Chapter 4: Brother

"This will be your room from now on, I've already asked the maid to clean it so you can use it comfortably," Zadkiro said as we walked inside this elegant room.

The walls were painted white with gold lining which makes it look more classy. There's a huge bed in the center, and the blanket and covers are the same shade of rose gold. The color of the bed matches the couch and bedside table as well.

I was amazed at how the room looked. I've never been into such a graceful space. What made me drop my jaw even more was the TV hanging on the wall. I couldn't believe Zadkiro was letting me stay in a room like this. This is heaven!

"Uh? Are you okay? Don't you like the room?"

I looked at Zadkiro, I didn't know he was watching my reaction and misunderstood it. I immediately smiled.

"No, I love it. It's so beautiful actually. Are you sure I can stay here?" I asked.

He smiled at me genuinely. The smile that never failed to reassure me every time we were talking.

"Of course, from now on, please don't be shy to touch things around the house. I am permitting you to live here like it's your own. Just tell me what you need."

I couldn't help but smile even more. We hadn't known each other for a long time but he was treating me like a friend. This was too much but I couldn't refuse it, I would love to stay in this comfortable room.

"Anyway, I—"

"Sir Zadkiro! Sir Zadkiro!"

Zadkiro was stopped from speaking when we both heard an urgent voice coming outside, followed by loud knocks on the door that almost startled me.

We glanced at each other with questioning eyes before he voluntarily opened the door.

A man of the same height as Zadkiro welcomed out sight. He was sweating and breathing heavily, obviously nervous while gazing at Zadkiro.

"What happened Silas?"

The man he called Silas tried his best to speak enduring the heaviness of his breathing.

"Y-You're brother is here. He found out about her," the man said and glanced at me before looking back at Zadkiro.

I saw how Zadkiro's back stiffed. He was silenced and I saw how they exchanged stares like they were communicating with their eyes.

"Go stop him from coming here. I'll follow," Zadkiro ordered which the man— Silas obeyed.

He ran after he nodded, leaving Zadkiro and me inside the room. I noticed his silence and I couldn't help from asking a question.

"Is there a problem?"

I was still facing his back that's why I cannot see his reaction but I am sure he wasn't happy about what Silas reported to him. I wonder why they looked so terrified about his brother's arrival.?

"There is." He faced me, his face now serious making me wonder how worse the situation is. "I need to talk to someone. Can you wait for me here? I'll try to come back as soon as possible to accompany you here."

I looked deeply into his eyes, trying to find an answer to my unsaid questions. There was a hint of hope in it that I would agree without asking more questions.

When I saw how he was trying to hold back the worry in his eyes, I just sighed and nodded. It seems urgent and he should do his business.

Zadkiro let out a relieved sigh when he saw me nodding. He then left me alone in the room, rushing to follow Silas.

After a minute, I suddenly felt curious about what was going on. What's with the arrival of Zadkiro's brother?

Thoughts came like rain into my head. I wanted to stay in the room and wait for Zadkiro but I just can't. I know I don't have the right to butt in into their matters but I want to seek answers for my thoughts.

Letting my curiosity win, I followed Zadkiro downstairs, I made sure my steps were quiet and I wouldn't make noises. I am not familiar with the place but I was still lucky because I easily found the stairs connecting the different floors of the house.

I haven't reached the end of the stairs yet however I can already hear the voices of two men, arguing about something and I am sure one of them is Zadkiro.

I hid from the wall with half of my body still peeking to see what was going on. I made sure no one saw me while I was on my way here.

I was amazed when I saw how crowded the room was. There were men scattered around the hall but their attention was driven to Zadkiro and the other guy who he was talking to.

I observed the other guy and noticed that he had a resemblance to Zadkiro's physical appearance. Their body figure is almost alike as well but the other guy's body is a bit smaller. I guess this was his brother that Silas was referring to.

"Damn it! Just let me see the woman brother! She's the key, I'm sure she knows something!" the guy shouted while talking to Zadkiro. The way he talks to Zadkiro is almost a mixture of plea and demand. His eyes were burning in anger.

Meanwhile, Zadkiro was calm with his hands inside his pants while staring at the guy in front of him. He doesn't look bothered at all.

"She knows nothing Zandrous, I already talked to her and I proved to myself that she's innocent," Zadkiro replied in a low voice. His tone is low but firm, giving me the idea that he has supremacy in this conversation.

The guy named Zandrous gripped his hair, showing a hint of frustration, and groaned. I can see that he doesn't like what Zadkiro has told him.

"Fuck! Are we just going to let her go easily?! Brother think of it! What if it's just part of their plan?" the Zandrous guy angrily said.

Her? Why are they fighting over a woman— My eyes widened and I almost let out a loud gasp when I realized I might be the person they're talking about.

