Kill Me, My Love

Chapter 32

When Samael released her hand and calmly sat on the couch, Lina didn’t know where to put herself. She didn’t dare look the woman in the eye, yet she continued to feel her x-ray gaze upon her.

- Olivia, - she said, walking up to the fireplace. - Samael, you’ve become so out of touch with manners that you didn’t even think to introduce us to each other.

- Sorry, mom, - the man quickly replied. - Lina, this is my mom, Olivia. Mom, this is Lina, - he blurted out rapidly and, feeling he had fulfilled his duty, turned back to the couch.

- Explain, - she commanded tersely.

Her eyes shot thunder and lightning, and she crossed her arms, nervously tugging at the lace strip on her sleeve.

- I think you’re aware of the situation. We need to stay here for a few days while I figure out what to do next, - the casualness and directness in Sam’s voice were surprising.

If he was afraid of his mother, he was covering it extraordinarily well.

- So what’s the plan from here? - Olivia asked in an icy tone.

- There is an opinion that one shouldn’t take the prophecy literally. I’ll dig in the library, talk to some spirits. We need to explore this matter comprehensively.

- Wonderful, I raised not only a brute and an ignoramus, but also a fool, - the woman paused and gave Lina another penetrating glance.

The girl tried to imagine how she looked in her eyes. Hair dirty and disheveled, attire overtly vulgar, with stains and cuts from falling. Eyes like a scared fawn. Against the backdrop of Sam's mother's perfection, it was a pitiful sight that only evoked a bout of chronic pity.

- Every single prophecy from the book "Light and Darkness" has come true. I don’t believe that it can be stopped or saved in any way. You’ve seen with your own eyes how the events described unfolded literally. Son, open your eyes. The idea that she is supposedly going to perish in hellfire at the moment of gaining power is also a nonsensical theory. Nothing can save us now.

- I have my own opinion on this matter, - Samael said flatly.

- You are impossible, - she sighed heavily. - Alright, you can stay here for a few days. Just under no circumstances leave the castle grounds. If someone sees you, they will certainly report back. And I don’t want war in the house. I want to enjoy peace and simple life pleasures before I die, - Olivia approached the couch and picked up the book.

- We need a room and a hot dinner, - the man stated.

- Find Clarissa, - Olivia replied briefly. - If I’m not mistaken, she’s in the kitchen preparing fresh raw meat for me.

At the mere mention of that, the girl recoiled. I mean raw meat? Does someone eat that?

- I’ll be right back, - the man promised Lina and dashed off into the hallway.

Now they were left alone. The girl continued to pace in place, not daring to take a single step in any direction. Olivia gracefully sat in a soft armchair and spoke.

- Why are you silent? Are you scared?

- No, - she shook her head in denial (even though she was very much afraid, especially after the phrase about raw meat). - Thank you for agreeing to take us in.

Olivia smiled predatorily. It was unclear if it was even a smile, or a jackal's snarl that promised nothing good.

- You’re welcome. And what charm did you use to enchant my son?

She took a deep breath through her nose and grimaced.

- Youth, the hormones in the blood ignite and drive one mad. Within the body of an innocent lamb is a real little devil. An angelic face, but inside a wanton harlot. A cocktail that can drive a man wild in half a turn. Now everything is clear...

Before Lina could deny or confirm Olivia's words, Sam returned. He held a cup of hot tea in his hands.

- Dinner will be served in five minutes, and for now, you can warm up from the trip, - he handed the girl the tea. - We'll be sleeping in my old bedroom. Apparently, Clarissa has kept it in perfect condition all this time.

- She used to be in love with you, - the woman squinted slyly.

- Yes, fifty years ago, - Samael didn’t flinch at all.

And all Lina could do was sip the tea, disregarding manners. She felt her eye would start twitching any moment from the nervous tic.

Silence enveloped the room, broken only by the crackling of the fireplace and the characteristic sighs of Sam’s mother.

When the clock struck precisely five minutes, they all simultaneously got up from their seats and headed to the dining room. The table was set for three, one plate gleamed appetizingly with chicken broth with egg noodles, while the other two had thinly sliced meat, and the glasses shone with red wine.

- That was no joke... - Lina murmured, scrunching her nose.

- What are you talking about? - Sam inquired as he sipped his wine with appetite, nibbling on the meat slices.

- About that, - the girl pointed at his plate.

- Ah, that... - he laughed. - It's jamón, a delicacy. Very tasty. Cured ham from a special breed of pig.

- No, thank you, - she replied and, taking a spoon, focused on the broth.

Raw or cured, it looked disgusting. How could she kiss Sam later after this, she didn't know.

- Tell me, what are your plans for tomorrow? - Olivia said, failing to comment on the dialogue about jamón.

She evidently had already decided for herself that the girl was completely uncouth, so there was no use being surprised by her behavior and awkward remarks.

- We will spend the whole day in the library. Perhaps in the evening, I will show Lina the grounds. It all depends on how productive our search is.

- Understood. Then do not enter the right wing. Especially not after dinner today. I have guests.

- Yes, mom, - Samael smiled crookedly. - Just hope your “guests” won’t disturb our sleep.

- I can’t promise anything, dear, - Olivia smiled sweetly, and after finishing her dinner a few minutes later, she got up from the table. - Well, I must go. Goodnight. I hope you will like it here, Lina.

The woman pronounced the girl's name with a particular intonation and subtext. Lina suspected it did not bode well for her...

As soon as Olivia left the dining room, the air in the room became more breathable. One no longer had to tense their back or eat with small spoonfuls while the food steadily cooled.

- You held up well, - Sam said, encouragingly stroking the girl's knee.

- Doubtful.

- You pleased her, - the dark one said. - Truly.

- Have you lost your mind? You just didn’t hear what she said to me while you were gone.

- I heard everything.

- So? - the girl was stunned, her spoon frozen in the air.

- My hearing is excellent, Lina. That's all. Of course, mom isn't thrilled since you’re the first woman meeting her officially, so under these circumstances, it didn’t go too badly.

- First??? - she was even more astonished.

- She killed all the others if they weren’t immortal.

And that’s how they conversed; her appetite vanished instantly. So while waiting for Samael to fill his plate, the girl contemplated her prospects. Time was running out, and meanwhile, they were in limbo. It felt like sitting on a powder keg about to explode.

- Enough of this bad mood. I want to take a hot bath now. With you, - the dark one squinted playfully, giving the girl a promising look.

It was immediately clear what and in what positions he planned to do it.

- Sam, this isn’t appropriate, your mom is here!

- What? I can’t hear anything, - the man stood up from the table and threw Lina effortlessly over his shoulder.

- Stop, please!

- Sweetheart, we need to relieve some stress. Right now.

He gently slapped the girl on the bottom and headed upstairs with his beloved burden.