Okay, yes, I know it's way too short, but I had to go ahead and update it. I don't know if some readers had went back and read Chapter 49 after I fixed it (it was my word processing program being all jacked up and what not,) but it is fixed...and now we have kind of a filler, kind of not. You can read it if you want to, but you don't have to. I will be (trying my best) to elaborate more later on in the story. But, for now, enjoy a little tension and a little fluff.

P.S. Where are all of you from? I want to see where all of my active readers hail from cuz curiosity and I'm nosy...

Chapter 50

After we moved Nadir the couch, we took refuge in Erik's room. He lit his fireplace, then sat us down on the side of his bed. Though I knew what is usually implied by this action, his face hinted at something more serious.

"Mandy, I need to tell you something. I'm not sure how you are going to react, but you need to know."

At this point, I was getting scared. Anxiety rushed through my veins as I thought of all the things he could tell me at that moment. "What is it?"

He took a breath. "I found a letter in your dressing room. It was on your vanity and had a black seal on it. I took it and opened it to read it, but a black rose petal fluttered out of it to the ground. Black roses do not usually mean good things."

It took me a bit to process what he was saying. "Does someone have it out for me? What did the letter say?"

"I can tell you it wasn't very promising." He said, pulling an aged piece of paper out of his back pocket. "You can read it, if you want."

I thought about it. I mean, the rose petal should tell me all I need to know, right? If I had a stalker, that would explain Erik's behavior and why he never left me alone the entire night. When I made my decision, I said, "I won't read it right now, but don't throw it away. I might want to read it sometime in the future. Besides, if something happens to me, you'll have it as evidence. It could be helpful."

He cupped my cheeks with his roughened hands. "Don't you dare talk like that. Nothing is going to happen to you. Not while I'm here."

"I guess that's why you got me the special fan?" I asked, raising my eyebrow skeptically.

He shrugged. "Only part of the reason. The weaponization was a perk, yes. But as soon as I seen it, it reminded me of you. Especially this Asian phase you're going through."

I rose my head in indignation. "It is not just a phase, it is a way of life. Same with France, ghostie. Just imagine how obsessed with France I was before I got here. I mean, I'm still obsessed with France, but that doesn't mean I can't be obsessed with other countries. Korea, for example."

"You're babbling. You're tired, aren't you?"

I didn't know what to say, so I simply nodded. The night's events had drained me of all my energy, and Erik could tell. "Would you like to sleep?"

I nodded again. "Can I just sleep here with you? I don't wanna walk that far…and now I'm kind of freaked out. I don't want to be alone."

He nodded and laid down with me, his arm acting as my pillow. "We'll talk more in the morning."

"It's already morning, though."

Erik made a confused noise. "What do you mean?"

I pointed to the clock on his mantle. "It's already 3 in the morning. Man, these parties are absolute swingers…"

He chuckled drowsily. "I love you. You know that, right?"

"Yes, I do. And I love you, too. Thank you for protecting me."

He hummed in response as he shifted his position. I slowly drifted off to sleep to his rhythmic breathing.