[Chapter 246: Day Out]
Daniel's face darkened as he cursed in a low voice, "Shut up! Is there anything else in your head besides that nonsense? If you say one more thing like that, I'll lock you in the Soul-Suppressing Jar for a month."
Seeing that Daniel was truly angry, Chris shrank her neck. A sour expression appeared on her face as she muttered softly, "I know, I know. Why be so fierce? I'm just worried about Master's health..."
"Keep a close watch," Daniel snorted coldly.
"Understood, Master." Chris let out a light huff. Her figure flickered, transforming into a cloud of faint pink mist that hovered around Taylor's pillow.
Silence returned to the room.
Daniel leaned back against the sofa, closing his eyes to rest.
As a Succubus, Chris was naturally attuned to manipulating and devouring human mental desires. Regarding the kind of curse in Smile, born purely from psychological trauma, her senses were more sensitive than any Exorcist magical artifact.
As long as that Smile tried to revive in Taylor's subconscious, Chris would seize it immediately, like catching a mouse.
...
One hour passed. Two hours passed.
Outside the window, Beverly Hills gradually shed its neon bustle, sinking into the deepest darkness before dawn.
Chris remained in her mist form throughout, not making even the slightest sound. Until the first ray of morning sunlight pierced through the gap in the hotel's heavy curtains and spilled onto the carpet.
Taylor let out a soft murmur and rolled over.
Daniel opened his eyes and looked into the air.
Chris transformed back into human form and yawned, looking somewhat bored.
"Master, nothing happened all night. That coward probably sensed my presence and didn't even dare to show its face."
Daniel nodded, stood up, and stretched his body. "Good. This kind of thing is best at psychological games; it's waiting for what it considers the right moment."
Just as he finished speaking, restrained, rhythmic knocking came from the door.
"Mr. Cross? Is Taylor awake?"
It was Scott's voice, carrying obvious anxiety.
Daniel walked to the door and unlocked it. Scott immediately rushed in, holding two hotel breakfast bags.
He first nervously looked at his daughter on the bed. Seeing Taylor rubbing her eyes and sitting up with a healthy complexion, he finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Good morning, Mr. Cross."
Taylor looked at Daniel, her face showing her first natural, refreshing smile in days.
"Morning. Looks like you slept well last night." Daniel nodded with a smile.
Taylor nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "This is the best sleep I've had in years. I didn't even have a dream."
Scott looked at Daniel gratefully. Although it still seemed strange for this young man to sleep in his daughter's room, the results before his eyes left him impressed.
"Mr. Cross, what should we do next?" Scott asked.
Daniel walked to the window, pulled open a gap, and glanced at the dazzling California sunshine outside.
"Since it won't show its face, we'll just wait it out." Daniel turned with a calm expression: "This kind of thing parasites the consciousness. If it doesn't attack proactively, it's hard for me to force it out. Regardless, within seven days at the latest, it'll be unable to restrain itself and launch its final strike. We'll see who breaks first."
Scott rubbed his face and sat down, somewhat dejected. "Still have to wait three more days? I'm worried Taylor won't hold up."
"I can hold up." Taylor jumped off the bed, her overly long legs swaying under her nightgown. She stretched her ankles, her face full of survivor's excitement. "Mr. Cross, since we have to wait... we can't stay locked up in the hotel all the time, right?"
Daniel frowned. "What do you want to do?"
"I want to explore Los Angeles." Taylor walked up to Daniel; her six-foot height was almost eye-level with him. "This is my first time here, and I haven't seen Santa Monica Beach or the Hollywood sign yet. Since you're here, it definitely won't dare come out, right?"
Daniel remained expressionless. "There are too many people and wandering eyes outside. It's easy for chaos to happen."
Taylor suddenly reached out and grabbed Daniel's arm, shaking it gently. Her deep blue eyes were full of pleading. "Please, Mr. Cross. I don't want to hide in this room for three days. If I stay cooped up for that long, even if that monster doesn't kill me, I'll go crazy."
She leaned in closer, her tone soft and sweet. "Just for one day, okay? You're so powerful -- it'll definitely be fine."
Feeling the warm, soft touch on his arm and looking at the girl's youthful face filled with longing, Daniel felt a bit helpless.
He turned to Scott, hoping the father would step in to stop her.
Unexpectedly, Scott sighed. "Mr. Cross, if safety can be guaranteed, taking her out for some fresh air would be good. The pressure these past few days has almost crushed her."
Daniel was silent for a moment before gently pulling Taylor's hand away. "Keep the seal I gave you with you. You're not allowed to leave my sight, not allowed to go to secluded places, and not allowed to go to the restroom alone."
"Yay!"
Taylor cheered and hopped in place like a child finally allowed out to play.
...
Half an hour later, the three of them left the hotel.
Scott drove while Daniel and Taylor sat in the back seat. Their first stop was Santa Monica Beach.
The beach under the sun displayed a high-end clarity.
Taylor took off her sandals and stepped barefoot onto the fine, soft sand. Her golden curls flew freely in the sea breeze.
Though she was wearing a simple T-shirt and denim shorts, her striking height and exquisite features still attracted countless glances.
Taylor ran barefoot along the beach, holding her sandals in one hand. She shouted excitedly at the distant Pacific Ocean.
Her six-foot height was extremely eye-catching in the crowd, and her golden curls looked like dancing flames under the sun.
Daniel sat under a parasol, sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose, holding a bottle of chilled cola. His posture was relaxed, his gaze casually sweeping the surroundings.
As a Dominion Incarnate of Higher Ascendant Order, his Spiritual Sense had already laid out an invisible sensing net within a hundred-meter radius.
Tourists walking back and forth, hot dog vendors, even stray dogs on the roadside -- all appeared as sheets of semi-transparent white silhoutes through the filter of his Spiritual Sense.
"Mr. Cross! Come down and play too!" Taylor stood by the water, turning to wave.
Daniel took a sip of cola and didn't budge.
His voice drifted over on the wind: "You have your fun; I don't like sand sticking to the soles of my feet."
Scott sat nearby, watching his daughter's happy expression, patting his chest in relief.
"Mr. Cross, I really didn't expect you to agree to take her out. To be honest, I feel like I've aged five years these past few days."
Daniel glanced at him. "She's young; keeping her cooped up will create new psychological trauma. That would give that thing an opportunity. As long as I'm here, it can't cause any trouble."
Scott nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes. Seeing you so relaxed makes me less afraid too."
At noon, the three of them went to a seafood restaurant called Taste of Water.
Taylor was clearly starving, devouring the lobster in front of her without a care for her image.
While eating, she pointed at the Grammy posters on the wall and said vaguely, "When I get better, I'm going to make a name for myself on those too."
*****
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