Chapter Four

••••ADALYNN'S PERSPECTIVE••••

Once he was gone the rest of my night passed as usual and I managed to make great progress on a few new tonics, some potions, and even a few new spells for my grimoire. As lunch rolled around, I headed to one of the local shops, catching myself looking around the crowd for him even though I was sure he was long gone at that point.

I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with me. I mean the man was insane and clearly thought he was the greatest gift to ever stumble into my shop. Hell, he even tried to convince me that it was a great idea to experiment on people for fun.

Despite if I had agreed to his offer or not this man was trouble and I knew it, so why did I find myself wanting to see him again? Why was I so hopeful that he was as good as he said he was, and that he wouldn't die doing whatever illegal stuff it was that he was doing?

Sitting down at my favorite café across the street from my shop I quietly ate my lunch watching everyone around me, before heading back to my shop.

Falling quickly back into my normal routine, the day flew by and before I knew it, it was 0200.

Packing up, I did my typical walk through to make sure no one had snuck in before locking up and heading home for the day. It had been hours since I had last thought about him yet for some reason the second, I was outside I found myself searching for him in every face I passed.

I knew it was silly as I had no real idea what the man looked like under the mask, he was so reluctant to take off but some part of me couldn't help but hope that if he were in the crowd that he would grab me and pull me to the side.

Making my way through the crowded city I headed towards the outskirts before turning off the main path onto a small almost hidden dirt road that led deep into the forest, and out of the main city. I always knew it was weird not living in my shop like most owners in the city did, but something just told me it was better not to.

About 30 minutes on the dirt road and again I turned off following a beautiful river upstream till finally I reached my house. It wasn't much but to me it was absolutely perfect in all its glorious tininess.

The cabin stood alone at the edge of the water surrounded by the beautiful native trees. It appeared to be about the size of a single room form the outside and most would mistake it for a possible storage shed just based on the look alone.

Walking up onto the front porch I glanced around me before unlocking the door and stepping in. Once inside I plopped down on the couch placing my face in my hands. My entire walk home I couldn't get him out of my head. I knew he was trouble yet for some reason I found myself hoping I would see him before the end of the day.

Taking a few moments, I tried to get him out of my head before making some dinner. Relaxing for the remainder of the night before heading to bed at my usual time. However, once I was in bed I found myself seeing his bright green eyes every time I closed my eyes.

What was it about this man that had him so stuck in my head that no matter what I did I couldn't get him out of it. I mean the man was completely crazy and wanted me to help him torture people. Agree or not, I knew that torturing people was wrong and I knew if I continued to be acquainted with him that I would surlily end up in Stantòn.

Yet here I was thinking about him again, wondering where he was, if he was okay, and when I would see him again.

Taking almost an hour to pass out I found even my dreams were haunted by him but something about them was different. In some instances, he was sweet and good. He was helping me heal the sick and prefect my potions. While in others he was the corruption I fed off my need for him so strong that I was willing to do anything to anyone just for his time.

As morning came, I woke abruptly just as one of the dream instances took a turn into a more sensual aspect, and I felt absolutely terrible. Like I hadn't slept a lick. My head was pounding, and my heart was racing but I knew I had to get to the shop so like every morning I got up, took a quick shower, dressed, and headed out.

The hour walk to the shop was again filled with me searching the crowd for him and wondering if he was actually coming back all while mentally reprimanding myself that I needed to forget him.

Once at the shop I sat down at my desk pulling out my book like every other day and tried to do some work while waiting for customers or even him to come in.

Not but 20 minutes would pass before there was a loud knock on the door. Standing up I glanced around the shelf, tilting my head slightly. Who in their right mind would knock on the door of a business. I mean it's a business after all. Most just walk in and begin looking around.

Clearing my throat, I yelled out before sitting back down.

"The doors open and last I checked I'm a shop owner not a door person, so I'm going to assume you can open it yourself."