Chapter 14

Damien’s hug was gentle, his arms fully around her waist, and his forehead resting on her shoulder. His voice, laced with a vulnerability she rarely heard, broke the silence. “You just can’t imagine how relieved I am to see that nothing happened last night,” he murmured. “Elara, if I were to hurt you one more time… I don’t know what I would have done.”

Elara turned around, his hands still lingering on her waist, warm and steady. She cupped his cheeks, her touch featherlight, and looked into his eyes. “Everything was fine,” she said softly. “And Damien, if I ever get hurt again in the future, it wouldn’t be your fault because it would be out of your control. You promised me you wouldn’t blame yourself for what happened. I hope you’ll remember that.”

Her voice dipped into a playful tone as she crossed her fingers and pouted. “Promise me.”

Damien’s lips curled into a small smile. “Yes, I remember,” he said, his voice tender. He pulled her into another hug, his embrace tighter this time, as if he were trying to shield her from the world.

“You smell so good… just like roses,” Damien whispered in her ear, his voice low and velvety. Elara shivered at the closeness, the warmth of his breath sending tingles down her spine. When his lips brushed lightly against her ear, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Embarrassed, she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze.

“T-Thanks,” she stammered, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, her movements flustered.

Before the moment could stretch too long, her stomach growled loudly, breaking the spell between them. Elara’s eyes widened as she clutched her abdomen, mortified. “L-Let’s eat breakfast,” she blurted out, her voice high-pitched with embarrassment.

Damien’s laughter rang out, light and infectious. “E-Elara, you’re funny,” he teased, his eyes crinkling with amusement as he led her to the table.

They sat down to eat, the tension between them easing into the familiar comfort of their usual banter. As Damien spreads butter on a slice of toast, he asked, “By the way, why are you awake so early? And dressed too? You’re not going to the café, are you?”

Elara froze mid-bite. “Y-Yes, I am,” she stammered, her voice faltering because she already knew how he would react.

Damien’s fork clattered against his plate as he stood abruptly. “What? Elara, your injury hasn’t healed yet. You’re going to stay at home, and that’s final,” he said, his tone firm and laced with concern.

“Huuuh… okay,” Elara sighed, knowing she couldn’t win this argument. “I’ll inform my manager that I can’t come,” she added, glancing away.

Damien’s expression softened. “Good. I’ll also stay at home with you today,” he announced with enthusiasm.

“What?! No! You don’t have to. Stop looking for excuses to skip work. You’re going to work, and that’s final,” Elara declared, crossing her arms in a mock authoritative manner.

Damien chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. “But I want to take care of you,” he explained.

“You don’t have to. I’m perfectly alright,” she reassured him with a small smile.

“Okay, then. I’ll get off work early and… prepare a small surprise afterward,” Damien said, his voice dropping into a mysterious tone.

Elara’s curiosity piqued. “Surprise? What surprise?” she asked, leaning forward slightly.

Damien merely smiled and returned to his breakfast. “You’ll see later. Now tell me, what happened last night?” he asked, his expression turning serious.

Elara recounted everything—the diary, the chamber, the mirror, and the reflection of Shadow’s human form. Damien listened intently, his brows furrowing deeper with each detail.

“But we can’t do anything right now except be patient until I find a clue from Aurora’s past,” Elara concluded, her eyes burning with determination. “But I’ll make sure to find a solution to get you out of Shadow’s grip.”

Damien reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “Thank you, Elara. You’re the only one I can trust,” he said sincerely.

Elara’s cheeks warmed at his words. “Now go get ready for work,” she insisted, her tone light.

“Yes, ma’am,” Damien replied with a playful salute, making her chuckle.

After he left for the office, Elara spent the day in the hidden library, pouring over ancient texts and tomes in search of a way to banish the evil that had taken hold of Damien. Hours passed, and the strain began to take its toll.

“Ugh… I’m tired. I’m starting to see blur,” she muttered, stretching her stiff body. “Let’s eat something and get some rest.” She whispered to herself and retired to her room after a light meal.

Sleep overtook her quickly, and once again, she found herself in the surreal dreamscape. Isabella stood before her, bathed in an otherworldly glow.

“Isabella,” Elara called out. “Why is everything so cryptic? Why can’t you just tell me what I need to know?”

Isabella’s gaze softened. “The answers you seek must come from within, Elara. The journey is as important as the destination. You saw Shadow’s face last night. That’s only the beginning.”

“But I’m running out of time,” Elara pleaded. “Damien is running out of time.”

Isabella stepped closer, her presence soothing. “Trust yourself. You’re stronger than you think. And remember, not all shadows are evil. Sometimes, they are merely the absence of light.”

Before Elara could press further, the dream dissolved, leaving her with more questions than answers.

By the time the clock struck one, Damien was already home. He placed the cake he had bought on the dining table and headed straight to Elara’s room. He knocked softly but received no response.

“Is she asleep?” he murmured to himself.

Carefully, he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. The room was bathed in a soft, golden glow from the midday sunlight streaming through the curtains. His gaze fell on her as she lay peacefully, her breathing steady. The light kissed her face, illuminating her delicate features, her shimmering hair, her rosy lips, and her fair, porcelain skin. She looked ethereal, like a painting come to life.

Damien’s heart raced as he approached her, his steps quiet and measured. Kneeling down beside her bed, he reached out gently and pressed a tender kiss to her injured leg.

