All that is dark | ✓

6| trust

"How did you know?" he said," I'm pretty sure you completely lost your mind after that."

"I did," she said, gaze flicking for a moment to the shadows behind Nathan, still screaming out to her with faces which resembled hers," I think I'm still searching for it, somewhere. You promised me one life however, one and one only. When you asked me to determine whether it was real, that's what I should've answered. He was going to die either way, unless I had changed my answer from Dante to him."

"Still," Nathan said," if it was in your head, your mind could've tricked you by picking the same choices as well."

"That's true," she said," but if it had been my illusion, you would've shot me straight through my head."

His expression was unreadable as he raised his wineglass to his lips. "Is that what you think? That I'm going to kill you sooner or later?"

"I don't think you're the biggest threat to my life," she said," I think I am."

The glass fell to the floor then, breaking so loudly she flinched, the red wine staining the carpet.

"You can't," he said sharply.

The rare display of emotion made her unable to hide her surprise for a moment, but she quickly replaced that with a smile as she started cutting her meat again, voice light.

"I wouldn't," she said," if I wanted to, I would've done it in that room."

He was back to his charming self again when he replied.

"That's why you'll have to stay by my side," he said," if not for me, who else will protect you from yourself?"

Absentmindedly he picked up the largest shard of glass from the floor, holding it up in the light for a moment as it dug in his skin.

"It's a shame," he said," I quite liked the glass."

Without paying it any other mind he dropped it back on the floor, raising from his chair then. She immediately placed down her cutlery, following him without any questions. He didn't need to tell her that she had to stay by his side, she wasn't about to leave on her own anyway. Knowing Nathan, there was no way this house was anywhere close enough to others that people could hear her scream. He wouldn't be stupid enough to make a mistake like that, with how hellbent he was on keeping her. Running away without a plan wasn't an option, because they both know she wouldn't come far before she was caught.

Still, it wasn't that thought which held her back the most. The one that did was the large part of her which didn't believe in her own sight anymore. What if she started running circles in her own imagination as soon as she tried to escape? If he abandoned her as well after that, she'd completely lose it. She couldn't bear to be alone again, so it was fine if her company could possibly kill her. Anything was better than apathy.

He was walking steadily but slowly, Helene anxiously glancing up at him as they walked down the stairs to the basement. What was he going to show her? This wasn't a cruel joke where he ended up locking her in a different place this time, right? No, that would defeat the whole purpose. Then what?

"You're annoyed," she said.

"What?" he said, taken aback for a brief moment as he looked at her.

These past days all she had had to think of was him and every interaction they had had, the images of his face flicking in front of her eyes time and time again. She always could read people well, but with all her focus on him now she finally saw it even clearer. His jaw had tensed ever so slightly, eyebrows furling together for a fraction of a second.

"Where are you taking me?" she said," if it's a surprise that gets you irritated, it can't mean much good."

"I'm irritated?" he said, hand grazing past his forehead, as if to check if his expression was still in place.

He paused for a moment, stopping in place at the last step, which lead to a closed door. With a curious gaze he glanced at her, before smiling widely then.

"I suppose it is because I'm jealous," he said," I didn't quite realize it, it seems. Still, it will be alright. After we've done this, I don't think I'll have much anger left."

"Jealous?" she asked," of whom?"

He gently cupped her face in between his hands, the blood from his wound warm on her skin.

"When I decided to make you mine," he said," I couldn't let anyone who had hurt or touched you be. That's only natural, isn't it, considering that I'm the only one you should be thinking of now."

Dante? No, he hadn't hurt her. Then who?

"Especially when I heard everything he did," Nathan said, somehow terrifying despite his warm expression," you should've seen my face then, I was ready to kill him on the spot. I couldn't though. He doesn't deserve a death that easy."

She already knew who it was when he opened the door, but still couldn't help but stare in shock. The basement was completely empty, save for a steel table in the middle, where a man was strapped to. His eyes were wide in fear, snapping towards them, bruises and blood covering his body. On his right was a table with surgical equipment on it, Nathan chuckling as he took a scalpel.

"I told you, didn't I?" he said," it would be fun to dissect someone together. Who else would I choose except for the man who thought he was allowed to do it to you?"

She stopped next to Nathan, locking eyes with the man then.

"Helene," Zion sobbed," please help."

From now on, there was no way back.