CHAPTER 17
THE RETURN OF KEETH SERAFINNE AND REOPEN CASE OF HIS BELOVED WIFE
The wailing sound of screaming and crying from far away quietly rose to the loudest. The Lost Wood had been found the next dark news, but it wasn't the first time. There's not so much crime in Apollon town who had said that didn't state the fact, or they must be from Apollon themselves. I saw the red and blue light switching round and round through my eyes and two people who ran to me with their eyes that haunting with fear; they shifted their eyes to the man beside me, who I held so tight if someone wanted to break us apart, we must break our bones. Tytas and Vik looked at us with shock and relief that I was alive and he was alive—we were alive. They must call the police. He squeezed my hand so tight, tighter and tighter. I looked at Zygmunt as he always looked at me. He rested his forehead on mine, pushing mine to make me look at his eyes. I love you; it was the word that came from his lips. Then I heard my name was called, the sound that similar far away. I turned to see like my ears know best. I didn't care what forced us to drift apart, work, trauma, or secrets. I turned to Zygmunt, and he smiled; the permission to leave his arm to another man's arms was permitted. I ran to that old man as he ran to his dear life, and finally, I was in his arms, my father's arms. The attack of our bodies against each other was as loud as a siren sound. He held me in his huge body and held my head, and other people in uniform ran past us, passing through Zygmunt to where the scene was set.
My father held me for a long time until we arrived at the hospital. We separated the room, me alone, and I heard Zygmunt was next to mine, and I guess Tytas' was in another room.
I look at his gray hair. The light hair part is almost silver; his dark blue eyes look right back at me, and he smiles. "How are you feeling?" he asks,
"Better," I say as I push myself to sit properly, and my father helps me with the pillow. "How?" I ask,
He sits back in the same seat beside the bed, "Vanderbilt boy called me,"
"What? Vik?" I'm stunned.
"Well, Jack called me first—then Viktor called," he looks at me, "I know that might be something wrong—after the first call and Vik confirmed it."
"How's about your work?" I ask,
"Baby," he looks disappointed in himself and holds my hands. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I wish you to tell me everything…"
"I don't want you to worry, and if you come back, you will be off to work longer than you usually do," I say, and then I sigh, "Sometimes I wanted to stay with you more than three months,"
"I'm sorry," he says and squeezes my hands. "That I had to choose work instead of being with you by your side like a father should have—I had to be away from you for half a year. Because of war two years ago—I know that it wasn't an excuse, but being there, I start to remedy the pain."
"Mother," I say
He sighs, "And every day and month gone by, I had to be far away from you. I started to lose myself…then I met, heh, I couldn't believe it. I met Batant's boy."
"Zygmunt!?" my eyes go wide.
"Heh, yeah, he did amazing out there in the center of blood and death. I had heard of his death, but he was reborn—I was there with him when he was awake, recovering." I listen to him, speechless. "He told me that he needed to go back. He couldn't die even though his mum had gone away from this world, and no one in his family was waiting for him in the human world anymore; it would be the time to meet them…one day," he looked at me with a bit of tear, "I didn't remember what exact words but I remember the feeling very well. And you know what shocked me the most?" he asks, changing his seat to sit on the bed, "He had someone back to Apollon…Your daughter, he said," he smiles, "and that's how shocked I was that we have the same heart, waiting and hope for us to come back," he chuckles with a little tear, "so I tried to finish the thing—quick, and buried up to get back home—to you," he holds my face, "I thought I could surprise you on your birthday—but I was a bit too late,"
"No, you are here in time for me to need you," I say and hold both his hands. "Dad," and I use that word for the first time.
He holds me in, "I'm glad you're safe…should I thank him?"
I look at him, wondering, "Heh," I smile,
"He's very dangerously toughest man I ever known," he says, "He must treat you right,"
"if he didn't come back to me…I couldn't find myself living today. He treats me more than just a princess, Dad," I smile.
"I'm glad…heh, I know that man knows what he's doing…he knows what you deserve," he says and hugs me with a tearful smile.
Then, in the corner of my eye, I notice the man beside the door. It's Zygmunt eavesdropping, as always. But I don't mind that at all. I look at him, begging for him to come inside. Dad turns his face to him, and he's frozen.
"How long are you going to stand there?" Dad asks,
"I can come back another time," Zygmunt says, and then I stare at him so hard, "huh, I—" he hesitates.
"Come in before my daughter will tear me apart," Dad says, and he gets up. "I'll be right back," he says,
"Sir," Zygmunt greets my dad. Then, suddenly, my dad hugs him awkwardly. Zygmunt shifts his eyes to me, begging for help, I guess. Then, my dad grabs his shoulder and leaves the room.
I see the change. I quickly get up to him, but he approaches me first. " Your insurance, Zia," he's shocked as he grabs me and my insurance pole. "Hah—" he's scared.
I hug him so tight, "I miss you," I say,
He hugs me back correctly and pats the back of my head that I injured gently, "I miss you too. Do you feel any pain?" he asks,
"Now you're here, I don't feel any of it," I say,
"Heh," he chuckles,
"How about you?" I ask and touch his bruises,
"Yeah…I still—a little," he says and gazes at me,
"Then why are you here walking—"
He hugs me again, "I want to see you," he pauses, "I might feel better if I have some medicine." he says lightly and slightly kisses my neck,
"Then, I'll tell the doctor for you," I say, whispery as he keeps kissing my neck to the front.
"You're my medicine, my Zia," he says softly and changes to kiss me on the lips, "You can cure me…just let me keep kissing you…like this," he says slowly as he gently kisses my lips all over.
"This isn't the hotel," the voice comes from the room's entrance. Before we turn to see the person he has already entered inside, "She's still recovering," Tytas says,
"You dare to come in here," Zygmunt gets up and blocks me from him.
"I know I was the reason, but the real person they wanted was you; she got hurt because of you," Tytas says, "You were the one they wanted because of you. She got kidnapped and was his bait."
Zygmunt says nothing, clenching his fist so hard that I can feel his blood coming out. I hold his wrist, grab it with both my hands, and make him feel that I'm surrendering to be whatever he wants me to be. "Please, stop," I say, and I try to lean forward and hold his waist, then he breathes again.
"I know it was my fault, and I accepted—what would come to me—I was ready," Zygmunt says and loses his grip, "and I didn't have any fucking intention to hurt her, not even a single breath."
I put down my legs off the bed, "I don't care if I'm a bait—because I know he will come for me," I say,
"Zia, I—" Tytas is about to come closer, and suddenly his mother, Emily, runs inside and grabs his hand.
"For heaven's sake, Tytas!" Emily shouts, "Why you're not in your room!?"
Great, now they're all here in my room.