Damsel in Distress

Kaelion sat in the lecture hall, his usually calm expression tinged with a subtle tension. Today was the day. He had rehearsed his words endlessly, analyzing every potential response Clara might give. His plan was simple yet carefully thought out—he would ask her to watch a movie with him, something low-pressure that didn’t require much conversation. Despite his practiced calm, his mind buzzed with what-ifs. Would she say yes? Would she think less of him for asking? He clenched his hands beneath the desk, forcing his breathing to stay steady.

As the class ended, Kaelion lingered in his seat, still jotting down notes despite the professor’s final remarks having already concluded. Clara’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Hey, Kaelion. Did you understand that last part?” she asked, leaning slightly toward him, her expression earnest.

He looked up, startled by her proximity. Her presence always seemed to disarm him, even if he never showed it outwardly. Her voice was a calming melody, but it also made his pulse quicken. His golden eyes met hers for a brief second before he answered. “Yes,” he said evenly. “But I have a few clarifications to ask the professor.”

“Oh, okay,” she replied with a warm smile. “I’ll see you outside then.”

Kaelion nodded, watching as she gathered her things and exited the hall. His pulse quickened. Soon. Just a few more minutes.

Clara stepped out into the courtyard, the late afternoon sun casting a golden hue over the campus. She adjusted her bag, breathing in the crisp air. The day had been long but productive, and she was looking forward to relaxing back at the dorms. She thought of Kaelion’s quiet demeanor and wondered why he always seemed so composed. What was he thinking behind those guarded eyes? There was a mystery about him that both intrigued and unnerved her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice she hadn’t heard in months but had hoped never to hear again.

“Clara.”

She turned sharply, her heart sinking as she recognized the figure approaching her. It was Daniel, her ex-boyfriend. He wore the same smug expression she remembered, his hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice laced with irritation, though a trace of unease crept into her chest. Her grip tightened on her bag instinctively.

“Is that any way to greet me?” he replied smoothly, stepping closer. “I heard you were here. Figured I’d come to see how my girl’s doing.”

“I’m not your girl,” Clara snapped, taking a step back. “And I’m doing just fine without you.”

Daniel chuckled, the sound grating. “Still as feisty as ever. Look, I’ll be honest. I’ve been thinking, and I realized I made a mistake letting you go. This whole exchange program thing? You’ve proven your point. It’s time to come home.”

Clara’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not going anywhere, Daniel. I worked hard to get here, and I’m staying.”

“Come on, Clara,” he said, his tone shifting to something almost pleading. “This whole thing is going to fall apart. You’re not cut out for it, and you know it. Why not quit before you embarrass yourself?”

Her anger flared, but beneath it, she felt a pang of doubt—doubt she hated herself for. She straightened her back, her voice firm despite the knot tightening in her stomach. “Get out of my way,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “I don’t need you or your negativity.”

Daniel reached out, grabbing her arm with a firm grip that made Clara wince. “Clara, don’t be like this. You know I’m just trying to look out for you.”

Clara tried to pull her arm away, her heart racing. The pressure of his hand wasn’t unbearable, but it was enough to make her feel trapped, a flicker of fear rising in her chest. “Daniel, let go,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, though she tried to keep it steady.

Before she could say more, a familiar presence appeared, quiet but commanding. Kaelion stepped between them, his tall frame casting a protective shadow over her. His stoic demeanor was unwavering, but Clara could sense the tension radiating off him. Daniel instinctively released her arm, taking a step back as if Kaelion’s sheer presence demanded it.

“She said she doesn’t want to go with you,” Kaelion stated, his voice cold and precise. Internally, he was seething, his protective instincts flaring. Who was this man to touch Clara like that? Seeing her discomfort and the faint redness on her arm from Daniel’s grip, a fierce, unfamiliar heat coursed through him.

Daniel’s bravado faltered for a moment before he sneered, masking his hesitation. “Who’s this? Your new boyfriend?” His eyes roved over Kaelion, lingering on the subtle otherworldly features that marked him as not entirely human. “What are you, some kind of freak?”

Kaelion didn’t flinch, though inside, the insult barely registered compared to his focus on Clara. Her tension, the faint quiver in her hand—these were what mattered. Still, his voice was measured and firm as he replied. “Leave.”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed, his voice rising as he stepped closer. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. This is between me and Clara. You have no business meddling in our relationship.”

Clara’s voice, sharp and clear, cut through the tension. “We don’t have a relationship, Daniel. I told you before—we’re over. I don’t want anything from you, and I don’t want to see you ever again.”

Her words made Daniel pause, but the flicker of vulnerability in his expression was quickly replaced by bitterness. He scoffed, shaking his head. “You think you’re better off without me? You’ll come crawling back, Clara. Sooner or later, you’ll realize you’re nothing without me.”

