He holds his place for the longest time as I go through all these wild thoughts in my head, thoughts of escape, thoughts of braving the storm no matter the consequences. And yet there's something in his steadfast gaze that draws out a need I didn't know I had. A need to trust someone's word. When I met Raven, I was scared of everyone and words only meant so much if you didn't follow the actions. I know I can trust an action from someone. The moment my father hit me, I knew he was a cruel man. And so when all Raven did was talk to me in soothing tones and didn't even try to touch me at first, I came to trust her because she knew what I was going through. I could tell by her own hesitancy to touch others. Tobies may not have the same troubling past as we did but he understands in a way too because he only touches those he trusts. His touch is more domineering, more relatable to my father's and yet maybe I need a strong male figure in my life just as I needed Raven's soft guidance. And then I think about how they touched at the masquerade party, how gently he touched her, how she was always rubbing an arm against him or reaching her hand out to him in some fashion. Their feelings for each other are easy enough to see and I feel a mixture of joy and envy to see it.

Even as Raven and he get closer, she pulls away from me and I don't think she can see it. More and more, I've come seeking her company at the house only to find solitude because she stays with him more than anywhere else. Tobias still manages to find me now and again but Raven....I can't remember the last time we were alone together. Probably the day she taught me some defense moves in the woods by the oustkirts. But here I'm getting away from myself, thinking about my own sadness when I'm face to face with a dark hunter. But this one's not pointing a bow at me like the blonde at the party. He's not eyeing me with distrust like he's waiting for me to grow fur and bite him. He only looks poised, waiting for me to make my decision whether to stay or go. And that makes my decision for me. If he were anywhere as cruel as my father, he would have stepped toward me by now, tried to force my decision by taking away some of my precious space, using the bully tacts of an impatient man. And yet he stands and waits as if he's got all the time in the world. He has trustworthy eyes but I'm sure those are mostly for the humans he's gone out of his way to protect in the past, protect from monsters like me.

And yet he doesn't hold a weapon, at least not where I can see it. And sure, he might be a good actor but I like to read it as I see it. His eyes are trustworthy. That's got to mean something. I slowly lower myself back into the seat and I can a shadow of something along his lip, like he moved it just so and I haven't seen the true masterpiece just yet. At my question, he answers back that it would take too much effort, a hint of something like humor in his undertone as he delivers the verdict. He doesn't plan to kill me, at least not yet. He offers to let me watch him make it and my eyes widen a bit in curiosity. I find myself chewing on my bottom lip as I make yet another decision, slowly rising from my seat this time as I nervously brush my hair behind my ears once more.

"I...I'd like that."

I offer in a small voice. I glance once more toward the rain frosted windows of the cafe, momentarily distracted by the ferocity of mother nature outside. And then the light above flickers again and I snap my gaze upward, watching with an impending doom as the light suddenly goes out completely, pitching us both into darkness. My breathing rakes up a few notches automatically, my hand reaching out to grip the corner of the table just so I can remember where I am. I blink a few times, trying to adjust to the darkness. My senses have kicked up ten notches with this new handicap, my hearing extra crisp but I don't hear him moving, not yet. If he wanted to make a move, I'd hear him or smell him. There's a whiff of his cologne, something calm and soothing but I don't let it distract me. And slowly my eyes adjust until I can see his darker silhouette, still where it was when the light flickered. At his comment, I feel my brow rising. He can still make stuff in the dark? I can only think that he might still put poison in it and I wouldn't be able to see it but maybe I could smell it, if it has a smell. After a moment, I swallow and nod slowly.

"Okay."

alexis wilde