ly. He had stared at her, his thumb brushing the pulse point on her

. It was a sharp, stinging se

rrogant smile replacing the glare, "I suppose I

"I don't want your wishes. I just w

revealing a cavern of darkness behind those blue eyes. "M

t know what to say to that. The darkness in

swim trunks and pulled out a ring. It was heavy, made of black obsidian, with a

e ever desperate. If you have nowhere else t

like he was mocking her. She grabbed the cup, intending to fi

ance between herself and his confusing in

all. A

med to drop twenty degrees in a sing

nch coat despite the ninety-degree heat. His skin was pale, almost trans

s. Christ's o

ion. It wasn't hatred; it was the in

The cup fell from her hand, lemonade splashing onto the concrete. The b

the ring. His p

m behind Emely. It wasn't the voice of a child any

ust inhaled deeply, as if smelling the fear radiating off her. A strange, metallic

s coat brushing her arm.

d up the ring, and pressed it firmly into her palm. His

ol," Christ whispered near her

een too much. After stumbling away from The Sapphire Club, the sodden envelope slipping from her numb fingers and washing away in

Her hand was clenched so tight her knuckles were white. When she op

h the move to this rat-infested apartment, thro

Bang

in wood of the door. "Rent! I know you're in there!

f her stomach pressed against her thighs, a suffocating reminder of her

. She reached for it, her heart sk

o

only good thing

ned the

lk. Come to m

. Emely felt a prickle of unease crawl up her spine, co