Darkly, Yours

Chapter 9

Belle open her apartment door and step inside. She hang up her coat and put her shoes on the shoe rack. She yawn and stretch before reaching for the light switch. After three days of working almost nonstop, all she want is to sleep and forget everything and everyone.

"You look exhausted."

Belle scream in surprise and almost drop her phone. She scramble to get it before it hit the ground.

"Cassius you scare me!"

She pause for a while as everything started to settle in.

"You're back!"

She jump on him and he went tumbling down on her fuzzy couch.

"I take that as a good sign that you miss me."

"Yes!"

"I have something for you. Consider it a early birthday gift."

"How do you know my birthday is near?"

"I know everything."

Cassius reach over the side of the couch and pick up a small wrap gift.

"You don't have to get me anything."

"Open it."

Belle gently peel away the wrapping paper and gasp when she saw what Cassius got her. She burst our crying and Cassius start panicking.

"Honey what's wrong. Don't you like it?"

"I love it!"

He got her a rare, first-edition of French poet and writer, Baudelaire's "Les Fleurs du Mal" (The Flowers of Evil), beautifully bound in black leather with gold embossing.

"Talk to me. Why are you crying?"

"I've never gotten a gift before. I'm use to just being forgotten."

Cassius wipe her under eyes gently.

"I'm here to spoil you with all the gift you'll ever need."

She throw her arms around his neck. "You're so nice to me."

"You deserve the world my little Belle." He kiss her head and they stay on the couch until Belle fell asleep.

He smooth down the stubborn strands of hair on her head before getting up with her. He carry her to her bedroom and tuck her in. He place the book on her night stand and left to make a call.

The one man who he can trust to find any information he want.

Ryder Kim.

He grab his coats and leave the apartment. He didn't forget to close it. He's currently looking into an apartment for her cause he hate this place. She should be living in a place fit for a queen and not something for simple average people.

Cassius head home for a shower and something to eat before heading out again. Anyone who has heard of him knows anywhere he go there will be a blood bath.