Cynthia

Mint. That's the first thing I felt when I woke up this morning. Then a metallic smell that reminds me of blood. My first instinct is to look at my crotch. Nothing, no stains. So I'm going crazy! Between that night, when I thought I saw my host's blood, and now I'm really losing my mind! This is surely the place. It's one of the few times I don't sleep at home. This is all new. So I have to get used to it. With everything I've heard about here, I can only have nightmares!

In the living room, my eyes immediately fall on Lord Keith Mackay. I shudder just to know that he came last night to inspect if I was asleep. I was in a wonderful nightmare and I woke up rudely. Seeing someone at the door scared me. I even thought it was the murderer and that he was going to kill me! Luckily, it was only one of my hosts. If not the worst. The one who was cold to me at first. Then, as if the night had changed him, he became kind and responded to my needs.

The two brothers openly ignore me. Lord Keith MacKay pretends to read his book, which he holds in his hands. His eyes don't even move to read the lines! As for Steafan MacKay, he's having fun moving the books around. I insist again, greeting them politely, but coldly. This time, Steafan Mackay deigns to pay attention to me.

"Oh, hello, Cynthia. I hope you slept well! You can go and have breakfast. We already took it a little earlier."

I thanked him, before making my way to the dining room with a quick step. Everything is already prepared. The long table is literally overwhelmed with food. There is something for everyone. Sweet, salty. I don't even know what to take! Everything makes me want to do it. Fruit, bacon, green puree of I don't know what, pancakes, drinks... There's even the shortbread I've been wanting to taste for a long time! There's no denying that they know how to entertain their guests! I am not disappointed with my visit. Limit if I don't want to stay a little longer...

As a foodie, I try everything. I spend this breakfast playing it at La Mercotte and Cyril. In the end, I'm full. My belly must have doubled in size and I had to open the button on my jeans.

After this good breakfast, I leave the table. As I pass through the living room, I discover that only Lord Keith MacKay remains. He now holds a sheet of paper that has yellowed by time and, in places, been torn.

Lord Keith MacKay is my guide. He has to help me find clues. I'm sure I'll find inspiration again! Just by looking at it, a lot of ideas come to me. Each one more absurd than the last. It inspires confidence, mastery, desire. This man is just a flesh-and-blood fantasy. Although his brother looks like him, Keith MacKay intrigues me much more. Worse, I'd like him to show me a lot of things. Whether it's about the crimes that happened, about his mansion, about him or even about what you can do together. Just the two of them. I can already imagine her pushing me against the bookcase and ripping off my panties with her teeth.

I let out a deep sigh, which caught his attention. As if paralyzed on the spot, my arms dangling limply in the void, I plunge into her dark eyes. His gaze is hard, almost icy, as I am literally melting. It upsets me, electrifies me.

I want it for my next story. He inspires me.

"You arrived late," he said. "When I say six-and-a-half, I don't mean twenty minutes later. If you ate cold, too bad for you. Don't complain."

His words hit me hard. He's aggressive, like angry with me. My eyelids blink a few times to bring me back to reality. To the harsh reality.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I took a little more time to prepare... But there is no problem with breakfast. It was even very good!"

However, he does not relax. Silently, he gets up from his old fabric chair and positions himself a few meters away from me. Of my body totally attentive to the slightest of his movements.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I've never been like this in my life! Even surrounded by a bunch of older, sexy boys. He's something else entirely. It's worse. It's profound. As if I wasn't in control of my emotions in his presence.

"So much the better," he whispered. "Are you ready?"

One thing's for sure, it's different. It doesn't seem the same between the one in the messages and the one in front of my eyes. If there were twins, it would make sense. This is not the case. Maybe he understood that I wasn't who they were expecting? Did they expect a different girl?

"Yes."

"There's one thing you must know, my dear. Follow me and do as I tell you. Without contradicting or denying.

"Okay," I agreed, a little surprised by his request. "No problem."

