The sound of familiar shuffling aroused Euphora's interest. Harry her landlord stumbled around the narrow alley, clumsily fumbling and causing quite the racket. His massive belly seemed to cause most of the noise, as it knocked the lids from a few trash cans.
Harry has a drinking problem. And he'd recently made a habit of passing out among the row of trash cans that lined the short apartment building. She knew before long Mandy; his sweet wife would drag him inside while giving him an earful.
"Harry you filthy pig, you'll rust the cans," She'd nag in a thick Irish accent
Mandy is beautiful, she has long curly red hair and soft olive skin with a golden undertone. Her mesmerizing emerald eyes adorned by full lashes and a small straight nose that rested above her full pink lips. She looked like a doll carefully sculpted by the creator himself and Euphora often wondered how Harry charmed her into marrying him; Though she's noticeably, madly in love with every wide pulpy piece of him.
"Let's get this show on the road," she chuckled, peering down into the alley with anticipation.
She'd had an excruciatingly long night waiting tables, and aside from the ache in her ankles she couldn't remember how or when her night had ended. Though after a well-needed shower, she was itching for some entertainment, and was sure this small wholesome moment would serve as the perfect distraction from the irritating loneliness her small apartment harbored. The forthcoming scene played out in her head;
There would be Mandy, standing over him holding the usual bucket of water above her head, slowly dousing him with a malicious smile. She internally grinned at the thoughts of him dripping wet, pissed to no end;
But tonight, was different, a hooded figure towered over Harry's staggering frame, which she recognized without a doubt. Although she wasn't sure who the stranger ruining the show could be.
"Git outta my way" he hissed, as Euphora extended her neck a bit.
'Maybe this'll be just as good,' she thought getting a better look.
"You higher up's always think you're better than we are" he slurred, throwing his arms up in frustration before he continued.
"You's think you can just walk into others territory and give orders and such, without a freaking hello," He barked, stepping forward, his belly closing the small space between them. Euphora giggled as quietly as she could, this was definitely better than waiting for Mandy to find him.
The hooded figure nonchalantly waved off his outburst, as he glanced around, head swiveling from side to side. Deep honeyed laughter filled the usually serene space sending Euphora's heart aflutter. Before abruptly stopping, a long arm shot up from his side taking Harry by the neck as a loud gruesome crack rang through the silence.
Euphora stood wide eyed mouth agape, afraid if she moved he'd notice her.
'I should move' she thought, impulsively clenching the onyx pendant draped around her neck. A quiet gasp escaping her lips before her hand flew up to cover them. She hadn't noticed her mouth hung open, and she'd hurriedly shut it, imprisoning any other unwanted noises.
'God, I hate when Alba's right' she thought, clenching the pendant tighter. Holding onto it always calmed her, and as she stood staring, her fingers trembled against her lips. The faint sound of gurgling rattled through the darkness, and as the two figures huddled together another uninvited gasp escaped her mouth,
"Dead ass," she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. The hooded figure's head slightly tilted up, red eyes glowing as they peered into the night sky, Euphora drew in a quick breath afraid she'd been spotted. She relaxed when she noticed he hadn't discovered her and she began to take a step backward as he spoke.
"Balance" He whispered, before turning his head away from Harry's body, as though he couldn't stand the smell.
Euphora stood frozen, as he slowly stepped away. Keeping his arm extended from his body, while drawing in deep breaths and gagging. She attempted her escape again, clumsily knocking a scented candle from the nightstand. In the same instant he'd noticed her, and his body went rigid.
Euphora should've tried to hide, or look away, anything to avoid the awkward silence hanging in the air so thick, she felt like she would suffocate. She wasn't sure if fear or amazement held her firmly in its grasp, keeping her glued in place.
His eyes locked onto hers the firey crimson simmering into a milky grey. Oddly she felt ashamed, as though naked or at this moment she'd witnessed something sacred. A sadistic aura filled the space between them, creeping into her mind and making her uneasy.
She mentally kicked herself, wishing to slap herself from the trance.
As they stood staring at each other, the eerie white glow of his eyes teasingly illuminated his hidden face. She'd been willing her legs to move for what felt like hours before unintentionally speaking her thoughts.
"Get away from the damn window" she hissed, her sharp voice pierced the silence that fell over the confined space, as the laughter that'd sent her heart racing began again this time causing goosebumps to rise on her exposed arms.
Of all the times she'd regretted thinking aloud, this was most definitely one of them. Tonight, of all the countless nights she'd been up staring at the stars until the sky came to life. Tonight had to be the night someone was in the alley being murdered, and not just some stranger... Harry, her beloved friend and landlord. Instantly her mind replayed her best friend Alba's words.
"Great, you can watch someone die from here" she accused with a shrug, as she peered down into the alley turning her round nose up in disgust.
'If I hadn't wanted to slap Alba when she said it, I sure want to slap her now', she thought, desperately wishing she were here. It seemed Alba had a way of speaking things into existence, and she wished she'd asked her to predict she'd win the lottery not witness a murder.
The sudden realization caused a coldness to touch her core.
' I witnessed a murder ', she thought fearfully. As she slowly came back to reality, how long had they'd been gazing at one another?
Although his gaze frightened Euphora most, her skin tingled as the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood. The alluring beauty of his glowing grey eyes, the emptiness of them captivated her. They were like endless tunnels and she was transfixed by the light shining behind his glowing pupils. Even from the distance her eyes saw it was a man, his shoulders were too broad to be a woman's. Though the hood he wore concealed everything but his eyes, which vibrantly glowed in the dark, the deep silver pools pulsing in sync with her pounding heart;
"Interesting," he said, as his velvety voice spilled over her body like the smoothest of silks. An involuntary shudder crept down her spine as his voice rummaged around in her head. It echoed through the emptiness, invading her very being, forcing her to shake her head to lose the heavy fog filling her mind.
To no avail.
'Who was this enchanting stranger?' She thought, the need to see his face swelled inside her, beckoning her forward and she placed both hands on the window seal before speaking.
"Let me see" she asked, stepping closer to the window, curiosity combating her fear. She had to see his face, even if only a glance. Something inside her craved it, and she intended to satisfy it.
"As you wish," his penetrating voice said, capturing her mind. The words rippled through her subconscious like calm waves on an ocean. As his dominating presence monopolized her thoughts and body, she cringed, slightly jumping away from the window.
His voice seemed so close, as though it came from inside her and she shivered at the thought. His eyes never left hers, and as he tilted his head higher the hood fell away revealing the face of an angel. As a breathtaking smile lifted his high cheekbones which complemented his beautifully rounded nose. His bronze skin appeared blemish free, aside from the visible scar above his right eye. His thick eyebrows were almost hidden by his loose curly hair. His eyes illuminated his chiseled features in a snowy glow that made Euphora's inner lips pucker,
"Se... seriously" she stuttered, Taking in his beauty. Euphora never expected to be attracted to a magical killer, she reminded herself to call the police and not swoon as she gave his description.
"I want to see," he purred, seductively mocking her. He tossed the blubbery body from his hand as if it were a crumbled wrapper. It was then Euphora realized he'd lifted the massive body effortlessly from the ground, holding it far from himself. Still without breaking their stare, he evaporated into the chilly night.
She shook her head, vigorously before placing both hands on the window seal.She peered out into the alley before raising one hand and rubbing her eyes. A last attempt to wipe the body sprawled among the trash away,
'Yes' she thought nervously, it's real.