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

can call me

bar before he

mostly a lot of people sitting

of atmosphere one would expect from a fancy

of place I personally liked to have a drink, but I

today for

scent as it slowly

of every person I walked past, but none

the entire floor,

was he? I kept walking, heading towards another

that’s when I finally found

scent, not within the room itself, but veering off through

door that held a sign

wasn’t

weren’t looking, I slipped through the door and continued to follow his scent until it led

for the

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

that, he would have to know I could trace his scent, which was already unnatural in

but, as

myself falling into that

seeing him again made me start

been scratching away

he

him, within feet of being able

the night we first met, he wore a perfectly fitted suit,

every

inside me to not just immediately rush into his arms...though I couldn’t say the same for

as he caught my eye, he instantly moved forward as if to embrace me, but it was

issue, one which was causing me to feel this way about a

quickly stopped himself as I took a

shiver to spread through me

for you for days.Do you

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

Was I missing something?

was all I managed to say,

before I explained a few things

asked several different people about you, trying to find out how I could contact you, but out of everyone I spoke to,

end up slaying at the event long enough to

hell were you

this your grand scheme? Drug a girl then stalk her? Why are you even doing

do anything.What you’re experiencing is completely

I said, cutting him

them from being able to function...or work...or do anything.I tracked you down for the

I needed it.I needed it more than anything if

like that.I can’t just undo it.It

and I

did to

conversation but he was proving to be stubborn, giving me excuses rather than

drawing blood or going back to

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

take it

lull me into another trance, choosing

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

just as skilled, proving that back

my dagger anywhere near him, suddenly he was wielding one of his own

weapon that looked

inspection, it was definitely mine.He must have kept it this whole

"Calm down!" he yelled.

need to just chill for a

But I was angry.

before in m

that I wasn’t used to,

was angry at him, at my own new

failures, at my situation…

of going home, knowing I would b e losing both my father’s respect and my usefulness t o

tears beginning to form at my eyes as my desperation

have to hurt you," I

me and we can go our

the dagger again and proceeded to be on the defensive as

doing this sort of thing his

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

impressive and

meant that this might not be as

that I thought he left open, and yet he

faster I moved,

was moving as quickly

speed that I knew

you! ?" I