4 Chapter 4: First Contact

Hours passed yet Zane did not emerge from the kitchen for the rest of the night.

Sera remained seated at the counter, ordering cup after cup of coffee as customers left and new ones arrived. Keeli chatted with her when she wasn’t busy cleaning up, serving food and taking orders. Sera felt for the young girl, she was clearly exhausted and over-worked. Sera frowned, 'especially after having to deal with Zane.'

By the time the clock reached its hands for midnight, Sera convinced herself that whatever she’d seen had been a trick of the mind, another instance of her wild imagination taking flight. But for some reason, she insisted on getting one more glimpse of Zane to reassure herself of her own sanity, yes that was it.

Sera hadn’t realized she was the only customer left until she glanced at the sign which displayed the diner’s hours. She jumped off the stool with a start, apologizing profusely to Keeli who was looking dead on her feet.

“No problem, are you kidding me? You made my double shift a thousand times more bearable!” she insisted with a tired yet genuine smile.

“I’ll get out of your hair,” Sera promised as she threw down a very generous tip, her eyes searching the space between the kitchen doors.

The clatter of dishes being stacked met her ears. He was still back there.

“Thank you again for the delicious coffee. I’ll stop by soon to discuss the possibility of another food drive, if you’re interested?”

Keeli slapped her hands together with glee. “That would be wonderful, thank you Ms. Hastings.”

“Call me Sera, please.”

The sounds from the kitchen paused. Sera wondered if he was listening to their conversation. With a slight nod of her head, Sera exited the diner.

Instead of hailing a cab or renting a city bike as she knew she should, Sera remained on the sidewalk staring at the diner.

'What to do?' She battled with herself for a few moments.

Her eyes connected with the small alley way leading behind the diner. Sera took a deep breath. She pressed herself up against the narrow wall and began to move forward. It was a tight space, but she was able to inch herself along until she reached the other side.

It was darker than she anticipated, but there was a weak stream of light emanating from the back door, which was slightly ajar. Sera eased into a shadowy corner which gave her a perfect view. She waited.

She knew her behavior was boarding on insane, but she just needed to see him once more, to confirm what she had suspected earlier.

It wasn’t long before the back door was thrown open. Zane and Keeli exited together. Sera held her breath, her heart pounding much too loud in her chest at the prospect of being caught.

He’d exchanged his dirty white shirt for a black one. Sera decided she liked him in black even better, but caught herself before her wild thoughts turned to unreasonable desire. What was wrong with her?

She watched as Zane counted off a large chunk of money and handed it to the young girl. Keeli tried to argue but he just pressed the cash into her hand with a scowl and headed off into the inky blackness of the street beyond. Keeli sighed and turned in the opposite direction. Then Sera was alone.

It only took her a split second to make up her mind before she slunk off into the darkness after him.

She followed him for 20 minutes, keeping her distance as she watched him saunter carelessly through the empty streets. The city was dangerous even when it wasn’t this late, but her target seemed completely unaffected by the possibility of trouble.

'Maybe that's because he is the trouble,' Sera thought to herself.

Her mother would absolutely kill her if she knew that she was stalking a stranger in the middle of the night, but Sera could’t help it. The mystery drawing her to this being was undeniable. So on she continued.

Sera just turned another corner, when she realized she'd wandered onto the North side of the city--her mother’s apartment buildings were only a 15 minute walk from here. She gazed up at the towering structure.

Her mother explained that “Hastings Apartments” housed a large population of the city, mostly the underprivileged or those who were readjusting to society after time in prison or living on the streets. Hestia never let Sera come with her when she went for inspections, claiming it was too dangerous and that she didn’t want Sera’s beauty and kindness attracting the attention of some unfavorable tenants.

Sera scoffed at her mother’s over protective nature.

'I take care of myself just fine.'

Sera readjusted her eyes to the shadowed alley she just turned down. She scanned in both directions.

He had disappeared.

Sera stomped her foot in frustration; her musings had distracted her and now she lost him. She took a step forward with determination just as hands grabbed her from behind, swinging her around and slamming her back into the brick wall.

She gasped as the air flew from her lungs. Her eyes were wide with panic as she fought against her unknown attacker. But her struggle was useless. She was stuck, pinned to the warm, hard body pressing against her.

