Lethal Lilac

CHAPTER 13

Echoes In The Silence

The sound of Grant’s footsteps echoed against the grand marble floors as he carried me down the corridor.

I remained still in his arms, my breath uneven, though I fought to keep my expression blank. The air around us felt charged, heavy with something I couldn’t quite name.

Mga mata ko'y nagsimula ng gumala-gala sa kahit saang direksiyon, hoping to find answers of where'd this guy would take me?

Grant stopped in front of one of the mansion’s many unused rooms, his hand pushing open the heavy door with ease.

Akala ko ibababa na niya ako, but my numbness was slightly shaken as he continued to move forward, not letting me go. Instead, he carried me inside like I weighed nothing, his grip firm but careful, as if he was holding something fragile.

“Stay here,” he commanded as he set me down gently on the velvet armchair near the fireplace.

The room was dimly lit, with only a faint glow from the morning sun filtering through the heavy curtains. His dark eyes lingered on me, scanning my face as if searching for something.

“Why?” tanong ko dito, voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t answer immediately. Kaya’t tumikhim ako, hoping to elicit some response from him. For a moment, I unknowingly wished for a serious response from him, when I, myself wouldn't answer him seriously in a serious situation too.

Grant who's now looking stern, provided me, no clear and direct response. Instead, he removed his anti-rad glasses, placing them on the table beside me. His gaze, now unfiltered, felt heavier, more intense.

“Because you don’t listen,” he finally said, his tone low and firm.

I turned my head away, my hands gripping the edges of the armchair. “I didn’t know wandering around was a crime.”

He leaned closer, his hands resting on the armrests of the chair, trapping me in place. His cologne—woodsy and sharp—was overwhelming, making it hard to focus.

“It is when it’s dangerous,” he replied. His voice softened, but his proximity only made the tension between us grow.

At sa sandaling iyon, silence stretched between us. I could feel his gaze tracing the curve of my jaw, the line of my neck. I tried to maintain my composure, but the rapid beat of my heart betrayed me.

“I don’t understand you,” I uttered blankly.

“Good,” he said, his lips curving into a faint, almost teasing smile. “You’re not supposed to.”

Before I could respond, he straightened, the warmth of his presence retreating as quickly as it had come.

“You’ll stay here until I return,” he said, his tone reverting to the cold authority I was beginning to associate with him.

He started toward the door, but I suddenly remembered something that had been bothering me.

“That book,” I said flatly.

He froze mid-step but didn’t look back.

“The black leather one,” I continued, my voice devoid of curiosity. “The one with blank pages. What is it for?”

The silence stretched unbearably, his back still turned to me.

“Grant?”

Still, no response. His hand tightened slightly on the doorknob, but he remained quiet, his aura unreadable.

I lowered my gaze to my hands, my fingers idly brushing against the soft fabric of the chair. I didn’t push further; his silence was answer enough.

Just as he opened the door to leave, I spoke again, my voice soft but clear, the words tumbling out without thought.

“Anastascio.”

He stopped instantly. The air in the room shifted, growing colder, heavier. His hand gripped the doorknob tightly, his knuckles turning white.

“Where did you hear that name?” tanong nito, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

I stared at his rigid back, my face blank but my mind spinning. “I don’t know,” pag-aamin ko.

Grant turned his head slightly, the sharp edge of his profile visible for only a second before he straightened again.

“Why am I here?” tanong ko ulit sakaniya.

Grant looked at the side, revealing his side profile, that I didn't care, at sinabing, “Para ilayo ka sa piste—peste”  and without another word, he chuckled in his deep voice and walked out, the door closing softly behind him.

And I was left alone, the echoes of his presence lingering like shadows in the dim room.