Chapter 19.4

Despite being grilled by the girls, Jason managed to finish cooking a sumptuous meal. At the same time, Jason was reminded of his promise by Asami and he pulled a 1900 D'Oliveiras Madeira out for them to drink. Even though it was white wine, he strictly kept it to a quarter glass for each. However, Asami turned out to be a lightweight and tried to molest both Alina and Emily in her drunken stupor but ended up only being shot by Michelle.

After the meal, he helped the girls with their homework which was more than usual, due to the school being cancelled. When they were finished with their homework, he allowed them to play games while he went to the third floor to fix the room where they would sleep. First, he had Ava, who hid from the girls by staying upstairs, increase the size of the bedroom by folding the old walls into the floor and raising new walls that were farther off. Then he placed futons for the girls before ushering them to bed, knowing they would gossip and play until midnight anyways.

The only one who partially helped him and did not join the other girls was Emily, her experience in housework proved helpful to Jason and the latter was impressed by her skills. After helping Jason, she sat with Alice and helped her get ready for bed but the latter wanted to sleep beside Jason. He decided to coax her to sleep in his arms before handing her to Emily, who promptly took her to the bedroom the girls were sharing.

With it being half past nine, everyone was in bed and Jason had some time to himself. He went to the fourth floor sat in the balcony with the remainder of the white wine and took a deep breath, smelling the fresh sea air while a light drizzle continued falling. Even though it was a few hectic days, he couldn't help but smile fondly at how nice it was to finally relax.

Is this what it feels like to have a home? Jason thought as he lifted the bottle to his mouth. Just sit back and relax without worrying about tomorrow's problems?

"I thought you don't drink?" a voice behind him asked.

Jason smiled, and without turning his head, he answered. "Yeah, but it'd be a waste to not finish this. Want some?"

Emily sat in a chair next to him and took the bottle from him. She took a small swing and savoured the flavours that tickled her tongue. The most dominant flavor was the sweet plum and oolong tea with a hint of tangerine acidity at the end. She handed the bottle back to Jason and looked out at the city along with him. Right now at night, the city was bright with lights sparkling everywhere like twinkling stars.

"It's beautiful," she said. Instead of her white tee, she was wearing a beige turtleneck that was long enough to cover her luscious bottoms which were now dressed in a pyjama, an outfit she borrowed from Alina now that it was time to sleep.

Jason turned to look at her teasingly and agreed with a husky voice. "Yes, very beautiful. Gorgeous even."

Emily rolled her eyes at his teasing but her cheeks were with tinged red. When she turned to look at him, Jason had already looked away, his eyes were watching the scenery that was shifting as the floor slowly rotated to another direction. Looking at him now up close, Emily realized she barely knew him, especially after seeing how weary he looked. His face was devoid of wrinkles but his eyes were filled with experience and wisdom that were usually found in older people who had endured much in life.

"Can I ask you something?" Emily said after hesitating. "How old are you?"

Jason turned to look at her amused, his eyes twinkling like black jewels as he looked at her. Emily watched his eyes in a daze. She didn't know why, but she was always drawn into them.

"Do you want the truth or the truth?" Jason asked teasingly.

"Preferably? Both," Emily answered after a rousing herself from his eyes.

"Hmm, I'm allegedly twenty-one," Jason said as he took another sip from the bottle. "But honestly, I don't know. I was an orphan, and the people who found me thought I was around four. I could be older, or younger."

"Probably older," Emily giggled.

"Nah, I'm definitely younger," Jason joked while stroking his chin. "It's the beard that makes me older."

"I don't mind you being older," Emily said after a while, causing Jason to pause the bottle that was raised to his lips.

"Oh, why's that?" He asked.

"I like older men," Emily replied, almost purringly. "Guys my age don't know how to treat me well."

Jason didn't answer and looked at Emily, who was expecting him to continue flirting with her. Instead, he looked away into the distance before looking down at his hands.

"You should go to sleep," Jason finally replied lethargically while finishing the bottle.

He stood up and stretched before handing the bottle to a cleaner bot that was passing by. Emily who was downtrodden by his reaction, walked back down to the bedroom while Jason closed his eyes, his mind in turmoil.

As a healthy man, he found it difficult to turn down Emily, but it was the right thing to do.

He was her teacher, it would be wrong for him to be involved with a student and he was sure it would only increase the isolation and negative image Emily had. More importantly, despite her technically being an adult, Jason refused to touch Emily until she was eighteen. Then, there was his promise to Alina; he didn't want to hurt a friend of hers, which would be inevitable if Emily became emotionally attached to him. And he knew that she would be if they ever crossed that line together.

Things are good the way they are, Jason thought as he folded his arms. There's no need to muck things up and destroy the friendship these girls have.

Shaking his head, Jason began mapping the interior of the Loft in his mind, trying to detect life signs, he confirmed that no one was nearby. He walked to a wall and pressed a specific spot on it. A part of the wall slowly caved in and he easily through it and into a hidden room. After he entered, the darkened room lit up as the wall behind him solidified once again.

Jason stood in the center of the room for a while, reflecting on his thoughts before raising an arm. He made a cutting motion and the air in front of him began to shift and blur like a mirage. The very fabric of space and time twisted and distorted itself as it began collapsing into a small event horizon. The sound of glass shattering sounded vaguely in his ears as a hole in the dimensions tore itself open in front of Jason, who calmly walked through it and disappeared.

A strange sensation tingled Jason's senses. It was like walking through a cloud, a cold wet feeling from a form that was not liquid or gaseous, but still tangible suffocated his body and compressed the air in his lungs. His organs shifted slightly, as though he were in a speeding car that stopped abruptly when he took a step forward and his feet touched solid ground.

Opening his eyes he found himself in a darkened corridor that was eerily quiet. As he walked past many closed doors, his footsteps echoed through the floor like heartbeats. The silence was interrupted by the drifting of wind as a shadow appeared at Jason's side.

"Master," the shadow said reverently while kneeling.

"Is there something to report?" Jason asked coldly.

Right now, if any of the girls were to see Jason, they wouldn't be able to recognize him. His eyes were devoid of emotions and life while the aura his body was emitting allowed no one to approach him.

"No, m'lord," the shadow hesitantly answered.

"Then leave," Jason murmured apathetically. As he walked past her he suddenly paused turned his head to her direction. "Wait. Send some men to discover who killed the parents of Ken and Nikki Carson. They're students and friends of Alina."

"Yes, at once!" the shadow responded enthusiastically, elated at being acknowledged. The shadow immediately melded with the surroundings and Jason walked onwards.

Jason finally stopped in front of a door and took a deep breath. He entered and allowed his eyes to adjust to the lighting for a moment. His eyes were then fixed on a slab of stone that was in the center of the room. Lying on the slab was a young teenager, sleeping peacefully without moving a single muscle. Her tanned skin peeked out from the white dress she was wearing and her hand was in front of her chest, holding a crystal flower made from condensed lifeforce. Jason stroked her hair, fixing her bangs when he got close and he looked at her with a tender smile, a hint of emotion coloured his eyes.

"Hey, Hel," he whispered. "It's been a while, sis."

A/N: A lot going on in this chapter, most of which is alludes back to the side chapter "The Wolf, the Sister, and the Brothel". I won't spoil it, but if you read that chapter then a few things about Michelle and who Helena is will be clear.

For those who haven't read it yet, Helen is Jason's sister from Greek times (Jason himself being Jason of the Argonauts, the one who went on an odyssey for the Golden Fleece while Helen is his sister, Helen of Troy, who was also cursed just like him).