Sipping coffee and enjoying the peace, I've been sitting in a small establishment for about an hour. People came and went, always ringing that pesky bell above the door.
When I heard it again, I looked up from the table and shifted my gaze to the person walking through the door.
A smile immediately appeared on my face, but I hid it before he noticed me.
He looked around the entire cafe until finally his eyes fell on me. He started walking in my direction until he sat opposite me with a heavy sigh.
"Coffee?" I asked him, but it just seemed to turn him off.
"Coffee?" He snorted. "Are you serious? Where the hell have you been? I've been looking for you for two days."
"Can you calm down Killian? You're drawing attention to us." I said when I noticed a few people turned to us.
"I thought something happened to you. I was at your apartment and I couldn't find you anywhere. You didn't have your things anywhere and Luna couldn't reach you either. You didn't pick up the phone. What were you thinking? Will you tell me what's going on?"
"If you calm down." I crossed my arms over my breasts.
He closed his eyes in frustration and clenched his jaw before speaking again. "What is going on?" He said more calmly. "Why did you run away?"
"I didn't run away. I'm here after all, aren't I?" I frowned. "I have no plans to run away. At least not now."
"And that's supposed to mean what?"
"Okay, I'll put it this way. I had a visitor. A non-friend from white snakes."
"Non-friend?"
"Let me finish, okay? She told me to stay away from your family. That means the white snakes know about you. When the management knows about someone, it's not for nothing. I was told to not get close to you or anyone in your family, so that's exactly what I did. I wouldn't risk your family's lives without your knowledge."
"Then why did you text me?"
"Because I found this on me." I rolled up my sleeve and showed him the bandage. "I had a tracking device under my skin. They put it there when I was sometimes out. That's how they always found me. I didn't know about it and honestly, I never even thought about it."
It must be because I believed them. I guess I couldn't have been more naive.
"Did you cut it out?"
"I won't say it didn't hurt, but it was worth it. I left it in Luna's apartment so they think I'm there."
"That's why you wanted to meet here."
"Exactly." I smiled. "Until now, they were two steps ahead of me. Now they don't even realize I've overtaken them. But I need your help if I want it to stay that way."
"Wait, wait. Let me recap. You were gone. I've been looking for you like crazy for two days. I've called you like a hundred times. I thought you were dead somewhere. All of a sudden you write me an address and I come, not knowing who I'll even find here. And here you are, asking for help and I'm supposed to give it to you? What were you thinking, Eris?"
"I get it, you're angry."
"Angry?" He snorted. "I'm pissed. And you can't imagine how much. We had a deal."
"And I would be breaking that if I stayed. If you don't remember, it said I couldn't endanger you or your family with my own problems. That's exactly what I would do. They would hurt Finn if I didn't leave. They said his name exactly. And so I don't forget, they said one more thing. Val. Can you tell me who it is?"
His face turned pale and his chest began to heave rapidly. "Val?" He swallowed hard.
"Yeah. Look, I don't know who she is, but I assume she's important to you."
Which surprised me slightly. Luna was saying that she had never seen him talk to a woman and now? Could she be his girlfriend? Or something more?
"I left to keep you all safe. Plus, they know who's after your family."
"What? Who?"
"I wasn't told that, but if I don't stay away from you, it'll be the least of our worries. The white snakes won't just come after me, they'll come after you too. Trust me, you don't want that."
"So why am I here? Do you need to get out of here? Is that the help you want?"
"Not exactly. I need money."
"How much?" He frowned.
"A lot."
"If they're not to get you out of here, what do you need them for?"
"I'm going to destroy the entire organisation."
"Sorry, what?"
"I didn't say it would be easy."
I am now certain that Eris is not mentally well. What's going on in her head?
I understand that she had a difficult childhood and that the white snakes didn't help her much, but to destroy the whole organization? She herself? How does she imagine she will do it? Even if she somehow managed to do it, I doubt that she would come out alive. This is madness.
"I see you're thinking." She interrupted my thoughts. "You think that's a bad idea. I understand that, but I need you to trust me."
"Trust you? Why should I? You've given me no reason."
"I came here to ask for your help. Don't take it lightly. I don't like to owe people for help, but I need it now."
What options do I even have? I won't help her, so she will continue to work alone and probably die in the process. If I help her, I may put my whole family in danger. I don't want to risk that.
"Look, Killian. I'm going to destroy the entire organization by myself. I don't need you to come with me and fight my fights. That's my concern. I'll make sure your family is safe and I'll find out who's after you, I promise."
"I'm sorry Eris." I breathed heavily. "I can't help you. I don't want to jeopardize my family's safety." I stood up and slowly started walking away from her.
As much as I'd like to help her, I can't. I can't help her if it means putting my family at risk. I've kept them alive until now, I want to keep it that way.
"Lyssa Laurent." I stopped when I heard her again.
"What?" I looked at her confused.
"My name. Lyssa Laurent."
I studied her face, trying to figure out if she was telling the truth. But why would she lie at all?
"I had one brother, Lukas." She swallowed hard. "He and my parents died in a fire seventeen years ago."
"Why are you telling me this?" If what she says is true, and it looks like it is, it must be difficult.
"Because that's the only way you'll trust me." She pointed to the place where I was sitting so that I could sit there again.
This is a bad idea.
I walked back to her and sat down. I noticed the relief on her face.
"Thank you."
"I haven't done anything yet."
"You stayed. That means something." She shrugged.
"What do you want to use the money for? I doubt you'll bribe them to surrender."
"No." She laughed. "I plan to secure a few things that will really help me a lot. It will be a fair fight if I have the same weapons."
"And how do you get them?"
"Do you think I've been sitting on my ass for two whole days?" She frowned. "I found someone who is willing to sell white snake equipment. It's not easy to get to, but if I have enough money, it will be easier."
"And then what? You're going to go after the entire organization with an enhanced weapon? That's suicide."
"Of course not. First I have to kidnap Nyx and get information out of her."
"Who? You know what, I don't even want to know. Your plan doesn't really have a beginning or an end."
"Does that mean you won't help me?" She raised an eyebrow.
Why didn't I leave her alone a long time ago? I would have her off my neck. I wouldn't have any problems. But I had to go to her and make a deal.
I have really bad ideas. And their number has increased since I've known her.
"No." I breathed heavily. "That means I'll make sure you don't get yourself killed." A smile immediately appeared on her face. So big I thought she was having a heart attack.
"I will make sure your family is safe."
"I hope so."
"But that means you either tell me who Val is yourself or I will find out. Because she can be a target too. And I'm guessing you don't want that."
Val has security at every step, but even that doesn't reassure me much. I've seen what the white snakes are capable of and I don't like the odds.
I never wanted to drag her into this life. I wanted her to have a normal one. At least as normal as can be.
If I tell her she's in danger and has to come to New York, I don't know what she'll do. Once again I am in a position where I don't know what to do.
"I'll call her and tell her the situation." I breathed heavily.
"I'll make sure no one dies."
"Easier said than done. So what's your plan now?"
"At the moment?" I nodded. "Finish this coffee. I have a feeling it'll be the last one I drink in peace." She lifted the mug and put it to her lips.
"And then?"
"Going on shopping sprees that I enjoy more when they're not about clothes." She smiled.
"I signed a deal with the devil didn't I?"
"I don't know." She shrugged. "I guess that remains to be seen."
I can't believe I actually decided to help her. What's wrong with me? Why can't I keep my distance from her? Life would be easier right away.
I guess it's too late for that. We will see where this cooperation will lead us.
I hope it won't be to the grave.
*****
Hope you enjoyed. <3