Raven’s eyes opened slowly, wincing when she met burning light…
When her sight adjusted, she stared up at the ceiling, noting that the entire room was painted the color white, the light bouncing off the walls, blinding her.
She took a soft breath, feeling relaxed and content; like she was lying on a pile of flowers.
But she forced herself to sit up, glancing around the room to see where the hell she was.
It was some kind of infirmary; beds lined along the bleached white walls, a single—or sometimes a second—chair next to the bed.
It kind of looked like a hospital… if it was one room.
She glanced down at her arms, noticing that all the bandages on her arms were gone, and the wounds left from the glass that night Malachi kidnapped her, now little scars.
How long had she been asleep for?
And did Malachi take her to a hospital?
“Look who’s awake,” a male voice said from next to her, almost making her jump.
Raven turned to see Malachi sitting in the infirmary chair next to her, leaning his elbows on his knees.
It took her a moment before she heard a clicking noise, and she looked down to find the source.
Malachi was tapping his shoe almost impatiently.
When she glanced up at him, he had his cheek resting in his hand, not looking particularly happy.
His smile was even gone.
Malachi pointed to his head. “They found glass in your scalp,” he stated sternly, then put his hand down, eyes darkening. “You didn’t tell me they hit you over the head with a bottle, Raven.”
She looked down to her hands, avoiding eye-contact.
Why did he take her to a hospital? She thought he was against that kind of thing.
“I thought something was off about you,” he stated. “Turns out I was right. You had a moderate concussion. Possibly a traumatic brain injury.”
Raven pressed her head with a finger in response, feeling no sting from her touch, though her hair felt sticky with dried blood.
“I feel fine,” she responded honestly.
“Had a concussion,” he repeated. “Past tense, Raven.”
Her brows drew together. “How long have I been asleep?”
“A couple hours,” he said back, making her chest heavy, then gestured to a girl in a white lab jacket next to them. “Ellie, here healed you up nicely.”
She waved, closing her eyes and smiling kindly.
Whoa, Raven didn’t even see her, it was like she blended in with the room.
“Wait…” Raven said, pausing, “with like… magic?”
It would make sense.
Malachi nodded. “Yep.”
Her mouth dropped. “Cool.”
The smile came back, spreading across his face like wildfire, and he looked to the nurse. “You can go now, Ellie.”
She nodded, waved to Raven, and walked off.
Malachi looked back to Raven.
“So…” Raven said, “are we still underground?”
He nodded.
“There’s an infirmary here?” she said, mouth dropped. “That’s so cool.”
Malachi chuckled.
“By the way,” she said, glancing around curiously, “I have a question.”
“Shoot,” he said.
“You know those boxes covering the trap door that leads here?”
He nodded once.
“You said you can move them back even when you’re walking down,” she said. “How?”
Malachi smiled. “I used telekinesis.”
“Ohhh…” she said, “that makes so much sense now.”
He laughed softly, watching her eyes scan the room.
Her skin looked so bright now, shaded a light pink like it was supposed to be; not pale white like she had been for the last couple weeks.
He realized by now that she was slightly sick from all the injuries she sustained with all the assassin attacks, which made it hard for her to eat because all her body focused on was the pain. He knew she eventually got used to the pain, barely recognizing it, but it didn’t stop her body from reacting to it.
That was why she never ate—or very rarely ate—which could contribute to her pale skin.
“Raven,” he said softly, catching her attention. And he held out his hand. “You can come to bed now. Come on.”
“I can?” she said then. “No checkups? No papers to sign?”
Malachi just pushed his hands on his knees, standing, then stepped over to her causally.
She stared up at him curiously when he picked up her arm and guided it around his neck, lifting under her legs and carried her out of the infirmary.
“Why do you always carry me?” she said then. “Isn’t it hard on your arms?”
Malachi chuckled. “Hard? No, you’re as light as a feather.”
“Most guys say I’m really heavy.”
Malachi glanced down at her with amusement. “They’re wimps. I could carry you with my fingers if I wanted to. And what the hell are they talking about?” he questioned almost angrily. “If I could grab your wrist right now, I guarantee my fingers could touch. You’re like a skeleton. I need to get some food in you.”
“You sound like my grandmother,” she stated, annoyed.
“She’s right,” he said back, “you need to eat. What are your favorite foods?”
“I like…” she squinted her eyes, “French fries?”
“Before we go to bed,” he said, “I’ll order some French fries so you can eat some dinner. You didn’t finish your burger at Mario’s. And you’re healed now. You must be hungry, huh?”
She nodded.
“Alright,” he said, opening the door to his townhome and carrying her inside. “I’ll set you on the couch and call them.”
“Wait…” she said, “does this place have like… room service?”
Malachi chuckled. “I guess, yeah. Remember? There’s an underground hotel here.”
“Ellie…” Raven said then, “do you pay her?”
A nod.
“Does your… pack or whatever have jobs down here?”
“Yep.”
“So is room service a job?”
“Yep.”
“That’s so cool.”
Malachi chuckled again. “Alright, I’m going to call them. Stay there.” And he pulled his phone out of his pocket, clicking some kind of contact and pushing it to his ear. “Hey, yeah, it’s me.” Silence for a moment. She assumed the person on the other line was talking. “Yeah,” he said, “yeah, she’s fine.”
Hold on… who did he call? And when he said “she,” did he mean Raven?
“Hey, uh, Gianni, can you get room service to send us some French fries?”
She heard inaudible speaking from the other line.
“Yes,” Mal said, “yes, Gabriel’s is her favorite.”
Raven blinked.
How did he know that?
The male voice crumpled through the speaker again.
“Hold on,” he said, “I’ll ask her.” He brought the phone down. “Do you like pastries?”
Raven nodded.
“What kind?”
“Sugar dusted with strawberry filling,” she answered.
He put the phone back to his ear. “You hear that?”
The voice came again.
Mal sighed as if annoyed, but his smile contrasted the emotion, and he brought the phone down again. “Do you like shakes?”
“Strawberry banana,” she answered.
“Strawberry banana,” he said to the man on the phone. “Yes, thank you.” And he hung up, letting out a long sigh and leaning against a wall connecting to the counter.
She thought this over for a moment. “Gabriel’s doesn’t have shakes or even a bakery, Malachi. It’s fast food.”
“I know,” he answered, “but Sally’s Shakes and Bella’s Biscuits are right across the street, so Gianni insisted.”
Raven tipped her head to the side. “Why does your pack care so much about me?”
“Because you’re one of us now. We’re like a family.”
There was more to it, she could tell, but she didn’t push him harder.
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouAo7TcuFQ
*****
Thirty minutes later—while Raven and Malachi sat on the living room couch, watching a show on the TV—a knock cascaded on the front door of his townhome.
Malachi cast a look to the door, then back at Raven. “Looks like food’s here. I’ll get it.”
He opened the front door, and a male figure was there. He had short, brown hair that curled at his temples from sweat, and his eyes were shaded a dark amber.
