I was stunned as he Vidarr asked me to be his muse.

"You mean like to paint me?" He nodded and scanned me.

"And also use you as my inspiration".

"Why would you want to use someone like me as your inspiration?"

"I told you, a beautiful mess". He tucked my hair behind my ears and I backed away a little from his touch.

These men had a habit of touching you without your permission and once again it reminded me Erebus, and that was something I didn't want to remember.

"So what exactly does a muse do?"

He gestured for me to follow him as he headed out of the gallery.

"Come on, I'll show you".

I followed him as we headed out.Anything was better than being near Erebus. There was a flashy red BMW that stood outside the studio. He opened the door as he flashed his teeth for me.

"I don't bite I swear".

I knew it wasn't normal to enter strangers cars randomly, and seeing that I was forced into Erebus's car and now willingly entered another one made me the tiniest bit weary, but I felt as though my life was beginning to fall apart slowly and so I stopped caring.

I entered into the backseat as Vidarr closed the door shut and went to the drivers seat.

"You're not going to kidnap me are you?" I jokingly spoke but deep inside I meant it, after all these days you never knew.

He caught my eyes in the review mirror and then focused his gaze on the traffic ahead.

"If I was... you wouldn't have willing come would you?" His voice turned serious all of a sudden and his hand  gripped the steering wheel tighter.

"Well if you were I'm pretty sure I wouldn't come. But then again you wouldn't have told me if you were a kidnapper".

He smirked and every few seconds he held contact with my eyes as he drove.

"Aren't you clever?"

"It's my specialty actually". I joked around feeling way less tense than with my earlier encounter with Erebus.

"I heard Erebus continues to reject you from getting any job".

"So it's known huh?"

He nodded his head and turned the steering wheel right.

"I actually need an assistant if you're looking for a job".

My ears perked up as he said that but I felt deflated. There's no way Erebus would allow his friend to offer me a job.

"I don't think he'd allow you to do that". I spoke sullenly knowing I was at a dead end.

"He is my friend not my boss. I am free to do whatever I want and he can't control me". He winked at me through the review mirror.

"Does that mean you'll accept my offer?"

I thought about it for a second and knew it was the best choice. Erebus wouldn't control his friend and I needed a job so this was my solution.

"When do I start?" I questioned him and he allowed a small smile to escape his lips.

"Whenever you want, your job would mostly entail following me around as my assistant but I'll make sure to not load it on you".

It didn't seem that hard to be an assistant. All I had to do was listen to his orders and follow out on it. I felt a sense of vengeance in my head as I thought about Erebus.

He tried preventing me from working anywhere and now his own friend had offered me a job. Oh, how the tables have turned. I wanted to spite him,to make him regret doing this to me and there was no better way than by using his own friend.

He seemed to be a good person and so I would never harm him, but I was tired of always being pushed around and being treated like a nothing.

"We're here".

He got out of the car and opened the door for me.My eyes widened as I stepped out. Oh no, it was the devils lair.

"What are we doing at Erebus's house?"

I felt worry overcome me. I had just escaped Erebus and didn't plan on running into him again.

"Well I live here too".

He began walking into the yard and opened the front door.

"I-I don't think it's a good idea for me to be here. I'll just leave".

I turned around and he jogged up to me tilting his head to view my face.

"You don't have to worry about him. He can't do anything to me and I won't let him do anything to you".

He assured me and I did feel a sense of relief but something troubled me from within and a bad feeling filled my chest.

If I showed Erebus that I was afraid of him then he'd only continue to taunt me and trouble me. But maybe if I pretended that it didn't affect me he'd eventually get bored and stop, and I could only hope that it was true.

"Okay". I nodded my head to him in assurance and we began walking into the house. We walked up the glass staircase to reveal two pathways.A west and east side.

"This part of the house is mine". I followed him to the west side of the house revealing a row of rooms which only led me to believe that the east side belonged to Erebus.

He led me into a studio filled with paint and artwork at every corner. Most of his paintings were covered up with cloths hiding all his work.

"Am I allowed to see these?" I questioned as curiosity came over me.

"I would like you to but they're not ready. Perhaps when they're completed I'll let you". He smiled genuinely and placed a stool for me to sit.

He was dressed in a loose white shirt and black pants. His hair brown and messy and his face sculpted as though by the deity himself.

He had that artsy look about him, yet there was an aura of mystery that surrounded him.

"That's okay, I'll be waiting to see them". I sat in the stool as he sat behind an easel.

"Is it okay if I just alter some things on you? Its for your painting." I nodded and he scraped his stool nearer to mine.

