The dinning table was void of human voices, just the clinks and clangs of cutlery on plate echoed here and there. Everything seemed normal except from the fact that Khalan barely touched her food. She had lots of thoughts streaming through her consciousness and the only thing she could do to pull herself together was breathe and stare into nothingness.
"She will be fine after getting enough rest" Nathan suddenly spoke. He knew one of the things bothering her was Vesper's condition.
"We do not know that Nathan" she sighed, "what you did was only a temporary solution".
"Honestly she seemed really off today, I have now Vesper for years and something is seriously wrong" Saskia spoke after gulping down a full glass of water. She seemed very hungry with the way she ate and drank, after all she had the most stressful night of her career two nights ago and yesterday was no fun for her as well. She needed rest and plenty of it. She was no less worried about Vesper as Khalan was but she had just been through a lot too.
"Thank you so much for your hospitality sir Nathan" she appreciated. Her plate was cleared and so was her cup. Now all she wanted to do was sleep and she hoped that by the time she woke up, Vesper would be alright and everything would be just fine.
"Show her to a room to get some sleep Hal" Nathan rather ignored her thanks and spoke to Hal after hearing her thoughts of wanting to rest.
Saskia judged that maybe her face looked too tired and so did Khalan because she never actually said she wanted to sleep. Nonetheless, she took Hal's hand as he helped her get up from the chair and followed him out of the dinning room.
Immediately they left, Khalan stood to leave too but was held back by Nathan's strong hands.
"You should eat something at least" he looked at her with concern and it seemed to get to her a bit as she quickly sat back down and continued picking her food.
"What is with the maids and chefs?" She asked suddenly, "Are you trying to make a good impression on our guests?"
The maids and chefs Nathan brought to the mansion were all from demon race, some of his trusted servants from his palace. He had brought them to help with the housekeeping since it was no longer just him and Khalan and besides, she had complained about her need for a chef so she would not starve while waiting for him all the time. Also, he knew how much she liked having people around. She was so excited with the prescence of Vesper so a full house would definitely give her more delight.
"Just consider them as an early present for your eighteenth birthday. I do not want you doing anything stressful from now henceforth. Just call on them and they would do anything and everything you want them to do and more" he smiled at her but she only rolled her eyes.
"So I should say thank you I guess… my birthday is still in two weeks but I could really use their help and company" she finally stuffed a spoon full of rice into her mouth and munched on it precisely.
"I still have more surprises for you anyways" Nathan helped her tuck her loose her back behind ear before it almost enters her food.
"I am already very surprised by you lately Nathan, anymore would leave me too stunned to speak" she sniffed.
Nathan was not comfortable about the way she spoke so he went ahead to listen to her thoughts to know why. She was actually still puzzled about the so called special abilities he revealed yesterday. How was he able to know what was on Vesper's mind without her having to speak. Has he always had this ability to know what spirits seek, was he a spirit too? Another question she had on her mind too was about his relationship with Hal. He seemed to be so submissive to him and she was not comfortable with how dark and ominous this 'Hal' guy looked. She just had a lot on her mind but above all wished for Vesper to be okay and for Nathan to be more truthful with her.
"I care about you a lot Khalan" he held her hand, making her drop the fork it held onto. He had this urge to give her answers to everything she was thinking but that would only expose him more. He had to be patient with her, wait for her to speak her mind whenever she wanted to. But before then, he had to reassure her of his love for her.
"I want you to know that I would never do anything to hurt you, intentionally or unintentionally. I love you, I have always loved you, now, forever and always" after speaking, he drew closer and pressed his lips unto hers, sliding his hand behind her neck and kissing her deeply.
Khalan did not see the kiss coming but if Nathan had not taken the initiative, she would have kissed him first. His words really melted her heart and drove all her over thinking to the back of her head.
The kissed lasted for a few seconds before he finally let her get some air.
"I love you so much Nathan" she confessed, smiling sweetly at him.
He loved hearing those words from her but knew it was already a matter of two weeks before it would be all gone. Those eyes would now be filled of hatred for him and those lips would rather curse him all day long than confess love to him. Oh how he wished she could stay like this forever but he knew it was just his wishful thinking.
"I know you do Khalan" he pressed a sweet kiss on her forehead.
"Now eat up, I do not want you lacking nutrients"
She smiled and went back to her food, now seeming to get appetite from no where. Munching the food bite after bite and humming at the good work of the chefs after each swallow…