“Thanks,” Malachi said, taking a to-go bag he held and turned to Raven, gesturing to her. “I think it’s time you meet Raven,” he then gestured to the guy, “this is Gianni, my second-in-command.”
Gianni bowed as if she were a princess and stood back up. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Magicae.”
“Ms. Magicae?” Where were they, the 1800s?
Malachi looked back to Gianni. “Thank you, you can go back to what you were doing now.”
He bowed again and stepped away from the door, Malachi closing in seconds later.
As if sensing her confusion, he said unexpectedly, “Gianni’s been alive for a while. And yes, he was born in the 1800s, but he was bitten when he turned sixteen, so he still has that ‘1800s butler’ persona. He never really wanted to break out of it.”
“Huh.”
“But despite his ‘kind’ nature, he’s badass when in battle. Totally switches personalities. He actually kind of looks sadistic.”
“So, like you,” she clarified.
“Exactly,” he said despite the insult.
She rolled her eyes.
“Anyway,” he said, shaking the to-go bag he held. “Let’s eat.”
“Do you have this rule with food and living room?”
He gave her a concerned look. “No, why?”
“Because your house is always perfect…” she said, brows raised, “like… I never even see a speck of dust on the windowsill. Does Gianni clean it for you?”
Malachi shook his head, then leaned forward, whispering, “A little secret about me? I’m serial cleaner.”
She raised her brows. “The great murderer, Malachi can’t handle having a dirty house?”
He shrugged. “I like it better this way.”
“So, if I spill something, will you go ballistic?”
He gave her an amused look. “Not really. I might be a clean freak, but accidents happen.”
“What if I refuse to clean it?”
“Then I will, and you’ll never even notice.”
“You’re very confusing.”
His eyes reflected her in curiosity. “What makes you say that?”
“No killer—or teenage boy—I know cleans this much.”
Malachi chuckled. “Then they suck. Clean house, clean mind.”
“That’s what my mom always said to me,” Raven said, laughing softly.
But her laughter trailed off, and Malachi watched her eyes darken, and she stared back down at the floor, lashes lowering.
She must’ve forgotten what happened to her mother until she mentioned her name.
Malachi gently stepped over to her, settling down on the couch beside her while setting the to-go bag on the coffee table.
“Come here,” he said softly, pulling her against his chest.
She collapsed against him like a sack of potatoes, completely limp, and Malachi held her to him for a moment, squeezing her twice to assure her that she was alright, then let go, grabbing the remote.
She needed a distraction.
He needed a distraction.
“What do you want to watch?” he wondered then, lightening his tone.
“I’m not in the mood to watch anything,” she said softly.
“Raven,” he warned.
She shook her head, then stood. “I’m going to bed.”
Malachi caught her arm, making her look to him, though she wasn’t angry… she looked… emotionally exhausted.
He nodded to the couch. “Sit back down.”
“I’m tired,” she argued.
“I don’t really care,” he stated. “Gianni went out of his way to get you your favorite meals, and you ditch it? Sit back down.”
She sighed in annoyance. “Don’t guilt trip me.”
“Then don’t make me,” he retorted.
“I’m not making you.” Anger was starting to catch in her tone.
“Raven,” Malachi said sternly, “you haven’t been eating or drinking water. You need at least some calories, alright? So, sit back down and eat some food.”
She sat down then.
He let go of her arm and shuffled though the to-go bag while she rubbed her eyes lazily.
“Here’s your fries,” he said, handing them to her. “And milkshake, and lastly,” he handed her a paper bag that had oil starting to bleed through, “your strawberry pastry.”
“I can’t eat all—” she started.
“You’ll eat it all,” he responded sharply, “or I’ll forcefully feed it to you.”
“Jesus,” she muttered angrily, “it’s not like it’s the end of the world if I don’t eat the last bite of a pastry.”
“It is for me,” he stated. “Now eat or I’ll make you.”
A long sigh. “Can you just not—”
“Raven,” he warned. “Don’t test me.”
She looked down to the pastry, clearly hesitating when she slid the paper down, exposing the flaky bread with little bits of strawberry filling spilling out of the middle.
She looked to Malachi, clearly not wanting to eat this, but his brows were raised, clearly waiting, so she looked back down to the bread, eyeing it thoughtfully.
“I feel sick,” she said.
It wasn’t a complete lie; her stomach hurt.
“That’s because you need to eat,” he almost growled. “Eat the goddamn pastry, Raven. It’s not that hard.”
He was right, it wasn’t.
She didn’t have anorexia or anything like that… she just hadn’t eaten in so long that everything she took a bite out of made her sick… and now she had to finish this, and he wouldn’t stop watching her until she finished the last bite.
“EAT,” he said.
“Fine, fine,” she responded, irritated, then brought the pastry to her mouth almost painfully.
Malachi watched her take a bite, wincing slightly as she chewed, but he smiled when her eyes widened suddenly, irises sparkling.
She bit down into the pastry again, the second time faster, then a third, savoring each bite.
When she finished, Malachi handed her the box of French fries, chuckling under his breath when she took it quickly, shoving fries in her mouth one-by-one.
He noticed her cheeks lighting, and it looked more natural now that she wasn’t pale anymore.
Her skin was baby-pink, cheeks glowing a light red as all the flavors of her favorite foods filled her mouth.
When she finished the last fry, she shot her hands out impulsively and caught the strawberry-banana smoothie, gulping it down.
“Careful,” Malachi said, practically grinning, “don’t get brain freeze.”
She started drinking slower at his words, staring down at the lid of the cup, eyes glistening with a childish giddiness, though she was still calm.
Malachi had to cover his mouth with a fist, smile widening when she finished the last sip, placing the cup back onto the table.
“You still hungry?” he wondered then.
She shook her head. “It tasted so good.” Her voice was filled with a sudden satisfaction as if she hadn’t felt this way in years. “At dinner… the burger made me feel sick.” She pressed her hands to her stomach.
Malachi was still smiling but took his hand away from him mouth. “You felt sick because you were. That wound on your side,” he lightly poked the spot where he had to bandage a couple days ago, “and the ones you got from the glass, and the bottle that got slammed on your head, they were probably making you feel sick because of the pain. I know from experience that even when you can usually ignore the pain, your stomach still reacts to it. And now that you’re healed,” he added, tapping her nose and taking her off guard at the gesture, “everything tastes good now. Because you’re not sick anymore.”
She smiled giddily, though her body was still loose, and her eyes looked weighed.
“Come on,” Malachi said, holding out his hand. “Bedtime.”
She stared down at it for a moment. “Do we have to sleep together? Is there a separate room I can sleep in?”
“No,” he responded, “but I can sleep on the floor. Is that what you want?”
She blinked at this kind gesture. “No, don’t do that. Let’s just lay very far apart.”
“Like we’re a couple who got into a fight?” Mal said, amused.
“Yes—” she caught herself, blushing. “I mean no, not like a couple, but—You know what I mean.”
He only smiled.
Not wanting to talk to him anymore, Raven stood, starting down the hall to his bedroom.
