“味道……灭蜡烛……”
宁秉宇再度重复,每一个字都像是从胸腔深处挤出来,带着破碎的喘息。
药效的作用让宁秉宇额角青筋暴起,死死盯着那些摇曳的红色蜡烛。
当初荣昭南让他查的某种蜡烛……
楚红玉哪里能想到这房间里暗藏玄机。
她只当宁秉宇是嫌房间气氛太暧昧,毕竟这满屋子女人味和浓郁香水气混在一起,让她闻着都头晕难受。
“大少,先别管蜡烛了,咱们出去再说,这味确实冲。”
楚红玉好声好气地一边劝着宁秉宇,一边利索......
NinhOrdnerstoodfrozeninthecenteroftheroom,hiseyesfixedintentlyontheflickeringredcandles.Hischestheavedwithlaboredbreathsasifeveryounceofenergyhadbeendrainedfromhisbody.Theairaroundhimseemedtothickenwithtension,andtheshadowscastbythecandlesappearedtogrowlongerandmoremenacing.
Hismindwasajumbleofemotions,histhoughtsracingwithmemoriesofthepastfewdays.Hecouldn‘tshakeoffthefeelingthatsomethingwasoff,thattherewasmoretothissituationthanmettheeye.Thewords“drownedinwax“echoedinhismindlikeamantra,eachrepetitionmakingitfeelmorereal.
Suddenly,thecandlesseemedtoleanincloser,theirflamesdancingwithanotherworldlyenergy.NinhOrdnerfeltashiverrundownhisspineasherealizedthatthesewerenoordinarycandles.Theyseemedtobeimbuedwithapowerthatwasbothcaptivatingandterrifying.
“Stop,“hewhispered,hisvoicebarelyaudibleoverthesoundofhisownbreathing.“You‘renotgoingtofoolmeagain.“
Theroomfellsilent,theonlysoundthesoftcrackleofthecandles.NinhOrdner‘seyesnarrowedashetookineverydetailofhissurroundings.Theairwasthickwiththescentofrosesandjasmine,butitdidn‘tmasktheunderlyingaromaofdecay.
Heturnedhisattentionbacktothecandles,hisgazeburningwithanintensefocus.Ashelookedatthem,theflamesseemedtogrowhigher,castingeerieshadowsonthewalls.NinhOrdnerfeltathrillrunthroughhimasherealizedthatthesecandleswerenotjustmeredecorations.
Theywereakey.
Asmallsmileplayedonhislipsashereachedoutatremblinghandtotouchoneofthecandles.Assoonashemadecontactwithit,theflameseemedtoleaphigher,castingawarmglowovertheroom.NinhOrdnerfeltasurgeofenergyflowthroughhim,andsuddenly,hewasfloodedwithvisionsofthepast.
Hesawhimselfstandinginthisveryroom,hiseyeslockedonafigureshroudedinshadows.Thefigurespokeinalow,huskyvoice,itswordsdrippingwithmalice.
“You‘llneverescapeme,“itsaid.
NinhOrdner‘svisionblurredashestumbledbackward,hishandflyingtohisforehead.Hecollapsedontothenearestchair,gaspingforbreathastheroomspunaroundhim.
“Whatjusthappened?“asoftvoiceasked,concernetchedintoeveryword.
Heopenedhiseyestofindhimselffacetofacewithawomanwholookedlikeshehadsteppedoutofadream.Herskinwassmoothandunlined,herhairdarkandluscious.Astrandofsilkcascadeddownherbacklikeawaterfall,andherlipswerepaintedadeepshadeofcrimson.
“Whoareyou?“NinhOrdnercroaked,histhroatparched.
“I‘m...I‘mLian,“shesaid,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.“Andyouare?“
NinhOrdner‘smindwasstillreelingfromthevisionshehadjustexperienced.HestruggledtoformcoherentwordsashegazedatLian,tryingtoplaceherinhismemories.
Butsomethingdidn‘tfeelright.
Theairseemedtovibratewithtension,andNinhOrdnercouldsensethattherewasmoretothissituationthanmettheeye.