ANDRONIKOS

As I stood in the room, brushing my fingers against the ornate floral patterns on the duvet covers, I felt an odd sense of nostalgia mixed with regret. The morning sun streamed through the delicate pink curtains, it's warm rays an unwanted reminder of the previous occupant of the lavish pink room– my dead sister.

Selene loved this room very much. ‘My pink haven’, she called it. And while I didn't want to dwell in the past, it was hard to ignore the shadows it cast on my present. Walking away from her room, bittersweet memories flooded my mind, but I ignored them. Today, I had other things to deal with, namely, Adira. I had acted like an ass to her last night, something I’d never admit to her but I still felt a need to make up for it somehow.

With a withdrawn sigh, I pulled a sleek black box from my pocket, my fingers playing over the cool face of the wickedly curved blade of Tuto. The ornate knife, though flashy, always seemed to accompany me wherever I go. There was just something soothing about the weight of it, a reminder of the home I’d made in the darkness that has been my life for as long as I can remember.

Walking into her room, I found her sitting on the edge of the bed, her expression a mix of skepticism and annoyance at my appearance.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her arms crossed over her chest like a shield.

I opened the black box, revealing a new phone and threw it towards her.

“Consider this a gift. So, you can contact your family.” I said with my hands in my pockets.

Narrowly catching the phone, she stared in disbelief and surprise at the device.

“What’s your angle?” 

“Luckily for you, I have no angle this time. Just talk to your family and keep them updated about our situation. Do well to keep shut about my identity, would you?” She looked at me suspiciously probably not believing me.

I wouldn't believe me too.

A moment of silence stretched between us, thick with tension. Her gaze flickered from the phone back to me before she settled on looking at me instead.

“You expect me to just accept this and forget everything that’s happened—no, scratch that—everything that’s still happening?”

“I don’t need you to forget,” I replied cooly. “Forgetting would erase from your memory, your current standing in my life. I need you to remember. Always. When you look at this phone,” I continued, passing a fleeting glance towards said device, “I want you to remember the man that gave it to you. The man that threatens your whole existence. Íne xekátharo?”

(Is that clear?)

She nodded her head in acquiescence, reluctantly accepting the phone. Our fingers brushed together briefly as she took it and I felt a spark that I fervently tried to ignore but my body thought otherwise.

“Fine,” she muttered, and I felt a flicker of relief despite the lingering fear I caught in her eyes.

She’d do well to be scared of me, I thought darkly.

“Good. I’ll let you get settled then.” I said turning to leave.

“Thank you.” Her voice rang, interrupting my leave. I paused for a while, not acknowledging her greeting before I finally left the room.

Later that day, as I paced my dimly lit study, my mind was a chaotic whirlwind. I tossed Tuto from hand to hand for comfort, needing an outlet to calm the raging storm that is mind. Suddenly, Iason burst though the door, a grim expression on his face.

“Nónos,” he said, his voice urgent. “There’s been a recent update concerning the brothers. They have been found.”

“And?”

“They’re coming after, Adira,” he continued, his voice heavy with concern. The knife slipped from my fingers, clattering against the desk. “They believe she has information.” A cold wave of dread, a feeling I’ve never experienced for anyone besides my family, washed over me.

“Why the fuck would they think that?” I questioned, picking up my knife.

“Maybe they saw you two together recently. We need to amp up her protection if you indeed need her for your revenge plan. They seem very dangerous.”

“Of course they are,” I muttered, feeling the familiar rush of danger creeping in.

“What do we do?” he said, ready to give his life if I asked for it.

“We say vigilant. Keep the brothers under all-round supervision at the warehouse until I get there. In the meantime, you and the other men should be on the lookout for their associates. They definitely had help from someone or people.” I said, my mind racing “I’ll make sure she’s safe, but I need her trust first.”

“Trust?” Iason scoffed. “Good luck with that.”

“She will trust me,” I replied, a dark chuckle escaping my lips. “Trust is like a knife. It can cut both ways. Adira just has to hope that she gets the blunt edge of the knife.” I continued, twirling Tuto deftly between my fingers.

“I’ll never understand your obsession with those things.” he said, shooting me an incredulous look.

“When have they ever failed me?” I asked, a dark smile aimed his way. “But this isn’t about me. My little captive is in danger, and I need her to cooperate.”

Iason and I continued discussing our plan, and I felt the weight of responsibility loom above me. My empire was being threatened, including Adira, and I don’t do well with my properties being threatened. I’d do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means embracing the passion that’s brewing between us. A part of me can’t help but be drawn to her fiery spirit. Adira was a spark in my otherwise dark world, and I was determined to protect that light.

I mikrí mou flóga, my little flame.

After Iason had left, I remained in the study, still devising my next move concerning the brothers and the use of Adira’s company. I looked out the window and realized that night had fallen. Adira was probably in her room, still brooding over my earlier gesture. Once again, not my finest moment but I couldn’t exactly blame her; I was a walking contradiction—part protecter, part madness incarnate. One could never be sure which side they’d get with me.

Still lost in thought, I muse to my blade, my trusty companion, “You know, there’s beauty in precision. It’ all about control.”

“Is that so?” a voice interrupted me. I turned to see Adira standing in the doorway of the study, arms crossed, a look of defiance on her face. How she found the study is beyond me, but I should know by now that she doesn’t listen to anyone. I smiled to myself, realizing I’d have to work on that.

“Ah, perfect timing,” I said, feigning nonchalance. “I was just talking to my knife about the beauty of precision. You know, the usual.”

She rolled her eyes, stepping further into the room.

“You’re insane. You know that right?” she said, a brow raised in amusement.

“Insane? No, no, just a bit eccentric,” I replied, a smirk tugging on my lips. “It’s an artist’s touch really.”

“More like a psychopath’s”

“I prefer sociopath, but touché,” I admitted leaning back in my chair. “But you have to admit, there’s a thrill that comes from dealing with danger.”

“Is that what you tell yourself when you’re gone on your killing spree? That you’re some kind of medieval dark artist in the midst of chaos?”

“Exactly,” I grinned, feeling an ease in the once mounting tension. “But sculptor is a better word choice though.”

Her laughter rang out. Rare as it was, I took my time engraving it to my mind so I can repeat it over and over later.

“You’re ridiculous.” She said breathily, traces of laughter still in her voice. “This,” she gestured between the both of us. “doesn’t make us friends but I’ll call a truce. For now.” With that, she left the study, a sway in her generous hips I wanted my hands on, desperately.

With my gaze still on the spot she’d just left, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that we were both teetering on the edge of something profound and terrifying. The world around us was filled with danger, one I was unsure she was ready to face. And if there’s one thing I’ve learnt in my 38 years on earth, it’s that sometimes light, like hers, wasn’t a good enough weapon against the shadows. But I knew one thing for certain though: I would protect Adira at all costs, even if it meant dancing with the darkness I had long since made my home.