Malachi followed behind shortly after, he just had to toss the trash and quickly wipe down the tables, but with his super speed, it was quite easy to do it in four seconds.
By the time Raven entered the room, Malachi was behind her, the rest of the house spic-and-span.
He gently pushed her in, making her turn and shoot him a concerned look.
“Ease up,” he said, shaking his head, “I’m not going to do anything.”
She rolled her eyes and started to the bed, lying down onto his cushioned mattress.
He lifted her legs suddenly, making her gasp, but he only drew the sheets out from under her, draping them on her seconds later.
“Relax,” he said at her confused expression. “I’m just tucking you in.” And he laid a blanket over her, watching her muscles ease.
After stepping over to his side, he lay down far from her like she wanted, getting under the covers and switching off the bedside lamp.
He never slept, he just wanted to stay in here with her, but she didn’t need to know that.
They laid in silence for a couple minutes, every second dragging on as Raven remained quiet.
Did she fall asleep that quickly?
“Malachi…?” she whispered then.
He glanced behind him despite the room being pitch black. “Hmm?”
So, she wasn’t asleep.
“I can’t sleep…” she whispered as if embarrassed.
“It’s only been three minutes, Raven.”
She knew, but she couldn’t even close her eyes without them shooting open.
He smiled then. “Do you want me to cuddle you?”
“Please, don’t make this sound weird,” she muttered.
“It’s a yes or no question, Angel.”
“Yes…” she said softly.
“Hmm?”
“Yes,” she said louder this time.
Malachi rolled over then, scooting to her and opened his arms, offering an embrace but she didn’t take it.
“Less intimate?” she said.
“Why? We’ve done this before.”
Raven also knew that, but she was afraid of getting too close when she no longer knew his intentions…
Kill? Use? Torture? Or care?
“The last one,” he responded to her thoughts, making her blush slightly. “If you want less intimate, then let’s do it, but tell me how ‘less’ you want it.”
“Hold hands…?” she whispered.
She just needed to feel him to sleep… to know that he was there… but she didn’t want to say it.
“Okay,” he smiled at her thoughts, sliding his palm out to her, “hold my hand.”
She stared down at it before lacing her fingers through his, blushing when he did the same.
“Now go to sleep,” he whispered with a slightly playful tone.
She would happily sleep now.
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uWrRZNtti
*****
“Malachi,” a girl's voice echoed, making his eyes shoot open. “Malachi.”
He was lying on something soft, the clouds brushing past the bright, blue sky.
When something soft, but scratchy tickled his skin, he turned his head, watching tall grasses blow gently in the breeze above him.
Where was he…? Where was Raven? Why was he lying in a field?
And why did this… not seem real…?
“Malachi!” a voice echoed again, catching his attention.
He sat up then, glancing around. “Raven?”
“Malachi!” the girl called again.
After scanning the area, he noticed that he was in some kind of old field… a cottage resting behind him, covered in yellow straw like they were in a fairytale.
But his eyes caught on a girl standing about fifty yards away from him, looking around the tall grasses.
“Malachi!” she called again, cupping her hands over her mouth to make her voice louder.
He squinted his eyes, watching her raven hair tug past her face, waving gently in the wind.
It was her…
Raven.
“Angel,” he said, standing now, gently brushing his pants to get the dirt off, “I’m right here.”
Her gaze shot to him, and a big smile spread across her face. “Malachi!” And she ran to him as if she hadn’t seen him in years, throwing her arms around him. “There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!”
“Where are we?” he questioned. “The last thing I remember was you falling asleep in bed… and now we’re here?”
She looked up to him, brows drawing together. “You mean you don’t know?”
“Know what?” he asked.
She smiled. “You’re dreaming! For the first time in years! Isn’t that great?”
He blinked, pushing her away slightly. “No, that’s impossible.”
She seemed taken aback for a moment, watching him with curious eyes before smiling softly, nodding to the cottage. “Come on. I want to show you something.”
“Wha—” but she caught his arm before he could finish his sentence, half-dragging him to the front door.
They entered the house… but it wasn’t a house, they entered some kind of beach.
Malachi’s eyes widened, the bright clouds reflecting in his eyes, the ocean’s waves gently pushing up the shore.
“You like beaches, right?” Raven said, giving him a curious glance.
He nodded. “How did you know that?”
Raven smiled. “Because I’m your creation, Mal. I’m here because you want to see me.”
He turned to her. “What do you mean?”
Her soft smile didn’t waver. “I know you’re still conflicted. I was your job, right?”
He blinked.
She pulled a knife out of her pocket then, making him step a little back. “I’ll show you what you really want.”
“What are you—”
“Malachi,” she said, glancing up at him, then held the knife out to him, “stab me.”
His eyes widened in shock. “What?”
“Stab me,” she said again, pushing the knife to his chest. “It’s what you want, isn’t it?”
He breathed shallowly. “Hold on… No… What are you—”
“You’ve been watching me for ten months now,” she stated, grasping his wrist, placing the knife in his palm and closing his hand around the hilt. “I’m your job, you’re still conflicted about wanting to kill me. Do it. Do it now, Malachi.”
She grabbed his wrist and positioned it, so the tip of the knife pressed to her chest, right above her heart.
“Come on,” she said. “This is what you want, isn’t it?”
He felt something cold consume him, burning through his veins like poison. “No… No, I can’t, Raven… Just wait….”
She looked to him now. “Why not?”
“I have to wait… I can’t right now.”
She smiled then, a soft, sweet one as if she wasn't afraid to die. “You keep telling yourself that, Malachi. For the last year. It’s time to make a decision.”
His brows pinched together. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t you remember all the things you told me?” she questioned. “That I’m safe? That you’ll protect me? Weren’t they all lies? To let my guard down?”
He shook his head. “No… I… I said them because of something else….”
“Why, Mal?”
His lungs seized for the first time in years. “I… I don’t know….”
“Haven’t you been doing all this to get me close to you? So, you can kill me easier? That’s what you’ve been telling yourself, right?”
“No…” he said. “I still have the thoughts about wanting to hurt you, but I want to save you.”
She tugged his wrist, so the knife barely pierced her skin, blood dripping slowly down her chest, disappearing beneath her violet blouse. “Kill me then. I’m vulnerable now. This is the best moment, see? You have the chance. Just push down, and I’m gone. You get the money.”
The hand that held the dagger shook, lightly scraping her skin.
“Come on,” she said. “Just push down. Just a little so it pierces my heart.”
“I…” Mal said, sweat sliding down his temples, “I….”
“Come on,” she said. “This is what you’ve been waiting for. And I’ll have a happy death. I love beaches, too.”
His whole body rattled with tremors, blood freezing but burning as painful chills ran through him. “I….”
“Come on,” she urged.
“No,” he said then, making her look to him, surprised. The hand that closed around the knife opened, the dagger falling and clattering to the ground. “I can’t.”
She looked to the ground, and he followed, watching the dagger sink into the ground like quicksand, disappearing in the tiny grains.
