Darkness of Heart

Adam's crimson eyes darkened even more as he donned black jeans that were just tight enough to show off his muscular legs and a black leather vest. Soft, black motorcycle boots covered his feet as he stood, reaching to grasp a studded collar and clasping it around his neck. Matching studded cuff bracelets adorned his wrists, and a studded belt looped around his waist. He took a moment to rub some hair gel through the top of his hair to give it a spikey appearance before grabbing a leather jacket and making his way out of his room.

Coming down the stairs, he earned a surprised look from his twin brother, Adair who glanced up from his ledger at his desk. Adam never gave him the chance to speak, however, instead, hurrying toward the door and climbing into the black mustang he called his own sitting in the drive. He looked up once to see Adair peering down out of the window at him with concern in his eyes. Even though the actions were not entirely out of character for Adam, it had been too long since he had acted out this way and it stirred an unrest in the pit of his stomach. Adam shook his head briefly in a "don't worry about me" look before starting the car and driving off.

On the far side of town, the bright lights of the city faded and it came to a more run down area. He knew that area well from the times before his brother had found him after the war. He had spent several days there drinking away his sorrow, his fear... and his lonliness. Now he was about to step in for a whole new purpose. The vision of the battle still replayed itself in his mind, causing him to nearly break his door when he slammed it shut. Settling a pair of red tinted mirrored glasses over his eyes, he started into the seedy Blue Lady pub.

"What'll it be?" the bartender asked as Adam perched himself upon a barstool.

"Bacardi, rocks." He turned away to scan the crowded room. Some broken hearted fools stared down into their glasses of burbon on one end of the bar. A gang of bikers were hanging out by the jukebox and a group of wannabes were oogling the dancers circling their poles on the tiny stage. Hearing his glass hit the countertop, he turned back to grab it, chugging the liquid down and relishing the flavor over his tongue. Still... the drink alone was not going to be enough for him, and he knew it. He ordered up another round, calling for the bartender to keep them coming.

A collective of wolf whistles and cat calls rang out as the door opened and Adam glanced up. He started when he recognized the woman with long deep maroon hair that fell in waves over her shoulders and down her back. Her eyes were ruby red and daring to anyone who gazed upon her. Yes, he knew her well. His heart twisted again at the sight of her, a venomous hate coursing through his blood as he recalled the last time he had seen her.

The night had been a blur as he recalled having too much to drink. In the lighting of the club they had been at made her hair look nearly identical to Sapphira's and in his drunken state, he had failed to notice the different eye color. In a frenzied passion, he took her back to his room at the mansion. Adam closed his eyes as he recalled the rest of the night in pieces. How she moved with him, flowing as if her body was made for his, the way she cried out when the pace turned a little rougher in the heat of the moment. She never once said no. Never once, did she push him away. Just like Sapphira had once done, this woman begged for more. It was only after he woke in the morning to find her gone that he realized he let his drunk heart carry him into a situation he hated himself for. To make matters worse, ever since that night, he had seen this woman in his dreams taking the appearance of his dead wife only to hurt him.

Yes, hate was all he felt for this woman with maroon hair. He had vowed vengeance if he ever saw her again. The alcohol had suddenly become his liquid courage. It further enabled the rage he had begun to feel since he witnessed the battle in that crystal. He needed release. She would be the one to give him such a release.

***

Rose cast a tempting gaze to the men surrounding her as she made her way to the center of the room. She nodded toward one of the bikers nearest the jukebox and he pressed a button. Salt N Pepa's "Push It" came out over the sound system and she began to move in time to the beat. She knew she was desirable and she always worked it to her advantage. She feared no man. Rose was the kind of girl who knew how to take care of herself regardless the situation and made use of everything she had within reach.

She continued to move, playfully batting hands away as she glanced over to the counter. She felt a pair of eyes gazing at her, but these were not like the other fools trying to get her attention. A form of mental poison filled his gaze and brought a sly smirk to her lips.

Yes, she thought. He will be the one tonight... Picking out her man of the evening was the easiest part for her. The man who is the most least likely to respond to her was usually the one she preferred for the challenge.

Once her song had come to an end, Rose made her way to the counter, picking a spot a few chair away from the crimson-eyed man and ordered up a glass of whiskey. She took her glass and downed her drink before heading to the hall the lead to the restrooms. She ignored the other women in the room as she fluffed at her hair and reapplied a light coat of lip gloss before exiting the room again. The door had just closed behind her when a strong hand grabbed her arm and jerked her back against the wall. An equally powerful body followed, pinning her tightly against the brick as he caught her hands and held them within one of his own above her head. Her breath hitched as he leaned in closer. Her gaze turned crimson before her eyes closed.

"I know who you are," his husky voice whispered near her ear. She trembled under his grip, but certainly not with fear. He could see it in the way she did not try to pull back from him. She was not fearful of him and what he could possibly do; she was excited by him.

"Oh, really? Who am I?" she purred, opening her eyes with a taunting smirk.

"You are the one who has been playing tricks in my head," he growled. "You are the one who disgraced my wife's-"

"dead wife-," Rose interrupted calmly.

"-memory." The man growled again, moving her to shove her roughly against the wall again. His fury grew when she purred in response.

"Ooo, tough guy." Her long lashes fluttered up so he could look her in the eye. "Why am I to care what I supposedly disgraced?"

"She deserves better."

"She's dead. Get it through your thick skull." Rose rolled her eyes at him. "It wouldn't be so easy to get to you if you weren't so hung up on the hope that she will return to you." She hissed as her head struck the wall again. "Oh stop it, you know I'm right. It's your biggest weakness."

"You know nothing about me!" he snarled back, his grip tightening involuntarly on her wrists and causing her to wince.

"Am I supposed to?"

"No!"

"Good, then you can either let me go, or do something now that you have me here..."

"You couldn't handle what could be done to you." His lips brushed hers as he spoke, his eyes flaring with an internal fire still fueling his fury.

Rose's eyes drifted to his mouth before a small pink tongue slipped out to wet her lips. "Then you obviously don't know me very well either...." With little effort, her mouth pressed to his. The kiss was searing, painful. A tiny grin curved her lips as she bit down onto his lip. She laughed softly when he jerked back, lifting his fingertips to his mouth as he began to taste the copper flavor of his own blood.

"I hate you..."

She smirked agained. "Then why won't you let me go?"