"We need to leave through the back door, I can't have my house smeared crimson" Kieran pressed out and walked away. His frame slipping into a small pathway, just few steps away the sitting room.
" Coming?" He asked
" Right behind you" Allistair whispered, his breath hot and ragged.
Kieran trembled, startled at how close he clung to him. He felt his hot breath graze his skin, his body reacting weirdly. He paused, flashed Allistair a quick glance and walked ahead.
They arrived at a dark tunnel, it was a secret path beneath his mansion. It was like he knew one day, he would need to escape from God knows who.
" You left the ladies?" Allistair asked, worried that they might get hurt.
" Hm. Sluts? Replaceable. Wouldn't risk my life for any" he shrugged, brushing off the black web from his path. Little dirt clinging to his cloth.
" Aufrigad is not all about books. far more than what meets the eyes" Kieran breathed out, forcing his way out of the tunnel. The huge city welcoming his filthy appearance.
" What do you keep there?" Alistair asked, his hands moving to his pocket. His eyes widened as he found his pocket empty.
How?...he had been very careful, he couldn't have lost it to anyone. Unless…it fell off.
He turned around, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach as he saw nothing but pitch black tunnel.
" Looking for this?" Kieran asked , holding up the locket which was chiming into a different shape.
Allistair froze, " how ..?"
Kieran smirked, " you are not the only one with a secret Mr Allistair" he grinned, throwing the locket back at him.
" That explains why they are after you"
" What do you know?" Allistair asked and Kieran paused.
" nothing exciting except for the fact that I dropped the locket off with you" he shrugged like it meant nothing.
Allistair froze, " you..?" He asked, his eyes wide with shock. How?
" They are after me …." He paused and looked at him, " and now, they are after you"
" You are the uncle? What do you know about my mother" Allistair asked, his blood boiling with questions yet unanswered.
" Nothing"
" But .."
" Shush…we need to find a safe shelter" he said and walked into the night.
An old car sat along the rail, covered with a trampoline. It's tyres were smeared with England's black coal and rancid grease.
" I happen to know where to go" Kieran added and pulled off the trampoline from the car. He opened the door and slid in.
Allistair stood there, his hands wrapped tightly against the locket which had tumbled his life overnight.
He didn't want to hold onto something that wasn't his to have. Although his life was not perfect. A total mess of ups and downs, he would rather write something that people would trash him for. Fight in Tyron's arena and make a little cash for food.
" Why should I trust you?" He asked, his gaze fixed on the figure who was looking at him, gaze filled with calculation.
" You don't. Get in the car. We don't have much time"
" And If I don't?"
Kieran smacked his tongue, rolling his eyes with frustration. " Then stay here and let them get to you. They would kill you even before you get a chance to give them the key" he spat, his voice burning with frustration.
" What is this key? Why did you drop it with me?"
" Want to know? Get in!"
A bang cut through the air, loud, terrifying. The bullet landed on the car and was thrown off the next second leaving Allistair in shock.
" Shit" Kieran cursed, stepping on the gas pedal. " Get in!" He barked.
Allistair acted on impulse and slid into the car. His gaze flying behind him.
His heart sank as he saw groups of black cladded men behind them. He caught sight of a familiar figure. It was her! The blonde who had attacked him the previous day. She was tailing him!
He turned his gaze to where they were speeding to. His heart poduing loudly.
What did he get himself into?
" My uncle…..
" He is dead and you might be next"
" I didn't ask for this!" He barked, shaken by the men he saw.
He had never been engaged in a real duel that involved life or death situation until the day he got his hands on this locket.
" fate doesn't chose who to mess with"
Allistair's nose flared. Fate? There was nothing as fate but his doing.
" You gave me this" he gritted out, fishing the ever- changing locket out of his pocket. " I didn't ask for this"
" You'd rather be an insignificant writer than take up your inheritance?"
Allistair scoffed, inheritance? At the expense of his life ? He would rather laze around, getting rejected by pretty ladies, fighting in boxing arenas and ending the day In his slumpy apartment.
" I expected more" Kieran sneered with disdain.
Allistair's anger faltered, slowly replaced with curiosity" My uncle, what did he say to you?"
Kieran paused, his gaze landing on Allistair's reflection on his front mirror.
" Nothing. Just your name, the letter and the locket"
Alistair sneered, " he really trusted you" he said, his hands clenching beside him.
"I'm a merchant. I would do anything for money. Your uncle knew that"
" How …"
" That's all I know" Kieran cut him off. " No more questions"
The ride to doom was quiet with only the crushing sound of gravel and the splatter of water along the road.
Allistair stared at the locket, examining the object. He let out a self deprecating smile. When it puts his life on the line, his uncle remembered him? Kicked him out of the family house the moment his parents died, amassing his father's fortune and suddenly…this?
His life had originally revolved around three things: Recognition, survival and vengeance.
Be recognised for his work, survive on his meagre earnings, pay back his uncle tenfold. But now, ….he was busy running away from people who sought after his life for a damn locket!
" We are here" Kieran's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He nodded and stepped out of the car, his gaze falling on a small building. It had blue rings of lighting dancing around the roof, a name beaming with lights " Exes and cues"
" A bar?" He asked.
Keiran shrugged, " I might be rich but I can't get you into Aufrigad"
Allistair squinted, his brows gathered with worry. " Then who"
" Caedmon,
Caedmon Poe" he breathed out, the name hung heavy in the air as both fixed their gazes on the bar flashing with a blue ring.