Chapter 58 Underworld!
|| Author POV ||
The night was silent.
Rosa tiptoed into the grand library of his mansion. Her eyes were wide with wonder. The room felt ancient and majestic. The towering shelves reaching all the way to the ceiling like giants.
Rosa wandered around softly, lips parted as she gazed at the endless rows of books. She had never stepped foot in this library before.
Stopping in front of a shelf, she peeked. One book caught her eye. A dark cover with faded gold letters. She quietly pulled it out.
“Underworld?”
Rosa whispered the book name, tilting her head with a small pout. She had never heard that word before.
Killian entered the library, his eyes instantly catching the tiny figure near the shelf. Her back to him, head slightly tilted down as she curiously looked down onto something.
Killian rolled his tongue, eyes darkening with hunger as he walked closer. His shadow swallowed her small frame darkly. His hand snaked around her waist and fingers slipped under her top.
He felt Rosa flinch sharply and a small involuntary jerk of her body. “Quiet.” he murmured lowly.
Rosa’s fist clenched the book tighter. Killian’s hand moved further beneath her top. The icy brush of his fingertips against her belly sent goosebumps all over her body.
She dared to glance over her shoulder. His eyes which were dark, intense and almost divine in hunger locked onto hers. The piercing on his eyebrows made him look so dangerous. Rosa’s lips pressed together, breath hitching.
Her body shrank closer to him when his teeth grazed softly over her earlobe. A bite so gentle it sent a shiver down her spine.
His fingers dragged sensually beneath the fabric of her top, exploring.
Rosa’s eyes dropped, catching the subtle movement of his hand slipping beneath her top. Her breath faltered nervously.
Since that intimate night on Velaris Island, they’d only kissed and his touch on her skin now sent a jolt of nervousness again.
Rosa bit her lip, biting back a tremble when his fingers pulled the middle part of her bra. The book in her trembling hand threatened to slip.
“You’re b-back... Ah!”
Her breath broke raggedly as Killian yanked her back against him, his fingers clenching the fabric over her breast possessively.
Rosa bit her quivering lip to hold back a whimper and he just tightened his grip.
Her head fell back against his solid chest, breaths shaky and quick. Killian didn’t stop. His posture was straight like a tower, his hand squeezed her gently yet possessively.
“Mmhm—”
Her knees trembled, breath hitching as his fingers pressed harder, massaging through the thin fabric until he slid the pad of her bra up, freeing her breast under the top.
Rosa gulped when his hands cupped her small boobs, her nipples slipping between the gap of his large fingers, slowly rubbing it.
She bit her lip hard, shaking, eyes fixed on the movements beneath her thin top. His hands were molding her like a sculptor shaping something delicate.
“Soft.” Killian breathed out in a rough voice “Stay still, my submissive bunny.”
Killian pressed his cheek to hers, lips brushing slowly over her flushed skin, planting soft teasing kisses on her warm cheeks.
Though he couldn’t see her face from behind, he felt the quickening of her breath. She sure was blushing.
“Ah!”
Killian’s grip tightened, fingers digging deeper into the curve of her breasts and coaxing low desperate moans from her lips. Rosa’s head threw back again.
Killian was sure that her milky chest was reddened from his touch by now. She’s sensitive to even touch.
A low chuckle slipped from his lips as he drew a slow breath. His hands greedily continued to play with her chest. Just as Killian moved to lift her top, his gaze landed on the book clutched in her hand and his eyes darkened.
His grip loosened and he withdrew his hands before gently pulling down her bra, settling it back in place.
“Why are you holding this book?” Killian asked in a deep tone, turning her slightly.
Rosa looked down at the book confusedly. “O-oh this... I-I found it here.”
She explained carefully but couldn’t catch the darkening flicker in his eyes.
“Give it here.” Killian said quietly, reaching for the book. “Maybe you put it in the wrong section.”
Rosa watched silently as he took the book from her hands before placing it high on a shelf well out of her reach.
She said nothing. Her eyes followed his hands.
“Wh-what is underworld?” Rosa asked softly, her eyes meeting his with full of curiosity.
