As the night deepens, Helia knows that she has one final duty to fulfill before she can focus entirely on her plans for revenge.

Naobito Zenin's office is her destination. It's time to make her report, to update the elder on her progress with gathering information about Toji. Not that she learned a lot today.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she sets her thoughts aside for a moment and heads to his office.

The doors to the Naobito's office are imposing, their dark wood carved with complex, ancient symbols that speak of power and authority within the estate.

Her knuckles rap against the surface, the soft sound echoing faintly in the corridor. For a brief moment, silence lingers before a stern, authoritative voice resonates from within the room.

"Enter." The elder commands, his tone leaving no room for disobedience.

As she pushes open the heavy wooden door and steps into the room, the familiar figure of the elder comes into view. He sits behind a large, ornate desk, his stern eyes studying her with a sharp, all-seeing gaze.

The office is filled with the scent of ancient parchment, leather-bound books, and a subtle aroma of fragrance.

"Sit." He orders, waving a hand towards the chair in front of the desk.

As she takes her seat in the chair, the worn leather creaking softly under her weight, the elder leans back in his own chair, steepling his fingers in front of his face.

His eyes remain fixed on her, his expression stoic and unreadable.

"Your report." He demands, his voice sharp.

"I didn't find anything in his room but I'm sure something's off. Because he was very suspicious of me and not comfortable with me cleaning his room, as if he was trying to hide something."

She feels a bit ashamed of the fact that she hadn't discover anything, but it was all because of Toji's ridiculously sharp instincts.

Naobito listens intently, his eyes narrowing slightly as she mentions Toji's suspicious behavior and discomfort when she entered his room.

He taps his fingers on the desk, a slow, contemplative movement.

"I see." He murmurs under his breath, the single word hanging heavy in the air. A long moment of silence passes before he speaks again.

"Keep digging."

She expected Naobito to be disappointed in her because she had found nothing. So, she was rather surprised by his answer.

The elder's expression grows more pensive. He can't shake the feeling that Toji might suspect something.

He knew his son isn't an idiot. Naobito's instincts tell him that there's something more going on here. That Toji might be aware of her mission to gather information about him.

The elder clenches his jaw.
"Be careful." He warns, surprising her again with his words.

He's well aware of the danger Helia is putting herself in by snooping around in Toji's business. If the man catches her, the repercussions will be terrible.

"Don't take unnecessary risks." He advises, his eyes scanning her face for any reaction.

He watches her closely, his stern gaze never leaving her face. He wants to make sure she understands the gravity of her mission.

"Don't underestimate him." He murmurs, a tinge of warning in his voice. "He's dangerous."

She thinks back to her interactions with Toji, the memory of his cold, dark eyes and his menacing aura sends a wave of unease coursing through her.

She can't help but agree with Naobito. There's an air of primal danger around him, a raw power that he barely has to unleash to instill fear.

Naobito's words echo in her mind, the warning clear and unapologetic.

"He will show no mercy." The elder reaffirms, his voice a low, foreboding growl.

She already knew all of this but hearing it from someone else's mouth was different. She knew she shouldn't be messing with Toji and even less take revenge on him which was actually what she had planned to do tomorrow.

But when she remembers the painful punishment she received because of him, any sign of hesitation leaves her mind. She is determined to make him suffer just like he made her suffer.

"And remember." Naobito leans back, hands folded over his chest. "You're expendable."

As she nods, the reality of her situation sinks in. The cold, harsh truth of her expendability hits her with a crushing force.

In the Zenin clan, she's just a tool, a disposable asset. If she fails, they'll discard her without a second thought.

"Dismissed." He says, his tone short and brusque.

[...]

As she exits Naobito's office, a heavy weight settles in her stomach. The conversation, his stern reminders, they've left a mark on her.

Walking through the dimly lit corridors, she feels a newfound sense of vulnerability, a nagging fear that threatens to consume her.

With the familiarity of someone who has walked these corridors for months, Helia navigates her way to the maid compound without really having to look where she's going.

Her feet seem to know the path by heart, each turn, each corner.

The silence envelops her, only broken by the soft sound of her footsteps on the wooden floor. The darkness casts dancing shadows around her, as if the very darkness is whispering its own deadly warnings.

She's so lost in her own thoughts that she doesn't even notice the figure lurking in the shadows up ahead.

A dark, tall figure loomed in the shadows, concealed by the dimly lit corridor. Toji was waiting in the shadows, watching her with cold, sharp eyes.

The corners of his mouth curled up into a dangerous half-smile as he watches her walk, oblivious to his presence.

He waits, his breathing steady and calm, until she gets close enough.

"What are you doing outside of the maid compound at this hour?"

He steps forward, as Helia jumps, clearly not expecting to see him here.

"Sir!"

