Page 57 of Architecti
“Why?”he asks, expression thin.
“Usually tears are frayed, right?Their edges all rough where the fabric bulged and snapped?”
“Correct.”
“This wasn’t, it was very neat.Too neat, almost like the fabric was sliced.But I’ve never seen that.”
He recoils, his forehead crumpling in concentration.“You think it was cut intentionally?”
“Perhaps?Someone broke into my apartment on the same night there was a Veil attack.So something is going on, and I’d put money on the two events being connected.What I don’t understand is why me?”
Father’s fists ball.There is something here, something going on, but I see the simmering twitch in his eyelid.He’s reached the end of his tether, and I carry the memories of what happens if you keep pushing.
“I have to go.Make sure you lock all the doors and windows.I’ll see to it that there’s security on the entrances and exits.”
I want to protest to ask more, call him out for avoiding the questions but every bone in my body is weary, and if I push him too hard there will be consequences.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I say.
He leaves without another word.
The apartment is warm tonight, and I find myself grateful that maintenance started the fire.
Upturned boxes are everywhere.Dresses and jackets spilled over the floor.My academic texts and stationery strewn across the living room.
I tidy what I can before exhaustion eats away at the marrow of my soul and I decide to leave the rest, opting instead to hunt for bathing equipment.
It takes a minute or two, but I find a towel and some soap and head for the shower.My heart sinks when I realise there’s no bath.Reluctantly, I switch the shower on.It runs warm so I open the frosted window to stop the steam.I’ll just have to be extra careful not to show the world my naked body.I strip and climb in, lathering up my skin.
No wine, no bath… There’s only one other comfort I can think of that would make things better.
I slip my hand between my thighs, cleansing my most intimate parts, then brush the thumb over my clit, sending a pulse through my body.
Exhaustion gnaws at every inch of me, but my fingers glide between my folds, picking up the bubbles and using them to massage my apex.
My nipples tighten.I lean back and slide down the tiles.Once sat, I spread my legs.
Midnight’s face flickers in my mind.Those crystalline eyes glinting at me.Her expression cocky, assured.A moan slips out.Fuck.
I can’t be having thoughts like this, not now she’s a student.The last thing I want is to get her expelled.And I definitely do not want to get fired, either.I shove the images of Midnight down deep.
I rub harder, my clit pulsing, my pussy tightening.The smell of vetiver and grapefruit, the scent of Midnight drifts through my senses.What the hell?Images of her sliding her hands down my trousers float through my mind and my body stiffens in response.I’m teetering on the precipice of coming with visions of her littering my thoughts.
A gasp shatters the quiet.
I freeze, my mind shunted back to high alert.I glance out the shower and through the open window, but there’s no one there.Though the feeling of being watched doesn’t wash away with the soap.It clings to my skin.
I poke my head out the shower, but I’m just being paranoid.I’ll take a knife to bed with me tonight, otherwise I’m not sleeping.
I slide down the tiles until I’m sitting again and resume masturbating.One hand skirts low, my fingers gliding between my folds and dipping into my entrance.My other hand finds my clit as I add another finger inside myself.Midnight’s name hovers on my lips as I fuck myself into oblivion.Thoughts and images of her swirl around my mind.
My pussy clenches, driving me higher, and I think I whisper her name as I spill over into the best relief I’ve had all day.The fact it was with my hands in my cunt and Midnight in my mind is something I’ll worry about in the morning.
19
Midnight
I’ll slip into Lucy’s apartment and reap her soul.
