I walked into the bar the I had asked Queen to meet me and sat on one of the stools in front of the bar. "What can I get you, handsome?" The bartender asked me, leaning over the table and flipping her green hair over her shoulder.

"I'll just have water," I said nicely. She seemed like a cute girl but I was in love with Queen, there was no one else that I wanted.

"You came to a bar, to order water?" She asked curiously.

"I'd like to keep my mind clear to talk to someone meeting me here," I admitted quietly.

"A girl?" She questioned mischievously with a raised brow.

"Yes."

"She's a lucky woman," she said as she pushed herself away from the counter gently.

"I'm a lucky man if things go well," I said honestly with a laugh. I may have gotten more upset than necessary the other day, but I was thankful she wasn't holding a grudge.

Queen and I had a long history but I never stopped loving her. All these years was proof enough of that. I knew Lilith since I was a child since she worked with my father. When I was only fifteen she and my father enlisted me as a spy to watch over her daughter in Heaven because she couldn't get in for some odd reason.

I was never planning to fall for her though, but as we became friends and spent time together, I couldn't help it. When Lilith found out about our relationship she was pissed.

My biggest regret though was leaving Queen after her engagement to Justin. I was hurt, I blamed her and I was stupid to do so. For years I couldn't get her off my mind. For the better half of college, I'd pine after her but the damage was already done. She took me abandoning her as the ultimate betrayal.

For the sake of having her in my life, I let myself be deduced to her friend. Thankfully for the both of us, the universe wanted us together so desperately that a few months ago my father reached out to me for a deal that I couldn't refuse.

One that would get me all the things I had ever wanted...

Queen and all the money in the world to keep her.

In exchange for me coming to Jeradua and winning Queen's heart back, he'd invest in my company. It was a win-win. I'd get a promotion greater than my wildest dream and I'd have the love of my life right next to me. With that in mind, I threw myself toward that goal.

My plans however were skewed when I found out Syn was with Queen. It never made sense to me why she was with him until a few weeks ago when Lilith told me Syn was abusing her. She let me in on their plan to kill Syn and I was bestowed the honor of being the one to shoot him.

At first, I was hesitant but it didn't take much to convince me. I hated the man's guts anyways. Especially now that I found out he was hurting her and somehow confused her into being with him- I had a feeling he was anyway.

Queen was too scared of him to admit what was happening to her, but I understood. I'd seen many domestic abuse situations to be accustomed to the victim's mentality. I couldn't blame her for being afraid, I just wish she trusted me enough to let me help her.

That was what tonight was for. Tonight was my last chance to get her back and I planned on talking her into leaving with me. If she did, I'd promise to never scare her the way I did the other day.

The look in her eyes still haunted me...

The bartender set the water in front of me and I gave her a small smile. "Thank you."

I checked my watch and sighed. We said seven, but it was almost 7:05. Queen was never the type to be late, she was one of the most punctual people I had ever met. I pulled out my phone to call her when someone sat next to me and my eyes slowly moved in their direction.

What the fuck?

"Bourbon," he said to the bartender. She looked just as worried as I was as she quickly nodded. I urgently looked around the crowded bar and let myself relax a bit. He wouldn't try anything in here, would he? The bar was pretty crowded. He leaned his forearms onto the bar and turned his head to my direction with a raised brow. "Expecting someone?"

If he wasn't so large and didn't look like he could snap me with his fingers, maybe I would've been braver. Anyone in the bar would think he was calm but his eyes were telling me a different story. He raised a brow at me when I remained silent.

"Where is Queen?" I asked.

"Exceptionally fucked and in bed," he said in an emotionless tone.

I swallowed a lump in my throat and lifted my glass of water back to my lips. His watching my every moment was terrifying, to say the least. He was a lot less scary in the palace or when Queen was around.

He kept his eyes on me as the bartender set his drink down in front of him. His hand moved to my shoulder harshly and he looked at the girl. "Get him one too."

"I don't want one," I replied.

