"It's like movies." He says again. "Breaking codes of vaults and stuff."
I recall a story I was writing that year. About a thief.
"Another book pass I've found." He says happily.
"Another what?"
"A book pass. A ticket. Of reading you."
This guy! Even in situations like this..
I push the door as noiselessly as I possibly can. It's pitch black here. Can't see a thing.
"Shh. Maybe I'll just turn on the flash," he whispers.
Ugh I'm suffocating here. It's an empty house alright! Dust and cobwebs. What did I expect anyway. No furnitures or stuffs. Wait this seems more like an indoor veranda.
"Can you turn it that way?" I nudge Levi asking him to turn the flashlight of his phone in that direction.
He does as I say tagging along with me as I creep to that direction. That's another door I see. Brown but became almost black with time.
"A storage room? Protected by two doors with one having a combination lock. How odd."
"No lock here." He feels for the door. "Locked from inside." A hissing sound comes out of his throat as he guards a hand to stop me from going further. "Someone's definitely inside."
"Whoever's inside I have to know it." I knock the door once.
Then he follows suit. When I hear a faint yawn coming from inside he turns off the flash. Oh god! Someone's really here. Now what?
"I hear footsteps! And they're coming to open the door."
"You're early, aren't you John?" A sleepy voice grumbles from inside while still doing a half yawn. Levi instinctively pushes me a little behind him.
I keep jabbing at the corner of my phone wanting to turn on the flash to look at the person in dark the moment they open the door.
A clicking noise and I feel the breathing sound of him. "You've ruined my sweet dreams."
This time the voice doesn't feel very vague. Sweetly firm, annoyed and smooth-more refined than Aiden's usual voice. The apprehensive doubts begin to dissipate. My hands betray Levi's caution as I hold the light right at the source of the voice and the moment it's done a shiver of chilled rage and vexatious concern sends my nerves into shuddering.
"Loretta?!" The previous smoothness replaces with a perturbed disbelief tone.
My eyes aren't lying. Levi grabs my hand quickly in an attempt to pull me away from facing him. But in the end he drops my hand-the shock works against his will.
Should I be happy? Then what is this knot in my chest? All these mixed feelings... Are they even mine? The mission has ended successfully. We have found Nero.
"Nero!?" Levi seems rather disappointed now. The surprise fully gone. Like he didn't expect to literally find him here. "What a weird place to hide from the world. It's been long hm." Levi tries to bring his carefree usual self to tone down the awkwardness of the situation.
"The world is small indeed. It's been a while."
A while? How can he act so calm? Nero disappeared from the day before her death. He was hiding intentionally wasn't he? But it's no time to be overwhelmed. I'm here today because of Aiden-someone who never thought of abandoning her. But Nero...why?
I calm my shaking hands when I utter his name. "Nero. We need to have a good talk." I say it like I've known him forever and missed talking to him.
He sighs looking straight in my eyes. There I find a certain kind of remorse-something that'll not be found just by anyone. His fists are clenched and he does not move. Suddenly something comes over him and he brushes past me in a sprint.
But Levi grabs him then pulls his collar. "Didn't you hear that?"
Nero forces Levi down with equal strength. Oh no I don't want them to start a fight here.
"Levi." I shake my head at him. "Not now."
Something's wrong with Nero. Oneday I'll uncover the truth no matter what.
••••
It was half past 3 of the late night. He was reluctant to any kind of talk the whole ride. John was even more flabbergasted when he found us there with Nero. Regardless he didn't voice any protest since what's done is done. However he apologized and we decided to let it end there. Why cause more hurdle in the middle of the night? Levi looked tired. For the past few days we've been keeping ours heads so occupied that we weren't able to sleep properly.
Now the silent question hangs above us. What was he doing there?
The four of us are now in the drawing room. Ten minutes have passed in total anticipated silence. I still can't believe we've found Nero! Aiden I've kept my word.
I shake off the weird agitation to break the ice. "Nero."
He looks at me with those eerily beautiful eyes, still refusing to open his mouth.
"We won't ask you what was your purpose of hiding there leaving your home but right now, I have a favour to ask of you." I voice my part with a clear intention even though something about him rubs me in a very odd way. Why am I getting this feeling from him-this familiarity... When have I felt this before?
His expression stoically calm and eyes drowned in some untold grief.
"I need your help Nero."
The blankness slightly converts to expectation. "I'm listening."
Atlast some words! We still have hope.
"So he speaks huh," Levi remarks.
"Before I say what I'm about to say," I take a deep breath. "I need you to listen to me. I have to clear something." I fiddle with my hair in mild distraction while being careful with my words.
Aiden notices that but says nothing.
