Long Night

Chapter 21: Long Night

I wasn't able to sleep. Though they were pushing me to sleep, to the point where Mr. Jareth wanted to lock me in the bedroom. Thankfully Sir Killian was able to stop him.

I chose to stay in the bedroom while they were in the living room. They were busy talking to someone on the phone. I decided to clean my scratches and the wound on my forehead. The wound wasn't that deep. It was just skin deep so it dried fast. Sir Killian and Mr. Jareth kept on saying that we should bandage it. I refused the moment they said it. 

First, It was that deep of a wound, it was just a scratch. Bandaging it would be a little too much. Second, there is a high probability that there is no bandage around the cabin.

The bed was soft, I didn't have a hard time sleeping. The second that I laid my head on the pillow I was already drifting to sleep. It was a light sleep. I kept waking up now and then whenever their talking was getting too loud or whenever Mr. Jareth was in his hyper mode. Although I keep on waking up, I keep on instantly falling asleep. Maybe it's because I'm too tired or just overwhelmed. Either way, I was glad that I was able to sleep through everything for hours without worrying too much.

"Just place it on the bedside table."

"Why? We need to wake her up so that she can eat!"

"Lower your voice! She needs rest. Let her rest. She will eat when she wakes up."

Their bickering got me out of the dreamland. I opened my eyes to see Mr. Jareth holding a basket of fruits while Sir Killian was holding the door open.

"You should let her eat! I can't believe-"

"I'm already awake," I said as I sat.

Sir Killian glared at Mr. Jareth as if he were blaming him because I woke up. But Mr. Jareth did not care, he rushed beside me with the basket and laid it beside me.

"Food for the human!" He said and handed me the basket.

"Those are the only food that we were able to find. I hope it satisfies your appetite." Sir Killian said.

"Those are hard to find! I hope it helps replenish your aura." He smiled, "though I'll say you recovered half of it already! Considering the darkling that followed you here!" He smiled an assuring smile.

Why do I need to be assured again? I don't know anymore.

Everything is just unsure right now.

"What's a darkling?" I asked as I grabbed a berry.

A supernatural? Everything is supposedly supernatural from now on. Probably not everything but I will consider everything to be supernatural now that I've encountered two or five. No one knows. I probably should count myself as one even though they keep on calling me human.

"That is a discussion for tomorrow. For now, eat and rest." Sir Killian grabbed Mr. Jareth and they went out of the room, leaving me behind.

I laid my back on the headboard as I hugged the basket. I didn't realize how hungry I was. My stomach grumbled as I chewed on the berry. Thankfully, they both left already. It would be too embarrassing if they were here when my stomach decided to showcase itself.

Outside, it was still dark. There's no sign that the sun will show up anytime soon. The green forest was dark and the only light that illuminated it was the bright moon shining above the clouds.

I didn't finish the fruits. It was too much for my small stomach. I walked out of the room and decided to give them some fruits—berries, most of them were berries.

I already finished the good ones though.

Sir Killian was staring at the fireplace when I came out. He was so still that I would have mistaken him for a statue if I didn't know him. He seemed lost in the fire because he did not notice me approaching until I sat at the other end of the sofa. I placed the basket on the coffee table, trying not to meet his gaze as he stared at me intently.

"Fruits, sir?" I asked awkwardly as my eyes gazed around to find Mr. Jareth.

No luck. He was not here. He left me alone with Sir Killian. I sighed in defeat. Now, how do I make things not awkward? I should have just stayed in the bedroom. I should have just rested until the sun rose, really I think it's just three in the morning.

Sir Killian was an okay boss but he is too quiet for me. I've seen employees try to approach him and he won't answer them—he won't even look at them. Even though, I am a naturally talkative person I won't dare to start a talk with someone who won't even respond.

His stare lingered on me for a moment before he turned his attention to the fruits. My heart jumped when his brows furrowed as he looked at the fruits.

Does he not like those? I cringe internally. I did finish the good ones, he must be offended by what's left.

He is a rich man who probably has a private chef and I dare give him some leftover, bland, berries?! I messed up.

"Didn't you like the food?" He asked before I could open my mouth to babble.

I gaped at him.

Is he worried that I didn't finish it because I didn't like it? Well, that's partly true, the leftover berries were bland and I didn't like them. But I didn't finish all of it because there was too much and it managed to satisfy my hunger.

"I like it, sir! It's just, well, I'm full!" I almost stumbled when I grabbed the basket.

"But these berries taste like nothing! You can't eat this!" I hurriedly made my way to the kitchen.

I could feel Sir Killian's stare as I moved. It felt like he was watching my every move, every motion that my body made that made me flush red as I left the basket at the counter. I wasn't around and I just stared and the counter for a long moment trying to calm myself and wait until my facial color was normal.

"I got it! We are going now!" The burst open with Mr. Jareth shouting at his phone.

I turned around to see Mr. Jareth looking at his phone.

He stopped at the doorway and sighed. He looks tired and stressed. I've never seen him looking like that. He usually smiles, and he is very playful. He was voted as the most lovable boss at the last year's poll that he also initiated. The banner and the vote count are still displayed in the employee's lounge.

"What did she say?" Sir Killian asked.

"I didn't see it coming." Mr. Jareth said in a worried tone. "A darkling made its way through Drifida. And the Princess's presence was also there."

His face looked troubled as he looked at Sir Killian and then me.

Sir Killian was silent, he seemed to be in deep thought as he stared at the fire. His face was stoic but his eyes held so many emotions that I couldn't read.

"Can't they handle it?" Sir Killian asked Mr. Jareth.

"Coincidently, the only ones who are in Drifida right now are Zephrine and Arthur. The others got teleported at the same time as me." Mr. Jareth took a glance at me before shaking his head.

They stayed silent for a while. Not talking and just staring at the space. I stared at them, confused and worried. Mr. Jareth not joking and not smiling is a huge bad sign. How bad can it possibly be for him to not smile? What is a darkling? And who is this princess?

I bit my lip in frustration.

What is happening?

"Okay." Sir Killian got up from his seat. "You will teleport me there. And you will wait here until Irene's condition is stable enough to withstand teleportation." He looked at Mr. Jareth directly in the eye.

Mr. Jareth didn't respond. He stared at Sir Killian for a very long moment. His eyes were searching for something then he nodded.

"You will only teleport Irine once she is in the condition to do so." He said once again before looking at me.

"You will rest here and wait." He said as he stared directly into my eyes.

I stared at him too. Wondering what sorts of emotions are going through him in that short period. 

Then, he disappeared.