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“I’m trying to remember, Valkus, I really am.”
As I rub my head, he slams a clenched fist on the bedside table and then flips it over. He hisses through his teeth, punching a hole in the wall. His shoulders rise up and down as he catches his breath.
“I’m sorry,” he mutters. “I’m angry because there is a terrible danger lurking in the hallways of this manor, right underneath me! And yet I do not know the cause of it, though I have my suspicions…”
I’m frightened by the slowly unfolding chaos. I’m only glad he is on my side.
“Well.” I gulp. “What do you think about this danger you speak of? You said you have suspicions?”
“Yes, I have reason to believe that someone in this very building is out to murder you.”
“Why? What did I do?” I exclaim. My words only remind me of my thoughts during the dreadful nightmare I had.
“Unfortunately, you’re doing the one thing most dark elves hate the most about humans. You’re living.”
“Fuck… This can’t be good. There is nothing I’m doing wrong.”
A stray tear escapes, falling quickly down my face.
“Being a human is all it takes to be targeted in this day and age,” remarks Valkus, as if citing a pearl of old wisdom. “You of all people should know that better than anyone.”
“Don’t patronize me!” I hiss. “You’re supposed to be helping me.”
“I’m trying to, Althia, I really am.”
“I thought it was over, that I finally got away from it all,” I cry. “Now I finally see that there’s nowhere I can truly be out of harm’s way, all because some fucking dark elf can’t stand the fact I’m alive.”
“Althia…”
“What did I do?” I ask Valkus as if he’ll know the answer. “Is my existence bringing harm to anyone? Of course, it’s not, so why is someone deliberately going out of their way to murder me? It’s not right.”
“It’s absolutely wrong, but some dark elves don’t see it as going out of their way when they get to torment a human.”
“You’re not helping.”
“Then I need you to try and remember. Think as hard as you can. Was there anyone who entered here after I left?”
He takes a seat on the bed beside me, gazing at me with both love and determination. I can see how desperate he is to get to the bottom of this.
Maybe, just maybe, if we can find out what’s going on, we can put an end to this together. Then I might be able to live a tranquil life without fear.
Valkus takes my hand as I close my eyes, digging deep into the inner recesses of my mind to recall anything I can.
“This all ends today,” he says. “Anything you remember will help.”
Bit by bit, I begin remembering, like drops of rain turning into a heavy downpour.
“I went to sleep soon after you left. I wasn’t very tired, I just needed to pass the time until you got back. And I figured that rest would help me get back on my feet sooner. There was a knock on the door that woke me up.”
Valkus’ eyes widen as the story develops.
“I thought it might have been you so I shot up out of bed. Nexus, though, was growling in a way I never heard before. It alarmed me, but I didn’t think that much of it.”
“Who was at the door?”
“I… I don’t know. I opened it and was pushed to the ground almost immediately. There was a scuffle, and Nexus was thrown to the side. I’m sorry, Valkus. I don’t think I saw who attacked me. My face was held down to the ground for most of it.”
“Fuck,” he snarls. “I bet it was my mother if I’m to go with what Taveth was saying about it all.”
