The Queen of the Underworld

Chapter 12

"Why aren't you in bed?" The Devil asked quietly before sitting next to me on the sofa. He closed his eyes and relaxed as if he'd fall asleep here. When I didn't answer, he glanced over at me. I gripped my knees to my chest tighter at the look he was giving me. "You don't have to go to school tomorrow," He watched me. "Also, you were right. We confirmed that the shot was intentional and that the windows were shot from the outside." That didn't make me feel any better. "Did you video chat with the boys?"

"Yeah," I looked at the coffee table instead of his face. "They wanted to watch a movie with me today, but they said it was okay to go home instead of going to Chance's new place. We still watched a movie together, just in a different way than normal."

"You keep saying home," He seemed happy. I could feel my face heat up at his observation. 

"Goodnight," I said quickly, standing up to leave. He grabbed my hand gently, stopping me from passing him. I felt him turn me to face him as he looked up at me from the couch, and he didn't move his hands. 

"Did you stay up late to make sure I made it back okay?" His gaze was intense. 

"Goodnight," I mumbled and tried to move, but he wouldn't let me. His gentle grip was iron-strong. I could feel my heart rate picking up. He looked at me, waiting for a reply. After about a minute, I caved. "Y-Yeah," I gripped the bottom of my shirt tightly. "I kept thinking about how they were probably watching or waiting. I was relieved to see you there, but it turned into fear." What am I saying? This can't actually be how I feel, right?

"You were scared I'd get hurt?" He seemed shocked as he spoke. That made me want to run away even more. I immediately went down a rabbit hole of thoughts that I tried so hard not to let consume me. 

"Goodnight," I said, slightly panicking. He wouldn't let me leave, he wasn't hurting me, but he wasn't budging. 

"What if I told you that's how I feel every day when you leave." I paused and tried to understand what he really meant. "Even before you started living with me," He put both of his hands on my hips, keeping me stationary. "I worried from the time I got up to the time I went to bed. I was worried about you getting in trouble or hurt. I was worried about if you were okay. I was worried that you would disappear on me." His eyes shifted emotions. "You're not the only one who is worried, Akira." He and I made eye contact, making me freeze. What was this? I feel like this is too intimate. I want to panic, but I feel like my body and mind are frozen.

"I'm the last person to get hurt," I said quietly, shocking myself. "You all needed footage and an investigation to discover what I did in five minutes. I'm the person who was always saving Rio and Kei from being annihilated in fights, Chance too. I'm the one who moved Kei because I had a gut feeling." Maybe I'm being too cocky. "I'll always be fine. It's everyone else that I get scared for."