Chapter 4: I feel the Lust in my Blood

*Mika*

Working here wasn’t so bad, admittedly. It was far more peaceful than retail, even if it was sweeping, dusting, and other such cleaning tasks. Not the most glamorous thing to do, nor something I wanted to dedicate my life to or that would forward my career, but the same could be said about selling clothing to middle-aged women who flipped out at the slightest thread being out of place.

The ability to listen to music helped immensely, and I was getting into the groove, nodding my head to it when I felt eyes on me. I frowned, furrowing my brow as slowly I turned to fix my eyes upon him. Percival was approaching a shelf of the library but had glanced over to me working, probably. At least, I didn’t think he had been staring, as he was mid-walk when I turned to look at him.

I took out my ear buds and said, “Oh, hi there. Need me to move?” I realized I may be standing in his way and moved to quickly step aside. Quickly glancing away from him, I realized I still had that sharp bite of attraction. He looked to be in his early 40s, though without a grey hair in sight. Perhaps he dyed his given it was incredibly dark and shined like onyx.

Percival slowly shook his head. “No,” he said, his voice still soft like when we first met. “Apologies for interrupting your work. It can be frustrating to lose your train of thought.”

I shrugged, giving a light smile. “I was just finishing up the dusting of this section. I’m…curious though. This place is a bit eerie. Where are you from, anyway, if you want to answer?” I didn’t know what compelled me to ask that, but I really wanted to figure out why he was so mysterious and alluring. Probably just my mind playing dumb on me, really. It wasn’t appropriate to think this way, yet here I was.

“I’m alright to answer,” he said, giving a half-smile. He turned to fix me in his basilisk-like stare for a moment, and the feeling that washed over me was… odd. I felt like a deer in the headlights, a rabbit staring into the eyes of a hawk just about to sink its talons into it. Yet, at the same time, entirely safe. These mix of emotions hit me like a truck. I felt my heart rate increase, but just tried to ignore it all.

Percival continued, “You are probably curious, after all, why people moved to this place after it had been silent for so long. I believe it’s hundreds of years old. Technically it is mine. It’s owned by my family line, and given I travel so much, I never had a chance to be here. Now, I need a break for a few years, so here I am. There are a few political tensions from where I am moving from, so the intended peace and quiet is nice. Hopefully it will not all follow me here.”

“Oh, you are a politician? That’s interesting. I wouldn’t be able to do that; my heart is in biology and other such sciences,” I said, my eyes growing distant. “If only I was a bit more interested in chemistry, I may be in a better spot.”

“Biology is just as important,” Percival replied, keeping his eyes locked on me. “Trouble finding a career?” he asked, not bothering to glance around and gesture as to why he was asking that question. “I am glad we can afford high pay here and help folks like yourself get going. The world has made it tough for graduates.”

“You bet,” I replied, glad he understood and respected me despite me, well, being a maid for him. “I appreciate that. Way better than the hell that is retail.”

“I am sure,” Percival replied. “Though even plans to remain a maid would be respectable. Politicians, maids, scientists, we all do hard work. Some of it is more boring than others, depending on the person. There are many aspects of my job I’d love to throw aside to clean areas of this manor instead. Though since we have the money, giving people jobs is also helpful in that sense while I get a bit of a break,” he finished. Finally, he broke his stare on me, now glancing to the window. The sun was setting, and he smiled to himself as he spotted a few birds playing around outside. At least, that’s what I assumed he was smiling at.

I took the leap. “So, do you like birds? I especially enjoy corvids.” Why not? It was break time for me anyway, and we were already talking. This talk on his break from his job surely was a drag. I was glad he wasn’t being some mysterious boss shrouded in shadow and was open to talking.

“I do,” he said, now glancing toward me again and causing me to tense. Those feelings, again, washed over me, and I couldn’t help my body language. Was that a knowing smile on his lips?! He didn’t give me a chance to study that, and rather, motioned to the window. “Let’s open it, shall we?”

He walked over to the large window and pulled it open with ease. There wasn’t a screen on there, and he said, “Some bugs may get in, like moths or bees. If you can, try to let them outside, I like to avoid needless death.”

Respect flared in my chest for him, and I nodded with a smile. His eyes were now fastened on some crows playing tug-of-war with a stick. Some hopped around and caw’d at one another, and clearly they were having a grand ole time. Percival’s smile was radiant. Evidently, despite his eerie style, which admittedly matched mine in aesthetic, he could be quite bright like a full moon when he wanted to be.

“I’ve always been fascinated with corvids,” he began. “Always living in the moment, intelligent, knowing how to both survive and have fun. I think humans underestimate them often, don’t you?” he asked me.

“Yes,” I agreed, now standing next to him and staring out the window. I caught his scent; it was of woodsy cologne with a slight bit of spice to it, sexy and alluring just like how he looked. I pushed that thought out of my mind as we chatted about birds some more, trying to get my head together.

Working here may be straightforward, but Percival was definitely unintentionally making it difficult to think. Thankfully I’d be off break soon.