Chapter 127 - Skin Alive!
Graven stared at his twin brother lying motionless inside the coffin.
Luke's breathing was steady, and when he checked his legs and knees...he was stunned... it already has fleshed but the rest of his feet were still skeleton, and the skin still clings to the bones, his brother's condition is vastly improving!
Although Luke's appearance looks paper-white, the fact that he is breathing normally means he is alive and will return to the land of the living soon!
He's feeling happy about this remarkable progress!
His heart was already celebrating for his brother.
He has almost forgotten what he came here for! To apologize because he betrayed him with the woman he loves.
He breathed deeply and touched his brother's cold hands. "Brother, I'm so sorry, I fell in love with your woman. I fell in love with Laura! Can you please let her go for me?" he asked in agony.
Suddenly... Graven felt a flow of heat originated from Luke's hands and traveled towards his hand, then it swiftly reached his head.
He was rooted on the spot, he can't move an inch!
Then different scenes flashed in his vision, he was forced to watch them.
What he saw in those scenes blows his mind away...
A few minutes later, Graven collapsed into the ground, unconscious.
<<<0>>>
Laura was getting restless inside the room.
She exited the room and went to the balcony. She will stay on the balcony a little bit if there are no other people there... when she arrived there the balcony was empty, she sat on the wooden bench looking outside, thinking about Graven.
A man comes to her side and tries to talk to her...
"Miss beautiful, can I sit beside you?" he asked permission boldly.
Laura sighed and nods her head. "Yes, you can have the bench all to yourself. I'm going back to my room," she said and rose to her feet. She left the balcony and walked towards her room.
The guy followed her and grabbed her hand tightly.
Laura spun around and tried to snatch away her hand from the guy's hold. "Let go of my hands or else I will shout for help!" she demanded fiercely.
The guy grinned devilishly. "Are you alone? Where is your boyfriend?" he grinned hideously, ogling at her alluring figure.
"None of your business!" she snapped at him, still trying to break free from his hold.
The guy was about to pick her up and bring her to his room but before he can do that... a black mist suddenly appeared and knocked the guy down... the guy and the mist disappeared from the place.
Laura bolted back to her room, panicking, locking the door inside. Once she's already safe inside the room, she breathed easily.
She tried to control the rapid beating of her heart.
When the guy was enveloped with the black mist just like the ones she had seen in the river, she's 100% sure that was one of Graven's men watching over her, protecting her.
God! Everything happened so fast!
She should not venture outside unless the inn caught fire.
She will just wait for Graven's return.
She lowered herself on the bed trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart... danger is already over! She tried to convince herself that.
She wondered where did Graven's men bring that bold and daring guy?
Sighing, she got up from the bed, trying to relax.
She began pacing back and forth on the floor.
When will Graven come back? She was feeling uneasy...
She continues pacing back and forth in the room for a few minutes.
Tired, she went to the window and looked outside and beyond.
She stayed in that position for fifteen minutes before she went back to bed and sat on the edge.
Her mind is going berserk with worry...she can't understand herself!
She needs something to occupy her mind and make her busy instead of worrying about Graven and remembering that guy's evil intention!
She went to the closet and grabbed the book that she started reading last week. She flipped on the last page where she paused reading.
She buried herself into the book and got lost in the characters and the live-action happenings in the book.
A few hours later.
She was engrossed in her reading that she didn't see the time, it's already lunchtime!
There was a soft knock on the door. "Miss Laura! I brought your lunch! Please open the door," the familiar voice of the driver floated in the air.
Laura put the book on the bed, she went to the door and opened it. She took the food tray from him. "Thank you," she said.
"No need to thank me, Miss!" the driver said. "If you are done eating just put the dirty dishes and the tray on that table in the corner, I will bring it back to the kitchen," he added.
"OK." She rewarded him with a smile and closed the door behind her.
She put the tray on the table and looked at the dishes. There's rice, stir fry potatoes with carrots, and chicken meat. There's also mushroom soup.
She suddenly got hungry, picked up the spoon, and started eating.
