34 Unwelcomed guests -2

"I cannot drive cars, so I requested him to bring me here," Yael quickly answered, attempting to divert the attention from the intense stare between Ziana and Zayden. Ziana glanced at Yael, her furrowed brows relaxing into a smile.

"Oh, so he's a chauffeur for you guys now," she commented, motioning for them to enter. "That's good. This job suits him well since he loves driving people crazy," she remarked with a mischievous smirk, alluding to Zayden's knack for getting under people's skin, especially hers.

Yael suppressed a chuckle, amused by their banter as they stepped inside Ziana's house. Despite being just two days away from Earth, he couldn't help but miss their playful arguments.

Zayden, never one to back down from a verbal sparring with her, responded with a smirk of his own. "Since you share similar traits, mind taking my job?" he quipped, his eyes gleaming with amusement and a hint of something more.

"I'll be happy to let you ride THE car," he playfully added, emphasizing the last word, the weight of their shared history lacing his words.

As soon as the words left his lips, Ziana's face flushed with a mixture of surprise and embarrassment, memories flooding her mind. Instantly, her thoughts echoed a similar conversation they had shared after their wedding, a misunderstanding that still urged her to dig a hole and bury herself.

Zayden couldn't help but smirk as his dear wife fell silent, clearly aware that she had unintentionally brought up a past battle she couldn't win. Yael blinked with a slight frown, not fully catching the depth of Zayden's remark. However, seeing Ziana's embarrassed reaction, he decided to come to her aid.

"Where's Mrs. Brown and your brother?" he asked, looking around the empty house, trying to shift the focus to a different topic.

"Mom is on duty, and Ivan went to school," Ziana answered him, grateful that he rescued her from this uncomfortable situation. "But Ivan will be back soon since there's only an orientation program today," she added with a smile.

"Come, have a seat," she gestured them towards the couch area, only to realize that she had made a mess with her snacks. Quickly gathering all the packets and bottles, she placed them on the dining table and dusted it off before gesturing them to sit.

Ziana's attempt to clean up the mess caught Zayden's attention. "Clumsy," he commented, taking a seat. Yael smiled as Ziana fetched them some water to drink. Despite Zayden's remark, he knew Ziana wasn't as bad as her husband viewed her; he just needed to change his way of seeing her.

As they settled down, Ziana turned her attention to Yael. "I heard you were sick. Are you okay now?" she asked, taking the chair beside him. The last time she saw him was on their first day, and later when the demon attacked her, she learned that he was sick and had been taken back to the Afterlife.

"I am better now," Yael nodded and shifted closer to Ziana, concern etched on his face. "And what about you? I heard a demon attacked you twice. It must have been terrifying," he expressed with genuine empathy, his eyes reflecting his heartfelt worry.

Zayden, unable to resist stirring up trouble, interjected, "And yet, you're not even a pinch thankful for the person who helped you survive it," his tone dripping with smugness.

Ziana's smile faded, her eyes narrowing as she turned her steely gaze towards Zayden. This guy was so frustrating! "Oh, how could I forget? The great Zayden, my knight in shining armor!" she mocked him, her words dripping with irony and a hint of bitterness.

"Thank you for coming into my life and blessing it with misery," she added, her voice heavy with sarcasm as she partially held him responsible for the attack. If he hadn't rubbed salt over her break-up wounds in the mall, she would've never gone alone to drink!

Zayden's smirk faltered slightly, but before he could fire back, Yael swiftly decided to intervene, understanding the need to defuse the situation. His mission was to help them find common ground, not ignite another fiery fight.

"Oh, your wounds look deep. Can I take a look?" Yael moved forward, his voice filled with genuine concern. Ziana looked at him, her anger melting away at his caring smile. She took a deep breath, deciding to set aside her resentment for the time being, and nodded in agreement. It was better to ignore Zayden's provocation and save her blood pressure.

"They have turned slightly purple," she commented as Yael moved closer to examine her wounds. She had noticed the discoloration around the bite marks earlier this morning, and it had raised some concerns within her.

With a gentle touch, Yael removed her bandages and examined her wounds, his brows furrowing in concentration. Seeking to ease her worries, he reassured her in a calm and soothing voice, "The discoloration is a normal part of the healing process. However, given the depth of the bite marks, using magic to aid in the healing might cause some discomfort since you're completely conscious."

Meeting Ziana's eyes, he expressed his concern, "Can you bear the pain? If not, we can allow them to heal naturally for a while and address them later to avoid any unnecessary discomfort."

