[ IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A LONG, YET IRRESISTIBLY FANTASTIC READ, THIS IS IT ]

“Its done.” A smile crossed her stressed features. Eva was sweating, but she chose to ignore that factor. All that mattered was if she had made Vel happy. Every piece of attention she earned from him was like a drug. She couldn’t seem to stop running after him, even if she wanted. Sometimes she cursed herself for the effect he had on her, but then she would remind herself that it was perfectly natural. He was her boyfriend, and it was normal for her to want him to be happy. So, she would do absolutely anything he wanted if it meant seeing a smile spread across his full lips.

“Well done, darling,” Vel said. There was that smile she’d been awaiting. “This is brilliant!”

Earlier that morning, he’d asked her to take a secret route to retrieve a gift from an old friend. Vel hadn’t explained any further than that when she’d asked what, exactly, the gift was. She supposed he probably didn’t know, himself. After all, what is a “gift,” if it isn’t a surprise? Eva would be happy taking a trip for him, as long as he received his present. She’d want him to do the same for her, if she were busy and her friend, Lucy, had something to give her.

Of course, Lucy wasn’t much of a friend anymore. It was odd. Once Vel and her became romantically involved, Lucy stopped answering calls, texts, written messages. Vel offered that perhaps she was simply jealous. Lucy had had many failed relationships, and when she told her she knew for a _fact she _would marry Vel, she seemed…put off.

Anyway, it wasn’t important now. As long as she had her man, she would be perfectly content. Oddly though, there was still this distant, nagging feeling she was worthless to the people she loved, in some way. Yet she was happy. Her heart fluttered with joy as Vel gently took the backpack from her grip.

“Any…” Eva began to ask, but it was as though there were this hand that took hold of her voice. Was it fear she felt?

Vel paused from staring at his gift to consider her. His brow lifted curiously. He set the bag down and gently grabbed her hand, leading her to the couch in the center of his living room. They both sat, and he took her other hand in his. “What is it?” he asked.

She didn’t want to tell him, but his concern made her feel she should. She couldn’t hold back when he looked at her like that. All furrowed brows and waiting, honeysuckle eyes.

She opened her mouth. Closed it. “Has Lucy—or—anyone asked of me?” she finally managed.

Vel looked down, slowly. His hand gently rubbing her thigh as he spoke. “Your family, nor Lucy, has contacted for months. You know this.”

“I- yes, I do realize that, but I suppose there’s just this part of me that still…I dunno…”

“I understand, love.” As Eva’s chin tipped down, Vel tenderly kissed the top of her head. She sighed, and he pulled her to his chest in a warm embrace. Why did the gesture not feel so comforting, though? Instead of feeling better, she felt as though a rope had been tied around her arms and feet, preventing her from moving. Her heart beat fast and she hadn’t the slightest idea as to why. Eva just assumed he was still so special to her that he still gave her butterflies. Of course, he would be just as equally special if she didn’t get butterflies everytime he touched her.

Vel must have felt her tense up—something she did not know she was doing. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. His face was a question mark of emotion. The room was dimly set with dark woody colors. Jet black and blood red were his favorite colors, so one can imagine how…eerie his home seemed. But she was completely content with the interior as long as he came with it.

She bit the inside of her lip, nervously. He moved a loos piece of black hair behind her ear.

Eva had long hair. She decided to get it highlighted a few weeks ago. Raven with streakes of smokey gray. She loved it, and even better that Vel had, too. When he loved something, she began to appreciate it more, also.

His eyes searched hers. It was as though she were being slowly, peeled apart, all her deepest secrets spilling from her in heaps—not that she had any to keep from him. He finally blinked his gray eyes away, combing fingers through his hair that was laced with blood highlights that she thought was absolutely magnetic on him.

Eva wondered what he was thinking. He was so difficult to read. That was another factor that made him all the more exciting to be with. He was one, handsome surprise. All clean suits and leather jackets. Raven T-shirts and playboyish smirks. She loves him.

But something was off, and she needed to change the subject.

“So, what’s in the bag?” she inquired with a curious smile. “You did have me go through multiple winding alleys full of rats and spiders to retrieve such a thing. It must be important?”

