A murderer! His brain alerted, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "I'm uncomfortable having you here. How did you even know where I lived? Why did you come after me? And the cave… in the cave…" His ears reddened. His hands went flying, landing against his temples, as if in need to protect his mind from his own thoughts.
"Please leave. I would be more comfortable if you were gone." Bernis paused. "We can talk some other day," he finished.
"Alright. I will leave for now," Maverick said, causing Bernis to question his choice of words. For now? Does it mean he intends to come again?
"We can meet outside the Palace in the evening of your choosing. I work there and clock out at 5pm every weekday." Bernis hoped to get some security from the palace guards outside the gate as he spoke with the mysterious man.
"You work at the palace? Why were you up the hill in the afternoon," Maverick asked.
"I get an afternoon off in between the weekdays. The boys went on an adventure and I tagged along." Bernis averted his right foot as he wondered about his small lie. Tagged along. He laughed to himself. He had unwillingly gone to prove his manhood.
"Well then, I hope to see you soon," Maverick said, rising from the couch.
Bernis took a step back, and he knocked into his shampoo bottles and lotions on a small table. The man seemed bigger, scarier when standing.
"Be careful not to hurt yourself," Maverick growled. He had just woken after years of sleeping. He wasn't sure how well he would resist the urge for human blood. His resilience so far made him happy. The sleep had done him some good in meditating and improving his discipline with his cravings.
The growl. "What is it with you and 'do not hurt yourself,'" Bernis mocked Maverick's way of speaking with a high-pitched feminine voice.
"Because you do not want to end up hurt and bleeding. Bloooood," he paused after prolonging the word in a deep voice. "Blood is precious," Maverick said, licking his lips.
"Huh!?" Bernis exclaimed.
Maverick returned from his small fantasy to find Bernis staring at him. "I mean to say, you need to be careful not to hurt yourself," he said as he awkwardly ran his hand through his hair.
"Oh, I see," Bernis said, hoping to not introduce another topic. He wanted the man out of his house. "I will open the door for you," he said as he finished putting the bottles back on the table.
"Thank you. I was thinking of going back through the window," Maverick said, wearing a mischievous smile. He was such a baby for his warrior size.
Bernis rolled his eyes as he walked past him and opened the door. Just leave. The man thought to himself. He was about to slam the door shut and pass along a message of, 'you are not welcome here,' when Maverick turned to him. "Have fun," he said, lifting his eyebrows with a grin on his face. He then lowered his eyes to Bernis' crotch.
Bernis sent a kick, targeting Maverick's thigh, which he ended up missing. So instead, he sent the door flying towards Maverick's face. He locked it, and ensured he locked the window well from inside too.
"There is something off about him," Bernis said to himself as he nodded, agreeing with his own suspicions. His instinct could not be wrong. His danger alarm rarely rang. But when it did, it was always right.