Free Web NovelChapter 74: _Enjoy Putting Me On Edge
Several minutes later, Devon stepped out of his bathroom with a sigh, wrapping a towel around his waist. He was back in his suite, away from Ambrose and whatever drama had been about to ensue before he left.
Han seemed like he knew something the rest of them didn’t. Or perhaps he was just full of shit.
"No matter," he murmured, keeping one hand clutched to the towel while moving toward the holo table at the centre of the living room.
Just when he picked up his phone, it rang with a call. He frowned for a second. Then he saw the contact at the top and smiled with relief.
Leo.
"Hey, kiddo," he placed the phone to his ear. "How are you feeling today? I’ve been checking in with the nurses."
Leo grunted from the other end, sounding like he had something heavy on his chest. "I... just can’t wait to get out of this hospital," he laughed dryly. "They’re saying I’ll be out in two days."
Devon leaned against his table. "Well, that’s great news! Isn’t it?" A pause. "You don’t sound excited."
There was a short pause at the other end. He heard a ruffling sound like his nephew was attempting to change his sitting position.
After that, Leo spoke, low and despondent. "Excited?" He echoed. "How could I be?"
"... You’re finally leaving the hospital and can start afresh. Go back to your life and—"
"Uncle Devon, I can’t ’go back’ to my life," Leo interrupted. "I lost my life back in Norfolk. She was ripped out of my hands when I could’ve protected her."
That gave Devon pause.
Right.
His fiancée and permanent Guide.
"Leo—"
"I’m going to lock myself away from the rest of society and quit being a Hunter." The lad dropped the revelation so suddenly. "I just... I just can’t. Every Esper only gets one permanent Guide and that’s it. W–What if I go berserk again?"
His fear was visceral.
Devon wanted to comfort him. He wanted to tell him everything was going to be okay. That would be lying. It wasn’t going to be okay.
He’ll never be able to perform his best as a Hunter when his permanent link with his fated Guide is severed.
Leo faked a cough just then. "Anyway," his tone became apologetic. "I also want to apologise about your yacht. I—"
"Boy, how many times will you apologise for that?" Devon chuckled genuinely. "It’s fine. It’s not like you rode it straight into the Echo Rift or anything like that."
The nephew-uncle duo talked for a couple more minutes before the call ended. Devon sighed, dropping the phone on the holo table.
Silence had never felt so... deafening.
These past few days he was so used to being around Ambrose and crashing at his suite that now even just coming back here to freshen up left him feeling empty.
Devon rubbed his forehead. "You really have changed me." He heaved, making his way to his bedroom for a change of clothes.
As he shut the bedroom door behind himself, however, his phone lit up on the table, buzzing with his grandfather’s contact.
★★★★★
Ambrose sat on a sofa, switching between channels on the TV while his other hand rested on his chin. His mind repeated the last interaction he had with Devon.
On one hand, he felt guilty for lashing out. On the other—he didn’t feel like he said anything wrong. He just said he didn’t have the mental energy for a conversation.
Heck, if anything he should be the one pissed that Devon just left the way he did.
"You just enjoy putting me on edge. Don’t you?" He scoffed to himself, finally settling on a reality TV channel. "Does this world have the Kardashians at least?"
He didn’t get to find out as his phone vibrated in his pocket. His brows knitted. He dropped the remote, pulling out the phone with one thought already intruding.
Could it be Devon?
That didn’t make sense though... he could’ve just come back if he wanted to talk. Or maybe he didn’t want to talk in person to avoid—
"Bloody fuck." He cursed, staring at the contact name like it was a bad omen. At this point, it just might be.
Viktor.
"Why the heck is he calling me now?" Ambrose groaned, burying his face in his palm.
[You did go on a dinner date with the man last night.] Aura chimed.
’So?’
[Just answer the call.]
Mumbling under his breath, he clicked answer, wearing a smile even though he didn’t need to. "Hi, Viktor. Good morning."
The Esper chuckled. "Don’t tell me you’re just waking up."
"Of course, not."
"So do you want to speak to me with a little more enthusiasm?"
Ambrose frowned once again, this time staring at the phone screen like he was searching for where he got the audacity. "Enthusiasm? Viktor, I just had breakfast and was trying to relax."
His gaze trailed to the small table in front of him, as well as the now-empty parfait glass and plate. Only a few crumbs were left from the pancakes.
"Breakfast? Without me?" Viktor lulled. "Or, wait... You had it with Devon, didn’t you?"
Ambrose dropped the kind voice. "Viktor, why are you calling?"
He got off the sofa, rubbing the back of his neck. He took a quick whiff of his armpits and nearly gagged. He sure needed a bath right now.
"Can’t I check on you?" Viktor teased. "Especially after how Devon dragged you out of the restaurant last night—what was that about anyway?"
Ambrose was torn between ignoring him and hanging up when the system suddenly flashed a screen in front of him.
[ALERT: Hidden Item Activation Detected.]
Ambrose froze mid-step, eyes snapping to the screen. "...What?"
The translucent panel flickered once.
[The item: ??? Key has initiated a new Daily Quest.]
His breath hitched.
"Aura," he muttered under his breath, pulse quickening. "What kind of quest?"
There was a beat.
Then...
[Standby.]
"You’ve got to be kidding me."
The screen blinked out.
At the same time, a door creaked open beside him.
Ambrose turned his head just as Orion stepped out, spoon in hand, licking the last bits of yoghurt from the glass. "Daddy?"
Something... burned his skin just then.
Ambrose stiffened.
Not heat.
Not pain
It was like his veins were sizzling from the inside out. His fingers twitched.
"Orion," he said quickly, already moving toward him. "Hey—listen to me, okay?"
The boy blinked, confused.
"Don’t open the door for anyone. Anyone at all—except Devon. Got it?"
"...Okay?"
"And if he asks where I am," Ambrose forced out, chest tightening, "tell him I just went for a walk."
The air around him warped.
His vision flickered. "Stay inside."
And then—
He vanished.
