Grey Dawn

by K L Rymer

  “So... you’re alive,” she says, staring me up and down.

  I chuckle. She really knows how to make you feel loved.

  “It’s good to see you again too, Olga.”

  She shrugs, making a meh sound, then glances at Crystal.

  The girl freezes the moment those obsidian eyes fall on her, and she gives a nervous titter. “H-Hello, Olga. It’s me, Crystal, remember? We met at Eli’s old place.”

  “I remember. I also remember how you ignored my advice, and decided to marry this fool.”

  Crystal’s smile vanishes completely, and she gazes down at her feet, tucking her hair behind her ear.

  I growl at Olga, but the maid just looks at me, raising a brow, and I put my fangs away.

  There was no crossing this one. She was a tough old bird.

  An awkward silence passes between the three of us, the only sound the loud clock on the wall, and Ashley’s groaning.

  Finally, Olga sticks up her nose and marches up the stairs. “Guess I’ll get back to sweeping then.”

  I roll my eyes. “You shouldn’t have stopped in the first place, Olga. Just because I’ve been gone, it doesn’t mean you can slack off in your duties.”

  She swears back at me in Polish, disappearing at the top of the stairs. I breathe an exasperated sigh, meeting Crystal’s stunned face.

  It’s a pretty normal interaction between us. But to anyone else, it must be shocking. I am supposed to be Olga’s employer after all, yet she speaks to me like utter crap.

  Truth be told, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Olga’s put me in my place my whole life, the only maid who was never afraid of me. She always seemed immune to the Black powers, but that’s because I think she’s a witch, or something that can repel dark magic. She’s not all that right.

  Shaking my head, I carry Misaki into the luxurious living room and lay her down on the settee. Crystal plops Ashley into a chair, and we remain in silence for some time.

  Ashley continues to groan, even though he’s healed, and Misaki curls up in a foetal position, and it’s all so fucking depressing.

  It could be the end of the world in less than twelve hours (Well, for anyone in the London and surrounding area). The last thing we should be doing was sulking.

  Misaki I can forgive, because she’s my baby cousin, but Ashley needs to grow a pair. So he went up against a psychopathic angel? Big deal.

  If this truly was our last night, then we need to make it count.

  And the first thing on my list: get the fuck out of these stupid robes. We should be smoking hemp. Not wearing it.

  Giles enters the room with a tray of coffee, but I head upstairs, telling Misaki and Ashley to help themselves.

  Crystal rushes out after me. “Eli... where are you going?”

  “To change. I don’t want to spend my last night alive in these disgusting robes. No offence, Crystal.”

  I start up the stairs and she climbs up after me, trying to keep up. By the time we reach the top, she’s already out of breath, and I turn around.

  Crystal stops a few steps down from me.

  A smirk crosses my lips. “Are we feeling a little eager to see me undress?”

  Her cheeks burn bright pink. “No, of course not.”

  I snicker, leaning forward. “Don’t deny it, Crystal. Personally, I think you’d look much better with yours off too.”

  She folds her arms. “Oh, you do, do you?”

  I let my demon out to play then, releasing my horns, and then I toss her over my shoulder.

  Crystal squeals in surprise. “Eli! Stop! It’s neither the time nor place. We... we have to stop my father!”

  “He’s not going anywhere...”

  “But... we... we have guests!”

  “You’re already acting like this is your home now, Crystal.”

  “N-no! That’s... that’s not what I meant!”

  I pull her down so that she faces me now, cradling her in my arms. I jut my bottom lip. “So, you saying you don’t want to move in with me?”

  Crystal blinks in confusion, opening her mouth to argue, but she’s tongue-tied.

  I make a mock tsking sound, then kick a door at random, throwing her down onto the bed.

  I couldn’t wait. My bedroom was too far.

  I crawl on top of her, and she cowers beneath me, gasping for breath. But I see the excited twinkle in her eye, and there’s no denying she wants this as much as I do.

  My eyes land on those heaving lumps beneath her robes, and I lean across, ripping the tie off, and her perky nipples bounce before me once again.