I didn't catch it. They didn't mention a name and I didn't have an idea what could be the start of this conversation that was almost an argument, that's why I didn't think that I was the person they were referring to.

"Let me handle this Zandrous. You can't force someone who knows nothing. As I said, I confirmed it myself and you disagreeing with me means you don't trust my actions."

Zadkiro's words made the hairs on my nape rise. He was calm however the superiority that he brings in the conversation was very intimidating. Was he trying to use psychological tricks to calm his brother down?

"It's not like that, I-I'm just—"

Zandrous stopped from speaking. I instantly got nervous when I saw him looking at me. I didn't know if I was that noticeable or if he just had an eagle eye to notice a small figure eavesdropping.

I gulped and bit my lip when I met his gaze. I couldn't explain how I felt when I had direct contact with his eyes. It's making me uncomfortable and nervous at the same time. His eyes were the same as Zadkiro when I first saw him and he was asking for my parents.

Zadkiro followed his brother's eyes and saw me trying to hide myself in the wall beside the stairs. He was shocked to see me there however his expression changed with worry when we saw his brother's intense gawking.

"Don't you dare. Leave, Zandrous. This is my place and I am not permitting you to do whatever you are thinking," Zadkiro warned.

I saw how Zandrous slowly smiled creepily. I don't want to judge a person but his actions were telling me he isn't in his normal state. The way his emotions easily change is scarier.

Now I'm an emotional reader. Great.

"Argh! Don't tell me what to do! Don't tell me what to do!"

I covered my mouth as I gasped when Zandrous unexpectedly stamped his foot on the floor repetitiously like a child throwing a tantrum.

I was puzzled by his sudden action and I couldn't take my eyes away from him because of that. I was away from him but I don't feel safe just by watching him doing those weird actions.

"You were truly a crazy asshole, Zandrous. I couldn't believe I had a brother like you," Zadkiro said, finally losing patience.

What even terrified me was when Zandrous pulled a gun from his waist and pointed it at his brother. I was surprised but I stopped myself from doing any sounds to attract attention from anyone.

The men who were watching the scene immediately pulled each gun and pointed it at Zandrous as well. All of them were ready to shoot anytime.

What are they doing? Are they gonna kill each other just like that?

"I hate you Zadkiro! I fucking hate you! You hear me? I hate you! I hate you so damn much!"

I wanted to cover my ear because Zandrous' voice was too painful in my eardrums. He's a big man and yet here he is, shouting like a little boy. His voice was echoing in this hall and I could almost feel an invisible vibrates.

"Bullshit Zandrous, I told you to leave. This place would not saint you," Zadkiro angrily said. His voice is now commanding as if he didn't like what his brother had acted.

I couldn't see what was Zadkiro doing that's why I exposed myself out of the wall. I want to see the whole scene and watch how he would manage his brother. There's no point in hiding anyway, they've seen me already.

"Is that so?" Zandrous stopped shouting and stamping.

When he stopped throwing a tantrum, the hall was filled with silence. I can almost hear my heartbeat because of that.

I saw how everyone let their guards down when Zandrous put down his gun and he stopped making irritable noises.

Better.

"I am higher than everyone among you," Zandrous stated while playing with the gun in his hands.

I don't understand what was happening to Zandrous. He was too hard to predict. He looks like a normal person but his actions were telling me he is not.

I was worried because no one dared to grab the gun from him. People like him shouldn't hold those dangerous objects because they can hurt people.

When I looked at Zadkiro, he didn't seem bothered at all, he was only standing and watching the scene that his brother made.

I was even more disgusted when Zandrous said something that a psychotic person would say.

"I want to see blood."

I grimaced in disgust.

Everyone, including me, did not expect the next move that Zandrous made. He faced and pointed his gun at me, followed by a loud noise that made everyone curse including Zadkiro. No one had stopped him because his actions were so fast that they happened in the blink of an eye.

The men freaked out and they all went to stop Zandrous' hand from moving after that noise. Usually, I'd scream and cover my ears if I'd hear such loud noise but this time, something stopped me from doing so.

I felt my nerves suddenly tremble and weaken, a strong pain filled my body and something liquid from my belly dripped on the white polished floor. I held the part of my body where I felt something weird without saying anything, that's when I realized that right this moment... I am bleeding.

"Sereia, shit!"

Zadkiro ran towards me and caught my body when I was about to fall off the floor.

I heard loud noises around me but I couldn't look. My vision was blurry and the pain I am feeling is becoming more intense.

I felt Zadkiro's hand holding the painful part of me and I already knew he was trying to stop the bleeding.

I tried staying awake but I did not manage to pull myself together when the darkness took over my consciousness.