I followed Valentina and her maid to a hotel room, where my father and sister awaited.
I knew they would be safe as Valentina really cannot do anything to them, unless of course, she want's to expose herself.
As I entered the room, all eyes turned towards me, their gazes filled with concern and curiosity. I waited for a greeting that never came, prompting me to initiate the exchange.
"Good evenin-," I began, but before I could finish, my father and sister rushed toward me, bombarding me with questions about my well-being and the cause of my injuries.
"Edward! Are you alright? What Happened?" my father inquired, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Ed! how did you get hurt?" my sister Emily asked with genuine worry etched on her face.
"Who did this you?" Emily pressed further, her eyes scanning me for any sign of distress.
"Ed, are you getting bullied?"
I couldn't tell them what really happened, since it'll put them in danger and overall is a lose-lose situation, so I came up with a white lie.
"That, I..I fell down the stairs."
Emily eyed me skeptically, her gaze lingering on my somewhat battered body. "Really now?" she challenged.
"I'm not lying," I insisted.
"Ok, then why is there a leaf in you hair?"
As I ruffled my hair, a small leaf fell to the ground, prompting Emily to press on, her concern evident. "Did you get dragged into the forest and bullied?"
"Ah, no not at all, I really did fall down the stairs, right Valentina?"
Valentina caught off guard, hastily nodded in agreement.
"Hmm? Ah, Th-That's right, Edward you were quite clumsy! If it weren't for me you would of been seriously injured!"
"See? I really did tumble down the stairs." I tried to reassure Emily, but she still wasn't convinced, she than pointed at the cut in my cheeks.
"What's that than? Surely tumbling down the stairs, wouldn't give you a cut, now would it?"
She asked with her hands on her hips, I knew she would ask me that, so I was prepared, "I caught the railing, which may happened to have an exposed nail on it."
"But, I don't really know or remember how I got it. I am pretty sure it happened as I fell." I replied.
"..."
"..."
"Why are you questioning me instead of asking how I'm feeling?" I playfully teased, but Emily was serious as she pressed for more details about my whereabouts.
"Ok than where were you this past hour?"
"I was waiting for yo-"
"Ok that's enough."
Thankfully, my father intervened, putting an end to Emily's interrogation and expressing his concern for my well-being.
"Edward are you okay?" My dad asked his tone softening a little.
I nodded my head and replied, "Yeah, it hurt a little that's all."
Miss Brooklyn suggested a visit to the infirmary, but I waved off her suggestion, insisting I was fine.
We than conversed for a little while before we left and we went back our separate ways.
* * *
Arriving home, I heard a lot from my dad and little sister on our way in the car.
So, the way Valentina's team of maids and butlers took them 'hostage' was by pulling them over, and then they took them into a hotel room.
Since they wanted to lay low and not attract any attention, they came up with the 'genius' idea to make me her 'tutor' as we were 'friends,' according to them.
They even brought Miss Brooklyn to convince my dad of my ability to teach others.
Of course, I wouldn't be working for free. I'll be paid 500 Groves per hour, which is quite a lot, no, wild, considering the 'minimum wage' for workers here is 15 Groves.
Both my dad and my little sister seem to think that this is a great opportunity, not only to gain experience but also to have a job.
I, of course, accepted the offer without hesitation. It's likely they want to keep a close eye on me, which is fine by me as I wanted to know more about them too before getting rid of them.
When I reached home, I had to deal with my mom, Evelyn Blackwood.
As soon as I took two steps into the house, my mom suddenly appeared out of nowhere and caressed my cheeks, tracing the cut with her fingers.
"Oh my god, Edward! What happened to you!?" She asked, looking very worried.
"Oh, I got it when I-" Before I could finish, Emily spoke up, "He got bullied."
"What!? Tell me who did this to you, and I'll make sure-" My mom's shocked reply was swiftly cut off as I glared at my sister.
"No, Mom, Emily is lying. I did not get bullied. I slipped and fell down the stairs, that's how I somehow got this cut," I explained, trying to reassure my mom.
But instead of being relieved, she grew more concerned.
"You fell down the stairs?" She asked in a low tone, almost like a whisper. I couldn't tell her the truth, so I just nodded.
She then grabbed my wrist and led me to the couch, where she made me sit and asked me where I got hurt.
I got hurt in a lot of places during my fight with that vampire girl, however, I couldn't really tell my mom about it, especially when she broke some bones in my fingers. It would only point out the inconsistency in my story.
So, I lied and told her I was completely fine, besides a few scratches, which she treated immediately, even though there was no real need to do it.
'I definitely need to check the damage I took while fighting Valentina,' I thought to myself.
I also acknowledged the fact that I was nowhere as strong as I was when I was 17. This is because for the past 2 and a half years, I really wasn't in an environment where I constantly needed to watch my back.
Even then, I was surprised to see how much weaker I had gotten. I wouldn't have sustained a single scratch if I was at my prime when I faced Valentina.
'Well, no use crying over spilled milk.'
And besides, I'll visit her at her place now, since I am her tutor. I wondered where she lived—maybe a dungeon, perhaps?