19. There's always a problem Part 2

I moved through the upper floor, which is my new lodgings. Despite having my own room a couple of floors down, the guys had prepared a new bedroom on the same floor as theirs, which is vast. It takes up the entire upper floor of the building like a penthouse.

“Where are you heading to?” I jumped in fright at Callisto’s sudden voice.

I rested my hand on my chest. “Water. I mean I’m thirsty.”

He extended his arm in a gesture that he wanted to guide me.

We walked to the kitchen in silence. There were many things I wanted to ask him about but I had no idea where to start from.

Today I heard so many things that it felt that it was too much for me. I wasn’t part of this world, their world. All I wanted was…

What do I want now?

“Yophiel.” My eyes darted to Callisto, who was handing me a glass of water.

I took it with a grateful thank you.

“You seem distracted. What’s on your mind?” he asked, leaning across the granite table. “You know you can talk to me about anything.”

Anything.

There was that word again that had my mind swirling with questions. And I had many that were of importance. So I picked one that was on my mind and threw it to him.

“How many compounds do you have?”

Callisto arched his brow. His almond eyes were darkening, I knew he wasn’t going to like my questions.

Sighing, he closed his eyes, then opened them. They were back to normal.

“I have 60 compounds, the largest ones on the continent. Hector owns 30, Seth 33, Darcy 48, and Adonis 60.”

“You and Adonis own the most,” I said, pulling a stool closer. Now I was interested in knowing more about them. “I mean I understand you have the most since you’re the leader but Adonis matches you, why is that?”

“You know what his power is right?”

I think back to what I barely know of them, then nod. “Time?”

“Any idea how that works?” he asked. I shook my head because I really had no idea.

Callisto rounded the table and picked me up in his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck, embarrassed by the sudden intrusion of space.

“You should stop doing that,” I grumbled shyly.

“Does everything I do bother you?”

My fingers clutch tightly around him. That question made my chest ache. I forced myself to lift my head.

“It’s not that.” My voice came out like a whisper.

“Then don’t push me away.”

It took everything in me not to push him in a literal way. If he only knew the reason, he might think I was an idiot.

“Where are we going?” I asked as he stopped at the kitchen entrance.

“My room. So, hold tight, we will fade.”

My heart kicks up inside me, as the memory of how it feels makes me excited. I nod once and then we are gone.

I couldn’t help the excited laugh that left my mouth as we reappeared in his room.

“I like this!” I said out loud.

I got down to my feet and nearly landed on my ass. Everything around me spun.

“Easy, take a moment to get used to your surroundings,” Callisto keeps me at arm’s length. I laughed again.

“So why are we here?” the question made Callisto smile.

“You wanted to talk, let’s do it here.”

“Why?” I followed him to the armchairs he didn’t have last time.

I scanned the room, there was new stuff added to the once empty and cold room. New coffee tables, chairs, curtains, a vanity table, a new bed frame, wall art, even a TV.

“You redecorated your room.” I can’t help commenting.

“Since you will be staying here, I thought it was best to add something extra for your own needs.” Now it’s my turn to arch my brow questioningly.

What does me being here having to do with his room?

He must have sensed my confusion because he quickly gets to explain how I can end up in any room, any time. It still made no sense; I had my own bedroom. They all made sure to arrange it for me. Like literally, each of them gave their opinion on my bedroom’s decoration. Starting with the black furniture, I know Adonis had something to do with it.

I just sighed, then got comfy under the blanket that was on the armchair.

“Now tell me what else would you like to know?” Callisto asked.

“You didn’t finish explaining what Adonis can do.”

“Adonis can control time; he can pause it for how long he wants and do many things in what would seem like an hour in five minutes. It’s not a power like the one Seth wields or I have, it works differently. Don’t worry, you will learn more about it with Seth and Darcy. Even Adonis can give you a better insight into the compounds.”

That was the end to that question. Clearing my throat, I leaned over.