Curiosity mixed with astonishment, Ziana inquired, "Can you heal them completely?" She recalled a similar previous encounter when he had treated her wounds during the wolf attack. In fact, he had completely vanished them, not even leaving behind a scar.

Yael nodded with a reassuring smile. "But to avoid suspicion, you might want to keep the bandages for a few days," he suggested, mindful of her family's concerns if her wounds were to miraculously disappear overnight.

"That's okay. I can bear the pain," she affirmed, her expression reflecting a mix of unease and determination. Although she had been trying to maintain a positive attitude since morning, the demon's touch still lingered over her neck, his voice playing in the back of her head, and she desperately wanted to erase its traces. It only served as a haunting reminder of how her entire life had been in danger, palpating her heartbeat with sheer fear.

"If you can't handle it, just let me know. The procedure will only take a few minutes," Yael said with a reassuring smile, his concern evident. Ziana nodded, but Zayden could easily see the anxiety shimmering in her brown eyes.

Yael stood up and closed his eyes, extending his palm. A small vial filled with black liquid materialized in his hand, and Ziana held her breath in anticipation. With a gentle touch, he slightly crooked her neck and began pouring the antidote over her wounds.

Ziana winced in pain, her eyes watering, as the burning liquid made contact with her skin, causing her to groan, "Arghhh." She clenched her fists and gripped the arm of the chair tightly, determined not to make any more sounds. The acrid scent of the healing potion filled the room, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Yael, his brows creasing in concern, asked, "Does it hurt?" Ziana's cry of pain troubled him, aware that the healing potion for demonic attacks was known to be excruciating. He hoped she could endure it, knowing that interrupting the process would only prolong her suffering.

"It's fine," Ziana managed to whisper through gritted teeth, but Zayden shook his head slightly. She was being stubborn in her attempt to act brave. Sensing the tension, Yael turned his head slightly, looking at Zayden with confusion.

Zayden continued, his tone suggesting an alternative solution, "Just feed her the potion." Ziana blinked, her gaze shifting towards Yael, silently questioning him for an answer. If what Zayden said was true and it would spare her from the pain, she was willing to consider it. However, Zayden's next words fueled her rage and contempt.

"For the rest of her life," he added with a smirk, knowing exactly how his words would provoke her and distract her from the pain.

Determination sparked in Ziana's eyes as she retorted, her voice dripping with frustration, "Maybe we can drink it together? I don't mind having company." The burning sensation on her skin intensified, making her wince again.

Zayden's eyes gleamed with dark amusement, enjoying her fiery response. But he wasn't done teasing her yet. Shaking his head, he remarked, "You can't kill the dead with poison, Ziana. Tch Tch, your punchlines always fall flat."

Ziana's face contorted at his comment. Determined, she shot back, "But my punches never fall flat. They always hit the right target. Should we test it on your face?" Her grip on the armrest tightened, her knuckles turning white.

"I can help you nicely wrap it with bandages so you can give a little rest to your nasty mouth," she added with a sweet smile. If possible, she just wished to wrap him entirely in bandages, turn him into a mummy, and dump him in a coffin.

Unbeknownst to the heated argument, Yael had completed treating Ziana with the potion. With gentle precision, he now traced intricate symbols and incantations over her blazing skin, his fingertips dancing with practiced grace. The room crackled with energy as the magic woven into her wounds began its work. Ziana's attention returned to her wounds, her skin still aching, but the light strokes somehow cooled the pain.

"I'm infusing the healing potion with a protective barrier," Yael explained, his voice carrying a soothing tone as Ziana worriedly looked up at him. "This spell will not only accelerate your recovery but also shield you from further demonic attacks."

Even Zayden's mocking expression faltered for a moment as he glanced toward Yael, his curiosity piqued by the sight. He smiled, pride evident in his eyes, like a father enjoying his son's expertise.

Ziana nodded, and as the pain transformed into a tingling sensation, she felt as if her wounds were being stitched together by an invisible hand. Silence settled over the room, broken only by the faint hum of the spell resonating with Ziana's rejuvenating skin, signaling its completion.

"Done!" Yael exclaimed with a smile, stepping back from her. Ziana touched her neck, a wave of joy washing over her body as she felt no pain.

"Thank you so much!" she said, turning to Yael, but her expression paled as she noticed two familiar figures standing at the door. The smiles on Zayden and Yael's faces quickly faded, replaced by deep frowns as they turned around at her expression.