The Mask Of The Monster - Chapter 94

(From Ella’s Perspective)

Since that night, things had changed between us. He was not avoiding me, nor was he touching me. And by touching, I meant he was not touching me at all if not necessary. Well, that was what I wanted anyway, but still, for some reason, it was kinda frustrating.

It had been more than a month since I had come into this world, but it felt like, this was the home I felt the closest to.

Every day, things were going as usual. I would go to the castle and Leandro would accompany me till the end of the forest. I would spend the day in the castle, cleaning and chatting with Jed. And then I would come back to the cave again.

Leandro was cooking that night while I was sitting in front of the cave, picking some very tiny flowers that I found in the grasses. I was planning on throwing them on Leandro later.

Suddenly I heard something above me, like the fluttering of a bird’s wings. I looked up, only to find two big bright red eyes looking at me.

“Eek!” I almost jumped, but then noticed that it was just an owl. The owl was kind of big and there was a letter tied up with its left leg.

The owl sat on my forearm and that was_ disgusting. Everything was fine until that. The feeling of its sharp claws on my skin was uglier than I thought. I tried to shake it off my arm, but that bird would not even move, rather it nibbled me with its beak.

“Get off me! Leandro! Help me, damn it! It won’t get off…,” I yelled while shaking my arm frantically.

“What… what’s wrong?” he came earlier than I thought. He looked as if he did not want to waste another breath to come here. Even though the thought seemed evil, I kind of liked when he was worried about me. It was the first time, after all, that someone was worried about me.

“This damn owl_ sat on me,” I muttered.

“There is a letter,” he said, “and if I’m right, it’s from your dad.”

“That’s not the point. Just get it off me first. It feels weird.”

“Hahaha… Our mighty little El is scared of birds,” he laughed.

“Hey, I’m not scared of birds. I just hate to feel their claws on my skin. It’s ticklish,” I said quickly.

“It’s still funny… haha.”

“God, stop it! Get this bird off me, Leandro. You’re making me angry,” I grumbled.

“Alright, alright. Stop moving then. Relax,” he said, taking the owl off my arm. He was still laughing about it as he untied the ribbon that attached the letter to its leg. I should be mad at him for laughing at me, but oddly enough, he was way too handsome to be mad at.

“Here,” he said and handed me the letter. The paper was yellowish and I definitely hated the color. It looked gross. “You’re pouting,” he said, smiling.

“I’m not!” I said loudly. “Anyway, I’m hungry. What’s for dinner?”

“Boiled vegetables,” he replied.

“Ugh… it feels like I’ve become a cow.”

“It was you who suggested that we should stop eating meat all the time.”

“Yeah, but… Anyway, we need to bring back our old traditions. Meat is meat, we can’t give that up no matter what.”

“If you want so, but there’s still a problem.”

“What now?”

“You don’t eat less at all, yet you’re so skinny. You didn’t gain weight at all. It’s more like you lost even more,” he said.

“What do you mean? You mean to tell me I eat a lot?”

“Forget that part, focus on the second part. I think you should see a doctor…”

“Wait a moment! You people have doctors here?”

“Did you think we are rats?” he asked as if he was offended.

“No, I mean I thought you guys call the people who treat you ‘healer’. Well, the doctor seems like a modern term, right?”

“We call them both doctors or healers or physicians. They are the same.”

“Oh, I didn’t know,” I mumbled, feeling embarrassed.

“Really, you turn a topic upside down,” he sighed. “I was talking about your build. So when should you see a doctor?”

“I’m always like this. You’re right about one thing- I eat quite a lot. Well, I like eating after all. Gosh, those cheesy pizza slices… and burgers… Anyway, I actually don’t change at all even if I eat a lot. I lose weight, but don’t gain,” I said.

“Do you think that’s normal?”

“It doesn’t…”

“I’m taking you to a doctor,” he said, cutting me off.

“Nope, not a chance. I’m telling you that’s just a waste of time.”

“I don’t think taking care of my wife is a waste of time.”

“Huh, wife? Fake wife,” I corrected him. “Anyway, let’s eat now. I’m hungry.”

“You never listen,” he sighed. “Still, I’m taking you to a doctor, you want it or not.”

During the dinner, I was reading the letter that Dad had sent me. For some reason, the things he wrote were exactly the things that I needed at the moment.

Dear Ella,

Hope you’re well. I’m doing well too, though probably you don’t want to know. Anyway, is that guy treating you well? He didn’t read this letter, did he?

Well, it has been a long time since we met. So, wouldn’t it be good if you come to stay at my place? Even just for a bit, you can just call it visiting. We can have a bit of father-daughter time. I know you don’t like me that much and you won’t forgive me, but can we try to spend the time a bit more comfortable keeping the other things aside?

Perhaps it’s too much to ask, but please consider this. And don’t let that guy’s words affect your decision.

Let me know about your decision. Just tell that tall guy who marked you for some weird reason which I don’t accept. He knows how to send me your word. Love you and take care. Sleep separately. I don’t want my pure daughter to be touched by him.

Don’t stay up at night, though I don’t know if you do so. I do it so I thought perhaps you do it too. Anyway, hope to see you soon.

Your Dad

“Here, take a look at this,” I said, handing the letter to Leandro.

“It’s yours. Why are you showing me this?” he asked, but took the letter anyway. He read it even though I did not answer. “Why do I get your vibe from this letter?”

“That’s because he is my dad,” I replied.

“Yeah, but I think your way with words is smarter than his,” he said thoughtfully. “I prefer yours. Anyway, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go to his place.”

“Okay,” he said and for some reason, he did not seem too sad about it. Well, I at least expected him to be a bit sorrowful.

“Hey, you’re really being expressionless at this moment, you know. I’ve been with you for a month. At least, be a bit sad. I mean, you said you like me, right?”

“I do like you.”

“As what?”

“I told you before, El. I want to date you, but it’s you who is keeping me waiting and now you told me to keep my distance as well,” he said. “Though it’s hard, as I promised you before, I’ll wait.”

His words rang in my ear, but I could not let them affect me. I needed to clear my mind. I thought that if we kept our distance, I would be able to think clearly. But whenever he was near, it was hard for me to think properly; it was always like my thoughts were messing with me. Perhaps it was better if I went to stay with Dad for a few days.

“Well, if you like me, shouldn’t you be a bit sad to stay without me?” I asked.

“There is a coincidence,” he said. “I have to go to Anders to discuss a few things. He sent me a letter saying that there are fifty new members willing to join us. I need to see them myself and besides, there are some more things to take care of. I was about to tell you this, and here comes your dad’s letter. For the first time, his timing is good.”

“Good then. When are you leaving?”

“A week later.”

“Alright then. I’ll go to Dad’s place tomorrow,” I said.

“This soon?”

“Leandro, is it hard?”

“What?”

“To control yourself?”

“You know the answer yourself, don’t you?”

“Then if I leave first, it will relieve you from this. And besides, I think we both need a bit of distance. In the meantime, think about the whole thing about you and me. Think about your feelings properly.. Try to understand if the feeling is just sexual attraction or more than that.”