“Despite what you may think, I’m actually one of the good guys,” he told her.
“That’s not how the story goes,” she shook her head. “You’re getting people high on blood they’re not supposed to be drinking.”
“Would you rather they start killing off Halflings like yourself?” he asked her a question she wasn’t expecting.
She bit her lip, which still hurt a little, then looked down. He was right. A part of that was right, and she hated his smug face.
“Just think of the mayhem that might take place if some people went crazy for not getting their fix.”
“I guess…”
“So, what I’m doing is actually providing a service which keeps the peace around here.”
“While you make a quick buck,” she added, still frowning.
“A quick buck?” he laughed again, a little louder than he was supposed to.
Now, Eva was sure they were getting kicked out of the library and getting their cards revoked. But, no one came to warn them or kick them out. It was a good sign.
“And, what the hell can I do with a quick buck here, in the fucking middle of nowhere? Spend it on booze and women?” he snorted. “Be realistic.”
“So, I’m supposed to believe that you are doing it out of the goodness of your heart?” she asked. “Hardly.”
“Believe what you wish, doll,” he shrugged his shoulders. “You asked and I replied honestly but you don’t like the answer, so obviously there’s really no pleasing you.”
She felt insulted. Who did he think he was to talk to her like that?
“There are things you don’t know about, doll,” he repeated that word, and she both hated it and yearned to hear it again. “The world isn’t always black and white, as you see it.”
“I know that,” she snapped back.
“Then, can you believe that someone can do something good even if it might appear to be the opposite on first sight?”
“That is not the rule.”
“It can be an exception to the rule, no?”
He was making sense, in a way which didn’t allow for backtalk. His smooth verbal sparring made her feel powerless, speechless. The only man who had ever managed to do that before was her father. He always told her that, if she didn’t have anything worthy of saying, she shouldn’t speak at all. But, she did believe that her words held value. So, did Sebastian. Only his come backs packed a punch, leaving her at a loss for words.
“How about a truce?” he suddenly asked.
She was quiet. She wanted a truce but she didn’t want it to be under these conditions.
“Do you really believe those stories? That I’m a bad guy who sells kids blood so they could get high and kill themselves or whatever?” he asked and she could hear it in his voice that he cared about her opinion.
“I…” she started, but didn’t really know what to tell him. “I don’t know what to believe in anymore.”
“It’s easy,” he smiled. “Just go with what your heart tells you.”
At that moment, she knew exactly who she believed, and what she wanted to do. Without thinking, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his. It was crazy, completely unlike her, but it was something she had to do.
He seemed surprised at first but he didn’t push her away, which was something she was most afraid of. Instead, he also leaned in, opening his mouth a little, introducing his tongue to hers. They kissed slowly, gently, but passionately. It seemed to last forever, her eyes closed, the only thing she could feel being him. When he pulled away, she felt a sudden void, as if the only place where he should always be was next to her and when he wasn’t there, she wasn’t herself. She wasn’t complete.
“I didn’t expect that,” he grinned.
“Sorry, I… don’t know what came over me,” she replied, shyly, feeling her cheeks ablaze.
“Listen,” he suddenly started and she felt as if someone punched her in the belly.