Hard Decision.
Kate looked down at her folded palms. What was her decision? She hasn't made up her mind yet and she didn't know what to say.
She was not sure if she can stay here, but she was also sure those demons will kill her if she went back to her town. She was confused about what to do.
It made her feel soberer to realize that she didn't have anyone to ask guidance from. She couldn't ask Madam Rosie, she will tell her to follow her heart. But what is her heart saying? Her heart was cold and her mind was fuzzy, she couldn't think straight anymore.
"I can give you all the time to think about it but…" He drawled "They wouldn't also have time to think about it when they're killing you"
Was that an encouraging word or a threat to something? Will they really kill her? Of course, they will, she had seen how the last one was about to kill her. Kate looked up at Clarence whose gaze never left her.
She couldn't figure out what the man was thinking. Can she live with a man who can disappear and reappear without using any magic potion? And to make it worst, he could read her mind too. And oh, speaking of reading mind, he has been listening to her thoughts. This made her angry making her glare at him.
Clarence raised his hands as if he was surrendering to her "I only gave you an option to choose from. Don't glare daggers at me"
"You can read my thoughts" Kate frowned. She didn't like this whole thing of him being able to read her thoughts. There was no privacy for her.
Clarence's face turned serious. His thin brows knitted themselves together as if in thought. "Why can't I hear your thoughts?" He asked completely confused.
Kate also became confused "What do you mean? You've always been listening to my thoughts"
Clarence suddenly sat beside Kate "Look at my eyes"
Kate became more worried. Will she ever get used to him disappearing and reappearing in front of her? "Why? What happened?" She questioned back.
"You're so stubborn. Do as I say"
Kate glared at him for calling her stubborn. She turned and stared into his dark red eyes. His eyes looked like a deep ocean one could get lost in. She saw herself in his eyes making her smile because of the way she looked inside them as they stared back at her. And then it stopped, her daydream stopping as well when Clarence moved back in confusion.
Kate cleared her throat and shifted back "What happened?" She asked wondering why he suddenly asked her to look at him.
"Did you do something to yourself?" Clarence asked watching her.
"Something like what?" She questioned back. She didn't understand the whole change in topic and he was asking what she did to herself. What could she do?
Clarence shook his head "I mean, can you protect your mind? Are your powers coming back?"
Now Clarence was confusing her. Protect mind? Powers? Where was this leading to? "What do you mean powers and protect my mind?"
Clarence drew his curious gaze back. He sighed "Forget it, it's nothing I was just curious," He said easing the tension he created in her. He was not able to hear or read her mind since he came back. That made him confused at first before he dismissed the thought. When he remembered it again, was when she spoke about hearing her thoughts.
He thought or maybe hoped he will hear them if he was close and probably when she looked at him. But he was wrong. Nothing happened, making him wonder if her powers came back and she protected her mind from being read.
Seeing it was not like he thought, he became more curious why her mind was suddenly blocked from being read. Kate's words broke his line of thought.
"Can I have powers?" Kate asked with uncertainty. Clarence had raised the curious cat in her. Did she have powers, or will she have powers? The thought thrilled and also scared her at the same time.
Clarence looked at her expectant eyes. Wanting to hear and also scared to hear "That I don't know," He said to see the light in her eyes dim but she somehow looked relieved. What was going on with this woman? She was expecting to hear a positive answer and was also scared to hear it. Now she heard a negative answer, she was not happy but was also relieved.
Kate shrugged like it was no big deal "That's okay. I guess there's harm and also no harm in it" She said sounding like she was consoling herself. She was kind of excited to know she will have powers but she was also scared. Everything also had a disadvantage and price to pay.
But why did she feel sad and relieved at the same time? She could no longer figure out herself and what she wants again. If this continues, how will she be able to get her answers and also fight for herself?
Kate took a long shaky breath to calm her nerves that were turning jittery every second. She was only thinking too much. All she needed was enough sleep and food. Her stomach rumbled at the thought of food. Her gaze swept past Clarence to see if he noticed but the man seemed to be thinking.
