The Risen HODWII

Chapter 47 : Loyal

My eyes suddenly turned back to normal... brown. Just in time for my gun to nearly point at Adrian... fuck! I immediately put my arm down. What the heck did I do this time? My monster had dominated again, and I lost control of myself.

I looked at my surroundings to see four lifeless bodies lying on the floor. I did not recognize three of them; they were probably Marco's men. But one, lying in front of me, I recognized as... Bryan.

From the moment he entered late into Xenon's house, I had a bad feeling about him. That's why I had been tracking where he went and who he had been with, and I had already found out that he had been meeting with Mr. Marco, but I remained silent.

I had contemplated everything and predicted that this might happen, but I let Xenon have his own battle for hours. I committed not to interrupt someone else's mission, but I wouldn't let Xenon... die.

I couldn't watch him die... or the demon would break free of my leash.

I was brought back to reality when I heard Xenon. "Why are you here?" His voice... it was dark.

I looked at him; he was untied and now kneeling in front of Ryan's lifeless body.

I could see Adrian and Lucas unlocking Blue and Blake's chains.

I intended to turn my back, but before I moved from my position, I heard him again.

"I'm asking you, why are you here, and who are you?" His voice was void of anger and sadness. I looked deeply into his eyes; they were turning puffy red.

He was hurt... because of me. I had just killed his friend.

"You should have let me die... but not him. I can take all the blame for my stupidity... but not the death of my friend. You should have just..." He stopped. "Tell me, who are you? Why do you keep intruding in my life?"

Lucas came toward Xenon and patted his shoulder. "Xen, stop. We have to go."

"No! I'm tired of thinking of an answer, I'm tired of asking myself! I want answers!" He shouted at Lucas and suddenly turned toward me. "You tell me," he ordered.

I couldn't help the intense beating of my heart; I could feel it would explode any moment. The feeling of nervousness, anxiety, and fear all surged at once.

These feelings were all because of him.

I smile a lot, laugh, and feel hurt... it proves that I've become human... that I have already achieved my goal.

I fulfilled the reason why I came to Martinez Grey Academy... and maybe it's time to go, to stop my stupidity.

I can't hide my identity any longer... my love for him is growing, and I'm afraid that one day I won't be able to let go of him. I love him, but hiding my true identity makes me feel guilty... it's hurting me.

Guilt. A feeling I had never felt, even after killing thousands of men... but I just felt it... because of this man.

No matter what may happen tonight... my love for him will never fade.

"I'll ask you once again. Who. Are. You?" Xenon emphasized each word while walking closer to me.

Adrian tried to stop him, but he didn’t listen and continued to approach. In the distance, I could see Blue observing the scene quietly and Blake, who was behaving well in his place... what happened to him?

When Xenon was two meters away from me, I ordered, "Stop," using my dark and cold voice. Anyone who heard it obeyed immediately.

I felt everyone stiffen, including Blake, who seemed to be out of his mind earlier. I thought everything had stopped, even their faint heartbeats.

But then, I sensed Xenon's heartbeat speeding up.

I looked down, taking my black mask off, so the only thing that concealed my face was my big hood. Everything slowed down except the heartbeat of everyone in this room, which was now racing faster than it had ever been... including mine.

Just as I felt someone coming from behind, which I sensed was Uno, I slowly pulled down my hood and looked deeply into his eyes.

I heard gasps coming from Lucas and Adrian, and I sensed Blue and Blake immediately kneeling in respect while Xenon seemed frozen in place, his mouth partly agape.

"Cl... Claire?" Xenon asked hesitantly.

Looking deeply into his bluish eyes, all I could see was... pain? It felt as if I had been stabbed deeply in my heart, and I felt so... sad. I saw his eyes flicker for a moment. Maybe he saw my soul in sadness.

No. I need to be strong; this is not the time to be weak. I am a Tarre... the heiress of the Dark World... the monster known as heartless, and anyone who gets close to me will be brought to hell.

"I am," my voice was cold, the usual old me... the mask of the Silencer. I saw Xenon's eyes widen for a moment... he rarely heard me this cold toward him. He closed his eyes and shook his head.

I sensed someone else's presence nearby, but I ignored it, knowing who it was. Lucas and Adrian tried to speak, wanting to say something, but sensing the tension, they preferred to be silent. However, their faces conveyed so many emotions.

I sensed Uno standing beside me, looking down, a gesture of respect. "Claire, it's done. The prisoners got out and joined the battle; some of Marco's men went into hiding," she stated, meaning we won the battle.

I nodded, and she went to stand behind me.

"Stella..." I heard Lucas whisper, looking at Uno, but she didn't notice him and just stood blankly behind me. Loyal.

"Was it all a lie?" My attention suddenly turned to Xenon. A lie? "Why me, Claire? What do you want from me?"

Is he...? Is he suspecting me of lying and acting all this time?