11

The door creaks open and Black silently walks into the room. I turn on the lights and eye him hands crossed over my chest.

"And where have you been mister?"

He stiffens as his eyes land on me.

"And don't even think about lying to me. I can tell from that look in your eyes that you're trying to come up with something to deceive me with."

Black chuckles and the tension in his posture dissipates as he walks towards me his arms outstretched.

"I missed you my lovely sister," he says and I hold up my right hand.

"I'll have none of that. Now tell me where you've been."

"There's no getting around you I see," he says his arms falling to his side," I went to check on details regarding your dreams."

"And?"

My voice comes out hopeful than I imagined and Black smiles squeezing my shoulder reassuringly.

"Well it is as I told you, you are to mate with one from the wolf clan."

"Oh... well then, I thought of getting you a phone so that if you disappear on me again, I can find you."

"Phone?"

(Oh right, he doesn't know of the recent technical gadgets.)

I clear my throat and pull out my phone from my pocket.

"Here, I want to get you something like this."

He snatches the phone from my hand and sniffs it.

"Doesn't smell like something worth getting," he says and I chuckle as I grab it from his grasp.

"When you get yours, I'll show you how important this is," I say waving the phone in front of his face.

"Am not sure about that sister. I've survived just fine without that thing."

"But now that you'll be staying with me, you need it incase you ghost out on me."

I head to my room without waiting for his reply. As am drying my hair, Black walks in and slumps over the couch immediately drifting off to sleep. I chuckle to myself and finish drying my hair. After draping a blanket over his body, I head over to my bed and pull out the Dark Curse. I turn the pages and groan lightly.

"Why did I think I'll understand it?"

Feeling drained, I pull out my phone and search up on an ancient wolf clan. A few articles pop up on the screen most of them tying the wolf clan to a modern day fantasy legend. I stiffen a yawn as I look through the articles. My eye sight grows blurry and within seconds am plunged into darkness.

"Nine?"

Black carefully nudges me and I slowly open my eyes.

"Mmh..."

"Don't you have work to do? It's late morning."

"What!"

I jolt up knocking Black off the bed and onto the floor.

"Oops, are you okay there?"

"I've had worse," he says rubbing the back of his head.

"Well then, let's get you a new phone and some change of clothes."

Black looks at me and I shuffle his hair playfully.

"I'll be down in a few."

Soon, we both stop by the mall and Black eyes the building wearily. He shudders slightly and I squeeze his hand in reassurance.

"It's okay."

"So many people..." he murmurs as his shoulders tremble furiously.

"Hey Black..."

He pulls his hand and storms away before I can bring a word to my lips.

"Hey!"

I rush after him into the dark alley.

"Black?"

His hair sticks out behind some trash cans and I walk up to him.

"You okay?"

He lifts his head from his knees and looks at me.

"So many people... they reminded me of the past..."

"Past? What happened to you?"

He looks into my eyes and I spot something glamour in his eyes. Fear and anger cloud his eyes and I squat in front of him.

"Do you want to talk about it? Maybe it can make you feel better."

He takes a breath to steady himself before fixing his eyes on me.

"Am fine but I don't think I can go back in there. Can we go back?"

"Okay I'll go shopping later then."

He nods grateful and I help him up and together we head back to his old home. As we stand side by side looking at the building, I slowly take a step back.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Why not. There's no place better than home right?"

"I understand that but still... the last time I was here wasn't very welcoming."

"Relax sister, you're with me now, Ash won't do anything to you today."

"What are we doing back here? Do you want to come back here?"

"What?"

He spins and looks at me his expression unreadable.

"No. I just came to take one last look."

"Last look? You don't mean.."

He smiles sadly and I cover my mouth with my hand holding back a gasp.

"They're going to demolish the place and build a restaurant or so I've heard."

"But what about Ash?"

I bite my tongue surprised by my own question.

(Get a grip Nine, Ash doesn't exist remember?)

I shake my head and turn to Black.

"Everyone who kept me company will have their freedom. I won't hold them back again now that I'll be staying with you."

"Oh that's ... WHAT!"

He slightly pokes my cheek and I close my eyes running a frustrated hand down my face.

"Now you and I will be inseparable plus I can take care of you if you wander around in your sleep."

"I do not sleep walk Black, don't imagine I need you babysitting me in my sleep."

"You'll never know," he says shrugging his shoulders and an uneasy feeling settles in the bottom of my stomach.

The next few days are a flurry of activities as I struggle to balance work and baby sitting Black back home. I manage to find a two bed room apartment situated near the city park at a reasonable price and today was the day I will be going to check up on the house.

"Hello and welcome."