His right eyebrow arches, obviously waiting for me to lower my head. What a humiliation!

"Good," he continued. "Secondly, you can get out of here whenever you want, but not without me. I will be by your side all the time during your research. Ready to help, if needed. Except on the days when the sun decides to burn half of the planet's inhabitants. You will be accompanied by our driver Dam Kinley on each of your outings. You can trust him."

What strange rules! Why deprive yourself of the sun? Given the low temperatures here, it's not a luxury.

I don't have time to answer that he's already at the other end of the room, waiting for me. I walk across the living room and follow him. Contrary to what I thought, he doesn't take me outside, as originally planned. He makes his way to the imposing staircase. Quickly, we climb the steps. We don't stop at my floor, but at his. I can't stop my legs from shaking. Could it be that he is taking me to his room?

When we enter a room, at first bathed in darkness, I shudder. Speechless, I hear my host walk and then draw thick curtains that immediately flood the room with a blinding light. The place is without a doubt the prettiest of everything I have seen so far. This is another library. This time, it's much bigger than the one available to me. There must be double the number of books. I'll dream of spending my entire hours here, just to devour them one by one.

"This is our private library," he says, his back turned, looking out the window. "You will not be allowed to enter it without my presence. Of course, all this must remain between us, my brother would not like to hear that you have been there."

I shake my head with a knowing nod. However, there is one thing I did not understand. Who is the greatest, the one who gives the rules? At first glance, I would say the man I have in front of me. But with what he just said, I'm not sure. Maybe they both have developed rules that should not be deviated from?

"It's really... magnificent!"

"I know. You have two hours to look for what you want. Then, as agreed, I will take you to one of the places mentioned in your list, as agreed before your arrival. We'll start with downtown. You will be able to request the testimonies of the inhabitants."

Without moving from his window, he waves at me to move forward into the room. Hitherto petrified a few inches from the door, I finally dare to enter completely.

"You must not forget to take your black notebook and write down the testimonies."

At this mention, I lift my face to try to find his eyes through the glass.

"How do you know I have a black notebook?"

"I saw him yesterday night," he confessed, without even wavering.

Stupid question, stupid answer... It was obvious! He was hanging out on the bedside table.

"You are wasting your time, dearest. You should get to work now, I won't wait for you."

My breath held back, I take in his cold tone. Aggressive limit. I look away and start my research. The excitement shakes me completely. I feel like a detective!

***

The two hours went by too quickly. I didn't have time to look it all up. On the other hand, Keith will let me go back. He spent all his time watching me carefully. He even dared to come and read my notes, over my shoulder, without even being discreet.

Here we are in his car. My host is in the back with me, but at the other end of the bench. The driver doesn't say a word. We are immersed in silence all the way. When I arrive in the city, my eyes rest on each building that passes by. They are all more magnificent than the last.

The tension in the vehicle makes me shudder. It's cold and the electricity is palpable. When I turn my face to my host, he is riveted to the road. Still, I dare to speak.

"This city is lovely!"

"It attracts many the most curious visitors. Ah, here we are!"

When the limousine pulls up, I can see that we are in front of a pub. Lord Mackay invites me out very politely, which is quite strange. He helps me, offering his hand to get out of the long black car. On land we walk to the entrance of the pub. I freeze, it's not where we were supposed to go at all.

"Shouldn't we surrender..."

"Remember what I told you earlier," he cuts me off, annoyed. "To follow me and do what I tell you, without contradicting or refusing me. I should have added the fact that you don't have to ask me a question..."

He enters the building without even waiting for me. OK, he's already starting to annoy me! I don't even know if I should stay here or follow him! When he doesn't come back after several minutes and I can't see him through the glass, I go in. Inside, everything is warm. Wood and green plants are dominant. The smell of alcohol goes up my nose. I breathe in to give me courage. My feet carry me to the counter where a bartender smiles at me.

"Sit down, my lovely young lady!"

