CHAPTER 4

SELENE

Selene turned her head toward the noise. Was that a howl? She thought. She couldn't think of hearing about any wolves or anything in this park. Maybe it was just a large dog howling at the moon… a very large dog.

Selene wasn't sure why she had to be here when it was dark but he mother had called saying that the boss' son wanted to meet me sooner. Seemed a little desperate.

But she was already in the area and agreed. The sooner she met him, the sooner this would all be over.

After her doctor's appointment she walked around and looked in some shops. Even though it was still technically winter, you wouldn't be able to tell from what they sold in these shops. When she walked by them Selene hugged her coat a little closer, even thinking about wearing those things made her cold now.

After walking so much to kill time all Selene wanted to do was go home and rest. It had been a long day. Now it was dark and the temperature had dropped. Selene sat on the edge of a water fountain that was right outside of the park. She sipped on some coffee she brought hoping that she would be able to finish it and it would keep her awake for this whole little arrangement.

The park seemed to be a romantic place for a walk… if only it were 50 degrees warmer. But that didn't stop other couples from making out on a bench or walking their dog together arm in arm.

Selene got a sick feeling in her stomach at the thought of this man trying to make a move on her. It was just the first "date" right? Maybe things were done differently here though.

Selene looked at her phone. 6:28pm

He should be here any minute, she thought, though she wasn't sure how she'd know it was him. They'd never seen each other before and it was too dark to see a person's face until they were really close to you. Selene sighed hating ever second of this night.

"Ms. Knight?" A voice called to her from the left. What that an English accent? Selene's head snapped in that direction.

A figure came around the corner of the fountain.

She could see the shimmer of a leather jacket… and everything else he wore seemed to be just as dark.

She would have called back out to him, but she didn't even know his name. All she could do was stand.

As he came closer she saw his skin was almost pale and not only did the moon make it more obvious but also his short dark hair. He almost seemed to shine. He gets points for being handsome. And his accent.

"My, my, you are as beautiful as your father said." He was finally close enough for her to see clearly.

"Well my father says many things, but he didn't tell me anything about you, I'm sorry to say." Selene held out her hand. "Please call me Selene."

"Kraven." He shook her hand.

"Are you serious?" She tilted her head amused by such a unique name.

"Oh very." He said seriously. He didn't like to be laughed at, that was clear.

"My apologies." Selene said quickly.

"Don't be sorry. I blame my father, who did set thing whole thing up. I was skeptical at first I must admit, but things are looking better than I thought." He turned toward the park and held out his arm for her to take.

"Shall we start with a little walk?" He smiled at her.

Start with? What was coming after that? Selene thought. But she kept telling herself not to over think it. It's just a few hours.

She looped her arm through his and he led her into the park.


"So you don't like it here in New York too much, I gather." Kraven asked. They had been walking and talking for almost an hour. Selene's caffeine fix was wearing off and her feet were starting to hurt. Even if she complained she realized they were too far into the park and they'd have to walk back anyway. There would be no relief any time soon.

"I just really miss home. We had a wonderful piece of land and it was all our own. You can hardly claim a space anywhere here." Selene explained. "But I guess a change of scenery is something nice. I just know I don't want to be here forever."

Kraven must have been thinking on what she said or getting just as tired as she was. He didn't say anything for a few minutes.

"What is it that your father does exactly? Do you work for him?" Selene asked to break the silence. It was bad enough there only seemed to be a few lamps in the park, but to walk in the dark and in silence made her nervous.

"My father," Kraven grinned, "He does many things but I guess mostly he's a type of manufacturer of sorts. And I get to…live off of that I suppose."

Selene was more confused by his answer than not really knowing at all.

"What does he make? My father is skilled in building… I'm not sure how the two correlate. Is he building a factory somewhere? " Selene looked up at his face.

Kraven seemed distracted by something in the trees.

"Kraven? What is it?" Selene looked in the direction and could see nothing. He must have had really good vision because he was still looking. A sense of unease came over Selene.

"Perhaps we should head back now. We can continue this another day." Selene suggested.

Kraven finally looked at her.

"Perhaps you are right. I think we will see each other soon. Tonight has been quite pleasant." Kraven grinned.

"I'm glad you thought so." It was Selene's turn to be distracted. She felt liked they were being watched. She wished Kraven would walk faster.

They were walking in silence when Selene heard a rustling in the trees. She jumped at the sound.

Kraven put his arm around her.

"You don't like the dark do you? There really is nothing to fear about it." He tried to assure her.

"I guess it's more of what hides in the dark that I don't like…" Selene shrugged his arm off.

"Don't be afraid Selene…" He coaxed. She looked up at him… in that moment she knew there was something she didn't like, his tone or his unnerving calmness about the dark.

Just then, Selene could still feel the wind of the blow but could not tell where it came from or what it was. All she saw was Kraven out cold on the ground. She hadn't even heard these two men but he they were standing in front and behind her. They didn't even try to hide their faces. And they were smiling at her; their eyes were… electric blue?

It only took Selene a second to realize she should be running. So she started and she wasn't sure but she thought she heard the men laughing. She felt bad for leaving Kraven but not that bad… he wasn't afraid… she was.

She thought she had gotten far enough; she looked back and didn't see them following her. But she should have just kept moving. Her foot caught on a root or something and she fell to the ground scrapping her hands.

"Ow…" She cried. She looked back and still didn't see the men. She forced herself to her feet; her ankle throbbed, but she knew she had to get out of this park. She started to hobble when she walked into something that wasn't there before.

"Hello pretty."

Once again she didn't even hear them but here they were.

"Leave me alone!" She yelled and tried to push him. But he didn't even budge. She knew she wasn't that weak.

"I'm sorry, we've got orders. You are making this more interesting for us, but we'd like to be on our way. So if you'll just be a dear and come alone quietly…" He said.

Did they think she was stupid? She kicked him and tried to get around him when his partner grabbed her arms from behind.

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" She yelled out as loud as she could until they put a hand over her mouth. She tried biting his hand but he didn't seem to notice.

"There will be plenty of time for that later little miss." They both chuckled.

Just then there was a long deep howl. Could it have been the same one from before? Selene wondered. She wasn't sure if it was or not but she realized that the men holding her seemed to be frozen.

They looked at each other panic stricken.

"One of them… here? How is that possible?" He growled at his partner.

"Come on we can take him out." The one behind her hissed back.

Then there was a growl and not too far away in the trees there were twigs snapping. The growling was getting closer.

"Viktor won't be pleased. Not with her like this." The leader of the two said. He spat on the ground towards where the growling was coming from. "Let's get out of here."

"What about her?" The one behind her asked.

"Leave her. He'll find her again." The leader looked over her with his electric eyes. He hit her with the back of his hand, but it landed her back on the ground.

Pain shot through her face. When she looked back up they were gone, as silent as they came. And she looked towards the trees but heard no more growling or any sound.

Selene sat on the ground trying to collect herself. She didn't have time to think on what happened. All she knew was that she had to home.

After a grueling walk back home Selene lay in bed that night and she dreamt of the dark… the electric blue eyes… and the howl…


Thank you for reading :)

What do you think so far?!

-loveandart3