Aria couldn't stop her hands from shaking as she walked down the corridor, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Every step away from Kael felt like she was stepping away from something—something that had felt real and important, yet now seemed like it was slipping through her fingers. She had hoped that after everything, Kael would open up to her, but it seemed that nothing would be that simple.
Her heart ached as she walked, the overwhelming weight of their unspoken words hanging in the air like an insurmountable wall. Why is it so hard? she wondered. Every time she thought they were close, something pulled them further apart. She knew she couldn't keep dancing around the truth forever. She had to know where they stood.
As she reached the stairs leading down into the main hall, she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The house felt eerily silent, the kind of silence that came before a storm. It wasn't just the tension between her and Kael—something felt wrong. She couldn't explain it, but her instincts screamed that they were in danger.
She paused, looking back at the closed door behind her, where Kael still remained, likely in conversation with Caleb. Her heart tightened at the thought of the growing distance between them. She couldn't stand it. But before she could think further, a soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Aria?"
She turned, startled, to see a figure standing in the hallway. Her breath caught in her throat as she recognized the person.
It was the woman she had seen only once before—Lila. Kael's ex-lover.
Lila stood there, her posture elegant but tense, a look of quiet intensity in her eyes. The last time Aria had seen her, she had been cold and dismissive, but now there was something different in her gaze. Something… unsettling.
"I was looking for you," Lila said softly, her voice carrying an edge of uncertainty. "I think we need to talk."
Aria's stomach churned. She had no desire to speak with Lila, especially not now, when everything felt so fragile. But there was something about Lila's expression that made Aria pause. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something told her this wasn't a simple conversation.
"I… I'm not sure there's anything to talk about," Aria said carefully, trying to keep her voice steady. "You and Kael, you—"
Lila shook her head, cutting her off before she could finish. "This isn't about me and Kael," she said, stepping closer, her gaze never leaving Aria's face. "This is about something much bigger than either of us."
Aria's heart skipped a beat. The air between them grew heavier, and a sense of dread crept over her. She wasn't sure why, but she could feel that Lila was about to say something that would change everything.
"I know you're confused," Lila continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "But you need to understand that Kael's curse… it's not just his. It's tied to something much darker, something connected to you."
Aria's breath caught in her throat. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound calm.
Lila took a step forward, her eyes locking onto Aria's with an intensity that made her skin prickle. "You think this is all just about love, Aria? About a bond between you and Kael? It's not. There's something about you, something in your blood. You're more connected to Kael's curse than you realize."
Aria's head spun. She didn't understand. How? She couldn't fathom how she could be connected to something so ancient, so dark. She had only ever thought of herself as an ordinary girl, misunderstood, rejected, and alone. But this—this was something far beyond what she could have ever imagined.
"You're not just the girl who stole his heart," Lila said, her voice growing quieter. "You're the key to unlocking the curse. And whether you like it or not, Aria, you're bound to Kael in ways that neither of you fully understands."
Aria took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. The weight of Lila's words pressed down on her like a physical force. She felt dizzy, disoriented. Was this some kind of twisted game? Or was Lila telling the truth?
Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, and Kael appeared at the top of the stairs. His gaze immediately flickered between Aria and Lila, his expression darkening as he took in the scene.
"Lila," Kael's voice was like ice, the coldness palpable. "What are you doing here?"
Lila's expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of something—something dangerous—in her eyes. "I'm just telling her the truth, Kael. You may not want her to know, but she deserves to understand what she's become a part of."
Kael's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. "I told you to stay away from her," he growled, his voice low with a hint of danger.
Lila smiled bitterly, her eyes never leaving Aria's. "You can't protect her from the truth forever, Kael. She has a right to know. If she's going to survive what's coming, she has to understand that her destiny is already tied to yours. Whether she accepts it or not."
Kael stepped forward, his body bristling with tension. "Leave, Lila," he commanded, his voice firm and final.
Lila gave a soft, mocking laugh. "I'll go, Kael. But don't think this is over. It's only just begun."
As she turned and walked away, the silence that followed was suffocating. Aria felt like the world was spinning around her. She was reeling from the revelation, but there was something else now—a feeling that Kael wasn't the only one carrying dark secrets. And with each passing moment, those secrets seemed to be creeping closer, threatening to engulf them both.
Kael's eyes were locked onto Aria, his face a mask of frustration and anger. He didn't want her to know. He didn't want anyone to know the truth, the terrible reality of what they were both facing. But now it was too late.
Aria opened her mouth to speak, to demand answers, but before she could, Kael was on her, his hands gripping her shoulders with a force that both frightened and thrilled her.
"Stay away from her," Kael warned, his voice low and dangerous, though there was a flicker of pain behind his eyes. "You don't know what you're dealing with. You don't understand any of this."
"I don't understand?!" Aria's voice cracked, her heart racing. "Then explain it to me, Kael! I need to know the truth!"
For a moment, Kael seemed to hesitate, as if the weight of the decision before him was unbearable. But then, with a sharp intake of breath, he pulled her closer. "I'll explain everything. But not here. Not now. You're not ready for the full truth, Aria."
But Aria could already feel it—the danger closing in, the sense that something far darker was waiting in the shadows, and it had everything to do with her.