I finally fell asleep that night, succumbing to the sheer exhaustion of the day. It felt as though the energy I had spent suppressing every single emotion had finally consumed my entire being. I didn't even have the strength to fix myself up before bed; I simply let my eyes close and allowed my body to sink into the mattress. If I had felt alone before, that solitude was now amplified a thousand times by the loss of my father.
How many hours had I been cooped up in this house? How many days had passed since I last saw my mother? And how many weeks—or months—had Sage and the others been trying to reach me? I didn't know anymore.
I was just too tired to feel anything. Just empty.
My eyes hadn't been closed for long when a sudden urge compelled me to open them again. As they fluttered open, I was greeted by a familiar room.
I was back in the condo unit. Back inside the book.
I had been here so many times, yet I never dared to venture out of this unit, leaving only when I absolutely needed to buy essentials, like food. I had even bumped into Perseus several times, but I never granted him so much as a glance. I just didn't feel the need to.
I stood up and took a shower. I planned to go out and just wander around the vicinity of the condo; anything was better than moping here and being devoured by the grief of my father's passing.
I threw on an oversized black hoodie and a pair of gray gym leggings, pairing them with white running shoes accented with hits of sky blue. I figured I would just exercise—anything to shake these thoughts from my mind.
I grabbed my phone and the wallet resting on the bedside table before heading toward the elevator. As soon as I reached the lift, I froze. Stepping out of the doors was the one man I didn't expect to see at a time like this. The memory of our last conversation, and the final words he spoke, came rushing back.
Despite the awkwardness prickling at my skin, my face remained a mask of indifference. This heart of mine was incapable of producing emotion—it was just pure emptiness.
I stepped into the elevator. I expected Perseus to walk away, but to my surprise, he simply watched me as I entered. I could feel his gaze on me through our reflection in the mirrored doors. It felt as though his eyes were weighing me, measuring my state of mind.
"About to work out?" he asked, before pressing the button for the same floor I was heading to. Seeing him do so sparked a flicker of curiosity—hadn't he just arrived? Why was he going back down? Did he forget something, or did he need to buy something from outside?
"No. Just walking around," I answered, averting my gaze. Even as I looked away, I caught his expression in my peripheral vision. His brows were nearly knit together and his jaw was clenched. He was looking at my entire outfit!
What was his problem? I wasn't picking a fight with him. Aside from having no energy for it, I wasn't even interested in him right now. Nothing felt worthy of my attention. My father's death was haunting every corner of my mind.
"Oh. Are you heading to the parking lot?" he asked, licking his lips briefly.
I gulped before nodding. Even with my eyes turned away, his presence seemed to pull at my attention like a vacuum. It was as if he were clouding my mind, and I couldn't decide if that made me grateful or annoyed.
"Why the parking lot? Why don't you use the exit on the ground floor?" He tilted his head, seemingly genuinely baffled as to why I'd go through the parking lot if I was just going for a walk.
Come to think of it, why was I?
"It's none of your business. We're not friends, right? You don't have to meddle in things that concern me," I snapped, fighting the urge to look at his reflection.
"If that's what you want," he muttered through gritted teeth, shifting his gaze from the reflection directly to me.
Silence swallowed the elevator, the conversation effectively dead. It was only broken by the treacherous growl of my stomach. I felt like the floor should open up and swallow me whole as I heard the man beside me chuckle. It was the first time I had ever heard him laugh like that, and I couldn't help but look up.
Our gazes locked.
"Are you hungry? Let's eat somewhere," he said with a smile. He stepped closer and pulled the hood of my sweatshirt over my head. I could feel his breath; he was that close. His scent—manly, expensive, and intoxicating—filled my senses. I felt my face begin to burn, and though I wanted to turn away, I couldn't without looking like a fool staring into the depths of my own hood.
Had he not heard a word I said? He was supposed to be angry at me!
"No thanks. I can handle myself," I blinked twice, my eyes staring straight into his.
Were his eyes always this deep? It felt like they were pulling me in, dragging me toward the bottom of a fathomless well. It was terrifying.
"I'm not asking for consent here. Let's go," he stated as the elevator chimed, signaling we had reached the floor.
He continued to pull me toward his parking spot, ignoring my protests that he didn't need to go through the trouble. I didn't want to be a burden to him again.
