An Excerpt

I glanced at my watch. I was really late. Darius would not be happy. Slowly, I nudged open the door to the make-shift conference room. The Malvagio was not high class at all. Darius was all about the penny pinching and he had no shame for it. I guess that was fine though; we would just have to endure numb behinds from sitting too long in old swivel chairs with ripped cushions and yellow foam stuffing peaking out. Every head jerked up at the sound of the door opening. Darius, whose back was to the door, turned around. His swivel chair squeaked loudly as he rotated it to stare at me with incriminating steel grey eyes. Darius was a man of small stature but he used severe body language to relay his immense and quite unsuspecting authority. He could simply walk into a noisy conference room and silence everyone with a wave of his hand. His gait was also a bit imposing; strong and confident with heavy steps. Once he quieted that conference room and began to speak the room became even more silent and motionless as his voice was relatively soft and he never raised it above a loud whisper. One could even hear a single drop of sweat splash on the grimy cement floor when Darius Wern spoke. “Samari, we’ve been waiting for you to arrive. Something hold you up?” “My apologizes, Darius. Traffic was really slow and the mayor was caught up on the phone so I couldn’t leave right away. I’m so sorry.” “Well, enough excuses. Let us convene the meeting. Tegan, will you please explain to Samari the current situation at the 47th street bank. Thank you.” Tegan stood up; his lanky frame seemed to rise forever. He had strikingly red hair that fell like long feathers over his angular face. Tegan was quiet and always kept a straight face. When he did talk he wasted no time, using only the words he needed to relay whatever the message. He spoke with clear diction, allowing the words to slip out of his mouth like smooth syrup. “Samari, the cops found the burned up electrical box in the 47th street bank’s basement. Then they saw Jonesy walking around the area. They are starting to make the connection.” “What? But that thick-headed superintendant couldn’t have…” I was shocked that Filio had already picked up the hottest clue at the bank. This was not supposed to happen yet. Darius interjected, “Tegan. Aren’t you forgetting one very important detail? I think Samari needs to know this one.” He twirled a pencil around his fleshy fingers, smiling wryly at it before lifting his devilish eyes to meet Tegan’s. Tegan sighed and looked forlornly out the dirty window. It was obvious that whatever he was about to tell me was something he wished he did not have to. “Samari, we bugged the phones in the Mayor’s office. Mayor Toland believes that you have something to do with the bank heist. She also thinks that you are a part of the Malvagio.” Tegan raised his crestfallen eyes to my face when he finished speaking. I tried to appear indifferent or at least hide my guilt but my face was completely covered by the pain of my own betrayal. How cruel of Darius to force Tegan to break the terrible news to me, his own sister! I looked at Darius, “How could you bug the phones and not tell me? I would have been more careful!” “That is just it, my dear Samari. I knew you would slip up someday and I was hoping it would be soon. I really can not afford for you to ruin my plan against this dying city. Mayor Toland is going to release you tomorrow and the next day we will be married. That way you can stay in our new house and tend to things of that homely manner while I take care of more important matters.” “You are an evil being, Darius Wern!” The words choked out and hot tears began to flow down my face. “Oh I am so glad you think so. Wickedness is just the characteristic I need in order to save this dejected city. I will finally unleash it. Gehald will finally rage with immensity. Its power will thrive and strongly rein over ever other city in this dark world.” The hateful passion Darius emitted was so strong; its sharp, searing fingers lingered over my skin. I cringed a bit, but not enough to show Darius, and realized the disastrous effects of his cunning. I had fallen for his charm and was now paying dearly for the consequences. There was no turning back. Darius never forgets or forgives. I would be stuck as his wife for attracting him and enemy for betraying him.