Monster Like You

Chapter 25

Nathaniel hadn't expected such a violent reaction and didn't know what to do with it. I didn't expect it myself. All this time, I carefully kept my distance, realizing that part of me will always strive for him because of the real Nathaniel Bond, and this is unpleasant for Nathaniel-chimera. But today I was scared and had time to think that I would never see Nathaniel again. And it broke something in the harmonious system that I built in my head to protect my own heart.

"Vet, what are you doing?" Nathaniel finally asked softly, gently touching my shoulders. Not hugging, but not pushing away. "Is something wrong?"

I gasped, a strange sound escaped me: either nervous laughter, or a sob. I forced myself to pull away and immediately began to confusingly tell about everything that happened, and ended up with this behavior of mine. Nathaniel listened intently, trying not to miss anything in the flow of words.

"What are you doing here?" I finished the story with my own question.

"I just couldn't sit there anymore," he admitted.

It seemed to me that he felt uncomfortable about this. He walked around me, picked up a package that had been thrown at the door from the floor and carried it into the kitchen, as before, trying to stay away from the windows, although it was still light enough behind them, and hardly anyone could see him from the street.

"Wow, are we having a party?" Nathaniel asked in surprise, shifting the groceries into the refrigerator.

"I just needed time to stop and get my thoughts in order," I waved away. "Do you think Kiaran sent someone to follow me? It was stupid to admit to him that I know where you are."

"Stupid," Nathaniel didn't argue, closing the refrigerator door and turning to me. "But sending such an obvious surveillance on you is even more stupid. Unless the goal was not to make you feel "under the hood" and not make sudden movements."

"So that I don't go to Alyss? But why?"

"And we will surely understand this when we come to her. Did you ever see her at all after she was released?"

I shook my head, looking away in embarrassment.

"The last time I saw her was after the transplant operation, but she was still under anesthesia."

"That is, you only know that she is free from Gervase's words?"

I didn't like his tone. As well as an unspoken assumption. They made everything inside feel uncomfortably cold, because it echoed with doubts that I had been diligently suppressing all this time.

"We should go to her," Nathaniel decided, not waiting for my answer.

"But how? Corps car stayed to watch my house. As soon as we leave the entrance, they will know about you. And if their task is not to let us go to Alyss, then we will not get there."

Nathaniel was silent for half a minute, thinking about something, and then muttered:

"From the entrance, you say? So, we need not leave the entrance. Let's go."

"Where to?" I didn't understand, but obediently followed him into the living room.

"We can go down the fire escape," Nathaniel explained, pulling back the curtain and nodding out the window. "It goes on the opposite side of the house, not where the entrances and exits from the yard are. We'll walk a couple of blocks and catch a taxi. Let's leave the lights and the TV on, no one will even realize that you left."

"A fire escape?" I asked in surprise, coming closer. Wow, I've never noticed her.

Nathaniel turned to me and grinned.