Chapter 6

"Who is she really, Ajax?" Ysmael asks once they both went far enough from Damian and Erin.

He sighs.

"I'm also asking myself, Ysmael. Who is she?" Ajax murmured, eyes saddening for himself.

"Her scent." Ysmael pointed out. "Her blood."he added.

Ajax let out a sigh again. He's also asking himself why he can't let Erin go.

"Ajax, if she resemble--"

"She didn't and never will. She's way better than her Ysmael. You can't just compare her to a human." Ajax said, clenching his jaw.

"I know. I'm sorry." Ysmael is sad to see the same Ajax after what happened. It's been decades and he still can't forgive himself, although he didn't do anything wrong. "Forgive yourself, Ajax."

"Not now, Ysmael."

"Forgive yourself to get peace of mind."

"How? She can't hear me anymore, I can't see her anymore. How will they forgive me if I am the reason why they're not here? I hate myself more."

"No one is going to ask for forgiveness because no one did wrong. They will never forgive you because there's nothing to be sorry about in the first place, Ajax!" Ysmael yelled. "It's been  decade! Everyone changed! Everyone moved on! Everyone accepted what happened! We did, you should too.." his voice is now pleading with his friend.

"Ysmael.. I hate myself.."

"Hate the curse Ajax, not yourself." Ysmael patted his back but Ajax shed no tears.

He had enough of crying. He had enough suffering, but everytime those memories will flash in his mind like a  tape. He can't help but to feel the same pain over and over again.

Ajax knew how much he tried to be his usual self after losing.

"Have you forgiven me?" Ajax asked, eyes looking on muddy ground.

"No, Ajax." Ysmael answered abruptly, he didn't even hesitate. It made Ajax stop. "What you did is right."

Ajax smiled a little. It makes his heart feel at ease at least. Although he's been bearing the curse for his lifetime, he's also bearing the same heartbreak he's trying to erase. 

'Fck this life.' Ajax mentally screams.

"But Erin’s smell is enticing. Her scent is something you can't compare to others. It's pure, delicate, it is something I'll eventually adore. That's what is holding you to keep her on your side, right?" he asks and watches Ajax, analyzing what Ysmael just said.

"I'm curious about her." Ajax answered a few words, keeping his reason to himself.

"Whatever your reason is Ajax, never use her to cover your fears. She's innocent." Ysmael tapped him on the shoulder before leaving him to join Erin and Damian in the dining room.

He thinks of what Ysmael said. Ajax will never use someone as a substitute for his past. It'll make things hard for him and it'll make Erin miserable and broke.

"Hey,"

The voice of the person he's thinking right now is calling him. But, Ajax didn't turn around or at least look at Erin. He just waited for her.

"Ajax." Erin called once again, raising her voice a little. 

"What?"

"Let's talk." and she went to lean beside him, also looking down on muddy ground Ajax is staring.

"If it's about you going back to your apartment, I still have the same answer."

"I know, that's why I'm here to make a deal." Erin said, surprising Ajax but didn't bother to look.

"What deal?"

"Since you're eager to get me here, I decided to accept your offer." Erin pointedly said.

"I did not offer you anything and I'm not eager."

"Yeah yeah. So, I decided to stay here for a couple of months as long as you want me to. But you still have to comply with what rules I'm going to say." Erin raises her finger, ready to announce her own rules. 

"Spill,"

"As long as my father will never find your place, I'm safe." she said.

Ajax wanted to smirk hearing her first deal because no one could discover his place. No one can except for those he gave permissions and creatures like them. That's why he's confused how Erin managed to find him despite his strong defense. Or he's starting to be weak?

"I'll choose my own room to stay in. Although you owned the house, you can't just barge inside my chosen room. We should respect everyone's privacy."

Ajax didn't mind, it's not like he wants to see her all the time. Occasionally, yes, but seeing this little guy somewhat annoyed him for no reason.

"I'll do my things and you'll do yours. In short, don't interfere with my personal matters and I will do the same."

