6. Rewrite and continue.
Next morning, he went to tend farm as regular, he still was weary after yesterdays events and meet with his brother, on top he wasn't sure if her guardians were actually able to fully remove her memories. After doing that he made breakfast for Karis. She looked a bit rough, her eyes were red, hair messy, she was clearly in rush. He let her pass by and closed his eyes for a second. Azeroth could still taste their kiss on his lips, but he couldn't let himself get consumed by it.
-Good morning, i am so late, am sorry,- she rushed to washroom without looking him in the eyes.
-Good morning? How are you? Did you have calm night after i left?- he asked as she was shoving breakfast in her mouth barely chewing.
-I did, it was calm, but i think those guys scared me enough. I had some wild lucid dreams,- she rushed off, and Vincent felt somewhat hurt. Yesterday he felt like they have done some progress, but today she acted like nothing has happened. His manly ego was bruised.
She did not remembered anything, everything that happened was just a lucid dream for her, yet his heart now trembled as he heard her voice of how she did not want to fall for him. But Karis deliberately tried to hide her eyes from him today especially. She did not know, but her guardians made sure, that the kissing part of the dream not only lasted much longer, but together with her vivid imagination, made her think there was more. So now as she actually saw man that she had spicy dream about, she was just too shy.
At work there was not much time for her to daydream, there was a new officer starting to work, so she had to tutor him around, there were few other issues, back to back meetings, quick lunch and repeat. She felt like bouncy ball launched at speed into all 4 corners of the office. Young woman absolutely loved these times where she had so much to do as much as times when there was nothing to do. Since she ran away from her parents work became almost like a therapy for her, where she can escape and be something else.
During lunch new guy really tried hard to make conversations with her but Karis mind was just somewhere away. Her responses were half hearted, most of the times, she replied even without fully hearing the question.
-Oh you are living in that area? I have heard that there are 5 lakes in total, it must be so beautiful in there,- his reply about her house made her snap out of her thoughts and actually look at him,- my grandmother used to live there. Urilla, that is the name of village right?
-Yes, that's right, impressive, not many people know about that village.
-I loved it in there. Maybe one day after work we can go and swim in one of the lakes?- Karis chuckled. She never invited any co-workers to meet after work as she simply didn't built relationships with them outside of office.
-That is very lovely of you, but i don't really hang out with my colleagues like that. I prefer keeping all interactions strictly professional,- she made an apologetic smile, yet it didn't seem like it is going to kill his mood.
On her way back home, while she was stuck in traffic to leave the city she felt like she was dissociating. Nothing out of place, the only thing was the name now rang in her ears "Azeroth? Who is Azeroth?" She thought for a minute. None of her currently watched drama characters had such exotic name, neither of anyone she knew. "Must be one of those pop up ideas" She shrugged it off.
When rolling into her driveway she saw Vincent walking towards house, he did raised his hand for her as a greeting, she was still very much focused about not ramming her car into fence, or one of big stones. After she got of the car she felt weird tickle in her heart, not something like she used to feel with Jack, what people used to describe as butterflies, but something weird, like her body knew more than she mind did.
-Sorry about the morning, i really overslept,- she said while he let her go in first into house.
-Bad dreams?- he didn't smile or tease, he sounded hopeful of something which made her a bit suspicious.
-Indeed, i had dream that those guys came back, there were some lucid stuff happening, some weird things, my windows were smashed, my door was broken out. You were a demon,- she chuckled putting down her purse and laptop in the living room.- I should not drink that much, just as we had a conversation about mythical things, my mind started playing tricks.
-I don't think alcohol was the issue, i think you just got really scared. I did felt weary too, mainly because i live rather far away,- he said preparing table.
Karis smiled while sitting down. She now felt like heroine from one of manga's she had read, where a man was taking care of woman, while she was working. Food was ready, farm was taken care of, everything was way too perfect. She felt like she can trust this man after everything.
-I am thinking to have a little get together with my friends. You saw Adora when we moved in, there is also Freya and her husband. We would do some barbeques and stuff, probably get very drunk as well, so you will not need to cook this weekend. I will marinate meat myself as well,- Azeroth looked at her, she was giddy and constantly smiled looking at her phone.
-That is all right, thanks for letting me know.
Karis continued talking about her day, new employee and his miserable attempts to flirt. Azeroth had mixed feeling about this. His heart was jealous and satisfied at the same time, when Karis told him how she put him back in his place, but his mind kept telling, that he shouldn't even care. She promised to kill her own feelings, why bother?
When it was about time for him to go home he looked at her really gathering all his hopes.
