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."

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

can call me Raven," I called

entered the bar before he could ask any further

was mostly a lot of people sitting close

would expect from a

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

for that.I was

I could still catch his scent as it slowly

the faces of every person I walked past, but none

of the entire floor, I was beginning

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

I finally

room itself, but veering off through a door

a

obviously that wasn’t going to

looking, I slipped through the door and continued to follow his scent until it led me into a back

the most part, clearly

though was why was he here of all places...?

could trace his

head but, as I rounded the corner,

again I found myself falling into that trance as [ met

to explain, but seeing him

that had been scratching

because he was

within feet

met, he wore a perfectly

every possible

just immediately rush into his arms...though I couldn’t say the

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

exact issue, one which was causing me to

stopped himself as I took a step back

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

days.Do you

thinking that I was the one losing my mind, and yet this guy was almost certifiable, acting a s though we

Was I missing something?

say, so extremely confused by this turn of

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

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

end up slaying at the event long

the hell were you looking

scheme? Drug a girl then stalk her?

didn’t do anything.What you’re experiencing is

said, cutting him

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

it.I needed it more than anything if I

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

I yelled, and I pulled out my

what you did

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

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

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

it easy

I didn’t let him lull me

with the intent of holding him up at knifepoint; just enough to scare him into taking me seriously.I was quick and

also just as skilled,

him, suddenly he was wielding

weapon that looked

closer inspection, it was definitely mine.He must have

"Calm down!" he yelled.

need to just chill for a

But I was angry.

felt before in m

many feelings bubbling inside that I wasn’t used to, all jumbling around confused with whatever he’d

angry at him, at my own new inability to

my failures, at my situation… and I was

would b e losing both my father’s respect and my

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

to hurt

and we can go

the dagger again and proceeded to be on the

he'd been doing this sort of thing his entire

the first time facing someone who was

was both impressive and concerning at the same

not be as easy as I’d

left open, and yet he somehow managed

moved, but nothing seemed to

he was moving as quickly as I was

that I

you! ?" I yelled