Kisses From Death | Book 1

T W E N T Y - F O U R

T W E N T Y - F O U R
Dreams & Aspirations

THE SILENCE WAS starting to grow deafening as the minutes began to tick by. After the little trick that Cassiel had pulled on me, the both of us had retreated to opposite ends of the room, perhaps equally as determined not to exchange a single word due to the awkward tension in the air. Yet, I shuffled uncomfortably in my seat, squirming like a worm on a hook as I glanced nervously at my watch.

"You know, the more you look at the time, the slower it will go. It's sort of a psychological concept." Cassiel said from across the room, his figure hidden in the shadows.

"Yeah, that is kind of what I was counting on." Fiddling with the diamonds on my bracelet, I glanced nervously at him. "How do you think the others are doing? We're the one with the gun, after all. That leaves them with no protection."

"Death is after you. The chances of the four horsemen going after the rest of them are low."

"They attacked the rest of the partygoers rather ruthlessly if I do recall."

"There is no loss looking to the brighter side of things and being optimistic." Shrugging, Cassiel stretched out his leg, flexing it for a bit. "That's something you should learn to do, you know?"

"I was very optimistic when I was younger. Society changes people, Cassiel. In more ways than just one." Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair, forcing my eyes shut in an attempt to cool down.

"I'm sure that there are things from your childhood that had not changed even now. Your dreams, aspirations? Surely they remained constant?"

I frowned. "I haven't really thought of it. I've always thought that my father would hire me to work in his company. Take over his business, you know? But now, I'm not sure if that is something I truly want to do for the rest of my life. I mean, can you imagine sitting behind an office desk every day for the rest of your life? It would be so boring and taxing. It is a good-paying and stable job but I don't think I want to do it."

Silence stretched out between the both of us and I could hear Cassiel moving from where he had sat. Though he did not move to my side, he significantly shifted closer to that I could see him clearly. Instead of hiding in the shadows, half of his face was illuminated by the sunlight, just half. A distant memory flashed in my mind for a second before it disappeared back into the labyrinth of my mind.

"Think about it. Don't rush into things because you only make your best decisions when you are completely sure of your desires."

Suddenly stunned by his surprisingly good advice, I paused, lips slightly parted as I slowly stretched my lips into a smile. "You know what? That's actually a really good advice. Thank you so much for imparting such a piece of wisdom."

"Glad I could be of service, milady." Cassiel laughed. It resonated around the room, a joyful and bubbly chuckle that seemed like a ray of bright golden sunlight through the dark gloomy clouds of a storm. Something stirred within me and I knew that his laugh was definitely contagious.

"What about you then? What are your dreams?"

"My dreams?" Cassiel asked, a little bit of shock written across his features. His lips parted a little, eyebrows raised just the slightest as he tilted his head to the side. "No one has asked me that for years."

"And why not? Surely your friends would ask you. And your family?" I frowned.

"I don't have parents. I never said I was human, Addison. Besides, I guess that my friends had never really asked me mainly because I did not have the luxury to have an aspiration to be something more. My fate had always been planned out for me and I just had to walk the path already paved."