Chapter Twenty-Nine
Charlotte
T he door suddenly swings open and Reaper removes his fingers. We snap our heads to see who just entered.
“Well, well, well. Look what we have here.” A man as tall as Reaper stands just inside the doorway. He moves to close the door and then walks toward us. Hair so blond it’s nearly white. His face is sharp and severe, eyes an intense blue, stand brightly out in the dim lighting of the room. He looks absolutely villainous. Although Reaper is thicker and broader, this man isn't lacking in muscles with his black suit fitted tightly around his form. “You must be The Bone Reaper,” he says with a slight southern accent, placing a toothpick between his full lips.
Reaper pushes himself off me and straightens to his full height and dominating presence.
“And you are?”
“You mean, my reputation doesn't precede me? How disappointing. Name’s Marcus Bane. My friends call me Venom.”
“Ah, The Southern Poisoner,” Reaper says with boredom. “You have friends?”
“So you have heard of me,” he says with a malevolent smile.
“Barely.”
Another eerily charming smile crosses The Southern Poisoner’s mouth as he stares at Reaper. A silence fills the room, but it feels like they're somehow still communicating. Reaper stands at a protective angle in front of me. I want to interrupt their little dick measuring contest, but before I do, Marcus speaks again.
“We’re friends here, right, Bone Reaper?” Marcus says, still maintaining a smirk and continuing to chew on his toothpick.
Reaper grunts.
Marcus’s eyes fall to me. “And who might you be, darlin’?”
“She’s none of your business,” Reaper growls.
Marcus laughs and the deep sound echoes through the grand room.
“He’s a grumpy one, isn't he?” Marcus says to me. “Just being friendly. Getting to know my fellow unalivers.”
“Go be friendly elsewhere,” Reaper snaps.
“No. I don't think I will, Bone Reaper .” He says his name with such disdain.
Reaper takes a step toward him, nearly face-to-face, and his body completely consumes Marcus’s presence.
“I suggest you don’t push me.”
“Tsk, tsk. Making threats? You know the rules, Reaper. No killing other game players.”
“No killing. But I can still break your fucking face which is what I’ll do if you keep looking at her like that. ”
“Like what?” He leans to the side, looking at me once again and winks.
Reaper grabs Marcus by his jacket and spins, pinning him against the wall with a hard thud.
“You know damn well what I’m talking about,” he growls through clenched teeth.
“Reaper,” I gently say, bringing a hand to his shoulder. “Come on, let’s just go.”
“Listen to your little pet .”
Another growl escapes from Reaper.
“He’s purposely trying to provoke you. Come on.”
Shoving off Marcus, he turns to me. Marcus straightens his suit and hair with a deep laugh.
As we start moving toward the exit, hand in hand, Marcus adds one last taunt.
“Best keep both your eyes on her. I might not be able to resist.”
Reaper whirls and slams a fist into the side of his cheek, causing Marcus to stumble back into the wall. Reaper moves to pin him against it again when Marcus, in a blur, flips something up from his pocket in a reverse grip and swipes at Reaper’s face.
“Reaper!” I shout, running over to them.
He pushes away from Marcus and brings a hand to his cheek, wiping away blood, leaving behind a thin red cut. I reach out when Reaper snaps at me, “Don't touch it. Don’t fucking touch it!”
I stare at him, shocked. Why?
Marcus starts laughing maniacally behind us. “Smart boy.”
“Charlotte, get out of here.”
“What? No. I’m not leaving without you. Come on, come with me.”
“Oh, he’s not going anywhere, darlin’.” Marcus drawls.
Suddenly Reaper falls to his knees, grunting and heavily breathing.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
“Just a little poison, dear,” Marcus coos while wiping off his small blade with a black cloth and tucking it back into his pocket.
“What?! What did you do to him? Stop. Make it stop!” I demand.
Reaper tries to speak, tries to stand, but he stumbles into some chairs and falls to his knees again. Whatever it is must be powerful to bring a man like Reaper to his knees. I unsheathe my dagger from my thigh, pointing it at Marcus.
“Make it stop. Now!”
“Oh, you are a delicious little minx.”
“I’m serious! Make. It. Stop.”
“I’ll tell you what, I’ll give him the antidote in exchange for one thing.”
“N-no,” Reaper grunts out.
“Done. Anything.”
Marcus smiles wickedly. “Kiss me.”
Reaper growls and falls forward on his hands.
