CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 72: BLOOD OF SOMEONE YOU CAN’T LET GO... ATHENA

Oliver tilted his head, that faint, teasing glint returning to his eyes. "Hey," he said softly, brushing his thumb under her chin until she met his gaze again, "don’t look at me like I’m about to vanish into thin air."

Athena blinked, her chest tight. "You’re leaving, Oliver. You’ll be gone for months."

He gave a small shrug, the corner of his mouth twitching into that boyish grin she knew too well. "And I’ll come back," he said simply. "Who else is going to burn pancakes and make you laugh till you cry?"

She tried not to smile, but failed, it slipped through anyway, small and shaky. "You’re foolish."

The kin curse wey Athena done wire this guy...no small...Pity am na...eh baby...

"I’m adorable," he corrected with mock offense. "There’s a difference."

Athena rolled her eyes, trying to hide the emotion swelling behind them. "You really think a joke makes this easier?"

He stepped closer until their foreheads almost touched. "No," he whispered. "But if I can make you smile before I go, then it’s worth it."

Her lips trembled, and he caught her chin again, smiling softly. "And for the record," he added, lowering his voice playfully, "you can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m definitely coming back."

She laughed then quietly buy genuinely, her hand pressing over his chest. "You’d better," she murmured. "Because I’m not burning those pancakes alone."

Oliver chuckled, leaning in just enough for their noses to brush. "Deal."

The rest of the day unfolded like something out of a dream, soft, slow, and full of quiet laughter.

After their morning chaos in the kitchen, they cleaned up the house together, with Oliver humming off-key and Athena pretending to be annoyed even as she smiled. It felt normal, beautifully normal, the kind of peace she hadn’t tasted in forever.

They spent the afternoon playing games, each one ending with Oliver cheating in some ridiculous way. Athena pretended to be furious, tossing a pillow at his face, but she always ended up laughing too hard to keep the act. He claimed victory every time, even when she clearly won.

When she finally tired out, Athena curled up on the couch with a blanket, her head resting on his lap. The sunlight poured through the window, soft and golden, touching her hair like it wanted to memorize her too. She drifted off mid-sentence, her breathing slow and even, one hand still tangled in his shirt.

Oliver didn’t move. Not for a long while. He just sat there, his fingers brushing lazy circles against her arm, his eyes tracing her face like he was trying to remember every detail before time took him away again. Every now and then, he’d smile—a quiet, wistful curve of his lips that said everything he didn’t out loud.

When she finally woke, the sky had already started melting into dusk. The house felt wrapped in calm, the kind that hums between two people who don’t need to say much to understand each other.

Now it was night. The air outside was cool and tender, carrying that faint scent of rain that never quite came. They walked side by side down the quiet path behind the house, hands brushing every now and then, neither rushing the moment.

Athena tilted her face up to the sky, the stars just beginning to show, her hair catching the moonlight. "It’s perfect," she murmured.

Oliver looked at her instead of the sky. "Yeah," he said softly. "It really is."

A breeze swept past them, tugging at her hair, and she turned to meet his gaze. For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just stood there—two silhouettes in the soft night, caught between what was and what was coming.

Athena smiled faintly, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. "You know," she said, "if every day was like this, I’d never complain again."

Oliver chuckled lowly, slipping his fingers through hers. "Then I guess I’ll have to make that happen," he whispered.

She leaned into him, her head finding his shoulder as they continued walking under the slow sweep of stars—each step quiet, each heartbeat louder than the world around them.

They walked a while longer beneath the quiet stretch of stars, the gravel crunching softly beneath their feet. The air was cool, gentle — the kind that smelled like pine and earth after a long day.

Oliver glanced down at Athena, her hand still tangled with his, her hair brushing lightly against his arm. She looked peaceful, content — and for some reason, that made something mischievous spark in him.

"So..." he began casually, too casually.

Athena hummed, glancing up at him. "So what?"

He shoved his free hand in his pocket, his lips twitching. "Who’s Alaric?"

Her steps slowed a little, her brows pulling together in confusion. "Alaric?"

"Yeah," Oliver said, feigning nonchalance. "The guy who kept glaring at me when I came to school last week. Blond hair, tall, looks like he irons his own ego every morning."

Athena’s lips twitched, and she bit back a laugh. "Oh my God, Oliver—"

"I’m serious!" he said, his tone mock-wounded. "The man looked ready to throw hands. Or worse, recite poetry at you."

That made her laugh harder, and Oliver’s jealousy only deepened in the most dramatic way possible.

