Chapter 5: The Name You Shouldn’t Know
1218 Words
Cold.
That was the first thing she felt.
Not the air.
Not the night.
But something deeper.
Something that had settled into her bones.
---
Elara stirred weakly.
A soft breath escaping her lips as her lashes fluttered open.
The world around her was unfamiliar.
Dim.
Quiet.
Still.
---
Not the street.
Not home.
---
Her brows pulled together slightly as she tried to move.
Pain followed.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Her body protested every small effort.
---
“…where…”
Her voice barely formed the word.
---
“Don’t move.”
---
The voice came from the shadows.
Low.
Controlled.
Too close.
---
Her breath caught.
Her eyes snapped toward the sound.
---
And then—
She saw him.
---
Not clearly.
Not fully.
But enough.
---
A figure standing just beyond the reach of the faint light.
Still.
Unmoving.
Watching.
---
Fear rose instantly.
Fast.
Natural.
---
Her fingers tightened weakly against the surface beneath her.
“…you…”
Her voice trembled.
“…who are you?”
---
Silence answered her at first.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
---
Then—
He stepped forward.
---
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Like even movement was something he controlled too carefully.
---
The light touched him just enough now.
---
Sharp features.
Pale skin.
Dark eyes that held something she couldn’t understand.
Something that didn’t belong.
---
Her breath faltered.
Not just fear this time.
Something else.
Something she couldn’t name.
---
“You shouldn’t have been outside,” he said quietly.
---
Not an answer.
Not what she asked.
---
Her brows furrowed slightly.
Confusion mixing with fear.
“…you didn’t answer me.”
---
His gaze held hers.
Unblinking.
Unapologetic.
---
“…And you shouldn’t ask questions you won’t like the answers to.”
---
The words were calm.
But something in them felt… dangerous.
---
Her heart beat faster.
She could feel it now.
Louder.
Stronger.
And somehow—
That made his expression change.
Just slightly.
---
His eyes dropped.
For a fraction of a second.
To her neck.
---
She noticed.
Of course she did.
---
Her hand instinctively moved—
Pressing lightly against her throat.
Protective.
Unconscious.
---
His jaw tightened.
Immediately.
---
“…Don’t do that.”
---
The words came out sharper this time.
More controlled.
More strained.
---
She froze.
“…do what?”
---
A pause.
A long one.
---
Then—
“…nothing.”
---
But his gaze didn’t lift again.
Not immediately.
---
Something about that—
Made her chest tighten.
---
“…You were there,” she whispered suddenly.
---
His eyes snapped back to hers.
Sharp.
Alert.
---
Her voice was still weak.
But steadier now.
More certain.
---
“…last night.”
---
Silence.
---
“…and today,” she added softly.
---
His expression didn’t change.
But something in the air did.
Something heavier.
More dangerous.
---
“You’re mistaken.”
---
A lie.
And they both knew it.
---
Her lips parted slightly.
A faint breath escaping her.
“…No.”
---
Simple.
Certain.
---
His gaze darkened.
---
“You shouldn’t focus on things you don’t understand.”
---
Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric beneath her.
“…Then help me understand.”
---
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
---
And that—
That was the mistake.
---
Because something in him shifted.
Noticeably.
---
His stillness became sharper.
Tighter.
---
“You don’t want that.”
---
His voice dropped lower.
Not louder.
Not aggressive.
But heavier.
---
Her heart beat faster again.
And this time—
He didn’t look away.
---
He felt it.
Every beat.
Every shift.
Every fragile sign of life inside her.
---
And it was becoming harder—
Not to react.
---
“…Why am I here?” she asked quietly.
---
Finally—
A real question.
---
His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer.
Then shifted.
Just slightly.
---
“You collapsed.”
---
A pause.
---
“…again.”
---
Her brows pulled together.
“…again?”
---
He didn’t answer immediately.
---
“…Your body is weak,” he said instead.
---
Her expression faltered.
Something flickering behind her eyes.
Something deeper than simple confusion.
---
“…I know,” she whispered.
---
And that—
That was the first real truth.
---
Something in his expression changed.
Not softer.
Never soft.
But… aware.
---
“…Then stop walking like you’re not.”
---
The words came out harsher than before.
Almost irritated.
---
Her lips pressed together slightly.
“…I don’t have a choice.”
---
Another truth.
---
Silence filled the space again.
---
This time—
He didn’t look away.
---
“…What’s your name?” she asked suddenly.
---
The question caught him off guard.
Just slightly.
---
He didn’t answer.
---
“…If I’m going to be kidnapped,” she added faintly, “I should at least know who did it.”
---
A small attempt at humor.
Weak.
But there.
---
His gaze held hers.
Long.
Unmoving.
---
“…You talk too much.”
---
Not an answer.
Again.
---
She exhaled softly.
“…and you don’t talk at all.”
---
A pause.
---
“…Elara.”
---
The name slipped out quietly.
---
He stilled.
---
Her eyes stayed on him.
“…that’s my name.”
---
Silence followed.
---
Something shifted again.
Deeper this time.
---
His gaze lingered on her.
Longer than it should have.
---
“…Lucien.”
---
The word left him before he could stop it.
---
And the moment it did—
Something changed.
---
Irreversible.
---
Her lips parted slightly.
Repeating it softly.
“…Lucien…”
---
The way she said it—
---
His jaw tightened instantly.
---
“…Don’t.”
---
The word came out sharper than before.
---
She blinked slightly.
“…don’t what?”
---
His gaze darkened.
---
“…Say my name like that.”
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Her heart skipped.
Just once.
---
And he felt it.
---
Too clearly.
Too close.
---
Silence fell again.
Heavier now.
More dangerous.
---
Because now—
This wasn’t just about watching anymore.
---
Now—
She knew.
---
And that changed everything.
---
His expression hardened slightly.
His body stepping back.
Distance.
Control.
---
“…You’ll forget this,” he said quietly.
---
Her brows furrowed.
“…what?”
---
His gaze held hers.
Cold.
Certain.
---
“…Me.”
---
Her breath caught.
---
Something about that—
Didn’t feel right.
Didn’t feel possible.
---
“…No,” she whispered.
---
Soft.
But firm.
---
His eyes narrowed slightly.
---
“…You will.”
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A pause.
A step back.
Another.
---
He was already disappearing again.
---
“…Lucien—”
---
She said it before she could stop herself.
---
And that—
That was the moment.
---
He froze.
---
Completely.
---
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He turned back.
---
His eyes darker than before.
Something dangerous rising again.
Something he had been holding back—
---
“…I told you,” he said quietly.
---
A step closer.
Closer than before.
Closer than safe.
---
“…don’t say my name.”
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Her breath caught.
Her heart raced.
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And this time—
He didn’t look away from her neck.
- Writer