She let go of his wrist then, and he shot his head up to her, mind screaming why she wanted him to kill her so badly and if she was alright.
But she was smiling, almost sympathetically.
“What…?” he whispered in confusion.
“Malachi,” she said, “you’ve chosen.”
He breathed shallowly, body shaking profusely. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not going to be in the room when you wake,” she responded, making his brows draw together. “You have to find me, Mal.” She turned away.
“Wait!” he said, reaching out to her. “Don’t leave! You haven’t told me what you want me to do yet!”
She looked to him from behind, her lashes and the tip of her nose visible. “You already know, Malachi. Just ask yourself this, what do you really want? Based off what I showed you.”
And her body glowed with millions of yellow lights, making his stomach sink.
“Find me, Malachi,” she said. “And show me what you really want.”
And she vanished into dust that drifted off to the sun.
“No!” he said, rushing after her. “Wait!”
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHCtyczrOA
*****
Malachi’s eyes darted open, and he shot up from the bed, gasping.
His hair stuck to his temples with sweat, cold chills sliding down his body like millions of thin needles.
He panted heavily, eyes blurring as he stared off into space, on the verge of panicking.
He glanced around then, noting that he was in his room now… the one he built.
Not the cottage… not the beach… and not that weird field.
Malachi rubbed his eyes.
How did he…? How did he sleep? It was physically impossible.
Then “dream Raven’s” words echoed through his thoughts.
I’m not going to be in the room when you wake. You have to find me, Mal.
His eyes darted down to her side of the bed, finding Raven gone, the blanket he put on her earlier crumpled in the spot she once lay.
Pure, boiling panic rushed through him like fire, and he shot up from the bed, launching out of the room.
After glancing left and right in the living room and kitchen, he knew she wasn’t there, so he threw open the front door, the wood slamming against the wall.
Where was she…? Was she hurt? Did someone take her?
“RAVEN!” he called in a panic, voice cracking slightly. “RAVEN, WHERE ARE YOU? RAVEN!”
A figure rushed down the hall faster than light, stopping in front of Malachi suddenly, looking slightly terrified.
It was Gianni, brows pinched. “Is everything alright, sir? You look a bit feverish.”
Malachi was practically gasping, feeling his chest clamp like his heart somehow burst. “I can’t find, Raven! I can’t find her!” Then he grasped his shoulders harshly. “Do you know where she is? Is she okay?”
Gianni’s eyes reflected concern in them, clearly surprised at Malachi’s terrified self. “Sir, why don’t you take a deep breath? We will find her, okay? She is fine, I’m sure of it. We can’t find her if you are panicking.”
Mal took a deep breath, exhaling slowly and feeling the heat swarming him slowly deplete… though the icy weight in his chest didn’t dissipate.
“Okay,” Gianni said gently, “do you know what her favorite places are, sir?”
“She likes the library…” Mal said slowly. “She likes….” His voice trailed off, eyes locking on the door on the right side of the hall, thirty feet from his townhome entrance.
He started to it without a second thought, taking slow deep breaths and hoping she was in there.
She was alright… She was safe… He shouldn’t panic until he had a valid reason to.
“Sir?” Gianni said, though followed slowly behind him.
Mal lightly pried open the door to the pool room, scanning the area.
The weight in his chest vanished like dust when he saw a girl sitting on the pool room floor, staring off into the water almost dazedly.
Her black hair had purple highlights glistening softly with the waves of the water.
Raven…
“Sir?” Gianni said, stepping behind Malachi.
Mal looked to him, nodding to let him know he was okay, then gestured to the room.
Gianni’s eyes locked on Raven, and his muscles seemed to ease a little, he then looked back to Malachi. “I will go.”
Mal nodded, waving him off and started inside the room after he walked away.
“Raven…” he said softly, walking over to her slowly.
She looked to him then, eyes widening as if she’d been in a daze for hours and dropped her legs until they rested on the pool room floor.
“Oh,” she said, looking to the water, and to him, “sorry… I woke up and saw you were sleeping… And I didn’t want to wake you, so I came here. I guess I lost track of time.”
Mal looked her over for a moment, eyes red as if he’d been crying. “I was calling you.”
She looked surprised at his sudden concerned self. “I… I guess I heard you… I just didn’t really register it.”
He stepped over to her then, making her look up to him, eyes sparkling as he settled down next to her, one leg drawn up to his chest as he wrapped as single arm around it, smiling at her. “You really like it here, huh?”
She stared off into the water, a ghost of a smile curving her lips. “Yeah.”
“It makes me happy that you like it here,” he said then, making her turn to him.
“It does?”
He nodded.
“I’ve never heard you express something like that,” she admitted.
He stared for a moment.
“Dream Raven” was right… he never wanted to kill her, not even an image of her that he created. He even winced when the blade lightly cut her skin.
He never wanted to kill her… he wanted something else.
“Raven…” he said then, making her glance at him curiously, “wanna go for a swim?”
Her cheeks warmed at his words, clearly showing she was interested, though she still said, “I just like staring at it.”
He stood then, brushing wrinkles off his black jeans and held out a hand to her. “Come on.”
“I don’t have a swimsuit,” she argued.
“I don’t either,” he responded, “come on.”
She grabbed his hand willingly and he pulled her up, guiding her into the cool water.
The bottoms of his pants dampened, and so did her leggings, the wetness darkening their clothes as they went deeper into the slanted tile.
By the time the water reached Malachi’s shoulders, Raven slipped under, yelping.
He only caught her waist, pulling her out so she could breathe, the water dripping off her chin as she blinked some off her lashes.
“You okay?” he wondered then, the cold pain he felt earlier currently dormant.
She nodded, pushing some wet hair that stuck to her cheeks behind her ear, then looked down at herself, slightly annoyed. “I’m too short.”
He chuckled. “Just grab onto my shoulders, alright? I’ll hold you up.”
She looked him over for a moment, though more curiously than suspiciously, but still listened.
Her legs were positioned a little around his waist, holding herself up, though she didn’t seem to notice it, looking around the room still, clearly mesmerized.
Malachi slightly let go of her, thinking she was holding onto him tight enough, but she slipped, yelping.
He caught onto her hips before her face fell below the water, but before he grabbed her, she wrapped her legs around his waist.
When their eyes met, her face flushed.
Mal smiled when she looked to the water, avoiding eye-contact.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” he said, lowering his head to see her expression.
Though something that was slightly confusing was that she looked uncomfortable, but she didn’t move her legs off him or seemed genuinely repulsed.
“Come on,” he pressed. “Don’t be embarrassed, Raven Magicae.”
She pulled closer suddenly, wrapping her arms around him and holding her face to his neck.
He looked down to her softly, smiling now. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
“I still don’t trust you,” she said then.
“I’m sure,” he responded, clearly disbelieving her.
They were both silent for a moment, just holding onto each other.
Raven pulled away then, parting her mouth as if she were about to ask or say something, but closed her lips again, losing her words.
