Chapter 29: I Am Also An Awakened

The tension was palpable in the living room; Hazel looked even more guilty than she did earlier, seeing Mildred’s face darken; even Harvey, who’s a master of composure, bore a subtle scowl on his face.

They both came up to Damon, keeping the bags they carried containing scavenged edible supplies they hurriedly picked up on their way back up.

Mildred reached for Damon’s bruised face, caressing lightly with burgeoning anger stemming from a deep-rooted protectiveness of her charge.

Her action wasn’t surprising to Damon, since Mildred had basically played the role of a mother figure to him since he was a little older than a child.

The care with which she had nurtured him for several years had slowly morphed into a special type of relationship between them both.

Harvey shared just as much of a special bond, though he was more reserved in his ways, a stickler for boundaries and playing his part as Damon’s butler.

Damon doesn’t recall his predecessor doing anything exactly special to warrant these two being so fond of him other than simply being himself; but it seems that was more than enough.

Mildred was pissed, and everyone in the living room could tell, even though the only outward reaction she presented was a darkened expression. She slowly looked to Hazel for answers, and the young lady let out, feeling guilty—

"It’s my fault, Lady Mildred.... I promised... and I failed to protect him."

"Please stop, will you.... I am fine."

"And why would my welfare be your responsibility, Hazel?. You are not to blame for my own weakness, and you already outdid your promise standing up for me..."

"I am sure Mildred can appreciate this fact." Damon cut in, looking meaningfully at Mildred, who nodded as her displeasure simmered.

Hearing Damon’s words, she quickly thanked Hazel with a much calmer demeanor, realizing she had been a bit insensitive. It could, in fact, have been worse if it were not for Hazel, according to Damon.

They explained Brad’s actions, and it took the combined persuasion from Harvey and Sage to get Mildred to see reason and not start a fight with Brad they simply couldn’t win at the moment.

Mildred never really liked the young man, and they never really got along. Now that Brad was showing his true colors, she felt more helpless that they couldn’t do anything to stop him.

Harvey doesn’t even have bullets in his gun anymore; the worst he could do at the moment was bluff with his gun. The good news was, only Damon and the two of them knew this fact.

"Young master, we have the crystals, so I will make the purchase immediately."

Not wasting time to regale the group with their ordeal down the lower floors, seeing Damon’s state, Mildred informed them as she hastened in her worry and called up her system interface, navigating to the store option and locating the health injector item.

"Stop, Mildred. Don’t."

Mildred paused her action in confusion, looking at Damon, who had grabbed her by the arm in haste to stop her. Harvey also had a similar look on his exhausted but composed face as the other students, excluding Kora.

"But why, young master?. I need to purchase the item... the health injector."

"I know, Mildred, but.... "

"Can I have a word with just you two?"

Daman demanded, and though they both did not understand why he was hesitating when his life was literally at stake, they both still carefully led Damon to the kitchen, leaving Hazel, Sage, and Nick to look on in shared curiosity.

"What do you think he wants to talk to them about?"

Sage muttered from the side, while Hazel ignored him, she too clearly curious as she watched them leave.

"Tsk. You ain’t fun, Prez."

"Mind your own business, Sage."

"Their business has become our business too. pretty boy over there keeping secrets. Tsk, tsk."

"Sigh. Why are you making that weird sound with your mouth? Are you some old man ?"

"How... how are you two so calm in all this?..." Nick suddenly interrupted in a somber tone.

"Our friends...the world...Zane.... Rachael...Ela... "

"They all...I don’t know.... "

"I don’t know how you do it. How you are two are so calm in all this "

Nick added, his bearing sorrowful and genuinely curious about how these two were still able to joke around and argue. Even as he spoke, there was a lingering tremor in his voice and body.

"You think we are calm?..." Hazel began to say as she heaved a heavy sigh.

"I... am actually afraid, Nikola. So afraid that it’s becoming harder to smile. " Hazel intoned somberly with a faint glooming smile on her face, as she twiddled her thumbs between her things.

"Then how..."

"What, you expect us to break down, just like you?...."

"That’s a recipe for becoming zombie dinner," Sage interjected, his tone grave as he returned to gazing out the large tempered windows and at the horrors below. It was evening, and darkness was descending fast.

Hazel cast a momentary gaze at Nick, noticing he was still finding it hard to adjust. He was never outspoken in class and more of an introverted recluse; still, he was a kind person and liked for his strengths and contributions to activities.

"It was okay to be afraid..."

"You just have to learn to bring that fear under control... don’t let it control you," Hazel advised with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Hazel," Nick responded, beaming a smile back at her while gazing with a twinkle in his eye.

Inside the penthouse’s luxurious kitchen, Damon sat on a tall kitchen stool, his back resting against the massive countertop, with Harvey and Mildred standing in front of him, looking more worried than they had been previously.

Damon’s condition wasn’t as bad as they had imagined as they rushed back up, but it was still bad.

"Master Damon."

"Yes."

"Master Damon.... I think you need to rest. Please allow us to purchase...."

"Why, Harvey. I haven’t even asked how your hunt went. And you too seem to be in just as bad a state."

"But you can’t even keep your eyes open, young master," Mildred remarked from the side, seeing Damon talk to them with half-closed eyes.

"Oh....I see." Damon mumbled in response.

"Before that, though, Harvey... Mildred, I am glad to see you two make it back okay." He intoned, forcing his focus and looking at both of them. He tried to smile, but he only managed it on the inside.

"We aren’t going anywhere, Master Damon."

"But why did you stop me from making the purchase ?" The two appeared more worried by the minute, Damon having told them as soon as they entered the kitchen not to make any purchases yet, when he clearly needed it.

"I have something to tell you two...You see.... "

"I am also an awakened."