Chapter 31/178: Into the Rabbit Hole Once More

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This chapter is a very important chapter that holds a lot of secrets and insights about this arc and the story in general! 

Give it the appreciation it deserves, and have a good read, loves :) :)

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I let out a sigh as I finished reviewing the last document for the day and turned off the computer screen before me. 

Standing up, I sighed as I stretched lazily. Damn, I still felt jet-lagged despite the fact that I'd slept fairly well throughout the last week after I came back to London.

Exiting the office, I found Alba awaiting for me outside, so we headed towards the employee elevator. 

I did not stop by his majesty's office, he'd left early today, which sounded extremely unexpected now that I thought of it. What could he have for him to leave early today? 

I sighed as we headed down in the elevator, and that particular name popped up my head...

'Carolina is back in London.'

Carolina... how is it possible I've never heard of her...

As we descended off of the elevator, my eyes directly pinned to a huge object far away. 

It still looked feisty, and still had the same cozy and colorful vibe it had years ago. 

I neared the caravan.

And focused my gaze further, noticing the silhouette standing next to it. 

Sebastian Evan Keith was dressed like I'd first met him.

Baggy jeans shorts. Sleeveless baggy thin white shirt. Oil green colored scarf. Dark old ranger shoes. And feisty sleeve tattoos that showed shamelessly. I could see his stone rings, as well as his earrings and necklace more carefully as I neared him. I also eyed his messy bun and beard, as he was looking at me with his mesmerizing jades and a wide carefree smile.

I bit my lips awkwardly as I reached him, fidgeting. "Um, hi." 

He eyed me in muse, fixing me with his deep orbs as though to take my details in one by one. "My, my. You look professional in those work clothes and the low bun." He commented, "This humble gypsy here feels uncomfortable!" 

I shot him a look, a 'seriously?' look, as I decided to play along. "My, my. You know what else is making this humble gypsy uncomfortable? The unimaginable set of bank notes and possessions his lordship alter ego owns." 

He laughed genuinely loud, and I fixed him with my gaze, sucking in every detail to remind myself what his genuine smile sounded and looked like. 

Goodness, Sebastian Keith... how much have you hidden from me...

"I never thought you were this capable of salting on me, I am impressed you little one!" He just chuckled further, and I glared at him.

"So? Shall we go?" He arced an eyebrow at me, keeping his smile casually.

I blinked, "But... where?" 

He shrugged smoothly, as he fixed Alba quizzically, and I saw she was looking back at him with equal intensity. "Aye, a bodyguard?" 

I frowned at the tension of their interaction, especially considering the fact I knew Alba was extra cautious from him after seeing his latest encounter with Mr. Ellington's.

I nodded, silently as I eyed him carefully, and he shifted under my gaze and shot me a cool look. "I'm sorry, but I'm not taking an Ellington agent with us." He casually stated.

I gasped, and felt Alba stiffen behind me. "What?" I interjected, "The hell is this about?" 

He neared me a step, fixing his beauteous eyes into mine. They slightly darkened in disappointment, despite the fact that his tone came too coolly unaffected."If you believe you need protection from me, then there's no need for us to go anywhere." He shrugged.

I gazed into his eyes carefully. They glowed with peace, reminding me of what they looked like back when I first met him months ago. 

My brain then traveled to what he said about collaborating with Trevor Ellington Conway and how he wouldn't do it for me.

I sighed, biting my lips. "Alright." I turned towards Alba, "Is it okay if you go home before me?" 

I knew he was no danger to me, regardless of his feud with R.E.C.

Alba frowned in my direction, clearly skeptical.

I smiled at her, "I'll be fine I promise. And please don't mention anything to Mr. Ellington. I'll call you several times to assure you I'm okay. Deal?" 

She turned towards Sebastian, glaring at him as she neared him a step.

"You have enough knowledge of Señor Ellington to know what would await you if a hair of Charlotte is put in danger, don't you?"

Before her, Keith flinched not, as he neared her a step in return. 

They stood so close and neither of them flinched. 

