A Demon's Lapse

When Nora came to she felt so groggy after being drugged with whatever substance that was. Laying on a bed in an unfamiliar room she looked around to see there was only one small window, up high at the head of the bed. It was dark outside. What time is it? It was dimly lit and barely furnished, save for the twin-size bed she was on and a small desk with a chair. A closet to the right of the end of the bed and a bathroom was situated across. After a while, the grogginess wore off. The man from before entered the room. "The boss wants to see you," he said. On the car ride she heard that his name was Matsuda.

Nora's heart sank and when she stood up from the bed, her knees felt so weak. She followed Matsuda through a hallway that led through a modern looking mansion. Where exactly was this place?

Nora was led into a living room that had sparse decorations. The furniture was sleek and brutalist. Although it was dark, she could see the outline of the ocean through the large rectangular window across the room. There sat a man who looked about thirty. His head leaned back as he smoked a cigarette. Both their eyes met when he blew out smoke, sending chills down Nora's back. Cough! Cough! She covered her mouth with one hand. He was a handsome man, his skin was pale and his hair was jet black, medium-length, and slicked back, exposing his prominent brow. Eyebrows, thick and arched. His clean-shaven look highlighted his jawline. A scar lay over his left eye that went from the forehead down to the cheek. A lean and muscular body resided under his well-tailored suit. Never had she seen such a man as this in her life. If he wasn't a mobster, he could've been a model.

Matsuda spoke, "Master Kiyohira Kimura." Nora nodded but he scolded her into bowing. The name was familiar. Could he be the very same Kiyohira Kimura, the president of Kimura Group? Things just became more and more dire realizing that Rosie had crossed a powerful organization. Kiyohira tilted his head as a way to tell his underling to leave the two alone. Nora's heartbeat quickened, wanting him to stay. "Sit," he ordered her in a deep and brusque voice. Obeying quickly, she kept her knees together and maintained her gaze downward. She felt his eyes on her as if she were a gazelle and he a lion.

"I'll give you one more chance to come clean, if you know where she is, tell me now and if you lie to me I'll make you wish you were never born," Kiyohira told her. Shivers ran down Nora's spine at the sound of his rough words. "I'm sorry, I truly don't know," she confessed. He looked at her in the eyes as he exhaled smoke. He must've been a psychopathic maniac who had probably killed and tortured dozens of people, thought Nora as she looked at him back. His gaze was too much for her so she looked down once more. "Very well, I'll have my men take care of you," he said. Nora gulped. All that went through her mind was Rosie and wanted to find out why on earth she would ever be involved in all this.

Having been bullied all her life for being transgender and a misfit, Nora developed thick skin. Tapping into her courage, she decided that this wasn't how she was going out. Clenching her fists, she looked back at the threatening man, "I want to know exactly why you want my sister. She's the kindest person ever. How could she have done something for you to threaten her life?" Kiyohira raised an eyebrow and glared at her.

"You have some nerve to be asking questions, kid," Kiyohira answered. Nora didn't back down and waited for an answer, but on the inside, she was screaming. Kiyohira went on, "Your 'kind' sister's lover stole something from my company, something vital, I won't stop looking until it's been returned." Lover? What kind of person had Rosie gotten involved with?

"What does that have to do with her, she didn't do anything," Nora protested. "When I find him, I'm going to punish him and that will include anyone dear to him," he answered.

"This isn't fair, please I beg of you to spare her!"

"If life was fair, he wouldn't have stolen from me!"

Nora's face fell down in disappointment and she closed her eyes. "Then let me take her place. Do what you want to me but leave her alone, please," she pursed her lips inward. Kiyohira's facial expression had not changed throughout the entire conversation. He just examined her. Whatever was on his mind, she couldn't gauge. "Very well, I will give you a chance to prove your worth to me. You shall do exactly as I say," he said with a subtle smirk on his face. Nora felt somewhat relieved but now a new feeling of uncertainty came over her.

Nora heard a door open and saw two beautiful blonde women, one in a short red dress and the other in a black one, come in to sit aside the mob boss. They looked like they just walked off a runway. Sitting down on each armrest, they looked at Nora as if she weren't present and one of them put her hands on Kiyohira's broad shoulders, gently stroking them. Nora felt awkward as she sat there. "What are you still doing here? Get out," Kiyohira barked at her. Startled, Nora got up and quickly exited. When she returned to her room, she jumped on the bed and pulled the covers over herself.

Kiyohira sat in the chair with his playmates at his side and he thought about the girl. He sensed that she was terrified yet still made demands. He wanted to respect that but she didn't want her to think that she could do as she pleased around here. She had to be put in her place. He picked up his glass of whiskey from the center table. There was something else about her that bothered him and he couldn't seem to shake it off. His train of thought was interrupted when one of his playmates said, "Let's go to the bedroom." He stood up and his tall and muscular body towered over the one in red. The woman in black hugged his backside, tracing his muscles seductively. He pulled her in for a deep kiss and then he lead them both towards the bedroom.

Unable to sleep, Nora was overwhelmed with many thoughts and emotions but they all lead back to that man, Kiyohira. She wondered what it would be like to be held by those big and strong arms of his. She shook her head. Obviously, he was handsome but dangerous.

Nora's mind drifted back to those women. How many lovers did he have? They were really pretty. She wondered what it would be like to be them. Being trans meant she couldn't flirt with men at all lest they find out and possibly hurt her. She always kept to herself and crushed from afar. It must've been nice to freely express affection and desire like they did.

Something else bothered her. When she was near him, she could sense a dark aura around him. As she laid there in bed, she figured she was overthinking it. He was a bad guy so of course she'd feel that way. She just hoped that Rosie was fine, she must have definitely been worried sick about Nora. She just wanted to be with her and not in this dreary place.

Nora couldn't just sit and wait around for a miracle to happen. She had to escape but it had to be discreet. If she were to stay, who knows what that man and his men could do to her. There had to be a way. Had she been too quick to offer herself like that? It was no use dwelling on it, she would just have to wait.

Her thoughts began to calm down and then she fell asleep.