Stay With Me Afomia

Chapter 3

Afomia stood at the edge of the mansion's property, her gaze sweeping over the sprawling estate that once belonged to her aunt. The tall iron gates loomed in front of her, casting long shadows across the perfectly manicured lawns. She had never expected to set foot on this place again, but today, the impulse to confront her past was too strong to ignore.

Her aunt—her tormentor—had made high school a living hell. From belittling comments to manipulative control, she had twisted Afomia’s sense of self-worth. The mansion, this grand, imposing symbol of the life her aunt had created, felt like the culmination of all that cruelty. But today, Afomia was different. She wasn’t the scared girl who had left this place years ago. She was someone else now. Someone powerful.

She turned to Felix, who stood beside her, his usual cool expression unreadable. She didn’t question why he was with her—Zein had ordered him to be her bodyguard, though Afomia knew the truth. Felix had a way of slipping into Zein’s plans, whether they were given or not.

"You sure about this?" Felix asked, his voice low, steady. "The mansion is yours now, but... the people in there aren't going to be happy with that."

Afomia’s lips curled into a small smile. "I don’t care what they think." Her eyes flashed with determination. "It’s mine now. No one will take it from me."

Felix nodded, then stepped forward to open the gate. The creak of the hinges sounded ominous, like the opening of a new chapter.

As they approached the mansion, the heavy door swung open before they could knock, revealing a middle-aged woman with wide eyes, wearing an expensive silk dress. Her posture was stiff, as if she had been expecting them—just not so soon.

"Afomia?" Her aunt’s voice wavered, a thin veneer of politeness masking her panic. "What are you doing here? This is my house. a-and i thought you we're dead this 3 years ago.."

Afomia smirked. "Not anymore." She pushed past her aunt, entering the grand hallway. Felix followed closely behind, his presence a silent threat.

Her aunt’s face drained of color as she stood frozen, her hand gripping the doorframe. "You can't do this," she whispered, her voice shaking. "This house is my legacy! I’ve built it all. You have no right."

Afomia turned to face her, the past crashing in waves of bitterness. "I have every right. You made my life a nightmare, and now it's time to take back what’s mine. This mansion, your so-called legacy—it’s mine. All of it."

She could feel Felix’s eyes on her, but he said nothing. His presence was more than enough; she could sense his calm, unwavering loyalty.

The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Then, with a cold, controlled laugh, Afomia looked her aunt up and down. "You never thought this day would come, did you? Well, it has."

Her aunt blinked, then turned on her heel, rushing to the grand staircase. "You won’t get away with this. I'll fight you for it."

Afomia laughed softly, walking deeper into the house. "Let the games begin."

Hours later, as the evening sun began to sink beneath the horizon, Afomia leaned back against the leather armchair in her aunt’s study, surveying the mansion that now belonged to her. The place, once a symbol of her aunt’s oppression, now felt like her own domain.

Felix stood by the window, keeping watch. His posture was rigid, almost too formal for someone who had been with Zein for so long. Afomia couldn’t help but wonder what it was about him that made him seem so... different from the others. Was it his loyalty to her? Or was it something else?

She was snapped from her thoughts by the sound of a car pulling up outside. Her pulse quickened—Zein.

She had expected him sooner or later. As much as she relished in her newfound control over the mansion, she knew Zein wouldn’t be pleased with her latest move.

She moved to the window, peering through the blinds. Sure enough, the familiar sleek black car was parked outside. The door opened, and Zein stepped out, his figure lit by the golden glow of the setting sun. His eyes scanned the mansion, cold and calculating, before he began walking toward the front door.

Afomia’s lips curled into a smirk. She didn’t need to ask for Felix’s help; he had already positioned himself between her and the door, ready to block any potential confrontation. The last thing she needed right now was Zein’s fury.

When Zein entered the study, his eyes immediately locked onto hers. The air between them grew charged with tension, a storm brewing just beneath the surface. He said nothing at first, his gaze flicking briefly to Felix before returning to her.

"What is this?" Zein’s voice was low, dangerously calm. "You thought you could just take this place from your aunt without consequence?"

Afomia’s smirk widened. "It’s mine now. No consequence, except for the one you’ll have to face when I take everything you hold dear." Her voice was cold, calculated. She was no longer the girl who cowered in fear. This was her world now.

Zein’s jaw tightened, his golden eyes flickering with something... possessive. "I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t tell you to do this."

Afomia raised an eyebrow. "do i need you to tell me what to do? i said im the one who will take revenge not you zein." She moved closer to him, her confidence growing with every step. "Could it be that you're jealous, Zein?"

The tension between them crackled, the room suddenly feeling smaller. Zein’s eyes narrowed, his usual composure slipping just slightly. "Jealous? Of you and felix? Don’t flatter yourself."

