The Puppet Assassin [TTR sequel]

The Puppet Assassin - Ch 24 [An Enticing Possibility -|- Dizelde]

It was quiet for a long moment. The sound of my knife and fork being placed gently onto my plate rang in my ears. I stood slowly.

“Hrm, so, you guys need to talk something out so I’ll just-” I snapped my mouth shut as Larkin turned to face me. His upper lip was curled in a snarl still and his expression looked a little wild. He looked down to my barely eaten breakfast and pointed to it.

“Eat,” he said firmly, not giving me eye contact. “Garth and I are going out into the garden for a talk.” He spoke calmly, assuredly. As if he hadn’t even raised his voice earlier.

I sat, too bewildered to do anything else, and Lark jerked his head towards the door. They both left soundlessly.

I looked down at my food and grimaced. It’s not like I wasn’t hungry, I just didn’t want to eat right now. I picked up the plate and chucked the remains so that Lark would think I’d finished it and then put the empty plate in the dishwasher. After a moment’s thought, I decided to cover up Lark’s plate and the stack of leftover pancakes to keep them as fresh as possible, in case someone wanted to eat them. Once completed, I didn’t know what to do next. I had wanted to go outside but going out there right now would make it seem like I was snooping. I stood still for a while before deciding to go shower and change. Maybe by the time I was done, they’d be back inside and I would be able to go out.

I was fast, I never saw the point in spending ages in the shower. I was never in long enough to get wrinkles. I was just stepping out of my room when Garth and Lark stepped out of the laundry room. Perfect timing. They both looked to be in better moods, although Garth was soaking wet from head to foot. I was curious to find out how it had happened but as I was about to make a comment, Lark turned and caught my eye. His jaw tensed and his grin was wiped off his face. But he wasn’t angry. That look was anything but angry. It looked like he wanted to leap the gap between us and… oh boy.

“Yo, Lark, what is it?” Garth commented lightly. Yeah, he was definitely in a better mood. He looked around Lark and saw me. He frowned, confused, and then breathed in deeply. Like he was smelling the air. Did it stink? I’d only used soap and I couldn’t smell it at all anymore. Maybe there was something else in the air. I sniffed a little, trying not to make it obvious to the guys. I smelt nothing.

Garth’s confusion was quickly replaced by concern. “That bad, huh?” he said gruffly to Lark. Perhaps what was happening here had nothing to do with me? But I felt like I couldn’t take another step forward until Lark stopped pinning me with that hungry stare. So I stood there awkwardly.

Garth sighed loudly and reached across Larkin to grab his arm, rolling his eyes at me. He pulled Lark around and began to lead him to the stairs. As they started to walk forward it seemed like Lark shook himself out of a daze. He glanced back at me, his usual calm stare and shook himself out of Garth’s grip.

“I need to figure out what I’m bringing with me,” he said lowly and strode to the stairs.

Garth and I watched him go. It was only after he was out of sight that I realised I didn’t have enough oxygen in my lungs. I breathed deeply. What had that been about? Garth whistled softly.

“Something’s in the air,” he sang lightly and laughed at himself. He glanced at me, looking seriously entertained and chuckled again. “Don’t look so worried, kid, he’ll come back.”

I frowned at him but was reminded of what Larkin had said earlier… About him coming back to catch me. I shuddered as my stomach flipped over, making its contents gurgle. Garth stepped into the kitchen without any more words and I mentally shook myself, imagining all of the crazy, lewd thoughts were flying out of my head. It was time to go outside and once I was outside I was going to enjoy the fresh air and greenery and perhaps I would climb a tree.