by Unknown
“I’m Rhys, and you are?” The Adonis before me said, stepping back slightly. I was relieved for the small courtesy; it gave me a bit of room to breathe and gather my wits about me. After a moment of looking my fill, I regained some composure and could finally respond.
“Maya.”
“Enchanté, mademoiselle,” he replied with a wink.
It was precisely that moment that Angie stumbled back into the picture, breathing as if she’d just run the five-hundred-meter sprint.
“That rat bastard already left with the skank. My oh my, Maya! Did you make a new friend while I was gone?” she asked mischievously with a stupid grin while drinking in the handsome stranger.
“More like an incidental assault victim than a friend,” I retorted in a hushed tone.
He returned her smile with an intensity as bright as the sun. That smile! Perfectly straight teeth framed by lusciously full lips made me nearly go weak in the knees. There was definitely a wobble there at least. Oh boy, I was in trouble!
“Hi there! My name’s Angela Broussard. Would you care to buy my girl, Maya, here a drink?” Angie said smoothly, as if she had practiced the lines a thousand times. How could she be so unaffected by this man? Or at least not show it at all?
“It would be my pleasure. What would the lady have?” he asked.
“Actually, no, we can’t. Remember? We were leaving, Angie. I’m sorry, Rhys, but we really need to go,” I replied insistently.
“Maybe some other time for that drink then?” he asked, hopeful.
“Maybe.” I was already thrown off kilter by the man and his charm, I wasn’t going to add anymore alcohol to this fire or I would end up badly burned.
“Sure thing, gorgeous. I’ll hold you to that,” Rhys said, with a wink.
“Maybe, if you’re lucky,” I said in a husky voice. My own forwardness surprised me. This stranger was bringing out a side of me that I’d never bothered to explore before. It was thrilling, yet terrifying.
I slipped past Rhys, barely brushing against him, but still, where our bodies met burned and came alive with an electric current. It took me by surprise as I had never experienced anything like it before. I forgot to breathe as I braved a glance up at him. Rhys looked just as taken aback by what was happening.
We wormed our way to the door, Angie following closely in my wake. As I stepped outside, I finally felt like I could breathe again. Damn that man was overwhelming.
I peeked through the open door but found the spot he had occupied vacant. He was nowhere to be found as I scanned the crowd looking for his handsome face. He probably just went to the bathroom. Either that or I scared him off. The latter was a fairly good possibility.
I turned to Angie as I finally came back to myself and remembered she had something important to tell me.
“Ang, what were you saying earlier about a skank?” I questioned.
“Oh yeah! So, I went to the bathroom, right? And there he was, whispering into the little twit’s ear, but when I came out, they were gone. Seriously, he was just with me literally last night and moved onto greener pastures that fast,” Angie raged as we continued our brief walk back towards my apartment.
As we crossed the street to my building, I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned and there it was again. The shadow was back standing part way down the block under a street lantern. My blood turned to ice in my veins, rooting me to my spot.
Even though he was a good distance away, he had eyes that looked like they were almost glowing. They flickered in the firelight from the street lantern. His eyes glowed even brighter when they met with the lights from the streetlamps, making it easier to distinguish their color. They were a shockingly iridescent violet color. Totally unnatural in origin.
I grabbed Angie’s arm. She had stopped when she noticed that I wasn’t moving alongside her anymore.
“Ang, do you see that?” I whispered harshly.
She was staring at me like I was Alice and had just told her about my trip down the rabbit hole.
“See what? There’s nobody there,” Angie said, shaking her head at me and shrugging. “Maybe you just had a bit much to drink. Do you feel okay?” Her eyes crinkled at the edges. “Did the hottie with the body slip you a mickey? Do I have to beat some ass and call the cops?” she said jokingly.
“So, you don’t see the shadow with glowing, purple eyes?” I squeaked out, my throat closing. Averting my focus, I gauged the distance between my building, the creature, and myself. I wouldn’t have a chance.
