Page 48 of Scent Of Obsession
She leaned closer to the railing when I pulled my hand from under her dress with only the desire to lick her. My heart wasn’t steady; hers was about to combust. She found her breath while I gained a semblance of control back. I had no idea what had happened.
I was possessed. I’d gone beyond the limits, crossing an invisible line.
At this moment, I couldn’t be more convinced that Orpheus was an idiot.
I would have done more than gone to hell for Lily.
I’d have haunted her even in death. Unleashed every fury. Conquered Tartarus.
I would have beaten the Devil and taken his throne.
I wouldn’t have failed because I was hell.
We were a reverse Orpheus and Eurydice.
Lily was heaven-sent; I was hell-bound.
Applause rose as the lights switched on, and the final note of the opera illuminated the room of this tragedy. The crowd stood up from their seats, on their way to a night of gossiping inside therotonde des abonnés. That was why I strongly disliked those types of events—the endless and boring talk of the aftershow.
I adjusted my tie, glancing briefly at Lily. “Let’s go.”
Her eyes widened with surprise, but she didn’t contest. She followed after me, matching my rushed pace. I took a detour tole grand foyer—maybe as a reward. A large bronze and crystal chandelier, tapestries, vases, and paintings faced us inside a grand hallway. It was an ode to music.
Lily held me by the arm, intertwining ours in a knot that could not be untied. I kept walking, letting her admire the golden grandeur of it. We arrived at the deserted marble grand staircase. Alone, the atmosphere was more to my liking—austere, with flickering lights contributing to a game of mystery.
The doormen pulled open the entrance gate, and we stepped outside to the wintry night air. I regained my coolness, the infernal heat inside me dissipating. Lily folded her arms covered in goose bumps on her chest as I posed my hand behind her lower back, guiding us in the direction of the limo.
She broke the silence. “It was a beautiful night.”
My driver slid open the door of the limo, and she entered, one step in. Her hair swayed with the wind when she whirled around to look at me. The blackness of her makeup was almost gone, the red of her lipstick vanished, and she was back to the Lily I knew. The one that did not belong with me.
I didn’t join her, facing her like a block of iron that couldn’t be melted. “My chauffeur will drive you safely to the manor. I’m not coming with you.”
“Oh,” she said, expecting more than I could give.
“I have business to do at the club.” By that I meant do some serious supervising and occasionally conclude new deals. “I already spent more time than I should have. It’s not in my habit to go out just for pleasure.”
Each minute of my life was for the purpose of gain. Except tonight.
“So, there’s something you can’t afford.” She chuckled. “Time.” Her eyes dropped to the gravel. “Pleasure.” Her eyes lifted again with an innocence I craved to take.
A ghost of a smile spread on my face. “The price to pay for immortality.”
“Then I’m glad you offered me a part of your immortal time.” Lily entered the limo completely. “Good night, Radcliff.”
The door shut, and she was on her way to the manor. I strolled across the street, taking a cigar from inside my vest pocket. Lily was out of sight, but not out of mind—and that was something I was planning on resolving.
I searched for my lighter when my tarot set fell on the floor. I picked up all the cards but one. The remaining one flew in the air and landed on a puddle. I swallowed, hesitant to step forward.
The card called me from afar, having the name Lily written all over it.
This was the answer I’d feared since the moment I met her. Which card would Lily be? My instinct knew the answer to that all along.
I loomed closer. In the reflection of the water, the silhouette of a ravening crow appeared. As it flew above me, its harsh, grating sounds followed.
My eyes stopped on the card submerged by the puddle.
The answer was clear, delaying what was inevitable.
