The guards make their rotations beneath me, their guns resting casually on their shoulders in case a threat makes itself known. A couple of them chat and laugh as they pass each other,their night vision goggles trained on the horizon instead of the figure perched two stories above them.
Who the fuck puts a bedroom on the fourth floor?
Cursing the architect and myself in tandem, I continue the climb. The steel window frames are fucking freezing against my fingers and my toes, both doing their damn best to keep me from falling to my death.
My mum’s choice of dress shoes and socks lie thirty feet below, idling peacefully in a bush somewhere. I couldn’t risk having my shirt blow away and alerting the guards, so its stuck on my body until I can find somewhere to ditch it.
A muscle-up gets me another story closer to my goal. Cramps in my fingers have my movements growing clumsy and unsteady as fatigue sets in.
Too bad I’ve already reached the point of no return.
The sound of muffled music drifts through the air. It’s indistinguishable at first, a heavy bass and a few guitar chords strumming their way through the night sky.
By the time I reach the open window, soulful lyrics are crooning with the breeze brushing my skin.
“We’re caught in a trap. I can’t walk out... because I love you too much, baby.”
Slipping my hand through the slit, I slowly push the window until there’s enough room for my body to slide through.
“Why can’t you see what you’re doing to me.”
The drums kick in as I throw myself headfirst through the gap. Fabric rips and tears as my dress shirt catches the lip of the frame and gravity finishes the rest.
I duck my head and roll out the landing, hoping like hell I just broke into the right bedroom.
“We can’t go on together... with suspicious minds.”
Running water trickles through the bedroom, the slight hiss of the shower almost masking the growl coming from my left.
Peeling my face off the hardwood, I lift my head and see a set of snarling teeth.
Gums pulled back, drool dripping from Ronan’s mouth onto the floor.
“I missed you too.”
He growls again, his nails clicking against the floor as he steps closer.
My fingers feel blistered and raw when I shove them into my pants. Fumbling for the makeshift pocket I’d sewn in earlier, I wiggle around until the napkin slips free.
Ronan tilts his head, his death glare transitioning from me to the piece of uncooked steak tumbling across Calista’s bedroom floor.
“A peace offering. For the skin you took off my ankle.”
He eyes the meat wearily before bowing his head to take a sniff. Mistrust must run deep in this family because it takes another sixty seconds for him to eat it.
I back away slowly, sliding my aching body to the nearest wall before climbing to my feet. Ronan continues to snack away, hisattention wholly taken by the piece of meat not attached to my body.
Once I’m certain he isn’t going to lunge for my throat, I finally take a breath and look around the room. Black and silver remains the theme here too – elegant mirrors set up on every wall so there isn’t a single section left unseen.
Long, thick drapes hang near the windows, their velvety texture a lovely pairing for the duvet covering a queen sized bed. A wall-mounted headboard covers the entirety of the far side, an intricate and complex design that complements the aesthetic perfectly.
It’s a sensual setup, one that teases a woman confident in all aspects of her life.
My thoughts are interrupted by a muffled pop. Crackling ensues, the vinyl spinning in the corner cueing up another track as the bathroom door opens.
Steam billows into the open space, slapping me in the face with a scent of amber shampoo. Wet blonde hair is brushed back from a makeup-free face, water droplets still clinging to the slick surface of her skin.
A white towel is wrapped around her torso, it’s flimsy presence covering the dragon but not its spirit.