“I’ll make today unforgettable for you,” he whispered, his voice low and filled with resolve.

With one last glance at her serene figure, he stood and quietly made his way downstairs.

When she woke, it was late afternoon. Stretching, she noticed the bandage on her leg had been freshly changed. Her cheeks flushed. “Did he do this?” she whispered, a small smile forming on her lips.

Descending the stairs, she was greeted by an unexpected sight. The curtains were drawn, the lights dimmed, and in the center of the living room stood a projector screen, surrounded by popcorn, cake, and champagne.

“Damien… what is all this?” she called out.

He appeared from the kitchen, grinning. “Oh, you’re awake! Stay right there.”

Before she could protest, he strode over, scooped her into his arms, and carried her to the couch.

“W-What is all this?” she repeated, flustered.

“Surprise,” he said brightly. “We’re having a movie night… or evening, I guess, since it’s only four o’clock.”

Elara’s heart swelled. “Is this the surprise you mentioned this morning?”

“Yes. Do you like it?” he asked hesitantly.

“I love it. Thank you, Damien,” she said, her smile radiant.

“Great,” he replied, his enthusiasm returning. “Let’s get this small evening date… I mean... surprise started.”

“D-Date?” she thought, her cheeks reddening.

Elara and Damien settled comfortably on the couch, a bowl of buttery popcorn between them and a soft throw blanket draped over Elara’s legs. The dim lighting, paired with the flickering glow of the screen, created a cozy yet intimate atmosphere.

The movie they’d chosen was a psychological thriller, a blend of suspense, intrigue, and just the right amount of spine-tingling moments to keep them glued to the screen. As the tension in the plot thickened, they found themselves whispering comments, laughing at each other's startled reactions, and debating the motives of the characters.

But midway through the movie, an unexpected twist unfolded on the screen. The two protagonists, whose chemistry had simmered beneath the surface for the entire film, finally shared a passionate, lingering kiss. The camera didn’t cut away, and the scene escalated to something undeniably steamy.

Elara’s cheeks burned as she stared straight ahead, her grip tightening on the popcorn bowl. Damien, sitting beside her, cleared his throat awkwardly and adjusted his position on the couch, pretending to stretch.

“You know,” he began, his voice just a tad too loud, “the cinematography in this movie is... pretty impressive.”

Elara nodded rapidly, her eyes still glued to the screen even though she wasn’t actually watching. “Y-Yeah. Very... uh, detailed.”

Damien glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noticing how she tucked her hair nervously behind her ear. “You okay there, Elara? You seem a little... red.”

Her head whipped toward him, her face practically glowing. “I’m fine! Totally fine. Why wouldn’t I be fine?”

“Sure, sure,” Damien said, fighting back a grin. “Must be the heat from all that popcorn.”

She swatted his arm playfully, finally breaking into a laugh. “Stop it! You’re making it worse.”

He chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. Let’s skip this part, shall we?” He fumbled for the remote, his fingers brushing against hers as they both reached for it at the same time.

Their eyes met briefly, and for a moment, the teasing air between them shifted. Elara’s breath hitched, and Damien’s playful grin softened into something warmer.

“Got it!” Damien exclaimed suddenly, pressing the skip button and breaking the moment. The screen jumped forward to a less intimate scene, and Elara let out a silent sigh of relief, sinking back into the couch.

As the credits rolled and the movie came to an end, Damien stretched and stood up. “Well, that was a rollercoaster,” he said, turning to Elara with a smirk. “Although I think the real entertainment was watching you squirm during that one scene.”

She threw a pillow at him, her laughter ringing out. “You’re impossible!”

He caught the pillow and tossed it back onto the couch. “Come on,” he said, holding out a hand to her. “Let’s dance.”

Her smile faltered. “Dance? Damien, I can’t. My leg….”

He shook his head, cutting her off. “I’ve got this. Trust me.”

Before she could protest further, he leaned down and gently lifted her to her feet. Holding her waist with one hand and taking her hand with the other, he guided her onto his feet.

“See?” he said softly, his voice close to her ear. “You don’t even need to move. Just let me lead.”

Elara hesitated but eventually relaxed, letting him sway them both gently to the soft music playing in the background. Her heart pounded as she realized just how close they were, his warm breath brushing against her neck, his steady hands supporting her every move.

“So close,” she thought, her cheeks flushing. But this moment was nothing like the fear and dread she’d felt when Shadow had tried to control her. This was different but safe.

Damien’s gaze locked onto hers, his eyes searching hers as though he were trying to convey something words couldn’t. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the sound of their breaths and the rhythm of their hearts.

“Elara,” he said, his voice low and filled with emotion. “Will you dat—”

The sharp chime of the doorbell shattered the moment like glass.

Elara flinched. “Help me sit down,” she said, lowering herself onto the couch.

Damien’s expression shifted, his face tightening with frustration as he turned toward the door. “Stay here. I’ll go see who it is,” he said, his voice laced with irritation.

He reached the door in a few quick strides, pulling it open with more force than necessary. Standing on the doorstep was Aron, the boy from the cafe.

“Yes?” Damien asked, his tone clipped and unfriendly.

Aron blinked, startled by Damien’s intensity. He shuffled nervously, clutching a piece of paper in his hands. “Does Elara Blackwood live here?”

♡♡♡

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