Chapter 6

Zach flexed his bandaged hand. 'I've been learning how to cook ever since I can move my upper body. I learned massage for myself too, but these aren't sufficient…' 

He stood and paced around the room. 'I need more information since I do not know what does she consider as a valuable service. However, I do know I need something she can't refuse. Especially since it's almost time for that. By that time, it would be best if there's a woman by my side.'

"Creak"

"Zach? Why are you pacing around like that?"

He stopped and glanced in her direction. "Ah, miss Sonia, you're back… I was just thinking of what I could offer."

"Have you come up with something?" She leaned on the door as she watched him approach.

"To be honest, not yet."

Sonia extended her hand forward to prevent him from bridging the small gap left between them. "Do you need more time to think?"

"If you will give me more time, then I'll gladly accept it," he said while turning his head to the left. "Um, your hand, Miss Sonia."

"Your heartbeat's pretty fast," she commented before retracting her hand from his chest. 

"It's because you suddenly touched me."

Sonia gazed at the tint of pink on his ears and neck before turning around. "Follow me. I'll give you a week to think if you promise me, you'll offer the best service you can come up with." 

After taking several steps, she paused, so Zach bumped into her.

"Miss Sonia," he muttered when she turned around in place and her body rubbed against him. When she cupped his face, his heart skipped.

"Zach, you see, I don't like getting the shorter end of the stick." She brushed his hair aside and caressed his ear. "And, I like the best from people, so tell me, will you offer me a service now? Or later?"

Zach reached for her hand and brought it down, but he didn't let go. "Later," he said.

"Then I'll look forward to it." Sonia glanced at their entangled hands before shifting her gaze to the stair before them. Then she slowly led him to a room on the second floor. 

"You'll be staying here for now."

He stiffened and held her hand tighter. "Can't I stay with you on the third floor?"

"No. Stay here."

"Far... It's too far," he whispered, as his expression turned somber. 

"I don't mind sleeping on a couch or on the floor. I can even sleep in the hallway outside your room, so can you let me stay near you, Miss Sonia? Yes?" he asked. His voice broke when he said her name. 

"This is not something you can negotiate. You're safer down here, so stay here." Sonia released his hand and turned to face him, only to see the panic on his face.

"Miss Sonia, I won't demand much from you. I'll be good, so can you let me stay near you?" he asked as if he hadn't heard what she said.

"Will you really not allow it?" he said when she didn't speak. His breathing was already loud enough she could hear it, and fear, she could tell he was afraid.

"I... I... "

"Hush..." Sonia placed her index finger on his lower lip before sliding it down to his shoulder. "Breath in and out."

"Yes, just like that, inhale, exhale. One more time," Sonia said while watching Zach's expression ease up. 

"Brea..."

"Miss Sonia, can I stay close to you while I'm here? Yes? Yes?"

"I'm listening, so calm down." 

Sonia led him back to her room, conflicted. She doesn't want him in her room because it won't be good for both of them. However, if she ignore his request after seeing his state earlier, she won't be able to sleep because of her conscience.

"Here, sleep on the sofa until the room next to mine is cleaned," she said while handing him a pillow and a blanket.

"Mm, thank you," he said. His facial muscles now relaxed.

"You can sleep now. Good night." She stood and walked away before stopping. "Oh, and don't dare climb on my bed or else I'll kick you out, no questions asked."

"I won't, Miss Sonia. I promise." He laid down and covered himself before speaking once more. "I hope you'll be able to rest well."

'How can I when you're in my room?' 

Sonia took her laptop and sat on the bed. 'I'll just review the surveillance footage again. Maybe I missed something earlier.'

When the video played, Sonia saw how much she struggled to break free from the chains to quench her thirst.

Bruises slowly appeared on her skin as metal cut through her flesh. But before blood could seep out, the wounds healed immediately, again and again, every time her binds lapped her skin. 