A casual smooth smile came across Sebastian's lips, as his green pools darkened at her in clear challenge yet playfulness,

"Define danger for me."

I frowned, what? 

From before him, Alba's full red lips parted, yet she kept her harsh yet cold expression. Her dark green orbs flamed in protectiveness. "Well, from the view of Charlotte's bodyguard, I would define it as something that threatens her safety." 

Tightening her jaw further, she fixed her orbs into Sebastian's unfazed ones at that, unflinching.

"However, I'm not sure if that's the only definition in the view of Señor Ellington."

Alba's orbs scanned Keith at that, as though she was hinting that the danger can be from... from him?

Her lips twitched, and her eyes remained dark and challenging. "So if I were your lordship, I'd watch my step." 

I gasped. What the hell, Alba?! Threatening Sebastian?!!! The hell!!!

She stepped back, and I focused on Keith's expression, as he looked not only unfazed, rather... cheerful? 

It was as though Alba pointing out Mr. Ellington's view of danger somehow cheered him up?! What the hell is up with humans!?

"I'll stick to your definition of danger." He shrugged, keeping his carefree smile. "Thus, you need not worry about Charlotte's safety." He got into the caravan's driver seat. 

Alba patted my head before she headed away. "Don't forget to keep me in the loop, Señorita." 

I grinned at her, nodding as I moved towards the caravan's passenger seat.

As Keith drove off, I was greeted by Chester's woof as soon as I got into the car. 

I chuckled, "Ey! I missed Chester!" I announced as I spoiled the cute animal, who got all coy and started snuggling against me.

From beside me, the lord driver remained focused on the road, as he shot me a quick glance. "My, he got a warmer greeting than me when you first saw me last time!" 

I shot him a glare, a meaningful one that held the 'Need-I-remind-you-he-didn't-hide-his-identity-from-me?' glare. 

A loud laugh erupted from his chest, and he eyed the road before him again. "You have some hilarious reactions for the love of God!" 

I blinked in confusion. I-I literally did nothing! Ugh!

I sighed, fixing him with a serious yet gentle expression. "Why did you hide the fact that you are a lord from me?" 

He didn't seem fazed, as though he'd seen the question coming. "It was nothing personal about you, I just never share this information with anyone. You were among the few people I've told my name to during my gypsy travels." 

I blinked. W-Wow... that's some revelation. 

I wet my lips, smiling playfully as I arced a brow at him. Well, I'll give it to him that he was smoothly easing the tension, which is why it's not nice for me to just keep holding onto it.

"Easy, your lordship, I'll start believing the Chairman's words about being... special." I mused. 

He blinked, and a loud laugh escaped him as he got that I was hinting at Trevor Ellington's description of me 'appearing to the muse of lords'. 

"Good one." He smirked, "My, my, does he despise you." 

My heart sank, and I gulped. 

"So, you didn't tell me," I started again, attempting to change the dim mood, "Why do you hide your status like that?" 

Keith eyed me quickly before eyeing the road again. His expression was peaceful, as he shrugged coolly, "I don't exactly know how to phrase it, but for me," He started, and I gazed into his beauteous profile, as well as the several silver earrings hanging from his ear, beneath which his inkings extended under his scarf and to his arms as well. "The happiness and peace I enjoy with the set of pennies I have when I'm a gypsy, outweighs all the women, drinks, and luxury I have when I'm a lord." 

I frowned softly, "But then why do you keep the title?" 

His expression darkened, "How dicky would it be for the last heir of the Earldom to just lose interest in everything his ancestors had built, ending their legacy." He spoke smoothly, "I manage to keep up with my duties from afar, while also following my joy route." 

I just gazed into him, as he smiled at the sun before us peacefully. 

Peace slowly sunk into my senses, as I observed how spiritually peaceful he looked. 

"Had the business industry in London not been as unstable as recently, I would not have come back, and could have instead continued enjoying my work from abroad." The sun shone through his features, highlighting his green jades and thick messy beard, "On a final note, just because I do not enjoy my birth right, does not mean I have to change my children's destiny. Giving up the title would be messing with the fate of others, which I wouldn't do." 

