28 Gratitude and gestures

Ziana sat alone in the car, her emotions swirling like a tempest within her. The silence enveloping the vehicle seemed to amplify the chaos in her mind, leaving her feeling isolated and overwhelmed.

The memory of the demon's attack haunted her, its touch still lingering on her body, making her skin crawl. Its sadistic grin and demonic transformation remained fresh in her mind, replaying endlessly like a broken record. She shivered, unable to shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her bones.

Her thoughts then shifted to butterflies and the rude reaper who had saved her from death—again! She couldn't help but wonder how her life had taken such a twisted turn since his arrival. He had brought her back to life and kept rescuing her from the clutches of supernatural creatures that should have remained fiction. She was grateful but couldn't shake off the resentment shimmering within her.

Peace, once a familiar companion, now seemed like a distant memory because of him. His entrance had shattered the tranquility she had once known, replaced by a constant battle against the forces of darkness. The calm nights were now filled with uncertainty and danger, and the fear of death pressed upon her shoulders. It was as if he had lifted a veil, exposing her to the terrifying realities lurking beneath the surface. And she was scared of what lay ahead.

Who had sent this mind demon? What was her connection to the supernatural world? Why was she constantly attacked? And why did the reapers choose her out of all? Was there a deeper purpose to her rebirth?

Those questions echoed relentlessly in her head, each more troubling than the last. And her mind began to swirl with possibilities, all of which seemed too horrific to be true.

She needed answers soon, but would this annoying brat ease her worries? She highly doubted it as she stared at Zayden, who walked towards the car and hopped into the driver's seat.

"Treat your wounds," he said, handing her a paper bag from the pharmacy.

Ziana looked through the bag and was partly surprised by his gesture. He had even brought an ice pack, noticing her lightly swollen cheek from the club.

She took it out and lightly pressed it against her cheek as Zayden buckled his seatbelt and started the car.

"Did it teleport me to a different world or something?" Ziana asked as he slowly drove through the stretched roads. It was still a mystery how the whole subway transformed upon the demon's arrival. Its dark, gloomy aura still made her uneasy.

Zayden shook his head. "It created a mirror dimension and pulled you into it."

And how it was able to hurt her inside a mirror dimension, a realm where she only existed as a reflection, was still a riddle. But he was sure someone had given the demon access to powers only immortals enjoyed in such dimensions.

"How were you able to find me?" Ziana asked again, unable to hold back her curiosity. These creatures and their supernatural powers intrigued her, and she wanted to learn more about them, to understand them and their role in her world.

Zayden smiled cheekily and replied, "My heart led me to you."

Ziana frowned, her face scowling but she ignored him. Her mind was completely tired, and she didn't have the energy to bicker with him.

Zayden's brow furrowed, a small pout gracing his lips when Ziana fell silent. He wanted her to angrily argue back with him, but it looked like the incident had deeply scared her. With a sigh, he opened the car roof and hoped for the quiet night to calm her down.

As the roof completely opened, a rush of cool air enveloped the car. The gentle breeze brushed against Ziana's face, and she took a deep breath to calm herself. She shifted her thoughts to the sounds of buzzing traffic, trying to find some solace from the turbulence in her mind. But her heart couldn't let go of fear. It was still caught up in the arms of terror, struggling to free itself from the demon's grip.

Zayden noticed her struggles and sighed. The demon had truly shattered her usual spirited demeanor. She had transformed from a grumpy tigress into a scared cat, and that didn't sit well with him. He loved seeing her angry face, grim expression, and eyes that oozed confidence and a wish to kill, unlike this gloomy version of her.

"By the way, don't you think you have something to say to me?" Zayden spoke up again, his eyes focused on the road as he navigated the junction.

Ziana looked up, her eyes still dull and her brows creased in confusion. "What?"

"I mean, I just saved your life. Not once, thrice if we count." Zayden replied, a hint of expectation in his voice.

Ziana blinked, her expression slowly shifting to comprehension. "Oh... thank you?" Her words were tinged with uncertainty as if questioning whether he truly deserved gratitude.

Zayden smiled and nodded, but his contentment quickly vanished at her next words.

"I saved you from those thugs earlier at the bar," she retorted haughtily, showing no hint of appreciation. "So let's just call it even."

"You didn't save me, darling," Zayden responded calmly, making a sharp turn before continuing, his voice growing more intense. "You fucking fueled their anger and instigated the fight."

"And let's not forget that you failed to defend yourself in the end."

Ziana scowled at his words, her fears replaced by anger. But she had at least tried to protect this wretched man when he was helplessly kneeling in the club, and he didn't even acknowledge her efforts.

"Let's also address why these creatures keep attacking me," Ziana declared, turning towards him. "It's because of this damn connection between us that keeps putting me in danger." She argued.

Zayden opened his mouth to respond but was forbidden to reveal the truth.

The dark forces were behind her because of her hidden identity. She was the defender of the dark forces, tasked with vanquishing them and safeguarding humanity. And he was thrust into the role of her reluctant guardian, bound to protect her until her innate powers as the Defender was awakened naturally.

"What? Isn't that the truth?" Ziana queried, raising an eyebrow. His silence only fueled her suspicions, intensified by her unsettling conversation with the demon. They were concealing something from her, something both alarming and unsettling.

"Yes, it is! But you're alive today precisely because of that connection," Zayden retorted sharply. "And you should be grateful that I'm treating you nicely."

Ziana scoffed, looking at him in disbelief. Nicely? In his twisted perception, perhaps.

"If bullying, humiliating, torturing, and toying with emotions are the criteria for being nice, then trust me you're the nicest person I've ever met in my life," she retorted with a humble smile, making his scowl deepen.

Zayden was again at a loss for words. Yes, he was undeniably wicked, reveling in those exact actions she mentioned but he had also been kind to her in his peculiar way.

"I hate you!" That was all he could utter in the end, huffing out in frustration.

"Me too," Ziana replied with a smile that disappeared the next second. Taking out the bag, she focused on treating her wounds.

But her inept hands proved futile in performing the simple task. The bandages slipped through her fingers, and the antiseptic ointment spilled onto her lap, intensifying her frustration. Ziana let out a sigh of exasperation, her eyes welling up with tears, both from the physical pain and emotional exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Zayden continued driving, deliberately increasing the speed, relishing in her struggle. He wanted to see her suffer, convinced that she deserved none of his empathy. This fight gave him another reason to make sure she regretted every moment of her rebirth.

Yet, as Ziana groaned and cursed while clumsily attempting to treat her wounds, a twinge of irritation crept into Zayden's conscience. He abruptly brought the car to a halt, the tires screeching against the asphalt.

"What the..." Ziana grumbled, but her words trailed off into a pause, her eyes widening in shock as Zayden grabbed her hand, snatching the cotton swab from her grasp. Unbuckling his seatbelt, he leaned closer, causing her body to stiffen.

"W-What are you doing?" She stammered, her voice quivering as he gently lifted her chin.

"Your clumsiness will only aggravate the wounds," Zayden mocked, his eyes scanning the injuries. His voice carried a blend of frustration and concern, eliciting a gulp of astonishment from Ziana.

Her heart fluttered along with her eyelashes as he firmly pressed her chin, his warm breath creeping heat to her cheeks.

Why was he suddenly being kind to her?