Chapter 14: Burned by Desire
1262 Words
The rain was relentless, pouring against the windows of Lila’s small apartment with a force that mirrored the turmoil inside her. She had barely slept since that night in the mansion. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him his smoldering gaze, the heat in his touch, and the haunted look that shattered everything the moment he pulled away.
Her mind couldn’t stop replaying it. The way his lips had claimed hers, urgent and possessive. The way his hands had roamed her body, awakening something in her she’d never felt before. And then, the way he’d disappeared, leaving her aching in more ways than one.
She sank onto the couch, pulling her knees to her chest. Her body still hummed with the memory of him, and it was driving her insane. How could someone ignite her so completely and then vanish as if it meant nothing?
She groaned, running her hands through her hair. “Get it together, Lila,” she muttered. But no matter how hard she tried, the heat he’d stirred in her refused to fade.
The rain pounded harder, and she couldn’t bear the silence of the apartment anymore. She grabbed a glass of wine and paced the living room, hoping the alcohol would dull the ache in her chest.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, and her heart leaped. She rushed to grab it, but the moment her eyes landed on the screen, her stomach dropped. It wasn’t Dante. It was Sophie.
With a sigh, she answered, trying to sound normal. “Hey.”
“Don’t ‘hey’ me,” Sophie said, her tone sharp. “I know you’re sitting there, stewing in heartbreak and God knows what else.”
“I’m fine,” Lila lied.
“No, you’re not. Lila, you haven’t been fine since this guy disappeared. And I get it, okay? I get that he was important to you, but you can’t keep doing this to yourself. You’re letting him ruin you.”
Lila bit her lip, tears stinging her eyes. Sophie was right, but she didn’t want to hear it. She didn’t want to admit how deeply Dante had burrowed into her soul, how impossible it was to let him go.
“I just... I don’t know how to stop thinking about him,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“You start by remembering who you are,” Sophie said firmly. “You’re Lila freaking Morgan. You’re smart, beautiful, and strong. And if this guy can’t see that, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
Lila nodded, even though Sophie couldn’t see her. “Thanks, Soph.”
“Anytime. Now go take a shower, put on something cute, and remember that the world doesn’t end because of some guy.”
“Right,” Lila said, though the words felt hollow.
Later that evening, the storm outside intensified, but Lila barely noticed. She was too lost in the chaos of her thoughts and her body. Every nerve felt alive, hyperaware of the void Dante had left. She hated herself for it, for the way her skin still burned where he’d touched her, for the way her lips tingled at the memory of his kiss.
She paced the apartment, her bare feet cool against the hardwood floor, and poured herself another glass of wine. The alcohol wasn’t helping; if anything, it was making everything worse. Her emotions felt raw, her longing unbearable.
The sound of thunder rolled through the sky, and the lights flickered. Lila froze, her pulse quickening as a chill swept through the room.
It wasn’t just the storm. She could feel it the shift in the air, the weight of something unseen pressing down on her.
Her breath hitched as the shadows in the corner of the room began to twist and writhe, dark tendrils creeping along the walls.
“Who’s there?” she demanded, her voice shaking.
The shadows didn’t respond. Instead, they moved closer, the tendrils snaking toward her with unnatural grace. Lila stumbled back, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Stay back,” she said, though her voice was little more than a whisper.
The shadows stopped, hovering just inches away from her. And then, they began to take shape. A pair of glowing red eyes appeared, followed by a distorted, inhuman face that seemed to grin at her with malicious delight.
Lila screamed, her body frozen in terror as the creature lunged at her.
Just as it reached her, a flash of fire erupted in the room, sending the creature flying back. The heat was intense, almost overwhelming, and when the flames subsided, Dante was standing between her and the creature, his body radiating power.
He didn’t look at her. His focus was entirely on the creature, his hands glowing with residual fire. “You made a mistake coming here,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
The creature hissed, its form flickering like smoke. “She doesn’t belong to you,” it growled, its voice guttural and twisted.
“She does now,” Dante said, his tone cold. He raised his hand, and a burst of fire shot out, engulfing the creature in an instant. It screamed as its form dissolved into ash, the shadows retreating back into the corners of the room.
When it was over, the room fell silent, save for the sound of the rain outside.
Lila stood trembling, her back pressed against the wall as she stared at him. “Dante...”
He turned to her, his dark eyes filled with a mix of anger and something she couldn’t name. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer now.
She nodded, though her knees felt weak. “What was that?”
“Something that shouldn’t have been here,” he said, his jaw tight.
“That’s not an answer,” she said, her voice rising. “What’s going on, Dante? Why is this happening to me?”
He hesitated, his gaze dropping. “I can’t explain right now.”
“Why not?” she demanded, stepping closer to him. “You disappear for weeks, you leave me with no explanation, and now monsters are showing up in my apartment? You owe me the truth, Dante!”
His hands balled into fists at his sides, and for a moment, he looked like he might snap. But then his shoulders slumped, and he let out a heavy sigh.
“I’m trying to keep you safe,” he said finally.
“Safe from what?”
“From me,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lila’s chest tightened, tears welling in her eyes. “Dante, you’re not making any sense. If you’re trying to protect me, why did you leave? Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?”
“Because the truth would destroy you,” he said, his voice raw.
“Let me decide that,” she said, stepping closer. “Stop shutting me out. Stop disappearing. Just tell me what’s going on.”
Dante’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, she thought he might finally open up. But then he stepped back, shaking his head.
“I can’t,” he said, his tone final.
Before she could respond, he disappeared in a burst of smoke and fire, leaving her alone once again.
Lila sank to the floor, her body trembling as tears streamed down her face. She didn’t know what was happening, but one thing was clear: Dante was the key to all of it. And she wasn’t going to let him push her away anymore.
- Writer