For a second, chills ran through her body. His gaze had turned cold and distant. The same cold professor she used to fear.
“Nothing a kid should know.” Killian replied flatly without any emotions.
Rosa’s lips parted slightly but no words came out. Her eyes dropped with a hint of fear in them.
Why shouldn’t she know that?
Rosa hesitated, then asked, “Why did you...” she paused “Aria saw th-that.”
Killian looked down at her sharply. His jaw tightened. His teeth pressed together. She had touched one of those books.
She shouldn’t have!
“Let her.”
Rosa shifted uncomfortably under his cold gaze. Something about him changed in that moment. His aura, his presence. Her eyes trembled without knowing why.
“Don’t touch anything from the upper shelf.” Killian said firmly, almost sounding rude.
Rosa’s eyes flicked between his, searching for something...an emotion but there was none. His stare was blank and cold like he could see right through her.
She quickly looked down and gave a small hesitant nod.
Still, a question lingered in her mind: what’s in the upper shelves?
\---
|| THE NEXT DAY ||
Rosa’s eyes wandered around the classroom unfocusedly. Something felt off today.
A strange weight sat in her chest but she couldn’t explain why. She turned her head to the side.
“Aria?”
Aria glanced at her, brows raised. “Hmm?”
“Um... what is the uh– Underworld?” Rosa asked quietly, almost unsure of herself.
Aria blinked confusedly at first. “Underworld? You don’t know?”
Rosa shook her head slowly.
“Well.. the underworld usually means the part of the world we normal people don’t see.” Aria said lowering her voice slightly. “Like where criminals, smugglers and gangs operate. And the mafia, they’re usually the ones in control. The most powerful one, you know? That’s why people call it the underworld.”
Rosa stayed quiet, watching her.
Aria continued, ““Last year, I saw a news about a rpist. He was found dead. The police suspected that he was killed brutally by a mafia group. And the worst part? The body was so horrifying, I couldn’t sleep for like three or four days. I don’t even want to remember it. Their world is bloody. Dangerous!”
“Mafia?” Rosa whispered.
Aria nodded. “Yeah. They’re the scariest. My dad told me never cross paths with one. They can kill people for no reason.”
“S-so that means, there are Mafia’s out there in our city?” Rosa asked and Aria nodded at her, then continued “Most likely. I mean, we’re living in the capital of Spain, right?” Aria shrugged, lowering her voice. “Power, money, corruption–it all gathers here.”
Rosa stayed quiet. Her fingers played with the hem of her skirt.
Goosebumps crawled down Rosa’s arms. Her lips parted in a tiny ‘o’ as she slowly nodded, lost in thought.
So that’s why Killian said a kid shouldn’t know.
But why does he have those books?
Well… he had tons of books, after all.
“I just don’t get how someone can kill and feel nothing.” Aria added almost to herself while shaking her head. “Like, don’t they feel guilty? Or scared?”
All the classes had come to an end.
Aria waved goodbye with a grin, saying she had a date with Noah. Rosa nodded, watching her disappear down the hallway, then stepped out of the building, making her way toward the gate.
But then, Rosa’s steps halted. Her eyes landed on a familiar figure.
Kevin.
He was standing just outside the gate with his hands in the pockets while gaze fixed ahead like he was waiting.
Waiting for someone.
Rosa’s heart gave a sudden jolt. Her throat went dry. She stepped back. Is he here for her? Most probably! Because why would he even come to her academy?
Without another thought, Rosa turned on her shoes, walking quickly back into the building. She couldn’t face him.
Why is he here?
After they threw her away like she meant nothing. What does he want now? To talk?
Why now?
After countless days of silence? After leaving her to survive alone, to suffer. She could’ve died on the streets!
Her chest tightened, anxiety clawing up fast and sharp. Without even realizing her feet moved, leading her to a door.
Of course. She’d come here.
To him.
Rosa pushed it open quietly. Her eyes landed on his back. Killian. He was on a call with a relaxed posture.
But she should’ve knocked. She didn’t mean to intrude. The panic had overridden her thoughts. She froze when she caught a few unexpected words from his lips.
“If he talks, make sure he never talks again.”