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 I instantly started walking towards the

me

bar before he could ask any

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

sort of atmosphere one would expect from a

have a drink, but

here today for that.I was

as it slowly became

I walked past, but none were of the man I met days

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

hell was he? I kept walking, heading towards

when I

within the room itself, but

that held a

that wasn’t going

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

the most part, clearly not used very

I had though was why was he here of all places...? It was almost

he would have to know I could

but, as I rounded the corner, everything seemed

that trance

but seeing him again made

something inside that had been scratching away was

he was

I was in front of him, within feet of being able to

first met, he wore a perfectly fitted suit, his

in every

took everything I had inside me to not just immediately

as if to embrace me, but it was that very

was to fix this exact issue, one which

stopped himself as I took a step back

sounding almost relieved, and it caused a shiver to spread through

you

was the one losing my mind, and yet this guy was almost certifiable, acting a

Was I missing something?

I managed to say, so extremely

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

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

I didn’t end

you looking for me?" I

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

do anything.What you’re experiencing is

I said, cutting

instantly become infatuated.It doesn’t stop them from being able to function...or work...or do anything.I tracked you down for the sole purpose of making you reverse this.I want my

than anything if I wanted to stay in

work like that.I can’t just undo

and I pulled out my

did to me.Right

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

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

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

take it easy

me into another trance, choosing

the intent of holding him up at knifepoint; just enough to scare him into taking

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

near him, suddenly he was wielding one of his own as he deflected off my attack

that looked

upon closer inspection, it was definitely mine.He must

"Calm down!" he yelled.

you need to

But I was angry.

than I’d ever felt before in m

I wasn’t used to, all jumbling

at my

failures, at my situation… and I was

b e losing both my father’s respect and my usefulness t

I swiped my dagger again, angry tears beginning to form at my eyes

to

fix me and we can go our

proceeded to be

fluidly as if he'd been doing this sort of

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

impressive and

might not be

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

I moved, but nothing

was moving as quickly as I was

I knew

are you! ?"