My feet were cemented to their spots on the sidewalk and I couldn’t move no matter how hard I tried. Nothing would obey my command and I couldn’t do anything but stare back at the shadow creature. I was terrified, shaking uncontrollably. I held my breath for fear of the slightest movement setting the thing off.
My head felt tight, throbbing. Locked away in its cage, my heart didn’t stop trying to pound its way out. I should’ve taken the chance because, before I knew it, the cement was rising up to meet me. Then there was nothing, but darkness and the sensation of falling into a bottomless pit.
Chapter THREE
Frienemies and Uninvited Guests
Sometime later, exactly how much time I wasn’t sure, I came to. I was blinded instantly by the overhead lights. I threw my arm over my eyes. I became aware of muffled voices in another room and wondered who Angie was talking to. Slowly, I sat up and looked around. I was home, in my own bed. What the hell happened? I knew something had, but the last thing I could remember was walking home from the Spotted Cat with Angie. My only solid memory was Angie had been seething and violently waving her hands around to make the point a little clearer for those within a block or two that couldn’t actually hear her.
Had I been drugged? Had an accident, perhaps? No, that couldn’t be it because nothing was overwhelmingly painful. Things were stiff. Checking over my body mentally, I found nothing, except a slight bump next to my forehead. That wasn’t severe enough to have caused me to lose consciousness. Why couldn’t I remember what happened to me? My mind raced with all of the horrible possibilities.
I scooted to the edge of my bed and made no move to go any further. I wasn’t entirely sure that I wanted to get up and face whatever was in the living room. Remembering the Spotted Cat, I knew that I hadn’t partaken in enough drinks to have no memory, but I couldn’t for the life of me bring forth any kind of memory of getting into my home. Not knowing what had happened in that short period caused apprehension to snake its way into my veins. As long as I hid away in my room, I was safe and reality was something that could be avoided.
It was the aroma of fresh coffee that finally drove me from my bed. I could never turn down a good fix. It was my one vice that I couldn’t live without. As I shuffled to the doorway I strained to hear the conversation going on mere feet away. Even though I knew that nothing good ever came from eavesdropping, I couldn’t help myself. Looking down, I noticed I was also not wearing the clothes I’d had on the previous night. I really hoped that Angie had changed me and not the owner of the distinctly male timbre echoing through my sparse dwelling. There were just too many questions that I needed answering for me to not jump at the opportunity. Gathering up all the courage I could muster, I opened the door, to face the unknown that awaited me. Things felt final somehow, like after today things wouldn’t be the same again and that was the most frightening part.
I swung the door open, took a deep breath and stepped through the portal into the short hallway leading to the living room. As I reached the living room, I had to do a double take because the scene before me was unbelievable. Perched on the edge of my couch was Angie, looking at me with a concerned look on her face, mentally asking me if I was okay. I nodded and, with a small smile, I shifted my focus to the man sitting in the chair across from her. What the hell was he doing there?
I couldn’t comprehend for the life of me why Rhys, the guy I had literally just barely met the night before, was sitting in my living room lik
e he owned the place. Moonbeam sat there curled up contentedly on his lap like they were the best of friends.
Traitorous damn cat!
Why the hell was he here? How did he even know where I lived? Nothing made sense anymore. I must’ve hit my head a hell of a lot harder than I thought I had.
Just then, he turned and looked at me. He was utterly delectable with an impish smirk on his face.
“Morning, Maya. How’re you feeling? You took quite the spill last night.”
The sound of his voice was like a caress to my soul. Oh my god! What the hell was wrong with me? I shouldn’t be thinking that way. I don’t even know the guy. This was no bueno! My mind was racing with questions and, before I knew it, Angie was clearing her throat. I realized then, I had been standing there dumbfounded.
“What are you doing here? What happened? How long have I been out?”
“Well, last night, I was walking home and saw you fall. Angela started panicking and yelling for help. So, I came. I couldn’t pass up helping out a damsel in distress.”
“So, I suppose that makes you my knight in shining armor then?” I asked. “I passed out last night and you helped Angie get me in here, then why are you still here? Have you been here this whole time?” I grilled him indignantly.