Malachi just tipped his head to the side curiously, as if studying her from a different angle.
She looked down to his lips then, noting that they were slightly curved.
A sudden desire filled her.
And before she could stop herself, she leaned into him, pressing his lips to hers and he didn’t pull away, actually leaning in closer, desperate to feel her.
She actually like the scent of the room mixed with him… the way he smelled so earthy; the room like chlorine…
It reminded her of a warm sunny day in a paradise… lying on the soft sand as the smell of the ocean lingered in the air.
Malachi separated their lips then, leaning to press a kiss to her forehead and pulled away, seeing her cheeks slightly flushed, but her body still held her warm color.
“I see you like these pool rooms,” he stated then.
She nodded once, as if still embarrassed.
“Can I show you something?” he wondered then, watching curiosity spark her eyes.
“Yes,” she responded.
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4LgFTFKn7
*****
When Raven agreed, Malachi seized her arm after they got out of the pool and they both ran together out the door they came in, across the stone hall to another door, and Mal pulled her in.
It was some kind of stone landing with a staircase that had only a few steps down.
Raven remembered this place… if you went down the steps and spun around as if there was a spiral staircase, the infirmary was down the hall below… but the room right across from the end of the stairs, she’d never been.
And Malachi pulled her down, into that exact room…
It was some kind of locker room… but without the lockers.
It just had the same sandy flooring and “pool” theme, and in the middle of the room were four silver benches lined back-to-back.
But Mal didn’t waste a second, he just dragged her across the locker room, to the mysterious place on the other side.
Raven gasped, eyes sparkling.
At the end of the locker room, the floor slanted into another type of flooring.
It felt so weird being here.
It was another pool room, though there was little bare tile now.
Every spot was lined with that classic square-blue tile, the floors covered in shallow water that danced with the soft fluorescent lights on the ceiling.
Raven walked in without a second thought, smiling at Malachi when he followed.
She waded in the thin water, giggling like a happy child.
He only watched her in amusement.
“Why didn’t you show me this sooner?” she questioned, amber eyes glistening white with the lighting.
She looked almost angelic.
“I didn’t get the chance to,” he responded. “And look how happy you are now. At least I did show it to you, I could’ve kept it a secret.”
She glanced around curiously. “Where is everyone else? Isn’t this a public pool?”
Mal laughed softly. “Honey, you do realize it’s like two in the morning, right?”
She blinked. “Oh… I forgot.”
He sighed in fake disappointment.
She feigned anger then, kneeled down and splashed water at him.
He dodged it easily, giving her a pirate smirk. “You want to play this game? You’ll lose.”
She giggled again, the sound warming his heart.
“I’m coming for you, Raven,” he said, wading in closer with a playful grin. “Watch out.”
She scrambled away, though ran slower because the water shoved against her legs, feeling like a hundred-pound weights.
“Careful,” he warned kindly as he got closer, “don’t sli—”
Right as he said the word, her toes slid along the smooth, blue tile, making her yelp as she fell forward.
A second later—when she should’ve fall backwards into the water—Mal was above her, holding onto her back that was inches from the waves.
Woah… he was twenty feet away from her and ran at light speed even through water.
“I was about to say, ‘don’t slip,’” he stated. “And yet you decided to slip.”
“You caught me,” she said then. “Really fast.”
“I’m an angel, Raven.”
“Corrupted angel,” she corrected.
He chuckled. “Yes, yes I am.”
They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, Raven’s glistening like fire and Malachi’s somehow looking softer than butter.
She looked to her right then, something else sparking her attention. “Ooh, what’s that?”
Malachi looked to where she indicated, seeing a pool of water on the other side of the room, giant pillars scattered along the gentle waves.
“It’s a build off of this room,” he stated.
She looked to him then. “Is it up to code?”
He didn’t hesitate to respond. “Nope, but neither is this room.”
She broke out of his hold then, sprinting straight for the water and jumped in cannonball style, creating a giant splash.
Mal just stepped casually to the pool, leaning a shoulder on the wall.
A sudden uneasiness coiled his stomach when she hadn’t come up yet.
He watched the waves. “Raven?”
She shot up then, coughing as if she inhaled an entire ocean.
He stood then. “Raven? You okay?”
She splashed the water, though he couldn’t tell if she was playing around or not, and she sank.
He stepped over to the water then, peering down.
She shot up again, coughing, clearly kicking her legs and arms smacking the water almost fearfully.
“Help!” she cried, making his heart stop when her voice scratched her throat. “Hel—”
She sank again.
Mal didn’t waist a second, he dove in, darting straight to her through the water.
He caught under her armpits while she struggled under water, pulling her up until they both broke through the waves, Raven coughing profusely until the act scratched her throat.
She was still struggling, kicking her legs and flapping out her hands.
“Shh—shh—shh,” Mal said, holding her to him while he kicked his legs, keeping them afloat. “I got you. It’s okay.”
She was still coughing, little bits of water spraying from her lips, and after she got all the water from her mouth, she was gasping, body aching for air.
She clutched onto his shoulders, breathing so fast that she let out struggled gasps, desperate for oxygen.
“Breathe slower,” he instructed when she was clearly panicking. “I got you now, it’s okay. Just take deep breaths for me, alright? In… and out… Come on.” He inhaled, feeling her do the same, but clearly struggling, and he exhaled, also feeling her do the same. “There you go…” he said softly. “Let’s get out of here, huh?”
She clutched onto him tightly when he waded back to the four tile pillars that separated this room from the shallow area, wrapping her legs around his waist and holding herself to him.
“I got you,” he said softly, managing to pull himself and her up while she clung onto him, stepping into the locker room while she occasionally let out a couple coughs.
She was silent by the time he got to the steps leading to the landing, though she still clutched onto him, and he let her.
“Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t swim?” he questioned then, rubbing her back despite his fingers catching on her soaked shirt.
“I thought…” she said, voice raspy, “that it was shallow, too….”
He sighed a bit of panic, making his way to the hallway.
She was shivering against him, almost rapidly, and he could almost feel himself rattling with her tremors.
“God…” he whispered then, stepping down the passageway to get to his room, “you’re so cold….”
She held him tighter in response.
“You’re freezing, Princess…” he whispered sympathetically. “Let’s get you a change of clothes, and get you under the covers, too. And I’ll light the fireplace… You need to warm up and to rest, you haven’t slept that well anyway.” He kissed the side of her head before prying open his door and stepping in. “I know you feel sick right now—you probably swallowed some pool water, too—but in the morning you’ll feel all better.”
When he closed the door behind him, he looked down to her.
“Let go…” he whispered, “it’s okay. We’re back to the room now. You can let go of me.”
Her grip slightly loosened at his words, and she slowly let herself down, touching her tippy toes to the wood floors before rocking her feet down fully.
When she let go of him, he nodded to the bathroom. “Go change.”
She cast him an indecipherable look before stepping away from him and closing the door behind her.
Malachi sighed, dragging his hand down his face in relief-slash-panic, and walked off to his room to change.
