The Hunt for Jack the Ripper (The Phantomhive Diaries #1)

23. Mey-Rin Dai

Only 1 POV left to go. I was going to post the last one along with this one but I haven't been able to finish that one so I still went ahead to post this one. Sorry, guys. I still hope you enjoy all the same. 

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Mey-Rin knew that settling in would be a daunting task. From the moment she entered the house, she could sense Azzurro Vanel's hate towards her, and it was clear that his men shared the sentiment. Truth be told, she didn't want to be here either. Living with Haku may not have been ideal, but at least she felt safe. Now, without him, she felt utterly vulnerable. She would have to sleep with locked doors and a gun under her pillow, just to feel a semblance of security. And the thought of bathing or changing her flannel to hide her menstruation was a whole other concern. At least in Limehouse, she could discreetly hide the used flannels under the floorboards, but here, there was no such option. Nowhere to hide, nowhere to find solace.

As soon as the door creaked open, Mey swiftly pulled out her gun and pointed it directly at the man positioned in the centre of the doorway.

The man donned an exquisite navy suit, paired with a vibrant crimson tie. His complexion boasted a light tan, while his eyes possessed a deep shade of brown. His ebony hair and neatly trimmed goatee framed his slender lips. Judging by his appearance, he appeared to be in his fifties, the same age she imagined her late father would have been.

When Mey pointed the gun towards him, the man immediately raised one arm in surrender. In his other hand, he clutched a plate of food.

"Woah, easy there, kid," he said.

"What do you want?" Mey barked out the question in a harsh tone.

"I brought you food," the man said cautiously.

Mey frowned in confusion. What is this bastard's game? "Food? Why?"

"Uhhhhhh, because you're our guest, are you not? Besides, I thought you'd be hungry."

Mey-Rin's gaze fixated on the delicate porcelain plate that the man had set before her. Resting on it were perfectly round, golden brown balls. A dust of white powder and a garnish of vibrant green leaves adorned them. Memories of her parents' homemade rice balls flooded her mind, but as she inhaled the aroma, she knew these were distinct. These delectable treats were undoubtedly a unique creation.

"What's that?" she asked suspiciously.

"Arancini," he said. "You never tried them before?"

She shook her head. "I never tried Italian food, no."

"It's good," the man said, pushing the plate towards her.

However, Mey-Rin did not attempt to eat it. What if it's poisoned? What if they put arsenic to kill me so I don't report to Haku?

As if having read her mind, the man sighed. "I didn't poison it if that's what you're thinking."

Mey huffed and folded her arms over her chest. "Then you try it."

The man nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders before grabbing one of the arancini balls and sinking his teeth into it. As he chewed and swallowed, Mey-Rin anxiously observed, wondering if any unexpected consequences would unfold. Deep down, she held a mixture of fear and anticipation, secretly hoping that this man would meet an untimely demise mere moments after devouring the arancini ball.

But alas, nothing happened. Though she was sort of glad that they weren't poisoned.

"There, you see?" he said. "It's fine."

Mey-Rin's hand trembled as she tentatively reached for an untouched arancini ball. Despite her hesitation, she kept her gun raised, remaining vigilant and alert. She couldn't afford to let her guard down, unsure if he would suddenly draw his own weapon and end her life.