We hugged before he left. One that left me feeling more confused about my emotions as our bodies molded together and he had his around me... lips on my forehead.

After the chaste kiss, he said, "If we were to ever meet again Harida, it would be by your own volition. But for now, I've got a present for you. All you have to do is to walk into your room and relax, it'll be brought to your doorstep."

Like always, after any of our chat date, he'd get me a present. Gifts like clothes, jewelries, my sketch pad and a lot more. The only thing he hadn't gotten me was a phone or a car and I was sure it was cause of Allen.

Maybe like me, Allen had given him a list of rules to follow if he wanted to have me.

Avian held my hand as he led me down the pathway to the back door, and even then, he didn't leave immediately.

The way he released my hands slowly as if he was reluctant to let me go, and the way he was watching me as I climbed the stairs while looking back to find his warm and analyzing gaze. I waved again at him when I got to the top stairs and he nodded before clicking two fingers to alert his men of their departure.

When back up, I made my way to my room. I'd stayed so long at the mansion that I could locate it while blindfolded. My room was on the first floor, at the main quarters. From the stairs, you pass a lot of locked mahogany doors on the sunlit hallway, moving right, till you get to the one seconding the last room.

I opened the door, searched if one of the guard was in, and locked it behind me. Even when inside, as I began to off my shoes, my eyes caught sight of myself in the mirror and I left every other thing in a reckless abandon just to get answers. I began analyzing my looks, wondering what Avian saw to be able to tolerate me.

Like he always said, "I'm a leader Harida. I could have any woman I wanted, but their thoughts also matter to me, which is why I want to know what you think..."

What she thought?

Well, it was on the mirror right before her. She thought her dreads were dreadful and limited her styles. What if he liked his women on punk, or any other gangster hairdo, meanwhile pretending to like her with dreads in a ponytail?!

Her brown eyes shone back at her, making her round face look smaller than they appear. She got her mum's facial structure, but there was no denying her Allen's build— it manifested quite greatly in her looks; his height, lips and nose.

What could he possibly see in her to be offering presents every time they met or allowing the curtain of his limo up, cause he knew how much she loved the moving scenery out the car window? Cause there were a lot of things about her he shouldn't like and she was afraid it outweighed the ones he might like.

At last, after wondering her hearts out about Allen and dumping the idea of covering the face of the mirror with a thick blind just so she'd stop seeing her real self, she changed into a pair of comfort clothes that hid all her scars, and decided on sketching out her thoughts.

She sat on the desk beside the sealed window, Praise's words floating in her mind.

"Our father..." , Fiance" ...

In all the conversations they've had, there was nothing whatsoever about the three weeks they'd spent together. All her concern was on what Allen wanted. She didn't even care if Harida was alright.

And somehow, Avian's message today had seemed like a goodbye: "If we were to ever meet again Harida, it would be by your own volition..."

In her head, it could all be translated as: "I'm tired of you. I don't hope to see you anymore but I will answer if you do need my presence. Here's a little token for all your troubles."

There was a knock at the door.

"Harida," Allen called out. "We need to talk."

How hadn't she heard him approaching? Had she been that engrossed.

Harida outweighed her options. Keep herself locked up in the room and starve to death or risk the door being pulled down. Ooh, there was also the second option of a "peaceful" dialogue. Three, just open the door.

She did the third, since it was obviously the safest, and granted Allen the opportunity to waltz into her room like he owned it. He took quite a lot of space, and it threatened her newly-developed claustrophobia.

"You wanted to talk, I'm all ears," she said, standing away from him as they both looked at each other.

But his eyes weren't on her. They were on the sketch pad on her bed, on the picture she'd depicted there.

"Avian told me," he said, picking up the pad and staring at Avian. "that you are both ready to take it to the next stage."

Shock marred my features and I wanted to do nothing more than to correct him. "We've actually been speaking--"

"Yeah," he said, cutting me off. "—and that's the reason I'm here. Since you've been a good girl, he pleaded that I allow you visit the dungeon today. What do you say?"

My breath caught in my throat. Ebbs and tides of feeling following suit.

I studied at Allen to see if he was joking, and he wasn't.

Avian...? Avian pleaded for me? Why? Just when I thought I was unworthy of the great lengths he would go and he pulled this off.

~~~~~

This book is among the entries for the 2024 Wattys award English ongoing stories, and that's the reason for this short chapter. The award requires an update all weeks towards the release of result, words of at least 500+

Also, this book has been entered into the Creative Awards 2024. It's a reader's choice award. It needs you dears to hop on into the award book and comment a +1 beside your favourite books if it's among the list.

This may not be the best book you've read but for the sake of Henry, Harida and Adele, please vote "Crimsom Mists" as the best Adult-fiction novel.

This is the link to the page...

The link is also available on my dashboard for those who can't access this one.

Thank you fam for your support.

Yours,
Emma♥️