Veil of ashes

CHAPTER 3: THE NIGHT OF THE STORM

The storm rumbled outside as Lila gazed at the flickering candle she'd placed on the stage. The power had gone out an hour before, leaving her stranded in the cavernous Aureum Theater with only her flashlight and the dim light from her laptop screen. She was concentrating on the reception plan when a groan echoed down the empty hall, sending shivers down her spine."Relax, it's just an old building," she said quietly to herself. But the sound came back, closer this time.Her breath caught when a shadow came in the doorway. She instinctively grabbed her phone, and the illumination projected a wavering beam across the person.

"It's me," said Elias, his voice smooth and serene."God, you scared me!" she said, gripping her chest.He took a step closer, his suit moist from the rain, his hair slicked back in a way that made him appear both untidy and impossibly attractive. He held up a thermos. "I thought you might need something warm."She frowned. "How did you know I was here?"

He grinned but did not respond directly. "I have a knack for being where I'm needed."Lila paused, then accepted the coffee, the warmth flowing into her fingertips as she held the thermos. "You didn't have to come all the way here.""I wanted to," he simply stated, taking a seat near her on stage.The storm raged outside, with rain beating against the theater's roof, yet inside, an eerie quiet descended between them. They sipped their coffee silently until Elias spoke."This place... it's like it's alive, isn't it?"

Lila nodded, not trusting her own voice.He leaned back, his eyes riveted on the soaring draperies. "When I was a kid, my mother took me to attend a play of The Tempest. I recall sitting right in the first row, feeling as if the entire world was magical."His voice softened, and Lila felt herself leaning forward. "What happened?"

He chuckled cruelly. "Life happens. This location lost its magic and became... something else.Lila wanted to inquire more, but the vulnerability in his voice gave her pause. Instead, she replied, "It's still beautiful, in its own way."Elias turned to look into her eyes. "You always see the good, don't you?"Before she could react, he reached out and brushed a piece of hair from her face. His touch was soft and cautious, yet it made her shudder.

For a brief minute, she believed he might kiss her. The air between them seemed electric, and the storm outside mirrored the fury inside her chest. But then he drew back, a spark of pain on his face."You deserve better than what I can give," he whispered, barely above a whisper.He stood quickly, leaving her seated on the stage, the storm raging both outside and within her mind.