HEART BOUND

LARA

(Season 1)

CHAPTER 44

Liora head straight to kalen's study immediately after dinner, that was barely touched. When she got to the study it was empty, no sign of Kalen. She thought he might be here because he usually spends a lot of time in the study, that was why she assumed he might be there. She decided to check his room. She had never been to his room before.The thought of what his room looks like scared her. Maybe it's not as bad as his personality. Maybe it's just okay!

She knocked a few times but no response. She frown in confusion. She did not see him leaving the house so where could he have gone to?. The mansion was so big, he could be anywhere.

She turned to go back, but there was a noise from kalen's room. Sounded like something fell. She immediately pushed the door open. But to her surprise she was met with total darkness. She could not see anything just darkness.

"k... Kalen!!!" she called out. Her voice shaking a little... What's going on?. She navigate her way to the wall trying to find the light switch.

"Don't" she flinched at the sudden cold voice. That was Kalen. But why the heck is he sitting in darkness?… she was so scared.

"Emmm... W... Why is every where so dark" she managed to asked. Even though she was trembling in fear. The aura wasn't something she feel everyday. This was something stronger and strange, nothing humanly.

Kalen's voice cut through the darkness, sending a shiver down Liora's spine. "Don't," he said again as she tried to take another step, that single word dripping with warning. She froze, her hand hovering near the wall, the switch still untouched.

The darkness felt alive, pressing in on her. Liora's heart pounded in her chest, but she tried to stay calm.

"K...Kalen," she called , her voice shaking slightly. "What's going on? Why are you... why is everywhere so dark?"The silence stretched, making her skin crawl. Then Kalen spoke, his voice low and even.

"I told you not to come in." Not an answer, just a statement. When did he say that? She didn't hear him speak before she walked in.

Liora's fear began to edge into frustration. "I heard a noise, like something fell. I thought you were hurt." She took a tentative step forward, her hands outstretched in front of her. "Can I...can I come closer?"she asked.

"Stay where you are." His voice was colder now, distant. The darkness seemed to swallow her whole. Liora's breath came in short gasps. She was trapped, unable to see, unsure of what was happening.

"Kalen... I wanted... to talk to you ," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The response was immediate, his voice right beside her, making her jump.

"You shouldn't be here." The words were a whisper, a cold breath on her skin. Liora spun around, her heart racing. She was certain he hadn't moved, but he was closer now. The darkness played tricks on her.

The room went quiet again. Then, a faint rustling sound, like fabric shifting. Footsteps, light, deliberate. Coming closer. Liora's skin crawled. He was right in front of her now. She could feel his presence, sense his breath.

"Kalen..." Her voice was a whisper, a plea. And then, a hand brushed against hers. Cold fingers wrapped around her wrist.

"Lara ," he whispered, his voice barely audible. She frown in confusion, who the heck is Lara!.

The grip on her wrist was like a vice, holding her in place. Liora's breath caught in her throat as Kalen's voice whispered against her ear. "I've been waiting for you... Lara."His words sent a shiver down her spine, but she was trying to process what was happening. Why was he holding her like this? Who is Lara? What is going on?

Suddenly, a faint light flickered to life, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Liora's eyes adjusted, and she saw Kalen's face, inches from hers. His eyes that used to be forest green were now purely red , and his skin was deathly pale. Something was wrong with him. He was not the same Kalen... He looked different. She tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.

She was suddenly scared, not the usual fear she always experienced when she was close to Kalen. This was different and more dangerous. She found the need to escape, else something very wrong might happen. Her heart racing, she scanned her surroundings, searching for an exit, her eyes darting past the dimly lit corners of the room. The air felt thick, heavy with anticipation, and she knew she had to act fast. What was it about Kalen that was setting off these alarms in her head?

The room was so dark even the spark of light a while ago was gone. The room had gone back to the pitch darkness and kalen's strange behavior made her shiver in fear. This was wrong and she need to stop this before someone gets hurt. She inched backward, hands outstretched in front of her, trying to navigate the blackness. Every creak of the old wooden floorboards beneath her feet sounded like a scream in the silence. Kalen's silence was unnerving; where was he? What was he planning? Her breath caught in her throat as she felt a presence close in behind her...

A faint whisper sent shivers down her spine - "Lara.... I've missed you." Kalen's voice, but not his tone, sent her spinning around, eyes straining to see anything in the darkness. She tried to speak, but her voice was trapped in her throat. Suddenly, a hand closed around her wrist...

She tried to yank her hand free, but Kalen's grip was like a vice. His fingers were cold, unyielding, sending panic flooding through her veins. She kicked out, her foot connecting with something solid, and Kalen's sharp intake of breath was the only warning she got before he pinned her against the wall...

The wall was cold against her back, and Kalen's breath was hot on her skin. She struggled, but he held her firm, his eyes glinting with an unsettling intensity in the darkness. Just as she thought all was lost, her fingers brushed against something metallic on the floor - a forgotten knife, perhaps?

Her fingers closed around the hilt, and she raised it, the metal trembling in her grasp. Kalen's eyes locked onto the blade, and for a heartbeat, they were frozen, the only sound their ragged breathing. Then, with a snort, he released her, stepping back into the shadows before she strikes...... But suddenly she blanked out like a sleeping spell was used on her.

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Liora woke up in her room the next morning. She was confused, how did she get back into her room? Was everything a dream?. It can't be, it felt so real....

"good morning miss" she was snapped out of her thoughts by Travis the cook.

She blinked, taking in the bright sunlight streaming through her window, the warmth on her skin a stark contrast to the chill of the dark room. Travis's cheerful voice was a jolt back to reality. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, trying to shake off the lingering unease.

"Morning, Travis... what... what happened last night?" She rubbed her temples, searching her memory for answers. Did she really escape Kalen's strange grasp, or was it just a wild dream?

Travis's expression turned puzzled, echoing her own confusion. "You mean you don't remember, miss? After dinner with everyone last night and said you weren't feeling well, and went straight to bed. I've been knocking for a while, thought you'd sleep in." His eyes searched hers, concerned. "You okay, miss? You look a bit... off."but how could that be? What everything really a dream?

She shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. "I'm fine, Travis, just... a bit disoriented." She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, testing her balance. "What about Kalen?" The question felt loaded, but Travis's expression remained neutral.

"he left the house after dinner last night ." Travis's eyes narrowed. "You sure you're okay? You look like you've seen a ghost or something."She forced a smile, trying to brush off Travis's concern.

"I'm fine, really. Just a weird dream, I think." She was still confused.

TBC