Five minutes later—while he sat on the bed, waiting for her to come out—the bathroom door opened, and he heard a soft, “Malachi?”
He stepped out of the room then, looking down the hall to see Raven standing outside of the bathroom door, still in a soaked kami and leggings.
“What’s wrong?” he said then, watching her gaze shoot to his.
She looked down at herself as if checking to make sure nothing was showing and looked back to him. “I can’t find my backpack… My clothes are in there.”
He stepped over to her then, pulling off his dry t-shirt and making her blush.
Before she demanded what he was doing, he handed her the fabric. “We’ll find it in the morning,” he promised. “Just change into this, okay?”
She nodded, knowing there were limited options and taking the shirt from his hand, stepping back into the bathroom seconds later.
Malachi stayed in the hall while she was changing, shirtless, but he didn’t really care.
He just wanted her to feel better; to make sure she was okay.
She came out after a minute, his shirt dwarfing her, though it covered her to her mid-thigh, so she found it suitable to sleep in without wearing soaked leggings.
Malachi got off the wall then, seeing her cheeks redden when she saw he was still shirtless, but he lightly pushed her back, guiding her to the room.
When she walked in, she noticed the fireplace was lit, the flames dancing in their cage, and the sheets were drawn back already, waiting for her to get in.
She glanced back at Malachi who stood behind her, and he nodded to the bed, telling her to get comfy.
She crawled onto the mattress then, sinking into the silk sheets, and Malachi followed behind, not asking her permission and just drew her to him, draping the sheets over them both.
As if she sensed his worry, she didn’t argue back and just settled in his embrace, letting him soothe her.
He gently rubbed her back for a moment, in gentle up and down motions, making warm shivers run through her.
When he caught her hand, she didn’t protest, and he pulled her arm out to him, lightly pressing his lips to her shoulder.
“Malachi…” she warned softly.
“It’s okay…” he responded. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Was that what she was worried about?
But Raven watched him carefully when he continued kissing down her arm, leaving warm spots along her icy skin, though when he reached the inside of her wrist, he lightly pecked it and pulled her back to him, running his fingers gently through her hair.
She noticed he was holding her abnormally tight, but somewhat enjoyed the gesture, so she hugged him back, resting her cheek on his shoulder.
When they first went to bed tonight… she wanted him far away, but right now her body felt so cold… her lungs so sore… and her skin so clammy… she just wanted to hold something. It was what her soul was screaming for.
And Malachi was the closest thing to her, and she kind of liked how warm he was.
He rubbed her back so gently his touch almost felt as light as feathers, his fingers brushing her skin through his shirt, making warm tingles run through her blood.
He was still shirtless… and she should’ve been pushing him back and telling him to get some clothes on, but she didn’t really want to let go.
And by the way he was holding her so tightly but yet so carefully, she could tell he didn’t either.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” she whispered then. “I feel like you’ve changed since yesterday.”
She was right, the way he held her had a sense of need and care, whereas before it had a slight hesitation or fear.
“I can be mean,” he stated back, smiling into her hair while still caressing her back. “If that’s what you really want.”
“No,” she answered faster than she meant. “Please, don’t.”
Rather questioning to herself what he meant by “mean,” she wondered more as to why he was so different now; how before when he saved her from those men, he seemed somewhat selfish and angry, compared to her drowning…
He seemed afraid… and showed it more than expressing anger for her almost dying.
He seemed like he cared… somewhat.
He could just be in one of his weird moods, though.
“If you don’t want me to be mean,” he answered then, “then don’t complain. This mood is rare.”
Was it? It seemed rare before, but now it was showing more often; like he was breaking somehow.
“Are you going to let go of me?” she wondered then, smiling slightly into his neck.
He shook his head.
“What if I have to go to the bathroom?”
“Hold it,” he responded. “For the next couple hours.”
Raven giggled softly at the seriousness in his tone. “You’re in a weird mood, huh? I swear before you still wanted to kill me, but now I’m not really so sure.”
He held her tighter in response, burying his face in her raven locks.
“I like your cologne…” she said then, hugging him back. “It smells nice.”
Malachi breathed her in for a moment. “I don’t wear cologne, Raven.”
“Then why do you smell like air freshener?”
“Do I really?” he questioned.
She shook her head. “No… you smell like mint. I like it. What do you use?”
He started rubbing her spine with two fingers through his t-shirt, making her cheeks heat at the warm feeling. “Bar soap,” he responded softly. “It’s actually pretty cheap.”
“A lot of guys smell so sweaty…” she responded.
“Then they probably don’t shower,” Mal responded.
“When do you have time to shower?” she questioned. “I feel like you’re watching me all the time.”
“Super-speed,” he answered.
“Oh…” she shifted further into him, “that makes sense.”
“Yep.”
“I’m also kind of surprised you don’t smell like chlorine…” she said then. “I’m pretty sure I reek of it right now.”
“No,” he said then. “Your hair smells like cherries.”
She looked to him. “Really?”
He nodded softly.
“That’s surprising.”
Malachi chuckled softly. “I do smell the chlorine though, but I don’t mind it.”
“Really…?” she whispered.
“It just adds to the smell,” he said. “It’s not like you’re covered in dog crap, so don’t worry about it, okay?”
“Okay…” she responded softly.
He shifted further into her, drawing the covers up to his shoulders, which also brought it up to her nose.
“Comfy?” he said softly.
She nodded lazily.
“Good.” He started rubbing her back again, watching her rotate her ankles up and down in comfort, relaxing slightly into him.
“Mal?” she whispered.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for saving me,” she responded then. “I probably would’ve died if you hadn’t come after me.”
Malachi pressed a kiss to her forehead, watching her lashes flutter closed at the gesture. “Don’t thank me. I wouldn’t let you die.”
She looked to him then. “Why…?”
“Because you’re mine to protect, Princess. I’m your angel from now on.”
He said something like this before… but for some reason, he looked as if he meant it more now.
He could tell she smiled under the covers, mainly from the glow in her amber eyes, and her feet started moving again, lightly brushing the covers along the tops.
A sign that she was comforted.
Malachi rolled on top of her then, taking her off guard when he smiled down at her with mischief lighting his eyes, but no longer in a deadly manner.
“I have no intention of letting you leave,” he said then, leaning over her so his body heat still bled into her skin. “You’re stuck with me.”
And he leaned down, lips inches from hers when she pushed against his chest. “Mal… wait.”
He stopped then, pulling slightly away so he could see her eyes.
He thought for a second that she was afraid or not in the mood, but her eyes still had the same brightness.
They weren’t dulled in disgust or fear.
She lightly touched her bottom lip. “My lips are dry. Give me a second.”
She tried to sit up, but he pushed her back down, making her look up to him in confusion.
“Nah—ah—ah,” he said with playfulness in his tone. “Not allowed to leave, remember?”
She blinked when he leaned slightly off her, grabbing lip balm from the side table and opened the cap with a pop! leaning over her.
“Face me,” he said softly.
She only held her hand out to the lip balm. “I want to do it.”
