Released by Him [Dark Temptation Book Two]

Chapter 2

Venus

“I’ll be going now,” Nathan said after he pushed the last piece of his pancake into his mouth. “I’ll buy some stuff at the town.” And he drank his coffee. Jeez, couldn’t he slow down a little bit? 

“Have you had the list?” Auntie Feli asked.

“I have. You don’t have to remind me every time I went out. I’m not a child,” he sarcastically countered.

“Well, you’re like a son to me,” Auntie Feli said, making me smiled while chewing my pancake.

This was my everyday meal.

My family.

I was separated from them for six months before and even though I was not supposed to be thinking like this, I missed those three.

Micah with Tyler and Asher.

Asher would always try to steal Tyler’s dish.

Micah would be the one to scold him.

Tyler would threaten Asher that he won’t get his part at dinner.

And me as the audience.

It was just…perfect. I thought I had the brothers I never had. 

But everything was a lie.

Leaving me still wondering if all of that was just an act. However, I had seen the bond between the three of them. There was nothing fraud about it. It was all…real.

“Venus?” Nathan called. Snapping my eyes at Nathan’s golden orbs. Did he just talk to me?

“Yeah?”

“I’ll be going now.” Oh.

I put down my fork and knife. “Take care, Nathan.”

“I will.” He went to kiss my forehead before he headed to the door. Watching him walked out of the house. 

For six months, the three of us were still staying at the cottage inside the forest. I must say, I liked this house. Or maybe a hideout. It was so cozy and comfortable. Although I couldn’t go anywhere, I tried to adjust myself to this new lifestyle. It was not like I was treated as a prisoner here. Auntie Feli and Nathan always fulfilled what I wanted. Nathan always bought books for me. I was sure when he came back from his shopping today, he would buy one or two books for me.

“Okay. I’m going to do the laundry,” Auntie Feli said as I pushed the last piece of my pancake and stood up.

“I’ll wash the plates,” I said while turning to her and she smiled.

“You’re a life-saver, sweetie.” And she went to the back. 

Yep, it was what I did here. Actually, all of us had our own tasks. Nathan bought what we ladies needed, excluding the feminine hygiene products because Nathan had no idea about that stuff. Sometimes Auntie Feli would go out to purchase them, both for me and herself. She did most of the housewife duties part like doing the laundry and cooking. And me, well, just the easiest part. Washing the plates, cleaning the house. Nathan and Auntie Feli did those too. He never argued about cleaning and he was great at doing that. Ever since I knew him. Nathan would be a great husband one day.

Husband.

My mind went straight to Micah. His hazel-green eyes kept haunting me until today, or maybe forever. I hope not. I would never see him again. I trusted Auntie Feli and Nathan to keep me safe. And I did not want to see him.

He killed Grant.

He killed the man I loved.

He was a murderer. 

The bad guy. 

The demon.

An incubus.

Just like me.

Slightly shaking my head, I told myself, “I’m not the same as him. I’m different. I’ve been living my life as a human since I was born. I’m a human.” 

I grabbed all the used plates and silverware. Washing them as my eyes directed to the river outside the house. The water was so clean. So serene. Untouchable. I would read a book under the tree near the river later.

I loved spending my time there. Reading while listening to the slow-moving water. Sometimes I fell asleep and Nathan would be the one waking me up. Usually, I woke up while he was carrying me back to the house. 

Once I was done washing, I dried my hands and went up to my bedroom. Taking a quick shower and wore my yellow floral dress and grabbed the book I was currently reading – The Notebook. I had seen the movie before and I let a long tsunami out of my eyes. I loved the story. The couple was so beautiful and in love with each other. Even staying with each other until the end. 

