The Hidden Heir of Velmoura

“I still think this is a bad idea,” I whispered, tugging at the hem of my oversized hoodie. I stared at the digital clock on my nightstand. 7:03 p.m. The hands of time moved steadily, cruelly, toward the inevitable moment of decision. My stomach twisted with anxiety, the kind that came when I did something I knew my mom wouldn’t approve of like sneaking out to a party. Tarcy plopped onto my bed, swinging her legs over the side like she owned the place. “You say that every time something remotely fun is suggested.” “Because every time, it is a bad idea.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “It’s just a party, Solena. It’s not like we’re joining a gang. You’ll be back before midnight. No one’s going to know. Come on, live a little.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat by the window, fingers curling into the sleeves of my hoodie. “You know how my mom is. She barely lets me walk to the store alone.” “She’s paranoid,” Tarcy said flatly. “And overprotective. I mean, come on, you're eighteen. You’re supposed to be out there making mistakes and falling for boys who don’t text back.” “Sounds... exhausting,” I muttered. She laughed and tossed a pillow at me. “You’re so dramatic. Listen, this party is different. Ryan is going to be there.” My heart did a little flip before I caught myself. “Ryan?” “Ryan Hale. The hot guy from physics with the dimples and the 200k followers on Insta. You’ve been crushing on him since junior year.” “I haven’t,” I lied, looking down. Tarcy raised a brow. “Please. You blushed when he handed you a pencil. You turn red when people say his name. It’s pathetic but adorable.” I sighed and pulled my knees up to my chest. “Even if I wanted to go, my mom would never agree. You know that.” “I already have a plan.” She grinned mischievously, like she’d just won a game I didn’t know we were playing. “You sneak out through your window. I’ll be parked two blocks away. Wear something cute under that depression sweater, and I’ll bring makeup. Deal?” I hesitated, chewing on my lip. “I don’t know…” Tarcy leaned forward, eyes softening. “Sol, you’re always hiding. Always afraid. Don’t you ever want to feel… alive? Just for one night? You deserve more than curfews and quiet weekends. You deserve a little chaos.” Maybe it was the way she said it. Or maybe it was the feeling that something out there was waiting for me, more like calling me. For once, I wanted to be spontaneous even if it terrified me. “…Fine,” I whispered. She squealed and hugged me tightly. “That’s my girl! I’ll text you the details. Get ready to be legendary.” As she left, I peeked through the curtain. There was my mom, Ivory, standing in the kitchen, her back turned, stirring a pot humming her favorite song as usual. She was cool, calm and the type of mother every teenager would love only if she hadn’t spent the last eighteen years building a wall around me so high even birds couldn’t fly over it. I swallowed hard. Guilt pinched my chest. She wasn’t a bad mom just... scared of something she never talked about. Something that always haunts her and yet she has refused to open up about it. That night, I dressed in jeans and a crop top beneath my hoodie. My heart pounded as I stared at the window, the cool night air brushing my skin. One step out that window and I had to urge to go back inside this wasn' t me but I couldn’t place this feeling that tells me I need to be at this party so I decided that I was going to be someone else for this night braver, bolder. I opened it quietly and looked down. Not too far to the ground. Tarcy had brought a short ladder the week before, “just in case.” She was always prepared for rebellion. One foot. Then the other. I was out. The air was sharp against my skin, but I felt oddly alive, like my senses had just woken up. Tarcy’s car sat under a streetlamp two blocks down, headlights off. She leaned out the window and waved when she saw me. “You actually did it!” she said as I climbed in. “I’m shaking.” “You’ll be fine. You look hot, by the way.” I blushed and pulled the hoodie tighter. “Let’s just get this over with.” We drove in silence for a few blocks until the soft thump of music grew louder. The house party sat on a quiet corner lot, lights glowing, bass thumping, voices laughing. I froze the moment we parked. “Tarcy…” “You’re fine,” she said quickly. “Look, there’s Ryan.” Sure enough, Ryan Hale stood by the porch, talking to a group of guys. He wore that smug smile he was famous for charming and annoying all at once. “He’s looking this way,” I whispered. “Because you’re cute. Now come on.” We entered through the front door, and suddenly, I was in another world. People were everywhere dancing, shouting, drinking. The air was thick with perfume and sweat and secrets. I stayed close to Tarcy, like a shadow glued to its owner. “I’m getting us drinks,” she said, disappearing into the crowd. I stood awkwardly near the wall, unsure what to do with my hands, unsure why I agreed to this. My eyes scanned the room until they landed on Ryan again. And, as if the universe decided to make it worse, he walked straight toward me. “Hey. Solena, right?” he said, that charming grin tugging at his lips. My mind went blank. “Uh… y-yeah.” “You’re in my physics class. You’re always writing in that black notebook.” I blushed furiously. “I like to take notes.” He laughed. “Cute. You wanna dance?” I didn’t answer. I just nodded. And then, somehow, we were in the middle of the floor, his hands resting on my waist, mine awkwardly on his shoulders. The music swelled around us, but all I could hear was my heartbeat. Why did I suddenly feel empty and bittered immediately when he touched me? It felt like I was doing something so wrong, something in me was burning to get off from his touch. My inner demons were rebelling against this contact s**t more like my system was on fire . He was the first guy to touch me since mama would never allow me go close to anyone and has always forbid me to have a relationship with any guy, the burning sensation came again and this time stronger causing me to immediately jerk off from his touch What the hell is happening to me?..