It Follows

Part 2

Alina paused, acutely anxious. This was crazy. What was she doing here? This wasn't like her. She wasn't bold, daring. Every instinct in her body was telling her to march back to her room, lock the door and shut out the world – yet here she was, a nervous wreck, standing in front of General Kirigan's door. She bit down on her lip. This was a horrible mistake. Whatever had possessed her to kiss him had been madness, and there was no reason to compound her earlier foolishness by doing something even crazier. Making up her mind, she turned around to walk away when the door opened behind her. Immediately she froze, feeling his piercing stare boring into her back.

All of the air seemed to suck out of her lungs. Her anxiety increased tenfold.

"Running away?"

His voice was smooth as silk, and laced with complete smugness. Like he'd expected this very thing. As if he knew exactly who she was – someone who'd live down to all of his expectations. The thought infuriated her. Taking a deep breath, she gathered the courage to turn around and meet his gaze.

Arrogance vibrated off of him, this man in front of her. He inspired fear and envy, everyone looked up to him because of the sheer power he held. Yet it wasn't what he could do that intimidated her, but what he inspired her to do. He stood under the doorway, his eyes gleaming with darkness, his sculpted face wearing a cold expression. When others looked at him, what did they feel? Did they want to sidle up to him and drown in the deep, dark abyss of his eyes? Did they want to run their fingers through his perfectly coiffed hair and leave it a tangled mess? Did they want to kiss him like she ached to do and feel every inch of his mouth as he possessed her?

There was that creature unfurling inside her again, compelling her to do things that she would never normally do. It was that strange someone who made her stride towards him, holding his stare, and brush past him to step inside his room without a word.

The room was vast, lit with fire throughout the various corners. She scrutinized the space, trying to gain some insight into the man who stood behind her.

The door closed, the loud sound echoing the thunderous beating of her heart.

"I didn't think you would come."

She smiled to herself, pleased that she'd managed to defy his expectations of her. Instead of facing him, she walked towards the corner of the room where a table stood, papers littered all across it. Dressed for the cold when she escaped her room, now Alina felt warm. Too warm. She began to remove her gloves slowly, taking in the strange books that sat on the shelf behind the table.

"Do you speak?"

He was taunting her, amused.

She turned to look at him. "Only when I have something to say."

His perfectly shaped eyebrow shot up. Dressed in a black robe which now lay open against the tall length of his body, his white shirt gleamed against his skin. It was the first time she'd seen him dressed in something that wasn't black. Her breath hitched in her throat for a moment, mesmerized by the sight of him.

"Why are you here, Alina?"

No longer spellbound, she fired back with a question of her own. "Why is it that I can only control the light when I 'm with you?"

"Maybe you should believe in your abilities more."

"Not everyone can be as confident as you."

"The only one holding you back is you."

Irritation surged through her. It was easy for him, he'd always known what he was, but she'd only recently learned what she was capable of, and even then her abilities were out of her control. The only time she felt even remotely in charge was when she was with him.