Page 32 of Deadmen's Captive

I sighed and glanced again at the canvas. A single bold stroke of pale blue slicing through the chaos of colours was now staring back at me. The colour reminded me of Tristan’s eyes; they held a certain depth that made me want to drown in them, and yet they sparked an anxiety in me that made my insides churn.

A new message popped on my screen. Tristan.

I can't wait to see you tonight

My heart fluttered and then sank, a strange coalescence of anticipation and dread.

I took a deep breath before typing back,

Same here.

I needed to go tonight. I needed to get close to Tristan, whatever that meant, so I could get closer to his friends and find myself the partner my mother seemed desperate for me to get. Maybe Nate? He was the son of a Lord apparently, and I was sure that would impress even my mother.

I sucked on the end of the paintbrush, thinking about him in the gym. How his huge shoulders and chest tapered down into a narrow waist and powerful legs. Those keen dark eyes, so expressive and deep that I just wanted to lose myself in them. The tattoos I’d love to study, running my fingers down each line, tracing them gently. Tristan said he was never interested in anyone, but maybe I could get him to notice me. If I needed to find someone, Nate was perfect. I’d seen the way that punch bag had swung when he hit it, seen the strength in his body. Nate could protect me. I just had to make him want to.

My tongue danced over the end of the paintbrush as I lost myself in the thought of Nate’s body under my touch until the door creaked open and the sudden draft broke me out of my reverie. I quickly shoved the paintbrush into the pot of water next to me.

“Paige? Is that you?” David said, appearing at the doorway.

“Yes, it’s just me. Sorry, I assumed you went home on weekends.”

"You okay?" he asked, stepping inside and letting the door shut behind him.

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. His gaze flickered to the canvas and his eyebrows shot up.

"Wow, Paige. This is...different."

I glanced back at the canvas; its vibrant colours now had a hint of darkness to them. It wasn’t pretty anymore, it was wild, untamed, like my feelings at this moment.

"Not up to your taste?" I asked defensively. He shook his head quickly.

"No, no…it’s not that," he said. "It’s just…I’ve never seen you paint like this before."

"Maybe I'm changing," I murmured, avoiding his gaze. There was a silence between us before he cleared his throat.

“Something on your mind?”

“No, not really. Well, kind of…” I said. We both laughed. David perched on a nearby stool and looked up at me.

“Talk to me,” he said. “I’m a good listener.”

I smiled. Whatever Kate had joked about, I had been surprised to find out David wasn’t married. He wasn’t good looking per se, with a balding head, and straggly greying hair, but he wasn’t bad looking. Just an ordinary guy with a middle aged spread across his belly and a friendly smile. He was ignored by most students, and treated like shit by the snobby ones, who saw him as little more than a cleaner. I’d even seen one guy shove him on purpose as he’d walked past, and pretend it was accidental. Another time, I’d seen one of the guys trip him up, then claim complete innocence, saying David must have tripped over his own feet. David had said nothing, but his face had gone red, and I really felt for the guy. It was why I didn't mind chatting to him. Someone needed to be nice to him.

“It's nothing major, just… I’m going to this ball tonight.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Really? I wouldn’t have thought it was your kind of scene with all the drunken revelry. You seem more mature than that.”

I blushed a little at his words. “Well, it’s not normally my kind of thing, but someone asked me to go, so I said yes, and now…”

“Someone asked you to go? Like a date?”

I nodded. “Yes, and now, well, I guess I’m just nervous he’ll be disappointed.”

David smiled. “No one could be disappointed if you turned up on a date with them, Paige. You shouldn’t put yourself down like that. You’re a beautiful, lovely young woman.”

I smiled, my face growing warm at the compliment. “Thank you, David. I appreciate that.”

“Of course, if you aren’t comfortable with the guy you’re going with, you could always stay home. There will be other dates.”

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