"Heat is required to forge anything; every great accomplishment is the story of a flaming heart."
Chloe's heart raced when Ace brought up HIM. She couldn't bring herself to say his name aloud, convinced that his true identity was a closely guarded secret.
"Beast," Ace muttered, causing a shiver to run down her spine.
She knew she couldn't keep avoiding the truth any longer. Her mother's journal held the answers she desperately needed. The secrets were getting darker by the minute, and she felt herself getting more entangled in its web.
But as she pondered, a new question arose: How much did Ace really know? His use of the name "Beast" instead of Neil made her wonder if that was his true name at all.
Could she really trust anyone in this world? Could she even trust herself?
These questions kept swirling in her mind like leaves caught in a whirlwind. She hardly knew anything about him, yet she fell for him. Also, she hadn't even seen his face.
"Why do I trust him?" She muttered to herself, her brow furrowing with worry. "Just because he saved me. What if he's the one behind my grandfather's murder?"
The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
Could she trust her own instincts if that turned out to be true?
"No, that's impossible," she told herself firmly.
In the chaos of her thoughts, one thing remained constant: trust.
Trust was all she had.
And you know what? She trusted herself. She really did. It was everyone else she couldn't trust. This world was full of monsters, disguised as humans.
Shaking herself from her reverie, she glanced over at Ace. He lounged in a chair, a bottle of beer in hand, seemingly unfazed by the turmoil around them. She studied him for a moment, wondering if she could trust him, too.
Her face flushed with anger, seeing him unfazed. She slammed the table so hard that the news clipping and photo skidded across its surface, making a loud bang!
"Hey, Ace!" She yelled, her voice echoing off the walls. "I need your help, pronto!"
Ace glanced up from his beer, still unfazed by her outburst. He took a casual sip, his eyes still fixed on whatever had his attention.
She knew she was being a bit childish, but she couldn't help it. She was in a terrible mood and didn't think anything could snap her out of it.
Thankfully, Gina had left earlier, so it was just her and him. Chloe doubted Gina would've appreciated her tantrum or the unexpected visitor she was about to unleash.
"CAN YOU HEAR ME AT ALL?!" Chloe shouted.
Ace finally responded, cool as a cucumber. "Loud and clear, Chloe. No need to blow a gasket. We don't want your boss barging in here, do we?" He pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up with a nonchalant flick of his fingers.
Chloe gasped, her eyes widening as she caught sight of Ace puffing away in her presence. "Oh, no, no, no!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the hall. She pointed a trembling finger at him. "You can't smoke in here!"
Ace let out a sigh, smoke billowing from his lips as he spoke. "Look, Chloe Sinclair," he began, his tone weary. "I told you to keep a low profile and uncover the truth on your own. But it seems you haven't made much progress in understanding the plan. I said I'd assist you in finding those three things, but it's clear you don't grasp how little time you have left. And now you're kicking me out? Why? I don't get it."
Chloe mulled over the idea of snatching his cigarette away and extinguishing it somewhere unpleasant, but she knew Ace had a point. He had urged her to stay under the radar, yet her comment had made headlines, putting a target on her back.
And he was offering to help.
"Fine," Chloe relented, her sigh heavy with defeat. "I need your help."
"I gathered as much," Ace replied with a snort, taking another drag of his cigarette. "So, what exactly do you need help with?"
She stood with her hands planted firmly on her hips, her eyes shooting daggers at him. "You're seriously going to ask me that?"
"Can't exactly read minds, you know. So, yeah." Ace just shrugged, a puff of smoke escaping as he exhaled.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself before she spoke. It felt like she was on the verge of tears.
"Fine," she said, exhaling heavily. "I need answers from you." She looked at Ace's expression, which seemed to dare her to continue. "How do you even know him? And why do they want me to find... the beast?" She leaned in closer, almost whispering the last part.
"Because they want to use you to control the world. I want you to stop them," Ace replied, matter-of-factly.
"That doesn't make any sense, Ace. And why all the riddles?" Chloe pressed.
Ace looked around cautiously. "We're discussing something seriously out in the open. Can't risk it getting out to everyone," he explained, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Of course not. But aren't we giving away enough clues already?" Chloe retorted.
"Trust me, we're treading on thin ice here. Next question," Ace insisted.