He turned towards me at that, as he winked playfully, "I'd rather leave messing with the fates of others to the Ellingtons!" 

I giggled, getting his hint about the old president, yet his sentence replayed again, as I noticed he didn't just mean the old man.

The Ellingtons... with an 's'.

He was also speaking of another Ellington.

I frowned. "Sebastian." I started carefully.

He didn't look in my direction, as though he expected what I was going to bring up.

"You... You know Mr. Ellington, the president, previously, right?" I spoke, fixing him intently.

His expression wavered not, as he nodded unfazed. 

I bit my lips, good! Looks like he's willing to open up about the topic more than Mr. Ellington.

"How long have you known each other? And... And why do you guys seem on bad terms?" I frowned slightly.

...

Silence. 

I gulped at that, still fixing him intently, "Sebastian..." 

From before me, Keith remained focused on the road, his expression unchanging, clearly signalling to me one thing:

He was not going to answer.

I sighed in exasperation. What the hell?!

Before I could interject anything, the Earl beside me shifted, as the caravan came into a stop, and he eyed the place we reached intently. "Yep, this is as far as I can get in the caravan. We'll have to walk the rest." 

I gasped as I took in the scene before us. 

This...

My breathing suddenly felt heavy, and my mouth went dry.

Good lord... 

I haven't been here since... 

Hundreds of dark and painful recollections hit my mind like bullets, as scenes from that doomed final battle in Tottenham hit my senses.

I haven't been here since that tragic battle... 

Tottenham...

Particularly, the poor area of Tottenham where the underworld was. 

I remembered it too well.

Or rather, there was no way in hell I'd forget it...

I gulped, as I eyed the street before us, and Sebastian Keith descended. "Let's go." 

I frowned at him, "Why... did you bring me here...?" 

He fixed me with his deep gaze, his sincere jades glowing at me with searing intensity. "To collect valuable information, obviously." 

I frowned at him, as I got off as well. "What?" 

He shrugged; and his expression had become harsher by this. "You'll know when we get to our target." 

I gulped, and walked beside him silently.

Memories slowly flooded through me.

This dark alley... this was where Romeo and Harold ran with me under a shower of bullets.

I placed a hand over my constricted chest as we advanced, trying my best not to show my discomfort to the man with me.

It took us around ten minutes to reach the bar area, and that was where my nervous system started faltering. 

This was the last area I'd seen him in. 

My body started shaking, and yet I forced myself to advance. Don't make a scene Charlotte, just fog any memory that attempts to come back! Suppress it!

My eyes widened as we reached that place, and I gasped as I eyed the panel.

'Please and Pleasure Super Night Club' –This... This was the bar Scarlett worked in...

Bile rose to my throat, as I remembered this was the first place I shot a person in... I remembered crawling over a ground of corpses that night... Crossing it to... to reach the battlefield where my father met his fate... 

This bar was my ultimate nightmare.

My limbs started going numb, as I eyed the scenes from around.

People were drinking, dancing, rubbing, moaning, whatever you can think off...

And Sebastian Keith was advancing before me coolly. 

His expression was dark, and he looked focused.

Wow... for someone like him... who took everything so carefreely and without overthinking...

He looked rather careful. Like he knew where we'd come very well.

As we reached one of the tables, Sebastian stopped, taking a seat as it was among the empty ones. 

I moved to sit beside him, as I collapsed on the chair, my body still shaking. 

More memories shit through my mind as I eyed the bartender from afar... 

This... he...

This was the man holding a gun against Scarlett's head six months ago...

A clear vivid image of what I did back then shot to my mind...

I'd shot him in the stomach... 

A loud shaking breath escaped me, and Keith shifted beside me at that, finally taking in my terrified state.

It occurred to me at that, why it took him until now to notice... as I saw how dead serious his expression looked

Of course... 

He had been busy keeping an eye on all the factors around us on our way, because he knew how dangerous the area was. 

He came closer, "Charlotte?" 

No sound escaped me, as I hugged myself in terror. 

