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Chapter 9 - The Keeper

15 April 2016, Friday

I'm in a good mood today. Last night, I had the best night's sleep I've had in ages. Guess why. I bet it doesn't take much to put two and two together - he came back last night. I didn't know how to feel at first. I was so conflicted. Relief, anxiety, attraction, wariness.

Until now, I feel so uncontrollably attracted to him, and yet, I wish he'd give me that sense of trust and stability that no one's ever given me yet. I wish he'd not leave me without notice, even though I know he has no obligation to stay with this self-proclaimed 'friend'.

Last night, as I saw him again, these overwhelming emotions rushed through me. I felt a lump in my throat. I felt like I was going to tear up, which is strange as it's been long since I could last cry. I had braced myself, hardened my heart. I told myself I was going to tell him to just leave and not come back, because I don't feel like I can handle one more emotional rollercoaster in my life, and yet, he completely threw me off.

His eyes were dark and unfathomable when looked into mine, my face trapped between his long slender fingers. I felt the heat rising to my face and butterflies in my stomach, saw it coming before I heard his words.

He said he liked me.

He said he'd stay.

What can I trust? Should I give this a shot? Maybe I'm overthinking things - I don't know if he meant that he liked me as a friend, or more. How can things work out anyway, between me, a normal powerless human, and someone- I don't even know what he is, who he is. I know nothing about him.

And yet, it makes me happy, shallow as this sounds. We've all had people we suddenly fall for without reason, he's that person for me.

So for now, I'll go with the flow and see how things go. Even if it won't last, at least I can say that we once had a little piece of forever in the finite time we spent together. Even if things don't work out in the end, maybe he'll make me a little happier, just this twice.

-

"Have you found the key, Keeper?" An imposing feminine voice echoed in the vast cave chambers. It was dark, damp and still, if not for the dripping of mineral water from stalactites.

"I have been tracking it with little success, my lady," the lone hooded figure rumbled.

The earth shuddered and there was a soft hiss as a woman rose from the ashes. She was curvy, with pearly skin and long dark locks that fell over her shoulders like a waterfall. By human standards, she was beautiful, and the simple sheer garment that barely covered her modesty did nothing to diminish her beauty. "Keep searching, and do it with haste," she snapped. "Time is dwindling."

The Keeper nodded. "I shall do my utmost to retrieve it as soon as possible. If that is all, I shall take my leave."

"Not so fast, Keeper."

The hooded figure stiffened as she sashayed towards him. "Won't you keep me company a little longer? It gets lonely and dreary here," she murmured, suggestively running her hands down his chest as she gazed up at him demurely through her long lashes. She leaned in close to him so her ample mounds were in full view, brushing against his lean body as she reached up to unhood him.

He avoided her and took a step back, putting distance between them. His voice chilled a few degrees. "I have other things to attend to, my lady. I shall take my leave now." And with that, he vanished, melting away into the shadows.

Alone in the vast empty cave, the woman's face contorted into a snarl as she gave out a screech of rage. With one hand, she levitated a pile of earth twice her size and flung it at the cave walls. An ear-piercing boom resonated throughout the cave system, ground shuddering from the impact as a section collapse under the force.

"You will live to regret this, Keeper," she seethed.