Chapter 47 - Stay Here With Me

Since she was standing at a distance, she could see it under the soft glow of the lantern, ''But I can't read it. It is dark there,'' This bookshelf was the only smallest one amongst all others in the library which reached the ceiling. 

Aleister stepped back from the bookshelf before squatting in front of it. A golden glow appeared on his palm. 

She looked at him in awe, having never seen someone possessing golden magic before. She has never even heard of its existence. 

He raised an eyebrow at her and she quickly averted her gaze before squatting beside him. 

The small carvings on the wood were laid out before their eyes.

...

When they reached the castle, both of them went to his room together. Esme closed the door while Aleister walked towards the desk in the room. He pulled out the throne chair before looking at Esme who was standing beside him.

Esme settled on the chair and he slightly pushed it, his fingers resting on the armrest graze past her arm when she moved slightly. 

She stiffened. 

He removed his hands from the armrest of the chair before opening the drawers to her right. He picked up a scroll of parchment along with an ink bottle and quill as he placed it in front of her. ''Can you write?" His hot breath stroked her neck and Esme looked at anywhere but at him.

''S-Since I can read, I can write too,'' What kind of question is that?"

Aleister raised an eyebrow, ''Of course, you can. Why are you so flustered, my dear moon?"

Esme tucked her hair behind her ear, ''A lot has happened in a night. Maybe that's why...'' She picked up the quill before dipping it in the ink, ''Take a seat, will you?" She slowly raised her head to look at the man who had his chin almost touching her neck. She moved back from him a little. 

''Beautiful days on the way...'' Aleister stood up straight before pulling the chair next to her as he settled beside her, ''I am asked to sit in my own room.''

Esme paused, ''I-'' She sighed, ''I forgot.'' How could I forget it is his room? She chastised herself. 

''You look sweeter when you forget things. You should do that more often,'' Aleister leaned back on the chair. 

Esme blinked at him, ''...You mean?" 

''You want to continue talking to me? Sure, we can..'' He paused when she quickly looked back at the parchment before she started to write. 

''Can you recite it for me?" She did not remember it word by word.

Aleister nodded. 

After she wrote it on the parchment, she brought it towards the middle of the desk for him to have a better look at it, ''What do you think does this means?"

''As beautiful as you...'' He mumbled, looking at her handwriting.

Esme glanced at him quietly, only to avert her gaze when he looked up but he was quick to catch her gaze on him and a devious curve made its way on his lips. 

Esme gulped, ''Tell me what this means,'' She pointed a shaky finger at the parchment. 

Aleister grabbed her finger, letting his thumb graze on it, ''The little shaking finger of yours means... something is going on that little mind of yours.''

Esme pulled her hand back before pushing his hand away with a finger, ''I mean... what's written on this parchment. What does it mean?''

Aleister glanced at the words on the parchment, deciding to not tease her anymore...for the moment. 

Esme exhaled softly before following his gaze, looking at the words which were written on that wooden shelf in the library. 

'Not to be tamed, not to appear

Neither by a battle hymn nor by holy water

Sin in the pulse, blessing in the eyes

A part divine, two parts in rise

Unseen until the rebel blood is dripped twice.'

''Is it about the words in that book? They will not appear until... the rebel blood is dripped twice..'' Esme paused, ''But who is the rebel? And how will we get their blood?"

Aleister frowned before letting out a deep sigh. He picked up the parchment and ran his fingers on it, and the words written on it disappeared. He placed it in the drawer, ''Don't think about it. We will look into it later.''

Esme nodded as she stood up from the chair after a few seconds, ''It is almost dawn and you have not gotten a wink of sleep,'' She lowered her head for the realization of this came late, ''I should go back to my room.''

Just as she turned around, he grabbed her hand, ''You are staying here from now,'' He pushed himself to his feet. 

Esme turned around, ''Why?" 

''You don't know it?"

How could she not know? ''If it is because of what happened today, even then I can not stay here with you,'' She shook her head, ''This is inappropriate,'' truth to be told, she was a little scared of going back to her room. Although her eyes are demanding sleep, she knew she would not be able to close them with the fear that she might wake up in that dire situation again where she would be dying. 

''Oh, and when did I say that I am asking you?'' Aleister grinned, ''It's either you stay here by your own will or I will have you caged in this place. The choice is yours to make.''

Her lips parted in disbelief. As expected, he cannot be peaceful around her for a long time. ''You want me to stay with you, in one room. Do you realize how inappropriate that is? And what people would say?"

Aleister snapped his fingers and a curtain appeared beside his bed, ''Your bed will be arranged here,'' he said, ''And no one will say anything. Leo is fond of eating tongues the most,'' The corner of his lips tugged up slightly. 

Esme blinked at how easily it slipped from his mouth.

But everything he said... It looked enticing because no one will talk about him in open. She was afraid of what will happen if she was left alone in her room. No matter how much she tried, she can not, not sleep forever, ''But-''

''Don't tell me you are afraid that you will not be able to resist me?''