My entire body shook, as cold sweat drenched my back. Cold painful tears ran down my face, and yet no sob no sniff escaped me. My expression did not crumble, but rather, I could tell I had no expression at all. My entire look, gaze, thoughts, entity... I was reliving every single moment of the Tottenham battle six months ago. 

"Charlotte? Can you hear me?" From before me, Sebastian Keith's expression reflected clear confusion, as his beauteous orbs thundered, swallowing me.

I shuddered, unable to answer.  

In another flashback, my memory shot towards back when I first met Sebastian...

When I fainted after I saved the little girl and her father...

Yes... it was a similar feeling...

Of drowning... in a pool of helplessness... 

Of being chained with trauma I was just unable to escape. 

Of a battle I lost something I can never replace in.

My father's figure seconds before it was shot flashed to my mind, and that was where I felt my vision starting to go blur–

Hands came over my face. 

Two huge, and slightly shaking hands. 

And they moved my face slightly up, so that I was looking... into his eyes.

Sebastian Keith's deep green eyes fixed me with concern, as he deepened his gaze into me.

"Charlotte...!" He called, and I eyed him, my vision recognizing him slowly.

"Charlotte, focus with me, on my voice..." He instructed, as he massaged my forehead with his thumbs.

Slowly, I felt my frozen blood move. 

"Breathe in, count to eight, breathe out..." He inhaled in gesture, "Come on, do it after me... Now... Please... One time... Do what I'm doing!" 

My mirror neurons responded on their own, mirroring his action. 

And I repeated. Again. 

Sensation slowly started flooding through my limbs.

"Can you feel my hands? Can you hear my voice? Focus on them! Focus on your senses very well!" His voice came, burning yet gentle as he tried soothing me, "Because this is the reality here! No matter where your thoughts are, focus on me to bound yourself to this reality now. Please!" He ran his fingers through my hair. 

I did as he instructed, and slowly, I felt my senses come back. 

Slowly I started hearing the sounds in the bar again instead of the shots in my memories. 

The lights and Sebastian Keith made it to my vision again instead of the darkness of that night.

The smell of smoke, weed and drinks invaded my nostrils instead that of blood which invaded my memory.

The sensation of my clean hands reminded me I wasn't holding any revolver and shooting people around.

A loud breath intake escaped me, and I shuddered as I was brought back to reality

And the taste in my mouth was not that of my blood from the bruises I got on my face.  

"S-Sebastian..." I managed out, and he pulled me to his chest protectively. 

"I'm terribly sorry for bringing you here." He murmured throatily, "I'm sorry." 

He didn't just sound apologetic. 

He sounded almost scarred. Like he just realized the trauma I had. 

I shook my head softly, "It's not your fault, really." 

He tightened his grip around me, as he let out a composed breath, then released me so he could look at me better. His handsome beads deepened in compassion, and I eyed as they devoured me alluringly. "You... You still have not gotten over your father's incident, eh?" 

My tears had dried by now, as I eyed him with a drained gloomy expression, nodding. "It's like I'm trapped in an endless replay of that night." 

He fixed me silently, and I just eyed around. 

I wonder if she still works here... 

I haven't been able to contact her ever since then...

A shadow approached Sebastian from behind, and I couldn't see its features well at first due to the lighting. 

A hand with long red nails ran over the lord's neck, and I shifted uncomfortable. 

Umm...?

"You seem rather lonely, my lord."

I gasped at the tone, and the light fell over her at that. 

Her bright red locks shone as they cascaded down her shoulders, and her generous breasts came over Sebastian's shoulder, as her full bright red lips brushed his ear. 

Her other hand moved at that, as something glinted under the lights, and she shifted it fast. 

The sharp looking knife landed right beneath Sebastian Keith's chin, and the tip was barely a millimetre away. 

And her expression... it was deadly.

"Shall I amuse you instead of my inexperienced sister?"

I frowned, excuse you?!! Ouch!

"S-Scarlett!!!" I interjected. 

One, I haven't seen you in months, and now all your attention is on Sebastian?! 

Two, not only that, you call me inexperienced too?! –which is not

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