  Crystal’s stark-naked as my eyes rove up and down her perfect body. I trace those curves, running my fingers down to her smooth thighs, and my dick hardens beneath my robes. Then I reach her pussy, and I see she’s already wet.

  I smirk, slipping a finger inside, and she shudders. Always wet for me this one. All I have to do is look at her, and she’s a helpless little princess falling into my arms.

  Though that’s nothing compared to what she does to me. With her, I’m a pathetic wimp of a man.

  “Eli... s-stop,” she breathes, closing her eyes when I find her sweet spot.

  “Not until you sing for me, sweet angel. I want our last night to count. So let’s make it a good one.”

  Those luminous blues eyes open, and she shakes her head, blowing a sigh from her lips. “You always know how to push my buttons, don’t you?”

  I lean closer, pressing my mouth to hers. Crap, I really should have brushed my teeth. My breath’s humming its own tune now, but Crystal doesn’t seem to care. She just turns to putty as I rub my thumb over her clitoris, making her wetter, hotter... She’s getting good though. Normally, she’d be soaking my hand now.

  I know what will get us good and wet.

  “Let’s say we take this to the bathroom? Run a hot shower. I don’t know about you, Crystal, but I’m feeling a little dirty.”

  It was true. I haven’t had a decent wash since I left the compound. White had a strict cold water operation only.

  Cold water does not make you clean, the idiot. No, it has to be hot, steamy...

  Crystal smirks, biting that bottom lip. “All right. So long as I get to scrub you.”

  I don’t need to be asked twice, so I scoop her up naked, letting my robes drop to the ground.

  Now we’re both naked.

  We enter the mammoth-sized walk-in-shower, and I turn on the hot water, letting the scorching liquid burn our skin.

  The glass steams up, and soon we’re dripping wet beneath the jets.

  I sit on the bench as Crystal steps forward, positioning herself on my erection. She lets out a shrill gasp as my length skewers her tight flesh, but she still slides down, joining me at the hips, and her eyes meet mine.

  The hot water still drips from above, and I watch her a moment, spellbound.

  She looks at me with doe-eyed innocence, the water soaking her soft blonde hair, and I wish I could freeze this moment forever.

  I’ve never seen anything purer...

  Water trickles her glowing skin, dripping down her firm, tight body, and I reach across, running a thumb over her full bottom lip.

  How could someone be so sexy and adorable at the same time?

  Crystal leans forward, placing her lips on mine, and we kiss beneath the shower, letting the stresses of the past few weeks wash away. Her fingers thread through my slick hair, and I part her lips, slipping my tongue inside.

  Now I cup her butt cheeks and squeeze tight, claiming what’s mine once again, and she gives a delightful moan in my mouth.

  I’m going to fuck White’s daughter hard tonight.

  24. Crystal

  “Crystal, where the hell have you been?! Why haven’t you called?!”

  Bab’s course voice barks down the phone, and I hold it away lest she deafens me.

  I sit at the edge of Eli’s large marble bath, surrounded by riches. There’s even solid gold taps, and expensive soaps of various scents.
It was such a stark contrast to the small bathroom at Bab’s house (the toilet was even in a separate room because it was so small).

  “It’s all right, Babs. I’ve been with Eli the whole time,” I say. “They just don’t allow phones on the Black Estate.”

  It was a lie, but I didn’t really feel like getting into the whole “I’d found my long lost father, but he turned out to be a jerk and killed me in the end, but then I came back to life and now here I am” business. It would just take too long.

  The only purpose of this phone call was to inform Bab’s that I was all right, and to advise her to leave London. I don’t want her and her husband’s lives on my hands. My father was taking no prisoners.

  “I’ve been meaning to call the police,” she continues. “After the news of Randall Black’s death, I’ve been worried sick, Crystal. There was no mention of you whatsoever. Nothing. All I had to go off was Eli’s cousin’s story on the internet. Even at his press conference, he went silent when they mentioned you, and then the cameras suddenly went off. What was I supposed to think?! Are you all right? Has... has he hurt you?”

