Rosanna's P. O. V:
Following Kairos' big revelation, the both of us came into a not so harmonious conclusion of the kind of relationship we had.
No. Truthfully, the conversation ended with an abrupt pause.
I had neither the strength to ask nor the attention span to listen.
My life felt like 'blah blah blah', random gibberish and funky plotlines.
"Date?" I asked. Marvelling at the food Dr. Osborne got me, which looked a lot like art.
The colors were all so vivid with beautiful designs, and I would've admired it more or taken pictures but my stomach has no such luxury.
"Hm?" Kairos hummed in response. Sitting comfortably with folded legs on the couch the maid brought in.
"Today's date." I repeated, taking another bite of the sandwich.
"Sunday."
"Kay." I bobbed my head, ignoring the fact it was a mindless action seeing as how Kairos was purely concentrated on the document in his hand.
A minute of uncomfortable silence passed by. But my stomach got the more comfortable.
"What's your plan? What can I help you with? Where do I go after this whole thing? Any thoughts?"
My questions came in series and were just the tip of what I truly needed to ask.
Responding patiently, Kairos said, keeping his head down.
"You along with a chosen group will follow me on a quest to retrieve a strong defense for Apocalypse Descent."
"You know that doesn't make anything clear, does it?"
I couldn't help being a bit snarky. I hate riddles. I love mystery but only when I'm not the one who needs or desires to know.
Just like I love drama just when I'm not in it.
"And, Kairos, why must I go with you on some risky adventure where I'd most likely be a cannon fodder?"
Snapping his document shut, Kairos glowing gold eyes held me in an eye contact.
"Rosanna, frankly speaking, your opinion or thoughts doesn't matter. The only reason why I haven't killed you off is the mate bond. You're useless, and a possible threat. Would you list anything that makes you important enough to have a say in the decisions I make?"
I scoffed. "Well, it's absolutely my fault I had an ivy league school with a fully funded scholarship awaiting me in my original life. But nooo, I wasn't satisfied.
I decided you're a god who I should worship with my every being so I jumped through time and space into this goddamn planet to see your beautiful face and be your loyal dog. How inspirational for every suicide seeking idiot.
I. Just. Want. To preserve my life and go back to my home! Is that too complicated to ask from your highly esteemed person? I'm not even interested in your life!"
I breathed deeply to reign in the emotions I was feeling.
No one had any right to tell me I'm useless even if I wasn't important in their life. More so for someone who isn't- well, for someone who isn't as important!
"That is exactly what makes it too much to ask for." Kairos let out chuckle, his lips pulling up into a mocking smile.
"Are you-" daft, mad, stupid!
Breathe in, Rosa. You've had good control restraining your emotions from clouding your judgement.
Do not let this little moment swipe things further down the dark tunnel.
"You can't ask for something that doesn't belong to you. Your life was never yours since the moment you stepped into Astral, bound by a group of mentally deranged association.
And since the moment you became affiliated to me, you should've stood in a black or white spectrum. Be my enemy or ally. But you're unworthy to become an ally nor are you foolish enough to become my enemy.
Rosanna, you stand on grey lines. While you might not die now, I'd advise you to think of how to preserve your life in my hands-- not even GCA can stop whatever I decide.
Do put away thoughts of entitlement. Right to life, is it? It doesn't work that way here."
Clearest speech from Kairos? But dam*edest, is it?
My throat felt dry and my heart began beating with fast palpitations, licking my lip as I stuttered.
"S-so you're saying... That, I..."
The reality of Kairos being a threat and GCA being a bunch of sadists struck in at higher rates.
GCA doesn't have a life insurance. And Kairos just outrightly declared my life can be disposed at any time.
Kairos would kill me if I don't prove my worth before the bond ends.
But Rael might kill me in a moment of sadistic pleasure.
In other words... I have to kiss the a*s of Kairos to survive?
But is there anything I can offer that he hasn't obtained from other transmigrators?
Perhaps the reason I became Kairos' mate was GCA giving me the only true life sustaining factor.
Well, if the other transmigrators failed after trials- GCA had to think of a new method.
Garbage? Ga, Gavin? Garbin? Garvin! Fuzzy details of Kairos mentioning something about 'fate' and 'fortune' came into my mind.
This mate bond is a ploy, GCA plotted and Kairos doesn't give a darn concerning the ploy.
So... I fight for my life not because of the demons in Starfall. But because of a scheming association and an uncaring individual.
