Chapter 43
Dante's POV
During the return trip I had a conversation with Sophie about her behaviour with Zhalia, I didn't have much luck and I didn't get much, although she said that I would try to create less controversy, I do not know exactly what it means, but good. Zhalia promised me that unless it was not at Lok request, she would not turn Sophie into any kind of animal, thing, creature or alien, that last part of our deal was also included by Lok too. For his part Lok was as always, happy, playful and very heavy, and unfortunately the boat is not very big and as I did not throw myself into the water, I don't know how to escape from a hyperactive puppy with a lot energy. Although from time to time he became depressed and did not want to do anything.
After the long trip home I was exhausted, as soon as I got home I dropped on the sofa leaving the suitcases in the middle of the entrance, my gesture surprised the rest of the team a bit, but they all followed my example and dropped into the seats, Lok sat next to me and the girls on the other sofa.
-I could use a vacation- Sophie commented while looking at the clock- God, I don`t want to get up off the sofa.
-But…- I said leaning my head on the back while closing my eyes.
-LeBlanch comes to find me in a while.
-Tell him to carry you in his arms- Lok commented nodding sleepily.
-I sign up for the holidays.
Zhalia commented. A care horn sounded and Zhalia stood up stretching.
-Princess, there is your carriage.
Sophie pouted and got up, grabbed her suitcase and flew away after saying goodbye.
-And we should take the baby to bed.
-Zhalia, we've had this conversation before.
-Quiet, he is asleep
I looked at my side and Zhalia was right, Lok was completely asleep, his ears fell back, eyes closed and deep breathing. He was very cute.
-Do you bring me a marker? - I said with a funny smile
-For what?
-I want to paint something on his face.- I could not help but giggle. Lok made a noise of annoyance.
-Do what you want, but I go to bed, and do not wake him up.
Zhalia left and left me alone to not be my accomplice of my joke. I looked at Lok and rolled my eyes, no matter how much he denied it, he was still a puppy, a big boy. I struggled up the couch, picked up a fluffy cushion and put it on the end closest to Lok, knocking him carefully so as not to wake him up, I removed the sports shoes and put her legs on the sofa, luckily Lok was on the longest sofa and fit without any problem, I went to a closet in the hall and took a blanket, went back to the room and Lok tape with it. When I covered him he curled up and muttered something I did not understand.
I climbed the stairs to my bedroom with a smile on my face, Lok was so cute asleep on the sofa…, I could not avoid it. I came to my room and was sat on the bed, I rubbed my neck, I was exhausted, I took several thing, I went to the bathroom in my room and I took a glorious shower. When I left I put only a long pyjama pants and I fell me on the bed, even a vampire of my status, a private expert detective, a seeker of my level and a team leader can be so exhausted that he just want to be in the bed and die, and that's what I did, I wrapped myself in the sheets and slept as much I could.
Dante's POV end
Zhalia's POV
The morning started well thanks to Dante, I cannot stop smiling while having breakfast. Lok was not in a very good mood.
-Have you slept well?
Lok just nodded as while he put on a cup of coffee. I could not help but smile again as I took a bite of my toast.
-Lok, Dante told me when I moved here that you were forbidden to drink coffee.
-For me Dante can die.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Dante came to the kitchen still half asleep.
-Good Morning
-Good Morning
I could not help but laugh a little while greeting to Dante. Lok said nothing, just let out a small grunt. Without saying anything and giving us back he left whit the coffee cup.
-He is drinking coffee.
-What?! By God, today will be very long-Dante sat in front of my discouraged.
-You could not resist.
-What are you talking?
-Of the moustache that you painted to Lok while he slept.- I cannot support take it anymore and I laugh. Dante smiled.
-Yes…, it was fun.
-He didn't like it, you should apologize.
-I guess you're right.
Dante got up and went to find Lok, at first everything was fine, or so I guessed, nothing was heard.
-Fuck off!
The Lok's scream at me about jumping and caused me to throw the coffee enzymes, luckily it was not burning, it only burned just enough. Dante hurried back with a surprised expression, sat in front of me and breakfast as if nothing had happened.
-¿All right?- I asked while cleaning my shirt with a napkin.
-Perfectly, he's just a little angry, I'll try to apologize later.
-Well to know, and that bite that is bleeding in your hand?
-I tried to tickle him.
Dante looked at the wound in his hand, opened his eyes when he realized how much he was bleeding and got up in a hurry, when he came back he had put on a bandage.
-All perfect, no?
Dante looked at me with a grimace that made me smile
-Do you think that one day he will forgive me?
-Can be. Maybe you could take him to Ireland
-Ireland?
-Lok is Irish, right?- Dante nodded – Well, we could go on holidays, as Sophie suggested yesterday.
-But why Ireland?
-I saw Lok watching some tourist videos of Ireland on the ship, I think that the lesser machine, after all, was raised there.
- You know Zhalia, I'll take the floor.