He looked back to her with a bright smile that reached his eyes, and made them sparkle. “I am afraid I cannot tell you, Eva,” he pressed a lingering kiss to her lips that made her melt. “Friends never tell each others secrets. You understand that, of course?”

What she wanted to say was “no.” She didn’t understand why he couldn’t tell her. Hours trying to get it, and multiple run ins with rather sinister individuals, and all for what? In her mind, she could have simply gone through all that trouble to bring back a mere child’s toy. Surly, what was concealed in the bag that sat by his leg, had to be of immense significance.

But he would never lie. He would never cause her to go out for hours, alone, without good reason. Her curiosity was simply burning, but she extinguished it not too effectively, by painting a smile on, and nodding. “Yes, I understand.”

“I knew you would,” he said. “You always do.” Her heart fluttered whenever he spoke. His voice was always so low and hypnotic. Even asking herself, occasionally, what she liked most about him, she couldn’t choose just one. He was one giant mystery, and he was hers to unravel.

He tightened his hand on her high, slowly moving up my leg, tempting millions of butterflies that clustered in her stomach—

“Sir.”

A rather urgent tone suddenly cut into the moment. Eva’s face turned hot. Hopefully they had not seen anything.

Vel paused and slowly turned his head towards the familiar voice. She stifled a small chuckle at the irritated look on his face. He must’ve noticed her expression, because it caused him to smile, laugh for but a second. “Yes, Ray?” he finally addressed the man standing in the living room. Of course, with a rather lazy sigh.

“Pardon my interruption…” Rays gaze cut into her. This caused Eva to squirm and look down. Vel saw this, and drew the man’s attention back to him.

“If you have nothing to say, then—”

“No, no, sir, I do. Uhm—it concerns your package…?” The rather disheveled man looked from Eva to Vel. It made her feel like a child at a party when the adults were speaking of things they didn’t think she should hear, and gave her careful glances, before excusing her from the room. One can imagine what a negative feeling that was—to be excluded.

Ray shifted uncomfortably, his hair a mess of gel and nerves. When she turned back to Vel, she had never seen him look so angry in her life. His eyes were two knives that said rather bold things. He fidgeted with his boot as though he would pull a dagger out and throw it at the man’s chest.

“Is there something wrong, Vel?” She asked. Her tone was timid. This Vel, she was not so acquainted with, and Eva didn’t think she ever wanted to be. All the more reason to make sure he was always in good spirit.

“Of course not, darling.” His expression switched the moment he realized she was watching. He was back to being all charming. She flinched her eyes, and he noticed. A small frown took over. “Forgive me, Eva. I do not mean to look so…bitter,” he reassured. “You will have to excuse me, my love. I must speak with Ray in private. But I shall return shortly.”

Eva never trusted Ray. He was like Vel’s personal assistant—butler, more so. But he would always shoot her weary looks, frightened looks that sent chills down her spine. She had assumed he was simply a skittish man. After seeing the way he coward in the presence of Vel, she wasn’t so sure.

“I’ll hold you to it,” she smiled. Vel grinned and pressed his lips to hers. She heard Ray shift uncomfortably, once more, as Vel’s hand found her neck and tipped her head back. He placed a kiss to her neck before looking at her once more. He rubbed her cheek, tenderly. Then he was off, walking to his ‘work room’ as he called it. Ray followed a distance behind.

It was just her and the dark living room. Her and her many, mixed thoughts. Eva was shaking. What reason did she posses for being so afraid, though? She clasped her hands together and rose from the sofa. Why had Vel looked so…dangerous? He was anything but. So why was she so afraid of him, all of a sudden. There was something going on, and he obviously didn’t want her to know. Which gave her all the more reason to sneak upstairs to Vel’s work room.

He had never allowed her to step foot in it before. He’d told her his work was very private, and because of this, only people who worked in the same field were able to know. Yes, it raised a fair ounce of suspicion. But Vel had never been one to lie. He was a gentleman. However, she didn’t think it was beneath him to hide something from her. Perhaps he thought she wouldn’t understand? That would be ridiculous, though. Eva was smart, and he knew so. Which arose another thought.

