Unraveling
A dull, throbbing burn spread from my neck leaving me trembling.
Only the raw terror remained.
Daniel Reed
*struggling against Evelyn's grip* Elise! *his voice cracks with desperation* Let her go!
The suffocating tension in the restaurant was shattered by the arrival of Celeste Valemere.
Her sharp eyes swept over the scene, narrowing as they landed on Elise’s weakened form.
Then, she turned to Dorian.
Celeste Valmere
Release her.
Dorian Malcair
*tilting his head, amused* Ah, Lady Valemere.
Dorian Malcair
Sorry, but I don't feel like letting her go. I'm not finished.
Celeste Valmere
*angry* She is under the boss' protection.
Dorian Malcair
*chuckles* So this little human belongs to the First. Had I known, I wouldn’t have touched her.
Celeste Valmere
*eyes narrowing* Then let her go. Now.
Dorian Malcair
*smirking, not moving* And if I don’t? *leans in, fangs glinting* What will you do? Fight me? You wouldn’t last a minute.
Celeste Valmere
*bares her fangs* Then I will fight if I must. But you wouldn’t get far before he finds you. *a slow, knowing smirk* And when he does… you know what that would mean.
For the first time, hesitation flickered in Dorian’s gaze.
Dorian Malcair
*clicks his tongue, stepping back* Tch. Not worth it.
Evelyn Malcair
*releasing Daniel*
Dorian Malcair
We're leaving.
As soon as they disappeared into the night, Rosa rushed to Daniel, dialing for an ambulance.
Celeste Valmere
*grasping Elise’s arm firmly* We’re leaving.
Elise Carter
*flinching, weakly* W-wait—
Daniel Reed
*struggling to his feet, reaching out* Elise—
Celeste Valmere
*cold, unwavering* She’s coming with me. You will not interfere.
Daniel clenched his fists, watching helplessly.
Back at the mansion, chaos erupted. Fear spread like wildfire. By the time we arrived, tension hung thick in the air.
Theo Laurent
*worried* What happened?
Celeste Valmere
*grim, voice clipped* Dorian bit her.
The room seemed to freeze, the air growing heavy as the name hung between us like a thundercloud about to break. A hushed gasp rippled through the onlookers.
Adrian Verlais
*fists clenching*
Harper
*jaw tight, looking away*
Marianne Corwin
*muttering curses under her breath*
Celeste Valmere
*quiet, deadly* The boss will hear of this. And when he does…
No one finished the sentence.
Later that night, I sat alone in my room, the weight of everything crushing me.
Tears slipped down my face. I had thought I could handle this world.
A soft knock at the door pulled me from my misery.
Elise Carter
*hoarse* Come in.
Adrian Verlais
*entering, quieter than usual* You shouldn’t cry. Everything will be alright. It’s not your fault.
Elise Carter
*ed-eyed, looking up at him, voice shaking* It is. I thought everything would be fine, but now even Daniel got hurt because of me.
Elise Carter
*shaking her head* I didn’t take the risk seriously.
My fingers curled against the fabric of my sleeves.
Elise Carter
*softly, guilt weighing her down* I wanted to protect him. When I didn’t come back with you, I thought… I was stopping you from attacking Daniel. But all I did was put him in danger. *laughs bitterly*
Adrian was still. Too still. The light flickered against his sharp features, his expression unreadable.
Elise Carter
*voice cracking* I'm such a fool.
Adrian Verlais
*stepping closer, his hand cupping her cheek* Enough.
Before I could react, his lips crashed against mine—hungry, demanding, consuming.
Elise Carter
*gasping, hands trembling as they clutch his shirt*
Adrian’s hands moved with purpose, his lips trailing down my neck, lingering near the bite mark as if to erase it with his touch.
Adrian Verlais
*murmuring against her skin* I'll take care of you. No one will ever hurt you again.
The words should have meant nothing.
And yet, when his hands gripped my waist, when his mouth pressed against mine I felt myself slipping.
Elise Carter
*shaky breath, eyes fluttering shut*
I had spent last night in his arms, in the warmth of his bed. It had been easy with him—gentle smiles, whispered words, a kind touch that never took more than I was willing to give.
I had felt comfortable with Daniel.
His touch was fire, burning away every thought, every doubt.
He didn’t ask—he took, and I let him.
Elise Carter
(Why… why can’t I resist him?)
I was drowning in him, in the way he made me forget everything.
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