3

~Tove

My blood goes ice cold.

"He wants to kill me, doesn't he?"

I have no idea what I've done to deserve it. All I really do is go to and from my work, and sometimes go out with Mary.

Not that anyone deserves it, but why am I the target of a murderer?

"We can't be sure. He acted completely out of character tonight by going on a date with you," Ellard explains.

Out of character? What is in his character?

"He hasn't been in contact with anyone we have been able to trace in a very long time," Arkyn says, adjusting his jacket.

"Why is he dangerous?" It's not going to help me fall asleep tonight, but I want to hear examples of everything that he has done in the past to bring him to the attention of Noble's.

"His powers exceed ours, as Noble's." Ellard gestures between himself and Arkyn.

My eyes widen. I've grown up in this Territory hearing that Noble's are peak of power in the whole land. That they choose to rule here, over us, instead of elsewhere.

Now, to hear that there is someone above them? Someone who is not governed by law or policy?

What a disturbing thought...

"But I thought the Noble's were the most powerful people in the world?" Mary says from where she stands in the corner, watching this go down.

"This is a rare case," Ellard tells her grimly.

Arkyn sighs. "Tell us what he said to you on your date."

"He didn't say much. He refused to tell me anything about him." When I think back on what happened only less than an hour ago, not much was really exchanged between us.

Every time I tried to dig more into his past, he ushered me away from it, revealing nothing about himself. I thought he was just strange at the time, maybe guarded even.

I wouldn't have thought it was because any information about him would have turned me onto who he truly is.

And to think, I wanted him in my bed that night...

"Did he tell you anything that may help us?" Ellard pushes. I'm not sure what would help them, since he seemed so interested in me, and not how I would see him.

"He's from Territory Eleven? He's a murderer...I mean, that's all he said to me," I stutter. I'm grateful that I don't know anything else.

I don't want to know what kind of monster dwells beneath that cold, beautiful exterior.

"How long was your date?"

"Half an hour maybe." Time seemed to have slowed down around him, as if everything in existence turned its attention to him, forgetting it must continue in its own vain.

Arkyn looks sceptical, staring at me with that cold, blue gaze. "And that's all you spoke about?"

"Well, no. He was asking me about myself, about my studying, about my powers," I recall. I wonder if it makes the kill more satisfying when he learns more about his victim.

Ellard flinches. "Powers?"

"I have mere scraps of it compared to you all. He made it seem like I should continue working to get my powers better, but I told him they are stuck as they are," I tell them.

I've tried my entire life to connect to my powers, to make them stronger. It's no use, I've reached the edge of my training, and I've accepted that. I'm happy being normal, for the most part.

Arkyn and Ellard exchange glances.

They know something. They are exchanging some kind of information without saying a word. I want to dig, but they are Noble's, and I feel uncomfortable enough conversing with them now.

Ellard turns his attention to me, looking grim. "You may have to come with us for a while, Toven."

"What? Why?"

I can feel the panic starting to rise up inside me. This is clearly serious, but am I in enough danger that I need to go with Noble's in order to save myself?

"Keo is obviously very dangerous. We fear he may return to kill you, or worse," Ellard explains, fidgeting with his gloves.

"Worse? What's worse than death?"

"He may have darker motives. No offense to you, Toven, but it's doubtful he just wanted to have a date with you," Arkyn says flatly.

I narrow my eyes upon him. Keo was using me, and I don't feel bad about that. My luck with dates has never been great, so it's not as if I'm not used to this feeling.

But getting over being the potential prey to a murderer is going to take a little bit longer.

"What are you suggesting then?" If I go with them, will they be able to rid of the threat of Keo? What if he stops at nothing to get what he wants?

"He may desire an aspect of your powers."

"I have barely any. He would have better luck targeting you all,” I tell them. Why me? Why not many other Angel-bloods with a hint of more power than me, who still have more room and who have more versatile magic.

I’m certain he has the ability to transport himself around if he is as powerful as the Noble’s claim.

"Perhaps he is after your powers because of how small they are. To him, they may be useful, and you're an easy target,” Arkyn says.

He really has a way with words.

"Easy?"

Mary cuts in before Arkyn can respond. "Keo doesn't know where we live. I'm sure Tove will be safe here."

I shiver, casting a look out the window.