“I have another question. Well, it has to do with my father.” I licked my lips. “My father seemed angry when he saw me last time. He said you were not taking care of me. What did he mean by that?”

He leans forward and props his forearms on his knees.

The sun had set, leaving stains of orange and pink in the sky that now bathed Callisto’s face. I stared at his beauty. Beauty that I envy.

I cleared my throat aware his eyes were fixated on me.

“As you know, your father was part of the experiment. He knows what I was at that time, so he must have expected that by now I had turned you into one of us against your consent. You must understand Yophiel, I will never do such a thing,” Callisto leaned back in his chair. There was something dark that crossed his pale face but it quickly disappeared.

Maybe I imagined it.

“You don’t have to worry about it, Phi. I won’t force you to do something you don’t want to. I’m not that heartless.”

I can’t help smiling. Adonis said something similar before.

“Talking about that. What did Darcy mean by phase two?”

A floating light suddenly exploded, taking me by surprise. The room dropped to freezing cold so I had no choice but to wrap the blanket around me tightly.

“Don’t worry about that,” Callisto hissed.

Oh, he was not going to do that.

“Cut it!” I snapped, feeling the string that connects us inside shift. His emotions were all over the place. “Don’t try to tell me to forget about it. I ask you a question. Now answer it, Callisto.”

Between one breath and the next, the emotions inside me change so abruptly I’m left feeling sick from my stomach.

His expression is downright furious. His fangs had lengthened to his chin and his nails dug into the arm rest.

I started to argue, but what’s the point?

A few blinks and I’m in tears. Hating how he makes me feel.

Something like shock crosses his face, which is then replaced by sadness. His expression is so vulnerable I start sobbing, unable to keep up.

Callisto kneels near me. He hesitates before reaching for me and hugging me.

“I’m sorry,” he chokes. “I’m so sorry Phi. It’s my fault.”

He doesn’t stop repeating the words until I finally stop crying. Sniffling, I wipe my face using the blanket.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I have to learn how to control this and not affect you.”

“I can’t control mine either.”

His lips curved into a smile.

“What?” I choked, still feeling like shit. His face leans closer until our foreheads are touching.

Warmth spreads through me. I was delighted about it. Then I did the same at which Callisto smiled. It’s such an intimate moment from the one a second ago that I can’t help leaning closer.

“We are such a mess,” I whispered, making him chuckle.

“We definitely are.”

Our eyes meet as his hand rests on my cheek. He trails his thumb down my jaw until it’s under my chin.

“Callisto,” his name is a whisper on my lips. That’s when he moves and claims my mouth.

The feeling was so strong that he pulled me out of the chair and to the bed. He’s between my thighs, grinding his cock against my pussy.

I gasped.

A need I didn’t know I wanted quickly spread through my body, lighting it on fire. I couldn’t stop, I rolled my hips to meet him.

He strokes a hand down my body and I go still against him. Callisto lifts his head.

“Phi?”

One.

Two.

In a panic, I do the only thing and scramble away from him until I feel the headboard on my back.

His eyes are entirely black like the sky outside the windows.

“Yophiel,” he reaches, and I enter in a panic attack. My arms wrap around me in a protective way.

He slumps forward, confused with this change.

I pull my legs to my chest, close my eyes, and start counting.

“Yophiel, what’s wrong?” he asked, but I couldn’t even open my mouth.

Callisto sits back on his heels and drags his hand through his hair. I was causing him concern.

“Please tell me what’s wrong. Did I do something?” he asked again, but I remained quiet.

I meet his gaze when I feel like throwing up.

I blink, pushing the nausea down.

Impossible. My body moves on its own, barely reaching the bathroom and the faucet on time.

“Yophiel,” Callisto is behind me, holding my hair. Once I’m done, he helps me clean up.

His hands move to my hips, turning me slowly.

“Talk to me Yophiel.” His hands tightened on my hips. “Talk to me, or I’ll call Darcy.”

I shook my head. “No,” I gruffly spoke. “I just, give me a moment.”

