"It's no wonder you can see through my darkness with a soul as bright as yours..."

Alastor's POV

I sighed heavily as I unlocked and opened my front door.

Today was not fun, especially since my boss is pushing my buttons in all the wrong ways.

I've never met a more unprofessional man, more unkempt and just overall unfit for a job of authority. He is no leader, he is simply a slob.

Not only that, but he is rather disrespectful, especially to our poor secretary. He had the poor girl running around all day, giving her orders left and right and overall making her job far more difficult than it is supposed to be.

At the end of her shift, I gave her forty dollars and told her to keep it between her and I...I know she has a baby at home.

She had tried to refuse the money, but I didn't let her.

When I entered my home, immediately I noticed the complete silence. Slowly I shut the door behind me, shrugging my coat off and hanging it on the rack next to the door.

It wasn't so much the silence that concerned me, rather the lack of Fawn in my living room. I'm not sure where else she would be...maybe her room?

I figured I'd hear her if she were in the kitchen, but I checked nonetheless, unsurprised when it was empty and dark.

Next I headed quietly up the stairs, checking swiftly the door to my voodoo room. All of the locks were intact and still in their proper places, so I dismissed the idea that she somehow got in there.

So, next up was her room to check. Opening the door, I peeked into the dark space.

Nothing...the bed is even still made.

My heart sank, and my eyes widened.

"Fawn." I called, my tone stern, "if you are anywhere in this house, answer me right now."

Silence.

Anger quickly boiled in my chest. How could I be so foolish as to leave her here alone?! She could be anywhere by now, hell, the police could be on my doorstep any second!

Unless she got lost...she doesn't know these woods as well as I, there's the high possibility that she got turned around and is now wandering aimlessly...

Perfect for hunting.

The stressed smile on my face turned wicked in a matter of seconds as I exited her room. I slammed that door, immediately turning to head down the hall to my bedroom.

I am going to hunt that lying harlot, I am going to break her, and make her wish she were dead...I know exactly where to hurt her while keeping her alive, pain won't even be a strong enough word to describe the feelings I'm going to give to her. 

Still deep in my own twisted fantasies of how I'm going to mutilate her, my hand gripped the doorknob and I threw my door open.

I'll bring my rifle, that ought—

My entire body froze in place.

The expression I wore slowly relaxed until I nearly wasn't smiling at all. Immediately, I felt shameful of all the things I was planning to do to her.

She was fast asleep, swallowed in my covers. There was just a mild annoyance at her choosing to come into my room without asking, but that all but disappeared the moment I saw her face.

For one, her body isn't curled up into the tightest ball it could fit into anymore...and her face.

There was just a bit of hair in front of her eyes, and I pushed it back, looking over her.

That stressed scrunch in her face was completely gone, leaving behind just a peaceful expression. Her breathing was completely even, and I realized that this is probably the only good sleep she's gotten since she arrived here...

For whatever reason, it's my bed that she feels most comfortable in.

Looking down at her, my eyebrows furrowed. The pads of my fingers just barely brushed over her cheek, and I thought to myself how every single time I've accused her in my head of trying to escape...

I've been wrong.

Not once has she tried to break our deal, or run, or tell someone...she's had plenty of opportunities, yet she just doesn't.

Which, if I hadn't already known the truth, that would have inclined me to believe her even more.

For a moment I just stood there and watched her sleep...observing how relaxed and comfortable she looked. She had her nose pressed into my pillow, and one arm hugged around it.

I pushed a quiet sigh through my nose, just gently brushing my fingers across the side of her face as I lost myself in thought. Then suddenly my eyes widened when her eyes squinted slightly, and she raised her hand, brushing my fingers off her face.

Then she rubbed her palm over the spot, a few tired noises leaving her throat before her eyes slowly blinked open.

She looked just slightly disoriented, mildly confused and a bit dazed.

