Page 9 of Darkness

I should be quaking in my damn shoes.

But there’s something about this man that has my heart racing. And I’m not sure it’s entirely fear.

I sit up slowly, and he watches me, trying to gauge my next move. When I stand in front of him, his eyes don’t leave me for even a second. I place my hand gently over his chest, and he jerks in shock.

My pulse races so hard I feel like my veins might burst, but I swallow the lump in my throat regardless. “Por favor,” I whisper. “Tell me your name.”

His nostrils flare as he takes my hand more gently this time and removes it from his chest, but he doesn’t let go. Instead, he keeps our fingers connected, his thumb grazing gently over my skin.

“You’re an enigma, chiquita.”

I can’t describe the feelings running through me.

I’m terrified.

But I’m calm.

I know I’ll find a way out of this.

Maybe I can appeal to him as a person. “Please?” I beg. “Tell me.”

His hand tightens on mine as he clenches his eyes shut, his face scrunching like he’s annoyed, but then he opens his eyes, and a light shines back at me, one spark in the black. He raises his other hand and gently slides a strand of hair behind my ear. I let him, lean into his touch because I’m scared, and I don’t have the willpower right now to stop him.

His eyes draw me in, trapping me in his intense stare. It’s haunting.

“Nycto,” he murmurs.

I tilt my head in confusion. “No entiendo.”

“It’s my road name.”

Exhaling, I lick my bottom lip. I want to know the man, not some damn persona he portrays. “What’s your real name?” I ask gently.

The light dims from his eyes. I see the moment the wall goes back up. So close, but I lost him.

He drops his hand from mine and takes a step back.

“That’s not for you to know.”

Anger swarms through me. Dammit. I thought we were making progress.

“Where is my sister?” I ask through gritted teeth.

He turns away from me, then walks over to his desk, putting distance between us. “She was sold. As were you.”

“What do you mean?” I whisper.

He faces me, his eyes not faltering as he looks into mine. “She’s gone, Eva. That’s all you need to know.”

Tears flood my eyes, but I blink them away as an overwhelming sense of heaviness weighs on my shoulders. I told her I would always protect her. My baby sister. Sure, she just turned twenty-one, but she’s still so young at heart. She doesn’t comprehend the world like I do. I had to grow up quickly when our parents died. I became the adult. Ivy doesn’t know how to survive, not on her own.

“Why me?”

“You’re not suitable for that life. You’re too… good. Too pure. I couldn’t stand watching you go to them.”

“Them? Who’s them?”

Nycto runs his hands through his hair in frustration. “This is going nowhere. You’re staying here, in this room, until I tell you it’s safe to come out. Your sister is gone. Grieve. Scream. Deal the fuck with it however you need to, but get used to the fact. Your life is here now.”

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