Page 42 of Outrun The Devil
“Right, you just learned of the supernatural world,” She glanced at him warily, wondering why he was so sure that the killer was something more sinister than human. “So… There are vampires and werewolves. And your victims all had fur in their wounds, right? Werewolf.” He clapped his hands together triumphantly and gave her a knowing glance.
Her eyes were icy. “How can I be sure you’re not just trying to deceive me?” She purposely omitted the signs of a bite mark from the previous victim, which she had somehow associated with vampires.
“You'll just have to trust me,” he said.
“No chance of that happening,” she replied.
“Do what you want, detective,” Xavier said.
Olivia's gaze remained fixed on Xavier, “Give me my gun back.”
Her request for her gun back hung in the air like an unspoken tension. After a beat of hesitation that seemed to stretch into eternity, he relinquished her weapon. It was a heavy exchange, both physically and metaphorically, as if the gun itself carried the weight of the secrets she had just unearthed.
Still grappling with the whirlwind of revelations, Olivia's mind was a maze of questions, each corridor leading to more uncertainties. She shifted her weight from one foot to another, her fingers almost reluctant to touch the cold metal of the gun's grip. She had to clear her mind and find her footing in this enigmatic dance.
"Will I turn into a vampire now? Ya know… since you bit me and all," she finally voiced one of the many queries that crowded her thoughts. Her fingers instinctively brushed over the spot on her neck where Xavier's teeth had left their mark, a reminder of the surreal encounter.
Xavier's laughter cut through the air, a sound that held a smugness as if her question was a mere trifle, inconsequential in the grand tapestry of their reality. Olivia's cheeks flushed, a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. Her eyebrows furrowed, narrowing her gaze at him.
"Oh, detective, this isn't the first time I've bitten you," he retorted with a casualness that sent a shiver down Olivia's spine. He gestured to her with a sweeping motion, from head to toe, as if to emphasize her undisturbed state. "And seeing as you are still very much... you, I'd say that the answer to your question is no."
Olivia's arms crossed over her chest, a silent barrier against his smugness. "You could have just said no," she shot back, her voice tinged with both sarcasm and exasperation. Her head tilted slightly to the side, her curiosity a beacon in her gaze. "And what do you mean this isn't the first time you've bitten me?"
Xavier's smile held a knowing quality, an almost taunting edge. He was skilled at evading questions while giving answers just enigmatic enough to fan the flames of intrigue. Olivia's thoughts raced, trying to dissect his words like a cryptic code. The comment he had made earlier about not remembering him echoed in her mind, a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit.
Had they crossed paths before?
Olivia gave a subtle eye roll, a flicker of exasperation that she quickly masked. Her gaze remained locked on Xavier, her body positioned between the sleek bar and the opulent elevators leading out of his penthouse. Every step she took was calculated, ensuring a clear path to exit at a moment's notice.
Xavier stood near the bar, an enigmatic figure in the dimly lit expanse. A crystal glass glinted in his hand, the amber liquid within it catching the ambient light that spilled from the panoramic windows. The penthouse exuded a sense of luxury, the scent of aged wood and leather mingling with the faint trace of cigar smoke that lingered in the air.
Olivia's heart pounded in rhythm with the suspense that hung in the air, each word she spoke was a delicate balance between curiosity and caution. She wasn't naive enough to believe that Xavier would willingly unravel all the threads of the mysteries that shrouded him no matter how much it frustrated her.
"Are there other types of supernaturals out there besides vampires and werewolves?" Her question hung in the air, like a thread waiting to be pulled in either direction.
Xavier's gaze held a glint of amusement, the subtle upturn of his lips revealing a fraction of the enigma that he was. His glass hovered near his lips, a momentary pause before he chose his words with a deliberateness that spoke of secrets yet untold.
"So full of questions, detective," he remarked, his voice a silky cadence that echoed through the penthouse. A pause, as if the weight of her inquiry settled on his shoulders. "Yes."
The answer, though brief, seemed to reverberate through the space, shattering the silence like a crack in a mirror. Olivia's pulse quickened, the revelation sending tendrils of unease down her spine.
"Are you going to elaborate," her voice held a thread of determination, a stark contrast to the dark vibes that saturated the room, "or do you just enjoy annoying me?"
The corners of Xavier's lips quirked in a smug smile, his body language a dance of veiled amusement. His glass lowered a quiet moment that hung heavy with unsaid words. Olivia's senses were on high alert, attuned to the minute shifts in his posture, the subtle flicker of his gaze.
He was a puzzle she was determined to solve, a maze of shadows and intrigue that beckoned her forward even as it warned her to tread carefully. With every fiber of her being, Olivia knew that the answers she sought were both her salvation and her downfall, a truth she couldn't escape.
Xavier's gaze held Olivia's, the silence between them heavy with unspoken thoughts. His glass found its way back to the bar's surface, a soft clink that echoed in the air. As if he held the key to a vault of secrets, his next words were chosen with a precision that mirrored the careful, deliberate way he seemed to navigate every aspect of his world.
Xavier's body language was a masterful orchestration of confidence, a conductor leading an intricate symphony of intrigue.
"There are witches as well," his voice held a weight, a solemn acknowledgment of the uncharted territories of the supernatural world. "However, they are a very private group of people. Trust me, detective, it's not the kind of trouble you want to invite."
Olivia's mind whirred, the revelation of witches only deepening the maze of questions in her thoughts. She took a half step forward, the distance between them almost electric with tension. Her gaze was unyielding, her determination battling the shadows that clung to Xavier's every word.
"Would they know anything about my visions?"
Xavier's response was a masterclass in evasion. His eyes held hers, a swirling pool of secrets that danced just out of reach. The seconds ticked by, a tense silence settling between them like a heavy fog.