“You were talking crazy about purple eyes and a person that wasn’t there, then you just went rigid and dropped like a rock. I didn’t know what to do and you wouldn’t come to, so I yelled for help. Rhys was there almost instantly and helped to get you in here. It’s just like he said,” Angie said in a soothing voice, obviously trying to calm me down.
“Angie, can I talk to you for a moment? In the other room?” I headed towards the bedroom, but I stopped and glanced back towards Rhys and clarified, “alone.”
I continued the short journey to the bedroom. Angie nodded as she got up to follow me. I walked over to my bed and turned around just as Angie shut the door behind Moonbeam, who had apparently decided to join us and leave her new found friend.
“What the hell is going on, Ang?” There was just too much pent up energy and anxiety flowing through me that I couldn’t stand still. I paced the room waiting for the answers I knew she would give me.
Angie cleared her throat, ready to continue with her explanation of the previous night’s events and I finally stopped pacing and turned to her staring expectantly.
“I’m not really sure what you want me to say here. It’s all exactly like Rhys said,” Angie said.
“Then why is he still here?” I asked, feeling more than a little exasperated and confused.
“He was worried. Last night, he said that the whole situation was unusual and that he would be more comfortable if he stayed to make sure you were okay. I was drunk and couldn’t do everything on my own. He just wanted to make sure you woke up and didn’t need to be rushed to a hospital. It’s really sweet if you ask me.” She was quiet and sounded sorry for her shortcomings in the events that had unfolded. I rolled my eyes at that. Moonbeam was pacing back and forth rubbing against my shins as I reached down and picked her up.
I plopped down on the bed, holding Moonbeam and looked back up at Angie. The tension of not remembering parts of the previous night had my shoulders bunched and achy. Maybe having answers would help relieve a bit of it? I rolled my head back and forth trying to loosen the knots a bit.
“It’s all confusing, I mean there’s just nothing after the last drink at the bar. I don’t know what to think anymore. I don’t know why Rhys would stay, I mean, I’m not his problem,” I explained. Angie shuffled over and flung herself down next to me. Moonbeam purred loudly and steadily enough that it could put me to sleep. Rhys was still sitting in the living room so going back to bed and forgetting everything that had happened in the last twenty four hours wasn’t possible.
“Ya know, I think he really likes you.” Angie was very practiced in the art of distraction. it was one of her many gifts.
“Well, that’s ridiculous. He doesn’t know me and well-” I let my voice trail off.
She looked at me, confused. “Well what?”
“Well, look at him! He’s gorgeous and charming. A guy like that wouldn’t be interested in someone like me,” I said sadly. I wasn’t anything special. I wasn’t very outgoing, or confident, and I was by no means a knock out like the women that usually dated guys like Rhys. I was a solid seven on a scale of one to ten, but guys like that went for girls that were tens with painted faces and wonder bras that make their C cups into DD’s. Angie looked at me for a long moment before she responded.
“I wish you could see yourself for how you really are, Maya. Your perception of yourself is so skewed.”
She was right and I knew it, though, I would never admit that aloud to anyone, least of all her. I had never been able to see myself in a good light. I was always very critical of myself, my appearance, my intelligence, everything. It was a large part of the reason I had always pushed myself so hard. I had to be the best and I couldn’t depend on others to do things for me. I needed to be independent. After my parent’s accident, my self-reliance is what helped me get through.
I didn’t have the energy for my pity party right then. It was still well before noon and I had a man in my living room that deserved a proper apology for my behavior and a sincere thank you for helping me in my time of need. So I got up, pulled Angie with me, and headed back out to face him.
We hadn’t been in the bedroom longer than ten minutes, but Rhys was nowhere to be found. Angie and I glanced at each other for just a moment before a knock sounded at the door. I started at the abrupt thud that resonated throughout the apartment before crossing the space and looking through the peep hole.
