Chapter 23

Shea leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "When will your father return?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of hope and impatience.

Achilles ran a hand through his hair, his expression thoughtful. "I don't know exactly," he admitted. "But it should be within a few days. This isn't just some silly business meet-up. It's a gathering of the factions."

"Factions?" Shea's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

Achilles hesitated for a moment, as if weighing how much to reveal. "There are eight factions in Lockewood," he explained, his voice low. "Von Lunar is one of them."

Shea's eyes widened, her mind racing with this new information. "Eight factions? What are the others? What do they do?"

Achilles shook his head, unwilling to divulge more. "That's all I can say for now. My father will explain the rest when he returns."

Shea sat back, processing this revelation. She felt a strange mix of emotions - amazement at the hidden complexity of Lockewood, and a growing sense of connection to the town and its true history. It was as if pieces of a puzzle were slowly falling into place, revealing a picture far more intricate than she had ever imagined.

"I had no idea," she murmured, more to herself than to Achilles. "All this time, there was so much more to Lockewood than I ever knew."

Achilles nodded, his expression softening slightly. "It's a lot to take in, I know. But you're part of this world now, Shea. For better or worse."

Shea's heart swelled with gratitude as she looked at Achilles, her eyes shining with sincerity. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what's going on, but I'm glad you're here to protect me."

Achilles seemed taken aback by her words, his usual cold demeanor momentarily faltering. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his expression unreadable. "It's...it's my duty," he muttered, his voice gruff.

Shea couldn't help but chuckle at his awkwardness, her laughter light and airy. "Well, I appreciate it nonetheless," she said, her smile warm and genuine.

Achilles looked at her for a moment, his blue eyes piercing. Then, to her surprise, he let out a small chuckle of his own. "You're...different than I expected," he admitted, his voice tinged with amusement.

Shea raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Oh? And what did you expect?" she asked, a playful smile on her lips.

Achilles hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether or not to answer her question. Then, with a small shrug, he said, "I don't know. Someone...weaker, I guess. More fragile."

Shea's smile faltered slightly at his words, but she quickly regained her composure. "Well, I may not be the strongest person out there, but I'm not as fragile as I look," she said, her voice steady.

Achilles looked at her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then, to her surprise, he smiled - a genuine, warm smile that transformed his entire face. "I can see that," he said, his voice soft.

Shea felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of his smile, her entire perception of him shifting in that moment. Gone was the cold, aloof loner she had first met. In his place was a caring, protective person who was willing to put himself in harm's way for her sake.

"Thank you," she said again, her voice sincere. "I really mean it."

Achilles nodded, his smile fading slightly. "Just...stay close to me, okay?" he said, his voice serious. "I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."

Shea nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude. She knew that she could trust Achilles to keep her safe, no matter what dangers lay ahead. And for the first time since she had arrived in Lockewood, she felt a glimmer of hope that everything would be okay.

Achilles turned to Shea, his expression serious. "I think it would be best if you stayed here with us," he said, his voice low and measured. "It would be more efficient for your protection, and you'd be safer here."

Shea blinked, taken aback by his suggestion. She hadn't expected this, and her mind raced with the implications. On one hand, staying here would undoubtedly be safer. Achilles had already proven his ability to protect her, and the mansion seemed like a fortress compared to her aunt's cabin. But on the other hand, she had just arrived in Lockewood, and the thought of leaving her aunt so soon made her heart ache.

She bit her lip, considering her options. "I... I think you're right," she said slowly, her voice hesitant. "It probably would be safer here."

Achilles nodded, a flicker of relief passing over his face.

"But," Shea continued, her voice growing stronger, "I need to ask my aunt first. She's been so kind to me, and I can't just disappear without explaining things to her."

Achilles frowned slightly, but he didn't argue. "I understand," he said after a moment. "Family is important."

Shea felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. Despite his gruff exterior, Achilles seemed to genuinely care about her well-being and respect her wishes.

"Thank you," she said softly.

As they pulled up to Aunt Penelope's cabin, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the woods in an eerie twilight. Shea's heart raced as she thought about how to explain the situation to her aunt. Achilles remained silent beside her, his expression unreadable.

Aunt Penelope greeted them warmly, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw Achilles. "Well, who do we have here?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

"This is Achilles," Shea said, her voice shaking slightly. "He's... he's been helping me."

Aunt Penelope raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. "Well, come on in," she said, stepping aside to let them enter.

Once inside, Shea took a deep breath and began to explain everything. She told her aunt about the attack in the woods, about the Von Lunar family, and about the factions that existed in Lockewood. Aunt Penelope listened intently, her expression growing more serious with each passing moment.

"I remember Vincent mentioning the Von Lunar family," she said when Shea had finished speaking. "He said they were good people, and that they were dedicated to protecting the town."

Shea nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. It was good to know that her father had trusted the Von Lunars.

"But what about these factions?" Aunt Penelope asked, her brow furrowing. "I've never heard of them before."

"I don't know much about them either," Shea admitted. "But Achilles says that they're important, and that they play a big role in the town's history."

Aunt Penelope nodded slowly, her eyes thoughtful. "Well, I trust your judgment, Shea," she said after a moment. "If you think that Achilles is someone you can trust, then I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt."

Shea let out a sigh of relief, feeling grateful for her aunt's support. "Thank you," she said, her voice filled with emotion.

Aunt Penelope smiled warmly at her. "Now, why don't you two have a seat and tell me more about what's been going on?" she said, gesturing towards the couch.

As Shea and Achilles sat down, Shea couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. For the first time since she had arrived in Lockewood, she felt like she had a real ally in her quest to uncover the truth about her father's death.