"Oh, don’t tell me he’s one of those brooding, mysterious types," he said, squinting as if remembering the scene. "Let me guess—transferred student, walks around like he’s the main character in a vampire novel?"

Athena was laughing so hard she nearly tripped. She clutched his arm, trying to steady herself. "You’re impossible," she managed between breaths. "And yes, he’s new. He... kind of took a liking to me."

Oliver stopped walking. "A liking?"

She looked up at him, amused. "Yes. A liking."

He blinked, then tilted his head slightly, his jaw tightening just enough to make her grin widen. "What kind of liking are we talking about, Athena? Friendly liking or ’write her name in a notebook and build her a shrine’ liking?"

Athena burst out laughing again, clutching her stomach. "You’re ridiculous!"

"I’m serious!" he said, following her laughter with exaggerated offense. "You said a liking like it’s a natural disaster we should all just accept."

"Oliver, he’s harmless," she said, still giggling.

"Yeah? That’s what people say right before they end up in a love triangle, Athena," he deadpanned.

She almost choked laughing, doubling over. "Stop! My stomach hurts!"

He smiled, but the playful glint in his eyes lingered. "I’m just saying...if Mr. Transfer Student looks at you like that again, I’m transferring him somewhere else."

Athena straightened up, wiping at her eyes, still laughing. "You’re jealous," she teased.

"Me? Jealous?" Oliver put a hand dramatically to his chest. "Absolutely not. I just have a natural distrust for men named Alaric. Sounds like a guy who keeps a sword under his bed for no reason."

Athena giggled, leaning into him again. "Oliver stop being silly."

"Silly?...no....sexy." he said, grinning down at her.

She double over, tears dropping from her eyes." Stop...told you, you’ve no rival."

He smirked. "Good. Keep it that way. I don’t want to have to duel anyone named after a Roman emperor."

Athena laughed so hard this time she nearly stumbled, and Oliver caught her instantly, steadying her with an arm around her waist. Their eyes met, laughter still glinting in hers, mock jealousy still simmering in his.

"You’re crazy," she whispered through a smile.

He leaned closer, his voice soft but teasing. "Only for you."

And just like that, the night swallowed their laughter again under the stars, wrapped in the warmth of something that felt like forever, even if they both knew forever was never promised.

They were about to continue their conversation when Athena’s phone suddenly rang.

She smiled faintly at first, thinking it might be Felicia or maybe.

But then the number is unknown and for some reason her heart skipped. Her smile faded.

For a second, she almost didn’t answer.

But curiosity won. She pressed the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

The voice that came through was smooth, familiar, and sharp enough to cut through bone.

"Well, well,Sounds like someone’s having a lovely time," the woman purred."Enjoying getting fucked by your uncle...I can imagine how stretched out your holes are."

Athena froze. what the fuck was this woman talking about? What was that supposed to mean?

Oliver, who was still beside her, immediately noticed the change in her face. "Who is it?" he asked, his voice careful, but she didn’t respond.

Jianna’s tone turned mockingly sweet.

"So you’re with him again, huh? Just like old times. Tell me, has he gotten what he wanted now? Or are you still pretending you don’t know why he keeps you around?"

"Stop it," Athena snapped, anger mixing with fear. "What do you want?"

Jianna laughed, a hollow, echoing sound that made Athena’s chest tighten.

"What I want?" she said slowly. "Oh, darling... you can’t give me that. You never could."

Athena’s heart pounded. "Stay away from me, Jianna."

What the hell does she want? Everything was going just fine...

The laughter died, replaced by silence that felt too long, too still. Then Jianna whispered, her voice lower and colder than before, like something crawling under the skin.

"You sound brave. How sweet. Just like the last time you tried to stand up to me.."

Oliver’s face darkened. "What does she want?" he asked again, his voice no longer calm but sharp and protective.

Jianna’s tone shifted playful again, which somehow made it worse.

"You didn’t even ask what I’m craving right now, my love," she said.

Athena’s pulse roared in her ears. Something in her mother’s voice made her stomach twist violently.

"What are you talking about?" she demanded.

Jianna’s reply came slow and creepy, each word coated in venom.

"I’m craving blood, darling." Her voice notably low. "The blood of someone you can’t let go... Athena."

The line went dead.

Athena stood frozen, the phone still pressed to her ear, her face pale as snow. The night air suddenly felt colder, the silence heavier each passing seconds.

Oliver reached for her arm, his voice low. "Athena... what did she say?"

But she couldn’t speak. Her fingers trembled so hard she almost dropped the phone. Her breath came shallow, and when she finally looked up at him, her eyes were full of fear.