NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32: Curiosity is Your Downfall
Warlock Ch 32. Curiosity is Your Downfall
"Shit," Damian muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair as he blinked awake. His body felt heavy, like he'd been asleep for hours. He swept his gaze around, realizing quickly this wasn't Evelyn's place. Nope, still Cassius' house.
He wasn't on a bed either, just an old, worn-out leather sofa. The kind that looked cool in a gothic kind of way but creaked with every slight movement. Damian shifted, trying not to wake the entire house with the sound, but the sofa had other plans. The light pouring through the window told him it was already evening. How long had he been out?
His stomach growled in protest, a harsh reminder that he'd completely skipped lunch.
'Great!' Now he had hunger gnawing at him, on top of the mental rollercoaster that dream had dragged him through. He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to shake off the drowsiness as he got to his feet.
The place was quiet. Almost too quiet. He decided to explore, though he moved slowly. Something about this place always felt... off. Not in a creepy way, but in a way that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
Sure, from the outside, it gave off an office vibe, nothing too crazy. But the inside? It felt more like a mansion straight out of some gothic horror story. The antique furniture, the heavy atmosphere—it was like time itself had slowed down in here.
Damian glanced around, noticing the lack of servants or any staff. No butlers, no maids. It didn't sit right. A house this size, this elaborate, should've had people bustling around. But there was no one, and that only added to the eerie vibe.
He wandered deeper. Damian eventually stumbled upon Cassius and Evelyn. They were sitting at a dining table near an open kitchen, talking quietly. He stopped short, deciding not to make his presence known just yet. Curiosity piqued, he lingered by the doorway, listening in. He couldn't help it—something about the way they were speaking felt... personal. Intense.
In the kitchen, a bizarre creature with several writhing tentacles moved about, busy with what looked like cooking. Damian had seen Cassius summon plenty of things before, but this one looked particularly weird. It didn't seem to care about anything but the food it was preparing, so Damian stayed focused on the conversation happening at the table.
"I miss him," Cassius said softly. "I really hope he can come back like he was before."
Evelyn replied in her measured tone. "About that... we can't force him. It has to be his choice. It all depends on his decision."
Damian furrowed his brow. 'Who the hell are they talking about?' His mind started racing. Was it someone they both knew? Someone important? The way Cassius' voice wavered slightly—it was strange, hearing him like that. Cassius, who seemed so in control, so sure of himself. There was something deeper here, something Damian needed to understand.
He leaned in closer, trying to pick up more of the conversation, piecing together whatever fragments he could catch. His heart started beating faster. There were answers here, he was sure of it. Answers to questions he hadn't even known he needed to ask.
And then, without warning, Cassius appeared beside him, as if he'd just materialized out of thin air. Damian's heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
"Damian, you're awake," Cassius said with a smirk.
Damian swallowed hard, his pulse still racing. He hadn't expected to be caught eavesdropping, and Cassius seemed to be enjoying his discomfort. "Uh, yeah... I guess I am," he muttered, trying to play it off like he hadn't just been standing there like an idiot, listening in on their private conversation.
Cassius' smirk widened. "I take it you heard a bit of what we were talking about?"
Damian scratched the back of his head, avoiding Cassius' gaze. "Maybe... a little."
Cassius' smirk didn't falter. If anything, it grew wider, almost predatory. "You always were a curious one," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "But no harm done. Come on, join us. The food's almost ready."
Damian wasn't sure if he was being offered a meal or if Cassius was just setting him up for some kind of test, remembering his training. He glanced over at the kitchen, where the tentacled creature was still hard at work, stirring something that smelled... surprisingly delicious, given its grotesque appearance. The smell alone was enough to remind Damian how hungry he was. His stomach growled again, louder this time, making his decision for him.
"Yeah, sure. I could eat," he mumbled, trying to act casual as he walked over to the dining table.
Evelyn gave him a small, knowing smile as she took her seat again. "I hope you're ready for something different," she said, nodding toward the kitchen. "Cassius'... chef has a unique style."
Damian raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Yeah, I've noticed." He pulled out a chair and sat down, glancing between the two of them. It was hard to tell what kind of vibe was going on here. Evelyn was as composed as always, but Cassius—he didn't know him. For sure, Cassius seemed a bit restless than before. And that whole conversation from before? It was still gnawing at the back of his mind. Who the hell were they talking about?
Before he could ask any questions, the creature in the kitchen slithered over to the table, carrying a tray of food with its tentacles. The dishes looked like a strange mix of high-end gourmet and something he'd expect to see in a dark fantasy movie. One plate had what appeared to be roasted meat, but it shimmered with an odd, purple sheen. Another held a salad of blackened leaves and glowing fruit.
Cassius didn't seem fazed at all, and Evelyn, of course, was unbothered. Damian, on the other hand, stared at the food for a moment before shrugging. At this point, he was too hungry to care if the food looked like it came from another dimension.
"So," Damian said, picking up his fork and eyeing the strange meat on his plate, "what were you two talking about before I... you know, woke up?"
Cassius shot him a glance, his smirk fading slightly. "Curiosity really is your downfall, you know that?"
Damian shrugged, cutting into the meat. "Can't help it. You guys were talking about someone—someone important, I'm guessing."