Chapter 59
"But you don't have to protect Morgan Vale's," Black Soul's PA interjected, her voice laced with concern.
"No, I have to because I need to win him over at all costs," Black Soul countered firmly, his gaze unwavering.
The PA frowned, considering his words carefully. "It seems like he and Annabelle Keys have joined hands after this incident," she observed, her tone tinged with apprehension.
"Joined hands?" Black Soul repeated incredulously, a smirk playing on his lips. "Trust me, that trust is going to break. Do you know why? It's because he despises her more than he despises me," he explained, his laughter ringing out through the room.
The PA looked at Black Soul, her expression a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. "How long do you think he can endure having his enemy by his side?" Black Soul continued, his voice dripping with confidence.
The PA was rendered speechless, unable to offer a response to Black Soul's probing question.
Meanwhile, in the midst of my restless slumber, I struggled to awaken. Annabelle's presence filled the room as she quietly entered, her eyes fixed on me as I tossed and turned in discomfort. With gentle hands, she reached out and brushed the sweat-soaked hair from my forehead, her touch cool against my feverish skin.
As I slowly blinked my eyes open, I found myself face to face with her, her gaze piercing and intense. A strange voice echoed in my head, resonating with an otherworldly presence. "This girl has finally brought you to me," it whispered, sending shivers down my spine.
Annabelle's eyes flashed crimson, a sinister glow illuminating her features as the voice persisted. "The scar on your hand, that brand---" Before I could react, her grip tightened around my neck, cutting off my breath. The voice echoed relentlessly, taunting me with its ominous message. "You can never run away from me."
Gritting my teeth, I fought against her vice-like hold, but a strange power seemed to weaken my efforts. The voice continued its haunting refrain, declaring that its curse had not yet been lifted. With a surge of anger, I summoned all my strength and forcefully tore her hand away from my throat. Pain coursed through me as I struggled to catch my breath, my face contorted with agony, veins protruding beneath my skin.
Suddenly, I jolted awake from the nightmare, my heart racing as I sat up in bed, gasping for air. Checking my neck instinctively, I found no physical marks, but the memory of the encounter lingered, leaving me shaken and bewildered. What kind of dream was this?
Meanwhile, David hurried to the kitchen upon hearing a commotion. His eyes widened as he saw Annabelle and Jade struggling to hold up a kitchen cupboard that threatened to collapse. They turned to him with sheepish smiles, Jade admitting, "I only opened it slightly."
David chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Slightly? And it fell off," he remarked, a hint of exasperation in his voice. Annabelle's smile was apologetic as David assessed the damage. "Gosh, I barely managed to fix it. Why did you touch it?" he asked, accepting the fallen plank from them.
"Here, let me show you," David offered, setting to work on repairing the cupboard. Jade sighed, casting a critical eye over their surroundings. "How can someone live here? Everything's broken, and there's no food," she remarked, her frustration evident.
"Tell me about it," Annabelle urged gently, her voice soft and reassuring.
David glanced at Jade, concern flickering in his eyes. "Are you hungry? Should I go out and buy some food? The store is quite far but---" His words were cut short by Annabelle's sudden interjection.
"Really?" she exclaimed eagerly, her eyes bright with anticipation. David nodded in response, and Annabelle wasted no time in offering to go in his place.
"Sure," David agreed with a smile, and Annabelle darted out the door without hesitation.
Curious, I followed her into the kitchen, where she was gathering her belongings. "Where are you going?" I inquired, my concern evident in my tone.
Annabelle turned to face me, her expression calm and collected. "Oh, I'm going to the grocery store. None of us have eaten," she explained matter-of-factly.
I glanced at Jade, who had taken refuge behind David, her expression unreadable. David caught my eye and gave a subtle nod of encouragement.
"It's too dangerous to go out. Wait," I said firmly, retrieving my cellphone and placing a call. "It's me. Where are you? I need you to run an errand."
A few minutes later, Elena arrived with a carton of foodstuffs, her expression concerned. "You make me deliver food now?" she chided playfully as she approached.
Annabelle, Jade, and David peeked down from the stairs, observing the exchange with interest. I explained the situation to Elena, emphasizing that I couldn't go out due to my injured leg.
Elena's worry was evident as she hurried to my side, inspecting my injury. "Is it bad? Let me see," she insisted, her voice tinged with concern.
"I'm okay," I reassured her, though her scolding reminder echoed in my ears. "I told you to be careful," she admonished, shaking her head in exasperation.
Taking the foodstuffs from Elena, I gestured towards the door. "Why are you coming in? Just leave it," I instructed, but Elena was undeterred.
"I'm going to eat here," she declared, her tone final as she made her way inside, leaving me to ponder the unexpected turn of events.
I smiled and followed Elena into the kitchen, where she set to work preparing the food. The aroma of barbecue filled the air as she expertly grilled the meat, her movements fluid and practiced. Sitting in a corner, I watched as she worked, curiosity piqued by the sudden feast she had brought.
"Are we having a party? Why did you bring meat?" I inquired, unable to contain my curiosity.
Elena chuckled as she flipped the meat on the grill. "Then what did you expect a butcher to bring?" she teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
David's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Gosh, you run a butcher shop?" he exclaimed, clearly taken aback by Elena's unexpected profession.
Elena glanced at him with a playful grin. "You're always welcome here," she replied warmly.
Turning to me with a mischievous glint in her eye, Elena asked, "Who is this sly boy?" David appeared bewildered by the question, insisting that no one had ever called him that before.
Annabelle and Jade shared a knowing smile as David continued, a hint of pride in his voice. "Right, I've been called a cool guy before. I am quite cool, aren't I?"
Elena merely watched him with amusement, her attention shifting to Jade. "Why aren't you eating? Here, it's perfectly cooked," she urged, placing a portion of meat on Jade's plate.
Jade accepted the offering with a quiet "thank you," but Elena's concern remained evident. "You didn't get hurt, right?" she pressed, her tone tinged with worry.
Jade met her gaze, her expression troubled. Elena's frustration bubbled to the surface as she exclaimed, "Why did you have to run away and cause this mess?" Jade remained speechless under Elena's scrutiny, prompting another impassioned plea. "Why did you do it?"
Annabelle and I exchanged glances, both curious about the unfolding drama. I turned to Jade, my expression questioning as she hesitantly explained, "I saw a photo of him."
Confusion clouded my mind as I turned to Elena, seeking clarification. "What photo?" I inquired, but Elena's response was hesitant, stuttering as she dismissed it as nothing.
Annabelle sensed the tension and intervened, her voice gentle as she addressed Jade. "What is it?" she asked softly, prompting Jade to smile in response.
Elena and Annabelle's eyes met, and a flicker of recognition passed between them. "Hello, we met at the mountain, right? I'm Annabelle Keys," Annabelle greeted warmly, attempting to ease the tension.
Elena couldn't meet Annabelle's gaze, her guilt evident as Annabelle cheerfully offered to take over the cooking duties. "I'll cook the meat," she announced, her tone lighthearted.
Elena's expression softened, her guilt melting away as she handed the cutter and picker to Annabelle with a gentle smile. "Sure, will you?" she replied, a sense of relief washing over her.