A couple of breaths later, I’m feeling better. The nausea is gone and only my hands remain with a small tremble.

Callisto notices it and pulls me closer to him. He hugs me tight, soothing my back until I stop shaking. He picks me up and brings me back to bed.

I sprawled over it; conscious he was studying me. His eyes focused on my face.

“Can you tell me now what happened?”

“I…”

“Do you want me to call someone else over? Hector or Adonis?”

That surprises me. Why is he being so flexible now?

“You don’t mind?” I asked. He shakes his head with a smile.

“We all belong to you, Yophiel. Sometimes it won’t be me who you need, and I understand that. So, if you want someone else here, I can call them over. I don’t mind.”

“You’re not going to get jealous?” I smiled.

He laughed, literally laughed at me.

“I will always be jealous but, if we are going to share you, I need to make some adjustments, give in to some things, right?” he leans and kisses my forehead.

That’s when a thought crosses my head.

“Phase two is sex.”

The shock in his face burst me into laughter. It was so not Callisto I can’t help laughing hard.

It seemed I needed this to happen to feel comfortable around him.

“So you guessed it,” he shakes his head. “But yes, it’s sex, and not with just one of us,” Callisto leans closer to my face. His eyes slowly drifted to my lips.

I gulped, feeling my body turn hot again. “Not one?”

“No,” he whispered, then claims my mouth slowly. “Unless you want to.”

I surrender to his kiss but there it is again. That nudge on my mind made it impossible to give myself to him.

Callisto’s exasperating sigh makes me cringe.

“I’m sorry,” I awkwardly apologized.

“If you don’t want me to touch you, you can tell me, Phi.”

My stupid thoughts were the problem. It didn’t happen before, so why now?

I sat up, ran my hand over my face. “I really am sorry. I’m just feeling too conscious.”

“About what?” He sits back, hand stroking my thigh. “Tell me so I can understand. Maybe we can work this out together.”

I looked away.

“It’s me.”

Callisto’s brows furrowed.

It took a moment for him to sigh again. I don’t blame him; I am making things hard for him right now.

Nothing is easy when it comes to me.

Thinking about making things easier, I got off the bed and walked over to the only mirror in the room.

It covered the entire wall that was in front of the bed near the T.V.

I stopped right in front of it, then slowly placed my hand over my own reflection. The cold glass sent a shiver all over my body.

Callisto was behind me, standing three feet away. He respected my space, to which I was thankful.

“This will sound absurd, but as you know, I’m too conscious of my looks. And just now the thought of you seeing me naked crossed my mind and I hated it. I’m ugly Callisto. And without this,” I waved my hands over my clothes. “I’m a monster, an ugly duckling.”

Callisto hasn’t said anything for a long time. It even had me thinking he finds this stupid to the point he prefers not to comment.

It was both good and bad, but I wanted to hear his opinion though.

I was waiting for his words that would tell me otherwise but he kept his stony face with not a single emotion.

He wasn’t even blinking.

A lump formed in my throat, suffocating me. I was having another panic attack.

Desperate to get away, I turned, and ran to the door. But as I placed my hand over it, Callisto’s own hand wrapped around mine, stopping me.

I could hear my own breathing. I could even feel the coldness from his body pressed behind me.

Although nothing beats on his chest, I can still feel him through our connection.

“You are beautiful,” he whispered, caging me like a sandwich between the door and his body. “The most beautiful one in the world.”

I gulped the lump, and slowly turned around. “Don’t lie to me,” I choked.

He leans but not before bringing my hand to his lips and kissing it. Then he looks up and I swear his gaze burns.

Burns away all my insecurities.

“I know you might feel like you’re not perfect, Yophiel, but this,” he leans and kisses my scarred face where I know it looks the most awful. “This is what I like. These imperfections are what make you human. And I would never change anything.”

My heart swells at his words.

“So please don’t hide from me. Don’t be afraid and embrace those flaws, because I promise to remind you every time you feel afraid. You are perfectly imperfect. My one and only imperfection.”