"Anne!" Blue said in panic, once she was fully clothed. "Anne is still inside her bedroom! We need to help her!" She felt bad that she didn't wake her up earlier and left her inside the bedroom alone.
She was about to go to enter the manor again when Knox held her shoulder, preventing the little girl from moving recklessly.
"She is safe. Now, we need to get out of here." Knox took her hand, just in case that she would be in trouble.
"Is she really safe? Anne is safe?" She lifted her head because Knox was very tall, she let him lead her away from this place. "Where is she?"
"I will take you to her." Knox didn't talk much as he took Blue away.
One moment they were near the now dilapidated manor, but in another second they had disappeared, abandoning that manor for the members of The Hound and the vampires to fight against each other.
And for the guards that worked for the McKeltar family… It was good if they could escape this holy mess, but if they died… it was part of their job.
=====================
The first thing that he heard when he arrived at the house, where he hid Lise was the news about the McKeltar manor that had been flattened to the ground because of the fire that consumed the whole building.
The news said that hundreds of people had died there and also other dead bodies of non- human beings were being found as well.
The media was still not sure what had happened there, but they were certain that McKeltar manor had been attacked by the non- human creature.
This news only raised the hostility and antipathy of the people toward the supernatural creatures. Their fear turned into anger and chaos spread throughout the whole city, not only Fokosa City, but there were many cities that were against those non- human beings.
"Don't you think that you need to go and see the situation there?" Nathen asked Gael, but then he realized how pale he was. "What happened to you? You look so pale, I will call a doctor."
Nathen was Gael's right hand man, but aside from that, he was also his closest friend, at least for humans that were clueless about the fact Gael was one of the supernatural creatures, he could be said to be a friend.
Gael didn't answer that question for a moment, but then he decided it was not necessary, as he needed to see Lise.
"About Lise…" Nathen started, he didn't tell him this news first because he thought the McKeltar manor was more important, but apparently his conclusion was not right.
"What about her?" Gael's voice became hard when he heard Lise's name being mentioned.
"She woke up an hour ago," Nathen informed him and it didn't take long for Gael to dash toward her room to check on his woman.
The fact that the McKeltar manor was down and now his position was in danger, since the government and the organization had joined forces together to wipe out all the non- human beings, as they saw them as a dangerous threat was a beyond serious situation, but for Gael, all his concern would always be on Lise.
He needed to see her…
This feeling was his curse, but even so he couldn't help it. Knowing about it didn't help him at all. He would succumb to this misery for as long as he lived.
Lise was his curse and he was powerless against her.
Gael arrived at Lise's bedroom, his head was very dizzy and his nose was bleeding again, he wiped it with the hem of his sleeve harshly and shook his head, as his vision started to turn blurry.
The side effect of the poison that Lise gave him was very strong… he didn't feel like he had healed even after days had passed.
Gael walked toward Lise's bed and dropped to his knees, as he stared into her sleeping face.
Nathen said that she was awake, it was only a few moments, but the fact that she had gained her consciousness made Gael feel relief rushing through his veins.
She would be fine from now on…
She would be fine… there was nothing to be worried about.
But then, Gael heard Lise crying so softly, her brows wrinkled and her lips trembled when he kissed her knuckles softly.
Gael rose to his feet and caressed her cheeks, as he wiped away her tears.
"You are safe now… you don't need to worry, I am here, no one will hurt you anymore." Gael kissed her forehead and whispered sweet nothings into her ear desperately. "Please, open your eyes. Forgive me Lise. Don't punish me this way."
He would accept all the consequences only to see her smile again, he would go through a thousand agonies and let his soul be crushed to pieces, just to hear her voice.
But then, what Lise said next truly shattered his soul and pushed him to the depths of hell.
"Sol…" Lise called his name in her sleep.
=====================
Lise opened her eyes slowly, as she heard a beeping sound from the machine near her. It showed her heartbeat, which indicated she was alive…
What a pity to still be alive.
Lise breathed deeply, as she could smell the scent of an orchid flower. It smelled refreshing and gave her strength to open her eyes clearly and look at her surroundings. She was still in the same room as before…
Nothing had changed, except the presence of Gael there…
Lise gasped, her jaw clenched tightly, as she saw his face again. He was the last person that she wanted to see right now…
Lise was too caught up with her own emotions until she failed to notice how pale Gael's complexion was right now or the fact that he was sweating really hard, as his clothes stuck to his skin.
He didn't look like a monster, but a mere someone that was too exhausted when he had to face the whole world alone…