"You do."

His tone left no room for argument and I nodded as I left my mouth shut. A few moments later the woman set a glass of whiskey in front of me and Syn turned to face me. "Drink."

I took the drink and quickly chugged it down. The burn in my throat was painful but it was a welcome distraction from him. Setting the glass back down, I remembered the gun and how I would be killing him soon. I just needed to survive tonight. That thought gave me a much-needed burst of confidence and bravery and I faced him.

"You know? At one point, she used to be exceptionally fucked by me," I said with a smirk.

Syn eyed me for a long moment and I looked away from him smugly. He looked intimidating but he was as big of a pussy as I thought. The reason most people were afraid of him was most likely because of his father's name.

A few seconds, later he did something I would've never expected. He began laughing. It was a deep and ominous chuckle that made me look back at him.

His eyes were still glued on me and I wouldn't have been able to tell that he was laughing unless I heard it. His eyes and his face remained blank. It shouldn't have been as creepy as it was, but here I was frozen in my seat.

His laughter died down a few moments later and he gave me a chilling smile. "Goodbye, Sebastian." He stood up from the seat as he reached into his suit pocket and tossed a few hundred dollar bills on the counter. Syn stood up straight and glanced at me emotionlessly before walking out of the bar with long strides. When I was sure he was out of earshot, I let out a breath of relief and laid my hand against my head.

I could've died tonight. He barely did anything yet I was shaking, I could only imagine how Queen felt alone with him for hours. I wonder what he did to her for her not to show up.

I looked up at the bartender and she gave me a sympathetic look. "Give me the strongest thing you have. I need to get drunk."

After an hour of consistent drinking, I felt myself become lightheaded. I threw money onto the counter and made my way to the exit. I needed to leave before I couldn't drive home anymore.

The street was crowded but dark as I left the bar. I pushed through multiple people and made my way to the parking lot. Reaching my car, I pulled my keys out of my pocket and fumbled through them.

They fell to the floor with a loud clatter and I groaned.

Ughh.

I bent down to pick them up and when I got back up I saw someone standing behind me through the driver-side window reflection. I quickly turned to see who it was but I was met with nothing but the cool gust of wind. I leaned again my car and rubbed my eyes, I guess I was drunker than I thought.

I opened my car door and quickly closed it behind me. I relaxed into the comfort of my seat and took calming breaths. Putting the key into the ignition, I frowned as the lights on the dashboard flickered red and a clicking noise ensued, letting me know there was no gas in the car.

What the hell? I filled up the tank at a gas station directly before coming here. I pat my jacket to pull out my phone to call for help, but I couldn't find it. I checked all my pockets multiple times, but still nothing. I could've sworn I had it.

Maybe I left it in the bar.

I opened the car and exited it. From my peripheral, I saw a shadow that startled me and I looked in the direction to see nothing. I held my hand over my chest to calm my racing heart and I took a few deep breaths. My paranoia seemed to be getting the best of me tonight.

I closed my door to walk to the bar when the sound of dripping caught my attention. I pinpointed the sound of the fluid to the back of my car and walked slowly towards it. As I neared the rear of the car, I saw a puddle on the floor.

I crouched down by it and dipped my fingers in it to see a dark fluid. Holding it up to my nose I almost gagged at the scent of the putrid gasoline. My car was in no way messed up so why was it leaking?

I heard faint footsteps from somewhere behind me and I extended my fangs in preparation for something. When I turned around I saw a young couple walking to their car and I retracted my fangs and let out a sigh of relief.

Relax, Sebastian.

I turned back to the car and jumped when I saw Syn standing directly in front of me. Gone was the laughing maniac from inside the bar, and in its place was something more...sinister.

I took a step back and he took one forward.

"Don't run, you know I'll easily catch you. If you cooperate, I'll be gentle," he said slyly. I wasn't stupid though, there was no way I'd get out of this alive. The only way I could have a chance was to run...so I did.