A few minutes later, she already finished eating her lunch. She arranged the empty dishes into the tray and put them on the table outside, then she retires back to her room to wait for Graven.
Since there is nothing else for her to do...
She grabbed the book again and continue reading the story.
Three hours later, her eyes got tired of too much reading.
She was yawning, she put the book on the side table and lay down on the bed, she's getting sleepy.
She shut her eyes and went for an afternoon nap.
Fifteen minutes later, Laura was already sleeping soundly in the bed.
All of a sudden... Graven materialized in the middle of the room.
He went to the bed and looked at Laura's sleeping form. A lone tear fell from his eyes. He had learned a lot after visiting his brother in the cave.
He discovered many things about their past that blow his mind away.
He lay down beside Laura on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Now he knows...
<<<0>>>
One hour passed quickly.
Laura woke up...her eyelids fluttered... then she realized that there's another warm presence behind her back! She turned around and breathed in relief after seeing that it's only Graven by her side. She thought for a second that the person behind her was the guy who boldly grabbed her hand in the balcony outside her room.
She stared at his face, he looks tired and sleeping deeply. She didn't bother to wake him up. She will just wait until he wakes up. She continues staring at his handsome face, she will never get tired of admiring his face, he is simply good-looking, an eye candy!
Half an hour later.
Graven finally woke up and looked at her. "Did I fall asleep?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied with a sweet smile. "How's your visit to the cave? How is your brother? What is his condition right now?" she bombarded him with questions.
Graven looked at her face for a few seconds. Of course, she's naturally curious, but he thinks it's not yet the right time to tell her everything. He thought that the right person to tell her everything about their past is his brother Luke. He owes everything to his twin!
Laura was trying to read what's on his mind. She felt uneasy because he just keeps staring at her face without uttering a single word. She can't bear his silence anymore. "Hey... Graven... what's wrong? Your silence is scaring me!" she expressed her uneasiness.
Graven smiled. "Don't be! I'm just lucky that you love me," he said, his voice spoke volumes.
"I'm lucky too because you love me!" she replied and giggled.
Graven wrapped his arms around her lovingly. He glanced at the window and noticed that it's already dark outside. "It's already evening!" he observed.
"Yeah, time flies too fast!" she blurted. She noticed that he was avoiding her questions regarding his twin brother in the cave. "Tell me now, how is Luke?" she demanded.
Graven looked at the ceiling and back at Laura's face, he can no longer avoid her questions. "He's breathing, he's alive, he looks the same. Except for this time, his resurrection is 90% complete, the only part of his body that has no flesh yet is his feet... and a little bit above on that area," he explained.
Laura bit her lip. "If he finally returned, maybe he will be merciful to us if we both beg together for my freedom," she said.
Graven breathed deeply. "Yeah, let's hope he will let you go," he said, feeling hopeful at the same time doubtful.
Laura noticed the grim expression on his face. "I feel that there is something that is bothering your mind..." she spoke.
Graven shook his head. "Nothing..." he said. "By the way, how's your day? Did you stay here inside the room?" he asked.
Laura took a deep breath. "I got tired and got bored inside the room so I went outside and sat on the balcony. But there's this guy who is so bold and grabbed my hand..."
Graven's head snapped and his eyes darkened instantly. "And what happened next -?"
"Suddenly, a black mist appeared and blanketed the guy! Then the two of them disappeared from my vision. I don't know where they have gone to," she said.
Graven felt relieved, his men are truly watching and protecting Laura based on his instruction, he was satisfied with the way they handled things during his absence.
"W-where do you think your men took that guy?" she asked.
A demonic gleam appeared in Graven's eyes. "Don't worry about the guy, my men probably skin him alive already!" he said indignantly.
Laura gasped and covered her mouth with her hands in horror. "A-are you serious?"
"A guy like him who forced themselves on women and not respectful to a woman like you needs to be taught a hard lesson," he said in a firm voice.
He rose to his feet and watched her face. He leaned down and kissed her lips. "Erased that guy from your memory, he's not worth it!" he said and went to the door. He paused while holding the doorknob and looked at her. "I'll get our dinner," he said and exited the room.