Unraveling (2)

She was dead? Ari grabbed his arm to stop him. "That's too far. I don't want him to think I'm dead. That's enough to crush anyone regardless of how you feel. I'm not here to hurt him." Her brows dipped, frowning up at Zadkiel. The truth was she knew that he had cared and was trying to do what he thought would keep her safe.

But even before they'd come into her life things had been dangerous. He'd already gone through with it without her permission, what could she really do? How could she let Alaric know that she was still alive?

Zadkiel yanked his arm from her grasp and backhanded her across the face, then gripped her by the neck and yanked her forward. "You may not be my slave but you don't put your hands on me and tell me what to do. Especially not In front of my people."

The woman was too shocked to do much more than nod. Hand raising to touch her cheek. Never had she been handled like that in front of others beyond the first time she was there. Why had she even agreed in the first place? Because I was afraid to be alone.

Ari shook her head to shake herself from the daze. "Sorry." She should have known better.

He studied her face in his hand. "I don't like to be touched. Respect that and I'll try to respect you all the same." Had he meant those words? The meaning was left in the open. He continued on up the long staircase that seemed to go on and on and on. "If you had another name, what would you go by? Beyond these walls?"

"I'll remember that." Ari rubbed at her cheek wondering if something traumatic had happened in his past to make him reflexive to others touch. That was usually how it went, right? Everyone had things that were hard for them to cope with. "Clary. I always thought it was a pretty classy name." Her answer had come quickly.

The long staircase began to wear on her. Not even a week after getting out of the wheelchair and she was doing some serious cardio. "I don't suppose you want me to sign some contract to become your assistant? A verbal agreement and something that is legally binding are two very different things."

"Clary is such a hideous name compared to yours, but I suppose it'll do." He shrugged when he finally reached the top floor where the marble turned into a glass structure that domed overhead. The same people who'd opened the doors below opened these ones.

"And no paperwork needed. That's troublesome. I can allow others to see the contract anyway. So, you were so lonely you don't mind my company huh?" He asked as he pushed open another door himself this time. "Here is your own room."

The realization that he had been listening in on her thoughts was violating. A heated blush rose to her freckled cheeks. "No. Not in the way you probably are thinking. I'd just grown used to having him around and being there to-" She cut herself off. There wasn't much reason to explain things to him. He could think what he wanted. "I was just fired and sent packing. You caught me at a very vulnerable moment."

The room was rather lavish though it lacked the homey feel she came to expect. It still hadn't quite sunk in that beyond Zadkiel's home, Ari was dead.

Everything she owned, everything in her name, her shop which she'd just had the chance to fulfill her dream with had all been burned to ash. Crushed along with the hope that Alaric could have changed his mind. Benjamin had gone to convince him and she had been drugged. The things around her smelled of money but that was all.

"Would you please stay out of my head? I don't think I can deal with being around you if you're going to constantly listen to my thoughts."

"Women," Zadkiel muttered and he dangled the necklace Benjamin had given her. He'd taken it when she hadn't noticed the last time they met. "Put this on, this time pay attention and maybe I won't be able to intrude on your thoughts. Better protect it this time. Never know if they'll be another time."

This was what he'd expected. "We creatures aren't capable of warmth and love. It's only an illusion at best. But since you're agreeing to this, you should know you'll never be able to turn back."

"Those are the type of things you tell people beforehand. Is it too late to reconsider?" She said it jokingly but she was serious. A normal life was all she ever wanted. Ari didn't know where she fit into this new world of impossibilities and cruelty.

Carefully she took the necklace back, clipping it back into place. It felt like she was keeping a piece of home for herself. Her hand cradled it protectively. "Everyone is capable of love. I don't know if you immortals like the stereotypes but a long life without love sounds incredibly boring." That couldn't be right when she knew Benjamin and Rafael loved one another dearly.

"Not when you have other means of entertainment," His eyes glided over her body sensually before glimpsing back into her own chocolate gaze. "I can show you if you'd like?" He flashed her a fangy smile while leaning against the open bedroom door with a smug look on his face.

Her hands rose with both palms open as she shook her head vigorously, sending her curls bouncing. "No thanks. You're nice? and all but I don't really see you that way." Hard to find attraction in someone who couldn't see her as an equal.

"Come on, but that's the fun of it. For pleasure and not personal feelings." He crossed the room and slung her on the bed, climbing on top of her with his face inches away. "You can't tell me this handsome face and me being this close to you doesn't make your body feel a certain way." Then he pressed his lips to hers.

Even though Ari was on the better end of caramel toned the bright blush that crept up her neck was still visible. She tore her mouth away from his, pushing him away by his shoulders, practically spitting to get the taste of him out.

"It does make me feel a certain way. Disgusted. Because I said no and you just said you would try to respect me. Is this the best your efforts can yield? It should occur to you that some people want more than just a nice face." She stares up at him angrily. "Now would be a good time for you to suddenly remember you have better things to do."

He rolled his eyes and moved away from her, sliding back off the bed. Zadkiel sighed. "God you're so boring. And to think I could've gotten my hands on personal documents the government kept hidden too."

"I'm sorry that I don't want to fuck someone who backhanded me minutes ago, has kidnapped me and treated me like an object. Imagine." Her lip curled in annoyance at the grown man throwing a fit all because he couldn't get his way. She let out a breath taking the bait regardless of what just happened. "What documents?"