I stared at the unfinished food on the tray before me, not finding my taste buds active and my desire for food satiated regardless of how empty my stomach still felt.
I want to scream, cry, throw a tantrum and curse every individual that forcefully takes a person's right to life. And GCA who thew me into such a perilous situation.
But I'm too busy worrying about how to be useful to Kairos- which I've now identified as the true target.
"The quest, you said, what exactly am I to do?" I asked after pondering in suffocating silence.
"Mediate Rael." Kairos responded, barely lifting a brow in my direction.
Oh, still not important.
Mediating Rael is my primary occupation and the moment that's gone or Rael becomes my grim ripper himself, I'd be a goner.
I stared at Kairos who was busy reading some files with a calm expression, leisurely flipping through the thick papers.
"When do I get details about the quest?" My voice came out smaller that I expected.
I took a gulp of water to flood the dinosaurs in my stomach to extinction.
But it didn't work. So I drank all the water in a measly attempt.
The dread and exhaustion were settling in faster and were actively occupying my mind.
Kairos gently dropped the papers on the couch and in a flash, he stood before me with a bent posture.
Our eye levels almost on equal ground.
My breath hitched and I nervously gripped the sheets while my fingers shaked with nervousness.
The fear I felt was unnerving, being peered at by blank unnatural eyes.
"When the time comes, you'll know."
Yup. He doesn't care if I survive at all.
Normally, transmigrators in the novels I read were given golden thighs to hug.
But here I am, being less than a cannon fodder with a cannon fodder friend and no tree to shade me from the fierce downpour of the rain.
Leaning his head over my face, Kairos shifted his face to my neck and his hot breath fanned my neck.
Sending a cold chill down my spine.
"Are you done eating?" He pulled away, asking with a warm smile.
"...Done." I gulped.
"Good." He muttered.
With a snap of his fingers, the lights in the room went off and I felt the tray being taken off my body.
A 'swosh' sound was heard while I tried to adjust to the sudden darkness.
But this room was without a hint of light.
Is it now I'm noticing there isn't any window in the room? How does the ventilation system work then? Um, well, there are other ways.
But it should be suffocating to some extent!
Before I could say 'Blink', a figure was hovering over my body.
Instinctively, I backed away and leaned down on the bed. But my actions were closely followed in like a predator to a prey's futile actions.
I could feel Kairos' breath fanning my neck and I wished to press him underneath, tie him up and let this dude have a feel of what bullying meant.
"Rest."
Kairos ordered. I stiffened up rather, like a normal person would. No one rests at command, okay?
Lying by my side on the large bed, Kairos pulled me into his embrace as I stayed still like a ragdoll.
One hand held my waist in a firm grip, enclosing my body with his in a perfect match.
I moved forward with a slight pant, finding it difficult to breathe in this oppressive situation but I was quickly pulled back into his hold.
I took the silent message and my adaptive capabilities kicked in.
This time I changed my position to a comfortable one, relaxing slightly and leaning my body against his rock hard chest.
"You're quite smart." Kairos teased.
Gee, thanks. I snorted internally but otherwise remained quiet.
Grudge count, +1=8.
I silently counted my grievances, making sure to remember to ruthlessly abandon this soul if he ever encountered anything threatening.
The night was too long. I couldn't sleep and Kairos didn't.
His fingers trailed through the flimsy material of my thin gown, rubbing circles around my abdomen.
It was blatant seduction and it took a lot of chants and mantras to persuade the evil thoughts out.
But clearly Kairos refused to stop there.
My muscles eventually became sore from my stiffness.
Kairos' raised me up easily and manipulated my position to lay on top of his chest partially.
I obliged.
Yes, I cussed my cowardice but it wasn't anything new. I always thought twice before acting. Or preferring to think throughout, skipping the 'acting part'.
And it never failed me. Though there were impulsive moments that others stimulated out of me, I wasn't quite fond of doing anything I considered 'dramatic', 'unnecessary'.
My head laid upon Kairos' chest and I listened to the strong beating of his heart like a lullaby, drawing me into the rest I needed.
His firm hands enclosing around my waist gave a sense of security, ironically from the true threat.
Our legs were half entangled and the feeling of our bodies in close contact elicited strange pleasures to me.
Cuss my cheating body!
Caressing my head like the touch of a lover's, Kairos almost made me think I fell into a fantasy romance story.
How funny.
I released a little chuckle involuntarily, and the hand patting my head paused for a second before continuing.
Slowly but soon enough, I fell into slumber. More peacefully than it ought to be.