Cody returned to the bookstore with us. Eleonora carefully examined his wounds, which weren't deep, so she didn't need to use her healing powers. Instead, she meticulously cleaned and treated them with care.
After patching him up, Eleonora tried to start a conversation, but Cody's uneasy body language made it clear he was uncomfortable. Sensing this, Elle soon excused herself, giving me a chance to approach him.
"If you want, you can go to my room. You know where it is, right?" I offer him a warm smile.
He nods and quickly stands up, heading toward the stairs. I still need to discuss the situation with my colleagues, so it's best if he doesn't overhear. As I watch him disappear, Arthur tugs me aside by the elbow.
"What now?" he mutters, more to himself than to me.
I pause to think for a moment. "What if he stayed here?" I suggest bluntly.
To me, this seems perfectly logical, but Arthur's eyes widen in disbelief.
"Are you out of your mind?" he blurts out a bit too loudly, then leans in closer. "This place will become a demon burrow in less than a week."
"It's not like he summons them. Maybe he's just unlucky," I whisper, irritation creeping into my voice.
"Unlucky?" Arthur's tone drips with sarcasm. "Show me someone else with that kind of luck."
"Don't forget, we need to protect him," Eleonora interjects, appearing out of nowhere. "Whether he attracts them or is just unlucky, it would be easier for everyone if he stayed here."
I nod in agreement, but Arthur remains unconvinced.
"Fine, but he probably has a family. Are we just going to kidnap him and lock him up here?" he grumbles.
"For God's sake, no," Elle sighs. "It's his decision. But we all know it's probably the only sensible solution."
After some intense discussion, we agreed Cody could stay with us. However, no one seemed eager to be the one to present the offer. Once the conversation ended, Arthur vanished, while Eleonora and Kaja lingered suspiciously near the bar. It looks like the task falls to me.
As I make my way toward my room, I try to figure out how to broach the subject. I have no clue what to expect from him either. When I open the door, I find Cody inside. He turns around at the sound of the door creaking.
"Hope I didn't startle you," I say with a smile, offering him a cup of warm tea.
"Nothing could be scarier than that thing," he replies, accepting the cup from my hands. "Creepy as hell."
My lips tighten instinctively as guilt pinches my chest.
"Sorry I wasn't there," I say, trying to break the ice again. "I was looking for you, but I couldn't get there in time."
Cody stays silent for a moment. "It's alright. Not my first rodeo. Probably not the last either," he sighs, bringing the cup to his lips.
Despite feeling guilty, curiosity gets the better of me, compelling me to ask, "When did all of this begin?"
"About two years ago. Since then, they keep coming back. Sometimes after a few months, sometimes a couple of times a week. It varies," he replies with a sad smile.
I wonder how he'd managed to hold on for so long. Since Cody doesn't have any supernatural gifts, he should be at least in a wheelchair by now.
"Do you always face them head-on?" I continue.
"Sometimes I spot them first and manage to hide. But more often, they find me faster. It's like I'm wearing a safety vest with reflective stripes."
I can't help but chuckle. His joke was genuinely funny, but my laughter seems to catch Cody off guard. He shoots me a surprised, mildly annoyed look.
"Sorry," I say, smiling apologetically. "Good expression."
"It would be funny to me too if I could fight them on equal terms," he replies harshly, though I understand his underlying frustration. "Unfortunately, I'm not like you."
"I know. But it's not easy for us either. Not all of them are easy to catch, and we don't always come back unscathed," I sigh.
"Try to imagine how I feel," he says, his tone softening slightly. "I don't have friends who can heal me. Sometimes I think it'd be easier if one of them just finished me off. At least then, I wouldn't have to hide and be afraid. But I want to live, so I fight."
I realize I won't get much more out of him tonight. My questions are only stirring irritation, which isn't helpful. It's time to bring up the idea of him staying with us before he storms off.
"We thought it would be best if you stayed here. Of course, if you decide to stay, you'd need to inform your parents, or—"
"They're dead," he says, his words slicing through the air like a blade.
I hold my breath, feeling the weight of his revelation. With every exchange, Cody's life emerges as a narrative woven with hardships and tragedies.
"I'm so sorry," I say, trying to offer comfort, though the words feel hollow, lacking real weight. I know sympathy from a stranger can't fill that void.
"I've accepted it. I'm on my own now, so I deal with things alone," he replies, lifting his gaze to meet mine. "If I stayed, would I have to join in on the hunts?"
I smile gently, careful not to come off as dismissive.
"No, absolutely not. It would just make it easier to protect you," I reassure him. "We're quite busy here too."
Cody falls silent, lost in thought for a moment.
"I wouldn't say I trust you, but my situation is hopeless. I don't know—I could pay rent or at least help in the bookstore," he finally says.
A wave of relief washes over me.
"No need. You staying here is already a great help. And we'll do our best to protect you. Please, believe in that at least."