Faith's POV
I stumbled after her, my mind reeling with questions. "We need to get out of here," she said, her voice low and urgent. "My brother wouldn't be happy if he knew you were snooping around in here."
She propelled me out of the office, her grip on my arm firm but not unkind. I winced, more from surprise than pain. "You're hurting me," I said, trying to wriggle free.
We were already in the hallway, the office door swinging shut behind us. She released my arm abruptly, her eyes flicking to mine with a hint of apology. "Sorry," she murmured.
Her dress was the first thing I noticed a gorgeous, flowing creation that seemed to shimmer in the light.
But it was her face that truly caught my attention. Blonde hair framed her features, drawing my gaze to her eyes.
They were brown, but not just any brown ,a light, luminous shade that seemed to glow from within. I felt myself getting lost in their soft, gentle depths.
The girl's voice cut through my haze, her words tinged with amusement. "Would you stop staring at me? Are you even listening to what I just said?" I blinked, still disoriented, and shook my head.
"I'm Azil," she said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "And you are?"
"Faith," I replied, my voice flat, as I looked away and continued walking.
Azil fell into step beside me. "Are you okay? Feeling any better?" I shot her a sideways glance, my expression incredulous. What was she even asking? Didn't she know what had just happened?
I opened my mouth, and sarcasm spilled out. "Oh, yeah, I'm great. Just peachy. I mean, who wouldn't feel better after being nearly killed by someone they trusted?" My voice dripped with irony, and Azil's eyes widened, her face a picture of surprise.
Azil's words tumbled out in a breathless rush. "I'm sorry again, but I didn't know, now it looks like I'm a bad person." Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she continued, "My brother didn't say anything about you, just asked me to change your clothes. I could have taken your new clothes, but I just wanted to see how my brother feels with you wearing his clothes."
A sly grin spread across her face. "It's revenge for thinking I didn't know he lost the amulet."
I found myself getting lost in her bubbly personality, but a nagging voice in my head whispered doubts. I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on Azil's infectious energy. But as she kept talking, I zoned out, my mind drifting to other things.
Before I knew it, Azil's voice cut through my haze, shrill with concern. "Heyy, where are you going?" I turned to see her standing in front of a door, her eyes wide with alarm.
She pushed the door open, revealing a cozy room. "Your room is this one," she said, her smile faltering for a moment. I nodded, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized how spaced out I must have looked.
As I stepped into the room, I felt a sense of déjà vu. It was the same space where I'd woken up earlier, but now it seemed even more impressive.
The soft glow of the lamps, the plush carpet, and the elegant furnishings all blended together to create a cozy oasis. I realized that I must have been too out of it earlier to truly take it in.
I turned to Azil, my eyes wide with wonder. "You guys are rich," I blurted out, feeling a bit awestruck.
Azil chuckled, a low, throaty sound, and shook her head. "Yeah, well, it's all my brother," she said quietly, her voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness.
My stomach chose that exact moment to remind me that I was starving. It growled loudly, and I felt my face heat up with embarrassment. I glanced at Azil, hoping she hadn't heard, but her smile told me otherwise.
"Guess someone's hungry," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement. I rolled my eyes, feeling a bit self conscious. "Wait here, I'll go fetch you some food," she said, winking at me. I nodded, grateful for her kindness.
As I waited, my mind wandered back to the last meal I'd had , Sindy's lunch, yesterday. Before she'd tried to kill me, that is.
I snorted to myself, thinking, I should've just chopped her head off. But then, I wouldn't be here, in this fancy room, with Azil's warm smile and her promise of food.
I looked up as Azil returned with a tray laden with all sorts of goodies. My stomach growled again, this time in anticipation. Azil chuckled and set the tray down in front of me. "I hope you're hungry," she said, grinning.
I dug in, savoring the flavors and textures. Azil sat down beside me, watching me eat with an amused expression.
"You know, you're kind of adorable when you're hungry," she said, teasing me. I looked up at her, my mouth full, and shot her a mock glare. She just laughed and patted my hand.
.
.
.
.
As we sat together, Azil began to open up about her brother. Her words painted a picture of a man who was meticulous, to say the least.
"He's really particular about his things," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "If something's not exactly where he left it, he gets testy."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Testy?" I repeated, and Azil nodded.
"Yeah, that's one way to put it. He has these rules.
Rule number one: never disrespect him.
Rule number two: don't touch his stuff. Like, ever. He gets really angry if someone messes with his things." She paused, a sly grin spreading across her face.
"Rule number three: don't touch him. Unless you're family, of course." She winked at me, and I felt a flutter in my chest.
I listened, my mind reeling, as Azil continued to rattle off her brother's rules.
"Rule number four: never enter his room''. I felt a shiver run down my spine. Was this guy for real? I thought I'd escaped one psycho, only to land in the clutches of another.
I looked up at Azil, searching for reassurance. "You're not serious, are you?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light. Azil's expression was deadpan, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. I wasn't sure if I should be laughing or running for the hills.
I was focused on Azil, trying to read her expression, when she suddenly smirked at me and then smiled at something behind me. My curiosity piqued, I turned around, and my heart skipped a beat.
Standing in the doorway was a guy who looked like he'd just stepped out of a dream.
His piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through me, and his chiseled jawline made my pulse quicken.
His messy black hair added to his rugged charm, and the fact that the top three buttons of his shirt were undone made my cheeks flush.
Azil's voice was a distant hum as she greeted the newcomer, but I was too busy drinking in the sight of him to pay attention.
My heart was racing, and I felt like I was melting into his gaze.
"Sis, why didn't you tell me she woke up already?" he asked, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. Azil's smile faltered for a moment, and she exchanged a look with him that I couldn't quite read.