He sighed, running his hand through his hair.
"I don't know, okay."
"Who is this crimson altar?"
Aristarkh stepped forward, Ivanov did the same.
"I don't know. They're the bag guys– can we go somewhere else? I'll explain it to you. Alone."
Ivanov stepped forward, standing beside me. "She's not going anywhere. In fact you need to leave Aristarkh."
Aristarkh's jaw clenched. "And who are you to tell me what to do? You know nothing, so stay away. She's mine.
I spoke up angrily. "Stop it Mr Aristarkh."
Aristarkh sighed. "You don't understand yet, butterfly. But you will. All you need to know is that I will never let anything touch you."
He stepped forward as if to touch me. I shivered, fear coiled around my belly, tangled with something else I couldn't name. I flinched, taking a shaky shaking step back, my voice barely above a whisper. "Mr Aristarkh… please… just leave."
For the first time his smile faltered. His gaze searched for mine, lingering on the fear in my gaze. He wanted to make his mark on me glow to hurt me till I followed him but he couldn't. He sighed roughly. "As you wish," he murmured, though his tone carried an unspoken promise.
He passed us, looking at Ivanov coldly in the eyes before disappearing into the corner, not looking back.
Ivanov wrapped an arm around me, his fingers stroking my arms. "It's okay. Everything will be fine." He smiled. Looking into my worried eyes. "Let's go in and tell your sister you're leaving. I'll drive you home."
I nodded and entered the ward. My sister was already sleeping. I kissed her forehead, leaving a note for her before leaving with Ivanov.
Ivanov placed his arm around my waist, leading me to the car. The car drive was silent. The only noise being the sound of the engine. He looked at me, intertwined his fingers with mine before bringing it to his lips, leaving a soft kiss.
"Are you really going back to that mansion?"
I nodded.
He sighed. "I don't trust your boss, I hope you'll be okay. Or do you want to stay at my place?"
I shaked my head. "No, I'm good. It's fine. We're here." I slipped my hands from his, opening the car door to come down. I waved him bye before walking into the mansion.
Inside, Tatiana was the first to meet me. Her eyes widened the moment she saw my pale and unsettling expression. She took me by the hand, ushering me to a quieter corridor.
"You're late," Tatiana whispered worriedly. "And you look… shaken. What happened?"
I sighed, sitting down on the couch beside me.
"I just came from the hospital. I went to visit my sister. I met Ivanov, my childhood friend. And then Mr Aristarkh showed up telling me about some creature and how the place wasn't safe. I thought he was joking—but he was right."
Tatiana stiffened at the name. "Creature?"
"I nodded. I was really scared. Not just of the creature but also Aristarkh himself. The way he killed the monster. The way he transformed…"
Tatiana forced a smile but I could also feel her fear. "You must be tired." Tatiana said softly, brushing a strand of my white hair behind my ear. "Try to rest, I'll keep an eye out."
But I couldn't sleep.
Hours later, I tossed and turned in my bed. My mind replayed Ivanov warning, Aristarkh anger, my sister… She's also not safe but I can't take her out of the hospital. She needs her treatment. Fear gnawed at my chest.
Then the scratching began. It was faint at first. Then it became louder, closer. I froze, every instinct screaming at me to stay still. I looked towards the window.
The window creaked. And they were there. Figures cloaked in darkness, their eyes glowing green, some red. Low ranked but dangerous. Enough to tear apart a human like me without hesitation.
I screamed.
The first shadow lunged, claws bared. But it never reached.
The room erupted in violence as Aristarkh appeared, his movement faster than eyes could follow. His silver hair, like a halo of cold fury. With a single strike, he snapped the neck of the intruder, its body collapsing in a grotesque heap.
Another one lunged forward towards him. Aristarkh caught its throat mid air, crushing it until its spine cracked.
The third tried to flee but Aristarkh froze it in place. "You dare touch what is mine?" His voice was pure venom,laced with primal rage. In a blur he tore the creature apart, it smothered into dust. The air is heavy with the copper stand of blood.
I had pressed myself against the wall, my hands on my ear pressing tightly, trembling, tears streaming down my cheeks. I didn't understand. I couldn't understand.
Aristarkh turned at the sound of my soft sobs. His eyes returned back to normal. His gaze softened.
"You're safe now."
I shook my head. Why are they after me?"
Aristarkh stepped closer, I flinched. That made his heart ache.
"You don't need to know," he said finally, his voice low and rough. "Only that as long as I breathe, no one will touch you." His hand reached out to touch my cheek but he pulled back, clenching his fist, seeing my trembling.
I shook my head, still crying silently. "Go please… just go. You're scaring me."
The words pierced deeper than any blade. Aristarkh's jaw clenched slightly, sorrow and rage warring with him. But he obeyed for now.
Tatiana rushed in later, after hearing some sounds. She gasped at the destruction, then at my trembling figure.
"Anya… what happened?"
I could only whisper one word, afraid.
"Monster."
I sit on the edge of the bed, scared to even lie down or go back to sleep.
Tatiana spoke softly but her voice strained.
"Monster?The creature of before."
I nodded before shaking my head. "It was a monster but not the one before. A new one." My eyes were downcast. I stared at the floor, scared.
Tatiana stepped forward, sitting beside me and stroking my hair softly. "It's okay. I'll stay with you tonight."
I nodded. "Please do. Don't leave me alone."
I lay down, she laid beside me. Dried tears lingered on my cheeks but somehow I found comfort with her.