Chapter 6 - A Kiss of Darkness

Dimitri's footsteps echoed in the sterile corridor as he approached the new interrogation room. He paused just outside the door, the weight of the previous day's events still pressing against his thoughts. He took a deep breath, striving to quell the turmoil within him, he couldn't afford to give Kian another opportunity to rattle his composure. 

Axel was waiting just outside the room, an unreadable expression in place. Beside him, Agent Carver gave Dimitri a curt nod, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. Kian had been unpredictable, and keeping him restrained had seemed like the only option.

"You sure you want to go in there alone?" Axel asked, voice low, though he didn't sound particularly concerned.

Dimitri met his gaze. "I need space with him. Kian won't talk freely with an audience. He needs to believe it's just me."

Agent Carver frowned, glancing toward the door. "We can't just—"

"I know what I'm doing," Dimitri interrupted smoothly. "If he's going to give us anything useful, he has to trust me. And he won't with both of you standing in the room."

Axel regarded him for a moment before sighing. "Alright, but we're staying close." He gestured toward Carver. "We'll be outside, but don't take too long."

As Axel and Carver stepped away, Dimitri took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs as the tension in his chest slowly eased. With a firm push, he opened the door and stepped inside.

The room felt immediately different from the hallway—calmer, more controlled. Dimitri leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Kian, who sat across from him. The room, unlike the typical sterile interrogation space, felt more personal—more like Dimitri's office. The walls were lined with shelves of books on criminal psychology, a large desk scattered with papers, and no reflective glass or hidden cameras to give away that they were being watched. Kian's eyes flickered around the room, taking in the details. Dimitri had made sure to set the scene. He needed Kian to trust him, or at least believe they were alone.

"Let's make this easier for both of us," Dimitri said, standing slowly to unbuckle the straps of the straitjacket holding Kian in place. The fabric fell away, and Kian flexed his hands, rubbing his wrists before letting his eyes settle on Dimitri with a curious intensity.

"You don't think I'm dangerous? You're pretty confident," Kian asked, his voice low and teasing as if testing Dimitri's resolve now that his restraints were gone.

"Confidence isn't the issue," Dimitri replied cooly, sitting across from him. "You're the one who wanted to talk. So, talk."

Kian's smile faded, "You're not like the others. You don't rattle easily."

Dimitri didn't blink, leaning against the desk, "You're not the first killer I've met. What makes you think you're different?"

Kian's smile widened, but it was laced with something darker, teasing, and predatory. He stood up, his eyes glinting.

"I'm not different," he said, his voice soft, barely above a whisper. "I'm worse."

In an instant, Kian lunged forward, snatching a pen from Dimitri's desk. With a flick of his wrist, he aimed it at Dimitri's throat, his wicked smile growing as he savored the moment. 

He paused, watching Dimitri closely for a reaction that never came. That only seemed to fuel Kian's next words.

"You see, killers like me... we don't act out of necessity, survival, or any simple motive. We don't follow the same rules as the others you've met," Kian began, his voice laced with unsettling calm. "It's not about hatred or anger. There's no tragic story fueling this. And it's certainly not because we enjoy killing." He leaned in slightly, his eyes gleaming with a dark satisfaction. "It's the game, the artistry of it all. The way we weave chaos. And you," he paused, his gaze fixating on Dimitri, voice almost purring, "are fascinated by that"  

His eyes glimmered with a dangerous arrogance. "That's what makes me different, Professor."

Dimitri's eyes, sharp and frigid, studied Kian as if he were a mere specimen—a subject to be dissected. Kian's attempt to provoke him rolled off like water. Instead, he sidestepped the attack, his instincts honed by years of navigating threats. He grabbed Kian's wrist, twisting it and forcing the pen away from him. "You think a pen is going to scare me?" Dimitri's voice was a low rasp, drenched in disdain. 

The sheer contrast between his detached demeanor and the scorn in his tone sent a shiver through Kian's spine. 

"I've faced scarier things in my sleep." 

With a sudden shift, Kian twisted his body, using his free hand to shove Dimitri back, the unexpected force catching him off guard.

Dimitri stumbled but quickly regained his balance, determination flickering in his eyes. "You want to play rough? Fine by me." He lunged back at Kian, aiming for his shoulder, but Kian was quicker. He ducked and rolled, using the desk as a pivot point to regain his footing. 

As they circled each other, both men calculating their next move, "What fascinates me is how predictable you are. All of this—" Dimitri gestured subtly between them, "—is just another layer of self-indulgence, a performance to feel special."

His eyes sharpened, "But you're not. You're still in here. Still caged. And no matter how clever you think you are, you're not in control."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "You're not different, Kian. You're just... another killer."

A flicker of something passed through Kian's eyes—irritation, intrigue, maybe both—but it was fleeting. Whatever it was pushed Kian to make the next move. Kian feigned left, then surged forward, tackling Dimitri against the desk. The impact rattled the papers, but Dimitri reacted instinctively, wrapping his legs around Kian's waist and pulling him down. They crashed onto the floor, grappling for control, breaths mingling. 

"That's what you think?" Kian shot back, the playful defiance in his tone belying the seriousness of their situation. "Then let's talk about your copycat. Maybe that'll remind you who's really in control." 

With a sudden twist of his body, Kian broke free, reversing their positions and pinning Dimitri down. Dimitri watched as Kian's gaze traveled down his body, lingering for a moment before meeting his eyes again. Kian was too close now, the scent of him, the warmth of his breath barely brushing Dimitri's skin.

"Let's continue this conversation," Dimitri said, his voice steady despite their precarious position. "But without the theatrics." 

