A Gift from the Goddess

The plan was simple; Track down Kieran and demand he fix whatever he did to me.

With Noah tied up and locked inside a cupboard, I would head towards the hotel which had been listed i n Victor Lycroft’s information folder.

With any luck, his son had the same taste in accommodation.

Once I found him and got my answers, I’d then just have him undo the effects before going back to Noah t o finish the job.I'd complete my mission tonight and get back home without any issues.

As a result, Father would begin to trust me again and Gavin wouldn’t need to drag me back into the basement.

Everyone will be happy.

Well...except probably Noah.He’d be dead.

But that was unfortunately just the way it had to be.

‘C'est la vie’ some would say.Now to just pray that nothing went wrong.I hailed a taxi and gave the driver directions to the hotel, doing my best to make my clothes seem more casual on the way over.

There wasn’t much I could do but I worked with what I had.

By the time I arrived, there was nothing on me that would stand out too much in a public setting.

Upon stepping out of the car though, I found the hotel was surprisingly large.

The kind of place only the very wealthy could afford which, given he was the son of a literal mayor, I guess that made sense.

Though for a small town I’d never heard of before, they sure seemed to have the cash to spare.

Whilst this was an interesting thing to note, it unfortunately meant that sneaking in was going to be difficult.

The place would have security cameras and staff walking around everywhere.

So how was I meant to...And then I smelt it.

That intoxicating scent that I could recall so vividly now.

The one belonging to Kieran.

He was here or, at least, he’d been here sometime recently.I would just need to follow it and hopefully scope out the area before entering his room.

But the scent didn’t lead me towards the elevator as I expected.

No, it led me to the hotel’s bar area.

A place where far too many people would be around to witness.

Certainly not an ideal development in this plan.

"Apologies, madam," a man at the entrance said, holding a hand out to pause me.

"I just need to quickly confirm your name and room number, or the room number of the person you're here to see." I stared at him blankly, confused.

This hotel was apparently far more exclusive than I’d realised.

However, I’d had to deal with far worse obstacles than this before.

"Oh! Is that so?" I asked innocently.

"That’s a little awkward...You see, I was sent here to surprise Mr Lycroft but no one told me his room number.I guess i t was just a mix-up.Isn’t there any way I could still g o inside? Just this once?"

He looked uncertain and taken a little off guard.

This wasn’t the kind of job where you’d want to accidentally insult the wrong influential person.

"Oh ...Well I suppose I could quickly go in and find him to confirm.Mr Lycroft you said?"

He took a step away as if to enter, but I knew if he did that and Kieran told them to not let me in, then this whole plan would become messy.

"That won’t do," I said a little too quickly.

I then walked over to gently touch his arm.

"As mentioned, it’s meant to be a surprise.We haven’t seen each other in the longest time and his father, Victor, told m e Kieran was in town."

"Madam...we have precautions in place to ensure the safety and privacy of our gu—."

"The whole family will be so disappointed if it’s ruined.We’ve been planning this for a while now.I know Victor likes to come here regularly when he’s here for business.It would be a shame if this one unpleasant experience tarnished that...Especially if I have to call the family so late for something so petty "

Immediately, he became flustered, but I didn’t give him any more time to process the situation.

After all, bad decisions were always made under pressure.

"Please...," I repeated, giving him my best smile.

And it only took a few more seconds before, finally, h e cracked.

"Okay...very well.I’ll just need your name for the record and you can head on inside."

inside me as I won the small victory, and I instantly started walking towards

can call me

entered the bar before he could ask

it was far quieter than I’d expected.It was mostly a lot of people sitting close together

sort of atmosphere one would expect

I personally liked to have a drink,

wasn’t here today for that.I was

as it slowly became

every person I walked past, but none were of the man

by the time I’d done a lap of the entire floor, I was beginning to worry

where the hell was he? I kept walking, heading towards

that’s when I finally found

room itself, but veering off through a

a sign saying ‘Staff

that wasn’t going

through the door and

pretty untouched for the most part, clearly not

was he here of all places...? It was almost

have to know I could

head but, as I rounded

that trance as

him

had been scratching away

because he

front of him, within feet of being able

wore a perfectly

every possible

took everything I had inside me to not just immediately rush into his arms...though I couldn’t say

instantly moved forward as if to embrace me, but it was that very same movement that made

exact issue, one which

I took a step

sounding almost relieved, and it caused a shiver to

been looking for you for days.Do you have

I was thinking that I was the one losing my mind, and yet

Was I missing something?

all I managed to say, so extremely confused by this turn of

wanted to give you some time to cool down before I explained a few things to you, but it’s almost as

of everyone I spoke to, only one person seemed to know of

have to be him since I didn’t end

hell were you looking for

girl then stalk her? Why are you

do anything.What you’re

I said, cutting him

able to function...or work...or do anything.I tracked you down for the sole purpose of making you reverse this.I want my

it.I needed it more than anything if I wanted to stay in my

it doesn’t work like that.I can’t just undo it.It has to

yelled, and I pulled out

what you did

was hoping this would be a civil conversation but he was proving to

it was between drawing blood or going back to my father empty-handed, the

"Woah...slow down," he said.

take it

him lull me into another trance, choosing to act

charged towards him with the intent of holding him up at knifepoint; just enough to scare him into taking me

just as skilled, proving that back when we’d

him, suddenly he was

that looked

fact, upon closer inspection, it was definitely mine.He must have kept it this

"Calm down!" he yelled.

need to just

But I was angry.

than I’d ever felt before in m y

I wasn’t used to, all jumbling around confused with whatever he’d done

at my

at my situation…

I would b e losing both my father’s respect

my dagger again, angry tears beginning to form at my eyes as my desperation

don’t have to hurt you,"

and we can go

dagger again and proceeded to be

been doing this sort of thing his entire

facing someone who was anywhere near as skilled,

both impressive and concerning at the

this might not

aiming for areas that I thought he left open, and yet he somehow

and faster I moved,

he was moving as quickly as I was

speed that I knew

are you! ?" I