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."

giddiness rose inside me as I won the small

call me Raven," I

the bar before

I’d expected.It was mostly a lot of people

atmosphere one would expect from a fancy

personally liked to have a drink, but I was

wasn’t here today for that.I was here to find

catch his scent as it slowly became stronger the further

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

lap of the entire floor, I was beginning to worry I’d

the hell was he? I kept

when I finally

within the room itself, but veering

held a sign saying ‘Staff

that wasn’t

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

for the most part, clearly not

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

would have to know I could trace his scent, which was

many questions were swimming in my head but, as I rounded

found myself falling into that trance

was hard to explain, but seeing him

inside that had been scratching away was finally

because he

within

he wore a perfectly fitted suit,

in every possible

just immediately rush into his arms...though

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

fix this exact issue, one which

stopped himself as I took

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

you for days.Do you have

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

Was I missing something?

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

explained a few things to you, but it’s almost as

several different 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 knowing prior to the charity

have to be him since I didn’t end up slaying at the event long enough to meet anyone

hell were you looking for

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

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

I said, cutting him

work...or do anything.I

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

doesn’t work like that.I can’t

and I pulled out my

you did to me.Right

this would be a civil conversation but he was proving

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

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

it

I didn’t let him lull me into another trance, choosing to

intent of holding him up at knifepoint; just enough to scare him into taking me seriously.I

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

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

that

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

"Calm down!" he yelled.

can explain everything but you need to

But I was angry.

ever felt before in m

feelings bubbling inside that I wasn’t used to, all jumbling around confused

at

failures, at my situation… and I was

e losing

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

to hurt you," I

me and we can go our

dagger again and proceeded to be on

if he'd been doing this sort of

who was anywhere near as skilled, if not more so,

was both impressive and concerning at the same

this might not be as

attacking, aiming for areas that I thought he left

and faster I moved, but nothing seemed

was moving as quickly as

that I knew

you! ?" I yelled in