CHAPTER 41: MY STAR

’ I was made to be. I shall, and will be. I come in the most familiar ways, or the oddest of ways. Sometimes, I’m calm and sometimes, I’m like an erupting volcano. You can never get rid of me from this accursed world because I flow through everything. What am I? ’

Aaliyah remembered the riddles like it had happened just yesterday. The riddle had been twisted, and it was still a wonder how she had gotten the answers right. If only she could get a straightforward definition of what love was, hence the reason she was asking Yuan.

"Love?" Yuan glanced at her, eyes dancing with thought, "Well, I’m not sure how to explain it and make you understand it fully,"

"I’ll try my best to grasp the idea,"

"Love...comes from here," Yuan placed a hand over her heart softly, "It’s a strong feeling towards someone or something that most times cannot be controlled. Love is giving everything. Love is putting someone’s needs above yours. Love is looking at someone and feeling at peace with yourself. Love is looking at someone and being crazy. If you have to think about it, that’s not love. That’s not...true love,"

As Aaliyah related her understanding of Yuan’s definition with the Riddle, she could see they were both trying to say the same thing.

"Why are you asking?" Yuan questioned.

"Nothing," Aaliyah shook her head silently.

Yuan gasped, "Wait... don’t tell me you’re...," She paused, swallowing.

"I’m What?"

"You’re...," Yuan glanced back at the mansion, fear swirling in her big eyes, "You cannot fall in love with him, okay?" She looked so serious Aaliyah got scared too.

"I don’t...," Now she was confused. Why didn’t she have anything to say?

"Aaliyah. Do not fall in love with him. No matter what happens, it’ll only hurt less if you keep seeing him as a monster. Got it?"

"You’re scaring me," Aaliyah murmured, "Alastair is not a monster,"

"Don’t trust everything so easily. Don’t trust me, don’t trust him, don’t trust anyone. You come first. You have to believe me,"

Her five minutes were almost up. Aaliyah pulled up to her feet, not looking as happy as she was when she first stepped out here, "He’s not the same person I met when I first arrived here. He’s... different now. He cares about...me a lot," Saying that had a lump forming in her throat.

’ As long as you can see the Maqbath ’

She’s been trying to avoid the topic in her head. What if he was only doing all this because he believed...?

Aaliyah trembled at the thought.

"Just...be careful," Yuan smiled tightly.

"Are you gonna start living at the mansion too?" Aaliyah changed topics, looking all excited.

"Why?"

"Theodore is there. Including the other woman who gave me chills. Don’t tell anyone I said this...," Aaliyah whispered, "but she’s sort of a bad cook,"

"You mean Kekoa?"

"If that’s her name, then yes! So, are you gonna come live here too? It’s kind of... overwhelming staying under the same roof as the rest of them."

"It won’t be for long," Yuan said under her breath

"Why do you say so?"

"Uhhh," Yuan was surprised Aaliyah had heard her, "I guess they’re busy people so they won’t be staying for long."

"Busy people? How?"

"You’ve never heard of the name Theodore Cain before? One of the most influential people in this world?"

Aaliyah shook her head.

"What about Kekoa Clarkson? Really? Nothing?"

Aaliyah shook her head again.

"Theodore is the last son of the Cain family. He didn’t want to be a part of them and left to build his own company. Now, he is the CEO and a trillionaire. So yes, he’s probably one of the busiest people on earth,"

Aaliyah could not imagine that. She’s only seen Theo reading magazines all the time.

"Kekoa is the face of many brands all around the world, and the founder of one of the most popular and rich make-up industries in the world. She’s a supermodel, and has been nicknamed by the world as the Queen of fashion."

"Wow, that’s amazing," Aaliyah said, then murmured to herself, "And she can’t cook?!"

Yuan heard that and giggled to herself.

"Oh no, I’m late!" Aaliyah suddenly yelped, remembering something very important. She immediately hugged Yuan again, "I have to go now. I was only given five minutes!!"

Yuan simply watched as Aaliyah ran off back to the mansion. As she stared at her, the smile on her face was replaced with a not-so-happy look.

.

.

The second Aaliyah stepped into the sitting room, she was met with a hard glare, "It’s been more than seven minutes," Alastair growled softly.