He knew she was smart, and that hiding something from her most likely wouldn’t last. So why try?

Her whole thought process was a great web of complexities that she couldn’t seem to unravel. One thing was for certain—she would not feel at ease until she saw exactly why Vel had been so secretive, and why Ray had seemed so eager to get away.

She had been convinced Vel wasn’t abusive. Could she have been wrong? That was preposterous. He was a nothing but a gentleman.

She walked down a winding hallway full of paintings.

As her fingers finally grazed the cool wood of his door. She made light of her feet to move closer. Eva turned her head to hear better. Surprisingly, they spoke in hushed tones. She hadn’t heard the beginning of the conversation, but by the quiver of Ray’s voice, and the rather intense edge to Vel’s, something had to have gone very wrong.

“—if she found out?”

“I- I do apologize, Sir Murizia.”

Who was Murizia? Vel’s last name, he’d told her, was Carder.

An irritated sigh full of disappointment came from Eva’s boyfriend. “Not only have you promoted her curiosity, but now have even had the audacity to state my last name.”

“—Carder! I meant, Sir Card—”

A scream arrupted from the butler, Ray. A large crash. “Sir, please. Have mercy!”

“Mercy is reserved for those who follow orders.” The sounds that came next were labored, as though someone were being—

Her foot slipped, and she accidentally pushed the door open attempting to steady herself on the handle. The sight she saw next caused her breath to catch. Vel was standing over a very unconscious Ray. His room was full of all sorts of weapons. This was awful—he was awful. How could she not have seen it before?

When Vel’s eyes latched onto Eva’s figure, he stood deathly silent. His eyes were two slits. He seemed stunned, but also angry.

She pushed off the ground and ran to Ray, flipping him onto his back. The poor man was very much dead. His neck was red, as though someone had attempted to strangle him. Head bashed inward, blood dripped down the side of his face, staining the carpeted floor an even deeper red. Eva had to force herself to breathe.

Her eyes slowly traveled up the length of Vel’s body from his feet, to his chest, and finally back to his distant expression. “Y- you killed him.” She still could hardly wrap her head around it. Never had she imagined herself speaking these words.

Then a thought came to mind. It caused her to shake with the absurdity, yet clarity, of it all. He had told her again and again that her family and her best friend hated her for being with him. She believed him. Everything he said was believable. If only she weren’t so blind. Those people loved her just as much as she did them. It made no sense for them not to speak to her for so long. Even more peculiar, was the fact that anytime she would try to use Vel’s phone to contact them, he would distract her.

He was a liar, a murderer. And she trusted him. She even loved him, and convinced herself he loved her too.

“What have you done?” Eva stood, hands fisted at her sides.

Vel blinked. Pulled on a charming smile. “Ray had been sick for a while. Even began to act far from himself. He tripped on the carpet, and bashed his head on the corner of my table—”

She stammered over her words. “Liar!” More than a small dose of fear and anger had consumed her. What could she do? Here she was, face to face with a killer. Her eyes traveled to the table he spoke of. No, he must’ve smashed his head into the table. And—

There it was. The so called “gift” she’d gone out of her way for. It was opened, and the contents lay bare on the beautiful wooden surface of that same table. He wasn’t just a killer, he was a con artist. His little “gift” were rather hefty packets of drugs. And the “friend” that she met of his…

There. His smile faltered, and he stepped over Rays body, carelessly. Eva backed away. “No, stay away from me!” Her back suddenly hit a wall.

He clicked his tongue and slid a dagger from his boot. No wonder he’d been fidgeting with it earlier. He’d been conceding a blade the whole time. She couldn’t die here. Surely he wouldn’t kill her?

“You’re going to kill me too?” she chocked out.

He tipped his head to the side. The moment his eyes met the cool metal of the dagger in his hand, those eyes she used to find so magnetic, were anything but. They shone with…carelessness. Like he couldn’t have waited any longer to do exactly what she inwardly pleaded he would not do next.

“You won’t. Why keep me all this time if you didn’t need me?” Eva wasn’t completely certain she wanted to hear the answer to her question.

“Understand this, love,” he began. “You and I mean nothing. We are nothing—” his hand slipped into her hair, jerking her head back, as he got closer to her face “—never were. But…maybe we could’ve been.”