"Wrong choice," I heard him say in amusement from far behind me. I sped to the wooded area behind the parking lot but before I could make it, I felt a sharp pain in my neck and the world around me drifted away.

꧁꧂

I woke up in a cold and dark room with my arms bound behind me. There was a thick metal chain around my neck that felt cold and made me itch. With my vampire vision, I looked around the darkroom but it was empty. I stopped my search when my eyes made out a shape in the dark. Someone seemed to be sitting in a corner, watching me.

Suddenly light flooded the room and I winced in pain. "Finally, you're up."

I groaned as my eyes adjusted to the light and I looked around the area. All four walls were grey with cement and I felt myself getting claustrophobic. Only one wall had someone thing on it, and it wasn't comforting that it was an assortment of knives.

The area resembled a jail cell except there were no bars. Just the barren room, and Syn, who was sitting on an out-of-place chair in the corner. He was wearing no shirt for some reason and dangling a knife between his fingers as if it were some fidget spinner.

As if noticing the question in my eyes he shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't want blood on my suit."

"Are you going to kill me?" I asked in a shaky voice.

"Maybe, maybe not," he said with a shrug. "But for now I have something a lot more...fun in mind right now."

He walked over to me and I didn't notice how much higher up than him I was until he stepped in front of me. I finally looked down at my feet and grimaced when I saw I was standing on a stool. I looked up to the chain that was around my neck and saw it attached to a hook in the ceiling.

Syn followed my line of vision and brought his eyes back to me. I shook my head quickly as I sensed what was about to happen. "Please don't."

"I didn't think you'd be that quick to beg, Sebastian," he said smugly as he turned to the wall of knives.

With his back to me, I looked for any out but there was nothing. So I was stuck looking at his scarred back as if he couldn't get more terrifying, that made it worse.

I tapped my legs nervously against the stool as he took his time scanning the wall. The stool momentarily tilted but I caught my balance with a loud thump that made him turn back to me with a smirk.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said. "Unless you'd like to experience suicide without the death part. Could you imagine, being suspended in the air by your neck? Not as fun as you would think."

He moved his hands behind his back as he turned away from me again. Whatever he was going to do, whether it be torture or death. I wish he'd get it over with. The suspense and fear were torture in and of itself. My eyes widened as I felt the need to use the restroom, I immediately regretted drinking as much as I did today.

As if he could read my mind, Syn glanced at me quickly. "Have something to say?"

"I need to use the restroom," I said sternly.

"You should've thought of that before getting yourself into this mess," he said.

"I didn't think-"

As if that was a click for his emotions he stormed over to me angrily. "That's the problem here, Sebastian. You don't fucking think," he sneered. "And for that, I'm going to make you wish you never met Queen."

"That'll never happen. I-"

"You what?!" He growled.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I love her." I opened my eyes to see him looking at me blankly.

"Okay," he said. I let out the breath of relief I was holding in and he kicked the stool from underneath me.

My eyes widened as I felt my airways being constricted by the chain around my neck. I squirmed in my spot to get some footing underneath me but it was useless as Syn took the stool and sat on it. He crossed his arms in front of me and watched me as I fought for any air.

I felt my ears and my cheeks flame as the world around me turned into a kaleidoscope of faded colors. Not being able to breathe was greater torment than I would've ever imagined. I wanted to die rather than endure any more of this. The plan was for me to kill him, not the other way around.

As I felt myself getting closer and closer to drifting away, my mind floated to Queen. The sick man probably did this same thing to her. With that in mind, I knew what I had to do, I couldn't leave her here with him. I needed to survive so I could save her as planned.

With the sound of chains being moved, I roughly dropped to the floor with a loud bang and I took in a large breath as I began coughing. My clothes were soaked as I laid on the floor and I opened my eyes to see why. I gasped when I saw what it was but before I could move away Syn's shoes pressed against my cheek and I cried aloud as my face connected with the fluid.

"You pissed all over my floor, Sebastian. What should we do about that?"