The Hybrid's Assassin

Sixteen

My bare feet had long gone numb, nestled in crispy nests of ice, before I became aware of the presence that had took its place behind me. How long he had been there, I was unsure. I let out a shaky breath, the air condensing in front of my face in a small dragon puff.

"I missed the fresh air," I whispered, my voice pained and hollow with strain.

"I know... I know." Domitius slowly moved to stand beside me, his boots crunching in the snow.

Together we looked out at the beautifully white field in front of us, my eyes quickly ran over the familiar sight of the snow-laden trees. I had memorised every individual shape of the tree line, but the smell of the pines fresh in the chilled breeze was a truly invigorating experience.

"Would you mind, if I... placed my hand on your back?"

His words cut through the bitterly cold air as a sharp surprise. I swallowed, and slowly nodded, opening the pathway for this simple motion that I knew meant so much.

He softly placed his hand across the middle of my back, and cautiously begun to move his fingers and palm back and forward, rubbing faint circles across my spine and the bottom of my shoulder blades which felt so much sharper and exposed than I remembered them being. I swallowed back tears, anger towards my self rushing into the forefront of my mind.

"I'm sorry." His words were sweet and delicate, light but serious. "I'm sorry that I turned your life upside down, that I kept you as the equivalent of a prisoner, that I failed to grant you a choice and your own independence. I failed you. I was selfish and arrogant, when you deserved nothing but thoughtfulness and consideration."

The corners of my lips twitched up into a half smile, the movement of his hand on my back sending out warm sparks that flooded into my chest, making me feel lighter and clearing my mind. "Thank you, I only ever valued my freedom. I hope we can come to agree on that."

From the corner of my eye, I saw him slowly nod. "I understand that, and I'd like to discuss it."

"Great."

"Great."

The air between the two of us fell silent, my gaze fell down to my feet, cold and white, bare in the snow. The chill was beginning to make its ways into my bones, my brain finally processing just how freezing the temperature actually was.

I turned to look behind me, at the open door that led into the warm foyer, and found the offer too tempting to refuse. I turned on my heel, my feet cold and numb, and slowly begun to walk up the steps.

I could feel the presence of Domitius moving behind me, slow and careful, but present.

"You know, there are plenty of Christmas socks being given out currently, I feel like you might need a pair to recover from that barefoot endeavour," he quietly chuckled to himself.

"Christmas socks?" I turned to look at him, puzzled, my feet stopping on the heated flooring just inside the door.

"Yes, Christmas socks." He looked down at my feet before raising his eyes to look into mine, a small smile crinkling his cheeks into gorgeous dimples. "Tomorrow is Christmas, the whole community is invited to attend a town festival, and the socks are mandatory. That means you have no choice."

A smirk slowly cut its way across my face, my worries disappearing and replaced by the concept of some tacky, festive socks. I couldn't help but to see the humour in the situation. "And what if I don't go to the festival? That means no socks right?"

He shrugged, stepping past me into the warmth of the foyer, "true, but that also means no turkey, or buttered roast potatoes, or cake-" 

On cue my stomach let out a loud grumble, seemingly awake for the first time in weeks. "That could be convincing," I whispered, before letting out a loud, hearty laugh. It felt good to smile, it felt good to laugh and experience feelings, instead of wasting away in a stale room.

"So does that mean yes to the socks?" Domitius reached over me, pulling the door closed, his arm brushing around my shoulders.

"Perhaps, although I don't know why you even bother celebrating the holiday, it's not like it's based on anything real."

He shrugged, looking off towards a distant wall. "Perhaps Jesus didn't exist, maybe he did. Who am I to say? I can't deny the existence of gods, or other realms, as I myself am a reminder of their existence. Perhaps the thought of a Jesus in comforting. To me, anyway, to know there is another non-human being who was born on this world, who didn't fit in. Who people both praised and feared. I like the idea of not being alone, even if they did end up killing him for the so called powers he had."

My mind briefly flickered to the tragic story that Antonia Milania had shared with me about the ending both of Domitius' parents had met. Her views on the origin of him, and the presence of seperate worlds of multiple different beings. "Ya know, you're basically an alien."

Domitius shrugged, turning his piercing eyes back to my face. "I guess a scientist would prefer that term, I however don't find it fitting, especially when considering how much humankind has left to learn about the actual structure of the galaxy itself. I'm presuming Antonia told you?"

I nodded, swallowing heavily. "She did briefly go into the topic, yes."

He looked down, seeming unsure, like he was on the verge of asking something but still considering whether or not it should be heard. "Would you like to... accompany me to the kitchen? I'm sure we can continue this conversation, I also think it's only fair that we discuss your return to the real world, if that's what you'd still like."

The air left my lungs, "you'd actually let me go, back out as an independent person?"

He begun to slowly walk, motioning for me to follow. "I think it's best for your happiness, and your health. I don't want you to feel constricted, I just want you to be able to bloom to your full potential. I know that we've never seen eye to eye, nor have you let me get to know you. I know you don't want to be here. I'm tired of being a selfish prick."

I let out a silent exhale, unsure of whether to feel excited or disappointed. Freedom seemed so exciting, but I honestly had no clue what life would hold for me, what role I would have to play in the outside world now that my brother was dead and the status of the business was unknown. "I would really like to talk about that, yes, I think that might be a good idea."

Domitius paused to open a door, turning to grin at me. "Excellent. Let's discuss it over some warm food."

I smiled. "Sure, I think that's a good plan. I've never actually celebrated Christmas before either, I'd love to wait and stay here for the Holliday season as well if that's okay?"

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Hi, I don't know who's still here, I don't know how many newcomers there are, but one thing is for certain, I think it is obvious that I haven't updated in a very, very, VERY long time. I'm very sorry for this, and I'm also very grateful for everyone who has had so much faith. I honestly haven't really been on Wattpad since high school, and I guess I forgot how truly wonderful it felt to write and experience such an amazing community. I am now in university and am so shocked at how much attention my book has received, it felt like I owed this chapter to everyone here.

Thank you so much, I am feeling inspired, and in a better place mentally, and I wish I could more greatly express my gratitude for all the comments I've received from people. I am appreciative of all the love, reading some of your comments honestly made me cry. Enjoy your day/night lovelies x