0009

{ Grace }

I stood on the balcony, looking down at where my hairpin had fallen for almost thirty minutes without moving an inch. I knew getting down there wasn't a good idea, especially when I was likely to encounter him again.

There was no way I was letting that hairpin slip out of my possession.

I thought for a while, and then Zoe came to mind; what if I asked Zoe to help me look for it? Would it be rude? Besides, it was late.

I let out a frustrated sigh.

“ You aren't asleep yet?” I turned back from the balcony. “ I didn’t mean to startle you,” Zoe said, and my gaze lowered down to the glass of water in her hand, and I knew immediately that it was for me.

She had been very attentive towards me for the past few days, and I appreciated it. That was why I wouldn't stress her more than I have already done.” No, it's okay.” I stepped forward and took the glass before walking to the bedside to get the tablets. “ You should rest early.” Zoe was about to turn when an eerie growl resounded in the air.

“ Another beast,” Zoe whispered, and I frowned. “ What are you saying?” I asked but she shook her head with a smile.” You should rest; your foot hasn't healed completely.” She turned around and left.

What was that?

I stayed in my spot for a whole minute, not sure what just happened.

The sound, did I hear wrong?

I waited to hear it again but it never came. I wasn't sure what that sound was but I felt like something was going on.

I lay on the bed for close to an hour, turning and wiggling like a puppy. When I couldn't take it anymore, I got off the bed and walked to the living room.

The lights were turned off, and everywhere in the living room was dark, but I found my way into the kitchen.

I didn't know why I was feeling this restless and straight inside. I didn't know what was wrong with me, so I took a bottle of water from the freezer and opened the cover.

After taking a few sips, I opened the freezer to put it back when a shadow suddenly appeared at the entrance of the kitchen.

Startled, I dropped the bottle of water on the floor, which left a little noise in the air as the water spilled on the floor.

My heart strangely settled in my chest when I thought of him. Was it him?

I rushed forward and pulled on the switch. “ Cronus?” My eyes widened, noticing the blood that was all over him as if he had just bath in blood.

Was it his blood, was he hurt? My eyes took him in from head to toe and I couldn't stop myself from feeling what I was feeling.

It was my second time seeing such heavy blood and I wasn't sure I liked it.

“ You, you…” I couldn't find the right words to form a sentence, my feet curled on the floor as I looked back into his forest green eyes, which were looking red like those of a vampire.

Was he a vampire?

There were many things I wasn't aware of but that didn't mean I was ignorant.” What are you doing out here?” His deep voice sounded a bit different, maybe because he didn't sound as harsh as he used to sound, and I found it a bit weird and unfamiliar.

“ I'm not outside.” I didn't look away from his bloodshed eyes; he sighed as if he found my reply annoying, which was possible.“ Isn't it too late for you to be wandering around?” He was suddenly in front of me in a flash, and I stepped back in panic.

I have never seen a person with such speed before. What the hell was he?

“ I'm not wandering around,” I whispered back, more like protesting with my gaze buried down to his blood-stained chest.

I knew I should be scared of him, especially with the way he was looking; his chest was naked and covered in blood, and his eyes were bloodshed and staring coldly at me like he wanted to eat me alive.

His long white hair was the only thing that remained the same, even though it gave an eerie vibe.

Scared was the only kidding emotion in my heart at that moment; I was both confused and attached, or should I say concerned? This was silly but it was the truth.” I don't remember putting you in here.” He said and I swallowed.” I came down for a bottle of water.” I didn't know if he would even believe me, but his gaze didn't move away.

“ How is your foot?” he lowered his gaze down to my bare foot and I stepped back, feeling a little embarrassed with how I was looking. Did he just ask about my foot?

Something in my heart snapped, and I felt a warm feeling wash over me. Just when I thought he was acting strange, he went down on his knee and tried to pick up my foot, but I immediately stepped back, not sure why.

His relaxed yet intense gaze rested on me, and I looked away.” I will go back to the room.” I rushed out of the kitchen and locked the room door behind me.

….

The harsh sunlight rested on my face and I turned to my side. A continuous sound from the bathroom woke me up from my sleep, and I slowly pushed my eyes open.” Zoe?” I asked because she was the only one I had seen around here since I got here.

" Zoe?" I called again and a cheerful Zoe pulled out of the bathroom.” Done cleaning.” She smiled at me before walking over to the window to push the curtains open.

I stared at her for more than a minute, not sure if it was my first time seeing her in such a mood, but I found it interesting.” Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes, you need to get prepared.” She said, and I knew what she meant: Alpha Cronus doesn't like to be kept waiting.

I signed and was about to step down from the bed when the scene from last night visited my memory.

" How is he?" I asked and Zoe raised a brow." Who?"

" Cronus," I whispered. " Alpha Cronus..."

“ Holy shit.” I didn't let Zoe finish as I jumped down from the bed after recalling my hairpin which I accidentally dropped last night.” I will be right back.” I told Zoe while running out of the room in the nightdress Zoe gave me.

I got to the back of the building and began searching for my hairpin.

At first, I thought it was somewhere around and I needed to search more, but it didn't matter how much effort I put into it.

I didn't want to give up because that was the last gift I got from my father. I couldn't possibly let it go just like that. What if it was somewhere around here?

I spent more than thirty minutes looking for my hairpin, but in the end, Zoe came to call me for breakfast and I had to put my search on hold.