Chapter 5: Sweet Poison

SARIAN POV

I stepped aside and watched from a corner as doctor Lucas checked Mama's vitals.

During his last visit, he told me she was recovering well, so why was he taking so long examining her?

I fiddled with my fingers and bit my inner cheek as my gaze shifted between him and my mother.

She had regained consciousness three days ago and was only asleep now.

He finally removed his stethoscope and faced me. Taking a step back from the bed.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

And he shook his head. "There's nothing to be scared of. She's doing well, but like I told you earlier, we can't discharge her yet. We still need to keep her under observation," he reassured.

I sighed and smiled lightly. That's a relief.

"Take care," he said. He faced the door, and the nurse walked out before him.

I walked to Mama and wiped her face with a towel.

"Uhm, Sarian," I heard Doctor Lucas call out, and I faced him almost immediately.

"Yes?"

"Killian would definitely have my head on a platter if he knew I talked to you about this, but..." He hesitated, looking down at the floor.

I watched as he rubbed the nape of his neck and shifted uncomfortably.

Have his head? I thought he was friends with Killian? So, why would he talk about Killian like he was some sort of monster?

"Anyway, how did you know Killian?" he inquired.

My throat became dry and itchy. How was I supposed to answer that? I blinked. Well, he might have gotten the wrong idea, so it was better to tell the truth.

"Mr. Killian is my boss's boyfriend," I replied.

His lips parted, and I waited for the words to follow, but there was nothing. He closed them and tilted his head.

"Oh, I see," he nodded. "But how well do you know him?" He continued.

Now, it was my time to gulp. That question threw me off guard. Killian might be all nice to me, but how well do I know him?

"Killian is my friend, but I must warn you. He's like a sweet poison. One that kills you slowly without knowing. Be careful about the people you let into your life." He said in a low voice.

He wanted to continue but shook his head, and he walked out, leaving me with hundreds of unanswered questions.

Slowly, I walked to the sofa and sat on it.

And why would Killian's friend say something like that about him? I had my doubts when that stranger fidgeted at the sight of him the day we got here.

I knew he was dangerous. Forbidden. Yet, it thrilled me to taste it. Still, the idea didn't scare me.

Lucas's words were supposed to be a reminder that was meant to keep me in check and help me regain my senses, yet it made no difference.

I huffed and buried my face in my palms. "Please help me, God.”

My ringtone blared, disrupting my thoughts. I stared at my phone as it continued to ring. Thank goodness, it didn't wake Mama up.

I didn't answer the call, not because I knew who was calling. But I knew for a fact that it was neither Anastasia nor Marcus.

It's been four days since my mother got admitted, and not once did Anastasia call. As for Marcus, the last time he showed up was when Killian threatened him.

Not like they were needed.

My phone started ringing again, and this time I answered.

Sweat trickled down my face at the sight of the name on the screen.

It was none other than Anastasia's mother.

With shaky hands, I clicked on the answer icon. I swallowed before talking.

"Hello, ma'am," I greeted with a cracked voice.

"Hello to you too, Sarian," she replied.

Was that sarcasm? I bet it was.

"I heard what happened to your mother. How is she doing?" She questioned.

I paused for a minute. I didn't know what to say. How does she know what happened?

"Are you there?"

I cleared my throat. "Uhm, yes, ma"

"As I was saying, how could she be so careless as to hurt herself?"

I squinted my eyes. My brain couldn't process a response.

"I don't understand, Ma."

"Well, Anna told me how Violet got hurt. How did she miss a step and fall down the stairs?"

My lips curved into a painful smile. What was I thinking? That Anastasia would tell her mother the truth?

How pathetic and... stupid.

My heart yelled at me to tell her the truth, but would she believe me over her daughter? Which parent would agree that their child is a liar?

"Oh, about that.. yeah," I whispered.

An indirect answer. The best that I could give.

"I would have sorted the hospital bills if Anastasia hadn't done that already," she added.

I clenched my hands so hard that my veins popped. My teeth.. gritted and my eyes blazed.

The urge to tell her to shut up and stop saying what she didn't know. 

To tell her that her children are bloody demons, but my head wouldn't let me.

The rational me was getting the upper hand, and it was pissing the hell out of me.

How could that witch lie about everything? Where's the decency? The guilt? The fear that everything could backfire?

I was yet to reply to her, so I nodded as if she could see me. The burden of agreeing with what she said was weighing on me.

But I didn't have any choice. "Yes, ma," I whispered again.

"Alright, dear, take care of yourself and Violet." And with that, she hung up.

The tears I had been holding, flowed freely. I clutched onto my chest as it ached badly.

I ran to the bathroom and locked the door. I slid down the wall and cried my eyes out.

What happened to Karma? How was it possible that they could twist the truth so easily and get away with it?

First, Anastasia punished an old woman until she collapsed and refused to help. Second, she painted herself as a kind person.

About paying the medical bills, how would I have told her mother that it was her daughter's boyfriend that paid for everything?

Not only would she get the wrong idea of me. It would basically worsen the situation.

Maybe it wasn't wrong for Anastasia to take part of the credit. I guess Killian's money is also her money.

I gasped for air, and my lungs contracted painfully. What were you thinking, Sarian?

But how was I supposed to untangle myself from the webs of Killian? Now I owe him for helping my mother?

I can't control what I feel. Nobody can but, then boundaries. The world was telling me to stay away from him.

I should be thinking with my head. Yet, my heart, my desires were winning. It shouldn't be so, but I was losing the battle terribly.

Who would save me from the doom of myself? From the shackles of my flesh?

I heard a knock on the door, which opened immediately. The silence stretched for over two minutes.

My heartbeat quickened.

The bathroom door opened before I could steady my breathing.

“Sarian.”

Killian stood there, his presence swallowing the room whole. His gaze dragged slowly over my tear-soaked face, the way my body curled in on itself. His jaw tightened.

“You were crying,” he said quietly.

It wasn’t a question.

Fear slid down my spine. It was the kind that made my knees weak. The kind that told me I’d just been seen too clearly.

His eyes pierced into mine. An unknown surge of defiance flooded my veins.

I refuse to swallow whatever trash the world throws at me. Destiny lost the right to decide for me.

My life is mine to control. If karma won't do its job, I will become the nemesis of those who taunt me.

I want Killian. I crave him.

I wiped my face and stood up, closing the distance between us.

He didn't retreat. His jaws were clenched.

"Do you want me, Killian?" I blurted out.

His response didn't matter to me. I was willing to get drunk on this poison.

His muscular arm circled around my waist and slammed me on the sink counter, earning a gasp from me.

His cold eyes drifted to my lips. He pinned my hands behind me as he leaned forward.

"What do you think?" His voice dropped.

I was trapped by him.

And the most terrifying part?

I didn’t want to be freed.