Pay the Price

Chapter 33- New Residents

Christopher, with the help of his siblings and cousins, prepared rooms for the Salvador's to stay in until Andreas Zandailias was gone. It had only been a day since Christopher had been found with a stab wound, so he wasn't exactly too helpful, but he did what could to be useful. He was the one who instructed his relatives where to put certain items of furniture..

Because of all of the people helping with the preparations, it took much less time to set up all three rooms. By the end of it, they were all exhausted, but it was completely finished. That day, Christopher decided to set up the rooms whilst his hair was loose, so it felt as if it was weighing him down at the same time due to the length and thickness.

"Thank you for helping me." He murmured, leaning against the doorframe for support. The Salvador's had gone out with some of the Aetos adults to collect some of their belongings so they could stay there long term as no one knew how long it would or could take for Andreas to leave.

"No problem, Chris." Delilah responded, ruffling his hair annoyingly, ruining the pin-straight appearance to it. All of the Aetos' loved how his hair was hip length because they could mess it up easily. "You would've needed the help anyway so the Salvador's would have their own rooms tonight, especially considering your circumstances."

Everyone's tones were becoming slightly more snarky in his opinion, but he began to understand that it was just how they'd speak to each other when they were joking around. But the tone was still very unlikeable, no matter who was using it. In Christopher's opinion.

"You're right in the regards of not being able to do it alone, but that's because I can barely stand without leaning on something for more than five minutes." He snapped back, taking a step backwards from her, fixing his hair.

"Don't rile him up. He's still getting used to our normal." Connor said as he leaned over the railing, observing as the Salvador's walk inside with a few bags each. "They're home." He announced, so Christopher's cousins and siblings scattered in all directions. Except Christopher. He rolled eyes, groaning in annoyance as they left him alone.

Why they thought running away was necessary confused him, but it wasn't his problem. The only problem he had was being able to walk away fast enough without one of the three Salvador's spotting him and insisting on giving him assistance.

'Assholes.' He thought, gaining the will to stand up straight to walk again. He kept a hand on the wall, starting to walk forward, towards the staircase that led to the third floor.

Footsteps were coming up the stairs, and judging by the sound of the steps, Christopher recognised that it was Raelene. He hoped she wouldn't notice him because he knew, out of all three of the Salvador's, she didn't take no for an answer. She would help him, and her word was final.

However, part of him wanted to stay to show her the rooms he and his relatives had set up. The other part, though, thought that it would make him seem selfish to do so and receive all of the praise from a joint effort. But she made the decision unknowingly.

"Chris." He heard from behind, so he turned around, knowing there would be no pretending he couldn't hear her. She rushed over to him, slinging an arm around his waist so he could stand upright a bit more easily. "What's with the plaques on those doors?" She asked, pointing at the three doors that were beside each other.

"Rooms for you, your brother, and your dad. We wanted you to feel as at home as possible while Andreas is being hunted so to say." He responded, gesturing for her to open her door.

She gave him a deadpan look, slightly glaring. Christopher didn't know why she was giving him a glare, so he tried to give her a confused expression, but it came off more as worried than anything. He was very anxious.