Chapter 14 Wicked Thing
Chapter Fourteen
Wicked Thing
NORA
“No… I’m not ready to go. Let’s sing one more song. Have one more drink with me, come on. You guys are no fun!” Katie and Olivia head toward the exit of Lunar Waves, dragging me along with them.
This nightclub has always been our favorite, with its neon lights and karaoke lasting until the bar closes, so many of our nights spent bonding happened here.
We’ve been here for hours but I’m not ready to leave.
The air around me is electric and alive, and surprisingly healing to the soul, once you get past the stuffy scent of musky bodies and cheap bourbon.
The strobe lights flash across Olivia’s face, shining a spotlight on her flushed cheeks and sweat drenched hair from our endless dancing.
“I’m sorry, sis. I work in the morning, but we’ll have to do this again soon!
” The thumping music drowns out her words, but from what I can hear, her voice is clear and focused, severely contrasting my drunken haze.
“Boo!” Rolling my eyes dramatically, I pull her into my arms.
Red locks of hair stick to her cheek when I pull away, and we giggle as I untangle myself from her, tucking the loose strands behind my ears.
“Fine, Olivia. You go and I’ll stay.” Katie sighs, her voice hoarse from all the singing and struggling to be heard over the noise.
“I’ll stay for just a little longer while you wait for Ere, Nora.
If he’s not here in thirty minutes, then we’re out of here.
I mean it!” The smile she offers shows a hint of annoyance, but her eyes light up as I squeal with excitement.
“He had to stay late at work, but he’ll be here.
How could he say no to this?” With a playful smirk, I twirl and flip my hair in their faces and both girls burst into laughter.
Adjusting the pink, sparkly crown I somehow convinced a bride-to-be to give me earlier, I take a deep breath.
“Come on! The night is young, Katie, dance with me.” Grabbing her hand, I tug her toward the infectious energy of the dance floor.
Olivia waves goodbye and heads to the exit.
I blow her a kiss as Katie and I dance and laugh and twirl each other without a care.
I jump and spin and sing at the top of my lungs until I forget about everything except for what’s happening here in this moment.
I can’t remember the last time I felt so happy and carefree.
When the song ends, we make our way over to the bar, and out of the corner of my eye I spot a pair of bright green eyes focused only on me.
I order a drink and bring it to my lips.
The man behind those eyes watches my every move.
“That’s Kairos,” Katie says. “The man who brought you to the hospital. Look familiar?” She brushes her hair behind her shoulders and waves across the bar at him.
Of course he looks familiar. I’ve thought of those eyes often.
Only every night since that night in the woods.
Something about his messy blonde hair, the intense gaze, and the tattoos that swirl down both arms and cover even his hands and fingers makes my eyes widen in response.
I have to force them to relax and return to normal.
My boyfriend is hot, but I can’t lie and say Kairos isn’t.
I can’t stop staring. “So you trust this guy?”
My heart races and a rush of arousal slams into me as a crooked smile slashes across his features.
“We like Kairos, Nora. Most of the time, that is. Let’s go say hi.” She grins, grabbing her drink and heading to the other side of the bar.
I’m not sure I can do this. I should leave.
I’ve wanted to meet him, but now that my head spins from tequila and I take a step forward, I contemplate leaving both Katie and him here without saying a word.
I should go home. Sitting my drink on the bar, I pin my eyes on the exit as I turn to make my way to it.
“Excuse me,” a smooth, velvety voice sends shivers down my spine, and I freeze.
Fuck. For a split second I consider making a run for the door, but I’m honestly unsure if I can even force my body to move. I was so close. Am I ready to meet the dark stranger who has been watching me? I have no choice now.
Slowly, I turn and face him. “Hi, how can I help you?”
Dear Lord, why did I say that? I can feel the burn as it creeps across my cheeks, the crimson color drawing his attention. His eyes shift from my cheeks back up to my eyes, and his crooked smile remains. There’s no doubt in my mind now that I should have run for the exit while I still had a chance.
“Kairos,” Katie greets him with a smile and a nod, looping her arm through mine.
“Katie,” he replies, dipping his head slightly but keeping his gaze pinned to me.
“So, you two are friends, then?” My eyes widen as they glance at each other and then back at me.
Katie shrugs. “We’ve known each other for a while, yes.”
