Chapter 6

It's not like I'm now used to everything weird that the mansion and the inhabitants were shedding me, but I'm not that surprised anymore when things got into some craps. So I think that's progress.

Besides, this is not actually the first time I encountered weird and dark creatures because Papu was actually a Paranormal Tour Guide. But anyway, let me just focus on my paperwork for tonight so I can go back to sleep.

Well, I'm still staying at Zayde's room but I guess he's right when he said this is the safest place for me to dwell, especially when this entire mansion seems to literally suck the life out of me the moment I first stepped my feet inside.

Good thing though, aside from a talking crow and a foreign-speaking butler, there were no other weird craps that could actually creep me out, like crying voices in the restroom or some unknown shadows or footsteps from the corridors and other crap.

"But wait! If Alastor can actually talk, then why didn't he say anything the first time we met?"

I couldn't help but ask, the moment Leaflet put the tray of my midnight snacks on the vintage table. And as usual, it made him jolt and dart me with an innocent look.

"A-ano po?" (What is it?)

"I asked, if that crow has the ability to talk ever since, then why didn't he utter even a single word when we first encountered each other?"

"U-uhm, he's really a snob during the first meeting, that's why. Hehe."

My eyebrow arched because of that, and I couldn't help but sigh and lean back in my seat.

"The audacity of that bird. If Zayde didn't come home every morning, he might have already pecked my eyeballs out," I grumbled while picking goji berries from the small plate that Loki put down.

But I immediately blinked repeatedly when I realized something.

"Speaking of Zayde, why are you serving me here instead of driving him towards his graveyard shift?" I raised an eyebrow at him, causing him to step back and swallow his saliva.

"A-ano po kasi, sabi ni Master... ano.... he said he could go to the morgue alone, so he told me to prioritize you and your needs," he said with his head bowed and still couldn't look me in the eyes.

With that, I ended up nodding and letting him go. The following days seemed to be no different still. I gotta go to school in the morning and write a one-piece every night before going to bed. Working here was way more comfortable than I expected since Zayde was actually doing everything to accommodate me. He even sang me a song during the full moon and invited me for wine and craps. Sometimes I even felt like I'm actually the Boss and even Lord Serenade himself was just my mere servant.

But of course that's hella strange because as far as horror movie tropes made me realize, supernatural creatures were usually kind to a certain human at first so they can somewhat harm them in the end. Like maybe Zayde really wanted to lock me here forever or some creepy shits like making me a vessel so his deceased wife can possess my body and they'll live happily ever after. I didn't even know if he was serenading me at that time or offering my soul to darkness.

Wait.

My forehead creased as a realization hit my mind that I'm not actually that sure if his wife was dead, or if the girl on the painting was really his wife to begin with, since Alastor shooed me away.

Besides, Leaflet wasn't answering my question about it either. He'd just run away from me whenever he had the chance and hid at Damon's back. And of course, I still couldn't understand what he's saying and Alastor is strict and a freaking snobber. He did not even bother to talk to me again, which ended up with me realizing that I gotta discover things on my own.

So there, one rainy Saturday, before my off, I planned to directly ask Zayde about it. However, imagine my surprise when I casually opened the door towards his room, only to see him half naked.

And unmasked.

"H-hala sorry." (Oh my, sorry.)

The words came like a freaking whisper as I hardly tried to gasp for air. But even the shivers on my spine just started to crawl into me, especially when in a snap of a finger, the lights were turned off and he harshly pinned me to the wall.

I could actually feel his breath on my neck as he whispered those phrases. However, what concerned me the most was the fact that I actually let him grab my wrists and pin my arms up above my head, locking them in one hand, as if my Papu didn't train me to smack everyone who tries to pull this trick on me!

What a shame.

Papu did not raise me to be this submissive. And as soon as it dawned on me, a hiss immediately rumbled out my throat and I tried to push him away.

"Get off me or I'm gonna grab your guts using my bare hands."

"Sorry, you should've at least knocked." He chuckled and immediately loosened his grip, making enough space for me to escape.

Right then, the light came back, but so did his horned-skull mask. I blinked repeatedly because of that, and at the realization that his long, moon-colored hair was also curled behind his mask. Well, he was facing away from my direction earlier, so I couldn't see his face, only his hair.

And wait a minute, why did he put on his mask first instead of his top?

"H-hey! Get dressed!" I insisted and immediately looked away from his abs. For the record, I just wanted to ask about the woman in the painting, but given the current situation, maybe not yet.

Because if Leaflet reacted that way when I mentioned the painting, and even the bird is so protective of everything in the mansion, maybe that thing is too heavy to mention.

That towel wrapped around his lower body might even fall if I ask, that would be difficult.

I just straightened up and turned my back. I was about to turn the doorknob when he spoke again.

"Are you leaving already? I thought you were about to ask me something?"

I gulped but immediately responded that it was nothing. But the moment my hands touched the knob, I sure knew I was doomed because it was locked!

"But Alastor said there's probably something that's bothering your mind?"

Curse that bird!

His heavy footsteps paved their way towards my direction, but I never turned to face him. Like never.

