Tasteful Darkness

Chapter 16

Balendin - Now

Something has shifted in Peter. There isn't a hint of a hint of a smile on his face anymore, and his body has slowly closed in on itself. I try to focus on looking at the city or at the stars, but my attention is always drawn back to him.

"Hey," I say quietly, as if I can break the silence gently. "Are you all right?"

He doesn't look at me, his eyes vacant. "I'm fine." He sounds far from it.

The darkness has covered the entire sky by now, and I relish in the feeling of it.

Sometimes, though rarely, I find myself missing the darkness of the Underworld. It was comforting in a way I can't describe even now.

I stand, careful not to topple over the side of the building. "I should be getting you home," I say.

He looks up at me. "Yeah."

We make it down to the library floor without as much as a slip, though it takes much effort considering there isn't a ladder. I keep my eyes on Peter the entire time, making sure there's not any indication that he might fall again.

When images of him hanging from nothing but my hand, I find myself regretting what I did. I knew I had to save him, but I made it too obvious. No human should have been able to lift him like that, and he must have noticed.

Perhaps he thought it was just the adrenaline rush.

We leave through the front door, and I return the key to its hiding place. As I turn to say goodbye to Peter, I realize he's already started to walk away. I tilt my head as I approach him.

"Something is wrong," I say.

"No," he responds. "I'm fine."

"That wasn't a question."

He keeps his eyes forward. "Well aren't you observant," he mutters, with little effort to say it quietly. "Why does it matter how I'm feeling?"

What an odd question. And by odd, I mean human.

"Because how you're feeling is important to me."

He scoffs, as if I'm making some cruel joke. My mouth presses into a line, and I make no indication of being sarcastic. At my silence, his annoyed look drops.

"Why?" he says, his voice quiet. "You don't know me. All you've done is save me from a burning building."

"I'd say that's quite a way to make an impression."

I pause, considering my options and taking in Peter's closed off positioning.

"Look, Peter," I start, knowing I'll regret it, "if you want me to stop showing up and bothering you, I will. I really just wanted to make sure you were okay, and now that I know you are, I can leave you alone."

Silence.

I don't know why I pictured him insisting on me to stay and that I wasn't really bothering him. When all he does is keep walking and not say anything else, something inside me drops.

I need to find someone else's soul to claim. This was a mistake—it was bound to fail, and I never should have listened to Adrian to begin with.

"Goodbye," I say and turn to leave, my steps practically silent against the streets. I hate that. I want to make noise—I want to break something.

"Wait."

His voice is so quiet I almost think it's the wind playing tricks on me.

I don't dare take another step.