Lacuna

Chapter 20 - Surprise

      As Rhys and I finish chatting, it was finally time to head back as the sky was getting darker.

After a short trip back to Lev's mansion, Rhys drops me off at the front door and drives away.

I entered the mansion greeted by silence. The maids and butlers were still working as per usual but the atmosphere felt stranger. Where's Lev?

I approached one of the maids that were passing by.

"Excuse me, do you know where Master Lev had gone to?" I asked.

"He had gone out with the Mistress. He will be back soon I suppose." The maid smiles as she answered and walked away. I didn't even have the chance to ask who this 'Mistress' is.

Hearing her answer made me somewhat uneasy.

As I was distracted by my own thoughts, I notice a tall figure standing over me.

I looked up to see who it was and I was met with an ice-cold glare. It was Lev's father.

By Instinct, I politely bowed.

"You must be curious of Lev's whereabouts, aren't you?" He asked with his gravelly voice.

"I guess you could say that." I nervously laughed.

"Don't worry," Mr. Durand intentionally bumps my shoulder and walks away. "He's in the warm and soft embrace of a woman and not a man."

I quickly turned behind me as I watched Mr. Durand slowly disappearing into one of the hallways.

Did I hear him correctly?

In shock, I just froze In the middle of the hallway by my lonesome.

But only shortly after, I feel someone tap my shoulder. I quickly turned to see who it was and it was the woman from last night.

"Luc?" she asked eagerly.

"Pardon?" I uttered as I was just brought back to my senses.

"You're Luc, right?" she asked again.

"Well, I..." I responded, taken aback by her enthusiasm as she inched closer to my face.

"You're Luc Valentin!" She shouted and jumped, wrapping her arms around my neck. "You look just like your brother! There's no mistaking it!"

"Excuse me?" I yelped.

"Are you not Luc Valentin?" She asked, finally pulling away as she continues to grab both my shoulders.

"Can you stop bothering the guest?" a familiar voice entered, groaning.

"Rhys! Don't you think he's Luc Valentin?" She shouted as she twisted her head to face Rhys, who was standing behind her.

"Get off the guest first, I'll explain." Rhys carefully grabbed the woman's hands off my shoulders.

Then Rhys offered us to sit near the abandoned wing, making sure none of the other maids and butlers here him and soon started explaining the situation to the woman.

Shortly after a brief explanation, the woman understood.

"Have Alex heard of this yet?" she asked.

"No, knowing him, it would be a mistake to straight-up tell him." Rhys shook his head.

"He'll have to know somehow! You know how much Feo meant to him!" She shouted.

"I know, Jane! But I think Luc— I mean, Cole would be overwhelmed, who knows how he'd react!" Rhys argued.

The woman, Jane, could only sigh in response.

"So, what do we do now?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. But I think Cole should rest in the meantime." Rhys turns to face me.

"...you're right." I sighed. "Alright then, I'll see you two soon, excuse me."

After a few paces, I've arrived outside my room. I hesitate a little before entering the room, plopping myself onto the bed.

Soon, my vision went dark and I finally fall asleep.

Then, the white void returns. It hadn't stopped.

As I look around the void, a small laughter triggers, and the ominous door appears once again.

I slowly approach the door as I reach my hand towards the doorknob.

And suddenly, a strong wind behind me had opened the door in front of me and pushed me inside.

The strong wind had made me stumble onto the ground as I enter the door and was met with two boys sitting at the edge of a dock as the moonlight showered them.

"What exactly are you, Hishi?" One of them asked.

"I'm not sure of how to answer that, Yuki." The other one smiled. "I'm me."

"You can't just say that! I'm curious you know!" The first one teasingly pushed him.

"I was born like this, how would I know?" He laughed.

And then suddenly, the scenery changed and a single man sat by the edge of the dock, alone. The moon had radiated the color red.

"I was naïve." The man muttered. "I put both of us in danger and what had that bring me?"

The man let out a muffled sigh as he buries his face in his hands which when I looked closely, had been tainted with blood.

Then, the man banged the wooden dock and stood up.

He then turns towards me, walking through me, causing me to jolt awake.

I glanced over to the clock on the wall as I breathed heavily. It was only 3 pm, 3 hours after I fell asleep.

Feeling restless, I hastily stood up and changed my clothes which were drenched in sweat.

I picked up some leftover money Lev had given me and exit my room wearing my coat.

As I approach the front door, I hear footsteps rush towards me and I turned my head towards the noise.

"Are you going somewhere?" Rhys asked as he continues to approach me.

"A little walk," I answered.

"Do you know the way? Won't you get lost? I can take you." He offered.

"But what about Lev? I heard he's out, won't you be picking him up later or something?" I asked.

"He took his personal car, he won't need me." He answered as he jangles his car keys in front of me.

"Then, What if we ask Alexander to come with us as well?" I requested.

"Are you sure? He might be obnoxious at times—" "I'm sure, it might be an opportunity to tell him. He was close with my brother, right?" I assured.

Rhys nodded in silence and turned away, assuming to call Alexander as I stand awkwardly in the middle of the mansion.