I didn't want to be coming back here so quickly, but I guess I didn't really have a choice. I knew I had to do this to buy myself time, but that simple reassurance did little to stop the small buzz of fear that was starting to fizzle inside my stomach. 

However I wasn't allowing my nerves to get to me. It was dark outside and that meant the demon inside of me ruled. I wasn't letting any cowardly emotion impact my cold demeanour. I couldn't eradicate my human half's irritating feelings from my life, but I could easily ignore them. And I was pretty good at that by now.

Begrudgingly I had to admit that we'd made some mutual agreements towards certain matters recently. But at the same time that didn't mean we would be anything less than enemies. Hating myself gave me the energy to destroy.

And that energy allowed me to keep on living. He would never be free from me. 

Usually I owned the night time but on this particular Tuesday evening I was inside the luxurious mafia house I'd been in three days prior. But this would be a different experience: I wasn't here to make friends.

Spence and Victor were currently waiting for me in the attic office. They didn't know why I was here and I was thankful for that. It was better to broach such a sensitive subject in person: vengeance was held with such high esteem in the world of the mafia.

We reached the attic room and my guide pulled the golden knocker on the lavish door three times before leaving me on my lonesome. I waited for a few moments or so before I was shown the grandiose office, with its plush emerald carpet and expensive pub-like furniture. 

Spence had opened the door for me and I greeted him before we both sat down opposite Victor, who was lounging back in his chair with a face so lacking of emotion it was almost as if he was bored of himself. 

The scene in front of me looked so similar to that Saturday night I almost wondered if I was experiencing déjà vu, but I shook myself awake. Besides, the decanters of liquor on Victor's desk had almost been full that day but were now close to empty, looking more pitiful than imposing. 

"Good evening Roman," Victor managed to sound as bored as he looked. "Should we get straight to business?" 

"Yeah. That's a good idea."

He smiled ever so slightly. "Go ahead." 

"It's about Robbins." 

"What about her?" A suddenly tense voice to the side of me piped up, and I almost felt myself faltering. I really didn't want to do this, but I had no choice. 

I paused for a moment before diving right in. "I found out recently that she has something of great value to me. But the problem is this object is not only important to me, it's important to some of my advisories, and there may be dire consequences if these individuals get to it before I do." 

"Okay," Victor said, actually looking somewhat interested in what I had to say. "And I've found out she was behind all the attacks on my men, so we both have something against her. But why are you telling us this?"

"Because you have made it obvious that you've found out," I said simply, turning towards Spence who had a strange expression on his face. "I'm the only one at the moment who knows that Robbins has this object that I desire, but your attacks on her are drawing attention from other parties. And that means they could discover she has what we want." 

Victor let out a bitter laugh. "So you want us to stop our attacks." 

"Only until I have finished my research about this treasure, which should take a few weeks at the most. And then you can do what you like with her. I know how important revenge is for you, but there is a lot hinging on this object, and in Robbins' hands it is unsafe to everyone who runs in our kind of circles, but it could be worse. A lot worse." 

"What is it?" Spence asked, looking curious and confused. 

"I can't tell you that. But it's part of the reason why the L.A mafia has taken so many hits recently." 

There was a silence for a few moments, before being broken by the sound of Victor scratching the stubble on his chin. 

"I sympathise with you for the fact that this object is very valuable to you," he said, pausing to take a swig of a strong-smelling whiskey. "But, as you said, revenge is very important to us. And whilst you are a very generous investor to the business, I don't see how helping you would really benefit us at all." 

I turned my attention directly onto him. "Helping me would be a wise decision, Mr Manidov. I think you'd find that people who do not please me end up in very problematic situations." 

Victor's relaxed expression disappeared instantly and he got to his feet, his eyes suddenly gleaming. 

"Are you threatening me?" 

There was a tense silence as I stood up too, rising a few inches above him. 

"If you have to ask me I obviously didn't make it clear enough." 

He let out a bark of laughter in reply. "Whilst you do have some influence in the business, you would be an absolute fool to challenge someone like me. Everyone would be after your throat." 

"I doubt that," I said quietly, as a buzz of electricity started to flow into my veins and I allowed my eyes to flash crimson for a second. "I doubt that very much." 

The redness of my gaze didn't go unnoticed by Victor, who for a moment faltered but then presumably passed it off for a trick of the light. 

"In any case," he started, reaching down to his desk and pulling out a pistol from an unforeseen draw. "You've been good to us, so I'll give you a chance to live. Leave now and I won't shoot." 

I knew that was a lie. Mafia men always pressed the trigger. 

It was clear I had no other option now. Intimidation was the only way forward. 

"I'm sorry, but I don't have a choice right now. You need to do what I say." Energy charged through me as I prepared myself to carry this out, to face this consequence. 

I stretched my palm out and a bolt of lightning shot out at Victor's gun. He let out a painful gasp as the pistol flew out of his hands and hit the wall with a thud, crumbling to a million pieces. 

He clutched his wounded hand in agony and hissed at me with violent panic. "Black magic! Witchcraft!" 

"Power," I corrected him, drawing myself up proudly. "Power you would be wise to respect." 

From beside me, Spence suddenly jumped up to his feet. I'd almost forgotten about him. "What the Hell was that?" 

I sighed. "Mate...you wouldn't understand." 

My words did little to comfort him. 

"Well make me understand! I've known...I've known you for ages!" He spluttered out, looking horrified as he tried to process what he had just seen. "What you just did wasn't natural...it wasn't...you aren't...you aren't who I thought you were."  

I gritted my teeth. This wasn't going well at all, but I didn't have a choice on the matter: Victor wouldn't have budged otherwise. 

"Yes, I know. I'm sorry. I didn't intend for you to find out this way. But I'm still the same guy you've always known and been friends with." 

"Always been friends with?" He let out a snort. "Let's face it Roman, I can't remember the last time I actually properly hung out with you. We're more like acquaintances now." 

I paused for a moment, recognising the fact that there was an actual element of hurt in his voice. "I didn't want to distance myself from you Spence...sometimes responsibilities such as mine force isolation." 

There was a silence for a few seconds before I realised that Spence had no intention of replying. 

I rounded on Victor. "So, will you leave Robbins alone? Or am I going to have to put you through more pain?" 

"Don't you worry, Mr Axon. She's all yours for the next few weeks," he spat out through gritted teeth, although there was a certain amount of fear that shined in his dull, brown eyes. 

"Good. I hope I won't need to spell out for you what the consequences will be if I find you don't follow your word." 

He scowled but nodded through his anger. 

"I'll take my leave then." 

I walked out of the door without a word from either of the two men, and out of view I shifted immediately back to the safety of my penthouse flat. 

I should've been glad that I got my way, although I didn't know why my human half had been so intent on trying to negotiate instead of intimidate. But even I had to admit that the shadows within my apartment seemed to look darker than usual, with loneliness suffocating any kind of moon or star light from above. I had just lost another friend, and it was doubtful that he would ever be able to let me in again. 

I stared blankly out of my large window, immersed in the darkness that was my life. And I couldn't ignore the fact that the blinking city lights looked even more uninviting than ever before.