It was Rhys. Opening the door immediately, I discovered that he’d taken his time alone to run down to the café across the street. He came bearing three large café au laits, that morning’s Times Picayune, and a bag of fresh pastries. He set the tray and the bag down on the empty counter space and tossed the paper on my kitchen table. Rhys grabbed a coffee and handed it over to me with a small smile. I squeezed past him, returning his smile with just as much enthusiasm, and picked up a pain au chocolat out of the bag. My favorite.
I lifted the pastry to my lips, took a small bite. It was hard to miss Rhys’s eyes as they followed the movement of my tongue; it swiped up a tiny smudge of chocolate from my lip. He gazed directly into my eyes just then and I into his. It was pure bliss, despite only lasting a few seconds. That was the first time I could see his eyes clearly. They reminded me of the dark chocolate within the pastry. They reached a light amber color at the center and were rimmed by thick dark lashes. They were perfect.
I wasn’t sure how long I stared into his eyes before we were interrupted by Angie’s abrupt shriek.
“Holy shit! Maya, come see this now!” she yelled, panting. Angie slumped herself limply into the recesses of the couch with the newspaper clutched tightly between her fingers. She sounded like she was on the verge of a panic attack. Her frantic tone fueled my own worry and I rushed to her side.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Look! Do you see who that is?” she yelled, shoving the paper in my face.
I grabbed it from her and examined closely the front page story. A gasp escaped my lips in shock at what I saw there. It was the girl from the previous night, the red head with Brad. I continued to read down the paper, despite the fear of what I might find there. The feelings of dread churning in my belly told me that what it said wasn’t good.
The girl, Carly Williams, had been found early that morning in the middle of Woldenburg Park, dead. What was more disturbing being that she’d been badly mutilated. Strange markings were carved into her flesh and her throat had been slashed. Another oddity? The poor girl’s heart was missing. Her last known location, The Spotted Cat, with an unidentified gentleman. The police were looking for tips as to her date’s identity and for any information that may help get someone so deranged off the streets of New Orleans. I noticed Angie
crying. Tossing the paper down, I grabbed her up into a tight hug.
A million jumbled thoughts raced through my head. That could’ve been Angie! Did Brad really do it? Why? It was someone who was sick. I couldn’t stomach thinking about it anymore. I saw Rhys walk over and pick up the paper. He gave it a once over and tossed it back down, disgusted.
He watched us for a moment and he asked, “A friend of yours?”
I shook my head and clarified the situation. I explained everything that had happened at the Spotted Cat and Angie’s brief history with Brad. Angie was still too distraught to do anything other than sniffle and wipe away stray tears that managed to escape her red, swollen eyes. She had the most profound look of combined fear and sadness.
Rhys nodded his understanding once I had finished the story. He breathed deeply, “I know some people in the local precinct. I can give them a tip and see if they can give us some answers or at least see what they know.”
It was the perfect solution. I couldn’t reconcile myself to believe the man who Angie had described had done what they were saying he did. It had to be him though, right? He was who Carly was with the night before at the bar and Angie had said they’d left together. No, they had to be wrong. I generally liked to believe the best in people, but something about the whole thing just didn’t seem right. It didn’t make sense. Brad might have seemed like a callous asshole on the single occasion I had seen him, but he hadn’t struck me as the gruesome murdering type. Not that I knew what type that was particularly. I could feel it down in my core, there was more going on than we knew. There had to be.
“Please do. That would be some really valuable information. We need to make some sense of all of this,” I said, voicing my previous thoughts.
“I understand. Tragic events like this or car accidents, and suicides usually never make sense and leave you reeling for a while. You need answers and a solid place to lay blame.”
I kept watching out the window down at Ursulines Avenue as people went about their day, completely oblivious to anything other than their own problems. It must have been nice to be unconcerned like that. I hadn’t been that carefree since before my parents’ death. It wasn’t that I was so independent from other people that I had become apathetic and didn’t need someone in my life. I was self-reliant, but I knew I couldn’t take losing another person so close to me. If Brad really was a sadistic murderer, then I could have easily lost Angie. That would have killed me and I knew that. I was so deep inside myself thinking about everything that I didn’t realize that Rhys was talking to me again. Blinking hard, I came back to awareness.