Page 83 of Semblance

“My, my,” he said. “Harsh words from such a pretty mouth. Your lips remind me of rose petals.”

With a last ditch effort, I tried to climb to my feet again, but a vicious blow to my legs knocked me flat on my stomach.

“A girl should know when to quit,” he said. “Let’s see if a girl knows when she should die as well.”

At least he wasn’t going to rape me. I closed my eyes and waited for the sharp bite of the knife in his hands. It’s funny, from all the things I’ve heard about death, I had the impression that my life would flash before my eyes.

I must have been the exception. The only thing I experienced was regret. I regretted not seeing Shadow again; just when we seemed to have things figured out between us. I’d never taste his lips, feel his warm touch, and caress his body ever again.

I also regretted not being able to fulfill the dreams that my father had set out for me. I was never going to be able to stand on that grand performance stage and tell the world just how important my dad was, and all the sacrifices he made for me.

And there was Justin too. I regretted not being able to make amends with him. He was my best friend and it was heartbreaking to know that I would leave this world with him despising me.

So many regrets, and no time left to fix them.

I opened my eyes and saw my attacker’s shadow looming over me. His knife was raised high above his head, ready to deliver the death blow.

Maybe I’d be able to see my dad again.

“Get the hell away from her,” a voice cried out, full of venom. I looked up and saw Abraham standing at the door way, my house keys in one hand and a gun in the other. I must have left them in the Benz and he had come up to return them.

“These are rather unfortunate circumstances,” the assailant mused. “No one else was supposed to be here. It looks like you stumbled upon your death today as well.”

“The only one dying tonight is you,” Abraham said. If there was any fear in him, he concealed it well. “Do you know who she is?”

“Of course,” the man in black said. “She is the lover of your stupid master.”

“So you know that if you lay even a pinky on her, our entire organization will hunt you down like a mangy bitch and destroy you. You will suffer.”

The man laughed, “Small threat. I will take my chances with the money promised instead.”

“Who’s money?” Abraham asked.

“It makes no matter. She will die,” the man said, “And you sir, are at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

I stared at Abraham, whose eyes were fiery like a dragon’s breath. He was snarling as he gripped the gun tightly, his knuckles turning bone white.

“I’m not a man of mercy,” Abraham said. “Especially to those that inflict harm on the ones I care about. The second you laid your hands on Ms. Valencia, you put this gun to your own head. Make no mistake you degenerate, you’re going to die.”

The man seemed amused by Abraham’s threats. “Old man, do you know who I am and how many people I’ve killed with my bare hands?”

“I know who you are,” Abraham said. “I could smell the stench of a Crow brother the second I walked through the door.”

“Then why are you so eager to die? I’ll tear apart your haggard face like a—” but before the Crow could finish his sentence, Abraham pulled the trigger. The explosive and harsh sound of gunfire echoed throughout my condo.

I covered my ears and screamed, which was pathetic in comparison to the Crow, who dodged the bullet like some super-human ninja.

His reflexes were unbelievable, moving with the strength and speed of a cheetah. He leapt across the room and connected his fist into Abraham’s jaw.

I heard a sickening crack and watched Abraham drop to the ground clutching his mouth.

“No, stop!” I cried out. Fuck Aria, do something. Because of my cowardly weakness, my friend was going to die.

I heard the sounds of Abraham gasping for air like a wounded animal and it broke my heart. Meanwhile the asshole was hovering over him like a black phantom, laughing with perverse amusement.

“It must be hard to sound brave, now that you have a broken jaw,” the Crow said. “I don’t believe I like the sound of your yelping. It reminds me of a puppy I once had, who didn’t know when to shut up. I killed him with a hammer and a butter knife. I can do the same for you.”

Abraham struggled to his feet but a violent kick to his gut sent him crashing against a wall. The picture of a Parisian inspired vogue sketch I had hung crashed onto the ground, shattering the glass all around him.

---