  I take a deep breath, preparing my spiel. “I’m fine, Babs. Eli’s been nothing but good to me. He’s been keeping me out the public eye for my own safety.”

  She gives a long, grating sigh, and I can literally hear her eyes rolling over the phone. “You could have at least tried to call. I know you said you weren’t allowed phones, but still. I’ve chewed all my nails off!”

  Now that was bad. Bab’s nails were her pride and glory; she was always wearing the brightest, pinkest polish she could find. Anything that so much as matched her lips. Babs was all about the pink.

  It just showed how much my British mother loved me, and it was another one of my many reasons to convince her to get out the city. I won’t have her die. Not on my watch.

  “So, did you get married then?” she says, and I can hear the anger in her voice at not being invited. I hope she knows I would have done if the circumstances were different.

  “No. We’ve decided to wait a few more months.”

  Another lie. Eli and I may not even be alive come sunrise, but I didn’t want to get into that now.

  “Thank goodness!” she cries, and I raise my brows at her exclamation.

  “Don’t get me wrong, Crystal. You’ve bagged yourself a real looker, and a billionaire looker at that too, but I still think you were rushing too quick into this marriage thing. You’re still only young, twenty one now. I lit twenty one candles for you on your birthday to celebrate.”

  Geez, she makes it sound as if I was dead. Not that I wasn’t at one point.

  “Babs... you need to promise me something. You and Rob need to leave London. Tonight.”

  Babs goes absolutely silent. My heart’s in my mouth as I await her reply.

  “Is something going to happen?” she asks, dread creeping into her voice.

  Since she knows I’m connected to a powerful family now, I’m not surprised she sounds anxious.

  “I... I can’t get into specifics, but I think it’s best you leave. Just for tonight. Don’t come back till tomorrow evening. In fact, stay longer if you can.”

  I feel awful as I know she has a business to run, but at the same time it probably works out for the best. Being self-employed, she can take as much time off as she needs. She just won’t get any money, but some things are more important than cash. Way, way more.

  “All right,” she replies, taking me by surprise. “I will go and see Mark. It’s been a while.”

  Mark was her son and only child, the one whose room I’d been renting while I was living with Babs. He’s about thirty now with a child of his own, and living in Kent. It was far enough away to guarantee her safety.

  “Yes,” I say, tears dripping down my cheeks. “Go and see your grandson, Babs. There’s nothing more important than family now.”

  Babs is quiet once again, and I can almost hear the tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “I love you, Babs. And thank you... for everything. You really are the mother I never had.”

  It was true. Even though I’d only known the woman six months, she truly had become my mother (her angry calls where proof enough of that).

  “You... you too, Crystal. I love you. You will always be my daughter.”

  I choke back a sob, the realisation hitting me full-force. This could be the last time I talk to her.

  This was my final gift to her for her kindness these past six months. I had been desperate, nearly homeless, and she gave me a job and a place to stay. She really did have a heart of gold.

  “Goodbye, Babs.”

  “Goodbye, Crystal.”

  We hang up at the same time, and I finally burst into tears, wishing I could just see her again.

  It wasn’t fair. My father was going to pay for this.

  So I wipe my eyes, lest I worry Eli too much (he’s just on the other side of the door, and can most likely hear me), and fix myself up.

  Before long I stand before the mirror, gazing over my blue floral dress. It’s the most skin I’ve shown off in a while; the dress exposes my arms with just the right amount of breasts. On my feet are a pretty pair of white heeled sandals, and I turn around, loving the way they bring out the muscles of my legs.

  They’re not exactly fighting shoes, but as Eli said: we may as well die looking our best.

  It seems we’ve already decided our fate, but we shouldn’t get our hopes up too much. My father was very, very powerful. As we had both witnessed first-hand.

  The hemp robes were getting on my nerves after a while, and were so itchy. Now I feel like my normal self once again, having steaming hot showers and wearing flirty skirts.