“You—”

“Yes, Eva. I am a murderer. I’ve killed many people.” He drew the words out slowly. It sent an uncomfortable chill down her spine. She was overwhelmed with fear. “I killed Ray… I killed Lucy… I killed your parents…”

Tears slipped down Eva’s face. Her breathing became unsteady.

“And now I’m going to kill you.”

Her eyebrows drew together. She closed her eyes in despair.

He smacked his lips, brought his hand to her cheek. Only it wasn’t comforting. It didn’t send butterflies through her whole body like it would have. This was what came next. This was what awaited her. It was the last straw.

“Please— please don’t,” she tried.

“Aww, I’m afraid not.”

She opened her eyes. He was so close. He looked down at her like she was nothing but a bug—something of a nuisance, and easily dealt with. “I just want you to know that, you know, despite me killing you, you made a rather good lover.” He laughed, at the last word. “The best I’ve had yet, in fact.”

There was nothing natural about the sound of his laughter, the bite of his words. The way sweat beaded on his forehead. The obvious hunger for blood. This was what a monster looked like, and it was more frightening than any horror movie she’d watched. He hadn’t done anything yet, but everything felt like a knife to her heart.

The absurdity of it all was nearly unbearable. This whole time, Vel had been lying. Throughout their whole relationship, she felt something was always off, but never voiced it. She only ever pushed it to the back of her mind.

But all of it was an act…

Makes sense how he, all of a sudden, turned up with a big load of cash. Eva wasn’t sure how—not that it was important—but he managed to kill almost, if not, every person she loved, with no trial left behind. Not only that, he was able to somehow steal money.

He must have cought her spacing out as she was in deep thought. The cool tip of his blade met her neck. Now they had each others full attention. The world stilled and though she’d not met death yet, her heart seemed to stop, entirely. “Perhaps we might be together in the next life.”

His lips moved closer to hers, the knife trailing down her neck until she felt it no more. A part of her would’ve believed he would do it—a part of her wanted him to press his mouth to hers. But that was preposterous. It was the naive thinking of a young girl, helplessly fooled to believe the love she sought every day was real.

She gasped. Not because he’d kissed her, but because she suddenly felt the keen cruelty of his blade meet her flesh. Vel twisted it all the way around. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground. Blood dripped around the long dagger and through her clothing, onto the carpet she crumbled onto.

Eva groaned and screamed in pain. She’d never felt anything this horrible in her life. But the thing she found to be so horrible was not the blade carelessly plunged into her stomach; it was the dark, mocking pain of betrayal. Betrayal that she jumped right into the hands of.

Vel bent down and pushed her from her side, onto her back. His head hung over her. He ripped the dagger from her and watched as the life in her eyes slowly faded to nothing. Thick, crimson liquid stained the floor. At least it would be the first thing he saw anytime her entered this very room. At least he would be reminded of the soul he stole.

“Forgive me, love.” He brought his fingers to her eyes, slowly beckoning her to the sleep she was never ready for. A slumber that would last for all eternity.

Blood pooled in her mouth. With the last of the poor girls strength, she choked out the word “Never.”

Then Eva was swept away from the very world she thought to be so, utterly wonderful. The worst part being: seeing the very person that made it to be so utterly, miserable, as it all came to an end.

“Do you really love me?” I ask.

It’s late at night and we’re sitting on the living room couch watching a movie. His left arm is around my shoulders and I’m wrapped in a blanket.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” He retorts without even looking my direction.

“I just needed to make sure.”

“Why?” He finally turns towards me. “What do you think this is?”

“I don’t know. You seem so distant lately.” I am choking up. My words are failing me. I feel so used and useless.

The man who promised me forever needed a model housewife to lie to the cops. Someone with connections who is gullible enough to believe in true love.

“Works been busy. I’ll try to make more time for you, but I can’t stop the sales for you.” He lets go of my hand and looks back at the TV.

“I understand.” I look back at the TV as well. The main character is chastising his wife for questioning his work life. How ironic. They’re fighting and she’s crying. I wish I could do the same.

“Get me drink babe.” It’s not a request.

