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

before he

mostly a lot of people sitting close

one would expect from a

liked to have a

today for that.I was here

scent as it

every person I walked

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

the hell was he? I kept

that’s when I

the room itself, but veering off through a door to

that held a sign

that wasn’t going to

staff weren’t looking, I slipped through the door and continued to follow his

the most part, clearly not

here of all places...? It

would have to know I could trace

my head but, as I rounded

once again I found myself falling into that trance as [ met

him again made me start to feel almost

something inside that had been scratching away was finally

because he

was in front of him, within feet of being

he wore a perfectly fitted suit, his dark brown hair styled to

every possible

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

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 causing

quickly stopped himself as I took a step

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

you have any idea

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

Was I missing something?

say, so extremely confused by this

give you some time to cool down before I explained a

out of everyone I spoke to, only one person seemed to know of you.Something

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

you looking for me?" I

this your grand scheme? Drug a girl then

you’re experiencing is completely

I said, cutting him

meet someone and instantly become infatuated.It doesn’t stop them from being able to function...or work...or do anything.I tracked you down for

I needed it.I needed it more than anything if I wanted to stay in my

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

and I

you did

hoping this would be a civil conversation but he was proving to be stubborn, giving me excuses rather than

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

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

take it easy

let him lull me into

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

skilled, proving that back when we’d met the first

he was wielding one of his own as he deflected off my

weapon that

was definitely mine.He must

"Calm down!" he yelled.

you need to just

But I was angry.

ever felt before

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

was angry at him, at my

at my situation… and

losing both my father’s

beginning to form at my eyes as

don’t have to

and we can go

the dagger again and proceeded to be on the defensive as I

doing this sort of thing his

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

both impressive and concerning at

not be as easy as

left

faster I moved, but nothing seemed to

moving as quickly

speed that I knew

you! ?"