“What? You want me to kiss you?”
“That’s the deal. The antidote for a kiss.”
“Char-Charlotte. No.”
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
“A real kiss, darlin’. If I don't feel like you mean it, then I'll simply walk out of here and leave your precious Bone Reaper to die a painful death. Consequences be damned.”
“I said I’ll do it!” I look back to Reaper one more time, his eyes full of pain and begging me, but I can't let him just die. This asshole wanted to play a game and he won, but there’s plenty of other times for a rematch.
I give Reaper a sad smile. “It’s okay.” Then I turn to face Marcus again. He looks impatient with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall .
He removes the pick from his mouth and lets his arms fall to his side as I press myself against him. Keeping our eyes locked, I slowly run my hand up his chest then to the back of his neck. I extend on to the tips of my shoes and lean up to him. He moves to meet me and my lips press gently to his. They feel a bit cool, but soft. I want to pull away but I know this won't be enough to satisfy him. So I open my mouth to him. His tongue sweeps in and mine plays a slow sensual dance with his. He tastes sweet, like berries.
More like poisonous berries.
A slight moan rises from Marcus through our kiss and his hands wrap around my waist holding me tightly against him as the kiss deepens. Another moment passes, and I open my eyes as he does the same. His piercing blue eyes linger on me and then snap to Reaper as our kiss continues. I instantly push away from him, breaking our lips apart, and Marcus looks at me once more. His expression is hungry and yearning, then softens for a moment before he licks his lips and returns to his superior demeanor. Reaching into his jacket, he pulls out a small vial, and tosses it to me.
“Best be quick now.”
I run to Reaper, falling to my knees beside him with the vial and help him drink it.
“For the record, I would have given him the antidote without the deal. I wouldn't want to break the cardinal rule, but the kiss was well worth our little game. Oh, and by the way, Alexandre Laurent is dead. Looks like I won two games today. Though I think I favor this one more. It was nice to meet you, little minx.”
Marcus winks before he exits the room, leaving me scowling.
Asshole.
Within a minute, Reaper starts to breathe easier and regain his composure. We continue sitting on the floor until he feels ready.
“I’m going to fucking kill him. You shouldn't have done that, Charlotte.”
“I didn't exactly have an option.”
“Yes, you did.”
“I wasn't going to let you die!”
Reaper shakes his head. “I shouldn't have entered us into the game. I told you these people are dangerous. Some are completely psychotic and don't like to play by the rules.”
“Like The Southern Poisoner?”
“Yes.”
“Seems like you guys had history.”
“I accidentally killed someone he cared about.”
“Accidentally?”
“Well, I very much killed the person on purpose. I just didn't know he was The Southern Poisoner’s brother.”
“Oh. Oh boy.”
“Yea. His brother was a piece of shit and deserved it, he knows that but guess he’s still not exactly a fan of mine. I never actually met him before though. Even if I never took something from him, I still wouldn't want you around him .”
“Why not?”
“He’s a contract killer, but his victims—” Reaper pauses before continuing. “He likes women. I’m surprised he’s even here participating in The Sicarius Ludos. He only accepts hits of women. And he likes to play with them first. And I don't fucking like that he has taken an interest with you. I'm sure that kiss just made it worse.”
“Well, fuck.”
“Yea. He’s a dead man walking. Now let’s get out of here.”
Marcus wasn't lying. As we returned to the main floor we found it in chaos. Security and police flooded the premises and began to shut the place down. Over in the far corner, I spot medical personnel tending to a man lying motionless on the floor. As we walk by, I spot Alexandre’s wide bloodshot eyes staring at the glass ceiling and a green hued foam emerging from his mouth. His body’s tight and constricted in an abnormal way. Certainly looks like it was a painful death.
The Southern Poisoner won The Sicarius Ludos by poison.
After yesterday’s run-in with Marcus, Reaper had been paranoid and wanted to return home as soon as possible. We checked out of our hotel that same evening and booked a flight home. After one stop and ten hours in the air, we’re back in Boston.
The paranoia from Reaper doesn't seem to be completely gone, but he does seem less tense.
As we pull down his driveway, he breaks the silence.
“I’m sorry how things turned out. I wanted you to have a good time.”
“Don't be sorry. I had an amazing time with you. That first day in France will go down as one of my most magical days. Despite not winning the game, I’m still so grateful you took me on my first trip out of the US.” He squeezes my thigh gently, and I smile at him.