"Nero, Levi and Aiden...you all have become important parts of my life and I don't want that to change ever in any circumstances."
Aiden and I share a quiet glance. It's not easy for me to say and for him to hear. But what needs to be said needs to be said.
"I decided to stand with him not because I'm still processing certain things or out of unspeakable obligation."
I notice Aiden biting his lower lip-a flicker of regret passes through him.
"But because I cannot stop myself. Even if it takes me a great deal. If it wasn't you or him and Levi instead I would have done the same. I would've gone to any length to find you Nero." I take his hand in mine. "You are someone who's spend the longest of his life with me. This mansion would have been less lively without you. So please Nero, help Aiden. He's been accused of something he didn't do. Our hope lies with you."
I steal a glance at Levi whose eyes narrow at our hands. If it was a month ago I would never say that Mr. Fawcett certainly looks jealous.
"Nero... You know everything. Yes you do. Tell us what happened that night. Please." I plead.
He blinks slowly at my question. I squeeze his hand again. "We have not much time left."
"I cannot...do this." He brushes off my hand.
"Why? All you have to do is to say the truth. Please Nero for my sake! Your statement can change lives!"
I sign Levi and Aiden to give us some private moment. His rumination doesn't take a halt even when they leave and I close the door.
"Nero... Aiden's told me everything," I say. "When I woke up at the hospital, right there it was already decided in my mind that I needed a break from everything. But perhaps it is not something that's in my hands. A week ago I coaxed it out of him-the plight that ate him day and night. What would you do if I were in his place? Being framed- At times I wonder what's the purpose of my life..."
He strolls to the closed north window. Then he widens it. "Loretta, he's innocent."
I close the distance between us, now standing just behind him. "Then help us."
Staring out of the window he exhales. His silver locks tousled by the cool night air radiates under moonlight. "Is this the reason why you..."
Whatever he was going to say he refrains himself quickly. "It feels so long. So terribly long." Suddenly he turns around and before I could know or say a word he hugs me tight holding onto me for his life.
"How could I..? How could I..!" His repetition travels down my spine in uncanny tremors. But I choose not to question him.
He stays like that for some minutes before pulling out. I take his face in between my palms. How could I not not notice those great serene green grayish irishes, his silver waves cascading down his countenance-the perfect portrait on a blank canvas under this iridescent night.
Nereus Augustus. His name has an old ring to it. Sea god... Who named him?
He catches my hand when I try to remove those strands from above his eyes. But he drops my hand all of a sudden. Levi was right. Nero's unpredictable.
"I'm going to help you even though... it won't be enough... It never is."
"What do you mean?" I don't understand his vague words.
"I have the proof." The truth comes out of his mouth. "You have nothing more to worry about."
"Hm? I don't understand..." A crinkle forms on my crow's feet. "Tomorrow she's throwing a huge party at her house. And Aiden will be forced to say 'Yes' to all her conditions."
"Leave the rest to me." He says turning away from me but I don't fail to notice a pang of sadness in his eyes.
I wrap my arms close from under his arms. He trembles but then jerks himself back from my embrace. "Nero..?" I gape at him in awe.
"It's better if you stop considering me even a friend."
"Why?" I hastily come to stand in front of him, my hands now barely away from touching his chest to stop him. "What's wrong with you Nero?"
"I have done terrible things Loretta."
"What terrible things?"
"Do you still have feelings Aiden?"
His question surprises me even more. What does it have to do with anything? I never experienced love in my past life. And in this life I haven't yet thought about it. Just some hanging undeveloped emotions which needs to grow more. How am I supposed to answer him? And if I say No will it change something? Reveal something I don't know?
"I thought I already made it clear. Nero, at this point of my life I'm not sure of anything. I don't even know why I told Aiden the same thing but for some reason something felt very wrong and," I give him a small smile to encourage him. "I had to take the decision. Now I feel free."
He coils a lock of my hair around his finger. "Once more I'm forced to feel this terrible ache Loretta. Why have I done so wrong..."
I finally rest my hand on his chest. "To who?"
He pulls himself away from me again. "Tomorrow everything will be revealed. Tomorrow." Looking at the clock he smirks. "But some things will be buried with me." He exits the drawing room silently.
What on earth is going on? How many secrets do I have to live with?
I toss and turn unable to sleep again. Now that we've found him...will be ever say why he left. Now I have one more guy in my life to overcomplicate things. Can you really choose one person over the other? Okay maybe you can based on their personality, their physical features or even your relationship with them but if you get to inspect each of them closely...each of their dark sides and each of their deepest desires... Can you really find something to compare from within? Isn't that stupidly pointless? Aren't everyone unique in their own way?