Chapter 9

Elara’s body tensed as Damien knocked at the door. Damien’s voice, gentle and seemingly sincere, carried through the door.

“Elara, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. Please, forgive me.”

She pressed her hands harder over her ears, muffling the sound. She whispered mantra of denial spilled forth: “It’s not him. No. It’s not.”

“Elara?” Damien’s tone softened further, almost pleading. “Open the door, please. I want to look at you.”

Her trembling intensified, but she didn’t answer. The silence stretched between them like a chasm until his resigned voice broke it.

“I’m sorry. We’ll talk tomorrow then. Goodnight.”

The fading sound of his retreating footsteps allowed her to exhale the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Relief washed over her, though her chest remained tight with lingering unease. Exhausted and drained, she curled up at the edge of her bed and cried until sleep overtook her.

In the liminal space between dreams and reality, a voice called out, low and melodic, carrying an urgency that seeped into her bones.

“Aurora... Aurora...”

Elara’s eyes fluttered open to an otherworldly scene. She stood in a vast, unending expanse of water that mirrored a breath-taking galactic sky, the celestial hues of purple and gold shimmering both above and below her. The air felt weightless, and yet the gravity of the moment pressed heavily upon her.

“You have to run away,” the voice urged.

Turning in every direction, Elara’s wide eyes searched for its source. Finally, a figure emerged, her presence radiant against the surreal backdrop. Elara’s breath caught.

“You...” she whispered. “The woman from the painting.”

The figure nodded, her green eyes luminescent, holding a mixture of sorrow and resolve.

“My name is Isabella Sinclair,” she said, her voice melodic yet tinged with despair. “You’re in grave danger, Aurora. You must leave this place. The evil here is ancient and relentless. It has waited too long to claim what it desires.”

“Aurora?” Elara repeated, confusion clouding her mind. “That’s not my name. Why do you call me that?”

Isabella’s gaze softened, though her urgency remained. “Names hold power, child. And you… you bear a spirit and the face of someone that this darkness recognizes. It may have mistaken you for someone from long ago. But if you stay, it will not care. It will consume you, just as it consumed me.”

Elara’s voice cracked as she argued, “I can’t leave. Damien..he’s still in there. I know he is. He’s suffering. I can’t abandon him.”

“Damien’s soul may yet be salvageable,” Isabella said gravely. “But you cannot face this alone. The force within him has fed on fear and despair for over two centuries. Its strength is immense. You must find allies, Elara. Only together can you hope to confront it.”

Before Elara could respond, Isabella’s form began to blur, dissolving into streaks of light. Her voice lingered, echoing across the vast expanse.

“Remember, Aurora: strength in unity. Save him, but not at the cost of yourself.”

“Elara? Elara? Are you still sleeping?” Damien’s voice jolted her awake. She blinked, disoriented, finding herself back in her room. Her surroundings were unchanged, but her heart raced with the weight of what she’d seen.

“Was it just a dream? Or something more?” she wondered aloud, her fingers brushing the tear-streaked fabric of her gown.

“Elara?” Damien’s knock came again, more insistent this time.

She inhaled sharply, steeling herself. “It’s morning,” she whispered. “Evils don’t show themselves in the daylight. It’s okay. You’ll be fine.”

She cracked open the door, peeking out cautiously. Damien stood there, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion. He looked at her disheveled appearance, her puffy eyes, and the faint tremor in her hands.

“What happened to you?” he asked softly, stepping closer. He reached out to touch her shoulder, but she instinctively recoiled, her back pressing against the doorframe.

“Elara…” Damien’s voice broke slightly. “Please. Tell me what’s going on. I need to understand.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she extended her marked wrist. “This,” she said, her voice trembling. “This is what happened.”

He stared at the red imprint on her skin, his jaw tightening. Fury flickered in his eyes, though not at her. Elara told him everything about last night incident.

“I… I’m so sorry,” he murmured, his voice thick with guilt. “You had to endure this alone. Elara, I…”

Her tears broke through, and she collapsed into his arms, burying her face against his chest. Damien hesitated, his hands hovering uncertainly, before asking in a whisper, “Can I hug you back?”

“Yes,” she replied between her tears.

He draped a blanket over her exposed back and held her tightly, his warmth seeping into her trembling frame. His arms enveloped her, careful yet firm, as though he feared she might shatter. Time seemed to pause as they stayed like that, a silent exchange of pain and solace.

After a while, Damien pulled back slightly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“Do you want to stay home today?” he asked gently.

She shook her head. “No. I’d rather keep busy. Work will help take my mind off… everything.”

He nodded. “Alright. Go take a shower. I’ll make breakfast.” Without another word, he left, his footsteps heavy with lingering guilt. He punched the wall out of anger and exhaled in pain.

Downstairs, the scent of fresh toast and scrambled eggs filled the air. They ate in near silence. The clinking of cutlery was the only sound. Before they left, Damien applied a soothing salve to her wrist. As he did, Elara noticed the bruises on his knuckles.

“Damien, what happened to your hand?” she asked, her voice sharp with concern.

He hesitated, averting his gaze. “It’s nothing.”

“Nothing? Did you hurt yourself because of me?” she demanded, gripping his hand gently but firmly. “Don’t ever do that again. This wasn’t your fault...Promise me.”

He met her gaze, his eyes shadowed with emotion. “I promise.”

Elara nodded, her expression softening. “Good. Because we’re in this together. Whatever it is, we’ll face it as a team.”

Her words hung in the air, a beacon of hope amidst the storm. As they locked eyes, a fragile yet unspoken trust began to rebuild. Together, they stepped out into the sunlight, determined to face the challenges ahead, hand in hand.

♡♡♡

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