Chapter 66: Conditions for freedom

Closing my eyes tight, I balled my fists and prepared myself for the impact.

Anytime now...

I gulped.

...

It never came, instead I heard something click.

Slowly I opened my eyes and saw Arius, a sly satisfied smile plastered on his face.

"Just kidding."He said.

Hesitantly, I stood up straight, released my fists as I took a breath of relief, "I came here to tell you both something." He looked to his side and I followed his gaze. Nora stood there along with Caesar, "You both will be starting your combat training now, so you both will be allowed to move around freely as well."

"Freely?" Nora asked, "Care to elaborate?"

"It means I'm giving you both the freedom to roam around the mansion grounds."

Mansion? We're at the mansion? That's the base of a family. But then again it must be the mafian base, meaning many other people will be here.

Nora and I've been stuck in the same cycle for the past month so we didn't see anyone, at all.

"AND!" Arius turned to me again, "You" He pointed at me, "And you." He then pointed at Nora, "You're both free to attack your prey anywhere, at anytime."

"Prey?" I looked at him, confused with my eyebrows raised.

"Yes. Prey." He looked at me innocently.

"What prey?!"

He pointed at himself, "Me, of course, I'm your prey."

"Then..." Nora looked at Caesar, "Your mine?" The moment Caesar nodded Nora's legs went wobbly and she sat on the floor in annoyance, "Fuck this shit." She whispered to herself but everyone could hear her.

"But-" Caesar looked down at Nora, "You wanted to leave."

She looked at him, "No one wants to live in hell."

"Wait a minute." I realized something, "So you're implying that it's still valid? If we beat you guys you'll let us go?"

"I will."

Nora stood up again, "Anywhere, at any time?"

"Anywhere, at any time." Arius answered the question with the same line.

"Wouldn't that be a disadvantage to you?" I said and he smirked.

"Oh sugar, you still won't be able to do it."

"Excuse me?"

He stepped closer and I stepped back.

He noticed my retreat and stopped, "Well, You both are free to explore every area except the 4th floor. That's my personal area." He winked at me, "Unless you want a 'special' night with me."

I scoffed at him but he didn't seem the least bit bothered.

"Caesar," He looked at his bodyguard, "Be a good teacher now." He then turned and left.

Asshole.

***

"When are we going to explore the rest of the mansion?" Nora asked me as we were walking to the gym like usual.

"I really don't know. I was thinking you'd tell me."

She stepped in front of me, "Then!" She looked at me with sparkling eyes, "How about a detour today? We only know this one corridor, let's take some turns today."

"Okay."

"That's what I love about you! You're a true friend!" She took my hand and we turned around a corridor that we always saw but never bothered to explore. Since we had to get to the gym too, we didn't have a lot of time but it was refreshing. Not taking the same route over.

"You know Arius snapped a picture of you."

"What?! When?" I stopped in my path but Nora pulled me by my wrist and kept us moving.

"That time, when he was going to shock you and you closed your eyes shut in terror."

I groaned. So that's what the clicking sound was! He took a picture of me!!

I gritted my teeth.

"That pervert."

***

There were a lot of corridors and a lot of rooms as well, I wondered who else was staying here besides us.

A short while after we discovered the library.

"Should we go in?" Nora asked me.

"I think we should go back, we'll come back after we're done."

"Just a little peak?" She looked at me with puppy eyes.

"..." I stared at her, "You're really good at this. Okay, fine."

"Yes!"

The door didn't make a sound as we opened it and entered the place.

It was big, with rows and rows of wooden book racks lined with all kinds of books. We walked around in awe. The place further from the window was dark, perhaps due to the book racks casting their shadows.

"Why would someone have such a huge ass library in one's house?" Nora asked as she picked out a book. Her voice echoed a bit.

"I don't know." I stood at a shelf opposite to Nora at some distance from her.

"And what are you doing here?" The whispering voice of a man right next to my ear startled me so bad, I jumped and hit my head and elbow on the book rack.

I hissed in pain and slid down, rubbing my elbow. The commotion had caught Nora's attention but she had also noticed the person standing in front of me.

Arius extended his hand for me but I slapped it away, "Wow. That was rude."

"What is rude is you sneaking up on me!"

He sighed, "That's your lack of skill honey."

"I have a name!" I stood up with the help of the shelves.

"So?"

So? I scoffed

"You can address me by my name." I held my anger in.

"Why should I?"

His words left me hanging, "I-it's the proper thing to do!!"

He scratched his neck with his index finger like he didn't care about a word I said, "I'll call you by your name, when you're worthy enough." He stepped back, "And. I said you can explore the area, but I don't remember saying you can skip your practise."

He looked from me to Nora, his eyes full of annoyance, "Out." He ordered and we didn't waste a second before scrambling out of the place.

As I was closing the door behind me, my eyes met his. He stood in the dark place and looked back at me with his honey golden eyes.

Unwavering.

Unbending.

Strong with an unbreakable resolve behind them.

He moved his lips to say something but I couldn't hear it but when he did say it I saw him give a smile.

A different smile.

A rather broken smile...