“Stop it!” a voice commanded.

Sera’s head snapped up. She was once again looking into the dangerously smoldering eyes of Zane.

“Why the hell are you following me?” he growled, his lean fingers wrapping around her wrists and pressing them against the cold stone. “What do you want?”

Sera stared in shock. She’d failed at her own game and had become the hunted.

“Let go of me!” she demanded with false bravado.

He laughed in her face, though simultaneously loosened his steel-like grip on her wrists.

“Answer my questions,” he insisted in his low dark drawl.

His face was so close to hers she could feel the tips of his hair brushing against her cheek.

“Sera Hastings,” he hissed as his eyes burned into her. “I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced.” He inclined his head with a mocking bow, filled with sardonic humor. “I’m Zane.”

“I know who you are!” she spat back, her eyes flashing with fury.

What had she gotten herself into?

“Don’t tell me,” he whispered, his body was too close to hers. The heat radiating off of him was like standing inside a furnace. “You’re not actually scared of me, are you?” he taunted.

Sera set her mouth in a firm line and glared at him. Before he could stop her, she slammed her heeled boot down onto his foot as hard as she could. He barely winced, but her move distracted him just enough to allow her to free herself from his grasp. She twisted away and slipped easily under his arm. She danced back several feet, shooting daggers at him as she massaged her wrists.

“I saw the way you looked at me with that customer today. You probably think I deserved it, didn’t you? Like anyone who has money and looks down on the rest of us, you’re predictable as hell.”

“Don’t presume to know anything about me, Zane,” she hurled his name at him like it was a curse.

He grinned at her sour expression. He strolled towards her slowly, closing the gap of space between them. Sera held her ground.

“Don’t come any closer,” she hissed. “Or I’ll-”

“You’ll what?” he chuckled, but remained a few feet away as he once again raked his eyes over her body in slow perusal. Sera felt her face flame with color at his boldness. “What could you possibly do to me that hasn’t already been done?” he questioned.

Sera paused, frowning at his words. She decided it was now or never. She’d never been a coward in her entire life, and this situation was no different. She’d dealt with her fair share of sketchy individuals, she could handle this one…man. Sera straightened her shoulders and lifted herself to her full height. She was still at least a foot shorter than he was, even with heels on.

She cleared her throat.

“I saw you earlier.”

He looked at her with confusion, “Meaning?”

“When that customer threw his food at you. I saw you.”

“Yeah, so did everyone else. What makes you special?” he barked impatiently, rolling his eyes as if she were keeping him from something important.

Sera slowly smiled. Clearly she had the advantage here. Perhaps this Zane didn’t realize what he’d shown her.

She took a confident step forward. He quirked one eyebrow at her courage.

“What makes me special,” she stated with triumph. “Is that I saw the real you. The one under all of this.” She indicated to his magnificent body with her hand.

She swore she saw a flash of fear in his eyes, but it was gone as soon as it had come. He backed away from her slowly.

“Listen,” he spoke with an edge to his dark voice. “I don’t know what the hell you’re playing at, but if you don’t want an enemy in this city, I suggest you mind your own business and back off.”

Sera let out a little laugh. He gave her a strange look. Good. She surprised him.

“And if you don’t want everyone to know what you 'really' are, I suggest you start talking,” she threatened, crossing her arms and staring back into his unfathomably expressive eyes. If he hadn’t been so snarky, she could have easily lost herself in them.

He snarled at her with disgust before continuing his retreat, slowly, “Don’t waste my time again. Run home to your riches and jewels and leave me the hell alone,” he demanded, dismissing her as he turned around to flee.

Sera felt her temper close to snapping. She let out a sarcastic shout of mirth.

“Too bad,” she taunted, matching him with a sneer of her own. “I didn’t realize you were such a coward.”

His head turned back towards her. She watched as his jaw ticked with undiluted rage. One second he was at a safe distance and the next he was once again inches from her face. A low growl emitted from his throat. She tensed with apprehension as he opened his mouth, his harsh breath falling against her exposed neck.

“What did you say?” he whispered in a deadly soft voice.

Sera swallowed hard, her body was shaking with anticipation. She leaned in even closer. There was no fear in her eyes.

“I called you, a coward.”