KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS

CHAPTER 16: ADIRA

The silence that followed was unbearable. My father didn’t flinch though—he never did— but I could see the flicker of wariness in his eyes. He obviously didn’t trust Andronikos, something I didn’t blame him for.

Ever the diplomat, Mama quickly stepped in. “Adira, why don’t you show Mr. Karas the gazebo? It’s lovely this time of the year.”

I thanked my mother with a glance for steering the almost hostile conversation as I led Andronikos outside through he manicured gardens to the gazebo, trying to ignore the painful knot in my belly. Iason followed at a distance, probably enjoying my discomfort.

We stood in awkward silence, the sound of my parents’ argument faintly audible from the house.

“You know who he is, Cora. What he wants. We cannot let this man use our daughter like this,” Baba’s voice carried through the open window.

I glanced at Andronikos, who seemed entirely unbothered by them blatantly talking about him. Who was he, really? And why did my parents have so much fear for him?

“You’re going to be living with me,” Andronikos said abruptly, breaking the silence.

I turned to him, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise, “Excuse me?”

“Did I stutter, little girl?” he said, his gaze locking onto mine with a menacing intensity.

“No,” I replied firmly, resolute in my decision to not follow his stupid commands anymore.

He smiled darkly at me as he leaned closer. “It seems you’ve forgotten so soon that I’m not the ‘nice’ man that pretty mind of yours seems to have conjured up. Refuse me again, and I’ll remind you—painfully— of your place in my life.”

My heart dropped to my stomach at that. I hated him. I hated myself for thinking someone as insane as him would actually care. Just because we had a few conversations, shared some laughs and had the world’s best ‘tongue hockey’— which I’ve been trying desperately to forget— doesn’t mean I mean anything to him. He’s a monster through and through and I’ll do well to remember that.

As I nodded reluctantly, I hated the helplessness I felt at that moment most of all.

*******************************************

Back in my room, I shoved clothes into a random suitcase I found with more force than necessary. My mom walked in at that moment, concern filling her features.

“He seems nice,” she said, a poor attempt at a joke.

“Let’s not act like we’re not aware he’s anything but Mama,” I replied, closing the suitcase before turning to face her.

As I studied my mother, I noticed she looked thinner than usual. Her once full, rosy cheeks were now sunken, and a strange tiredness weighed on her expression. Without thinking, I reached out and gently touched her face.

“Mama, are you alright? You look unhealthy,” I said, my voiced laced with worry. She’d never looked like this before. As long as I can remember, I’d never seen Mama like this before.

“I’ll be fine, agapoula.” She said, placing her hand over mine on her face. “Just a little bug, that’s all. Nothing I can’t handle.”

I didn’t believe her, but I dropped the subject when I noticed she clearly didn’t want to discuss it.

I’ll revisit this later, I thought, grabbing the suitcase to leave.

“I know you’ll take care of yourself, Adira, but please—never trust him. Whatever you do, don’t let him have your heart. Iposchésou mou aftó.”

(Promise me that.)

Her words sent chills down my spine, the gravity of her tone tying my stomach in knots.

“Yes, Mama,” I promised her, trying to sound more confident than I felt. She nodded in acceptance, and we made our way downstairs together.

As I walked past my dad, suitcase in hand, he hugged me briefly. His usual strength seemed to falter, and I saw something I’d never before seen in my father’s eyes—fear. The great Jidenna Abara had finally met someone who could strike fear into him.

What relationship do my parents and Andronikos have?

Andronikos’ convoy waited outside the gate, a reminder of the power he wielded. I climbed into the car, trying to ignore the sinking feel in my chest.

The demon sat beside me, a smirk on his lips. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

Without replying, I turned away from him and stared out the window, praying that somehow, some way, I’d survive this without losing myself entirely.