Uninvited Guest

Jonathan returned home with Nerissa and Black Rose using his family's car.

"Dadda, Dadda." Nerissa gestured for Jonathan to carry her, and he did it happily.

Even though it felt strange, Jonathan realized Nerissa liked him more than Black Rose. And that often made Black Rose look at her with a look of jealousy that was visible on her face.

Jonathan walked to the backyard and saw Sandra's grave mound again.

His breath turned heavy when he had to be reminded again of that incident.

In his heart, he really wanted to hold a proper funeral ceremony for Sandra. However, with his current limited funds… he wasn't sure he could pull it off.

Plus, starting today, he has to think of a way to pay the monthly electricity and garbage bills.

Thinking about it made Jonathan's head throb.

"Dadda?" Nerissa pressed her two tiny hands against Jonathan's cheeks, surprising him.

"Are you cold?" asked Jonathan, immediately leading Nerissa into the house and rubbing her tiny hands together.

Nerissa shook her head as if understanding. And it was the first time the little girl responded to Jonathan's question.

"Gosh, you understand what I said?" asked Jonathan between amazement and disbelief.

"Of course. She is two years old now. Sometimes she'll talk to you. Only when you are lucky." Black Rose said while turning on the kettle in the kitchen.

"Would you like some tea?" she asked Jonathan.

"Yes, please."

Jonathan sat Nerissa on a dining table and leaned over to talk to her eye to eye.

The little girl chuckled happily as if she liked it.

"Okay, Nessie, try to show your daddy your speaking skills. I know you can do it." Jonathan pleaded to try to find solace in what was left he had.

"Dadda?"

"Nessie? Did you call her by a legendary monster name?" said Black Rose sounding very unacceptable.

With a quick step, Black Rose walked up to Jonathan and stood beside him while ruffling his waist.

"Her name is Nerissa, in case you forgot her name, Mr. Burke." She thundered.

Jonathan straightened his back and then chuckled. Black Rose's strange stiff attitude comforted him. "I know, I know. I give her a cute nickname."

Jonathan patted Black Rose on the shoulder and made the woman gaze at Jonathan's big hand with wide eyes as if disgusted.

"That legendary monster is far from cute. Have you met her?" Black Rose shook off Jonathan's hand violently, then turned her attention to Nerissa, who had chuckled while watching the debate in front of her.

"You mean that Scottish monster exists?" repeated Jonathan distracted.

He still has the energy to be surprised even though he has started to get a little used to things previously on the boundary between being trusted and not trusting.

"Of course. We can go to the nearest sea, and I can summon her for you." Black Rose stretched out both hands to Nerissa to hold her.

However, the little girl shook off Black Rose's two hands violently, shaking her head with an adorable sullen face before turning to Jonathan and extending her two tiny hands to him.

"Oh no, my sweet Nerissa." Black Rose sobbed. She was suddenly sad.

Her face looked disappointed, and a grain of tears dripped from the corner of her eyes.

Jonathan chuckled at the rejection.

He quickly carried Nerissa back and gave her a kiss on her chubby cheek.

"Good girl, Nessie."

Nerissa laughed happily, her hands wrapped around Jonathan's neck tightly.

"She loves me the most, Black Rose. I am sorry. You're no longer her favorite." Jonathan's quip made Black Rose no longer hide her tears and cry.

However, before Jonathan almost laughed at her again, suddenly Black Rose fell and almost hit her head on the floor if Jonathan hadn't reflexively caught her.

"Are you okay?" asked Jonathan, feeling guilty.

He didn't know that the babysitter woman took his joke too seriously.

Black Rose groaned, looking painful. Her hands massaged her head as if she was getting a painful feeling there.

In just an instant, Jonathan realized something strange. Black Rose's complexion seemed to change rapidly.

From the typical pale color, it has now changed like the paleness of a corpse.

It made Jonathan remember when he made a baby fairy burnt into ashes in the hospital hours ago.

"Are you sick?" asked Jonathan starting to worry.

Nerissa let out a sad humming sound as if she understood the situation. Jonathan put the little girl down and lifted Black Rose's body which felt very light. It was too lightweight as if he was holding a puppy.

"Stay with me. What should I do to make you feel better?" Jonathan lay down the weak body of Black Rose on the sofa in the sitting room.

For the first time, the woman's gaze softened as she looked at Jonathan and clutched his arm as if helpless.

"Tea, please."

"Rara?" Nerissa walked alone from the kitchen to the sitting room and now stood by Black Rose's side with a sad look. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Sweetheart, don't worry. I'll be fine." Black Rose tried to wipe Nerissa's cheek, but her hands dropped as if paralyzed.

Jonathan quickly returned to the kitchen and prepared hot tea for Black Rose.

He added his favorite honey extract from France. He ensured that the Irish tea he made was perfect before giving it to Black Rose.

"Ahhh–" Black Rose brewed the still-hot tea without fear of burning her tongue.

"I used my energy too much to appear before Morting. I have never felt so weak before," explained Black Rose, looking at Jonathan's worried eyes with a helpless gaze.

For Immortals who weren't supposed to be in Mortal World, appearing in front of Morting and hanging out with Morting drained their energy excessively.

Although some of the Immortals' followers of The Absolute Evil knew how to control it, for Black Rose and the other devout Immortals... appearing and associating with Morting would kill them.

"I am really sorry. Because of me – "Jonathan reflexively grasped the woman's weak hand.

"No. Not because of you. You can see me without me having to use the energy of my Immortals. It's my fault. I shouldn't have used it for too long in the hospital." Explained Black Rose shaking off Jonathan's unrighteous guilt.

"Rara?" Nerissa pressed her head against Black Rose's chest, closing her eyes as if she was sharing in the pain felt by Black Rose.

"Can you do me a favor, Mr. Burke?" pleaded Black Rose, her voice weakening.

"Yes. Anything. Just tell me."

"I want to hug her. I don't know what will happen to me... I want to hug Nerissa. If I can't do it later–"

"Shhh... you'll be fine. I promise." Jonathan couldn't bear to see Black Rose suddenly change so drastically.

He immediately moved Nerissa into Black Rose's arms and let them hug each other tightly.

"You have to stay strong. I need you. I mean... Nerissa needs you." Jonathan stared at that pair of green eyes starting to lose their light, trying to reassure her.

"We both need you. Please ... stay for us."

Not knowing what would happen in the next minutes frustrated Jonathan.

But... before Black Rose said anything... Suddenly Jonathan and Black Rose felt a strange sensation that made the fine hair on the nape of their necks seem to tighten.

"What's that sudden feeling?" asked Jonathan, convinced he had never experienced it.

His heart suddenly raced, and his feelings instantly changed.

It felt very sad and made him depressed in seconds. Everything happened so fast for no reason.

Black Rose's gaze changed again. It was clear ... she was starting to be frightened.

Her body trembled, and her eyes moved again to find Jonathan.

"No. It can't be. They're coming."