Trouble

|Chapter Twenty-Five| Mulberry Tree

As my attention turns back to the flowers, my smile is so huge it's hurting, but still, I'm wearing it as I bend to smell them. My hand instinctively reaches out to one fully open bud, fingers brushing the soft petals and bringing it even closer to me.

Closing my eyes, I breathe it in, getting lost in the chilly October night and my magical therapy I've just found accidentally.

A crack echoing into the night makes me jump on my feet, stabbing my pointer finger on a thorn as a result.

"Ouch," I mumble, bringing it to my mouth instinctively, to stop the pain and the blood.

Straightening up, my wide eyes catch a tall figure on my side.

Before I can panic or tense, the figure steps out of the shadows, walking into the dim light.

My whole body relaxes, though my heart starts beating wilder than a second ago when I was scared.

He's here!

He's here because I asked him too. Because I wanted him to be here.

Because touching me has changed things for him too.

A huge smile starts to slowly form on my lips, while I stare at him dumbfounded.

Unlike his casual style, tonight Connor's wearing a black suit, with a pair of shiny and expensive looking shoes, and a black shirt. He has the top three buttons of his shirt undone, exposing smooth, toned skin, and I think I die a little.

He should stop looking so dashing and absolutely edible, or else I'm going to steal him for my eyes only. That is, if I survive him tonight in this mouthwatering outfit.

He's totally not dressed for the party, it's too formal, and my heart cracks thinking he might have made an effort for a girl.

"Let me guess, Persephone?" Connor speaks while I mentally drool over him, my finger still pressed against my mouth. I shake my head, snapping out of my trance and dropping my hand to my side.

I nod with a smile, taking a few steps toward my Sun, so now we are facing each other, the distance between us murdered.

"Are you my Hades then?" I ask, looking him up and down with dreamy eyes. "Are you here to steal me to your dark underworld?"

He crooks his head to the left, thinking about it for a second before answering.

"What if I am?" His eyes break into my soul with the depth they hold.

"I'll come with you willingly then. Let's go! To the end of the world with you."

"Such a reckless little thing you are." He mumbles after another second, shaking his head at me as if I'm an exasperating child he doesn't know how to deal with.

"Only when I'm with you." My voice and face are serious when I answer. Suddenly, my eyes narrow at the steel flask in his hand, before traveling back up to his face.

"Did you drink?"

Why is he always drinking? I used to think I always just got him at a bad time, but now I'm starting to worry that maybe he just likes to drink all the time.

"I was about to, but then I saw you." He says hiding it inside the inner pocket of his blazer.

"You drink too often, Connor..."

"Makes life easier," he cuts me off with a shrug, and I'm surprised he even answered it.

My heart sinks at the possible reasons of his alcohol habits.

"Why?" I whisper, scared to even hear the answer. "Is it hard without it? Because of me? Do I really make you uncomfortable?"

I count the roses as I stare to the side, to keep calm.