It still pours with rain out there, the echo of thunder in the distance haunting me. This feels so ominous, knowing he is out there, plotting his next move while we sit here, discussing him like he’s some mythical creature.

"I'm afraid we can't take that risk,” Ellard exclaims. “As Noble’s we must do what we can do protect our citizens. We can help you so you do not fall victim to Keo.”

"Will you put me in a prison?" I would rather die at Keo’s hand than risk that.

"No. We will put you under protection at our estate,” Ellard assures me.

Everyone who lives in Territory One knows about the Noble’s estate. It’s large, imposing and sits right in the centre of the main city. It’s where Noble’s come from their own personal residences

"Can't someone just come here and guard me or something?" Going to that manor is essentially a more lavish kind of a prison, but I’ll be detained all the same.

"Unfortunately no one's power compares to that of Keo's, other than all the Noble's together. You will be better off there,” Ellard tells me softly. Arkyn taps his foot floor, getting impatient.

"What if he hurts Mary?"

My friend stands against the wall, trembling. She doesn’t handle these things very well, considering her troubled past. She hates being protected, but I can’t just leave her to get hurt.

"As she has also conversed with him, she will have to come also."

I look between the Noble’s. "How do you know all of this?"

"We have eyes in the right places. We have to, we've been pursuing Keo for a long time,” Arkyn tells me. I imagine he is doing this not because he cares about my safety, but because he wants to catch Keo.

"Why is he so dangerous?"

Ellard swallows tightly, shifting uncomfortably. "It may be safer for you to not know."

"I want to know." I’m not going to sit around and be afraid when I don’t even know what I’m afraid of.

"We understand that, but it might only make you feel worse about having been in his presence today,” Ellard warns lowly.

I shake my head stubbornly. "Seriously, I can handle it."

He sighs deeply, running a hand through his deep bronze hair, deciding whether he should indulge this information to me or not.

"He has full Demon blood,” he eventually admits.

I flinch.

I’ll admit, I don’t know much about history. It never interested me. However, everyone knows about the Great War that raged on between Angel’s and Demon’s.

The Angel’s eradicated all full-blooded Demon’s. A few with some Demon blood survived, and as centuries passed the bloodline ran a lot thinner, to the point where most are barely much more than human.

That’s what we were told in school…anything else and hysteria would have erupted.

Demon’s are dangerous. They don’t have morals. They use, manipulate and kill at will. The Angel’s wanted to rid the world of their plague and didn’t entirely succeed.

We were told the few Demon-bloods that still exist are such a small amount we are never likely to account one in real life, and now I’ve just been told by a Noble that I’ve sat across the table from one.

A full-blooded Demon, even.

"That's impossible...I mean, not impossible, but highly unlikely,” I whisper hoarsely, feeling true, horrifying fear course through me.

"I thought most of them were killed in the war?" Mary adds.

"Most of them were, but those who survived still exist today, and are extremely dangerous,” Arkyn tells me firmly, a hint of anger flaring in his eyes.

I look down at my hands, stunned. "I was around a Demon..."

"Why don't you grab some things, the both of you, and we will leave now?" Ellard instructs tentatively.

Who am I to deny him?

The true threat of Keo has been revealed, and I need to go into hiding before he can hurt me again.

Numbly, I stand, gesturing for Mary to go to her room to pack. She just nods, watching me slip from her apartment and across the hall to my own.

It’s cold in here. I left the window open, hoping for some clear air in the place when I returned with my date.

And now, there’s just a growing puddle on the wood floor from where the rain flutters in.

I wrestle it shut, sighing.

I’m not even sure I’ll be returning to this small, albeit special apartment that I’ve spent the last few years at. Once Keo has been caught, I’ll return to this life…

But I’ll always have that haunting memory of his intense gaze, of those words he whispered in my ear.

Rubbing my arms, I head to my bedroom, but pause.

I can’t do this.

A choked sob escapes me. I couldn’t bare to appear emotional in front of the Noble’s, but I’ve just experienced something from my nightmares, and now I’m expected to pack and get on with it.

“Get over it,” I grumble to myself, straightening.

With hands wet from rubbing my eyes, I open my bedroom door.

Sitting upon my bed, back against my headboard, sits Keo.

I nearly all backwards into the door as it closes behind me.

Keo smirks. "How about a second date?"