"Aww but the theatrics are the fun part. Fine, let's make this more interesting." Kian's lips curved into a sly smile, barely brushing the line between mockery and temptation. "I'll tell you what you want to know... for a price."

Dimitri's brow furrowed, suspicious. But the shift in Kian's tone—its sudden intimacy—pricked at the edges of his intrigue. "A price?" Dimitri scoffed.

"A kiss," Kian said, the word hanging between them like an invitation, slow and deliberate. 

Dimitri raised an eyebrow, fighting the grin threatening to break through. "That's a bit cliché, don't you think?"

"Cliche? Maybe." Kian shrugged. "What do you say? I give you a little hint, and you'll reward me with a taste."

Dimitri stiffened, the arrogance momentarily vanishing from his eyes, replaced by a flicker of something raw. He tilted his head, amusement battling with his hesitation. "You think I'd give you that so easily?"

"You're already thinking about it," Kian replied, closing the distance until he was within reach, his breath ghosting over Dimitri's lips. "Aren't you?"

"After this, you could go on pretending you don't want me," Kian said.

Dimitri chuckled, the banter flowing effortlessly between them, masking the real stakes of this kiss, "Pretending? I'm not the one throwing myself at someone like a moth to a flame, Kian."

But beneath his playful tone, Dimitri faltered for a heartbeat, the tiniest of cracks appearing in his composed demeanor. Almost defiantly, he closed the space between them, pressing his lips to Kian's in a move that felt more like an act of control than surrender. Yet, the second their mouths connected, something shifted. 

Kian freed Dimitri's hands, but before he could fully react, Dimitri's fingers found their way to the back of Kian's neck, drawing him closer with unexpected force, and deepening the kiss. Their lips moved together in a slow, deliberate, and hypnotic rhythm. Dimitri's fingers tightened in Kian's hair, and he felt the subtle tremor that ran through Kian's body.

Then, with a boldness that caught Dimitri off guard, Kian's tongue traced the edge of his lower lip. The teasing touch sent a shock of pleasure through Dimitri, and before he could stop it, a breathless gasp escaped him. He could feel Kian's self-satisfied smirk against his mouth, a silent taunt just before Kian's tongue slipped past his lips, exploring with passion. The sensation jolted through Dimitri like a current, lighting up every nerve, and stealing his breath.

Refusing to be outdone, Dimitri surged forward, meeting Kian's advance with his own. Their tongues clashed in a battle of dominance, each movement making the air around them feel thick and heavy. Wet, heated sounds filled the space, as each kiss became a silent testament to the power between them.

Kian's hands began to wander, gliding slowly from Dimitri's arms to his throat. His fingers pressed lightly at first, then with more force, tilting Dimitri's head back. The subtle pressure against Dimitri's throat heightened the experience, stoking the flames between them. The interplay of control and desire grew into a magnetizing pull, turning the kiss into a fierce, intimate dance—one where neither was willing to yield. 

To his surprise, Dimitri found himself savoring the taste of him, the way Kian's breath quickened, betraying his composure. With Dimitri pinned beneath Kian, his legs wrapped around Kian's waist, he felt the unmistakable pressure of desire pressing against him. 

Then, Kian thrust against him, the size of his bulge forcing a gasp from Dimitri's lips, a sound that ignited a fire deep in his core. Embarrassment flooded through him, cheeks flushing as he pushed Kian away, desperate to hide not only his discomfort but also the undeniable evidence of his own arousal. 

Kian pulled back, eyes darkened, lips slightly parted, catching his breath. He swallowed hard, his voice lower now, almost breathless.

"Well," Kian murmured, "you've definitely got my attention now."

"Can't say the same for me," Dimitri replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "That might just be one of the worst kisses I've ever had." 

Kian raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as his gaze roamed down to Dimitri's evident arousal. Standing up, he chuckled softly, the sound dripping with playful confidence. "You need to work on your lying skills, Professor"

He extended a hand, offering assistance as Dimitri rose, but Dimitri brushed it away with a defiant glare, rising to his feet on his own. 

"It's a woman," Kian said softly, his voice still carrying the seductive edge from their kiss. 

Dimitri's eyes widened in shock, the revelation hitting him like a thunderclap. A woman? His mind raced, scrambling to piece together the significance of this revelation. A woman who knew everything about Thanatos' methods—someone intimate with every gruesome detail, every signature move. Thanatos only killed women, which meant....

"A victim? But that's impossible. Thanatos never leaves survivors."

Kian's smile broadened, a trace of appreciation and satisfaction in his eyes as if he had pride in Dimitri's insight. 

"Seems even the best have their moments of weakness."

Dimitri frowned, the pieces of the puzzle not quite fitting together. "No, that's sloppy work. You're not sloppy" A realization dawned upon Dimitri, "Unless you let her go on purpose."

Kian's expression turned serious, "That's all you get from me. Be careful, Dimitri."

"What? You're worried about me now?" Dimitri shot back, a teasing smile breaking through his initial confusion. "Don't tell me it takes one little kiss for you to get attached."

Kian chuckled softly, the sound both alluring and dangerous. "Oh, don't flatter yourself, Professor. I'm merely intrigued. It's not every day I find someone willing to match me step for step. But trust me, attachment is the least of your worries." 

Dimitri pushed the door open and stepped out of the office, acutely aware of the lingering gaze he felt on his back. Leaving Axel and Agent Carver to manage the task of securing Kian once more, Dimitri set his sights on the more pressing matter at hand: the investigation into the copycat killer .