I went downstairs and headed out, went to the river, and sat under the tree. Once I settled down, I opened the last page I was on before. The part where Allie and Noah had to take shelter because of the heavy rain and how they ended up making love. It was so…sad to me that they had to be separated, forcefully, because of their classes. Allie came from a wealthy family while Noah was just a laborer. But what caught my interest the most was how Noah still loved Allie even when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She remembered him for a few minutes and then she forgot about him instantly. I thought I couldn’t handle it if one day, I had a boyfriend or a husband, and he was so in love with me, and then the next minute, he was a stranger to me. 

You’re finally awake.

That’s what Micah said after I woke up six months ago. I wonder how he felt when he found out I lost my memories. No. He was expecting that. Because I forgot about Grant and Micah told me that I was engaged to him. He was my boyfriend. But when I recalled his expression when he learned that I lost my memories, I could tell he did not expect that. More importantly, he was confused. But hey, that was his ticket to victory. With my amnesic condition, he could rewrite everything so I won’t find out how he killed Grant brutally. 

And then I remembered that he wrote a book about a demon who fell in love with a human. It was Micah who wrote that. He wanted me to remember but I recalled nothing. Not until Nathan helped me to remember. Everything came back to me like a whirlwind. Instantly remembered everything. 

I lowered the book and looked at the water. 

Actually, it was not the memory of Micah killing Grant that pained me. It was him lying to me. I gave him my heart. I thought I loved him. He was so kind and gentle to me. He protected me. Possessive over me. Always made sure that I was taken care of.

Never thank me for taking care of you.

It sounded like it was his duty.

To make me happy so I would stay smiling.

Maybe that was the part I was hurt the most. I thought I knew him but maybe…I didn’t. I didn’t know him at all. I didn’t recognize him. Everything he showed to me was part of his act. Just to lower my guard so I would give myself to him. And I did.

Venus…

I could hear his voice. Whispering my name right on my ear. I could even feel his hot breath. How he said my name lovingly. How he made love to me. How he made sure he didn’t hurt me. His body temperature wrapped around my tinier body. Everything was all a perfect moment for me. Was he merely f*****g me? Not making love to me? A single tear dropped as I immediately wiped it away. 

I closed my eyes. My teeth sunk to my bottom lip.

I could do this.

I could forget about him. 

Everything had happened. I couldn’t take it back. And now I was living peacefully with my family. With Nathan and Auntie Feli. I would be okay. I had them with me. I loved them. They loved me. They would protect me. 

I leaned my head to the branch. Lifting my eyes, watching the leaves were dancing with the wind. The smell of the leaves infiltrated my nose. Refreshing as I closed my eyes. Feeling the wind hit my skin. 

I felt sleepy.

The faint sound slowly entering my ears.

The delicate touch shivered my skin.

…Venus…

What?

“Venus…” And I could hear the voice even clearly. “Venus.” Slowly opening my eyes as I was presented with the hazel-green eyes devil kneeling in front of me, looking at me worriedly. “Baby, I’m sorry. I f****d up. I failed us.”

“You destroyed me,” I sleepily said. Was this real? Or another trick from him? Or another nightmare? Even illusion?

“I did, Venus. And I apologize for that.”

“Say that to Grant’s grave.” And he dropped to silence. 

“Baby, I know I can’t take it back. You know the life that I had took will never be returned,” he tried to defend himself.

“I know that and that’s why I will never forgive you, Micah. I can’t forgive you for taking the man I love from me forever.”

“Ven—”

“Just leave, please. I don’t want to see you again.” I closed my eyes. Refused to see the emotion from his beautiful eyes.

“We are destined to meet again, Venus. No matter how long it will take, I will find you. And you will always find your way back to me,” he vowed. The back of my eyes stung. I was afraid to listen to his words. 

“I will never.”

“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep, sweetheart.”

“I will never go back to you!” I screamed by opening my eyes widely and saw Micah had disappeared. Was I dreaming? It felt too real. I looked at the house and Auntie Feli was nowhere to be seen but I could hear the sound of water coming there.

I was dreaming.

Raising my hand to my cheek, still feeling the ghost touch from Micah.

“Please, Micah. Leave me alone.”