PROLOGUE
FLETCHER IGNAZ
I held my head as another wave of pain exploded at my temples, the noise increasing around my skull which felt like glass; fragile glass. I eyed the woman in front of me with a renewed bout of hatred; everything was her fault. My hands were shaking in fear and rage, but i could see how pale and slim they had become. My body which had always been lithe had become even slimmer, and it was the fault of the woman who lay on the bed.
Her hair, so dark now, had been a gorgeous silvery white that had almost chocked me with envy the first time i saw her. Even now as it lay tumbled on the pillows, a direct contrast to its original pale color, it still managed to make the blonde cropped bob i had been so proud of once and had made a signature hairstyle of mine, look like crap. Every part of the damned harpy did that to me. In only a matter of months, her green eyes, gorgeous cheek bones, plump lips and athletic-hour glass body, unfairly given to her by the gods for the sole purpose of bringing men and women to their downfall, had reduced me to a fumbling insecure mess.
The harpy was the cause of everything. My headache, my pain, my fear and the fact that I had lost everything I’d loved. She’d taken everything from me like I’d known she would since the first day I’d seen the abomination of her face.
How could everyone be so fooled by her friendly words and her fake smiles? How could everyone allow me to be so humiliated by this vile creature of the night. And worst of all, how could he fall for her after everything? I massage my temple trying to lessen my headache and focus more at the task at hand. Silver eyes meet mine and they are filled with sadness and regret and a silent plea. But it’s too late now. I know who I am now.
A woman scorned. Hell hath no fury.
I’d thought he’d be stronger; that our love would be stronger but I had clearly given the man too much credit. He’d broken my heart and my spirit and my dreams as well, and for that, they would both die. Then after that…. then after that I will have nothing to live for. After that….
I frowned as my thoughts came to an abrupt halt. I had no idea who I would be after all of this.
SOME YEARS EARLIER
Leukas had first attempted the Briggs- Rauscher reaction when he was ten, starry eyed and convinced he would someday change the world and somehow use science to unite the transcendental beings and the mortals of the world. His mother would probably swear up and down that she wouldn’t be so irresponsible as to let her child do that if ever asked, but most people who really knew her knew never to even hint at criticizing her or her kids; she was a bona fide spitfire and could annihilate anyone with a single look and a few words.
It had lost its appeal when he was eleven, the simpler chemical processes not the plans for world change, so the fact that he had to perform the mediocre processes again at university level galled and annoyed him to no end. His phone vibrating was another unwanted occurrence that day, especially when he saw that it was his ‘girlfriend’, Ashley.
Her call was unexpected because she knew that Leukas preferred she tell him to expect a call rather than to spontaneously receive one, even from her. He did not appreciate disorder in his life, but since she was his ‘girlfriend’, he could make exceptions. That’s what Aleksander always said anyway. And she had never given him a reason to doubt her in any way. He left his station after nodding to his partner and headed to the small but clean restroom, right next to the lab and answered the still ringing phone.
“Hello Ashley. Did you need…” he began before cutting himself off when he heard a pained moan from the other end.
“Leukas. Baby…. Aleksander. She’s trying to kill me.” Her breathing was harsh and her voice was hurried, almost hysterical.
“What? What do you mean Aleksander is trying to kill you?” Leukas asked, his voice calm and controlled, hoping it would help ease Ashley so that her words would make more sense.
“Your life is in danger Leukas. I found out that she works for some Russian Assassin Agency. She was planted to hurt you Leukas. She’s been pretending to be your friend all along.”
Leukas shook his head even though no one could see him. If it came down to it, he would believe Aleksander over Ashley anyway; Ashley was nothing to him after all. The conviction on her voice was worrying though and he just had to try to make her see reason. Because what she was saying made no sense, “No… you must be wrong. Aleks would never...”
“I left all the evidence on your desk at home. She knew somehow that I found out and she’s after me. I’m dying babe…” her voice broke at the end.
A headache began at Leukas’ temple. The phone call was getting a bit to out of control and all the accusations being thrown around Aleksander’s name where making his skin itchy. The room was warmer and the air was suddenly too humid. His skin prickled in some sort of uncomfortable awareness.
“Tell me where you are. This is all a misunderstanding. I’ll come get you and take you to the….” His words were wobbly and the world was unsteady, the beginning of a panic attack imminent. He bit his nails into his palms to steady himself and to stave of the unwelcome attack. He hadn’t had one since he…. since long….and that part of his life had been over for a while. There had to be a reasonable explanation for Ashley’s gibberish.
“It’s too late for me baby. All I care about is you. I want you to know who she is before I die. She stabbed me. In the chest. She drove us out of the city from the library. She forced me into the car and took me to an abandoned house. I only managed to run upstairs but I have nowhere to run. I’m barely hanging on as it is Luk…. I love you so much….” Her voice faded away as banging sounds sound from her phone. A piercing scream came from the other side of the phone and Leukas’ blood froze all over
“Ashley? Answer me! Ashley!” Leukas screamed futilely into the phone, willing Ashley to return and right his world again by taking back all that she had said and telling him that Aleksander, the brightest spot in his otherwise dark life, had not truly been a lie all along.
PART 1
FEMME FATALE
