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."

as I won the small victory,

can call me Raven," I

bar before he could

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

sort of atmosphere one would expect from

place I personally liked to have a drink, but I was familiar with the vibe

today for that.I was here

scent as it slowly became stronger the further

carefully, screening the faces of every person I walked past, but none were of the man I met

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

was he? I kept walking, heading towards

I finally

the room itself, but veering

held a sign saying

wasn’t

through the door

pretty untouched for the most part, clearly not used

why was he here of all places...? It was almost as if he knew

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

swimming in my head but, as I rounded the corner, everything seemed

into that trance as [

explain, but seeing him again made me start

something inside that had been scratching away was finally

because he was

in front of him, within feet of being able to touch

the night we first met, he wore a perfectly fitted suit, his dark brown hair styled to

in every possible

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

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

reason that was to fix this exact issue, one which was

quickly stopped himself as I took a

caused a shiver to spread

for you for days.Do you have

was the one losing my mind, and yet this guy

Was I missing something?

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

down before I explained a few things to you,

people about you, trying to find out how I could contact you, but out of everyone I spoke to, only one person seemed to know of you.Something that they even admitted to not

him since I didn’t end up slaying at

hell were you looking for me?" I

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

anything.What you’re experiencing is completely

said,

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

I needed it.I needed it more than anything if

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

and I pulled out my

you did to me.Right

would be a civil conversation but he was

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

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

take it

I didn’t let him lull me into another

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

h e was also just as skilled, proving

dagger anywhere near him, suddenly he was wielding one of his own as he deflected off

weapon that looked

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

"Calm down!" he yelled.

everything but you need to just chill

But I was angry.

ever felt before in m y entire

inside that I 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

knowing I would b e losing both my father’s respect and my usefulness

again, angry tears beginning to form at my eyes as

have to hurt you,"

fix me and we can go our separate

proceeded to be

been doing this sort

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

both impressive and concerning

not be as easy

left open, and yet he

and faster I moved, but

he was moving as quickly as

I knew

?" I