Beyond The Lie

chapter 4: what's happening?

Adeline

I stared at him, incredulous. "What the freak in the world?"

I shook my head, firm in my refusal. "I refuse."

Eryx's voice dropped to a deep, commanding tone. "You better not."

I stood my ground, my voice rising. "First of all, who are you? I don't even know you!"

Eryx's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with a hint of arrogance. "Oh, if that's what you want to know, then let me introduce myself. I'm Eryx Valtor. The one who came with me was my dad, Kaelin Darkhaven. The one with him was my brother, Asher Valtor. I'm a businessman, and this is my place."

His words hung in the air, a challenge and a declaration all at once.
I pressed on, my curiosity getting the better of me. "What's going on, Eryx?"

Eryx's expression grew increasingly frustrated, his jaw clenched in annoyance. "Just drop it, Adeline. You don't need to know."

But I wouldn't let up. "Tell me. I want to know what's happening."

Eryx's patience snapped. "Fine. That's enough for today."

He gestured dismissively, his eyes already turning away from me. I stared at him, confusion swirling in my mind. What had just happened? One minute we were talking, the next he was shutting me down.

I looked around the room, feeling a sense of unease. The couch on the corner did look comfortable, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being dismissed.

As I hesitated, fear crept into my mind. I was in a stranger's house, with no idea what his true intentions were. What if he hurt me while I was asleep?

But then Eryx said something that made my heart skip a beat. "This place is secure. You can breath easy!"
I nodded slightly, still unsure, but his words brought a sense of relief.

I made my way to the couch, my mind still racing with questions. But as I lay down, I felt a sense of security that I hadn't felt in a long time.

"Great," I whispered to myself. "Just great. This has been a day."

And with that, I drifted off to sleep, my mind still searching for answers.

As I stirred awake, Eryx's gentle voice whispered in my ear, "Time to go, Addie." His warm breath danced across my skin, sending shivers down my spine. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the haze of sleep, and found myself face to face with him. His piercing gaze held mine, his eyes burning with an intensity that made my heart race.

He offered his hand, helping me up from the couch, and I felt a spark of electricity as our palms touched. We walked out of the workshop in silence, the only sound being the soft crunch of gravel beneath our feet. The early morning air was crisp and cool, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

As we reached my apartment, Eryx's voice broke the silence, "Remember, you were with your aunt." His words were laced with a hint of mischief, and I couldn't help but wonder what secrets he was hiding.

I nodded, still trying to process the events of the past 24 hours. He dropped me off, and I watched as he disappeared into the morning fog, leaving me with more questions than answers.

As I entered my apartment, Liv was sleeping peacefully, while Sofie was awake, watching TV with a curious gaze. I didn't know what to say, so I stuck to the lie, "Hey, guys, I'm back"

Sofie raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. I was grateful for that. As Sunday night drew to a close, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Eryx had left an indelible mark on my life. And I knew, deep down, that our story was far from over.