Chapter 3: Help

Verena tried to close her eyes once more, pretending that nothing weird was happening to her or around her at the moment. It's nearing one in the morning, and she still hasn't gotten the chance to sleep a wink. If she turned around and lay down on her side, she would hear loud grunts and angry noises, and when she lay flat on her back, there was a strange aura that surrounded her. She could feel a warm breeze hitting her cheeks and the feeling that someone had been trying to study every line, every pore, every hair, and every wrinkle that could be seen on her face.

"Please," she whispered. "I have given you my trust; I gave you a place to sleep; I am trying to let you rest for the time being. Is it impossible for you to not give that back to me?" She opened her eyes only to see the man breathing directly in her face. Verena felt her heart jump out of shock as she realized that his beautiful blue eyes were reading her soul like a book. "Oh, God, you are too close."

Verena moved away from Zoren to create some distance between them. As she settled into her bed, she could feel his intense gaze on her, which made her uncomfortable, and it was apparent to him too.

"I need to watch you," he said, his eyes never leaving her. Zoren furrowed his brows and leaned in closer. "When your eyes were closed, were you trying to curse me? I could see the way you squirmed. Don't you dare try to

"Alright, alright," Verena interrupted, her voice rising in frustration. She pushed him away with a sigh and sat up in bed, wrapping her thick blankets tightly around her. "I wasn't trying to curse you; I don't even know how to do that or where to start!" Her annoyance was evident in her tone, and she couldn't help but feel a bit offended that he would accuse her of something like that. "Please, sir, you can't just get close to me like that. I know our worlds are different, but you still can't sleep in the same bed as me," she added firmly.

Zoren's expression softened as he watched Verena. He could sense her frustration and was worried that he may have crossed a line. "I didn't mean to do anything like this. I was just trying to make sure that I wouldn't be tricked by someone like you," he said gently, his eyes softening. "I understand what you meant; I won't be sleeping on your bed. Even the women in my world would be upset by that, I understand."

"Oh my God, thank you."

"It's just that, with your powers being so strong, I can't take any chances. I have to make sure that you're not doing anything that could put our world in danger. My father—I can't stop thinking about him."

Verena let out a sigh, realizing that Zoren's intentions weren't as bad as she thought. "I understand," she said, her tone softening. "But please, if you have any suspicions, just talk to me. I told you, "I am going to be completely honest, and we will figure out what I could do to help you out."

Zoren nodded, his gaze still fixed on her. "Great," he said. "Although I can't be sure as to how I could trust the words of a human like you, that was good to hear."

As Verena settled back down in her bed, Zoren couldn't help but feel guilty for his earlier suspicions. He slowly sat on the floor, watching her as he leaned back against the wall, and when she looked up at him, he saw the fear and weariness in her eyes. He wasn't sure if this woman was trustworthy, but he could for sure see what fear looks like.

"I'm sorry for making you feel uncomfortable. It's just that I need to be ready; I can't stop myself; I can't afford to let my guard down," Zoren explained softly.

Verena looked at him, feeling a mix of fear and warmth in his voice. "I understand, Zoren. But I'm not your enemy. I'm just a girl trying to make it through life," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I am still not sure how to deal with the situation that we are in right now."

"Shut up."

"Now you're being rude again?"

"No," he said, stopping her from talking again. "I sense something."

Zoren suddenly sniffed the air. His expression turned serious, and he stood up from the bedside. Verena noticed the change in his demeanor and furrowed her brows in confusion.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Zoren shook his head and walked over to the window, trying to peek outside.

"I smell something strange," Zoren said, turning back to face her. "It's like... pungent and overpowering, with a hint of sweetness that quickly turns sour. It is sharp; wait, it's the same scent of alcohol that burns the nostrils with a bitter aftertaste that lingers in the air. It's not something that I recall."

"Liquor," she said.

Verena's heart sank as she realized what he was sensing. She knew that her uncle's arrival would only mean trouble, and she didn't want to expose Zoren to that kind of danger. She quickly got up from the bed and walked over to the window, peering out to see if her uncle was still causing a commotion.

"Liquor," he repeated. "Ah, I see, the liquor in this world smells different."

"I did not expect him to come home tonight," she whispered.

"Is there something wrong?" Zoren asked, sensing Verena's fear.

She hesitated before finally admitting, "My uncle... he's an alcoholic. When he comes home like this, he gets violent and aggressive."

Zoren's expression darkened with concern. "An you still live with him?" he asked. "I can see how afraid you are just by the sounds of his footsteps getting louder; why would you continue to tolerate such life if you can easily just leave?"

Verena shook her head. "You must not know since you are not from here, but it's not easy to just do that. I can't just leave him. After all, I've dealt with it for a long time. I just try to stay out of his way, and everything will be fine on my side."

Zoren didn't like the idea of Verena living in fear. He must not know him well, but he said that no creature was deserving of this misery.

"Rena!" The voice of the old man was gruff and hoarse, with a harsh edge that spoke of years of hard living and heavy drinking. It was laced with bitterness and anger, like a sharp knife slicing through the air, ready to strike at anyone who crossed his path.

"I'm sorry, Zoren," she said, turning back to face him. "My uncle's home. I should go check on him. Make sure to not let him know that you are here, alright?"

As she was about to leave, Nelo stumbled into Verena's room. He caught sight of Zoren standing in front of her, and his bleary eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Who the hell are you?" he slurred, taking a step forward.

Verena's heart raced as she tried to think of what to say. "He's just a friend," she stammered.

Nelo snorted. "Friend, my ass. What's he doing here?"

Zoren stepped forward, his tall frame imposing as he tried to diffuse the situation.

Nelo's expression turned sour. "You finally have a boyfriend, huh? Does he have money? Give me some; I need to buy more alcohol!"

Verena's heart sank. She knew what this meant—if she didn't give him the money he wanted, he would become even more violent and unpredictable. She glanced nervously at Zoren, unsure of what to do next.

"I haven't gotten my salary yet, uncle, but tomorrow, I promise."

"You useless bitch!" As he was about to reach out and grab her hair, Zoren quickly blocked him and swiftly raised his arm, hitting the old man's chin with his elbow.

"Oh my God!" Verena looked down on Nelo lying unconscious on the floor. "What did you do?"

"Don't worry, he's not dead yet."

"Yet?"

"I mean, do you want him dead? I can help you with that"

"What? No!" 

"Then, stop trembling just because of him. You're making me want to do it."