He pulled it out of her reach, looking at her with bright eyes. “Raven.”
She sighed, dropping her hands to the sides of her head.
He chuckled under his breath. “I’ve always wanted to do this.”
That was a weird thing to want.
“Oh, no,” she responded, brows raised. “What are you planning?”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry, I won’t make you eat it.”
And he lightly ran the balm across her bottom lip, coating it in the cherry-scented aroma along with a slight shine, and he moved to the top, doing the same.
“There,” he said, popping it closed and tossed it to the bedside table, then looked down at her. “Can I kiss you now?”
She smiled and nodded.
Mal leaned down to her level, clasping their lips together almost needly, and she kissed him back immediately, liking the warm rushes flowing through her.
This kiss had no hesitation or playfulness… it was full of need and fear…
Protectiveness.
Malachi pulled away then, resting his forehead atop hers. “You okay?”
She nodded softly, smiling at him despite her whole-body humming from the previous moment.
“Well…” he said, “I do have some stuff to do. I’ve been putting it off. If you want, I can have a guard standing outside the door.”
She studied him for a moment.
Why did he seem unsure of this idea? Did he not trust his guards or was he worried about leaving her?
“Do you need anything before I head out, Princess?” he wondered at her silence.
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”
“If you need to talk to me,” he said softly, “you know I’m here for you, Angel.”
“About what?” she questioned obliviously.
Did he mean about the pool? To express her fears? Or something else?
When she realized he was looking her over with dark eyes, she couldn’t help but ask defensively, “Talk about what?”
He studied her for a moment. “Anything, Angel.”
“I’m fine,” she explained. “I already told you everything about the muggers.”
Her heart stopped for a moment, watching his eyes reflect something indecipherable in them.
Goddamn it… did she have to hint that?
He probably already knew she was hiding something about that, though.
He continued to eye her carefully. “Have you told me everything?”
“Yes,” she said then, knowing he would still be suspicious despite the answer.
“Then why did you bring it up?” he wondered casually. “I didn’t mention anything about that, Raven.”
“I thought you were still suspicious about that, okay?” she said angrily, but really was lying through her teeth. “Yes, I told you everything.”
He nodded even though he clearly was skeptical of that. “Just making sure, okay? Don’t get angry.”
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWtt7YEqBd
*****
Twenty minutes later—after Malachi brushed his teeth and hair—he stood at the front door, shrugging on his black, leather jacket.
Raven came out of the bedroom, black circles starting to form under her eyes from not sleeping last night, but she looked genuinely awake.
“Malachi?” she wondered softly as he cast her a look, wrapping a scarf around his neck.
“Yep?”
“Can I... please come with?”
He smiled then, though a smug one. “Miss me already?”
She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks slightly reddened as if he was right. “Please?”
He leaned a shoulder on the wall then, crossing his arms over his chest while examining her stance. “Have you ever been on a motorcycle, Raven?”
She shook her head.
He opened a cupboard from a table resting next to the front door, grabbing a helmet and tossed it to her, smiling when she caught it. “Now you have. Come on.”
And he caught her arm, dragging her out of the room.
A couple minutes later, Malachi and Raven found themselves standing on the fifth floor of the parking garage, and Mal went ahead and threw his leg over the motorcycle, straddling the bike.
After nodding to the seat, he placed the shaded helmet over his head, making his expression invisible, which for some reason terrified her, but he nodded to the place behind him. “Come on. We don’t have all day.”
She then placed her helmet on, straddling the seat as well and wrapped her arms around his waist to hold on, giving him a backwards hug.
The engine roared as it started, and Malachi backed out of the parking space carefully before lurching the bike forward, speeding out of the garage seconds later.
Raven had to squeeze her thighs around his to keep her from slipping off, and she hoped he didn’t notice.
But he probably did.
They made it on the highway, Malachi weaving in and out of traffic smoothly before taking the second exit onto Candle Parkway.
Raven kind of liked the excitement of this ride that flowed through her, filling her with a hollow feeling that was similar to riding roller coasters.
“Where are we going?” she called to Mal, hoping he heard her.
“You’ll see,” was his vague response.
He turned right on Lamee, and they started to enter the bad side of downtown.
Why did they need to go here? What was the point? Malachi had a whole underground fortress, and he goes to the hookers and robbers?
Oh, God... Raven hoped he wasn’t paying a hooker.
Something hot coiled inside her at the thought.
“Why are we here?” she questioned as he stopped at a red light, waiting to turn left. “Are we going to steal something?”
“Nope.” The light turned green.
“Are we going to pay a prostitute?” she asked while he sped to the left, feeling his body rattle as he laughed, though she couldn’t hear him over the engine.
But he turned left again, into a parking lot of a bar she would’ve run from just seeing the name.
Killer’s Instinct.
She got off the bike when Malachi did, giving him a concerned look when they both took off the helmets, his blonde hair curling at his forehead from sweat.
“What?” he said at her look.
“You’re taking me here?” she questioned.
“You wanted to come with.” He shrugged, starting to the front doors.
She followed behind him. “You could’ve at least warned me.”
He chuckled, pushing open the front door and entering the bar.
Raven half-expected the whole room to quiet down at their entrance like in those old movies, but she was partly glad they didn’t draw much attention.
Everyone in here had those tattooed sleeves, long beards, piercings along all their ears and lips; some even cut the sleeves off their leather jackets and wore them like tattered vests.
She gulped at the sight, almost jumping when Malachi caught her arm and half-dragged her to the bar.
“Sit,” he said, “and wait. I’ll be right back.”
She nodded, scooting onto the leather seat.
Malachi then walked off into the crowd, stopping in front of a table full of guys in leather jackets, them clearly sneering at him with their bright, white teeth.
They didn’t seem to particularly like him.
But shock rattled through her when Mal slammed a stack of money on the table, clearly shocking them.
He said something inaudible, and she couldn’t have listened if she tried because the whole room was filled with deep chatter.
The guys who originally sneered looked at him, shocked.
Mal shoved the money to them, clearly indicating for them to check and make sure it wasn’t counterfeit.
One of them did, looking to his buddies and nodded.
An older, but scarier looking one with a long, grey beard spoke then, though she couldn’t hear his words; it was like they were lip sinking.
Malachi responded then, making their eyes bug out.
What did he just tell them?
The older one raised his brows and asked Mal something, but Mal shook his head as a response, putting up the number two with his fingers.
And left the table, making his way back to Raven.
She was kicking out her legs as an attempt to get her energy out when he made it to her, leaning on the counter.
She knew there was a single guy to her right that was giving her creepy looks, eyeing her up and down, but decided not to look at him, only Malachi.
But it seemed as if Mal noticed, and he glanced at the guy, sending him a piercing glare that could’ve made someone’s brain explode.
And he looked back to Raven, offering a hand.
She took it, jumping off the chair.
“Ready to go?” he wondered then, his expression showing no signs of what he told the three men.
Maybe he owed them something and was paying them back.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” she wondered then.
