Lexa hoped he'd place his palms over her eyes to wow her but… that did too.
She lost her breath to the amount of jewelry she set her eyes on. Words weren't enough to describe the riches held in the room. The room looked so smaller from the outside but rather spacey from the inside.
Bars of gold took up a third of the room. Chests of precious gems poured out and filled the floor like mounts of rocks.
There was an arranged set of jewelry, each kept in transparent boxes that were lined in front of the gold and diamonds which were kept at the back of the room.
Every piece of jewelry was much more expensive than everything Lexa owned, put all together.
"Elliot." Lexa said the first thing that came to her mind. "These are worth billions of dollars! Where did you get them from?"
He placed his cold finger on her warm lips. She always wondered why his skin was always cold. It not like she mattered if she screamed since the room was soundproof.
He just wanted to tease her. "I inherited them." He did what he was best at. "I come from a very wealthy lineage. I really don't know what to do with this. It's of no use to me."
"One bar of gold will solve all my financial problems for a year."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. But… this is mind-blowing!"
He wanted to pull her legs again but realized that, that would be going too far. "Pick one."
Her eyes brightened. "No. I can't."
"I just told you I had no use for them. You can reduce my burden by picking one."
Lexa's eyes moved to the beautiful cases of priceless necklaces. "This isn't right. I can't."
"If you like me at all, pick any one of your choice."
She wanted to continue arguing but… there was that look again. That look could make her do anything for him.
Moreover, she couldn't say no to that adorable face. "Cut it out. I'll pick one for my sake… not because I like you."
"It's obvious you're lying."
"I'm not."
Lexa hit his shoulder. Elliot laughed as she faced the necklaces for the last time.
She moved towards them, taking every step like the ground before her feet would crumble. She would love to have such jewelry but she'd feel guilty as she could never give him something as precious as this.
"What do you think? Which do you like?"
"Remember. You're forcing me to do this. Don't ever use this necklace to emotionally blackmail me in the future."
He gave her a surprised look. "It seems I'm not the first guy who's giving you a present."
"You are the first guy who's given me a present within our first week."
"When did you and I suddenly become our?"
Lexa ignored him.
Each necklace caught her attention in a different way. There was a thick lined one with rubies but that didn't prick her mind. Her eyes met with a heavy golden necklace that resembled one made by Indians.
None made her hands shake like a thin silver necklace which had sapphires arranged on it. Her lips curved to a smile but that wasn't the only thing that happened…
***
I was scared and terrified. There were only a few people in the jewelry room. Guards, maids and the royal designer of the palace.
I wasn't scared of the people or the priceless jewels in the room. It was because my siblings' worst nightmares were coming true.
Though, they weren't here… I felt like they were around me. Cursing, spitting and torturing me with their hateful words.
"Your majesty, please pick a jewel. You need one for your coronation tonight."
The royal designer pulled me out of the torturing world.
I didn't want to say or do anything stupid as I would be the future Queen of Halton so I walked forward.
I knew every position of every jewelry in this room. I loved each of them but there was one I always dreamed of wearing one day.
I didn't hesitate. I pointed at the silvered chain embedded with sapphires.
***
"I almost thought I lost you there, Alexa."
Lexa rubbed the confusion off her face and picked the sapphire necklace. "I like this one. It gives me a satisfied feeling."
"If you're happy then I'm happy."
Lexa removed the smug smile from her face. "I can't thank you enough for what you've done but since my 'thank you's are more valuable than this necklace, I'll just say… thank you."
He smiled. That smile could move mountains. Elliot suddenly felt relaxed for the first time in 547 years. He calmed down and took a deep breath. "You might not know it but that means a lot to me."
"Boys and their sweet tongue." She picked the necklace and gave it a closer look.
"Try it on." Her eyes reached his before attempting to wear it. Lexa was finding it hard to wear the necklace. Elliot smiled to himself and went to aid her. She stopped as his skin made contact with hers. It was magical. "You're welcome."
"At least let me thank you first."
"People say I'm forward. It's a part of me."
"That for once is true."
They laughed and walked out of the mysterious jewelry room.
They stood in front of each other, not knowing what to say as they seemed to had run out of words. Since Elliot was the forward one…
"It's wonderful that you're here but I know you have somewhere else to be."
Lexa placed the necklace in her bag to bring something else out. "I know that no gift can be compared to this necklace but to make it fair. Have this." In her stretched hand, stood a beautiful golden ring. "This was my mum's wedding ring. It's the only thing I have left of her and I want you to have it."