Kaelion’s gaze darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. He stepped closer to Daniel, his voice dropping to a dangerous calm. “I told you to leave.”

Daniel hesitated, his confidence faltering under Kaelion’s unyielding stare. With a final sneer, he muttered, “Whatever,” and turned on his heel, walking away.

Clara’s fists clenched, her face pale with anger and shame. She felt exposed, and vulnerable—a feeling she detested.

“Kaelion, I’m so sorry,” she said, trembling. “You shouldn’t have had to deal with that.”

Kaelion shook his head. “You have nothing to apologize for,” he said quietly. But inside, his confidence wavered. The moment felt wrong now. This wasn’t the time to ask her out. His carefully laid plans suddenly seemed trivial in the face of what had just happened.

Later that evening, back at the dorms, Rynar and Noah dragged Kaelion into a room.

“So? Did you ask her out?” Noah asked eagerly.

Kaelion’s expression darkened. “I could not.”

“What? Why?” Rynar pressed.

“Ex-boyfriend,” Kaelion replied curtly, his jaw tightening as he replayed the scene. He had wanted to intervene sooner, but seeing Clara’s strength in standing up to Daniel had stopped him—until it was clear she needed help.

Both of them winced in unison. “Yeah, definitely not the best timing,” Noah admitted. “But don’t give up, man. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

Kaelion nodded, though doubt still lingered in his mind. What if Clara didn’t want him to intervene at all? What if she thought him overbearing?

The following evening, Clara walked back to the dorms after a long day in town. The streets were quiet, and a faint unease crept over her. She clutched her bag tightly, her mind drifting to Kaelion. His silent strength was comforting in a way she didn’t fully understand.

That’s when she saw him again—Daniel. The moment their eyes met, her stomach twisted with dread. She tried to keep walking, her steps quickening, but he stepped out of the shadows, blocking her path.

“Clara,” he said, his voice low but sharp, like a blade sliding from its sheath. “We need to talk.”

Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced her voice to stay firm. “I have nothing to say to you.”

She moved to sidestep him, but he was faster, stepping into her path again. His expression darkened, his jaw tight. “Don’t walk away from me,” he hissed, grabbing her arm with bruising force and shoving her back against the cold brick wall. The impact knocked the air from her lungs, and she froze for a heartbeat before struggling against his grip.

“Daniel, let me go!” she shouted, her voice trembling, her words echoing uselessly in the deserted street.

But he didn’t release her. Instead, his grip on her arm tightened, enough to make her wince. His other hand came up to grip her chin, tilting her face toward him. His eyes burned with something possessive and cruel. “No one’s here to stand between us,” he murmured, his lips curling into a sneer. “You’re alone. Just you and me now.”

Panic surged like a tidal wave, drowning her thoughts. She squirmed against his hold, but his strength pinned her in place. “You think anyone else will want you?” he growled, his hand moving to trace the curve of her jaw. “You’re nothing without me, Clara. You always were.”

He leaned closer, the sickening scent of his cologne filling her senses. His hand slid down her side, lingering just above her waist. Clara shuddered, her stomach churning with fear and disgust. “Stop,” she choked out, her voice breaking. “Don’t touch me!”

Her words only seemed to fuel his twisted confidence. His hand hovered over her hip, his thumb brushing against her ribs. “You can fight all you want,” he said, his breath hot against her cheek. “But you know you’re mine.”

Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision as she struggled harder, her nails clawing at his arm. “Let me go!” she screamed, desperation breaking through the tight knot of fear in her throat.

Suddenly, Daniel was ripped backward with a force so violent it almost tore Clara off balance. The air seemed to shift, thick with tension, as Kaelion stepped forward. His presence was overwhelming, a storm barely contained within his towering frame. Gone was his usual calm; his eyes burned with a fury that seemed otherworldly, his expression carved in stone.

Daniel stumbled, whipping around with a snarl. “Who the hell—”

Before he could finish, Kaelion’s fist connected with his jaw in a devastating arc. The sickening crack of bone meeting bone echoed in the alley, and Daniel crumpled.

Clara pressed herself against the wall, her chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through her veins. Her body trembled, but it wasn’t just fear now—relief, gratitude, and a new, raw admiration for the man who had come to her rescue.

Kaelion turned to her, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. “Are you alright?”

She nodded, her heart pounding. “Yes. Thank you.”

Kaelion called the local authorities, reporting the incident with his usual calm efficiency. Once Daniel was taken away, he walked Clara back to the dorms.

“Thank you again,” Clara said softly as they reached the door. Her eyes searched his face, trying to decipher the enigma that was Kaelion. “I don’t know how to repay you.”

Kaelion hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath. “Perhaps you could accompany me to a movie tomorrow evening?”

Clara blinked, caught off guard. Then a smile spread across her face, her earlier fear melting away. “I’d love to.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, Kaelion allowed himself a small, genuine smile. Tomorrow would be a better day.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***