CHAPTER 34: THE ARGUMENT

Four days to go.

Aaliyah’s feet had not touched the ground, just as he promised. Alastair wasn’t just a caring husband, he was a teacher. They spent most of their afternoon in the library learning different topics, and she was learning very fast.

He could see the difference.

His forehead kisses had become a regular thing, and she loved them. At night, he would cuddle around her with his head on her chest with a calm silence between them. Aaliyah was always looking forward to every moment with him.

Right now, it was evening and he was giving her a piggyback ride as one of her requests. How she would have loved to kick his leg and command him to move faster, but she had her eyes closed, soaking in the beautiful moment.

Her feet were healing fast. The medicine and herbs he added to her bathing water every day were doing their job, and the pain she usually felt had subsided greatly.

"Alastair?"

"Yes?" He mumbled softly.

She opened her eyes and looked at his side profile, which was even more striking than his face. Swallowing, she cleared her throat and said, "Thank you for doing this," And then, she kissed his cheek, his beard tickling her lips.

"Don’t be grateful,"

She ignored his words and added, "Once my feet are healed, I will give you a piggyback ride too,"

He stopped and glanced back at her, catching her eye, "If you’re willing to break your back, yes,"

"You don’t believe I can," She eyed him.

"You’re feeble. You’ll break,"

She eyed him harder, "I didn’t break all those nights you came to me and laid on my chest now, did I?" Now she was bragging, " I’ll admit my chest hurts a little but I can carry your weight!"

Aaliyah noticed the way his eyes grew cold.

"What’s wrong?"

"What are you talking about? What Nights...did I come to you?"

The way he picked his words, and the rise in his body heat made a bad feeling creep up her nerves. She was regretting saying anything in the first place, and had to improvise quickly, "I’m not sure...Maybe I was dreaming?"

His Aura grew, and she knew he knew she was lying, making her hold her breath.

"Aaliyah,"

Whenever he called her full name, it meant there was something serious that should not be joked with. And lying to him was harder than she thought. Her conscience was yelling at her, guilt spreading through her heart.

She sighed, "Every night. You came over and we talked. Last time we talked about the Maqbath that you said was stuck inside your chest, preventing you from perfection. I asked the repercussions if the knife is never pulled out...," she swallowed tightly, remembering his last words that night, "And you said it would be the end of you,"

Everything about Alastair has been silent ever since she knew him. From his footsteps to his breath intakes, to the deep voice that came out in almost whispers. It felt as if he was part of a world she knew nothing about.

So it was the first time she heard a hiss from his throat.

"What are you, Aaliyah?" He thundered.

If he wasn’t convinced before that she was odd and unfamiliar from the others, then he was pretty sure now. Those sacred nights were his many moments of weakness, moments she was not supposed to remember the next day, so how come she knew everything?!

How...did she survive the Hollow forest when those more powerful than her wandered in there and died?!

"You’re scaring me," She confessed softly.

Regaining his composure, he maneuvered her around him so she was now staring into his eyes with his arms and legs wrapped around him. Aaliyah was panting at the sudden drag and chance, and his eyes were another hassle.

"Be honest with me," He began, looking as serious as ever, "What do you know about that seems out of the ordinary?"

Aaliyah shook her head lightly, "The Hollow. That’s all,"

She was afraid of telling him about her tears, or the fact that her body was slowly changing and evolving...or even about the strange rock she had found.

"Don’t lie to me, Little Siren," He deadpanned.

She eyed him back harshly, "What about you?!" She fired back, "Why aren’t you telling me anything?! What did that woman come to inform you about? Where did you travel to the other day? Why do you live in this mansion away from everyone? Why do you get so mad whenever Theodore visits? Who’s the last woman that accompanied you guys? Why did you suddenly change and become so nice to me? Why did you smell of blood twice after you returned from what looked dangerous? Why did you marry me?! WHO ARE YOU?!" She was very much panting now, and the both of them were now glaring at each other hard, "If you’re ever gonna ask me questions, you need to make sure you’re in the safe zone first. You cannot question me when I’m being suffocated by all you do!"

The tension between them sparked in the air.

"Do you have nothing to say anymore?!" Aaliyah continued, "Do you know how it feels to be married to someone as difficult and bizarre as you?!"

His other side came out at that point, "The others survived. You’re not anything special," He groaned, his powerful Aura beginning to engulf her.

"Oh, I know I’m nowhere near special. So tell me, what’s the catch? Why did you suddenly become so nice and caring?"

"You’ll have to wait and find out. Be a good girl, Aaliyah. Or else, you’ll come to regret it,"

"Good girl you say? I can only be good to you if you’re good to me!" She yelled.

"Fine. I’ll be good to you since you can see the Maqbath,"

"I see nothing! What Kind of idiot gets a Maqbath stuck inside his chest?!"

Aaliyah and Alastair knew he had arrived. They had heard the sound of his car riding into the compound, but they were too heated in the argument to mind him at the moment. He casually pulled out a small luggage from the back seat of his car, staring at them through his glasses.

"I’ll be living here for the next few days," Theodore announced.

The couple whipped their head at him, fury brewing in their eyes, "No!"

And there was Theodore Hawkins, sitting leisurely on the couch with his legs crossed. He was reading a magazine in his comfy state and had even prepared himself tea and was sipping it.

"Would you like to have some?" He looked up across him to the two people glaring at him with lightning in their eyes.

"Get out," Alastair stood up from his seat. He wasn’t even kidding. He couldn’t even kid if he tried to, and he was merciless with his tongue and his body language, "Before I throw you out myself!"

Theodore was not in the least terrified or provoked. He took another sip, and looked up at the figure above him, "I believe I informed you that I was coming,"

"And I remember I told you I don’t want to see your face,"

"If that’s the case, I’ll wear a mask then,"

"Theodore!!" Alastair thundered, this time much louder than before.

Knowing it was about to happen, Theodore’s eyes flashed darkness too and the room became too small for them. The walls cracked a bit, and it looked as if an invisible force was pushing the glass windows.

The tension and heat in the air could not be described. Anyone in their right senses who was with him would have taken off and left in a rush to save their lives. The scene had become too scary and filled with bloodlust, and all this authoritative and disastrous power was coming from two men.

Mostly Alastair though.

Theo was still as calm as ever and had the peace of mind to even take another sip of his tea and continue to read his magazine like there was nothing going on around him.

"Alastair, Look at me," Aaliyah could not stand the tension anymore.

She had forced herself to walk with her aching feet and stood in front of Alastair. Then, she had pulled hard on his shirt and his upper body had leaned down a bit and finally saw her there.

As soon as they locked eyes, his intense and terrifying anger reduced drastically.

"Alastair," She repeated softly.

He seemed to be calming down...on his own. Just because of her presence and her voice. It’s like his body was following the softness of her voice and the innocence and determination in her big eyes, pleading with him to be himself again.

And just like that, she stood on the tip of her toes and planted a kiss on his forehead. Her lips were loving and soft, and Alastair did not imagine himself melting off all that anger in an instant.

The things this woman could do to him...

He was afraid of them.