'Ugh, just looking at it makes me remember how painful it was, but I do not remember struggling this much.' Sonia shuddered and wrapped herself in a blanket before looking at the screen once more. 'But my wounds never healed that fast. Is it because of the blood moon?' 

She crawled out of her blanket and took a white pen and a journal from the bedside drawer. Then she noted it down before replaying the video. 

As soon as Zach appeared out of thin air, Sonia backtracked the video and replayed it although she already viewed that part several times while he was asleep in the morning. 

'This is surreal. He really came out from thin air.' 

As the video continued, Sonia's toes curled under the sheets and a knot formed in her stomach. She shut her eyes tight, no longer wanting to see how thirsty she was for his blood.

'Well, I didn't even believe vampires exist till I found out I was one, so it's not surprising to know he came from another world.' 

Sonia glanced in Zach's direction and saw him barely fitting on the sofa.

'I had my employees clean the central room on the second floor before he woke up, but he doesn't want to stay there... more like he couldn't stay there.'

After viewing the video several more times to check if there was a reason he ended up in her room instead of somewhere else, she checked her plan for the day and the incoming days.

'An unexpected variable... I've thought of things that could disrupt my schedule, but I never thought something like this could happen.'

She turned off her laptop and put it aside.

'Is giving him a chance to stay the right decision?' 

'I don't know why, but I feel some sort of resistance when he's close to me, and somehow, it feels like he shouldn't be with me at all... or that he would do me wrong someday.' 

Several hours later, Zach woke up and opened his mouth, but he immediately closed it when he realized Delmier was not there. He shoved the blanket aside instead and rushed to Sonia's bed. 

When he heard the faint sound of her breathing, he sighed with relief.

'She's here, miss Sonia.' He slumped on the floor and leaned his head on the edge of the bed. His expression that of bliss as he listened to her breathing. 'Truly, what a wonderful melody. I never imagined before that hearing the breath of life close to me would please me so much.'

Zach remained there for a while before returning to the sofa. When he stepped on something fluffy, he realized he didn't wear the slippers she gave, so he wore them. Then, he fumbled for the blanket to fold it, but he felt another layer.

'Did she cover me with another blanket?'

'And this, did she put it on me too?' he asked while feeling the bonnet on his head. 

He bit his lower lip to prevent his lips from curving upward, but he couldn't hide the happiness he felt in that moment. 

Later, in the bathroom.

Zach stood beside the shower room. "Miss Sonia, is this really alright?" 

"I already told you it's fine. Now hurry, if you don't remove your clothes voluntarily, I'll strip you," she said while sitting at the edge of the tub two meters away from him. 

"Don't be impatient, Miss Sonia. I... I'll do it." Zach lifted his sky blue shirt rigidly. "Where should I put my clothes?" 

"There is a basket parallel to you. Face right and it'll be seven steps away." 

Zach nodded and followed her instructions. When his toes touched an item, he bent over and fumbled for its edges to ensure it's the basket she mentioned. After he placed his shirt, he removed his pants swiftly.

"Have you been on the battlefield for long?" Sonia's fiery gaze traveled on the huge scars on his body. From his back, down to his underwear, up to the heel of his feet, his skin was painted with scars. Some even have branches, as if his skin and flesh were ripped off. 

"Seventeen years, but rather than a battlefield for war, I've been subjugating monsters." Zach walked towards Sonia's voice and stopped when he thought she was close enough. "Why do you ask, Miss Sonia?"

She looked up and leaned back since he was too close. "Your body is riddled with scars," she said. Her figure completely covered by his enormous frame. 

"You're staring?" he said with raised brows.

"I am. Can I not?" 

"S... stop looking, my body is not in a good shape right now." 

She smiled. "Alright, alright, by the way, if you spent 17 years subjugating monsters, then how young are you?"

"Thirty-four"

Sonia looked at the rings on his thumb and middle finger. "Are you married?"

"I was supposed to."

"Does that mean you have a fiancee to return for?"

"She has a son now, but the kid's not mine."