I get up and walk to the kitchen and pour a glass of bourbon.

“Careful not to spill.” I say handing it to him.

I watch him take a swig and cough.

“That’s strong stuff. Where did you get it?”

He looks at me concerned. His eyes are red and watering.

“I just took one out your liquor cabinet. Is there something wrong?”

“I don’t recognize it. What was it called?”

“I don’t remember. I think is was Ar-sen-kick or something?”

His mouth falls open before his body rolls off the couch.

I take the ring off his finger and prepare to lead my own scheme. I already have an empire to work with.

Little miss perfect wife. How could I have been so blind?

All that matters now is that in filthy rich and running a man’s world.

The bride slithered out with the snake oil man — the Moody one, who swore it’s all okay
he’s got the cure for the cure, an answer to it, no question about it, no turn left unstoned, a little vial on his necklace, a silver tongue on his red lips, the rudder of venom steering the sick ship off course (of course) —— and she’s happy she’s fun and games she’s sinking, child she’s flailing her arms he’s holding her under standing proud on her head — wishing, more than wishing, that the millstone anchor would just go away

Charming Alarming Disarming Startling

Get away Or stay Your way You sway

Hustle Bustle Tussle Guzzle

“It’s sexy how you can do that.”

“Do what?”

“Trick people. Make them think -“

“I’m not tricking them, Mary. They’re tricking themselves. They can think what they want.”

“I just mean, they don’t want to do something, then they do. Because of you.”

“No, that’s wrong. They want to do it the whole time. I just make them realize it.”

“I don’t think they’d see it that way.”

“Do you?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you see it that way?”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, you’re one of them. You didn’t want me and now you do, and here we are.”

“No, Robert, I’ve always loved you.”

“Exactly.”

Mary drew her hand from his shoulder. In the instant of their conversation, he appeared to dim; the light she always saw around him was gone. The illusion had been broken: she had fallen for his scheme just as she had fallen for him.

These battle with my head They can’t keep going On and on They just won’t stop

Why am I here Why is today here If all I do Is wait for tomorrow to be better

Why am I here If all I do is sit and bother Messed up and broken No way to fix

Ending again Lonely and sad I’ll cry to myself Because again it took over

These battles I fight I never win My brain taking over Now nothing is left

Hope is gone Everything’s let go Nothing is trying No more holding on

Just let me go Let me disappear Let me leave Why am I here

“Davey?”

Beth toyed with the hem of her blazer. Her boss, David Grimthorpe, was fishing around in the trunk of his Benz. Beth repeated to herself over and over, ‘it’s just Davey, under the nice clothes it’s just big sweet Davey.’

The recreation park’s parking lot was a beehive of excited elementary school kids, tired parents, and flustered coaches. The start of the CYO cross country season was always a confused flurry. Anxiously, Beth looked around.

“Coach Darby has the cooler, Ruth. Oh hey Betty Boop,” David said. “What you doing here on starting day. Steffie isn’t running this year, is she?”

“Oh no, she’s a freshman now at Our Lady of Mercy. No I’m here about that job you got me.”

Beth’s voice faltered and she coughed to hide her nerves. David hoisted a duffle bag out of the trunk. He waved to the coach from another school.

“Kinda of in a rush here. Don’t tell me you want a raise already Betty Boop you just started a month ago,” David said with a trunk slam.

“Closer to three months. No, Davey I’m grateful. After Denny left and everything went to hell. You gave me a chance. I want to do good. I’ve studied the regulations for clean rooms and labs. I take being a safety inspector seriously,” Beth said, her voice turning to a plead.

Bag slung over his shoulder, David checked his phone absently. Tossing a beach ball, a pair of seven-yerar-old boys in track uniforms zigzagged around them.

“Timmy! Jared! Quit fooling and head to the tent. Anyway, great to hear everything’s okay, Boop. Let’s catch up over some weekend soon. Bring the girls over and I’ll throw a couple steaks on the grill and Jenny will make her terrible pasta salad. We’ll tell some high school stories and bore our kids to tears.”

The crowd in the parking lot thinned as families headed over to the course. David began to walk away too. Jumping, Beth grabbed his arm.

