Page 218 of Shadowman
A bolt of lightning splits the sky. The two men are still kissing as Trevel covers his face, gripping his hair in fistfuls and yanking until it stings.
“This can’t be happening…” he growls.
Thunder rumbles beneath our feet, shaking the foundation so thoroughly, small pieces of stone fall from the house beside us.
“I told you he was a tosser,” I tell Trevel, attempting to rein him in. “Not worth your time or attention.”
His face tips in my direction, and we lock eyes.
“Seriously…fuck him. Make him pay.”
Byron is no longer watching Dr. Love. He’s watching Trevel. I see things happening in his deep eyes, like confusion and hurt. Jealousy, even. All things IknowTrevel is feeling… Only Byron is directing them at us.
“Let’s fucking go,” Byron hisses.
Trevel blinks at him, sniffling and bemused. Dr. Love and Felix Darcey are back on their feet, assessing the storm as it rages. Winds are picking up, rain pelting the surrounding structures. That must be their cue to leave, because they head into the garden.
Byron doesn’t wait. He takes off, immediately trudging in their direction.He’snow leading the charge. And we’re following, stalking quietly between the trees, hurrying toward the greenhouse.
Lingering back, I feel I should say something. My best friend is coming apart; I can feel it.
“I’m sorry, mate,” I offer. “I didn’t mean to abandon you when you needed me the most…”
“But you did,” Trevel scoffs quietly. “You always do.”
“Hey, now. That’s not exactly fair,” I mumble. “I’m never reallygone, you know that—”
“Doesn’t matter,” he grunts. “Byron and I have been getting on just fine without you.”
He shows me a sneering smirk, and I roll my eyes. “Right. And once again, I’ve arrived just in time to save you from yourself.” Trevel appears put-out, but I continue. “Do you really think this bloke can handle you? Do you think he’ll stay once he finds out what you are—”
“I don’t want to hear it right now,” he whisper-barks to cut me off. “Just do what you do best and help me get my revenge.Thatis all that matters right now.”
I simmer inside while watching Byron Kang stomping along with purpose. I wonder how much he truly wants this revenge for himself… Or if it’s evolved into something else, the same way I’m sure it has for Trevel.
We sneak into the enclosed garden, following a long stone walkway that leads through the vast space. It’s quite beautiful in here—dark and dreary, but fascinating, nonetheless. Old-world, almost gothic design, with an ambiance that shifts from elegance to evil rather effortlessly.
A secret garden of tainted reverie.
We cross a stone bridge over a contained pond, with what looks to be an aviary off in the distance. Broken bird cages and statues.
“This place is… creepy,” Byron mutters, at the same time that I hum, “Stunning.”
The path leads us to something of a courtyard, and then an atrium, complete with furniture, a grill, a bar, all surrounded by flora and fauna. The ceilings seem miles-high, and the rain pattering on the skylights drowns out our footsteps.
Eventually, we reach a doorway that brings us inside the mansion. As we walk nimbly through a foyer that leads past a study, then a kitchen, it’s difficult to stay focused, even for me. This mansion is a marvelous monstrosity. The architecture, the opulent decor shrouded in darkness… It’s the kind of place you read about in storybooks.
“Power must be out,” Byron whispers, then comes to a fast stop, huddling us behind a corner at the sound of footsteps and voices.
Peering around it, we watch Dr. Love and Felix Darcey padding their way, hand in hand, across a floor of checkered tile, over to a giant marble staircase. Once they’re out of sight, Byron checks that the coast is clear before following them.Stalking.
“He’s good at this,” I tell Trevel, who purses his lips to disguise a prideful grin.
We climb the stairs quickly, keeping our steps as lithe as mice. I feel Trevel’s zeal, the adrenaline coursing through his veins at being able to do this again. Stalking with a purpose. But he also seems elated at the notion of stalking with apartner, visibly buoyant as he sticks close to Byron.
They both have a few leaves in their hair, traces of dirt on their clothes and exposed skin. Of course, I know what they were doing before I showed up. What they’ve been doing pretty much since we arrived on this island…
“I hope you know what you’re doing with thisRaphael…” I say, not wanting to sound like a parent, but then…If the shoe fits.
