Page 44 of Midnight Whispers

Flora’s name is on the screen with a notificationof a text message.

Leaving yoga now! Do. Not. Leave!

“Better hurry or I’ll be late,” I responded out loud, putting my phone back down on the counter. The washer sings in alert that my sheets are done. I groan loudly when I see there’s still a load in the dryer, thankfully it’s just towels. After shoving them into a hamper, I addfolding towelsonto my list as well. A sound coming from the front of the house catches my attention, it’s the door opening, and it's followed by slow creaks of the floorboard beneath footsteps.

“That was fast,” I yelled from the laundry room. “Cyrus warned you that he was going to impound your car if you couldn't slow down.” She doesn’t respond. “Flora, you know how much I hate being scared, so will you stop?”

I turn to exit the laundry room, and I immediately stop in my tracks. Two men that I’ve never seen before stare back at me.

My legs and feet suddenly feel like they are weighed down with sand. I try to move, but my body doesn’t respond. There’s not a single cohesive thought running through my mind. The men stand on both sides of the island, trapping me in the space just before the laundry room. I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. The three of us just stand there, waiting for someone else to move.

“Wh… Who are you?” My voice shakes.

“Don’t matter,” the bigger one responds.

“M… My name is Li… Lillia. Wha… What’s yours?” I ask the other one. His eyes refuse to meet mine. They’re both larger than I am, and I know I can’t fight them off. Scanning the room, I see my phone behind one of them, but I know I can’t reach it so I slowly inch backwards toward the laundry room.

In one swift movement, I turn and run into the room and shut the door behind me. There’s a fight against the door;he’s pushing against me. My heartbeat echoes in my ear as my heart practically bursts out of my chest. My arms and legs tingle with the adrenaline that is coursing through my veins.

There’s a shuffle of feet outside the door and the fighting stops. I remain in my spot, pushing hard against the door. Suddenly, there’s a loud thud and the entire door shakes against me. I push as hard as I can but after the third ram, he knocks the door open. The impact causes me to stumble and fall, my head hitting the wall and then the floor. Throbbing radiates through my head, and I fall into a dark tunnel of nothing.

20

Every timeI am forced to slip away from Lillia’s home, I feel like pieces of me get left behind. She is slowly wearing me down, forcing me to believe I am worthy of something other than the title I’ve given myself. Though, I willneverbe worthy enough

I run through the forest, and I can feel the difference in my muscles. Drinking from her did exactly what I thought it would, strengthening me more than I already was. However, I find myself craving the taste of her again, craving the strength and power her blood has given me.

A sense of dread begins to grow heavier as I get further and further from her cottage. The more distance that is put between us the deeper and deeper into my gut the feeling felt. As I near the grounds of the manor, I am pleasantly surprised to find Asher is not on his balcony. The area is quiet, so I move tactically, stalking around the corner of the main room.

“Finnian, whatareyou doing?” Asher chuckles.

“The manor was quiet. I wasn’t sure what I was walking into.”

“You really are a worry wart, son.”

“I’ve told you not to call me son. We are basically the same age.”

“Oh, but we aren’t! I have almost fifty years on you.” I roll my eyes. “How is your mortal? I can smell her blood on you and my god, she smells positively divine,” he inquires. A snarl escapes through my clenched jaw.

“Woah. Down boy,” he responds, raising his hands in true dramatic Asher fashion.

“She’s getting ready for her day,” I roll my eyes in annoyance. “She should be just leaving.” I check my wristwatch to confirm the time.

“Will you be visiting her shop today?”

“Yes. Probably.”

“Did you think more on what path you’ll choose moving forward?”

“No.” Not a full lie. I know my options, but I don’t want to make that choice for her.

“You do have time, but I can sense how important she is to you. While she is human, she remains in danger,” he lowers his eyes and continues, “and so do you.”

I weigh my response because I know there’s truth in what he’s saying. Sheisin danger because there is someone who would like nothing more but to see me suffer.

“I will keep her safe fromhim.”

“I know you will, Finn. I didn’t mean just from him though.” I nod, fully grasping what he said.