Then her eyes focused on the part of me she could see before slowly raising up to meet my gaze. I wasn't exactly trying to intimidate, just wearing a soft grin while letting my hands rest behind my back, but her eyes filled with terror anyway.

A dark blush flooded her face, and she sat up quickly, looking around and stuttering.

"I-I- I'm so sorry, I just— I was really tired, I wasn't trying t-to—"

My look softened when I saw how badly her hands were trembling as she desperately tried to get herself out of my bed.

Gently, I stopped her movements, her entire body shaking under my fingertips. She looked at me with wide eyes brimming with tears, and my stomach did a small flip off that sight alone.

She's so scared of me and I only have myself to blame for that.

"I-I'm so s-sorry..." she apologized again and I shook my head, taking a seat at the edge of the bed.

"No need, dear, I'm not angry with you," I said calmly, being careful to keep my voice quiet so I didn't spook her more than I already have.

Her quick breaths calmed and some of the tears that had gathered on her bottom lashes dropped down her face when she blinked.

"Y-you're—you're not?" She asked, and I could see the tension slowly leaving her shoulders.

I shook my head again, "no...go ahead and lay back down, get some more rest. These past couple of days have been just a bit rough on both of us, but at least I got some proper sleep..." I said, reaching forward towards her.

She watched my hand, but didn't move or flinch away.

Using my thumb I brushed the stray tears away, and she just blinked, letting me touch her.

"A-are you sure...?" She asked me, just a bit skeptically.

I nodded, getting up so she could settle back into bed for a bit longer. Slowly she did, just giving me that same slightly confused look. Once her body had settled, I pulled the covers back over her and smoothed them down before giving her a gentle pat.

"I'll come get you when dinner is ready..." I said to her, giving her a small smile as she stared up at me, "and I'm giving you permission to nap in here whenever you'd like," I added.

Her eyes widened just slightly and she looked away from me, pulling the covers up a bit more.

"Um...thanks," she mumbled, "h-how was your day?" She asked me suddenly, looking up at me expectantly.

I blinked at the question, surprised that she asked it.

Then my surprise turned to an unfamiliar warm feeling and I chuckled and turned towards the door.

"Oh, darling, I'll have to tell you over dinner. It's a long story," I said, my tone finally perking up now that I'm sure she's not scared anymore.

"Ok," she replied softly, and with that, I left her to sleep a bit longer. The door closed softly behind me, and my brows furrowed as soon as I was outside my room.

My hand raised to my chest, and I swallowed this strange lump in my throat.

I stayed in deep thought as I made my way back downstairs, flipping the light on in the kitchen as I absentmindedly rolled up my sleeves in preparation for cooking.

No matter what I did, I couldn't shake those eyes from my mind. Each time I blinked, there she was, right at the forefront.

Confusion muddled my thoughts, and I pondered what it could be that makes her so intriguing to me. Taking a knife, I began to cut up the vegetables for tonight's dinner, still lost in thought.

Is it those pretty eyes...the way they fill with fear at the sight of me? Except, that's not when they're at their most beautiful...no, no I think the most beautiful they are is when they squint as she laughs.

Maybe it's her personality...in the short few days I've gotten to know her, she's shown me she's...how do I say this...different? She's still a woman, and she's still feminine, it's nothing to do with her femininity.

It's the independence in her speech, and the confidence in her tongue. For the few times she's been beneath me at my mercy, I found one look from those eyes has me hesitating.

Suddenly, a hiss was sucked through my teeth at the very sudden and sharp pain that burst through my hand.

My focus was forcefully brought back to the present as I looked down at my now sliced open thumb. Blood leaked from the cut, dripping from my hand as I sighed.

Quickly turning on the faucet, I let the crimson wash away into a light pink. The sting helped me keep my thoughts in line, and I quickly secured my handkerchief around my hand in a makeshift bandage.

Whatever it is about her...she's wormed her way into my mind. She's positively enrapturing to speak with, and her sweetness is infectious.

Normally, I dislike sweet things.

But for her, I find myself making an exception.