"Aetheria?" Gabby frowned. "What are you talking about? You actually... is this Aetheria?" Wasn't she still in Chicago?
When she heard of Aetheria, the first thing that came to her mind was definitely a kingdom surrounded by a forest with monsters! It seems that she was wrong, after all?
"Technically… we are still in Chicago." He walked ahead of her and led her into a hallway with luxurious paneled walls and carpeted floors.
"So… Aetheria is like a secret dimension? A parallel universe?" she asked, somewhat excited. She was in Chicago that didn't feel like Chicago?
"You seem to be aware of it?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow. By now, they were already walking down the stairs, a large staircase that reminded her of a palace or something similar.
"I have read some research…" She was very familiar with string theories and the multiverse theory, as this was what Dr. Gomez was studying in the past. "Are you telling me that this is real?" she asked. So, does this mean that we are indeed in another universe?
"Basically, Aetheria is just something similar to Earth but with different laws of physics. So yes. We should be in another dimension."
"So it has magic?" she asked.
"Precisely."
She frowned. As a scientist, she has no reason to believe in things that cannot be proven by science like… magic. However, she already witnessed a Werewolf transform— that itself was proof that they— Lycans, Werewolves, and perhaps even magic— truly exist.
The two arrived in a large living room before he led her to a garden. In the garden was a sitting area surrounded by flowers. Gabby could not help but inhale when she saw the beautiful red roses around her.
She hated flowers and found them somewhat bothersome. However, she found herself somewhat enchanted by the flowers around her. She had never seen a place like this in the past!
"We are going to eat here?" she asked as she gazed at the lavish dishes in front of her. Isn't this quite luxurious and extravagant for just the two of them?
"Just the two of us?" she asked.
"For now," he said as he pulled a seat for Gabby. She sat on it and waited for him to sit opposite her.
"Are you going to tell me what healed me?" she asked.
"We believe it was the Aetherium…"
"We? Who are the we?"
"You will know very soon," Sebastian said. "For now, you should fill your stomach. I am going to introduce you to a few people after we finish our meal."
"What happened after I slept?" she asked. She had so many questions and needed answers before she could shove something in her mouth.
"Well… " Seeing that she wasn't planning on eating without hearing answers, he chuckled. "Your wounds started healing."
"And?"
"And then you just slept. It's already New Year's Day."
"Huh?"
"I mean… you were sleeping, and I didn't want to wake you up. So, I sent Agustin to talk to your sister and grandmother, telling them that you are staying with me," Sebastian said. "I hope you do not mind my lies."
Gabby pursed her lips. Well, she was not originally planning to spend New Year's with them anyway, as she knew that Ryan would be there too. "It's alright." He just saved her some awkward conversation with her grandmother about this subject. "Thanks."
"Hmmm…"
"And that Werewolf?" she asked.
"He is alive. We are currently trying to squeeze out a few pieces of information from him."
"And by squeezing out?" She was thinking of a chained dog in a dungeon. Isn't this brutality against animals?
She quickly reminded herself that the werewolf just tried to kill her.
"You already know the answer to your question," he smirked as he shoved a steak into his mouth. "Don't you?"
Again, she glared at him.
"Eat…" he mumbled. "Or do you need me to slice the steak for you?"
"I can do it," she said as she started slicing the steak in front of her. "So those people are really looking for Aetherium?" she asked before she could start eating. In response, he stared at her, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
"You really won't stop, would you?"
"I need answers." Having too many questions would only make her think more. It would then make her come up with many scenarios, and she would end up thinking about the worst. It would be an endless loop of mysteries or unsolved puzzles. Gabby would not be able to sleep without solving those puzzles.
And if she were to be honest, Gabby dislikes not knowing the answers.
He looked speechless before he shook his head. Just as she opened her mouth to ask another question, he suddenly shoved a small piece of steak into her lips!
Gabby's eyes widened. "You— " What the heck?
"I could use other methods to keep your mouth occupied, but I would rather not do it outside… " he said. For some reason, that made her heart skip a beat. She glared at him as she started chewing.
There really are so many things wrong with this man— Lycan!
She wanted to insist that what he was doing was kidnapping, but the face of that Werewolf flashed inside her head, rendering her speechless. In the end, she could only forget about the hundreds of rebuttals that she was preparing for him.
After what felt like forever, Gabby finally finished her food. Full and satisfied, she looked at him and opened her mouth, prepared to ask more questions.
"Later…" he answered. "We need to go somewhere."
"Can't you answer my questions while walking?" she asked. She understood that he dislikes talking while eating, but… what about now that they are currently walking? When she didn't hear his answer, she lifted her gaze and noticed his eyes on her. "What?" she asked.
"Let's talk inside my study…"
"I thought we were meeting people?" she asked.
"Not anymore."
"Why?" she asked.
"You would probably annoy them with your questions."
"…" Well… that is possible. "What would happen if I annoy them?" Are they going to transform? From the fiction novels that she read, Werewolves and Lycans should have similarities.
This is a new world for Gabby, so it is only understandable that she would ask many questions.
"I know what you are thinking, and the answer is no," he said before he suddenly walked a little faster. "Let's go."
"Hey!" she immediately tried to catch up but realized that her short legs were completely useless compared to his long ones. "Wait for me!"
"What the heck… hey!" Gabby could not help but curse inwardly. "Wait for me!"
This man was extremely rude. However, since he saved her, she chose not to curse him out. Instead, she simply hastened her steps and followed him back to the mansion and then into a quaint office on the second floor of the mansion.
"Before anything else…" Sebastian said. "Let me tell you something very important."
"What?" she asked as she tried to catch her breath. Clearly, it looked like he was walking but why does it feel like he was running? Why was it so tiring to run after him?
"Whatever it is that you saw on TV or read in books about us
. I want you to forget everything about it." he asked.
"Everything?" she asked.
"Everything," he nodded.