Own Time

Chapter 36

There was a heavy silence between us, with only by the distant strains of music drifting from the ballroom inside. I stood there, waiting for his response, while he simply stared back at me, while a disturbing smirk playing on his lips.

He moved towards me slowly, each step deliberate. I remained still, meeting his gaze with a calm expression. I knew I should be terrified—after all, I had been taken against my will by this mysterious man—but strangely, fear wasn't what I felt. Instead, a confusing mix of emotions stirred within me, leaving me more puzzled than frightened. He stopped three feet away.

"You're asking me that," he said, his voice low as those blood-red eyes bore into mine, "after your mother punched me in front of everyone and humiliated me by walking away without so much as an apology?"

"I won't apologize either if that's why you took me," I said, my voice firmed. "My mother did nothing wrong. She warned you, but you didn't listen. Then you had the nerve to say something that set her off."

He smiled, closing his eyes briefly before opening them again. His expression shifted into something I couldn't quite describe. He looked... happy, but in a way that felt violent, unsettling. Oddly enough, it reminded me of the look my mother had during Frisu's birthday—when her temper flared.

"If you're just going to stand there and stare, I'll go back inside and pretend this never happened. Don't worry, I won't tell Mother about this. I promised tonight would be peaceful, and I intend to keep that promise," I said, turning on my heel and starting to walk away.

But as I did, a sudden shock surged through me, halting my steps and forcing me to stumble back.

I stood there, utterly confused. I tried to move forward again, my hand slightly outstretched, but the moment I did, another shock rippled through me. This time, I saw it—a strange energy, shimmering through the air, weaving its way around the garden, enclosing us in a circle.

"What's going on?" I muttered. This isn't good. Something was wrong.

"You're not going anywhere, little master," he said, his voice smooth, but edged with menace. "We're not done talking yet. It's quite rude to walk away from a guest, especially one you so conveniently forgot to invite."

I heard his footsteps brushing through the grass as he moved closer. Turning sharply, I faced him head-on.

"Is this your doing?" I asked, keeping my voice firm, though my heart raced. He stopped in his tracks, standing at the same distance as before, that unsettling smirk still on his face.

"It is," he replied, almost casually. "I'm not quite finished with our conversation. It's amusing, really, talking to a little man as though he were a full-grown adult."

"You..." I clenched my fists, frustration rising within me.

"Oh, I'm not concerned about you telling your mother," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "And why is that? It's simple, really. I'm not afraid of her. Keep that in mind, little master." His glare was sharp, his words as serious as they were deliberate.

"What do you want now? Why don't you just get to the point? This is getting annoying," I said, doing my best to stay calm. My mind raced, hoping Mother had already noticed my absence and started searching for me.

He let out a dark, satisfied chuckle. "Oh, I'm dragging it out on purpose. I find such satisfaction in the look on your face," he admitted, his voice unnervingly casual. "And just so you know, while we're here in your garden, we're invisible. It's as if we don't even exist in this space. That's the beauty of this electric dome I've created. Not even the most powerful being could see us—not with the naked eye."