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"What's happened?" I question right away, coming up as the driver backs away from my property. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm sorry, Master Booth," Anders mutters, his voice shaky, his eyes never quite meeting mine. "I can't do this anymore. I really... I just can't."
"It's okay," I say gently, placing my hand on his shoulder. "I'm home now, everything's going to be alright. Don't worry. Come inside with me, tell me what's happened."
I lead him inside the building, noticing how much the old butler has changed over the years. He's no longer the spritely man he used to be. His steps are a little slower, his shoulders carrying more weight these days. He knows so many of my secrets. Not all of them, though.
He doesn't know about the feelings I've started getting for Pandora, and he can never find out. Nobody can. I'm not going soft for the new girl. I never will.
I sit Anders down on the eggplant-colored velvet sofa in the salon and pour him a glass of whiskey. He
gulps at the amber liquid when I offer it to him, making me wonder just what went down while I was gone. My butler isn't one to drink, but he's accepted my offering gratefully - like he desperately needed it.
Fuck. This is going to be bad.
"Is it her?" I ask, motioning to the sealed-off room upstairs.
When Anders nods, my heart and my head start to hurt. I'm scared of what he's about to tell me. I'm scared she's getting out of control.
"She escaped," he admits, rubbing his weary eyes.
"Did you find her?"
My voice sounds alarmed to my own ears, but with good reason. I can't fucking afford to lose her. Not now, not ever.
"Yes," Anders mutters, and a huge weight falls off my shoulders.
"Good," I murmur. "Good."
"I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this, Master Booth," Anders admits. "I'm getting too old for it... And she's getting too out of control for me to handle her."
"I'll give you a raise," I speak up right away. "Fifty percent. And additional benefits-"
"It's not about the money," he interrupts.
It's probably the first time he's ever done that, and he sighs a moment after, giving me a guilt-filled look.
"I'm worried," he admits. "This... it isn't healthy. It's not good. We can't keep her in there forever."
"You know that's not the plan," I speak up. "Just until she gets better."
"But it's been four years," Anders says. "Four years of this, and she isn't better at all. She needs professional help, Master Booth. Neither of us can give her what she needs, especially not here."
"I'll be the judge of that," I reply coolly.
An uncomfortable silence lays between us, and it's only then that I notice the blood on my butler's sleeve.
"She hurt you?"
"She bit me."
He laughs miserably, and I peel the soaked fabric away from his arm. Fuck. He's still bleeding.
"You need to get that looked at," I mutter. "I can call a private doctor, someone who won't speak of this to anyone."
"No," Anders shakes his head firmly. "I'm going to the hospital. I won't tell anyone what's happened, but Master Booth... You need to get her under control. She was like a wild animal today."
My mouth sets in a thin line and I give him a curt nod, getting up to call him a cab. I tell him a car will be waiting in ten minutes, then linger in the room, both of us knowing what I must do next.
