomorrow."
"…what? So we aren't going to finish tonight? Don't you even care that you're walking on a game like this?" he gulped.
"No." I tossed him the stick, and walked up the stairs.
I stood there, invisible, watching her sleep.
I'd been in the house before, but never while she was there.
Why am I here?
I wasn't sure if she was awake or not, so I cracked my fingers sharply against the window. I saw her tense. She was awake, and she was on edge.
I could kill her now. It would be so easy. No one could stop me. Just place my hands around her throat and squeeze. I watched as she climbed out of bed and walked to the window, looking at the nearby tree. She was literally an arm's length away from me. It was like she was tempting me to do it. Just reach out and…
Not yet. It wouldn't be official if I just killed her anyway. I'll do it another day.
When she finally crawled back into bed and fell asleep, I leaned over her. Her hair fell over her shoulders and face, and I wanted to push it away from her face. I wanted to feel it as I pushed it away. I didn't realize until I saw my hand near her hair that I'd reached for her. How easy it'd been to reach for her.
Leave! I commanded myself.
I pulled my hand away and quickly left the room.
Consider this a gift, Nora, that I'm letting you breathe tonight, I thought as I walked out.
I was only being merciful. That's all it was.
So? Are you going to strangle or caress her, Patch? Read and Review!
