NOVEL NEXT Chapter 46: Living in Fear
Warlock Ch 46. Living in Fear
Damian tried to shake the thought from his head. He couldn't keep living in fear of what might happen in the future. He'd promised himself he would take control of his fate, no matter what came his way. Letting fear dictate his choices would only lead him down a path he didn't want to take.
He gathered the books he'd finished reading in one hand, balancing the empty plate and mug in the other. Tomorrow, he'd return the books to Cassius and ask for more—though the idea of asking for more books still felt odd to him. But better to bring them downstairs now so he wouldn't forget in the morning. With that thought in mind, he headed down the stairs.
Once downstairs, he noticed Evelyn standing by the sink, lost in thought. She was holding a dish, her hands absentmindedly moving a sponge over the surface, though it was clear the plate was already clean. Her gaze was distant, her expression troubled, and Damian had a feeling he knew exactly what—or rather who—was on her mind.
'Is she still thinking about her mentor?' he wondered, watching her for a moment. It made sense. Her mentor's story wasn't just tragic; it was a warning. A reminder of what could happen when someone like him—someone with immense power—was pushed too far. Damian couldn't help but feel sympathy for the guy. It wasn't like he wanted to become a threat to the world.
'Living in fear... hiding from everyone because they think you could end the world if you felt like it—that's no way to live,' Damian thought. He imagined waking up one day with that kind of power, the kind where people whispered behind his back, wondering if he'd snap and bring about the apocalypse. That's what her mentor had to deal with. Every day. No wonder the guy had cracked.
Damian set the books down on the table, glancing back at Evelyn. Her hand was still moving over the plate, even though it was spotless by now. He sighed softly and took a step toward her, his footsteps breaking the quiet stillness of the room.
Evelyn blinked, startled out of her thoughts by the sound. She turned to look at him, her expression softening slightly when she realized it was just him. "Oh, Damian," she said, her voice sounding a bit distant. "I didn't hear you come in."
"Yeah, well, I didn't want to interrupt your dishwashing marathon," he teased lightly, giving her a small smile and putting his dishes in the sink. He gestured to the plate in her hand. "Pretty sure that one's clean by now."
Evelyn looked down at the plate, as if just now realizing what she'd been doing. A faint, embarrassed smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she set it down in the drying rack. "Guess I got lost in thought," she admitted, running a hand through her hair.
Damian stepped closer, leaning against the counter beside her. "Thinking about your mentor?" he asked, keeping his tone gentle.
Evelyn hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. "Yeah," she said after a moment. "I can't stop thinking about him. About everything he went through."
Damian stayed quiet, giving her space to speak. He could feel her emotions, the burden she carried from the past. It wasn't just about her mentor—it was about everything she'd learned, everything she'd witnessed.
"Sorry," she said suddenly, shaking her head as if to clear the thoughts away.
Damian frowned, confused. "Sorry for what?"
Evelyn looked up, a small, almost embarrassed smile tugging at her lips. "I shouldn't be thinking about another man when I'm around you," she said softly. "We're partners after all."
Damian chuckled. "Come on, Evelyn. I know we're partners, but I'm not some possessive freak who gets jealous of a guy who's been gone for ages. Besides, I get it. You respected him. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably feel the same way."
Evelyn looked at him, her expression softening. "You think so?"
"Yeah," Damian nodded. "Honestly, if I were in his situation, I probably would've handled things differently. I mean, if people were coming after me, trying to corner me, I wouldn't keep running. I'd take them out. Why keep hiding when they already think you're the villain, even if you've done nothing wrong? Might as well give them what they're expecting, right?"
Evelyn raised an eyebrow at him, a teasing smile forming on her lips. "Now you don't sound like him."
Damian grinned, leaning a little closer. "Is that a good thing?"
"That's a good thing," she said, nodding. "I used to think the same way. Part of me wanted him to fight back, to show them he wasn't someone they could chase down. But..." She sighed, her smile fading. "Even he was afraid of what he could do. He wasn't just hiding from them—he was hiding from himself. He was afraid of losing control."
Damian tilted his head, curiosity sparking in his chest. "Is that why he kept running? Because he was afraid of what he'd do if he stopped?"
Evelyn nodded slowly, her eyes clouded with memories. "Yeah. Pathetic, right?" She let out a bitter laugh. "He had all this power, but he was terrified of it. And in the end, that fear kept him trapped. He couldn't face what he had become, so he just... ran."
Damian leaned against the counter beside her, his gaze thoughtful. "Yeah, that does sound kind of pathetic." He reached out and gently took the dish from her hands, stepping in front of the sink. "Here, let me take care of this."
Evelyn blinked, surprised by the sudden gesture, but she didn't stop him. She watched as Damian started washing the dishes. For a moment, her mind drifted, lost in the simplicity of the moment. But then, something clicked.
She frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at the empty plate and mug in his hands. "Wait... are you done?"
Damian smirked, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "You mean with the books?"
"Yeah," she said, her tone incredulous. "You finished reading all of them?"