“No, it’s not okay the compunding facility is filthy. We make drugs for premies and cancer patients. Standing water in the HVAC unit, sterile solutions mishandled. It’s not right, Davey. I’ve made reports and no one listens!” Beth said. “They won’t even stop the production line anymore when the tests show problems. You have to listen!”

In the distant, the shouts and laughter of elementary schoolchildren preparing to run on a fine fall day. Grabbing both of David’s arms, Beth turned him hard to face her. Looking amused, David crossed his arms.

“Look Boop I want to be nice. But aren’t you getting out of your lane? You were a flipping secretary. We have all kinds of tests and stuff. Now you think you know more than the pharmacists. You’re crazy.”

“And you were hauling junk for your daddy’s company. We go back years. We were friends once upon a time. We were more than friends. Listen Davey I’m trying to help you. I’ve tried calling and emails. You’re ignoring me. You can’t know what is going on. Listen the techs are working the production line without the proper training. Cleaning crews are slacking. You gotta know the danger.”

Grabbing him again, she shook him. Beth’s voice died in her throat as she stared up at her old pal’s eyes. David shoved Beth knocking her to the ground. Beth’s head hit the asphalt.

She raised up on one elbow. Blood trickled down her forehead. David kneeled over her. He lifted her chin.

“All I know is how much money I made last year. If you want to keep your job fall in line,” David said. “Fall, Betty Boop.”

Placing a hand on her chest David pushed Beth down on the ground, before walking to join the races.

“How’d you-“ The auburn haired man begins to ask.

“If you say, “How’d you end up here tonight?” I. WILL. LOSE. IT!” The bartender whips around with a shout. Her hair tussled up in a messy bun. Sweat coating the back of her neck as the pulsing techno beats assault her ears.

“Well I… I thought it was good…”. The auburn haired man responds, his cheeks a crimson red. He sheepishly sits down on the barstool.

“I’m sorry… I was being rude… uh.. it was… good” the bartender adds haltingly as she begins to cut a lime into eighths.

“No…. It wasn’t.. you wouldn’t say that if you weren’t being honest.” The man continues, “Be honest, how often do you hear that?”

This actually prys a chuckle from the bartender. “14 times this month, three times this weekend.”

The man chuckles back. “Well I thought it was witty.”

“So do all of the other men.”

“No offense to your clientele, but I’d wager I’m smarter than about half of them.” The man says raising his eyebrows.

“Really?” The bartender asks finally looking up from her limes. Her voice has a fun challenge air to it. One that the man knew all too well.

“Yep, smart enough to say I’ll be back again, keep you waiting….” The man flirts, getting up from his stool. He adjusts his thin wire glasses only minutely on his thin nose bridge. “And this time we’ll stay away from shop talk.”

“Oh really?” The bartender asks, her eyes laser focused to the man.

“I’m also smart enough to never keep a girl like you waiting too long.” The man states with a wink.

He strides over to the nearby door and leaves with a smile.

The bartender takes her 20 and steps out of the techno music fever dream into the cold alley. Of course she’s not stupid enough to think she can catch another glimpse of him. However, she finds her cheeks blushing red despite the wintery air.

Night after night the man comes back. True to his word they never talk about her job or his. Also true to his word he makes a point to show her his advanced intellect.

“That man, that man over there, he’s cheating on his wife, it’s his first time doing it though, look how sweaty he looks!” The man whispers about a middle aged man on the dance floor with a much younger woman.

“Really? Is a man not allowed to be nervous?” The bartender asks her chin resting on her hands as she leans over the counter.

“Well yeah, he actually should be, but look, he’s constantly looking down at his phone, and he has ring shaped outline in his pocket.” The man challenges back.

“Wow, you’re quite the Sherlock aren’t you?” The bartender boldly asks.

“I’m ok with being the Watson, he gets the girl anyway.” The man smoothly responds, reaching over to touch the bartenders free hand. Even more boldly he slides a thin piece of paper with his number in it.

Now, Night after night, in fact, every night the bartender is free the two spend hours with each other, talking about anything. Besides work obviously.

“Ok.. ok… so, one night… when you’re free from your…not…job do you want to be my plus one to my cousin’s wedding?” The man asks as the two drink their hot chocolate, the cold frozen streets sprawled ahead of them.

