Two Faced Souls

By: AAHB ShadowFox

Chapter Three

Persuasion


"The reverse side also has a reverse side."

Japanese Proverb

A portentous air filled the room as two feet slipped from the bright of the hall, tracing a shadow along the ground after flicking the door to hatch closed. Dread overwhelmed Lex to near dizziness as Manak carried his bulk across the metallic floor towards her.

"What do you want?" She demanded unperturbedly, her fingers finding the brim of the covers to chock them with her grip.

"I think, Ms. Woods, that you know what I want," he said smoothly, coming to a halt mere inches from the bed in which she lay. His eyes, calm and hooded, were disconcerting in their scrutiny.

Lex's throat balled around her vocal cord. Oh how easily rage can rise within you like a boiling pot of water when the heat is flicked on. She smoothed the creases of the covers, crumbled within her fist, with her thumb, willing herself not to be intimidated by his soulless spheres as she steadfast peered into them.

"I already spoke to you and I won't speak anymore until I have a lawyer here," her voice found the strength to articulate when her body, lucid to the bones, felt deep despair to the accusations that had been downed upon her already faltering shoulders.

"Really?" Manak drawled, and there was no mistaking the underlying hostility in his tone. "I think you will talk to me, Ms. Woods. I can be incredibly persuasive when I put my mind to it."

"Persuasive….?" Her sinew cramped, her heart jump starting, dressing her veins with apprehensive ambiguity. What had he meant? His tone alone could have sent any chill to freeze her nerves, but the words that accompanied like a world-class orchestra made her very soul shudder.

"Yes." That one word held grim promise, and Lex felt something heavy and hopeless settle deep in her core. He continued, the hint of a small, mirthless smile flickering about the corners of his mouth. "I know, Ms. Woods, that you have a sister." Seeing the way she started at this, his smile became full blown. "It would be a shame, wouldn't it, if something were to happen to her ...?"

It was then that the orchestra's coalition exploded into an estranged cacophony that obliterated every sane sense in her mind. Her eyes narrowed and were enlightened with trepidation.

"What are you saying?" The muscles of her jaw locked as she spoke, the words flowing out between the clench of her teeth.

"You're an intelligent woman, Ms. Woods. Do I really need to elaborate?" He circled the bed with a slow, deliberate stride, reminding her for the entire world like some sort of predator. When he spoke next, he was standing at her other shoulder, and his tone was blunt. "I want you to accompany me back to the island."

With shrinking pupils, Lex followed his form from one side to the other.

"Thanks for the compliment, but why would I want to go back to the island…" Unyielding verve animated her voice, but an undercoating of fear never set Manak astray from his daunting tribulations.

"It's not a matter of you wanting to go to the island. It's a matter of you doing it regardless. I think seeing it again will jog certain areas of your memory..." He trailed off meaningfully. No. No! Lex could barely think about that island, let alone go back to it!

"My memory's fine—" She blurted, this time hardly as careful to display no fear. The phantom of Manak's earlier leer began to haunt his lips once again.

"By all means, but I think they're just a little…. uneven that's all…." His teeth reflected in the quiet blush of the room, reminding Lex of a dagger, one to stab and saw away at her.

"What if I don't want to go?" She asked, her tone softening but never devoid of her initial blunt.

"Then I will be forced to persuade you…" That was that. That single, bitter sentence was compelling enough. Unable to stand his eyes, Lex lapsed from her glare and found the tan of her bed spread to be a more consoling image.

"Fine," her lips slurred before salvaging their potency, "when?" The soles of Manak's shoes treaded with intimidating animation across the floor once more, heading to the foot of her bed, observing Lex as he did, the potent poison of his shadowed eyes deflating her internal vigor. Soon he strung his fingers to repose over the rounded, steal pole of the bed.

"Tonight."

"Tonight?" Lex addressed him with the surprise of her chocolate globes finally withdrawing from the folds of the bed to peer at him again.

"Get up."


E.N. Okay, now this is officially the quickest update I've ever done. Two chapters; one day? Impossible. Oh and a very, very, VERY HUGE thanks to Solain rhyo for helping me out on this! Luff 3