Forty-three

- You are! -I say.

There's no one else in the house, no one, not even the other two who disappeared without explanation.

"Where's Vincent?" I ask as we walk to the library.

"Upstairs cleaning the bathroom!"

"I'd rather not get into that subject!"

"What exactly do you want here?" -he questioned seeing me enter the library, with investigative eyes.

— I need to find a book... —he explained, rummaging through the shelves.

"Fuck, I'm going to spend my entire immortality in this place!"

"I can help you if you tell me which book it is!"

“Dragons! -I talk. -It's something about dragons...

"I have three hundred or more books on dragons!" - she told. -I need you to be more specific!

— It's something about a "Tale" a "Legend"... -I forget. -Oh! -I remember. -It's one by writer Hector Datto!

The Greek God starts laughing but doesn't expound words on my sloppy tracks.

"The Dragon's Tale!" - he pointed out, going to his table.

- That! - I approach him. -Do you know where it is? -question. -I remember leaving him in your bed when I stayed here those days...

- That? - your beautiful hands take the work that I wanted so much from inside your drawer.

- Thank God! - I am filled with happiness. -Thanks! - I say reaching out my hands to catch him.

"Why do you need this book?"

He was lifting the book to me, but at the same time he chose to hold it, not allowing me to take it.

"Is there a way to release it?" - I get her furious.

"Only after you answer me!"

- What is your problem? - I pull him and he squeezes harder. - Let go, Benjamin!

"You know the book is mine, don't you?"

"SERIOUS?"

"Fuck, how old are you?" - I don't give up pulling. - Give it to me soon!

He snatches the artwork out of my hands and I stare at him like a mother stares at her son after he's scribbled on the wall for the twentieth time.

— Okay, so keep it, I can buy one!

This is where things get even more bizarre. The Greek God starts laughing like a real child, dropping the book on the table.

“How exactly do you intend to buy one?” - he asked full of grace.

— Buying huh!

That "whew" they loved to mock so much ends up coming out without me noticing.

"You know there's only one, don't you?"

"Cum!"

"But you just said there are a thousand dragon books in here!"

“Yes, it does. But there is only one Hector book and that book was not published, it was given to me!

"It's not possible"

- Lie! - disbelief.

“Why would the greatest wizard in the world publish a book containing all the dragons' secrets, including what he had to do to get where he is?

"It really would be shooting yourself in the foot!"

"So you're telling me he entrusted you with his life's work?"

- Yes!

"Like those rare paintings on the wall outside?" - I add the paintings.

- Yes!

"It's gotta be a joke!" -comment.

— Mila, I don't mind if you take the book, you can even take it with you if you want. But I want to know what makes you curious...

— Julie was explaining to me about the necklace, but I ended up getting interested in the other part of the story where it talks about the powers that those dragons had.

"I see..." he commented. -But you know that these are just stories, don't you?

- Why do you say that? -debate.

— Because it's over, it's over and it shouldn't bother you! -mind, knowing that the weapon that can kill him is still alive.

"Yeah...but...what if it wasn't?"

I should say what I know, but maybe revealing everything like that is too risky.

- Like this? -if interested.

"It's...it's just...well...yeah, you said it's past, but the cord works, doesn't it?"

"Are you hiding something from me, Mila?" - he insists.

- No! - I look away.

— Mila... -he walks around the table and faces me. -Your heart may not be beating, but I can still feel when you're lying!

"I...I...I didn't lie!" - I get in the way.

"And I don't believe it!"

- Nonsense!

"Let's do it like this then." When you're ready to tell the truth, I'll lend you the book.

- What? -reject. -Not even!

"Yes, that's how it will be until you tell me what you're hiding!"

— This little prank can end here, Benjamin! - I'm serious. -I'll return the book as soon as I find out what I need!

I'm worried about the limits he sets and I surprise him by being quick to pick up the book and move away from him.

— Mila! - she warned. -Give me back!

Hugging the book, I shake my head in disagreement, like a child who refuses to obey his parents.

"How childish!" - she judged. -I don't believe that a woman like you can be so immature...

"Think as you like!" - she says. -I see it as a need, not immaturity!

- It is serious? He arched an eyebrow. -Are you sure you want to pick a fight with me?

"He challenged me?"

My insides are dying of laughter right now.

"One stealing a book and another wanting to fight over the book!" - I ironize. -Which of the two is more childish?

Suddenly he approaches stretching his arm in an attempt to pick up the work and I switch it to the other hand very quickly, making my senses become alert.

"The result is already obvious, don't you think?" she asked with that sweet little smile. -I'm just giving you the chance to give me back what's mine and leave unharmed!

“Unharmed? - I point out walking backwards. - You wouldn't be able to hurt me...

- Possibly! -It is clear and direct.