Thank goodness, her stomach always embarrassed her. But she was hungry. Remembering the sumptuous meal she had last night made her stomach rumble again. She quickly held her stomach while biting her lips in embarrassment. Why do you have to be so loud, she scolded in her mind.
Clarence didn't seem to notice Kate or hear her when she spoke. Turning his eyes to her, he cleared his throat "What did you say? Sorry I got lost"
Kate shook her head, why was he apologizing? She had asked if she could have breakfast that took everything in her to say it loud. And now she couldn't bring herself to say it again. Thankful and also sad he didn't hear "Nothing, I did not say anything"
"So what's your decision?" Clarence asked going back to their previous topic.
Decision? It took a while for Kate to remember what he was asking about "Uhm…" She drawled clearing her dry throat. What has she decided? She didn't know. But the new curiosity that was in her made her think twice. What if she has powers and also she can protect herself if it is true?
"Why do you want me to stay here" She suddenly asked. As if realizing she spoke without thinking, she bit her tongue. Her mind was now speaking on its own and it was right to have asked that question.
Clarence smiled. They were repeating the same conversation they had before again "To protect you" He answered.
"Why do you want to protect me?" Kate continued questioning. Now, that she has started, she wanted to know why he did what was doing and will probably continue doing it.
Clarence chuckled and stood up "I wish to explain it to you, but, that will take the whole day. I have to be in the council today"
Kate was surprised "You work in the council?"
"Yes"
"What do you work as?" She continued questioning. She was always curious to know about things. Anything that she came across and didn't understand, she made sure to find out more about it.
Clarence smiled looking at the curious woman whose ear had turned up in anticipation of his answer.
"Well, let's put it this way," He said emphasizing with his hands "I work as one of the founders. Does that make sense?"
Kate shook her head negatively. She always knew the council was a group of higher-ups that regulated and controlled the five empires. They were more respected than most wealthy men. Any woman whose son was a council member was always feared because of it.
So hearing he works as one of the founders didn't make sense to her. She didn't know the division of work there, so it confused her. But the work sounded like top work.
An idea suddenly clicked in her head, if he worked in the council and was probably working as a high member, then maybe she can finally know about the massacre of her town since it was the same council that gave the law, that no one was to speak about it. Maybe this was how she will be able to solve her problem, this was hitting two birds with one stone.
All she had to do was to bear with living with him in exchange for solving her problem. She also knew in the back of her mind, that he was trying hard to make her stay for a reason, but then again, it was worth a try.
Before Clarence could open his mouth Kate already beat him to it.
"Alright, I agree," She said with conviction.
"What do you agree to?" Clarence carefully asked to make sure he heard correctly.
"I said, I agree to stay here" She repeated what she said this time with determination in her eyes.
Clarence was taken aback. He thought he was going to need lots of special words to convince her to stay. What suddenly changed her mind? Well, he didn't want to know for now, before she changes her mind.
He beamed "That's great. It's settled then"
Kate frowned and looked him in the eye "I don't know why you want me to stay, but let me make one thing sure and clear between us. I'm not an easy woman, I'm a hard nut to crack."
Clarence was amused. Was she comforting herself or was she warning him? He didn't know what aspect she was speaking about. He felt the urge to laugh in her face and tell her she was speaking to a demon and he could break her, but he refrained from it before she felt offended and goes back on her word.
He nodded "Alright Ms. Kate Warren"
Kate was surprised how he remembered her first name after telling it once. Somehow she felt happy she wanted to smile, but she told herself this was not the time to smile. She needed to look serious or the man will take what she said as a joke.
Clarence finally chuckled "I'll see you later then, I need to go. Make sure you feed your stomach"
Kate smiled shyly. Her stomach always betrayed her.
Clarence leaned in next to her ear "You don't have to be shy. We all have what we crave to eat"
Kate turned red in embarrassment. The way he said it made her think there was another thing he craved that was not food.
Clarence smiled before disappearing from there.
Kate shook her head, she was not going to get used to seeing this. Shortly after Clarence left, James led her to the dining room. She needed a day tour around this mansion to get used to all the hallways before she ends up missing her way every time.
She smiled to herself when she started eating the delicious foods on the table. She was definitely not losing anything if she eats such great food every day. That was the power of food, she thought.