"I can't…"
"If you don't take it then I'll return your necklace. Is it a deal?"
Elliot knew he would fall in love one day, but the type of lady he always had in mind then was nothing like Lexa, still, she was the perfect fit.
He raised his hand forward and shook her hand. "Deal." He took the ring, keeping his eyes on her before facing the ring. "Nice, I got another burden but because it's from you, I'll keep it close to me."
"Why are people so scared of you? You're the sweetest guy I've ever met." His smile went down. He almost forgot who he was in his love fantasy. His mind went to the numerous people he's slaughtered. "You seem to be lost."
"It's nothing. To say the truth…" Which Elliot is terrible at. "… I don't know why people would compare me to the devil. I find it unbelievable. I got angry the other day when you said it."
"What do I mean to you? You just met me a day ago and-and you're doing all this. It takes any other guy half a year to do half of what you've done. Why me? It's unnatural. I'm thinking of many reasons why you'd try to get close to me but I have nothing."
That question sparkled interest. She saw it in Elliot's eyes. "Why do you bring yourself down and say you have nothing? You're a wonderful girl."
"Says the guy who just met me a day ago."
He placed his hands in his pockets. "Have you been heartbroken before?"
"Is it that obvious? It was my first one." Her eyes watered but she blinked to dry it off. "Forget about that. I thank you again for everything. It's really nice what you've done."
"So I'll see you again?"
"I work for you, remember?"
He clicked his tongue. "How could I forget? I'll see you later, Alexa."
Alexa again? Lexa asked herself. No one but her biological mum ever calls her by that. The way he pronounced her name was strikingly familiar.
"Bye."
They parted ways, with each thinking about the other.
Lexa's POV
I unlocked the door and entered.
It was important to sneak in without her knowing. I wanted to hide the necklace Elliot gave me. If she saw it, she'd definitely question me and I don't have answers for her.
The best thing to do was sell it but my heart didn't go with the idea. It was a gift from him. I couldn't sell it away because of money. It meant more than a million wads of cash to me.
I locked the door and took a breath before planning a run-in to my room.
"Where were you?"
I bit my lip. "I told you I went to the orphanage, remember?"
"Miss Rica called two hours ago to ask if you reached home."
Think Lexa. "I stopped by at work to check on my friends."
"You mean those two weird kids of yesterday." I closed my eyes and nodded. "You could have informed me."
"I know but it skipped my mind. I hope you weren't worried."
"Of course I was. I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too."
My mum walked up to me.
I didn't want to take any risks so I turned away and walked to my bedroom.
Kim stood confused, Lexa would never dodge a hug from her. Never.
Elliot's POV
I rested on the bed and stared at the ring longer. It reminded me of something else that Alexa owned.
I opened a drawer and released a golden hairpin. They were so alike. I compared them and realized that there was hardly any difference between them except from the shape. Moreover, the pin and ring were not ordinary. I sensed it.
I let Lot out and summoned my trident. I closed my eyes and casted a counter spell on the hairpin and ring. This would cause them to show their real form.
The hairpin and ring remolded themselves into… keys.
I looked at the two different keys. Each had two different shapes, size and formation. They would open different doors but there was a connection between them. I knew it because I never had any alternative for the hairpin since 547 years before Alexa gave me her ring.
My eyes widened when I remembered something.
My mission. I was on a mission the first time I saw Alexa. That mission was to find a key. I was looking for three different keys so I could use it to gain entry into an ancient temple that holds an evil spell book.
I searched for that book for many years. It would give me spells that can make me unstoppable. I always wanted to be an all powerful demon king. Why did that stop?
Alexa. That's when I understood. Alexa made me forget about my dark pasts and look towards a brighter future.
I wondered if she was sent by God to distract me from my plans. It wouldn't make sense as Alexa had the two keys with her. God is too wise to make such a costly mistake.
Did I actually fall in love with her or was it because of these keys?
The first key was with me. I removed it from the safest place I kept it in and placed it beside the two other keys.
This was what I always wanted but I wasn't excited as I was 547 years ago. I lost the passion that drove me to the mission. The only passion I had was my love for Alexa. She was my priority.
I looked at the keys. If I placed them together, I would have immediate access to the spell book.
I summoned my trident and casted a spell to keep them in three different places.
My love for Alexa overcame my desire for power. If this was God's plan, he knew what he was doing because, I considered dropping the crown for once in my reign.
I blew the thoughts off and thought about Alexa.
How could a girl be so innocent? I had bad luck anyway, I always meet wrong people.
There was a knock on my door.
Maybe not always but… most times.