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."

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

can call me Raven," I

bar before

expected.It was mostly a lot of people sitting close

sort of atmosphere one would expect

I personally liked to have a drink, but

for that.I was here to find

still catch his scent as it

walked past,

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

I kept

I finally found

scent, not within the room itself, but veering off through a door to somewhere

door that held a sign saying ‘Staff

wasn’t

through the door and continued to follow his scent until it led

the

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

would have to know I could trace his scent, which

my head but, as I rounded the corner, everything

found myself falling into that trance as [ met

him again made me

something inside that had been

because he was

I was in front of him, within feet of being

he wore a perfectly fitted suit, his dark

every

me to not just immediately rush into his arms...though I

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

to fix this exact issue, one which was

as I took a step

a shiver to spread through

for days.Do you have any idea how worried

and yet this guy was almost certifiable, acting a

Was I missing something?

say, so extremely confused by this

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

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

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

were you looking for me?" I

then stalk her? Why are you even

you’re experiencing is

I said,

them from being able to function...or work...or do anything.I

I needed it.I needed it more than anything if I

work like that.I can’t

I yelled, and I pulled

did to

a civil conversation but he was proving to be stubborn,

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

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

take it easy

let him lull me into another trance,

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

also just as skilled, proving

anywhere near him, suddenly he was wielding one of his own

weapon that

it was definitely mine.He

"Calm down!" he yelled.

but you need to just chill for a

But I was angry.

before in m y

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

at my

my situation… and I

knowing I would b e losing both

angry tears beginning to form at my eyes as my desperation

don’t have to hurt

fix me and we can go our separate

to be on the defensive as

doing this sort

it was the first time facing someone who was anywhere

that was both impressive and concerning at the same

that this might not be as easy

for areas that I thought he left open, and yet he

I moved, but

moving as quickly as

I knew

?" I yelled in