I soon realized that resistance was futile. Before I knew it, I was settled in the passenger seat of his car, unable to bring myself to step back out.
He backed the car out and headed toward the parking exit. I remained silent, staring out the window. I had no appetite for conversation despite the mountain of questions I wanted to ask—how he was, if his case was going well, or even a simple "how was your day?"
I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight in my chest. In the suffocating silence of the car, my mind had nothing to do but replay the tragedy I was facing.
I glanced at Perseus and pointed to the car's media player, silently asking if I could play some music. He just nodded and handed me his phone. At first, I didn't understand why, but I realized he wanted me to play it directly from his device via the car's connection.
Before I could even browse, a song began to play automatically as the connection synced.
I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden.
"Are you okay? Any problem?" He kept glancing between me and the road. I didn't know if I was imagining it, but his eyes seemed thick with concern. I didn't want to assume, so I cleared my throat before answering.
"Just... things," I said with a small smile, unable to meet his eyes.
I nearly lost my breath when he reached out and took my hand, which was resting on my left thigh. He hesitated for a second before squeezing it gently, his expression remaining serious. Even without a smile, I could tell he was truly listening.
He caressed the back of my hand with his thumb while his gaze flickered between me and the road ahead. Finally, he pulled the car over to the side of the road to give me his full attention—an act that made my heart hammer even harder.
"Didn't I tell you? When you face a problem, ask for a hand," he said, reaching out to wipe a stray tear from my cheek that I hadn't even realized had fallen.
I couldn't answer. The dam of my emotions finally broke. His words were like a pair of shears, cutting through the thread of my self-control.
I began to sob in front of him, my breathing hitched and ragged. He watched me, his eyes full of a shared sadness. He pulled me into a hug, and my body seemed to collapse into him; I clung to his chest as if he were my only lifeline. He cradled the back of my head, shushing me softly as he pressed light kisses to the side of my head.
"If you ask for mine—even my arms and my shoulders—I'll offer them to you," he whispered, rubbing my back in a soothing rhythm. "You're free to use me as your comfort. You can use me, exclusively."
He gave me a few minutes to speak. I knew that even if he didn't ask, he wanted to know what was wrong. He wanted to know why I was crying like this.
"H-he's gone, Perseus. My dad is gone," I managed to choke out, my forehead still resting against his chest. He didn't say a word, only continuing to press small kisses to my hair and rub my back.
I couldn't stop the flood. Since the moment my father died, this was the first time I had truly let it all out. I couldn't believe I was breaking down like this in front of him. Out of all people, it had to be him.
"My protector from this world is gone," I sobbed again.
He took my face in his hands so he could look into my eyes. He studied every inch of my face—my eyes, my cheeks, my nose, and finally, my lips. His gaze lingered there for a moment before returning to my eyes, wiping away the tears that refused to stop.
"I'll be your protector from now on, Ensley. I'll defend you from the world you fear, and I will show you that you shouldn't be afraid."
He closed his eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and pressed a firm, lingering kiss to my forehead.
The rest of the drive to the restaurant was silent. I still hadn't processed what had just happened inside the car. Though my heart had been drumming for a while, it was only now that I was beginning to truly feel the weight of those emotions.
Occasionally, I would steal a glance at Perseus. He was quiet, his right hand still resting on my left hand atop my thigh. His brow was furrowed as he effortlessly maneuvered the steering wheel with his free hand, eventually parking in front of a restaurant I didn't recognize.
I watched people entering the grand building. It was clearly an upscale establishment, as almost everyone was dressed in formal attire. When I didn't move, Perseus reached over and unbuckled my seatbelt for me.
I turned my head away, terrified he would hear the frantic thumping of my heart. I was nervous—who wouldn't be? I wasn't used to this kind of treatment.
"Shall we?" he asked, adjusting his clothes. He was still in his formal work attire.
"My outfit doesn't fit the ambiance of the restaurant, Perseus," I protested, feeling completely out of place. Why did he choose this spot?
"So? It doesn't bother me. It's decent enough," he said matter-of-factly, grabbing his things from the glove compartment. "If it makes you feel better, I'll take off my coat so I look less formal."
We stepped out of the car. He was wearing a white button-down shirt tucked into black trousers, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his watch. He looked different than he did at the mall when he was talking to Ranzel.