I go to ask him if he hasn't seen my host, but a hand puts on my forearm. I turn my head and come face to face with a stranger. He is blond, with a very long beard and wrinkled skin. He tells me something I don't understand. He insists and in front of my lost face, he smiles at me. I'm still stupid. I don't know what to say or do. He's obviously waiting for me to speak. The bartender replies in their language before winking at me.

"We don't all speak more than one language," he tells me. "My colleague wanted your phone number..."

"Oh... okay..."

"I advise you not to give it to him, you know..."

He leaves his sentence hanging and purses his lips. I nod my head in understanding.

"Oh, I see... Yes. Anyway, I have a French number!"

"Would you like something to drink?" The drink is offered to women."

"No. Thank you anyway."

My body shudders. It was as if a draught of fresh air had just tickled me. But it's still there. The temperature suddenly dropped. Hands rest on my hips and pull me against something hard. A man. He buries his face in my neck and sniffs my scent.

It takes me a few moments to realize what's going on. I try to push the person away, but they are stronger than me. The bartender has turned away from me and the man next to me is watching his hot drink from which his smoke is escaping. I nudge with my elbow, which doesn't have the desired effect.

"Softly wild," the man whispers in my ear.

"Let go of me!"

"What are you doing here, all alone, so far from France?"

The man speaks to me in French in a smirk.

"I'm not alone!" I replied coldly. "I'm at the MacKays'.

The man freezes, but does not loosen his grip. I'm still stuck in his arms.

"At the MacKays', you say... You should flee before you find yourself with your throat open. It would really be a hell of a loss... And I know what I'm talking about, the MacKays are not good. You're going to be disappointed, my dear. They are..."

"Cadell, let go of her at once," thunders a deep voice.

It's Keith MacKay, I know. Immediately, the man who was holding me prisoner frees me. I don't have time to turn to my host, when he grabs me by the arm and forces me to follow him. He doesn't let go of me until we're on the sidewalk. Outside, Keith MacKay turns to me, his face tense.

"What the hell did you do? Do you know who this man is? A very rich man! Very, very influential! You can do what you want with your body, you can give it to idiots if you want, but don't mix my family with your relationships. We stay well away from them, and for good reason."

"You are mistaken," I ventured, staring at him. "He's the one who stuck to me! I didn't ask for anything."

"You don't like to follow the rules, from what I see... I don't care how that happened. Don't talk about us. Don't think about us. And don't look me in the eye."

What for? Because they have fascinating glows? Because I'm intrigued and captivated every time. That I'd like to get lost in it? Learn more? As if they were bewitching me. And on the other hand, when he looks harsh, I'm scared. Afraid to read in it a power, an extraordinary determination. Scared of not understanding.

"I don't know who you think you are, but I have a right to look at you."

Oops. It's gone by itself!

Lord Keith arches an eyebrow, amused by my answer.

"We think we are one of the richest families in Ireland. For those who have more land than you can imagine. For those who agree to accommodate a young woman free of charge, even offering her meals. For the family who has to put up with hearing about them all day long because of a psychopath who has fun killing their clients. Which are feared by the whole city and even beyond... Am I continuing or have you understood?"

I roll my eyes. I can understand that he must be fed up with being called killers, but it has nothing to do with it.

"What are you afraid of? That I..."

"That you force me to make you go home sooner than expected."

He cut me off, more coldly than before. I'm left on my ass!

"I-"

"You? Are you going to do as I tell you? Or do you prefer to find inspiration at home?"

Is it me, or is he threatening me?

Without waiting for my answer, he turns on his heels and gets into his limousine. I hear the engine start. I don't waste any time and join him. My heart is pounding. Stress makes my blood beat and my fingers warm.

I have the unpleasant feeling that he has just blackmailed me and that he has won! Don't think that's the case, I haven't said my last word! I won't let it happen so easily. We've agreed on a deal and I want to go all the way!