Scar

Happy Monday!

I hope this update finds you feeling well!

Enjoy!

♥     ♥     ♥

The chiffon skirt of the dress spun beautifully at her knees as Enid twirled before the mirror.

Intricate silver leaves were woven into the sheer fabric, spanning across her waist and down her arms.

Her back was completely bare, save for the line of stitched leaves that flowed down her spine.

A light dusting of rosy makeup lightened her features and her curls were twisted back in a neat bun.

"Exquisite." Came a breathless voice from behind her.

Turning, she found Alexander in the doorway.

Perfectly clad in an expensive suit, his golden curls pushed back.

"Thank you." She blushed, her eyes following him as he walked across the closet toward her.

"It's just missing one thing." His voice low as he retrieved something from one of the drawers she had yet to explore.

He turned her back toward the mirror with a warm hand on her waist.

Delicately, he placed a thin golden chain around her neck and fastened it.

Three small hearts sat at the center of the dainty necklace.

The cool metal pressed against her throat, but not uncomfortably so.

She admired the way it sparkled against her fair skin, the placement almost like that of a collar.

"It's beautiful. Thank you." Enid smiled sweetly up at him as his hands came to rest on her hips.

"Only the best for you, angel." He murmured against her shoulder, his amber eyes meeting her own in the mirror.

She melted against him.

"All of this feels like a dream sometimes." Her whisper floated through the air before them.

Alexander turned her in his arms, so she was facing him.

He pressed a searing kiss to her lips that stole the air from her lungs.

"There's nothing more real than this, Enid." His promise quieted her mind.

Theodore and Dante were waiting for them in the entrance hall, both clad in fitting suits of their own.

Enid swallowed as their eyes darkened upon noticing her.

She didn't know how she was going to survive an evening with the three of them looking so devilishly handsome.

After a showering of compliments and helping her into her coat, they stepped into the waiting car out front.

Enid sat in the back with Dante, her fingers laced with his as they passed the massive gates.

The drive to Boston felt short as she chatted with the men and she soon found herself staring in wonder at the towering buildings once more.

It felt like years had passed since she had been in the city with Alexander for the charity event.

So much had changed.

A valet opened the door for her when they pulled up beside an ostentatious building.

Enid glanced around in wonder as they walked inside the low-lit room.

Massive chandeliers lined the ceiling, finely dressed men and women laughed and ate around white tablecloth tables.

As the foursome approached the hostess desk, the woman immediately led them to a table toward the back.

As Enid followed Theodore's tall frame through the room, she couldn't help but notice the many pairs of eyes falling upon them.

She bit the inside of her lip and kept her eyes firmly on the back of his coat.

Finally, they reached a square table that was blocked off from the rest of the room by a gorgeous oriental folding screen.

Immediately she felt the tension drop from her shoulders as she was shielded from the curious eyes of the other patrons.

Theodore pulled out a chair for her and gave her a small smile as she slipped into it.

Within seconds of their seating, a waiter appeared to fill their water glasses and another to hand out menus.

Enid's eyes grew as she took in the prices.

"Order anything you like, little bird." Dante said, having noticed her expression.

She settled for one of the lower priced filets and an order of the truffle macaroni and cheese after urging from Alexander.

Apparently, it was his favorite.

Enid was greatly enjoying the company of the three men and her first course of a strawberry salad when the sound of a throat clearing came from beside the table.

Glancing up, she found it was an intimidating man with black curls that fell to just below his chin.

His dark eyes were directly on her and she did her best not to flinch under his sudden attention.

He seemed to be around the same age as Theodore, but his dark features were greatly aged by a harsh scar that ran from his left eye to the middle of his cheek.

Without the mark, he would have been quite handsome.

Now knowing the immortal men so well, she caught the infinitesimal way in which they each tensed upon recognizing him.

It was gone in an instant as the men relaxed into unbothered stances with practiced ease.

"Ah, Almalfi. How are you this evening?" Dante stiffly offered the man his hand as he stood.

"Quite well, thank you. So nice to see you three, it's been nearly two years now, hasn't it?" The man, Almalfi responded, a wicked smile curling the corners of his lips.

His rough accent was new to her, possibly something Slavic.

"Yes, last time would be in Prague, I believe." Alexander said coldly, his eyes sharp on the strange man.

Enid fought against the whirring anxiety swelling in her chest.

Something about this man put her on edge.

"Oh, Prague. What a lovely city indeed. Speaking of lovely, who is this ethereal goddess?" Almalfi's hand reached across the table toward her.

Resisting looking at her men and losing the battle of eye-contact she had unwillingly been entered into, she placed her hand carefully in his.

He pulled her hand up to his lips and she was forced to rise from her seat.

"Enid McCarthy." She responded quietly, trying to keep her hand from trembling.

His eyes roamed along her body slowly, a dangerous smirk showing his sharp teeth.

Her skin crawled as he pressed a kiss upon it, his eyes sparkling with a challenge.

"It is my absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Armad Almalfi." He released her hand slowly and she tried not to yank it back to her too quickly.

Enid didn't understand what was going on.

All she knew was that this man was clearly not liked by the three men with her.

And that he made her feel incredibly uneasy.

He turned to Dante and she took the moment to inhale deeply.

She also sneakily wiped the back of her hand against her skirt.

"Flynt will be so happy to hear I saw you all. I'll have to let him know what a darling nymphet you found as well." His friendly tone conflicting with the threat in his charcoal eyes.

Theodore stepped forward slightly, his body now blocking most of hers from view.

"I heard Flynt was coming back to America. You'll have to let us know when he lands so we can send him a welcome basket." Theodore's tone dangerously acrimonious.

"Of course. I know he's very excited to see his old friends." Almalfi's smirk was nearly a sneer.

Enid felt like they were all speaking in code.

For a moment, it was silent as his black eyes swept back over to her again.

"Well, I will leave you to enjoy your meal. So nice meeting you, Enid. I hope to see you around soon." The man nodded at her before turning and strolled to the exit.

She dropped back into her chair, a rush of air flowing from her parted lips.

When the trio had settled back into their seats, she watched as they did their seemingly telepathic communicating.

The waiter appeared with their entrees, seemingly unaware of the somber mood that had fallen upon the group.

Enid had just taken her first bite when Theodore's hand came to rest on her knee under the table.

"Are you okay, darling?" His stone mask cracking with concern for her.

"I think so. Who was that?" She asked, wanting to understand what had just occurred.

"A very bad man, principessa. But don't worry, he won't be coming near you ever again." Dante's voice rumbled like a growl as he cut into his steak.

"But how do you know him?" She persisted, turning to look at each of them.

"It's a long story. Why don't we just drop it for now and enjoy our evening?" His emerald eyes warned her against disobeying.

His hand came to rest on her right thigh, and she felt a leg press against hers.

Looking up, she saw Alexander smile comfortingly at her.

Agreeing to leave it be for now, Enid gushed over how good the macaroni dish was.

The three men smiled at her warmly, tension still tight in their shoulders.

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The closest I could find to how I imagine Enid's dress. ^

Comments fill my heart with joy.

All my love, Sappho ♥