His hand is quick to grab my wrist, but I push it back, running behind the floor shelves.

"Come on, Milla. You don't want to play with me...

Yes. He is taking this very seriously. Deep down he may even have a hint of malice, but at the top what predominated was his will to have me and to control me at all costs.

“Okay, Benjamin! I raise my voice, hiding from him. -If you want to fight, then we'll fight!

War was declared.

"Is that really what you want?" -she said moving the book away from the shelf in front of me, to see me on the other side.

- Yes!

- Okay! -he activates his eyes and that already worries me at first.

"Why did he activate the eyes?"

Benjamin was always very cautious about his appearance, I never saw him turn his eyes on if it wasn't really accurate. It was clear that this demonstration meant some kind of interest, a target, something he would mark.

For us the pressure came whenever anything tested our patience, it was a constant struggle. But Benjamin, with him it didn't work that way, it had an on and off button inside it where the red only appeared when he really wanted it.

"Is it going to be like that then?"

We were staring at each other intently, not looking away.

— You can still give up... -he tries to make me give up, placing his two strong hands on the wooden shelf.

- Not even! -I'm shaking with fear.

"Don't say I didn't warn you!" -the banter ends the minute he uses his hands to push the bookcase above me.

"IS HE CRAZY?"

My wide eyes fire as I see the size of the wood turning towards me with hundreds of books sliding off the shelves.

"DAMN IT!"

I run as fast as I can to the edge, avoiding what could crush me. The bookcase which was made of good and thick wood, topples forward hitting another one as well. Their impact on the ground and the weight of the book in my hands send me to my knees just inches from the wreckage. My breathing was a thousand and the work of the famous Hector, had escaped my fingers when I fell.

— BENJAMIN! - I scream his name, seeing him near the door. -WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?

I jump to my feet seeing that the book has slipped under his desk behind me.

"Are you ready to give up yet?" she asked, turning the lock on the door.

“Why are you locking us in here? - I try to examine your intentions.

"Because I don't want anyone getting in the way of our game!"

Strangely, he decides to do the opposite of what I imagined, going behind the other shelves, expecting to see him face me head on. He disappears from my sight, as I take my hands behind my back, running my fingers over the desk in search of something that could arm me.

"Now are we going to play hide and seek?"

He doesn't answer, a silence takes over the place and that only makes me more apprehensive.

— BENJAMIN! - I call him.

At that time, the lights in front of me start to go out one by one like a horror movie where the cornered victim sees himself on the dark corridor straight. The sound of circuit breakers being tripped sent an intense shiver down my spine making me regret starting that shit.

That's when everything goes out and the emergency lights start to light up the place.

"Yeah..." I take a deep breath. -Congratulations! - I speak facing the darkness managing to pick up a heavy metal pen. -You're really taking this seriously, aren't you-

A very fast knock silences my mouth, just as my body is hit with a kind of push causing my frame to hit the table and fly the other way. I knock the iron chair and lift it to the floor with me, but luckily its upholstery protects my head.

I already understood that the war was lost, the problem is that I couldn't raise a white flag because whenever I tried to get to my feet he threw me against the floor again and again.

- HE ARRIVES! - I say stretching my hands to the table looking for support to get up. -YOU WON!

He knows how to piss me off.

"Hell. Where is he?"

"YOU CAN HAVE THE DAMN BOOK!" I surrender, standing in front of the table.

Almost a full minute without anything falling or flying.

— BENJAM —

When I scream his name, he appears behind my back, sliding his hands quickly down my arms, bringing them together with unstoppable strength. He only holds me with one hand and uses the other to lay me face down on the table, having my whole body completely trapped and my ass thrust towards him.

- And that's it? I struggle to ask with a pinched face.

I try to pull away but he pins me against the desk pressing my cheek.

"What a hate, I can see his victorious smile from here!"

His hand closes a little more and his thick legs lean behind my thighs almost punishing me with his member. Her palm rests on the table in front of my eyes and her body with perfect firmness leans over my back bringing her mouth to my ears.

- If you want to keep playing, I can let you go and count to three... -he said in my ear. -But if after that I catch you again, I'll have to punish you somehow...

"God..."

"Maybe I'll start with your clothes!"

"What a chaotic time to get turned on!"

"I... I... uh... give up!" - I murmur a few inches from his thick hand.

It's wrong I know, but I couldn't help but imagine those fingers going into my mouth as he fucked me from behind.

- Good girl! - he said letting go of me.

Surrendered. I surrender at that table for about ten seconds trying to compose myself.

— You could have killed me... -I say, turning calmly towards him.

"Do you really think I would do anything to put your life in danger?"

"No, he wouldn't!"

- Here! -His hand stretches out in front of me, handing me the pen that slipped out of my fingers without me noticing.

"Wh-what...how?" - I take the perplexed object.