I don't want to stare at his mask again because after seeing how beautiful his long silver hair that matches his white skin and such, how am I supposed to stop myself from grabbing his mask to see his face?

He shouldn't underestimate my curiosity like this!

A hiss made its way on my thin lips, and instead of being swallowed by his aura, I stood still and gave him a poker face.

"Seriously, it's nothing. I'm just wondering why you're making me write the name Lilith as the writer of the gore prose," I blurted out, and at that moment, I slightly faced him.

"I mean, it should be yours because you now own them. You can basically mark your name as the writer."

"Well, Lilith is my pen name, so it's actually the same." He chuckled and even shook his head. And I was actually about to comment on how weird it was, but the words never did manage to come out from my lips because of his next phrases.

"How about you? Can I also mark your skin as mine?"

"Using a razor blade or a Swiss knife?" I joked blandly, trying to break the momentum. But to hell be with that because it just made him laugh softly as he leaned closer.

"Dummy, of course using my lips."

The next thing I knew, he again pinned me to the wall, but this time it was softer. I could even do nothing but bite my lips as his hand tenderly held my waist to pull me closer, close enough that he could leave wet kisses on my neck.

"Z-zayde..."

I held onto his arms for support as his kisses started to move towards my jaw and finally on my lips. It was enticing but at the same time, gentle. I don't even know how the hell did we end up this way. Slowly, I started to respond to his ways, and I know I'm dominated but I can't help it.

"U-uhm... wait."

"What? Do you want me to stop?" I can't believe his voice was filled with concern even at this moment, but I simply shook my head in return.

"N-no. It's not like that, but your mask is annoying. I can't kiss you properly because of it."

A soft laugh made its way onto his sinful lips as he started to gently bite my right shoulder instead. It came with sweet kisses, and I can't believe either that I'm falling for this.

Like dude, this is not the first time that I made out with someone. However, it was the first time that I've felt this special, to the extent of him consistently being careful while touching me.

"O-oh, damn it."

I badly want to play with his hair and—

"Sorry to disturb you, Master Zayde, but I need to talk to you."

My eyes widened when a familiar voice suddenly spoke. And hell, it didn't just talk but also knocked at the door non-stop as if it's the end of the world. Well, maybe not literally knocking, but he's probably using his beak to make a noise!

Seriously, can somebody curse that bird?

---

***

"So, was it big?"

My forehead creased.

"What?" I asked blankly in response to Rogue's question while we were in the hospital hallway on our way to Papu's room.

"You're really still going to deny it, even though there's evidence." She pinched my side and even pointed at my neck with her lips.

Dang it!

"Enough, okay. This is just a mosquito bite."

"Weird, you're making excuses now. Before you didn't care, and you'd just say 'So what, it's your sex life, and you're not a minor anymore, and he didn't even cum inside—'"

I wanted to interrupt what she was saying, but it seemed like it wasn't even necessary anymore. We both froze in our spots when we encountered a patient lying on a stretcher. Nurses were hurriedly pushing it towards somewhere.

"Wow, why did I get goosebumps?" Rogue said seriously and even glanced back. But after a while, she just shrugged and we both walked away.

I was dazed the whole day off because of what happened last night, and I didn't even enjoy the break properly. That Zayde's memories didn't even leave me alone. But honestly, it's just surprising how he treats me.

So what if he pays me afterwards and whatever else. But it's just weird that he treats me so lightly even though I'm stubborn and even fight with him sometimes. Well, I'm aware I'm mean and shits, so why is he still being kind towards me?

"Is he in love with me?" I said absentmindedly, causing Briar to narrow her eyes at me. Oh right, I'm with her in watching over Papu, who was sound asleep in his room.

But instead of paying attention to Briar, I just rubbed my temples and looked out the window.

"But that would be so cheesy and sudden, we've only known each other for a few weeks, and there's no character and tension build up between us," I continued my thoughts and nodded.

So what's the reason?

"Is he perhaps, horny? Does he want a no strings attached relationship with me?"

I gasped. "Well, I wouldn't refuse. But wait, if he's horny, then he should've made me write erotic prose for him and not a bloody one. And if he's into BDSM then why is he so gentle? So maybe no—"

"What the hell did you just say?"

I almost jumped in shock because of Briar's sudden words behind me, and it was too late when I noticed she was holding a slipper!

"Aaaah! I'm just joking, what the fuck!"

We looked like crazy people running around in circles in the room and even ended up in the hallway and stairs. The nurse even scolded us and everything, but she still gave me a sharp look as if she really didn't low-key sell me to Zayde.

But anyway, after the day off and my classes the next morning, I immediately barged right into Zayde's room when the evening came to finally clear things up.

With all the strength in my lungs, I uttered the words I've been dying to ask so I could somehow understand his behavior. As straightforward as possible.

"Zayde, do you want me to be your fuck buddy?"

In an instant, silence illuminated the whole room, and that's just when my jaw dropped upon realizing that he's not the only person in the room. He was with someone, and they both slowly turned their heads to face me, while I froze.

The seconds that our eyes met, I just knew that I literally just made myself ridiculous because the person he's with is none other than her!

The woman in the painting!

"S-sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you."