But Afomia didn’t miss the flicker of something darker in his gaze. It was jealousy. He wasn’t just angry; he was possessive. Of her. Of the control he thought he had over her.

Felix, sensing the shift in the air, remained silent, standing just out of reach but still within the circle of potential conflict.

Afomia smirked again, savoring the moment. "You think you control everything, Zein, but you’re wrong. I’m not your puppet, and I never will be."

Zein took a step closer, his presence overwhelming, but instead of the usual force he exerted, he seemed... uncertain. "Maybe not," he said, voice like velvet, but his words were laced with a hint of something darker. "But you’ll learn that when you play with power, the price is always higher than you expect."

Afomia’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t back down. Instead, she leaned in close, her voice a mere whisper. "Let’s see how high that price really is."

"What’s he doing here?" Zein’s voice was sharp, dangerously low, as he stepped further into the study, his presence like a storm gathering on the horizon. His gaze flicked between Afomia and Felix, the air between them thick with unspoken tension.

Afomia, still leaning against the armchair with an unreadable expression, looked up at Zein, playing the part of the innocent bystander. She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a small, mocking smile. “I don’t know,” she said nonchalantly, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. “I thought you were the one who told him to look after me?”

Zein’s eyes narrowed, and his lips twitched as if trying to hold back a retort. “You know damn well I didn’t tell him to be here,” he growled, his frustration seeping through his controlled demeanor. “Felix isn’t part of this. This has nothing to do with him.”

Afomia’s smile only deepened, though there was a flash of something else in her eyes. “Oh? But I thought he was your chosen bodyguard. Aren’t you the one who told him to stay close to me?” Her words were sharp, cutting through the air between them.

Zein’s gaze turned colder. His muscles tensed as he approached her, his presence overwhelming, but Afomia didn’t flinch. She wasn’t the girl he had controlled before. She wasn’t the girl who would back down.

"Don't play games with me, Afomia," Zein spat, his voice low and dangerous. "This is about control. You know that. And you’re making a mistake by involving him."

Afomia tilted her head slightly, her eyes locking with his, unwavering. “I’m not involving anyone. Felix is just... here. I thought you were the one who had a problem with that, not me.”

Zein’s eyes glinted with something dangerous—something possessive, almost as if Afomia was his to control. The realization hit him like a slap in the face, though he didn’t show it. Felix's presence was more than just an inconvenience; it was a threat. And worse, it was one that Afomia had invited into her space.

Afomia stood, stepping closer to Zein, her voice lowering to a challenge. “You know, it’s funny... I used to think I needed you. I thought I needed your permission to do anything. But now?” She paused, her eyes narrowing. “I realize I never did.”

Zein’s expression faltered for a brief moment, but his gaze remained intense. The tension between them was palpable, both of them fighting for dominance in this moment. Felix remained still, almost invisible in the corner of the room, but his presence was a steady reminder of just how much the dynamics had changed.

Afomia continued, her tone almost playful, but there was an edge to it. "I thought you told Felix to stay by my side, Zein. Is there a problem with that? Or are you just jealous?" She couldn’t help the smirk that spread across her face.

The word "jealous" hung in the air, and for a split second, Zein looked as though he had been struck. His golden eyes flashed, and his mouth tightened as he turned away, unable—or unwilling—to fully confront what was now evident. There was no denying it; there was something more to this than just control.

“I’m not jealous,” he snapped, his voice low and cold, but his eyes betrayed him. “You think you can play these games, but you’re making a mistake. Felix doesn’t belong here.”

Afomia raised an eyebrow. “But he does belong here, doesn’t he? I’m not a child anymore, Zein. And I’m not yours to dictate. I don’t need your permission to have anyone by my side.”

The silence between them stretched on, thick and heavy, as Zein took a moment to compose himself. He knew this was different. Afomia was different. The tables had turned, and there was no going back.

“I’ll let you have your little game for now,” Zein finally said, his tone still dangerously low, “but remember, Afomia... I always get what I want in the end.”

Afomia simply smirked, the corner of her lips curling in challenge. "Then let’s see who wins, Zein."

With that, he turned and walked out of the study, the tension in the room lifting slightly, though the storm still lingered between them. Felix stayed silent, his gaze lingering on Afomia for just a moment longer, but it was clear he knew the power had shifted.

Afomia stood there, her heart beating a little faster than before. She wasn’t sure if it was the adrenaline or something else entirely, but she knew one thing for sure: the game had just begun, and she was ready to play.

Zein and Afomia drove in silence, the low hum of the engine filling the space between them. The tension that had lingered after their last conversation hadn't quite dissipated. The car moved smoothly through the streets, but Afomia couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen. Something big.

