Inside the Shadow

Chapter Twenty-three: The ransom note - POV Erin

       'You shouldn't trust me.' What Fatima had written was concerning, as if she were planning something, and I was plenty sure that Fatima and Jax both knew I was here and could assume we were connected to Zach, too. Honestly, I feared Jax would come after me again. But seeing how respected my father and I were, I felt protected. Mairi and I had never left the house without being accompanied by Lial at the very least, my mind continued to wander as I was preparing for dinner with Mairi and my father. Devino had mentioned that there was a suit already prepared for me to wear, even though you could tell it was homemade due to the slight displacement of the hand-finished buttonholes. It was still high-class. The fabric was similar to wool or polyester, and very durable. It was mostly a gentle black, as it held the same deep shade of blue that I loved in the buttons and cuffs, which were some sort of winged insect, similar to a dragonfly, along with a blue handkerchief in my chest pocket to match. With my hair done and my hygiene routine finished, I was eager to meet Mairi and my father for dinner on the 5th floor, where my father lived.

        Exiting my room, I was greeted by Diveno, who explained that, seeing as it was our fifth day in Ember Hallow, my father had requested that Mairi and I accompany him for a night out. Inspired by our adventurous morning, to my surprise. Apparently, my father had nightlife and was well-versed in the whole Horeca Sector, including one of the most highly respected restaurants. Of course, I easily accepted, for I had felt a bit overdressed for an evening at home, and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to get out of this house. Diveno proceeded, and my father and Mairi had already been waiting for us, so we could all enter together to go to the first floor. The moment I saw Mairi, I was mesmerized by how lovely and grandeur her appearance was. Her gown alone was breathtaking and fit her like a glove in all the perfect ways. As I met her glowy expression, her smile reached her eyes as she saw my new bespoke suit. I could feel my stomach churn but in a more butterflies' type of way. The shade of blue in her dress matched the handkerchief in my chest pocket. As well as the jewelry set, she wore something that beautifully matched the butterfly insect-like things that were my cuffs. Her dress also bore the same creature to match. The blue being my complete favorite made me feel quite important, A grand gesture to show her love for me, perhaps. I hoped.

        "Mairi... I'm speechless. You're breathtaking. And your gown. I've never seen anything like it..." I truly didn't know how to react, for she had never been more beautiful than she was right then. Reaching for her hand, which I placed a kiss on, she responded, showing me how she truly felt. "Do you love it? I got it to go with my new set..." She paused to show off her jewelry that I already noticed had matched perfectly with my attire as if it had been specifically selected for the occasion, but by who? "You wear it like no other, the way my shade of blue dances against your glowy complexion, just another reason why I loved it so much. Speaking, while admiring her figure, before I did her lovely matching eye makeup that made her Hazel eyes pop, drawing me in. Her expression led me to see that she was blushing. As she turned away, I still held onto her hand. We all proceeded to finally exit the elevator, where we were greeted by one of my father's drivers, already there with a familiar vehicle. One where our seats faced out the side of the window, so we saw everything that we drove next to easily. "Want me to help you?" I offered, seeing as it was just the chauffeur and us on this trip, so Mairi was sort of on her own. "How chivalrous." was all she replied. Yet her ear-to-ear grin told me everything, and I was filled with delight, for she was easily pleased. Once I had buckled her chair securely, she thanked me before I took my seat between her and my father as we were getting ready to take off.

      "I was waiting to ask, but how was the trip you guys took to town today?" Only about five minutes in, my father apparently could not hold back, sparking up a welcome conversation. Even though my father had left my mother and me, I was grateful for all he had done now. And besides, after the period of the last five days, we both had grown pretty close, and he seemed quite remorseful for not being there for us when I was young, and when Jax had brutally taken my mom's life before my own eyes. "I had such a great time. I found these jewels and thought of Erin." She paused, gripping my hand as we made eye contact, my stomach warming, almost as if I had butterflies again. "And then the gown that Noorveda found at the shop to match, whatever she gets paid isn't enough!" Seeing how much thought was put into her attire and how much joy her experience still gave her allowed me to delve into my infatuation with her. She was overly excited and bubbly, when normally she was quite standoffish, showing she was beginning to open up and be more comfortable, which made me glad. I had been worried she was feeling forced to be here with me. And she was trying to make the best of it, but her reaction showed quite the opposite.