Behind the Evil (Villain Series Book Two)

The Bad Decisions

Chapter Seven- The Bad Decisions

I knock on Duke’s door the next day, the sun is already up and the mansion is beginning to stir. The knob on the door turns and opens to reveal a fully clothed Duke. The sleep seems to have done him much good; he looks mentally better compared to yesterday.

Duke and I have breakfast quietly together; however I’m not bothered by the silence. When I couldn’t find words to comfort Duke yesterday I felt completely helpless and I struggled to think of something that could at least distract his mourning mind. Today is different though, Duke says he enjoyed the sleep and is very grateful for the funeral we did but apart from that we just enjoy our eggs and bacon.

When I finish and Duke is very close to finishing I ask, “Want to go for a walk?”

He swallows the last piece of bacon and smiles, “Sure.”

We freshen up quickly, brushing our teeth before rejoining. As we leave our rooms, everyone else is awake and eating breakfast. We say a quick hello to them before I begin my tour of the mansion.

Just like how I was when I first saw the mansion, Duke is awestruck. As my tour comes to a close, we walk out into the garden. I watch as Duke inspects some flowers. I like having him near; even though he is still grieving for his parents he doesn’t let it block his mind. He still enjoys the little things and I admire it. His caring, friendly and easily impressed personality is practically opposite to mine.

But I feel this stark difference is what I need. I don’t want him to leave, but I should take something from him and learn to not be selfish.

I approach Duke as he picks a midnight blue flower from the bush and holds it out to me. I frown at him, taking an instinctual step back. This only makes his smile widen and he grabs my hand, placing the flower in my palm.

I stare at the flower, he hadn’t said anything verbally but I felt as if we had had a conversation. Only, it’s a conversation I don’t understand. Why am I so terribly unsociable?

I look back up at Duke to see that he is once again looking at the different flowers. “Duke,” I begin, he turns to look at me, I struggle to find the right words and end up blurting out, “…You can leave if you want.”

The smile wipes off Duke’s face and he looks deep into my eyes, “After all that you’ve done for me and all that I have experienced… leaving you is the last thing I want to do.”

My heart tingles as for a moment I think he’s referring just to me. There’s no way that he would be though, I’m not really sure what Duke and I’s relationship is but the years of counting every relationship, excluding the ones of the people at the mansion,  as meaningless leads me to doubt he has any feelings for me.

I am about to say something else when I notice Valentine walking in our direction. His hands are clasped firmly together and his eyes study the ground as his mind is clouded with something else. He almost bumps into me and suddenly realises his surroundings, he whispers an apology and tries to escape. “Master, what’s wrong?” I ask, running around in front of him so he has to stop and look at me.

Valentine wipes his chin nervously with his mouth ajar; about to say something when he shakes his head, “It’s nothing.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Duke offers.

Valentine looks at us both with that caring expression of his, he sighs tiredly, “I’d rather you both just have a resting few days while Henry is still recovering.”

“It has already been a few days.” I pursue.

Valentine’s eyebrows come together as he thinks, “Oh I suppose it has… we’ll we’ve still got a at least a couple more days, go take a nap under a tree or something.”