❛ Look After You. Chrollo Lucilfer

xiv. confrontation

Keiko released a shaky breath, standing in front of the grand entrance that led into a mansion that she once called home. The doors were already wide open, giving everyone a glimpse of what was inside. Two men in dark suits flanked the entrance, their eyes subtly tracking her movements with a predatory and recognizable glint. She recognized them as vampires, and the sight of their gaze made her stomach churn with unease.

"Keiko. Are you feeling alright?" Chrollo questioned, feeling the way Keiko's grip tightened on his arm. She gave him a weak smile, "just a little shaken. Nothing I can't handle."

Chrollo observed her, noting the way the vastness of the mansion seemed to amplify her discomfort. Despite the mansion's lively atmosphere, with hundreds, if not thousands, of guests engaged in animated conversation, the grandeur and scale of the place only seemed to heighten her sense of unease.

Chrollo held her face gently, his voice steady and reassuring. "Listen, sweetheart, if you feel unsafe inside, you tell me immediately. We'll leave the moment you say so."

Keiko struggled to meet his gaze, her eyes downcast and her voice laced with frustration. "I already feel unsafe, even standing out here. In fact, I felt uneasy the second I stepped foot back into Barcelona."

"I feel that if I continue past this door, I'll be walking into the lion's den with no way out." Keiko's voice trembled as she paused, her eyes meeting Chrollo's where she gave him view of the desperation shimmering in her crimson orbs.

Chrollo studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. His calm demeanor masked a flicker of surprise at the depth of her fear. "Keiko," he said softly, his tone steady but laced with an unexpected note of concern, "you're not walking into anything you can't handle. If this is too much, we can turn back. I'm no longer forcing you to face this."

Her gaze wavered, struggling to hold his. "It's not just the mansion. It's Gerard. I've never felt this kind of fear unless it comes to him, I haven't felt it in so long, and it's paralyzing."

Chrollo's eyes narrowed slightly, weighing her words against his own understanding. "I underestimated how deeply this affects you. Fear is a powerful thing, and I should have realized its hold on you. My apologies, love."

"It's okay—"

He took a step closer, his presence a steadying force. "It's not, really. But remember, fear can be managed. It doesn't have to control you. You're not alone in this; we'll face Gerard together, and if things become too overwhelming, we'll leave. That's a promise."

Keiko took a shaky breath, drawing strength from his assurance. "I need to face this, even if it scares me."

"Then let's move forward, but on your terms. You'll confront whatever awaits, and I'll be right here with you." Chrollo nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Chrollo gently guided Keiko forward, his presence a steady anchor against the swirling tide of her emotions. As they crossed the threshold, the noise of the crowd intensified, a blend of laughter and chatter filling the air. The mansion's interior was as lavish as she remembered, with high ceilings adorned with glittering chandeliers and walls lined with priceless artworks, and Keiko took notice that some of the pieces were made by her.

It made her stomach churn. Why would Gerard and Mei keep her paintings? After all that they've done to her, the vibrant colors and intricate details of her work seemed out of place in the grandiose setting, each piece a reminder of a past that felt increasingly tainted.