His hands brushed my hair as he lifted it up and grabbed a rubber band from his wrist to tie it.

"You have a beautiful neck". His voice whispered against my skin and his hands found their way to the collar of my shirt as he adjusted it.

I stayed silent aware of his presence and feeling a sense of warmth wash over me. He placed his fingers on the buttons of my shirt and his eyes found mine as he searched for permission.

He then began unbuttoning the top few buttons and stood up from the stool as he surveyed me.

"Maqnifique". He whispered to himself and positioned himself behind the Easel.

His hands began moving as he held the paint brush and his eyes found mine. It felt as though a silent conversation was being spoken between us even though no words lingered in the air.

I felt flustered and I had no idea what I was doing in his house as he painted me. All I knew was that Erebus was the cause of all this mess. He confused my life and because of him I had started doing things that made no sense.

We stayed in silence until the door burst open and I saw a raging Erebus enter. His tie and shirt were dishevelled and unbuttoned and he was breathing in anger as his chest heaved up and down.

His eyes found mine and then he turned to his friend.

"What the hell are you doing Vidarr?" He spouted his name with such hate and anger that I didn't think it was possible for anyone to harbour.

"Painting ofcourse". Vidarr uttered and didn't stop moving his brush not even to give Erebus a second glance.

Erebus glanced at me and gritted his teeth kicking the paints and easel that surrounded Vidarr.

"I'm asking who gave you permission to bring her here".

Vidarr raised his brow and stood up. They both towered above each other making me feel so small. I didn't know what to do, did I run? Did I stay?

"You know I'm free to do whatever I want". He challenged Erebus with his words but that didn't seem to faze him.

Erebus walked over to me and stood above the chair as I was seated on it.

He pulled my hair tie allowing my hair to flow loosely and his fingers found their way to my shirt buttons as he buttoned it up and grabbed my wrist.

"We're leaving". He pulled me off the chair and began moving towards the door as I fought against his grip, my eyes finding their way to Vidarr as he blocked the door.

"Stop this nonsense Erebus she doesn't belong to you. You have no right over her".

The words Vidarr uttered seemed to have struck a cord within Erebus as his veins popped out even more and the muscles through his shirt began tensing.

He held me behind him and raised his hands to Vidarr." It's better if you don't interfere, I'm sure you have other muses waiting for you".

My eyes turned to Vidarr as he cowered and avoided eye contact with me.

"It's not like that and you know it". Vidarr replied but his strong stance now weakened.

"Get out of my way Vidarr". Immediately Vidarr moved and his eyes apologetically found mine.

So that was it then, Erebus just controlled everyone around him including his friend and me.I couldn't allow him to do that, I wouldn't.

He dragged me out of the room and pulled me down the stairs letting go of my wrists abruptly once we reached the last step.

"What is the meaning of this Eira, why the hell did you storm out of the car?" He was yelling at me and I only felt anger boil within me as he spoke.

"You're not my husband. You're not my boyfriend,you're not even my boss. Stay away from me Erebus. I don't want you in my life".

I was yelling now too and anyone who saw us would see how our chests heaved and how we stared in rage at each other.

He looked as though he wanted to say something but he balled his fists and held himself back.

"Eira,stop fighting me. You don't know who I am,you need me". He stopped yelling now and kept nearing me slowly as his eyes appeared sorrowful.

"I don't need you. I don't need anyone. The only thing I need is for you to leave me alone".

He closed his eyes in pain as I uttered those words and ran a hand through his hair as he pulled his tie further down.

He lifted a hand and placed it on my cheek as I flinched. "Eira,oh Eira. You have no idea what's about to happen."

I held his hand on my cheek and removed it. "What's about to happen? What is it that you want from me?" I continued yelling not giving a care in the world if I sounded crazy.

He seemed troubled as he placed his hands against the wall and hung his head.

"Just... allow me to be by your side and don't run from me."

His voice was strained and when he looked at me I could see the redness that surrounded his eyes. He first played the villain and now he was acting all sorrowful and sad. I couldn't deal with the way he acted and even though I did feel a small sense of remorse for him, I let my anger overpower it.

"Erebus," I called his name and grabbed his tie as I inched him closer to my lips. "Rot in hell". I uttered with hate and stormed away from him when his voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Then don't be surprised when I turn your life upside down."

"I will make sure you come crawling back to me. Mark my words".

I didn't turn around. I simply continued walking without a care in the world.

"Then bring it on". I whispered to myself as I exited his house.

~ ~