“We’ve bonded through sharing the same goals. You could call us besties at this point, wouldn’t you agree?” That crooked smile sets my soul on fire.
“Are…celestials more powerful than witches?” I place my hands on my hips, tilting my head to the side as I wait for him to respond.
Both Kairos and Katie laugh, but I don’t. It was a serious question, albeit one I was only brave enough to ask thanks to the alcohol coursing through my veins.
“He wishes.” Katie’s wide smile is followed by him brushing his hair back from his face and shaking his head.
His eyes narrow, but a smile dances across his lips. “So, you’ve told her a thing or two, I see. I thought maybe Nora and I could talk… alone. Or were you leaving?”
“We were actually heading out soon. It’s too bad, really.” Katie sighs. “Maybe now isn’t the best time for the conversation you’re wanting to have with her, anyway. It can wait.” Her voice is firm and unwavering, even as his smile fades and his jaw clenches.
“I’ve waited long enough. It’s time. You told me yourself we need to talk to her, and it seems you’ve already had the chance to.
” Crossing his arms over his muscular chest, his eyes burn into mine with the intensity and heat of a thousand suns.
“Maybe you should let Nora decide for herself what she wants. It’s not your choice to make, Katie. ”
I want answers. I told myself I would find this man and get them, so running away from him now doesn’t feel right.
Although he scared me a little the night I fell from the bridge, I didn’t feel fear when I saw him at the cemetery.
I feel a lot of things here with him now, and not one of them is fear. I’m drawn to him. I feel safe.
“Nora, we can go. You don’t need to stay unless you truly want to. There will be plenty of time for discussions when she hasn’t chugged half a bottle of tequila.” Katie glares at Kairos. “We only came over here to say hello and leave.”
I tuck my hair behind my ears and turn to face her. “I’d like to stay and talk. You can stay at my house with Olivia, and I’ll meet you there later. I’m waiting for Ere, anyway. He’ll be here soon and can get me home safely.”
I can’t leave. What if he can tell me the truth about what happened to my parents? Or has useful information about the darkness that keeps invading my mind? I’m not going anywhere.
Katie glares at Kairos and he glares right back. “Fine. If you think this is for the best, then be my guest. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.” He winks at her, and she groans loudly, her shoulders sagging as she gives up the fight.
Giving me a quick but too tight hug, Katie turns and leaves without another word. My gaze lingers on her back as she hastily makes her way out the door.
A part of me wants to leave with her. I’m scared.
Not of Kairos. Only of what he might be here to tell me.
I’m not sure I’m ready for the truth, or that I can handle much more after my conversation with Katie earlier.
But if there’s a chance he can shine some light onto my current situation, the forgotten suicide attempt on the bridge or the one I too clearly remember in the lake, then I have no choice but to listen.
“Would you like to sit?” He gestures to the back of the club where tables and booths line the walls.
“Sure. Yea, that’d be great. I have a friend meeting me here soon, but we have plenty of time. He’s running late.”
Heading toward the booth in the back corner, he stops walking and glances back at me. “Your friend, as in your boyfriend? Great. I hope I get a chance to say hello.” He forces a tight-lipped smile and then continues on, leading us through the crowd.
In the corner of the club where the music fades to a distant hum, he leans in close. “By the way, I’m Kairos,” he says, flashing one of those crooked smiles I’ve already learned to expect. “What shall I call you?”
“You know my name. I heard you say it already.” I shake my head, raking my eyes up and down him as I continue.
“It’s Nora, but you can call me Nor if you’d like.
It’s what my friends and family have always called me.
” I lean back against the velvety booth.
“It seems you already know a thing or two about me. How?” I take a sip from the drink in front of me, not remembering ordering it, only that it wasn’t here before and yet now here it sits.
I’m drunk. I’m not in the stumbling-and-falling-down stage, just the my-mind-is-mush-and-I-can-barely-register-what’s-happening stage, but I sip on the sweet drink anyway.
“As much as I love your given name, I think I’ll call you princess instead,” he gestures to the crown on my head, and I immediately regret ever putting the damn thing on.
I yank it off, untangling my hair from the pointy bristles meant to keep it in place, then toss it onto the glossy, burned wood table between us. I glare at him. “If you want to live, please never call me that again.”
My cheeks burn as I smooth out my hair, pretending his words didn’t bother me, but I’m not okay. I’m mortified. I’ll literally never recover.