STRANGULATE | Markicest

15 | PRYING

     Ten minutes later, Mark got out of the tub and dried himself off, dressing in the clothes that the Tear Stealer provided him. Mark tugged at the material, smelling of lush lavender.

     Dark turned around when he cleared his throat, eyes glimmering at the sight of the human. The satin, black night clothes gently hugged his frame, and he allowed a small smile.

     "Wonderful," said Dark softly, reaching over for his own garbs and clasping the black robes over his shoulders. "Those are yours."

     Mark ran his hand down the soft material, smiling. "Thank you."

     The Tear Stealer nodded, beckoning him to follow. They left the bath house, heading down the hallways. Mark gazed at every crevice and doorway, burning the images into his head.

     Dark chuckled, noticing the human's focused features. "If you're trying to memorize these halls," he said, "there's no point."

     He gazed down at Mark, whose eyes gleamed with surprise and confusion.

     "The house changes," he said. "It moves the hallways as it sees fit." Mark's brows furrowed, and Dark continued.

     "We've grown an attachment to our rooms," he tried to explain. "Like a signature. That's how we know where to go."

     "You guys don't get lost?"

     "Only new Evolveds who join us do," he said. Mark rose a brow at that. "Once they get adjusted, they know the way around."

     "What do you mean by that?"

     The Tear Stealer blinked for a moment, shocked that he didn't know.

     Right, he told himself. Humans don't know a thing of our endeavors.

     "We can talk about it another time," he said simply.

     Mark frowned at that but said nothing more, and they slowed down, reaching his dreadful room. His chest sank as Dark opened the door, accepting that he'd be prisoner here for as long as they saw fit.

    The Tear Stealer glanced into the room and frowned, remembering the state that Mark left it in. He glanced over at the human, lingering in thought, and closed the door.

    "Come," he said, and they continued down the hallways. Mark's brows furrowed, and after a while, they halted at another short hallway. Three doors echoed at them—two on the sides, and one in the very middle.

    Dark walked forward and opened the door in the middle, revealing a dimly-lit room—enormous and ornate. It was infinitely more spacious than Mark's previous room.

    "You can sleep in my room tonight," said the Tear Stealer, leading him into the bedroom. Mark blinked, surprised.

    "Your—this is your room?"

    He glanced around, noting the comfortable king-sized bed accented with navy blue sheets and pillows. In the corner, lit brighter than the rest of the room, stood a large desk littered with papers and pictures. The Tear Stealer walked over to the side of the bed and pulled back the covers, glancing up at Mark.

    Are we...?

    "I'll sleep somewhere else," he said, answering Mark's unspoken question. He exhaled in relief, earning a smirk. "Unless you want to sleep with me."

    "Oh, I—" Mark's cheeks flared with heat, and Dark chuckled, shaking his head.

    "I'm kidding," he said, approaching Mark. He grazed a hand up the human's arm, leaning down to whisper in his ear. "That doesn't mean you can escape, though." Mark tensed, swallowing, and Dark's lips brushed against his ear.