Black Blood

Who knows why it was so difficult for me.

Sebastian was disarming. He had an elegant bearing, refined features, a persuasive charisma and lots, lots of charm.

And I felt weak in front of him. His every gesture, every word that was coming out of that perfect mouth, intrigued me, unleashed daring thoughts, uncontrolled emotions.

All this, confused me.

«No, maybe I'm the only one in town who doesn't think so», I replied just as direct.

Suddenly I found myself stuck against the elevator wall.

He forced me to back away without noticing his sudden movement.

He lifted one harm and placed his hand against the metal sheet, he touched my head, imprisoning some of my tufts of hair under his fingers. He observed me with those contrasting eyes of his: one of an angel and one of a demon. He lowered himself on me and put his mouth to my ear. He was towering over me.

«Maybe you are wrong», whispered caressing my neck with his cold breath.

I winced.

Why does he have this effect on me?

He wanted to scare me, why on earth feeding those rumors?

He was playing a part, the one that the dogmas of the past had attributed to the Winterbournes.

He wouldn’t fool me.

I placed my palms against his chest, it seemed so solid and resistant that I had to take a breath of air before being able to push it. He barely raised, but he didn’t move from there.

«Maybe not», I pressed pushing him again.

An acoustic sound announced the doors opening. The entrance hall revealed in front of us.

Sebastian composed himself as if nothing had happened, adjusted his shirt’s collar and took the road to the exit.

I followed him worried about the consequences of this unexpected situation.

«You have always been a rebel, Rebecca», he declared ready to tease me again.

I became suspicious.

«We don’t even know each other.»

«I remember you since you were a baby. We always went to the same schools, and like everyone else, you kept me distant.»

Sharp, cutting words came out of his mouth. Stinging daggers, hitting me in one side.

I almost felt guilty.

Sebastian remembered me and the first memory that came to his mind was the worst. I too had contributed to his marginalization from Hazycreek's life.

Not that he was looking for someone's company, in fact he had that slightly snobbish attitude since he was a child. He always looked bored and absent, as if nothing stimulated his attention and didn't deem anyone worthy of even a glance.

However, since I was a child, I had always observed him in secret. I found him interesting and his eyes intrigued me.

The thing that baffled me the most, however, was the fact that he really remembered me. We weren't even the same age. He knew I was a reporter for Hazy Daily, and that I didn't have a dog.

I wondered if he studied everyone so scrupulously.

We went outside.

A luxurious black car was parked a stone's throw from the front door.

«You always seemed so disinterested», I stated controlling my voice.

He rummaged in his trouser pockets and pulled out an electronic key.

«And you had anarchist blood. You loved swimming against the tide and I am glad to discover you haven't changed that much.»

The car's headlights came on and I moved my attention to the vehicle. It had tinted windows.

We had never spoken to each other before the previous night, never a nod, an exchange of words, perhaps a few glances but nothing more. Sebastian, however, knew me thoroughly, but I did not know anything about him.

A sense of uneasiness drained my throat stopping my salivation.

«See you soon, Rebecca», he exclaimed opening the door of his car.

«Maybe», I objected lifting an eyebrow.

He approached quickly, with one hand he caressed the side of my face, bringing a lock of hair behind my ear.

«I say yes», he answered in a deep whisper.

His fingers slipped down my neck, causing goosebumps where his touch brushed me.

I couldn't answer, I was petrified looking at him with my thoughts a bit clouded.

Sebastian smiled as he retraced his steps, he got into the car and, getting into gear, drove away.

My brain clouded over. I couldn't think objectively no more.

«That was Sebastian Winterbourne, isn't it?»

Hanna's voice turned into a shattered stained-glass window in my ears. It was like waking up from an advanced catatonic state.

«Oh, Hanna.»

«That was Sebastian, right?» she pressed me with her face tense in a grimace of concern. She was taking Beck's for a walk.