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."

I won the small victory, and

call me Raven,"

before he could ask any further

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

one would

not the kind of place I personally liked to have a

today for that.I was here

now, I could still catch his scent as it slowly became stronger the further inside

every person I walked

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

he? I kept walking, heading towards another small

that’s when I finally

room itself, but veering off through a door

that held a sign saying ‘Staff

wasn’t going to

slipped through the door and continued to follow his

space seemed pretty untouched for the most

here of all places...? It was almost as if he knew I was tracking him...but

I could trace his scent, which was

in my head but, as I rounded the corner,

I found myself falling into that trance as [ met his expectant hazel

him again made me start to feel

been scratching away was

because he

was in front of him, within feet of being

wore a perfectly fitted suit, his dark brown

every

me to not just immediately rush into his

me, but it was that very same movement that made

to fix this exact issue, one which was causing me to feel this

stopped himself as I took a step

sounding almost relieved, and it caused a shiver to spread through me at the sound of

you have any idea how worried I

was the one losing my mind, and yet this guy was almost certifiable, acting a s though we were close

Was I missing something?

to say, so extremely confused by this turn of

you some time to cool down before I explained a few things to

of everyone I spoke to, only one person seemed to know of you.Something that they even admitted to not knowing prior to

him since I didn’t end up slaying at the event

the hell were you looking for me?" I

grand scheme? Drug a girl then stalk her? Why are you

do anything.What you’re experiencing

said,

to function...or work...or do anything.I

than anything if I wanted to stay in my father’s good

can’t just undo it.It has to

and I pulled out

you did to me.Right

would be a civil conversation but he was

going back to my father empty-handed, the choice Was

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

take it

lull me into another

up at knifepoint; just enough to scare him into taking me seriously.I was quick and had training,

was also just as skilled, proving that back when we’d

him, suddenly he was wielding one of

that

inspection, it was definitely mine.He must

"Calm down!" he yelled.

can explain everything but you need to

But I was angry.

I’d ever felt before in m y

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

him, at my own new

my failures, at my situation… and I was

losing both my father’s respect

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

have to hurt you," I

we can

the dagger again and proceeded to be on the defensive

if he'd been doing this sort of

it was the first time facing someone who was anywhere near as skilled, if not more so, than I

and concerning at the

meant that this might not be

kept on attacking, aiming for areas that I thought he left open, and yet he somehow managed

moved, but

quickly as I was at full

I

are you! ?" I