That Night (2)

*Flashback*

Calixto tried to move his head but it was still as heavy as a rock. He looked at his father and he didn't have to let him read his mind to know that he was furious at him, which he had no idea why. If someone should be furious it should be him.

He relaxed his body and tried to lift his pinky finger and got frustrated even though he could not do it. His body was not strong enough to fight the poison at a quicker pace than it used to. He should do something about it but for now, he should focus on fighting off the one in his bloodstream because Iris was still unconscious in her seat.

The massive chair made her look so small—like a ragdoll. Her head was slumped on her shoulder and her wrists were tied to the armchair. He had to take every once in control of his body and not show any emotion on his face because he knew why Iris was treated that way. His father was testing him.

Many years had passed but his father was still like a greedy child not wanting to share anything he claimed as his. He was his father's precious son. Fleur was his father's precious supply of the most coveted blood. And his father didn't want to share any of what was his with anyone, even with his own beloved son.

He did not expect to see his father in this matter where he was weak and cannot protect himself and Iris. When he had awakened from his slumber, the first thought that came to his mind was two questions; what happened to Fleur after she fed him her poisoned blood and what he could do to take revenge.

Now that he was in front of his father, he shoved those thoughts at the furthest part of his brain, making sure that his father would not get to read what was on his mind.

His attention was pulled away from his thoughts when Iris made a sound. He schooled his expression, making sure that his father would not see any amount of worry on his face towards Iris. He did not want his father to think of Iris as someone that he should eliminate.

He sat on his chair, flexing his hands on his lap, opening and closing his fist, while he kept his gaze on his father. However, he was carefully watching Iris from the corner of his eyes as she bravely requested her wrist to be unbounded. She seemed to be unaware of his presence, for her eyes were fixated on the head of the table where his father was sitting like a statue.

He listened as Iris grumbled and asked why she was tied to a chair and where the place was. He was glad that Iris still kept her composure even in such a situation. And because of it, his father's attention shifted to Iris and he was able to successfully take control of his body from the poison that grappled him.

When Iris finally realized that he was in the room with her, he was sipping his coffee. He had perfected the skill of pretending to drink. He had realized that to be with people, one way or another, he would find himself in a situation where he had to eat just like any human beings do, but he can't swallow the food, and pretending to do so would be difficult, drinking however was a different matter. He found some useful videos on the internet—which he discovered to be an oasis of learning, thanks to Iris who is now fully awake and aware of his presence at the table.

She was staring at him with her curious eyes full of questions.

'Where do you find her?'

Calixto put down the cup of coffee on its saucer and stare at his father.

"She lives with me," he said in a careful tone. His father asked him a question telepathically but he decided to answer him so that Iris could hear his voice and maybe it would calm her down a bit. He could hear her heart beating wildly in her chest.

"You sure have found your way. I didn't expect to see you in this new world."

He watched his father cut his meat and shoved big chunks into his mouth. He wondered how could he eat that human food when he knew that it would make him sick. Or maybe his father had found a way in which he could eat like a normal human being.

He had a lot of things to learn and he had to do it fast. Now that his father had knowledge of his awakening, he was sure that he would not leave him alone. He would have someone follow him so that he would have an idea of what he had been doing in his life.

It would be difficult to do what he had planned if the likes of Erik and Macario would watch his back.

"I'm glad to see you alive and well, Father. It had been a while," he said, picking up his cup of coffee that was still full. What he was doing can only fool people from a distance but if someone was with him, it would raise a question if his coffee was left untouched when he kept on 'drinking' it. He should learn what his father was doing to be able to mingle in this new world without raising suspicion.

"Iris, it's time for us to go," he said, standing up from his chair. He looked in Iris's direction, urging him to do his bidding, ignoring his father who was snickering on his seat.

Iris quickly stood up from her chair and hurried to his side. He was glad that in this kind of situation, Iris who never listen to whatever he said, listened to him.

"Thank you for your hospitality Father but I'm afraid we have to go."

"Go. We are going to see each other again, Iris."