I shouldn't have flinched…. I internally slam my face onto an imaginary wall…
Kota's smile widens at my visible discomfort….
"So… you do have a little secret…" he chuckles in a casual tone as if he is conversing about cats or something…
"None of your business…" I groan annoyed at Kota's antics of extracting information from me…
"You heard her Mister…" Philip looks up at the elf… he narrows his eyes trying to find a threat from this elf man yet he found no visible danger…
"Sir… everyone has secrets… and secrets are meant to be kept in the heart…" Marcy says quietly but firmly…
"Some things are better said than hidden…" Kota leans his head on his palm bringing his face a bit closer to me…
"Ahem—" a man with goat feet and horns and wearing a waiters outfit clears his throat as he places the food on the table…
The food looked delicious… it was a variety of unique looking dishes… from purple salad to juicy stake…
Philip squealed in excitement as he dug into the steak hurriedly….
This was his first meal in hours…
"Slow down the food won't run away!!!" Marcy screamed at Philip gently in order to make him not choke on the food…
"It's yummy!!!" Philip says with a mouthful of meat…
Kota on the other hand watched my companions as they ate… his gaze keen and thoughtful…
"Why don't you eat?" Kota pushes a fancy plate of food towards me…
"I am not hungry—" I push the plate away in a cold manner…
"Look… I didn't poison it… I don't want to be trapped in the dark void…" Kota leans back in his chair his tone firm but his posture casual…
"Fair enough…." I whisper as I take a bite…
The bread was soft but firm in the same time it reminded me of sweet childhood memories…. of times when I ran with friends under the clear blue sky within a field of flowers…
Kota notices the glint in my eyes the peace in my heart…
"I knew you had some kind of fond times… even though you look grim all the time…" he chuckles in a friendly tone…
"Wait did you see that?!?" I tilt my head slightly my eyes wide and alarmed…
"No…" he smiles "I only witnessed your body language.." he tuckes a long strand of his blond hair behind his pointy ear…
"You are dangerous…" I whisper in annoyance…
He just smirks….
I can't be near this elf…
He knows too much…
And is too observant….
He can read me like an open book if I am not careful….
I take in a deep breath….
Then sigh…
"Is something bothering you?" Marcy nudges my arm with her elbow…
"Nothing—" I mutter under my breath…
Kota watches me and Marcy's exchange keenly…
"How long do you know each other?" He asks curiously…
"Nearly twelve hours…" Marcy smiles happily…
"Wait… only a few hours?!?" Kota gasps his wood brown eyes widening in shock…
He expected years or months at minimum…. Not few hours…
"Jina… did you brainwash her?" Kota tilts his head in concern….
"No way she would never!!!" Marcy shouts angrily as she slams the table bringing attention of a few other diners…
"How dare you call Jina a villain!!!!" Philip pouts with a mouthful of food…
"Sorry sorry… I didn't mean to offend anyone…" Kota apologies quickly as he found himself pressured by Philip and Marcy…
We continued eating and talking between bites….
Kota was still curious…
But he knew better than to anger Philip and Marcy…
As the waiter came back and took our empty plates we got up and left the dining area…
"I just realised…" Kota ruffles Philip's hair playfully
"What?" I groan annoyed…
"I am in room 304 and you folk have room 303…" Kota states happily "we are neighbours!!!" he squeals excitedly…
"Great I won't sleep tonight…" I sigh in exhaustion…
"Come on it will be amazing!!!" Kota wraps his arm around me casually…
"I will be close if there is danger…" he adds playfully…
"We can defend ourselves!!!!" Philip shouts loudly…
"We are strong…" Marcy says shyly…
Kota shakes his head… he then waves us goodbye and enters his room…
We enter our room….
It has a beautiful green wallpaper with leaf patterns and three beds with soft feather mattresses and pillows…
The blankets were light yellow…
And beside each bed was a simple wooden bedside table…
The decor was almost Victoriana if it wasn't for the modern electrical chandelier on the ceiling and the holographic TV display…
Yet it was whimsical and felt natural…
"This room is pretty!" Marcy walks around the room joyfully…
"Oooh… a holographic TV!!!" Philip yells curiosity clawing at him to touch it…
"Don't touch it!" I warn him as I pull him away from it…
He pouts but listens…
We all settle down on our own beds….
As I try to close my eyes…
I hear a horrid sound from the room beside ours…
The sound was of high agony and pain…
It originated from Kota's room…
I spring up and grab my magic infused rusty pipe…
Preparing myself for the worst scenario….
I slowly and carefully walk out of my room in order not to wake up my companions…
The world slowed down my senses felt sharp as I reached in front of Kota's door…
I knocked the door a few times…
Then invited myself in…
My eyes widen in horror….