18. Stupido

Precious had been gasping at every beautiful place she set her eyes on. It was more like a tour. Everything around and in the mansion appeared nature-like.

Chris told her that she could visit anywhere in the house but suddenly he stopped her after they climbed the stones that made their way across the river and then he pointed at something above them.

Precious traced what his hand was pointing at and saw a tower a little far from the mansion.

"Don't ever step your feet around that environment," Chris countered.

Nodding with the urge to ask why, Precious peered into his eyes like a child. Chris sighed. "What is it?" He could tell that she was attempting to ask a question but somehow didn't know if she should.

"If it's about the tower, it's for your safety. Don't make the mistake of crossing the bridge to that place, okay?"

"I won't," she shook her head. "It's just that…we've been walking for hours, you know and I haven't seen my pottery home."

"True, it isn't this far from the house, don't worry," Chris assured her. "Actually, we've walked past your pottery home."

"I thought as much. I was wondering if it was that far. I could just take a bus."

"..."

Chris led her to her pottery home. It was huge and from the outside, Precious could tell that everything she needed was available in the home. "Edgar did this for me?"

"Easy peasy, little human," Chris answered, staring at the pottery home that looked more like a hut. Outside the hut were woods she'd need. The ground was covered with natural grass but by the side of the house, the ground was mud.

"Let's go in to check it out, we still have a lot to do and if we don't meet up, Edgar wouldn't like that and we definitely shouldn't displease him."

Precious was so amazed by what Edgar did for her that she paid no attention to what Chris was saying. When he walked forward, she just followed him, knowing what they were going to do in the house.

The house had four big windows which brought blinding lights into the room and the breeze penetrating was steady. There were enough shelves and spaces in the room. The pottery wheel was positioned in the right place, a place that she'd feel comfortable with the moment she saw it.

"Oh, how I wish my father could see this," Precious said, holding her hands to her chest, she was in tears. "He has always wanted to build a pottery home for me."

Precious, while crying, walked to the pottery wheel and sat close to it. "Papa and I are always this close. He'd paste clay on my face. I'd do the same. He'd make plates, cups, and mugs with my name written on them. And when Mama comes, she joins us to play with the clay and we get all dirty."

Precious was grinning as she recalled those beautiful moments. And suddenly her heart stung so that she had to cover her face to cry. Her breath was hefty and it felt as if there was a big lump in her throat.

Chris just walked around, checking how much Edgar did for her. Well, this was a way to make her willing to turn evil. Satisfy her and make her dreams come true and when she feels that she owes too much and doesn't want this type of life to end, they'll bring her into darkness and make her one of them.

Although they don't know what she was, they believe that once she was one of them, she'd open up to them and they'd know if she was a new creature created by the deities of good or evil.

However, she was showing that she was good so they have a strong hunch that Precious was for the good. Well, they've brought a lot of good people to do evil so making Precious one of them wouldn't be a hassle, it was just the same strategy.

Chris was so pleased hearing her whine in pain, he didn't even glance at her. Her voice made the sound better to gladden his wickedness. Chris, however, eventually looked at her to see her standing and looking through the window but she was still sobbing loudly.

Precious's father was right, nothing lasts forever. Good things don't and bad things don't but it hurts so much when you recall that you can't feel the good things that happened to you in the past. It hurts to realize that it was gone.

The peace, the joy, the happiness, the freedom and the comfort were gone. Her mother was gone and she was far from her father. Her father was never wrong when he told her on her sixteenth birthday that he was sad and happy to see his baby growing but growing up brings more pain than comfort. Growing up brings more chaos than peace. It brings more sorrow than happiness.

"Simple things fade away slowly when you start getting older but I'll always be there to help you through thick and thin. Your mother and I will help you and will do our best to decrease how much pain you'll receive while growing up."

Recalling his words, Precious's knees went weak. "Papa!" She wailed while holding the cloth to her chest. "It's getting harder but you, not even Mama, is here with me," Precious whimpered and let out a heavy breath to ease the weight in her chest.

Chris scoffed and looked away. Her father was right anyway, life became hard for him when he was growing up but it had turned to an abomination for him to remember his past life. Not that it was totally an abomination, it just wouldn't help him so he shouldn't and shouldn't.

Precious used a moment to pour out the pain in her heart and eventually took some breaths in, calming down.

She didn't want to go out anymore and even if she wanted to go, she'd have to change her dress and wash her swollen face.

Precious turned about to face Chris, who didn't care about her pain. Precious ignored his emotionless look and walked over to him. "Please permit me to do something stupid," she said.

Looking up at him, appearing just like a bunny before him, she sought permission and didn't wait for his response.

Precious used her arms to wrap his torso and pressed her head on his chest, standing very close to him.

He was wicked but his body was bizarrely comforting. "Please don't push me away," Precious pleaded.

"Stupido," Chris uttered, letting her please herself. He hated being that close to pathetic humans but he found himself enduring such irritation.