  The tiles of Eli’s bathroom are still a little steamed from our hot shower session an hour ago. It had been like a scene from a movie, where he pressed me up hard against the glass, the water dripping in our wet hair.

  Eli had kept a hold of all my things from the Black Estate, including Sparkles, my beloved stuffed unicorn, and I’d never felt so touched.

  One such other item had been my phone, which was how I’d called Babs. And truth be told, I hadn’t missed it much at all. It was just one of many superfluous things one doesn’t really need.

  I twist a tube of red lipstick and apply it to my lips, smacking them together. My curled hair sweeps over one shoulder as I affix a white flower, taking a step back to admire myself.

  It’s a good look, but it’s just missing one thing.

  Before I slip out the door, I place my hand in the pocket of my robes and slide my engagement ring over my finger.

  Eli and I are still technically engaged. He may not have meant it when he proposed to me at the time, but I was still willing to be his fiancé, and I knew he wanted to be mine too.

  So I will wear his ring with pride. Not that it was hard to do: the thing was nearly as big as my eyeball.

  Finally, I step out the door.

  Eli has his back to me as he finishes tying his cravat before the full-length mirror, and I just watch him a moment. His black Italian suit really brings out his masculine shape, and I start to sweat, breathing faster.

  He meets my gaze in the mirror, turning around. If he had heard me crying on the other side of the door, then he doesn’t mention it, and for that I’m grateful. I really don’t feel like crying again, messing up my makeup.

  His eyes wander up and down my dress, lingering on my exposed cleavage, and he gives a long whistle. “Damn, Crystal.”

  I smirk, stalking closer. With my extra three inches, I now reach his lower neck, taking his cravat in my hand.

  The material’s just as soft as his lips, and I yank him closer, kissing him. I bite his lower lip and he growls, scooping me up and throwing me down on the bed.

  I’m sprawled out beneath him on the sheets as he leans above me, gazing down hungrily.

  His handsome face fills my vision. That strong jawline, the smouldering grey eyes, and chiselled lips. My lipsti
ck stains his mouth, and I brush it off with my thumb.

  Eli’s face lights up when he catches sight of my ring, and then he takes my hand, gazing down at that eyeball-sized diamond. He looks at me then, and love, and something else that I can’t place, takes over his eyes. If I’m not mistaken, it almost resembles regret, and my heart pricks.

  He still means to marry me, right?

  “Crystal...”

  “Yes. I still want to marry you, Eli. When all this is over, we can finally start on planning our wedding. For real this time,” I giggle, trying to lighten the mood.

  Eli gives a small, half-hearted smile, then slumps down on the mattress beside me. And now we lay on his king-sized bed like a pair of teenage BFFs, sharing our most intimate secrets.

  “There’s a good chance one of us might not survive tonight, Crystal,” Eli says, and I turn his way.

  One of us?

  He closes his eyes, and I see the painful wince on his face.

  What was he thinking about?

  Eli opens those storm cloud greys, turning my way, and the pain subsides from his face. He takes in my features, going from my forehead, to my lips, and finally my eyes.

  “You really are beautiful, Crystal. You don’t hear it enough. Never change a thing.”

  I do the unexpected next. I burst out laughing, taking him by surprise. Most girls should be flattered, yet he just sounded so corny. Melodramatic.

  So not like him at all.

  What has got into him?

  “Now... where did that come from?” I say, giggling.

  The pain returns to his face, and I stop, ashamed of myself. Seriously, what was happening?

  His grey eyes turn intense, and a chill runs down my spine. “Any man would be lucky to have you. Even a womanising man-whore like me.”

  Confused, I flip around on my chest, staring down at him. Eli keeps his rigid gaze on me, trying to communicate something with his eyes.

  “Eli... I only want to be with you. You’re the man for me. Always.”

  I lean down to kiss him, but he lacks the enthusiasm this time. So I pull back, studying him once again.

  “Eli...” I begin, but then the door bangs open, and there’s Misaki in the threshold. Ashley stands behind her, looking at Eli wearily.