Kill for Me

Chapter Eight: A Bolt from the Blue

Luckily, it was Saturday. That meant that Ella could spend the day relaxing, though, she wasn't sure how relaxed she was going to be now that she was with Jumin. The ride back to the penthouse had been silent, but the moment they were alone, Jumin began talking to her.

"I thought that we could open a bottle of wine and relax on the couch today," Jumin told her.

"That sounds perfect," Ella agreed.

"If you need a book to read, there are plenty on my shelf."

"I brought one," she assured him. In fact, she brought two if you counted the journal stashed at the bottom of her bag. She debated telling him about it but became distracted when she heard Elizabeth meowing from inside the cage.

"Can I let her out?" she asked Jumin. He nodded his head and went over to the cage.

"I'll show you how to do it." He demonstrated how to open the cage, which wasn't as easy as Ella had first imagined. The lock was rather complex and he even had a special key for it. He wasn't kidding when he said that he was going to tighten the security for her in the chat.

"I'd like to take you shopping tomorrow," Jumin said as he looked absently passed Elizabeth. "A princess deserves to have the best."

P-Princess?! Ella stared at him, trying to figure out if he was playing with her or not. Then again, he was Jumin Han. There was no way that he would joke with her like that.

"You don't have to do that for me," she assured him.

"I want to," he said without meeting her gaze.

Now that she was looking at him, she noticed that he wasn't wearing his usual clothing. He had on a white collared shirt and black pants, but they weren't his standard work clothes. Compared to those, he looked casual. No, Ella corrected herself. Comfortable.

He wandered over towards the couch and sat down. Elizabeth followed him and perched on the armrest, curling up into a ball and falling asleep. Ella reached into her bag and pulled out the book that she had been reading about the Knights Templar and brought it over to the couch. She was careful to leave space between her and Jumin. Getting comfortable by curling her legs under her, she opened the book and began reading.

Even though Ella had had a good night's sleep, thanks to Jumin's calming voice, her eyelids starting drooping. She didn't know how long they had been reading together, but eventually, she dozed off.

"Ella, wake up," the voice called to her. Ella opened her eyes only to be greeted by darkness. She couldn't see around her. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest and her hands shook with terror.

"You've disappointed me, Ella." The sinister voice told her. "I thought you would have done much better than that. You will have to be punished."

Ella moaned in her sleep, tears streaming from her face. Strong hands gripped her shoulders, shaking her.

"No!" Ella moaned. "Get away from me!" she shouted.

"Ella!" the voice screamed at her. "Wake up! Ella!"

Ella heard whispers in her ears. Like people were talking about her behind her back as she passed them. She walked down the hallways of schools, university, even work, only to have everyone's eyes burning into her back. Their whispers could be heard over the loud sound of air rushing in her ears, even over the loud thumping from her heart.