AKARI - The Presence
1374 Words
An awkward silence stretched as we ate.
I figured they would all have questions, or glance in my direction once but after the initial pleasantries, everyone was lost in their thoughts.
They shared a look, one I didn’t understand.
They must have tried to leave and failed…I should ask—
“Unfortunately I will not be joining you for the tour,” Oak suddenly said, setting his spoon down and breaking the silence.
I stared at his empty plate and wondered if that was enough to fill the man. He was a vampire, barely sustained by food.
A fleeting thought came to mind, and I regretted it the instant.
I imagined what his fangs would look like, what they would feel like sinking into my neck.
Akari! Focus!
Heat spread through my belly, and I managed to keep my expression neutral.
“Why not?”
“We have all agreed to take turns guarding you, there’s no need for all three of us to suffocate you with our presence,” he said politely, but I could tell he just didn’t want to join in.
They all looked suspicious.
“Oh please,” I rolled my eyes, “There’s barely anything to guard, I have nowhere to go,” I pointed out, crossing one leg over the other and exposing a thigh.
“And besides…the more the merrier,”
“I won’t be joining in either,” Elias gruffly said, his words slurred and a bottle of vodka clutched tightly in his grasp.
I had asked the head maid to get him some more if it, I didn’t expect he’d finish two bottles before breakfast was done.
I pursed my lips, trying to read their expressions…maybe I’d know what they were all thinking, why they all decided to stay separated.
Don’t push it. I reminded myself.
“Very well,” I rose slowly, chair scraping uncomfortably behind me as I stood.
I hated the feeling of frustration that bloomed in my chest. How else am I supposed to get these men to help me escape if they’re trying everything they can to avoid me?
“I will leave you boys to it then,” I muttered, unable to hide the disappointment in my tone.
I heard another chair move, Flynn stood, walked over, and held out a hand for me to take.
I looked up at him, confused as his green eyes glinted with mischief.
“I would love a tour,” he said, linking arms with mine when I didn’t take his.
“Where are we starting first?”
Oh. So he’s the one watching me today?
“Your bedroom, perhaps?” he teased with a raised brow, and the corners of my lips twitched.
“Flynn…” Oak's voice ruled, low with warning, a hidden meaning I didn’t catch on but the flirtatious look in the man's eyes turned to disappointment and then resignation.
“They’re no fun,” he gestured at the men still at the table.
“Truly,” I nodded in agreement, my grin turning wider as we walked out of the dining room, leaving Oak and Elias behind.
“We'll start with the garden,” I told Flynn, “It’s my favorite part of this decorated dungeon,” I added in a sweet tone, the sarcasm of my words not lost on him as he chuckled. The sound was low, deep, and all shades of sensual.
“You are not at all what I envisioned you to be,” he said as we moved forward, a distant look in his eyes.
I shrugged, “What did you expect?”
“A scared, powerless woman,” he admitted and I was shocked by his honesty.
“I see…” I replied I understood why that would be their expectations of me.
But I am a Luna, a leader, not some random wolf framed for treason. I do not have the luxury of weakness, not even after being ripped away from my wolf.
“And of course, they said you were covered in scars and quite a garish sight to behold,” he commented as we rounded the corner that led to the garden. I stopped in my tracks, not just because of his words but because I felt a presence behind us.
Flynn didn’t seem to notice.
It was not Oak or Elias…someone else, another guard? A maid?
“Everything okay?” Flynn asked as he watched the shift in my expression.
He didn’t notice.
I nodded and squeezed out a smile.
“I’m hurt by the rumors being spread,” I lied, “As you can see, I am a sight to behold,” I said proudly, “I am far from being hideous!”
Flynn threw his head back with laughter, pressing my side against his repeatedly as he laughed and we resumed our walk.
When we reached the garden, our steps slowed and he let out a sigh.
“How long have you men known each other?” I asked, unwilling to wait any longer to date my curiosities.
“Oh,” Flynn chuckled, his perfect lips curling up, “I’ve known Elias for about…” He put his fingers to his lips like he had to think deeply about it, “Three weeks?”
“Oh,” I said, hiding the surprise I felt at his admittance.
“I’ve known that Oak guy for a week but he’s been a massive pain, even worse than Elias,” Flynn snorted.
“I wish the man would stop being so prim and proper all the f*****g time,”
I watched him speak, how little dents appeared in his cheek when he said a certain word and how his thick brows pulled together in displeasure, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.
It sent tingles down my spine just watching him.
And then…there was someone, still watching us.
I hated how the back of my head prickled.
“And here I was thinking he’s only that way with me,” I laughed. Flynn shrugged, green eyes suddenly turned intense as they met mine.
He reached for my hair and I flinched.
I couldn’t help myself.
I was averse to the touch of another since I watched my mother’s and grandmother’s heads at my knees.
His hand stopped midway, then he dropped it and looked away. He looked slightly confused but also didn’t probe.
“I…” My lips parted but no words came to mind, “I need a moment,” I murmured hurriedly. Letting go of his arm and denying myself and his warmth as I walked out of the garden, headed back into the manor…towards the presence.
I wasn’t surprised to find the chubby head maid behind the curtain, yet she seemed so pale and shocked to see me.
“A...Miss Quinn!” she squealed like a mouse caught in a trap. Her whole body trembled when our gazes clashed.
“Why have you been tailing us?” I crossed my arms over my chest and questioned sternly.
My eyes narrowed in suspicion as I watched her stumble over her words pathetically and her honey brown eyes darting back and forth like she was searching for quick escape routes.
“So?” I tapped my foot impatiently and watched as the woman finally caught her breath and looked up at me with fear but conviction in her eyes.
“I know you have…n…no reason t…to believe me,” she stuttered, “But I have been trying to protect you, Miss Quinn,” she admitted.
I scoffed, then laughed, finding the situation all too funny.
“You? Protect me?” I shook my head. She should’ve come up with a better excuse.
“From what?”
“T…them!” she whispered, looking around again.
Now I could tell she was trying to make sure we were still alone.
She looked…afraid but this time, not of me.
It bothered me.
It made me go rigid.
“What do you mean?”
“Those men!” she leaned in and whispered, “They’re not who they say they are!” she shook her head.
“They are not here to guard you, Luna, they’re here to kill you!”
- Writer