Zein had been quiet ever since they left her aunt's mansion. He'd promised her he was taking her back to his, but they were stopping somewhere first. It wasn't a long detour, but Afomia could sense that Zein needed this pause—this break—to rest his powers.

"Where are we?" Afomia asked, her gaze scanning the unfamiliar, quiet street. The houses were spread far apart, and the eerie stillness seemed to seep into the air.

Zein's voice broke the silence, calm but laced with the weight of something unspoken. "Just wait here for a moment. I need to rest."

Afomia nodded, though she didn't quite understand why Zein needed to do this. She had seen him exert incredible power before, but this—this seemed different. She leaned back against the seat, trying to relax, but her mind kept running in circles.

Minutes passed, and the stillness of the night settled over them like a heavy fog. Afomia's eyes drifted to the rearview mirror, noting how Zein's posture had relaxed. He seemed to be in some sort of trance, his body still and quiet. But as the silence stretched on, she started to feel an odd, creeping sense of unease.

Her heart skipped a beat when she realized—Zein was gone.

She blinked, confusion settling in. The car was still running, the air still thick with tension, but there was no sign of Zein. It was as if he had vanished without a trace. Afomia's pulse quickened. She opened the door and stepped out of the car, her eyes scanning the area, searching for any sign of him.

And then—she saw them.

Three men were walking toward her, their steps slow and deliberate. They wore dark clothing, their faces shadowed, but their eyes—those eyes—locked onto her with a disturbing intensity.

"Hey there, pretty," one of them called, his voice smooth but sinister. "Give me your body."

Afomia froze, her instincts kicking in. There was something off about these guys, something wrong. Her gaze flicked around, looking for an escape, but the street was eerily empty. She was trapped.

Before she could react, one of the men stepped closer, his smirk twisted. "No where else to go, darling... give me your body."

Fear clutched at her chest, but she wasn't about to let these men get the better of her. She backed up, her mind racing for a plan. The alleyway behind her was a dead end, and there was nowhere to run. But she didn't panic. She had been trained for moments like this.

She took a deep breath, bracing herself. The martial arts training Zein had pushed her to learn, the combat skills that had once seemed unnecessary, were now her lifeline. Afomia's body moved with precision, her hands and feet connecting with each of the men in a series of swift, brutal strikes.

One of them stumbled back, clutching his jaw, but the other two closed in. She blocked one punch, countered with a kick to the ribs, and then ducked under another swing aimed at her face. She was faster now, more agile than she'd ever been.

But then, one of the men's eyes glowed an unnatural red. His expression twisted into something inhuman, his movements jerky as he lunged at her with inhuman speed.

Afomia barely had time to react before the red-eyed man was upon her, his claws reaching for her throat. She barely managed to dodge, but she could feel the heat of his presence, the malice radiating off of him. It was like nothing she had ever encountered before.

Her heart raced, and in that moment, a familiar aura swept through the air, a sharp, commanding presence that cut through the chaos. Zein.

She felt his energy before she saw him. The air around her seemed to shift, the very ground beneath her feet humming with power. In the blink of an eye, Zein appeared beside her, his eyes narrowed and focused.

"Step aside, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice laced with a hint of danger. Without hesitation, he thrust his hand forward, and the red-eyed man was thrown back, crashing into the wall of the alleyway.

Afomia stood there, panting, staring at Zein as he stepped forward, his eyes glowing faintly with power.

"W-what did you do?" she gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Why did you kill him?"

Zein turned to her, his expression dark but composed. "Did you see his eyes?" He gestured toward the lifeless body on the ground. "They were glowing red. He's a vampire, Afomia."

Afomia's breath caught in her throat, a mixture of fear and curiosity swirling inside her. "Vampires... exist?"

Zein's lips twisted into a small, almost amused smirk. "Yes, sweetheart. And they're not the only creatures that walk this earth."

The realization hit her hard, her mind racing to keep up with the new world she was being thrust into. Vampires? Creatures beyond the ordinary? It was all too much, yet Afomia felt a strange sense of excitement bubbling beneath her fear.

"Why did they come after me?" she asked, her voice steady but still tinged with uncertainty.

Zein stepped closer, his eyes softening, though his energy still crackled in the air. "Because you're more than just a target. You're part of something bigger now, something they want to control."

Afomia nodded slowly, her thoughts swirling in a mix of fear, curiosity, and something else she couldn't quite place.

"Let's get back," Zein said, his voice low and commanding, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—something protective.

Afomia, still processing the revelation, followed Zein as he led her back to the car. This night had just become something much bigger than either of them had anticipated. And it was only the beginning.