24 The mission

Ryan took a second to realize what his father had asked. It was hard to lie to his father, harder when it concerned Zara. Yet, he had to be strong. Ryan grinned maliciously and replied, "I am almost there father. Her heart is mine to crush and walk on when I next meet her." He didn't add what he felt -She has always been mine.

Arrog patted Ryan's shoulder, "That's my boy; I bet it must be tiring for you to waste your energy on someone as timid as her but your efforts will be well rewarded." Arrog went on to continue with his party while Ryan heaved a sigh of relief. He grabbed a bottle and hastily gulped down the water.

He was walking on a thin line. If Arrog got wind of what he was doing-feeding lies to his father, it would be only a matter of seconds before Arrog would wrap his hands around Ryan's neck and suffocate him. But it wasn't his fate that mattered to him. He couldn't even begin to imagine what Arrog would do to Zara, if he ever found out.

Ryan's mind worked furiously on devising ways to keep Zara away from the clutches of his father. He knew he was the only barrier standing between a Greater devil and a human girl like her. He had taken up the mission only to please his father, and more than anything to keep himself occupied.

But, the moment he had seen Zara, he was transported back to a not so distant memory. He had lost what was his and he was not going to let history repeat its mistake.

He walked out of the mansion for some fresh air, his mind churning with all the ways Zara could get hurt. He wanted to be near her so badly, if he had had wings he would have flown to her window and kissed her forehead.

Now, he didn't have the wings or the special powers. Only, a remainder of some mind tricks that he could pull out. Frustrated, he punched his fist in a nearby lamp post. The hit resounded through the empty lane and he didn't even flinch. Hearing the sound, a group of thieves who had been busy playing cards got up.

One of them had a knife while the other three had various weapons from hockey sticks to guns. They arrived near him and formed a loose circle around him. The tallest of them spoke, "Hand over everything you have."

Ryan only said, "I don't have anything except for some change. If you need this, take it, it's yours," as he pulled out some hundred bucks.

The man sneered, "You joking? Wallet, phone, cash, rings and anything else you have, give it to me right now or you would regret being alive."

Ryan laughed shakily, "You guys watch a lot of movies. Take the stuff and go." The tall man signaled the man with the gun to check Ryan for any valuables. Ryan raised his hands and let the man check him.

The man shouted, "Hey, look what I found" he waved Ryan's iphone in front of his gang. The tallest man looked impressed, "We could buy booz with that money, it will last us for weeks."

Ryan resisted trying not to sound too desperate, "Hey, that phone is important. I'll give you anything else you want. Don't touch it."

The group laughed and tossed the phone around as they stood in a loose circle around him. Ryan only mouthed, "I had warned you," before he kicked at the tall man and caught the phone mid-air. He then proceeded to snap the gunman's arm as if it was a twig.

The third man had raised his hockey stick to hit him on the shoulder but Ryan swiveled around on his leg and his right foot connected with the man's neck, as he too fell down shouting in pain. Ryan looked at the remainder of the group but the rest got scared and ran away.

Ryan checked his phone and made sure it was intact. He suddenly had an idea. He put the change in the tall man's shirt pocket and slipped in a paper after scribbling his number on it.