Page 20 of The House of Whispers

Whose voice was I hearing?

I struggled to wake up, only lifting my eyelids. My pupils sharpened and strained to see as my vision was blurred, frantically trying to make out the figure next to me. Feeling returned at the realization of my hand being raised. My vision focused, watching as he lifted my hand to his lips. Shades of orange blurred in and out of focus as my body shivered with a strange excitement at the touch of his lips against my skin. I felt helpless, unable to fight his gesture. My throat burned as a small sound of a moan drifted from my mouth, alerting him of my consciousness. His head snapped toward me, darkness shielding his face—his mask slightly raised.

Jakkal.

“No,” I whispered faintly.

Jakkal’s face remained shadowed as his eyes glowed two different hues. My eyes fought to remain focused and opened as he lowered the fox mask back to its usual place. He carefully placed my hand by my side, tucking my blanket back across my body, respectfully covering my exposed chest. He stopped, staring at the two brands, as his hands remained firmly on either side of me. His face moved as if he was following the trail of my injuries back to my face. His body hovered directly over me, causing my breathing to increase as I watched him paralyzed with fear.

“Who hurt you?” His voice was different. It was filled with anger and… pain?

I couldn’t bring myself to respond. My throat hurt too much from Chesmu’s grip. Jakkal’s hand moved, lightly tracing my neck. Pain and excitement bled into one another as he leaned in closer, his mask almost touching my face.

“Who did this to you, Casper?” he whispered along my chin. My skin prickled as my back arched ever so lightly at the warmth of his breath.

“Leave me be, you monster.” It took all my strength to push the sentence from my mouth, the last word filled with disgust.

Jakkal released a light chuckle as he remained unbothered, moving closer to my ear.

“Never.”

Monster. That is what Casper had called me. But she had no idea of my true potential—ourpotential. I would become whatever she wished me to be. And if she truly thought me a monster, then why was she still here? Still laying beneath me, allowing me to be so close to her. No, she didn’t think I was a monster. Deep inside her cryptic soul, she knew that we were the same.

I leaned in close, her lips almost touching my mask. “If I am a monster,” I breathed into her gasping mouth, “then you, dear Casper, are the devil herself.” I remained over her as the moonlight highlighted the numerous goosebumps that covered her pale skin. A smile crept along my face as I loomed over her, pleased with myself, knowing she liked what I was doing. “Somewhere, deep down,” I spoke as her violet eyes sparkled, watching me, “you’re enjoying this game aren’t you, little ghost?”

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps in the distance snapped my attention from her. These weren’t average footsteps, no, these were large, heavy footsteps… and they were heading this way. To Casper’s room.

My head turned from the door back to Casper as she remained unaware of the person heading our direction. She watched me, puzzled by my reaction.

“What’s wrong?” Her hoarse voice only angered me more as she strained to ask the simple question.

The footsteps grew louder as Casper finally noted them. She glanced over my arm toward the door and back at me. Her face showed a mix of emotions. Was she worried for me to be caught? Or was she fearful of who was approaching?

“Fear not.” I stroked her chin softly, Casper gasping at the delicate touch.

Before she could breathe another word, I swiftly moved from her side, fading into the shadows as my fingers snapped. My body flickered as my magik concealed me from sight. Casper strained, rising from the bed as she struggled to keep her eyes on me.

“Jakkal?” she whispered into the darkness. I remained silent, my presence unknown to her as I lurked in the corner of her room at the foot of her bed. “Jakkal? Where are you?” Her whispers harshened, demanding a response. She seemed almost fearful of being alone, which only angered me more.

The footsteps stopped just outside Casper’s door followed by three strong, heavy knocks. Casper’s breathing increased as her eyes became fixated on the door.

Who is it? Is it the one who hurt you?

I stepped from the corner, keeping my distance as Casper moved from the bed. She wrapped her blanket around her chest, concealing herself as she hesitated on her way to the door. I shadowed her movements, curious to know who it was that had her on edge, as she approached the door.

She gripped the handle, taking a deep breath before cracking the door enough to cast a beam of warm light into the dark, cold room. I carefully stepped around her, into the line of the warm glow to see a man on the other side of the door. A man I did not know.

Why is there a man at your door, Casper?The thought was soaked in jealousy and rage.

Chesmu’s unexpected appearance sent a shiver down my spine. Why was he here? His dark eyes looked down at me, his face almost absent of any emotion. He was shirtless, looking the same as before, minus the blade he now had sheathed along his waist.

“I just wanted to check on you.” His response oddly warmed me. I had to shake my head to snap back to the fact thathewas the one who harmed me.

“There’s nothing here to concern you. You can inform Madame Chepi that I’ll be down in time for my shift.” I went to close the door, but Chesmu kicked his foot through the crack, forcing the door wide open.

“You don’t need to worry about Madame Chepi tonight.” He stood tall, towering over me as he stepped into my room. He closed in on me, staring at the exposed brands across my chest, his face softening. “I’m covering your shift tonight.” Chesmu inched closer grabbing the blanket across my chest pulling me close as he stared at my fresh brand. “You need to rest.”

It took me a moment to grasp how close he was. I slapped his hand, causing him to release the blanket. “I can handle myself; I don’t need you telling me what to do.” He smiled at my temper.

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