He didn't hold me as he led the way, simply waiting for me and matching my pace. He walked with his hands in his pockets, his eyes fixed forward.
"Dine in, sir?" a waiter asked, greeting us as we arrived.
I took in the interior design and was awestruck. Gold, silver, white, and red dominated the space. Massive bouquets of red roses sat on every table—so many that it was impossible to count them all at a glance.
"Yes. Do you have any VIP rooms?" Perseus asked, gently pulling me closer to his side. I blinked, catching the waiter's eyes as they flickered toward me.
The waiter saw the way Perseus pulled me close, and I gave a shy, embarrassed smile.
"Of course, sir. We have two options: a private room or a balcony to enjoy the night view," the man said, smiling back at me before returning his attention to Perseus.
"We'll take the balcony." Perseus released his hold on me.
"Understood, sir. Follow me." He bowed slightly and led the way.
Perseus placed a hand on the small of my back to guide me inside. He must have noticed my hesitation, because he gave me a gentle nudge forward.
"I hope this helps ease your anxious mind," he said, referring to the choice of the balcony. He looked at me before removing his hand, slipping it back into his pocket as he walked beside me, never more than a few inches away.
As we walked through the restaurant, I noticed people staring—mostly at the man beside me. He didn't seem to notice or care, keeping his eyes forward. Perhaps he was simply used to the attention.
I jumped slightly when he suddenly turned to me with a teasing smile.
"Stop staring at me and pay attention to where you're walking, Ensley. You might trip," he teased, steadying me as we navigated a winding staircase.
Blushing, I did as I was told.
It wasn't long before we reached the balcony. It was beautiful—quiet and cool, with only the distant muffled hum of the restaurant interior reaching us.
The waiter went to pull out my chair, but Perseus stopped him. He took over, pulling the chair out and seating me himself. Before sitting across from me, he glanced at the waiter and picked up the menu from the round table.
He asked if there was anything specific I wanted to eat. Glancing at the menu, the names were foreign to me, so I told him to choose for me. He spoke a few words to the waiter that I didn't understand.
The waiter hurried away as soon as the order was placed. He seemed to be in a rush, nearly tripping as he left the balcony. If I had to guess, he was intimidated by the way Perseus was looking at him—like a man who had committed a crime.
Speaking of crime, was his case going well? I hadn't heard any news because I had been away from this world for a week. The week of my father's funeral had served as my respite from this place.
His phone rang, indicating an incoming call.
"Excuse me. I have to take this," he said, standing up and checking the screen.
"Go ahead," I said, nodding to show it was fine.
The call seemed important; he had said he couldn't put it off. It likely concerned his job. He walked a short distance away—the balcony wasn't so small that he was right next to me, but it wasn't large enough to hide his voice.
"Yes, Penelope? I'm out," he answered in a low voice. "What?" He frowned and glanced in my direction. When he saw me looking, he gave a small smile and turned his back to me.
I looked away, pulling the hood of my sweatshirt back over my head. It was Penelope. Her call was the one he couldn't postpone. I looked up at the sky, keeping my eyes fixed there. He brought me comfort, yet he also stirred up these inexplicable, conflicting emotions.
"Are you sure about that?" he asked, his voice tinged with irritation. He looked back at me once more before quickly averting his gaze.
What was happening? What could Penelope have said to make him so annoyed so quickly?
"Alright. Contact me immediately if you have any new information about them." He sighed, rubbing his temples. He typed something into his phone—likely a message—before slipping it back into his pocket.
"Did something happen?" I asked once he sat back down.
"Nothing for you to worry about," he said with a smile, though his eyes remained restless. He began scanning the area, his ruthless gaze searching the surroundings. It seemed like he was waiting for something. Was he waiting for the waiter? But the man had only just left.
I took a deep breath and rested my chin on my hand, looking back up at the stars. The night always brought the hurt and loneliness back. Every time darkness fell, I could only remember that one scene: the night my father collapsed in my arms, and I could do nothing but pray he wouldn't leave me.
But he was taken anyway. I suppose it's true what they say—the most beautiful flowers in the garden are the ones picked first. My father was one of them.