The day had started a little strange, the next thing we did was take the suitcases that we had left in the entrance and save its contents, I took advantage of the fact that I was saving clothes to change the shirt that had stained me. Dante and I had the idea of spending the rest of the day resting and organizing the trip to Ireland, Cherit thought it would be a big surprise and that the best we could do was not say anything to Lok. I told Dante that was not going to organize anything, since it was his apology, but our plans to spend the day on the couch were ruined by the cup of coffee that Lok took.
Lok already has energy being the same, but that cup of coffee ... it was a nightmare, and the worst of all was that the one that had to endure it was me, since Lok was still angry with Dante, and for his safety he had taught in his office and Cherit went with him to help him organize everything, supposedly.
Lok started giving me the can to play with him, jumping from one place to another quickly and spoke very fast, I shouted a couple of times but my anger and my threats did not get anything, it seemed that he was not listening to me, when I could not take it anymore I got up and threw a cushion at his face, at that moment Lok was doing the handstand on the back of the sofa and when the cushion hit him, he lost his balance and fell to the floor, the worst thing was that he wanted to repeat. I could not take it anymore, in an hour we had been up Lok had already done balance, resolved all their puzzles, played with their toys, trained their attacks and their powers, toured the entire house including the roof, watched the 400 television channels, I destroyed some old magazines and I had gone crazy. Already in despair an idea occurred to me.
-Lok, if you clean, you collect and order the whole house, except Dante's office and his room and mine, and clean all the dirty clothes, I'll take you to the park to play with the frisbee. You've understood?
-Perfectly.
Lok nodded energetically and very excited, he ran off on all fours to do housework, it was so fast that he spilled down the hall. I dropped on the sofa, now more than ever I needed a vacation, talking about holidays, I went to see Dante to his office with the intention of hiding me too. I knocked on the door and went in before Dante said anything, and I closed immediately. Dante was sitting behind his desk, the chair was large and brown leather, had arms and wheels to move, the desk was made of wood, I could sense that it had many drawers, on this there were a couple of photos and some books, the Holotomo and a laptop that Dante was using. The office was decorated with some plants, occasional lamps and many shelves full of books. Next to one of the shelves was an individual armchair and a standing lamp.
Cherit was sitting on the back of Dante's chair, they both looked at me when I entered.
-All right, Zhalia?
Asked Cherit, I walked to the single chair and sat exhausted.
- Your puppy has me crazy, how are the holidays?
-Almost they are, what has Lok done?
-What he has not done ...- Dante looked at me worried- Lok, it's your problem, so be a man, go out and take care of him!
-I prefer to be a coward and stay here. What is he doing now?
-Clean the house and do all the tasks that I do not want to do.- Dante and Cherit looked at me very surprised, although it was normal ¿Lok cleaning ?, that was a great event- I told him that I would take him to the park when he finished. -Dante and Cherit nodded when they understood the situation.
-Quiet, as soon as he passes the effect of caffeine will fall exhausted and can not move, and will spend sleeping for hours.
- More hours than normal or the same?
-Much more- Cherit clarified.
Dante and Cherit continued to plan the trip, I was content to read one of the books from the bookshop on my side, I did not understand its contents, I just spent the pages. That moment was very similar to what I wanted to do that day, to sit with Dante in a room each in his affairs, enjoying the company of the other with his mere presence.
I slapped myself mentally, I could not think of enjoying his company, Dante was my enemy, and my goal to eliminate in this mission, I could not continue in this way, I had to focus and calm down, from now I would focus more on my mission, I would get rid of Dante, even if it meant giving up Lok, Sophie ... I would personally take care of it.
Zhalia's POV end
Cherit's POV
Dante and I had finished preparing for the trip to Ireland and we were playing the solitaire on Dante's laptop, but Zhalia entered in a bad mood, Dante switched the laptop screen to a travel wed page to hide, he did not want Zhalia to know that we had finished half an hour ago and we did not want to leave the office to stop Lok, besides, Lok was still angry with Dante and had already bitten him once and did not want him to bite him again.
Dante asked me to go get him a glass of water and I did, before leaving I looked at both sides of the hall to make sure that Lok was not there and would not assault me. I arrived at the kitchen safe and sound, but when I was leaving, Lok entered. I smiled to see that he had finally been able to remove the moustache that Dante had painted him.
- DoyouknowwhereZhaliais? Ialreadyfinishedcleaningthehouse.
I blinked a couple of times to process what Lok had said, he spoke so fast that he had not understood anything, just the name of Zhalia.
-You stay here, now I'm going to look for her.
I left quite bewildered, I adored Lok but at the moment I just wanted to keep him away, his hyperactivity was not good for someone my age. I went back to Dante's office and handed him the glass.
-Zhalia, I created that Lok is looking for you.
Zhalia grimaced and let out a moan of suffering, got up with much effort and left with a bodily expression that seemed to be taken to the slaughterhouse.
