Part 23 (1/2)

Eighteen.

Cupid

An hour later, footsteps sounded on the stairs. On the first level of his mansion, Asher stood in the shadows, in an area close to the bottom of the steps.

The whole time, he held onto the rose, he'd wanted to give to Diana.

There you go. Now it's time to escape from the bad man.

He'd been waiting for her to run, and figured the front or back door would be her only rational solution. The windows were hard to climb out of. He'd done it a few times, constantly sc.r.a.ping himself and pulling a muscle.

For Diana, climbing down three flights on his mansion, would be suicide.

I'm guessing Diana no longer is interested in taking a shower. You figured now was a good time to run away?

In front of him, Diana walked down the steps. She glanced behind her, every few feet, probably a.s.suming that Asher still lay in his bedroom.

What's going through your mind? Are you scared?

He relished in the hallway's darkness, leaned back, and let the shade blanket him.

Do you know I'm Cupid? Or are there doubts? Do you think I'm capable of murder, My Love?

Diana arrived at the first floor, hugged herself, and headed toward his direction. He'd guessed right. Diana hadn't remembered the back exits, when he'd done his tour of the house.

Now. How do I talk to her, without scaring her.

Diana's heavy breathing sounded out as she sped-walked toward him, not having any idea he was there.

Poor Diana.

Hope glittered in her eyes. Could she see the door in her mind? Did she imagine herself placing her hands on the k.n.o.b, turning it, and running away from him?

No. Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. The girl too. And then they have a small spat, nothing more. But. . .girl does not flee from the boy in fear. Not his girl.

”Okay, Diana,” she whispered to herself.

She was only five feet away, and would past him in seconds. She'd only need several more feet to hit the door. Although, unbeknownst to her, none of that mattered. His security would keep her here.

Tonight, Diana was trapped.

Tomorrow, he'd think of another way, to keep her in his cage.

Love truly is difficult.

”Y-you've got it.” Diana picked up her pace and formed her fingers into fists. ”Almost there.”

”Almost where?” Asher flipped the hallway's switch. A bright lamp lit up the hallway.

Gasping, Diana stared at him and didn't move.

Smart. It's best to say nothing. Focus on the escape. Don't show too much fear. Trick me. Make me believe you're still here for me.

She relaxed her arms as best as she could and held her hands, twisting each finger a little. ”Asher? Did you forget something?”

”No.” He turned the rose around. Those petals glowed in the light as they spiraled down over and over around the th.o.r.n.y stem. ”Where were you going, Diana?”

”I went to the bedroom, but you weren't in there.”

Good save, Diana. This is why I like you. You're so smart.

”Sorry, I left. I was wondering about something.” He raised the rose in the light. ”I just had to check it out, and now I know.”

”Know what?”

”I'm not sure.”

”Then you don't know.”

”Maybe, you're right.” He turned the rose around again. ”Maybe, I don't know.”

A few silent seconds pa.s.sed. The whole time Asher studied the flower.

Diana wiped the sweat off of her forehead and gave him a weak smile. ”That is such a captivating rose.”

”It is.” He gazed at Diana and with his hands, pulled away one petal. ”She loves me?”

The crimson petal floated down to the floor. It reminded him of the first drop of blood in a kill. That was always his favorite part, anytime his arrow hit a target.

That first drop of blood was like a flame to a cigarette or the addict's act of lighting a spoon and sucking up the bubbling liquid with a rusty needle.

The first drop of blood triggered the beginning of the fun, the start of all the madness.

Asher gazed at the petal as it lay on the floor between Diana and him.

In some ways, this petal is like the first drop of blood for our relations.h.i.+p. But let's see, if I'll have to shed more blood in the days to come. What will I do with you, Sweet Diana?

”She loves me not?” He snapped another petal off and flung it in the air.

Diana backed up. ”Is. . .is everything okay?”

He formed his lips to a grim line. ”Do you know where that came from?”

”Where what came from?” She made a fist with one hand and put it behind her.

”That whole little phrase.” He picked a petal. ”She loves me?”