"You still haven't told me how you know him," Chloe persisted.
"He's the main character of your story. Everything revolves around him. But time's ticking, Chloe. Ask what really matters," Ace urged.
She glanced up at Ace with piercing black eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. She took a deep breath, knowing she had to confront him about her father's mysterious past.
"How can you expect me to follow in my father's footsteps when he ended up dead?" Chloe's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her eyes fixed on Ace's inscrutable gaze. "He wasn't exactly the best role model, you know. And I'm pretty sure he was out of his mind."
Ace leaned back in his chair, the smoke from his cigarette curling lazily around him. "Jack Sinclair wasn't crazy," he said with a hint of authority in his voice.
Chloe's brow furrowed in confusion. "How do you know?" she demanded, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "Did you even know him?"
Ace smirked, his fingers tapping absentmindedly on the table. "It's not about whether I knew him or not," he replied cryptically. "It's about how well you know him."
She felt frustration bubbling up inside her.
"But—" she began, only to be cut off by Ace's sharp interruption.
"No excuses," he said firmly, his gaze unwavering. "You either trust me and follow my advice, or you don't."
Her eyes flashed with anger. "That's not advice," she retorted, her voice rising. "That's just a load of crap!"
He raised an eyebrow, his expression cool and unaffected. "If you're going to insult me, then there's no reason for me to stick around, is there?"
He pushed his chair back with a scrape, his tall frame unfolding as he stood up, his eyes fixed on the distant door of the coffee house.
"Fine! Fine!" Chloe's voice rang out, a mixture of frustration and apology. "I'm sorry. It's just... this isn't easy, you know?"
Ace halted, turning to face her. His gaze bore into her, a look so intense it sent a shiver down her spine as if he could see right through her.
"I know," he finally said.
He swung the door open, flinging his cigarette away before striding back towards Chloe. His hand landed on her shoulder, and she couldn't help but recoil; his touch was icy, sending a chill through her.
"I wouldn't ask if I didn't believe in you," Ace said, his usually pale face serious. "You'll find a way. I told you, Chloe Sinclair, everything you need is right here in this city. It's where it all began."
Her hands flew to her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I'm scared," she admitted, her voice shaky. "How can I do this when danger's always lurking?"
Ace sighed deeply, his scent—like smoky peppermint—swirling around her, making her head spin.
"I can't promise safety," he said, dropping his hands from her shoulders. "I've already put important people at risk."
She hesitated, wanting to speak her mind, but Ace's stern expression silenced her before she could even start.
"You're smarter than this, Chloe. Use your head," he said sharply.
Chloe struggled to find her words. "I just don't understand—"
"Yes, you do," Ace cut in.
Their eyes locked in a silent battle. Her gaze burned with intensity, but his dark eyes held an unnerving power. After a tense moment, Chloe looked away, unable to maintain eye contact for long.
"Now are you planning to show up for Grandpa's first death anniversary?" She asked wearily, taking a deep breath.
He threw his head back and laughed a loud, almost hysterical sound.
"I guess you'll be expecting a shoulder to lean on, so maybe," he said, still chuckling. "And why do you think we won't meet before that.?"
Glancing up at him, Chloe's expression softened. "Because you never stay."
"Knowing you're kept safe, I don't have to," Ace replied, turning toward the exit.
"Wait! How do you know? What kind of sick, twisted job do you do?"
He didn't utter a word; instead, he just smirked, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. With a subtle swish of his coat, he turned and sauntered away, leaving behind a lingering scent of peppermint and smoke.
Stunned, she could only stand there, gaping at the space where Ace had been moments before. She couldn't decide if his visit had made things better or worse.
With a heavy sigh, she turned on her heel, gathering her things. It was time to leave and head back to her apartment. Clicking off the lights, she locked the door behind her and started down the street.
All she'd gleaned from Ace's cryptic encounter was that he somehow knew about Neil, that he realized she hadn't pieced everything together yet, and that he believed she could still finish the task at hand. But if she failed? Death awaited her.
And, also, that 'the beast' was keeping her safe.
What on earth was going to happen next?
Given the whirlwind of chaos in her life lately, Chloe couldn't shake the sinking feeling that even worse events loomed on the horizon.
As she made her way home, a creeping sensation crawled up her spine.
She couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, an unsettling awareness that sent shivers down her spine.