Word Count: 1599

~Luella

There's nowhere to run.

Fate sits right by my legs, hand on my calf atop the blanket. It's a warning, not to even consider making a move. The door is ajar, but barely. There are no windows in this room anyway, giving me no sense of bearings. We could be anywhere right, in a realm not like my own. Right now I could be his prisoner and he's trying to make feel welcome, so I don't panic.

"Please let me leave," I breathe softly, trying not to appear threatening. I doubt he's very scared of me, regardless. The amount of power that exists in this one body sitting in front of me is more than I can imagine. So much so it's convinced me out of making any move more than negotiation.

"See I can't do that right now," he tells me. His tone is somewhat sympathetic, or maybe condescending. With a dark raised eyebrow, I know that his words are stern and serious.

There's no escaping.

"You're keeping me here against my will?" I question.

"I wouldn't put it like that," he says, tilting his head back and forth playfully. I stare at him, hating how casual he is. If he is meant to be threatening, it's not working. Maybe it's because he knows his presence in general is enough to scare anyone into submission. "I'm here to help you."

Taking my focus on him, I look around at my surroundings, not getting anything new from them. "Where am I?"

"You're still in my territory. Not even a few streets away from your home," he tells me. Looking into those frighteningly dark eyes, I doubt he is telling the truth. This is probably a tactic to make me feel comfortable, although it only makes me want to get out of here quicker. Maybe if he weren't such a frightening figure, I would be curious to hear what he has to say.

"So why have me here?" I ask.

"I just wanted to impart some valuable advice. My plan was to wait a little longer, however, your aggression toward your...Thought, brought me into your life earlier than I expected," he tells me, standing. He's taller than I expected an immortal to be, but I suppose Time and Thought have both surprised me on that front.

Why are these immortals so obsessed with infiltrating my life? For once I would just like some answers.

"What does that even mean?"

Fate holds his hand out to me, which surprisingly, his right one is covered in a black glove. Usually that is a sign of conservatism, as if he is frightened to reveal that maybe we are mates. Although, I already know he's mated. "Why don't we have dinner together? It's getting quite late."

I consider that for a moment. There's no point disagreeing, otherwise this process will be extended so much longer, and I'll never get out of here. Plus, the last thing I want to do is to anger him. It's too bad my injuries make is almost impossible to get out of bed. Seeming to notice my struggle, time reaches out, wrapping his fingers around mine.

Immediately, my entire body relaxes, all the pain diminishing until it's completely vanished. I breathe out in relief, enjoying the euphoric feeling of no longer having pain.

"Like is said, I have a great medicine cabinet," he murmurs, slowly releasing his fingers from my grasp. I hadn't realised I had been clutching them, milking whatever magic he had used.

"Thank you," I mutter in response. I would pretend I'm not grateful for the reprieve.

Wordlessly, I follow him out of the room.

He's dressed me in some kind of gauzy white dress, which I don't even want to consider how I got into it. I'm more concerned as he leads me into an open room which connects the kitchen with the living room and dining area. Food is already laden on the table, which immediately has me savaging. I hadn't realised I was so hungry...

"I'm glad you're not making this hard on me. I'm not keeping you here to harm you, but I do need you to understand something," he tells me, pulling out a chair for me to sit on before he sits opposite me.

I don't even hesitate before filling my plate with food. "I'm still trying to figure what interest you have in me. And my mate. Whoever that is."

Fate narrows his eyes on me. "Right."

"What?"

"Why don't we just talk about your sisters boyfriend right now. I see you noticed that something between the two of them is off," Fate tells me, clearly alluding to something. Thought. Is all of this because of him?

I pause, fork hovering before my mouth. "Can you read my mind?"

"Let's not get into the semantics. Just promise me you'll listen," he says, dismissing my comment. Swallowing my food, I nod. At this point any sense of direction would help me out immensely, so as much as I don't trust, I'm willing to hear him out.

Fate leans forward, not touching the food. "You're going to visit Thought this evening, aren't you? You're still going to. I've replaced your car, and you're going to head right there, and you're going to sweetly address him and let him do whatever he pleases to you," Fate tells me. My eyes widen, unsure if I heard him right. "What? You don't like him?"

I nearly choke on my food. "Like him? He's my sisters boyfriend for a start, even if I am suspicious about their relationship."

"But you're attracted to him," Fate quizzes.

"I never said that."

"You're not a very good liar," Fate notes, to which I roll my eyes. What business of his is my love life? Yes, Thought is mouth-wateringly attractive, and every moment in his presence has me all blushy and nervous, but that's the affect of an immortal.

"I never claimed to lie. Look, why do you care if Thought and I have a good relationship? I was going to ensure he never was apart of our lives again," I explain to him.

Fate presses his fingers between his brow, clearly not impressed with my lack of cooperation. "It's imperative for reasons I can't express right now, that you keep on his good side. Consider this, the greater good."

"I'm not doing anything for you without an explanation," I tell him firmly.

Fate sighs deeply, considering a thought of his own. I wish I could look into his brain and see what demented ideas he dwells over.

"Everything comes at a price. What will come with you being compliant will be greatly benefix. Considering all financial and health worries for you and your family will immediately disappear. This storm going on, it isn't for no reason. When people upset me, bad things happen, and I don't want you to be in the receiving end," he tells me.

His voice has lowered to the point where I'm starting to see his intention. No more is this a friendly conversation over a good dinner. This is business, a deal. Fate wants something from me, and I'm not about to leave until he gets it.

"Are you threatening me?"

"Not to be predictive, but everything happens for a reason. But that still doesn't mean you shouldn't make the right decison," he mutters, getting to his feet, tossing his napkin down in his plate before he brushes past me.

Now I really don't know what to do.

***

Fate did replace my car.

Driving it out of his territory, I hope this time I don't crash it, although my suspicions suggest Fate might have caused it. Either way, I'm heading towards Thought's home, still deciding what I'm going to say to him. Maybe I can politely turn him down and tell him to leave my sister alone, to appease both me and Fate.

Although it's tempting run in there and interrogate him.

I arrive at a late hour. At this point it's become a tradition between him and I to have late night conversations that don't go very well. Let's hope this time I actually get something done.

Knocking on the door, no one answers. After knocking for about five more minutes, again, no one answers. Either he's not home, or he's ignoring me. Now doubt he knows I'm here and has already sifted through my mind to decide why he doesn't want to let me in, regardless of his promise to keep out.

Sighing, I push my way in. If I come here and don't have a conversation with Thought, who knows what Fate will do. However, as I wander around the lower level of his home, calling out for him, there's no response. There's no way I'm going to leave, so I'm going to wait here until he returns home, and decides to come out of whatever hole he is in.

I wait in the foyer, lounging on a couch that isn't very comfortable. Regardless, I feel myself beginning to drift off, before I quickly sit up. The last thing I need is to be vulnerable in this place.

I can't give Thought a single opportunity to get into my head.

💛••💛

So if you're interested in reading more, Thought is up on Radish ten chapters ahead of Wattpad! Hope you guys check it out (:

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~Midika 💜🐼