Chapter 9- Abyss

Eden. 

"You didn't want me at your party? Now you want me in your house? Are you playing with me?" l sniffles, packing up my clothes into the boxes, my house is clearly unrecognisable. 

Every time he is around me l feel like my lifespan is just shortening away, right before my eyes. My life was more peaceful before l met him, why did he even have to show up here? At a time like this? To ridicule me and make me look worthless in his eyes. 

I had planned on giving the manager a paycheck tomorrow morning, yet he didn't even hear me out… 

"I'm asking you to come with me, Eden, isn't that enough? Why are humans so complicated?" 

"Why are you talking like you are not human? Right, you are a devil in a human form, l would rather sleep on the street than sleep under your roof." l snapped, packing up my clothes hurriedly, ruffling through the mess to find my books, the only little flower vase in my room broke - it was my eighteenth birthday gift from my mother, l loved it so much, it always reminds me about the past good times and how we would always hope for the better, now it gone. 

I rushed to put the pieces together yet l carelessly let it slice my finger causing a sharp groan to escape my mouth. 

"You should let that go, it's obviously broken, why are you so dumb?" 

"You don't know anything, just leave me the fuck alone, leave my house, go!" 

"Tch, you can yell all you want, I'm not leaving this place without you, where are you gonna sleep? Your door is broken, it's late in the night, how far can you go?"

"Why do you want me to come with you so badly? For what reason? Why do you want to end my life so badly? I haven't done anything wrong to you so why can't you just leave me alone? I saved your life and you returned the favor, we should go our separate ways, we are obviously two different entities." 

"I'm not meddling with your life, Eden. As a matter of fact, it's the opposite, you affect me and I hate it, so leave all this behind and come with me already," He persisted, throwing his hands in the air impatiently. I don't understand him at all, at the party he wanted to strangle me to death with his eyes but right now his eyes are glinting something different. 

What does he really want? 

What does he mean by 'l affect him? Why is he talking nonsense, is he drunk from the party, no, he doesn't look boozed. I ignored him picking up my laptop that seemed damaged beyond repair, l held back the drop of tears attempting to escape my eyes by shutting them off completely while taking a deep breath. 

I really hate myself! I will never forgive myself! What am l supposed to do now? This is one of the only apartments that are affordable in this neighborhood, down to the main avenue. House rent has never been favorable in metropolitan cities but l have so many part-time jobs here and l love living in the city. It is quite easy to go by and it is closer to my job location. What am l going to do now? How am l supposed to even start again? 

"Do you really want me to leave you?" He doubted, walking towards me in slow steps, l threw my head to the ground, staring at the tiled floor to avoid his possessive aura towering over me like his height, he is so tall that my head can only reach his lean yet very sturdy chest, he bends forward his body, his face coming close to my face again giving me that chilly feeling. 

"Yes, leave me alone," I affirmed, looking everywhere except his face, his body too close to mine, making me want to settle in and let him hug me and tell me everything's going to be alright, that he would stop throwing rude and bitters words at me if he really cares about me and wants me to live with him which l find it very unbelievable. "l will sleep at the bar even though I'm not on working shift tonight, thanks for caring about me and stopping by, l will be alright," I said dismissively, hoping that clears the air, the matter should end now but he yanked me up, heaving me in his arms - in bridal style, l thrashed screaming, aiming to punch him in the face, l immediately grabbed my school bag hitting him to let me go. 

How can he carry me in such an embarrassing position? I'm not some damsel in a dress. 

"Stop throwing tantrums like a kid, stop being stubborn and cranky like a bitch." 

"Why are you so rude to me, Dylan?"

"Now you know my name, l thought they were  blocked letters in your eyes, it's nice to hear you call my name, do it often from now on… when it's just the both of us, and do what l say." 

"Just let me down, l can walk by myself," I mumbled, settling into his smell, he wears cologne? It's so sweet and sour, so warm yet cold. I nudged my nose in his chest, snuggling absentmindedly, enjoying this position of being so close to him, so close to his body, exchanging our warmth through this contact, ignoring how every bone in my body aches and how my tongue tasted my own blood, l closed my eyes hoping to fall asleep into an abyss of peace. 

"Don't sleep just yet, l thought you didn't feel pain? you are pathetic and it makes me laugh Eden, " He chuckled, settling me in the passenger seat and buckling my seatbelt, his lips grating my cheeks to the oblivious. I sat still, freezing in my position as he shut the door and hopped into the driver's seat, l noticed his white shirt had my blood stained smeared all over. " Why are you helping me?" I asked honestly, my fingers fidgeting nervously, I'm not used to people being nice to me. 

He is even driving by himself. 

Depending on who he is, isn't it bad for him to be out here by himself? With none of his guards behind him, What if something bad happens to him? Why would he even care about someone like me? 

"I'm not helping you, Eden, don't get your hopes high, I'm doing this because l want to." 

"Then…"

"Don't say anything else, just stay here while I'm asking nicely." He blurted out driving into a mansion, a castle, the usual guards, dressed in all black patrolling the vast compound, all of them with rifles and big guns, some sitting by the water fountain and smoking but they immediately disposed of it at the sight of Dylan. 

"Alpha!" They chorused at once, bowing at Dylan who just waved it off, grinning awkwardly at me, "I don't want to say this but l hope you get used to my house." He grunted, bobbing his head for me to follow in his footsteps. 

"You came back already, l was worried about you," The familiar voice of the one that helped me earlier echoed, and it made my eyes sparkle with joy. 

At least l will have somebody here that I'm comfortable with, even though we only met once at the party night, l feel good around him. 

"You should have told me you went to fetch him, l would have joined you and what happened to your shirt?" 

"Stop nagging Ryan, it's annoying." Dylan retorted, making his way inside. 

"Ryan," I murmured, feeling exposed and tired. 

"You are hurt Eden, let me take you to the infirmary," Ryan offered, holding my wrist and leading me slowly when Dylan bashed in between us and snatched my wrist away from him, pulling me away, so forcefully that l could barely feel my feet on the ground.