Zavier was still standing there, frozen right next to the sofa where Elena was crashed out. He hadn't moved an inch for like, four hours—seriously, if anyone saw him, they'd think he was some high-end department store mannequin that accidentally ended up in her living room.
His eyes were glued to Elena. He just watched her, the way she breathed so steadily, the way her eyelashes would twitch whenever she was dreaming. For a dark dimension ruler like Zavier, seeing a creature this fragile and yet so peaceful? It was a totally weird and new experience for him.
"Why is a human's heartbeat so noisy?" Zavier muttered to himself.
But the funny thing was, that noisy heartbeat was actually the only thing making him feel calm. Suddenly, Elena moved—she hugged her pillow tight and her left leg kicked the air, sending the blanket sliding right off to the floor. Zavier just shook his head. Guess his future Queen wasn't graceful at all when she was dead to the world.
Zavier stood up, moving so smoothly that there wasn't even the sound of fabric rubbing. He picked up the blanket and tucked her in again. When his hand accidentally brushed the tip of Elena's finger, he felt this tiny zap. Not magic, but something way stronger... and he didn't even know what to call it.
When Elena started blinking and waking up, Zavier immediately backed off two steps. He put on his classic "stone cold" face—didn't want her waking up thinking he was some 5 AM stalker.
"Z-Zav?" Elena's voice was super raspy, total bed-head vibes. She tried to sit up while gathering her soul, her hair looking like a legit bird's nest.
"Hmm," Zavier answered shortly. He walked to the kitchen, pretending to be busy checking the electric kettle that he honestly didn't know how to turn on.
Elena rubbed her eyes and looked at him with a dazed face. "You didn't go back? Did you... stay and watch over me all night?"
"I just got back from a dawn photo hunt and saw your balcony door wasn't locked right. I came in to make sure you didn't get robbed," Zavier lied through his teeth. Smooth. Even though he'd actually phased through that door using the shadows.
Elena smoothed her hair with her hands, her face getting a bit red. "O-oh... thanks. I'm such a klutz when I'm that tired. But seriously, you didn't sleep? Your face... I mean, it's already pale, but you look kinda worn out."
Zavier stared at her flatly. "I don't need much sleep. What do you want for breakfast? I'll order something."
"No way! I'll cook. We still have eggs and bread, right? I owe you way too much already, Zav. I can't let you handle breakfast too," Elena said, jumping off the sofa.
She stumbled toward the kitchen since she wasn't fully awake yet. As she passed Zavier, the smell of cheap soap mixed with that natural sweet scent of her skin made Zavier's focus glitch for a second.
"Zav, you like your eggs well-done or runny?" Elena asked while opening the fridge.
"Whatever," Zavier replied.
In Erebos, he didn't eat eggs. He ate soul energy or offerings. But for Elena, he'd try eating whatever she made, even if it tasted like a car tire.
Elena got busy in the kitchen. The sound of the pan and the smell of toast started filling up the apartment. Zavier sat in a chair, watching her back. In his head, he was busy managing thousands of shadow scouts outside the building to make sure none of Lucius's guys or any Seekers dared to come close.
'I need to find a way to give her permanent protection,' Zavier thought. 'I can't be stuck to her side 24/7. There's Erebos business I gotta settle.'
"Zav, here! Special for my bodyguard last night!" Elena handed him a plate with toast and a sunny-side-up egg that was... well, a bit lopsided. "Sorry it's not 'aesthetic,' but hopefully it tastes okay."
Zavier took the fork really stiffly. He cut the egg and put it in his mouth. Elena watched him, looking hopeful. "Well? Is it good?"
Zavier chewed slowly. It was weird—salty, savory, and a texture his tongue wasn't used to. But when he saw Elena's eyes sparkling, waiting for his answer, it suddenly tasted like the best thing ever.
"It's good," Zavier said shortly.
Elena grinned wide. "Hahaha! Thank god! I was worried you'd have super high standards since you're like, this elite photographer."
They were eating in a nice, quiet vibe when suddenly the air in the room shifted. Zavier felt a low-frequency vibration that only underworld dwellers could hear.
"My Sire, they are here. Not just one, but a group," a voice whispered from the shadow under the table.
Zavier immediately put his fork down. His eyes went sharp.
"What's wrong, Zav? Why the sudden serious face?" Elena asked, still munching on her toast.
"Elena, you planning on going out today?" Zavier asked, his voice getting heavier.
"Just to the minimarket out front to get snacks and detergent. Why?"
"Don't go out," Zavier commanded.
Elena frowned, confused. "Huh? Why? I need some fresh air, Zav."
Zavier stood up. He couldn't tell her that there were three Seeker monsters across the street disguised as bums. "London's air is bad today. Too much pollution. Just stay here, read a book or something."
"Zav, you're being so weird. I can't go out because of pollution?" Elena laughed, but she stopped when she saw Zavier was not joking at all.
Zavier walked over, grabbing her shoulders with both hands. "Listen to me. Stay home today. If someone knocks, don't open it unless it's me. Got it?"
Elena swallowed hard. She could feel this crazy chill coming from Zavier's hands, but for some reason, she couldn't say no to him. "I-okay... fine. But where are you going?"
"I have something to handle. Just for a bit. I'll be back before lunch," Zavier said.
He had to clear those pests out now before they sent more info to the Void. As he was heading out, Zavier turned back to her one last time.
"Elena?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't ever feel like you're alone. My shadow is always with you," Zavier whispered.
The second the door closed, Zavier flipped. He ran to the quiet emergency stairs, and in a flash, his body shattered into thousands of black smoke particles.
***
Across the street, three grubby-looking figures were sitting on the sidewalk. Their dull yellow eyes suddenly popped when they felt a massive aura of death right behind them.
"The Shadow King..." one of them started shaking.
Zavier appeared from behind a pole, his face looking straight-up demonic. His eyes were pure black, and the asphalt started cracking under his energy. "You think London is a tourist spot?" Zavier hissed.
"We... we're just following orders from Lord Malphas of the Void, The Ancient One! We didn't mean—"
Zavier didn't even need physical strength. Just by thinking it, the gravity around those monsters got insanely heavy. Their bodies were slammed down until their faces hit the hard asphalt.
"Go back to your master. Tell him, if he's curious about my business, he should come himself. Don't send trash like you," Zavier's voice boomed like thunder.
"B-but Lord Malphas said... the girl... she must be taken..."
The moment he heard "the girl must be taken," Zavier lost it. His rage exploded. The shadows under their feet turned into giant spikes, impaling them from the bottom up.
No screams. The Void creatures just crumbled into black ash. Zavier stood there, breathing a bit heavy. He hated it when anyone talked about taking Elena away from him.
But he realized his little "action" would definitely start a bigger mess. Lucius was right—he couldn't keep playing bodyguard here without fixing the root of the problem in Erebos and the Void.
Zavier fixed his jacket, trying to chill his aura out again. He looked up at the seventh-floor window. He could see Elena's silhouette on the balcony, looking like she was searching for him.
"I'll make this place safe for you, Elena. Even if I have to kill every single creature in the lower dimensions," Zavier muttered.
He decided to head back, but not through the door this time. He wanted to give Elena something—a protection mark that no one could ever remove. A mark that would show the whole world that Elena belonged to the Shadow King.