-We still playing?
-Of course
Dante put the solitaire back and we continued playing.
Cherit's POV end
Zhalia's POV
Lok was in the kitchen very lively, apparently he had finished doing all the housework, I told him that he would go to check his work and if it was not well done we would not go anywhere and I would have to leave quiet.
While walking through the house Lok was following me closely, I hated to admit it, but Lok had done a very good job, the dishes were shining, the floors were shiny and he thought that I had never seen the training room so clean, he had dusted the lamps and shelves, all things were in place, the house was great. Lok had fulfilled his part of the deal, now I had to do mine. Unfortunately, my idea had not had to Lok busy a long time.
After preparing a backpack with the things that I had to take to the park, we left the house. Lok was still hyperactive and I was very embarrassed, he was almost run over by two cars, he bump into almost everyone and every now and then he ran off without any sense. Dante and I had been joking about buying him a leash, I was starting to consider doing it for real, it would be very practical.
Once in the park Lok channelled all his energy into playing the frisbee, for my part I was tolerating it, but I was very tired and it was very hot, I wanted to summon Kilthane to play with Lok while I sat under a tree to rest, I also wanted him to throw the frisbee with all his and far away and that Lok was running after him, but there were two problems: we were in a public place and the presence of Kilthane would cause chaos, and Lok could be lost.
Luckily for me, Lok met another demon puppy, it was a furry dog that his parents had also taken out for a walk, and like me, they must be crazy, because despite not liking it much Lok allowed his son I will play with him. Both played a while, I took the opportunity to sit on a bench in the shade, my phone vibrated in the pocket of the backpack, when I took it I saw that Dante had sent me a message, I felt my body expression changed, but for joy, I shook my head, I could not feel like that.
Dante: How are you doing in the park?
I looked at Lok and then grabbed a bottle of water from my backpack to freshen up.
Zhalia: Fatal. Are the holidays now?
Dante: Yes, I just need to tell Sophie.
Zhalia: Do you know how long the effect of caffeine lasts?
Dante: Between 3 or 5 hours, but being Lok, more than five.
Zhalia: Great, I'm going to die, there are still two hours left.
Dante: Think positive, then leave the afternoon alone.
Zhalia: It's easy to think positive considering that you have not supported it.
Dante: I will reward you for this 3 3.
Zhalia: I'll make you regret it.
Dante: Oh, how aggressive. I'll help you a bit, drinking lots of water and eating cheese help lower caffeine levels.
I did not respond to Dante's message, but if I was going to take his advice into account, it was time to eat. I decided to wait for the puppy to leave to call Lok and go to lunch at a nearby restaurant, I forced him to drink a lot of water, luckily Lok was asked for a pasta dish with a sauce that had a lot of cheese, silly, but putting together the hours that already had the caffeine in his body and the tricks of Dante, now Lok spoke at his normal speed.
After lunch we went back to play at the park for a while, when I started to notice Lok tired I picked everything up and went back home, during the road the effects of caffeine disappeared completely, so when we got home Lok almost crawled I could not help but smile with happiness.
I made sure that Lok went into his room to sleep, and I would go wake him up for dinner, but rather, anger Dante.
Zhalia's POV end
Dante's POV
Zhalia entered the office very happy, the effects of the caffeine had already passed and now Lok was sleeping in his room. She was much happier when I told her that I had already spoken with Sophie and that she would not come home today. I also told him to enjoy the rest of the day since I had to put up with Lok all morning, Zhalia told me that this was something I had planned to do.
After a refreshing shower, Zhalia spent the afternoon lying on the sofa, read a book, summoned Gareon to keep her company, at one point played a bit of chess with Cherit, but almost the whole afternoon she spent drawing. While Zhalia spent the day for her I dedicated myself to catch up with my work, I had to resolve several issues regarding the world of vampires and I organized a meeting video call in the middle of my vacation in Ireland, but well, my Duty as the king's second goes first than my rest. I also caught up with some pending investigations.
When evening I prepared dinner and set the table, Zhalia ordered me to wake up Lok to go down to dinner and I did, I admit I was afraid, today I had bitten my hand and although I did not look it had hurt a lot, I came to I felt that he had ripped me half a hand, but it was not like that, he only made a very ugly wound and left me the mark of his fangs.
I shook Lok's shoulder gently to wake him up, when he opened his eyes, he looked at me with a lot of hatred and he stuck his claws into my hand resting on his shoulder. Once he woke up I went to my room to cure his scratches, I do not know if it was luck or not, but I did not scratch the hand that already had a wound, and now it had both hands damaged. I had forgotten that Lok has a bad temper and likes to get revenge, and to that we must add the fact that he is wild and a puppy. Anyway, today I was going to forgive him, but if he hurt me again, he would regret it.
I was hoping that my surprise at going to Ireland would make me forgive myself and calm down a bit, although I was not going to like the idea of having to get up early tomorrow.
Dante's POV end