Chapter 171: Unlike The Devil CATHERINE I can’t believe this is happening right now. I had no idea how Ares knew where my room was or how I ended up like this. Trapped between pleasure and pain as he spanked the daylights out of me. I can’t make a sound, or else I’d be gearing for something far worse. I bit down on the pillow, squeezing my eyes shut, but the collision of his palm wasn’t as harsh. It was softer. At the last count, I released a breath, trying to collect air amidst ignoring the sting shooting across my skin. I felt his cold lips on the spot, and my toes curled at the tenderness. He readjusted me to lie properly and followed next. I sobbed, my cheeks wet with tears as I grew woozy. I flinched when I felt his thumb brush my face. "That’s the tears I like to see," he murmured. He’s sick, and I’m the sickest because after he clearly stared at me with disgust, my fucking heart still races. I pulled away from his hold and did my best to turn towards the other side, whilst wincing in pain. "Be out before morning," I said, closing my eyes and welcoming sleep. ~☆~ When I opened my eyes again, it was morning, the fragments of last night shooting through me. I hissed, sitting up, and when I looked over my shoulder, the space was empty. Swallowing a heavy lump in my throat, I pushed to stand, in need of a cold, long shower. But my phone rang, and seeing Tori’s name as the caller, I wasn’t sure if I should pick up or not. She has left me messages, but I haven’t replied to any of them. I’m such a shitty friend. I sat back down on the bed, chewing the inside of my mouth. I swiped the answer button. "Hey." "Hey, you..." "I’m sorry, I know I haven’t been responsive lately." "That’s because you are enjoying your honeymoon," she teased. "Tori..." "You are, aren’t you? And don’t tell me the devil is your roommate, because I swear to god that can’t be possible given the sexual energy oozing between you two." "W-We don’t ooze sexual energy." "And my hair isn’t curly." I rubbed my temple. "Honeymoon’s over. I’m in Rosevale." "Rosevale? Did you make a stop at home? How did it get to that?" "Gramps, he um—" "Oh my god, is he okay?" "Yeah. He’s just under a lot of stress, and he needs rest, so I’d be spending some time here until I can figure out a way to get the farm running because if I don’t, Gramps is gonna take it upon himself to do that." "What do you plan to do now?" "Find some workers." "You got money for that? I thought everything was going to the bills." "I have savings, and it’s decent enough to make it work." "I can help and—" "No, no. You have your apartment to worry about, and your shifts aren’t as frequent." "I completely forgot about that..." she grumbled. "It seems like I need a part-time job." "Look at us..." I said, amused. "This brings back memories, doesn’t it?" "Yeah..." she drawled sweetly. "When we had to worry about nothing but trying to live through another day in Midnight City. It was never friendly to average people like us." "It never was..." "But the bills were paid, and there are more job opportunities." "Exactly. Big city. Big dreams. Big fat paychecks. Don’t get me started on how quickly those can vanish." She giggled, but I couldn’t share in her excitement. I’m yet to tell her that after this contract, I was gonna leave Midnight for good. "Don’t worry, I bet our dreams are gonna come true. I’m gonna open my own pub one day." "I believe in you. Always." "Don’t worry, Cat. When all this is over, and you’re free of the devil, everything is gonna work out. I’m sure. No more spotlight and all those dramas, right?" She sounded hopeful. Free of the devil. For some reason, those words seemed like the big dreams we were chasing our entire life. "Cat?" "You were right, Tori," I said, leveling my gaze. "I do have... feelings... for Ares, and it gets worse, because I don’t know what to do with them. The possible thing is act on them and take charge, as Catherine Lane always does... but this time is different. I don’t want it, and I wish I can get rid of them." "I’m sorry, munchkin." "Don’t be..." I forced a smile, as I blinked away the sting in my eyes. "Ares, he..." "Talk to me, Cat." I chuckled, but it was a lifeless sound. "I finally get why he won’t allow me to touch him. He’s disgusted by it. That was a shocking realization but it actually made things clear for me." "Oh, Cat..." she mumbled softly. "Peanut, come down for breakfast! It’s gonna get cold!" "I have to go..." I said. "Wait—" I ended the call and dropped my phone, burying my face in my hands, taking a moment to collect myself before I stood and walked to the bathroom for a shower. When I finished, with my hair still damp, I went downstairs. "Hey, pumpkin. Did you sleep all right?" I don’t even have the answer to that question. "Morning, Granny." I pecked her on the cheek while she was in the middle of plating waffles. "Morning, Gramps." I pecked him too. "Are you alright? You kept wincing while coming down the stairs. Are you in pain?" Crap. "Yeah, um, city life must be really getting to me. Lifting those hays isn’t what it used to be anymore..." I said, chuckling nervously as I sat down, a sharp hiss tore from me. Granny and Gramps were taken by surprise by the sound, and their faces contorted into worry. "My shoulder hurt..." I said, moving them a bit and hissing. "They are sore. See?" "I’ll make a remedy. In the meantime, you need to rest," Granny said. "But who’s gonna do the work? If I don’t, then Gramps is gonna strain himself." "Well, you don’t have to worry about that." "What do you mean?" I asked before looking over to Gramps as he finished his plate. "King has done all the work; he’s probably fixing the tractor right now. He’s actually good with things like that, unfortunately." Granny slapped his shoulder. "What?" "Be nice!" she scolded. "Sweetie, when you finish, help me take breakfast to him, okay?" My mouth hung along with the words. I was numb in thought as I ate my breakfast, and after I finished, in the middle of washing the dishes, Gramps came to me. He kissed the top of my head, and I smiled. "Your boss isn’t exactly what I expected." "Believe me, I’m having a hard time too. This is unlike him," I mumbled. "Waking up early for farm work. Who is he trying to impress?" "Maybe you?" "Absolutely not! Maybe he’s trying to get in your good graces." I rinsed the plates. "Hmmm, I don’t think so. He told me he doesn’t care about what I think of him." I veered my wide eyes to him. "We talked." Oh no, that can’t be good. "It was overwhelming... but there were good parts." I narrowed my eyes wondering what he meant by that. "Are you dating him?" "T-That—" "It’s alright, no need to tell me. But I truly hope you’re not. He gives me the idea that he’s the kind of person who won’t appreciate you better, and that’s not what I want for you. You deserve someone who would love and cherish you like I do my Maggie, you deserve nothing less." His words made my chest feel warm, and with it came a tightening sensation. I did my best to keep my smile in place. "I know, and you don’t have to worry about that." "Are you sure? Because..." he paused, finding a way to say it. "You two seem... close." "Gramps, we have worked side by side for almost four years, there’s bound to be that familiar energy, you know..." I wiped my hands with the napkin. "It seems more than that to me." I opened my mouth, but he spoke first. "But since you said there’s nothing to worry about, then I won’t." He kissed the top of my head and left. I stood there for a minute before blinking to remind myself I was spacing out. I tapped my finger on the sink, eyeing the plate wrapped in a clean cloth. I adjusted my glasses and grabbed it, stepping out of the house to the barn. When I got there, Ares was in the middle of working the tractor just like Gramps said. He had the toolbox spread out beside him as he tampered with whatever was beneath the machine. This... I can understand, given the fact that I have seen him work on cars in his garage as a hobby, but waking up early and doing farm work? He’s giving me a whiplash. I cleared my throat, hoping to grab his attention, but it didn’t work, so I kicked his leg.