Page 51 of His Haunted Desire

AURORA

When the lights switch back on, I stare down at his dead body.

It doesn’t feel like a game anymore. Blood pools around him, his marble-white mask flecked with red, his eyes already drained off life. Tears sting my eyes and slide down my cheeks as I gaze at him. I shudder as if a panic attack is about to grip me.

The deal flies out of my head. I just want him to be okay, just want this not to have happened.

“Who did this?” a woman screams, falling to her knees at his side.“Who did this?”

“Aurora?”

I turn at the sound of his voice in shock, then throw myself into his arms and let out a shaky gasp. He holds me tightly, stroking his hand through my hair.

“Whoa–it’s okay.”

“Look, Raiden.”

“I know,” he says darkly. “But you’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“No.” My voice breaks.“Look.”

A pause, then he says, “You thought it was me.”

“Yuh-yes.”

“I’m here. I’m right here with you.”

The storm crashes outside. I hold onto him tightly as if to confirm it’s him, to convince myself he’s here, alive, safe.

He kisses me gently, then whispers, “I need to take control here. Stick close.”

He lets me go and walks into the gathered circle, his hands raised. “This is now a crime scene,” he says loudly. “Everyone needs to leave this room. Touch nothing. Leave everything as it is. The police will need to examine this.”

The woman at his side weeps, her face buried in his hands. “Who… would… do… this?” She lets out a scream that sounds like it tears a hole in her chest. I’ve never heard pain like it.

I never felt this way except when I learned what happened to my parents..

“He had no enemies.” She lowers her hands, looks up at Raiden. A beat too late, Raiden moves to take off his mask. “No enemies,” she whispers, staring at him. Then back at the dead man. “He hadno enemies.”

The woman springs up and rushes at Raiden. Raiden looks like he’s going to let her slap him, so I quickly jump between them, my hands raised. “This isn’t his fault. He wasn’t even in the same room!”

“Move,” the woman hisses.

“You’re not thinking clearly. But whatever else is going on here, Raiden isnotto blame. If you want to take out your grief on him, you’ll have to get through me first!”

“Move. Now.”

“No,” I hiss. “I won’t.”

There’s a long, tense standoff, then she finally stumbles away.

Two women walk up beside her, each taking an arm, holding her gently.

“Everyone needs to listen to my grandson,” Evangeline says, walking over to the group. “Leave the room, touch nothing. We’re going to contact the authorities. There’s a killer among us.”

A gasp tears through the group.

Raiden approaches his grandmother. “I’m not sure you needed to add that last part.” He takes out his cell phone. “No service.”