And so the fun begins.
We start walking towards the side entrance, the simple wooden door painted to match the rest of the marble exterior. It offersan easy access to the inside, and better yet, the perfect nook to set up temporary security monitors.
“There he is.”
Settling himself down at the desk, Marlin pulls up rows of video footage. Each one shows a clip of Christopher running through different rooms, his progress tracked and recorded thanks to the immense number of cameras we installed earlier today.
Unlike most security footage, ours is focused on the horrors lingering inside the Seaborn Mansion rather than out. Hidden within the depths of the beautiful home, our vigilance is easily masked by the monsters lurking in the shadows.
“I’m surprised you didn’t have plans tonight.”
Settling myself down beside Marlin, I kick up my heels and get ready for the show.
“Friday nights and romance tend to go hand in hand.”
“My little saint has been telling me the same thing.” Eyeing the dirty soles of my shoes, he shifts his chair to the side, “Apparently I have not been as romantic as of late.”
“You are gearing up to graduate.”
“School has never been a challenge for me and now that things have settled down there is no reason for me not to transition some of my focus to a new... relationship.”
He pauses, weighing the word carefully before nodding, “I took it upon myself to do some research and found various solutions.”
Oh, dear.
“The first stage was quite successful. She finished the scavenger hunt in less than two hours and not one of my puzzles caused her to stumble or fail.”
Pride bleeds through his voice, a silent champion of the woman he loves ringing through each word. It is a side to him I have never seen before, the placement of someone else on his pedestal an act to be celebrated rather than condemned.
Imagine finding a man who lifts a woman up instead of knocking her to the ground.
Had I not seen the evidence for myself, I would have crossed the silly notion off as fiction.
“Very interactive of you.”
“I thought so as well.”
A couple of clicks on the keyboard and suddenly we’re at the main event.
Larger than any aquarium known to man, the oversized fishbowl stands over two stories tall. Built with impenetrable glass and sustained through constant circulation, the outlandish water exhibit acts as a host to all those who wander too close to the Sea Witch’s lair.
Dark forms twist and twirl through the water, Ursela’s infamous eels breaking through the surface with every turn. Massive sewer pipes hang suspended from the ceiling and run parallel to the grated bridges along the ground, offering limited mobility and even more restrictive access to the chamber located beneath the deadly creatures.
A blurry figure moves swiftly through the pixelated frames, Christopher’s steady pace coming to a stuttering stop when he sees what lies ahead.
“My little saint was just about to receive her prize when he showed up.” Marlin lets out a sigh, “Terrible timing on his part.”
“She even got a prize? How noble of you.”
“They do say nothing tastes sweeter than victory.”
Tilting my head, I regard my old acquaintance silently. All jawline and flawless angles, his arrogant smile is the one you picture when you need a quick rush of pleasure. Throw in an impeccable suit and suddenly the villain bears a dangerous resemblance to a prince.
Honestly, if it wasn’t for the pale hair I would have fucked him ages ago.
“What was Melody’s prize?”
“For the scavenger hunt?”
