I had come too early.
I bit my lip, ready to turn back and abandon the mission altogether, but then there was a rustling outside the door, a key fitting into a lock.
The blood rushed down to the floor, draining me in my mortification.
Without thinking, I opened the closet doors and stepped inside, in time to watch the light from the hallway blaze a trail through the darkness of the room. I watched through the vertical seam of the doors as a silhouette appeared, entering the room as he tossed his jacket on the chair.
Silas’s dark figure wandered over to the small bar in the corner,pouring something for himself. He combed his fingers through his hair. He relaxed, quiet in the almost mundane scenery. It was easy to forget he was a creature at times like these. He seemed... dare I say,lonely.
I half expected him to keep the company of strumpets or other easily acquired entertainment, to be throwing parties and accompanying the bar until the early hours of the morning.
Instead, he was alone.
He threw his head back as he swallowed the rest of his drink, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth before placing the glass down. He stared a minute, possibly lost in thought, before he returned toward the door out of my view. I only knew he left because of the light of the door opening and closing.
When the door clicked shut, I opened the closet.
What was I thinking?
When I turned to exit, there he was, staring down at his timepiece as he leaned against the door, only glancing up after a few beats. Those dead eyes glared my way, subtly reflecting the light like a cat.
“Thought I smelled a rat.” Silas crossed his arms as he awaited a reply.
I stiffened, unsure what my options were or what his next move would be.
“What? Didn’t you come to play?” He laughed, but he sounded tired rather than amused. “I thought it was rare for a spider to leave its web?”
“Is it so hard to believe I wanted to see you?” I threw his own words at him.
“Touché,” he said, shaking his head, “but that’s not why you’re here.”
“Perhaps not.”
“Your hair is done up,” he commented, his eyes a bit sad, but it was too dark to tell. “For me?”
“That is up to you.”
“Tell me”—he pushed himself off the door to approach, and I stepped back—“do you think killing me will solve your problems?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think there will be another as kind as me?”
“You threatened me?—”
“Someone else would simply kill you, not bother with threats.” He stepped closer.
“It would at least be fair.”
“Fair? You want me to be fair? If you prefer I act like any other with no regard to who you are, then fine! I can do that,” he growled, grabbing me by my coat collar. “Do you want to know what they would do to you?”
I swallowed hard, shoving his chest to create distance.
“You come in here to stab me in my sleep, andI’mthe one you expect the worst of?” He seized me by the neck.
“Silas!” I yelped, but was swiftly cut off by the wind being knocked out of me from the force of him slamming my back into the wall.
“Don’t.” His words came out in a hiss, as he lifted me slightly in his grip.