"How do I benefit from your deal?" Ajax asks, stopping Erin in the middle of her explanation. "What will I get in return?" he asked again, this time looking directly at Erin.

"I knew you'd ask that so I came up with this deal, I'll clean your old house. I'll cook food, I'll buy— wait, I can't go out carelessly so you'll buy groceries." Erin said, confident in their trading remarks.

"I could've just hired a maid to do all of those. Another benefit."

Erin furrowed her forehead, like she's in deep thinking.

"Argh, name it. What do you want?" Erin grunted and asked him. Giving up all her ideas in mind because it might not work for Ajax.

"How about giving me extra service?" Ajax asks in his slow, husky voice that sends an electrifying feeling to Erin.

"E-Extra service?" Erin stuttered. Mind clouded with dirty thoughts and perverted imaginings he could never look at!

"Yes, like—"

"S-Stop!" Erin covered her ears that elicited a small laugh from Ajax, having a good time teasing him. "You're a  pervert!" 

"How do I satisfy myself then?" he continues and Erin starts to growled, fist itching to touch Ajax’s smirk.

"Go get a  buddy, Ajax! Deal with my offer and that's final!"

Erin marched inside, not forgetting to slam the door. Leaving Ajax behind but with a smirk plastered on his face.

He can annoy her while he's searching how the little human managed to break in.

***

"Who do you think is he!? A God!? Asking me for lewd service like it's just a casual thing to ask!?" Erin murmured angrily to herself before getting in her room.

He made up his mind, Damian convinced her to stay here in Ajax’s mansion. His friend needed some company and since Ajax keeps on initiating to let her stay here, she said yes.

It is more convenient, less expenses and a good hideout. So far, her father didn't manage to get a hold of her after that night. Thanks to Ajax who drove faster than the speed of light.

A knocking sound filled the empty room.

"Hey. This is Damian." she heard and a door clicked open, revealing Damian with Ysmael behind him. "We're leaving."

"Can't you stay? I don't want to be left with Ajax. I might die." Erin pleaded, earning a chuckle from both men.

"Sorry. But we'll be back tomorrow! I'll bring some of my games to keep you entertained. Obviously, you can't find anything fun in here."

"Yeah. Fine. Take care. You too." She then looked at Ysmael.

“Goodnight, we'll go ahead."

Erin could only afford to send them with her eyes.

Since it's getting late and after what she did today, she drifted to sleep in a minute. Letting out little snores because of tiredness. You can see violet marks on her limbs but since Erin is preoccupied a little, she didn't notice those while bathing.

Maybe tomorrow she will.

 

***

Erin woke up in the middle of night. She can hear heavy footsteps and a sound of someone whimpering in pain. But her sleepiness thinks she's just hallucinating.

She jumped out of sleep to hear a loud thud on the floor. It came from the second floor of Ajax’s mansion and she belatedly remembered that his room was up there.

Concerned, Erin went out to his room and intruded into the darkness. Erin is never a fan of horror stories because it'll give her nightmares for the next few weeks, and she has a bad heart so she can't really afford it.

"P-Please.. Don't h-hurt—arghh!"

That's the voice of a girl!

Erin a high pitch sound that surely came from a girl. Her heart began to race than usual.

'I swear! If Ajax brought his bitch to his house I would slap him hard for disturbing my pretty much needed sleep!' Erin shouted in her mind.

She went upstairs to personally see what's happening and why they're being so loud at this hour. 

"P-Please.. L-let me go.. I-Im sorry.."

Erin heard the voice once again and she hurried to check what's happening. It isn't a sound of pleasure though, it sounds like pain and pleading.

"Ajax! What's happening, why I hear—"

Erin stops on her track to finally get a glimpse of her housemate. But she felt her soul leave her body the moment she saw him.

Ajax’s eyes are raging in fire. He looked so mad and his eyes were turning in different colors Erin couldn't identify. He had his fangs on the girl's neck, pleading for her life.

What cough Erin’s attention is Ajax’s look.

His fangs.

His eyes.

His now pale skin.

And a lot of blood.

What is he!?