“Uh….wh-“ the bartender begins looking up at the man.

“I know it was stupid it’s only been like… two months… I’m… I’m sorry.” The man apologizes his face beet red.

“NO NO NO! I was just gonna say why not?” The bartender responds, with a wink in her eye. One that the man swears he has seen before.

Now, the night a month after the last, the pair enjoy the wedding revelry. The bartender wears her finest sage green colored dress and the man a sage green tie and suit that fits him akwardly.

The bartender looks into the man’s eyes that night and sees something different, a future maybe. A future with a charming man.

As she sat down to listen to the toasts, all the lovers sharing how the main couple had found love, inside jokes galore, a sinking feeling entered the bartender.

She knew what felt like nothing about the man. The air seemed to grow warmer and her cheeks redder.

After he applause and clinking subsided the bartender made a dash for the side door. As her dress grazed the icy ground in the ally she heard the door stay open behind her.

“Hey! Where are you going?” The man asks with concern.

“I don’t know! Away, I think!” the bartender says pacing back and forth. “I… I don’t even know you! I don’t know your last name, where you live, WHAT EVEN IS YOUR JOB?” The bartender anxiously shouts, stopping her pacing to face the man.

Contemplating, the man finally lets out a sigh. He’s grabs the bartender’s shoulders. Admittedly, to steady both of them.

“I am… by technical definition, a career criminal, a con artist. I came to your bar to profile out easy targets for theft. Either car or identity. That’s what I spend most of my day hours doing. If you’re mad I understand that, but it’s just my life. Oh, and my last name is Faulkner.”

The bartender barely skips a beat. “I don’t know if my standards are getting lower or you’re just so otherwise perfect because..” the bartender continues her thought by landing a long passionate kiss on the man. Their first after all these nights.

It wasn’t like the bartender wasn’t being truthful, she had fallen head over heels for this man. And truthfully, she felt a deep desire to make him succeed no matter what.

Two nights after that, the bartender resigns, claiming she wants to advance her career in a more upscale direction.

The man, not blind understands why, even if, consciously, she doesn’t.

“Seriously Jazz, you don’t have to do this for me!”

“I’m not, I’m not someone you can trick into thinking something you want.”

The bartender lands a job at an upscale hotel bar and lounge, of course the man visits her. Of course the man uses the nights to profile people.

Although, truthfully, as the bartender tossed and turned that night she quit , she had slowly began to wonder if she had fallen into this anti hero’s snares.

Truthfully, she wondered whether or not she’d want to leave.

You run your fingers over fingers over velvet He runs his talons through his hair Blade under sleeve and sleeve and The thought alone has you stifling with sweat He takes the pot and thanks the chair

You’re bent like a low card You dance across the house floor A high roller Charmer of pockets, he does more because

Now the scene shifts from floor to room to bed And you’ll run your fingers through his hair He’s velvet hair, velvet and You wonder how many times he’s been scarred by bullets His calling card says Thief of Heartz The roses he left on the nightstand are Jack Rabbit’s red Cheat this one night stand if you can

You’re bent like a low card A lay-figure for the game A high roller For a phantom with famous names

Bastard son on closet floor Father’s death on my account Or ripped up on a high amount Mother’s tears drip, fill your eyes of a knife Somebody call the midwife

You’re bent like a low card You’re left here with such a shame A high roller You distract and spare him the pain

—

Here are some lyrics I wrote a while ago about a woman who is simultaneously charmed and robbed through the tactics used by a card cheat. Unbeknownst to our charmer, the woman is pregnant and carrying the bastard child of his nemesis, the greedy owner of the casino. The poor woman suffers a horrible death as she delivers the baby herself. Meanwhile, the father hunts down our card cheat, the phantom-like Thief of Heartz.

Charm is a deceptive thing. When used correctly, it is a powerful, scary thing. I learned that the hard way. I fell for a guy. Deceptively cunning and what I thought to be sweet. He was just manipulative. His name was James Lanfield, and I fell for him like he fell for me. Or so I thought. Then I started to see the signs, started listening to the people around me. But it was too late to turn back.