"I didn’t mean to disobey. I just lost track of time with a friend,"

"Should I punish that friend, then?"

"Punish? Why...," That was when she recalled him stating there would be severe consequences if she broke any of his rules the day he was laying everything out for her. They can do anything she wants, but not too far from the mansion, "I only added two minutes. Please... pardon me just this once," She clasped her hands together.

"Two minutes is more than enough time. I know why I gave you just five minutes,"

What was he saying? "I’m sorry. Please pardon me just this once. I promise it’ll never happen again. Please, Alastair,"

He looked so dangerous and devilish, and it didn’t help that he had let down his hair again and it was covering his face.

She took a step closer to him, "You’re not so mad, are you?"

He refused to move. Suddenly, she moved up close to him and tucked all the fallen hair behind his ear, revealing his striking face with a tight look on it. She pouted her lips, "I don’t like seeing you like this," Then, she cupped his cheeks and pulled his skin upward, trying to make him smile, "This is slightly better,"

She pulled his cheeks, playing with them, "Your face cannot remain strained and hard and... straight all day long. You need to smile," She pulled the side of his lips upward, holding back the laughter that was evoked when she saw how his face looked so funny, "And frown, "Then she pulled them downward next, unable to hold back as she snickered a bit.

Alastair could not believe himself. Only a few had the audacity to stare him in the eye, and touching him was even unthinkable. Yet, this woman had walked up to him with so much trust that he wouldn’t hurt her, and was even playing with his face and laughing genuinely with no atom of fear.

Grabbing her hand, he stopped her from pulling his face again, "What are you doing?!" He demanded.

Aaliyah shrugged, "Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to make you smile so you can forgive me. Doesn’t your face hurt keeping it the same way all the time?"

This Siren...

Later that night they were outside on the porch again gazing at the stars. Tonight, there was just a single star that could be sighted by their naked eyes.

"Do you know some people believe when you die, you turn into a star?"

"Really? Is it true?"

"Obviously not." Alastair replied, "Stars are celestial bodies,"

"What about the one that was shooting by the other day?"

"That one is a small rock that entered the planet’s atmosphere, zipping across the sky,"

"Then why do people make wishes when they see a rock?"

"They believe it’s a sign that the universe is on their side, and if the universe is on your side...then the more chances of your wish coming true,"

"Well then, I’m glad I recognized a shooting star and made a wish,"

He remained silent.

"What’s a Siren, by the way?"

"Why do you ask?"

"because that’s what you always call me. A little Siren,"

"Because you’re loud and annoying,"

His reply irked her, "I’m not loud, and I’m certainly not annoying!" She exclaimed straight to his face.

He glanced at her as if she had just proved his point.

"I can’t believe that’s the meaning of the name. I thought it was something sweet. Gosh, I had my hopes up!" She wanted to elbow him. Instead, she rested her head on his shoulders with a blissful sigh, "Alastair, the nights have never been this good to me."

"Hm?"

"My sky is always dark and clouded. It rains a lot of times too." She then grinned, "And then, there’s you. You’re just like that single star in the sky. You alone make the whole sky pretty and bright. You’re my star,"

Alastair could not understand the depths of what she was saying, instead he glanced at her as usual. She was grinning as her gaze remained on the star, and that crazy urge hit him again. He wanted to touch her face and tuck away that hair that was dancing around her face.

Just then, the both of them grew alert.

Aaliyah turned to her right, aware that they were not alone again. It wasn’t Theodore or Kekoa’s presence that felt like this.

"Stay here. I’ll be back in a second," Alastair stood up.

"I’ll come with you,"

"No, you won’t. Stay here!"

She thought he was gonna leave the compound. However, he turned around and walked into the house. She heard the door click from within, and then it finally dawned on her that he may have tricked her and locked her outside.

It made no sense. Why would he do that?!

The place suddenly went dark, meaning someone had turned off the lights from inside and the mortifying feeling of being watched and approached had her banging both fists on the door, "Alastair, Open the door!!" She screamed.

The next second, it felt like something hard collided with her stomach. The intensity of the collision had her vomiting saliva and blood, and falling on her knees as she tried to stay conscious.

Right before her eyes gave up and closed, she saw two red eyes glowing In the dark standing right in front of her.

What the...!

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GIFTS are my Motivation.