-About yesterday, would you like for me to come in a bit later for evening tea? Just so there would be someone with you in the evening, at least for few hours. I am worried, that they will come back, or scare you, even if its not the same people, someone might.
-If you want and can, i don't mind, but i don't really know what you could do, i will probably watch some dramas or something to relax so you might get bored,- Demon wished to say, that he only needs her company to feel happy, but just laughed it off.
-I am sure, i won't turn into gossiping woman after watching few episodes,- Karis looked t him with weird expression. Jack used to hate doing things together, especially looking dramas together, as his insecurity told him, that she will like those actors more than him.
Once Azeroth returned to his mansion he instantly put Vincent's body to heal up before evening, and started to pace around room. Ghost followed his master with his eyes and remained silent until demon himself sat down and rubbed his face.
-Why does it have to be this hard? There is literally nothing going on, no one is threatening her, but i feel like i am walking on needles for her.
-Well your brother want to steal her away from you, maybe that's why you feel competitive?-Ghost was looking into mirror observing everything that was going on. All portals were fine, its been a while someone tried to breach anything, any threat would only be inexperienced foragers who would cross them by accident, yet Azeroth or Ghost would safely guide them back.
For rest of the week Azeroth would visit Karis in the evenings for tea before she would go to sleep, sometimes they were just chatting, sometimes watching dramas in silent, yet Azeroth grew even more attached. On Friday he managed to gather his courage and tried to get some answers.
-Say, if there would be a chance, would you want to see past memories that got removed from your mind due to being... scary?-they were on sofa watching one of the dramas that Karis was following. They didn't interest Azeroth, he just liked to watch young woman and her facial expressions. She thought for a minute then looked at him.
-No, i have loads of traumatic memories that i do not wish to relive,- he nodded, she looked up at him for a bit trying to read his motives behind questions.
-And what if you met someone during that time, who might be dear to you, or helped you. Would you want to remember that person?- he looked at woman meeting her questioning gaze. It took her a while to reply.
-If that person was dear to me, there is no way i would have forgotten them. That not how traumatic memories work. You cant forget people that help you heal.
-Are you healed now?- Karis chose her words wisely.
-Its hard to say. Jack left a scar, i cant deny that. He made me think i am bad person, that i was doing something wrong. Now i know, it wasn't my fault. And i kind of want to move on. I am moving on... but i am afraid.
-Of what?- the drama was not interesting for either of them anymore.
They both felt the tension of closeness between them, it was even possible to taste it. As Karis was choosing her words, thinking about everything, her mind played trick on her making her feel like she knows how he would taste if she kissed him here and now.
-You see, after a woman goes through a break up, she has to go through phases to heal up. Sadness, alcoholism, acceptance, bad bitch era, and one night stand period to fully heal up.
-In which period you are right now? -he smiled, he saw how her eyes focused on his lips for a good minute.
-Acceptance. But i cant move to my bad bitch era, or one night stand era.
-Why not?- Vincent had to remind himself the effect of low voice on women. Yet Karis held herself like a champ.
-Because i don't like being rude, and i don't want to make mistakes with one night stands that might lead to consequences that i do not want.
-So you chose to never heal up?
-I will heal, but it will take me a bit longer before i will allow myself to develop feelings,- Azeroth felt clench in his heart, yet she didn't say no to him. She needs more time.
-Thank you for sharing that with me,- he smiled and Karis then shuffled herself a bit more comfortable on all pillows and pressed play.
While Azeroth was thinking about how he felt towards this weird woman, she had battles to play on her own. Since she was so inexperienced with dating experiences and all she had was Jack, Vincent now made her heart fluster more than she wanted to. Weird flashbacks from the steamy dream that they had continuously came back to her feeling so real, like it actually happened.
∆I need gang opinion∆ she messaged to group chat.
∆If its about Vincent don't go for it∆ said Freya.
∆Its been a month, you need to wind off. Heal up, you just ended very serious relationship, how could you tell if he is just trying to get to you? ∆
∆I think Freya is right. You might be his way out of village, that's why he is trying to get you.∆ Adora added a gif with a person nodding.
∆Or maybe he is trying to move on from his wife loss.∆
∆I don't know, that's very sus that he doesn't have social media being our age, all he does is work in village, have you even seen his house? He might be a psychopath that is robbing grandmas.∆ Karis frowned, but couldn't be angry at them. She glanced at Vincent, she never felt so safe around anyone else.
∆I think that's a bit too harsh. Maybe tomorrow you will change your opinion?∆
She got several shrugging gifs and sighed putting phone down. She knew her friends want to protect her, but was he really someone she need to be protected from? She knew this man for a month now, and even with some weird things he did, Vincent didn't seem as dangerous person.