I felt a stinging heat behind my eyes. Tears were threatening to fall again. Between the revelation of my father's family and the way Perseus was acting, my mind simply couldn't keep up.
"Hey, are you okay? You're spacing out." His eyes were tracking my every move, making me painfully aware of myself. Even my breathing felt forced.
Those eyes... they were making me feel things I didn't understand.
"Huh?" I asked, realizing I hadn't heard what he said.
"Exactly," he smiled, exhaling a soft breath and looking away.
His brow was furrowed again, as if he had spotted something in the distance. From where we sat, we could see the people below—who was leaving and who was arriving.
"W-what? Why? Were you saying something?"
"I'm asking if you're going to be busy tonight," he said, turning back to me. His eyes were dead serious now, as if he wouldn't accept any answer other than the one he wanted.
"Not really," I answered without thinking.
"You can spend the night in my unit then?" He clenched his jaw, waiting attentively for my response.
What would we even do there? We had no reason for me to go. I was fine now; I didn't need someone's presence just to survive a night of sadness. I was fine on my own. I didn't want to go any further—my heart might not be able to take it.
"W-wait, why? I'm okay. You don't have to comfort me all night, Perseus." I shook my head and gave him a small smile to show I appreciated the gesture but was declining.
"You'll never—" He was cut off by the sound of the balcony door opening.
The waiter from earlier returned, pushing a cart with silver domes covering the dishes. I was shocked by the sheer amount of food—it was far more than I had heard him order.
"Here are your orders, ma'am, sir. Two plates of Patatas Bravas, Paella, Gazpacho, Gambas al ajillo, and a 30-year-old red wine," the man said, smiling as he carefully laid the dishes on the table. He kept glancing between the two of us.
I began to feel uncomfortable with the way he was smiling at us.
"We're missing a dish here," Perseus noted, his eyes locked on the waiter.
"Right, sir. Your Pollo al ajillo is on its way," the man grinned, looking back toward the door.
Both Perseus and I looked over as another man appeared, wearing a mask and pushing a second cart. I glanced at Perseus; he was mumbling something under his breath. His jaw was tight, his body tense.
Should I be worried?
"Here is your order, sir. Along with a surprise order from the boss," the first waiter announced.
There were two covers on the new cart—one supposedly for the missing dish and another "special" gift.
"What for? What special order?" I asked, the atmosphere suddenly feeling incredibly heavy.
What was wrong with the mood? Why did it feel like this?
"A freshly served bullet," the masked man sneered. He whipped off the two silver covers and pulled out two handguns.
"Fuck!" I heard Perseus curse.
Everything became a blur. Before I knew what was happening, Perseus had pinned me down. The two men who had been serving us began spraying the area with bullets. Perseus kicked the table over, using it as a makeshift shield against the gunmen.
I could hear screams erupting from the floors below as the shots rang out.
"And I thought killing Patrinus would be hard. Looks like I'll be getting that promotion early," the first waiter called out.
Patrinus? I had heard that name before. Were they talking about Perseus?
I looked at the man beside me and saw him pulling on a pair of black leather gloves. He was biting one glove to pull it on quickly, his eyes never leaving the perimeter. Why did he have those?
"Idiot, don't get cocky. I wouldn't be surprised if suddenly—" A single gunshot echoed through the air. I heard a thud, like something heavy hitting the floor. "—you ended up on the ground," a voice finished.
"Ugh! T-you bastard, Perseus Matheo!" the wounded man screamed.
I let out a cry and squeezed my eyes shut, the tears finally overflowing. A hail of bullets struck the other side of our table. The sound was deafening, vibrating right in my ears.
My body was shaking with sheer terror. I was scared for my life, and for the people around me.
"They won't get near us. Not even a single step, so don't worry. They don't know when I'll make my next move," he comforted me.
Perseus held me tight, his back against the overturned table. His embrace made me feel safe. The cold dread of thinking I might die right here began to vanish.
"I think they're surrounding us, Perseus," I whispered, trembling. I could feel the hot tracks of tears on my face.
"I'll get us out of here," he said, smiling at me before gently patting my head with his free hand. His right hand was gripped around a gun he had pulled from somewhere. "Because I promised to be your protector," he added.
He stared into my eyes with that deep, soul-piercing gaze, promising me that everything would be alright and that he would get me out safely.