Malachi raised his brows. “Do you want to meet them?”
She glanced back at them, watching their ghastly sneers.
“On second thought,” she said, looking back to Malachi, “no.”
A ghost of a smile peaked through his eyes, and he tugged her arm, nodding to the door. “Let’s go.”
And she followed.
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHePo3lgR7l
*****
After another twenty-minute motorcycle ride, Malachi pulled into a parking lot of some old apartment building, swinging off the bike and placing the helmet on the handle.
He looked to Raven when she did the same, smiling as the bottoms of her hair frizzed out slightly.
“Why are we here?” she wondered, looking up to the building. “First you have some kind of luxury house, then an underground mansion, and now you have an apartment? How much money do you have?”
Malachi chuckled. “That luxury house that you woke up in that night was one of my friend’s. I borrowed it so I had somewhere to take you that day. I couldn’t show you the tunnels yet.”
“Why?”
“Because you didn’t know me that well,” he shrugged, “and you probably would’ve freaked out more so than now.”
“Oh,” she said. “Then why are we here?”
He nodded to the fire escape. “Let’s get some cardio in.”
He already started jogging to the latter before Raven could question him, so she just feebly followed behind.
They both climbed the latter to the first platform, and Malachi jumped off the fourth-to-last wrung, latching onto the railing on the platform and swung himself on.
And the latter wasn’t even broken.
“Show off,” she muttered, making him chuckle.
She climbed up like a normal person, grabbing the rails and used them to help herself up onto the platform.
“And now,” he said, waving to the metal staircase spiraling all the way to the roof, “we jog.”
She rolled her eyes before following him to the steps, their shoes clanging on the metal as they ran up.
Raven let out controlled little breaths to prevent her sides from burning, and they jogged in silence.
Until they finally reached the top, Raven pressing her hands to her knees when they stood on the last platform; ten feet from the roof.
She looked to Malachi then, feeling sweat gliding down her temples.
“Mal, the stairs stop here. Is this the place you wanted to show me?”
He flashed a fox smile to her. “Nope.”
And he bent his knees, launching off the metal with inhumane strength and landing on the roof, staring down at Raven like he expected her to follow.
“I’m not a kangaroo!” she called to him, cupping her hands over her mouth to be louder.
He leaned over the side of the roof, offering his hand. “Come on. I’ll help you.”
She jumped and grabbed his hand like it was a rope, and he pulled her up—still—with inhuman strength, making her yelp when she was in the air for half-a-second, landing on the roof in the next moment.
She stared off into space for a minute, questioning how the hell he did that but turned to him, seeing a half-smile curving his lips.
It was getting dark, the sun setting behind the horizon, casting the city in orange and pink light, and Malachi held his hand out to the walls of the roof.
“It’ll be dark soon,” he said. “Sit down. I want to show you something.”
She walked over to the cement wall and straddled it before sliding her other foot off, resting her hands on the sides while she sat, her feet dangling off the edge.
The ground looked so far, but she swallowed down fear and looked away from the parking lot; instead focusing her attention on Malachi who sat next to her, staring off into the distance, the sun reflecting off his black eyes, making them look like tunnels into light.
“Did you want to show me the sun set?” she wondered at his silence.
He looked to her. “Partly. I also wanted to show you the city lights. It makes climbing up here worth it.”
She stared off into the distance then, watching the pink sky slowly drown to black.
And she gasped when the sky was a complete black poison, though there was still subtle light from the city reflecting off the clouds, painting them a light pink.
But she was mainly surprised at the sight before her.
It was like—as the last bit of light that vanished beyond the horizon—all the lights flicked on one-by-one like little stars burning in the darkness.
And when Malachi looked to her, he noticed the light reflecting in her eyes, making the amber sparkle like a burning flame.
Raven glanced at him then, smiling when she noticed he was watching her, and looked back to the city lights, kicking out her legs in excitement.
Almost a second later, she rested her head on his shoulder, making a soft smile curve his lips at the gesture, and he wrapped an arm around her back, holding her to him.
A cold wind passed through the air, making her shiver, and Malachi seemed to notice this, wondering softly, “You getting cold?”
She nodded slightly.
He then managed to shuffle off his jacket, draping it over her seconds later. “There, better?”
Another nod, and she snuggled closer, eyes glimmering with the lights below them.
Malachi hadn’t looked back to the beautiful scenery, just studying Raven instead.
Her glowing cheeks, soft skin, and beautiful eyes.
It was captivating.
And he snapped out of his trance when he noticed her lashes lowering in exhaustion, and he rubbed her arm to wake her up, and to soothe her, as well.
“Raven,” he sang softly, watching her look at him curiously, though lazily, “let’s go before you fall asleep.”
She nodded, pulling off his jacket but he shook his head, making her brows draw together.
“Here,” he said, pulling her arms through the sleeves despite it being hundreds of sizes too big. “Let’s keep you warm.”
And he jumped off the roof, landing soundlessly on the platform below them.
He opened his arms, silently communicating, Jump. I’ll catch you.
After a moment of hesitation, Raven realized if he didn’t, she could still land normally—at least.
So, she jumped off the roof, sticking her feet straight out so the air slid along her skin, and she was about to plant her feet on the ground, but Malachi lurched forward last minute, catching her in his arms without struggling.
She stared as he lightly dropped her onto the platform, nodding to the staircase.
She followed as they both ran down the steps, spinning around on every platform and continuing down the next flight.
Until they met the latter, and Mal climbed down first, waiting for her at the bottom when she did the same.
When they met the bottom, they both swung onto his bike, pulled on their helmets, and sped back to his underground townhome.
Twenty minutes later, Raven and Malachi parked on the fifth floor of the garage, went down the trap door, and found themselves standing in the entryway of his home, Raven pulling off his leather jacket and hanging it on the rack when he smiled softly at her.
“I’m going to go take a shower,” he stated at her confused expression. “If you leave, I’ll know.” He tapped his forehead, indicating that he would read her mind. “And I’ll chase you down naked like a psychopath, alright?”
She nodded with no hesitation.
She was too exhausted to run anyway.
“Good girl.” He patted her head like she was a dog. “I’ll be out in a bit. Feel free to watch some TV or get some food.”
Raven nodded, watching him walk off to the bathroom and shut the door behind him.
What would she do? She wasn’t in the mood to watch TV or eat right now… so…
She’d probably go to his bedroom, lay on his bed, and stare at the ceiling.
When she passed the bathroom to get to his room, she heard the water running, and the loud drops crashing to the ground, telling her he was already in.
The loud drops were probably just leaving his body, dropping to the ground…
She blushed.
Oh, God. She needed to stop thinking about this and do something else.
So, Raven got to his room, collapsing belly-first onto his bed like a dead fish, and stared at the headboard lazily.
He wouldn’t take long; he had super speed for God’s sake.
But she still found herself closing her eyes, telling herself she’d let herself rest for a couple minutes. By the time Malachi would come out, she’d be awake and alert to make sure he had his clothes on before getting in with her.
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