He lets out a dark chuckle as he watches her reaction. The smirk on his face grows wider, a cruel glint in his eyes as he steps out of the shadows.

He approaches her with a slow, almost lazy pace, as if he had all the time in the world.

"Didn't see me there?" He drawls, his voice laced with amusement. He stops only a few feet away from Helia, his large figure blocking her path. "You're careless."

She wasn't very lucky these days. She had to bump into him now, in the dark and all alone. Nonetheless, she keeps her composure and speaks in a polite tone expected from maids.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you. Is there anything you need sir?"

His eyes rake over her, predatory and sharp. A dangerous, almost feral aura surrounds him.

"Do you think I'm an idiot? I know you weren't looking for your bracelet this morning."

He sees the fear in her eyes as she tries to conceal it, the way she tenses at his word. She hadn't expected him to find her in the middle of the night in an isolated corridor to tell her about her bracelet.

She straightens her posture to try to look as confident as she can.

"I wasn't lying sir, that bracelet was very important to me it was the last gift from my mom who passed away."

Another lie, her mother was still alive and very healthy.

He studies her feature to detect the slightest trace of lies. But she only looks at him straight in the eyes holding his gaze.

Without any warning, he reaches out and grabs her wrist with a firm grip. What is wrong with him and grabbing people whenever he's angry?

"You wouldn't dare to lie to me, would you?"

She would like to disappear from here, Naobito's words were rushing in her mind. If he wanted to hurt her now, there was no one around to help her.

Or that's what she thought. A lifeline suddenly appears - the head maid. She emerges from a nearby room, her eyes immediately taking in the situation.

She sees Helia, the cold glare on Toji's face, his hand gripping her wrist in a firm grip.

With a stern, protective flare in her eyes, she quickly strides towards the two of them, a look of alarm on her face.

"Release her."

The head maid's stern voice cuts through the tension-filled air like a knife, her protective instincts kicking into high gear.

The head maid was in her 60s, her body might look fragile, but she was not a woman to mess with.

She comes to a stop in front of Toji, her expression hard and unwavering. For just a moment, the two lock eyes, a silent deadlock. But the head maid's gaze brooks no argument.

Toji's eyes narrow, cold and threatening. Finally, he lets go of Helia's wrist, his fingers uncurling from her skin.

The head maid steps partially in front of Helia, shielding her from his predatory gaze, her gaze locked onto him with cold authority.

"Mr. Zenin." She addresses him in a firm, no-nonsense tone. "This is highly inappropriate."

Helia had never seen someone talk to Toji in that tone. And for a moment she's afraid that he would snap at the head maid.

"Leave."

Toji's eyes darken even more at the order, a flash of dangerous fury crossing his features. He wants to snap, to react, to do something to assert his dominance and vent his anger.

But he doesn't. Probably because the head maid is there, or because he knows it would cause more trouble than it's worth.

With a last, cold, dark glare in Helia's direction, he finally moves. He turns on his heel and walks away, disappearing into the darkness of the corridor.

The head maid stands there for a few seconds, watching him leave to make sure he's gone. Her shoulders relax once he's out of sight, and she finally lets out a sigh of relief.

Turning, she looks at Helia with soft eyes, the sternness replaced with concern.

"Are you alright?" She murmurs softly.

She is alright, thanks to the head maid. She doesn't know what would have happened if she hadn't stopped him. God knows what this asshole would have been capable of doing to her.

"I'm fine thank you"

She pulls Helia closer, into a quick, protective hug. She knows what Toji is capable of, the dangers he poses. Pulling back, she cups her cheek with a motherly touch, her voice gentle.

"Stay away from him."

"I will madam."

Helia wishes that what she just said was true, but she knows it wasn't. Because she was granted of a mission that implied her to keep a close eye on him.

And she would also take revenge on him, but that's another story.

The head maid lets out a soft sigh, her thumb gently brushing over Helia's cheek.

"Good."

Innocent of Helia's missions and plans of taking revenge the next day, the head maid finally lets her go.

"Get some rest."

[...]

After a warm shower, Helia is clean and fresh, the tension of the encounter with Toji washing off with the flowing water. She slips into the comfort of her futon, glad to be away from his menacing presence.

For now, silence envelops the compound, the stars twinkling outside her window.

As exhaustion takes over, her body finally succumbs to the fatigue. The events of the day, the stress, the fear, it all catches up to her. Her eyelids flutter shut, growing heavy as sleep wraps its dark, comfortable arms around her.

And in the quietness of her dreams, she finds a temporary escape, oblivious to the challenges that tomorrow will inevitably bring.

Tomorrow, Toji will fall.

•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•

Hey guys! How are you doing?

Well, well, the base of the story will soon be laid out! Things are going to get more interesting!

I'm still curious to hear your thoughts about this chapter!

See you in the next chapter!

Sarah ☆