The Hearts In Twilight

Chapter 1: Temptation’s edge 2/2

The conversation lingered in the air as Aria made her way back to her dorm room, the weight of Elara’s words settling heavily on her shoulders.

She tried to bury herself in her studies, to distract herself from the unsettling thoughts swirling in her mind. The textbooks sprawled across her desk, open to chapters on history and art, but she couldn’t concentrate.

Her black kyanite necklace, usually a comforting presence, felt unusually warm against her skin. She touched it absently, wondering if it was just her imagination.

Her thoughts drifted back to the day her parents, Mary and Joseph Jensen, had adopted her. She had been just a baby, but she remembered the stories they told. How her birth parents had insisted she always wear the necklace. How they had never explained why, but her adoptive parents had honored the request without question.

"Your birth parents loved you very much," Mary had often said. "They wanted to make sure you were always safe."

Aria had never questioned it either. The necklace had always been a part of her, a link to a past she knew nothing about. But now, for the first time, she felt a strange sense of unease about it. What if there was more to it? What if it was somehow connected to the strange feelings she was experiencing?

Shaking off the thought, she decided to take a walk to clear her mind. She grabbed her jacket and slipped out of her dorm, heading towards the small garden on the edge of campus. It was a quiet spot, a place she often visited when she needed to think.

She found her favourite bench and sat down. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. The night was quiet, the only sound the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.

From a distance, Nicholas watched her. He had followed her, unable to resist the pull that drew him to her. He knew he shouldn't be there, knew he should leave and never look back, but something kept him rooted to the spot.

He had lived for centuries, had seen and experienced things that would break the minds of most humans. But this girl, this seemingly ordinary human, made him feel things he had long thought dead within him. There was a warmth, a light that seemed to emanate from her.

"Why can't I stay away?" He wondered and as he watched her sit on the bench, he felt a pang of longing. He wanted to be close to her, to understand the strange connection they shared. But he knew the dangers. He had lost too many people, had seen too much pain and suffering.

"It's better this way," he told himself. "Better to stay away, to keep her safe."

But even as he thought it, he knew it was a lie. He couldn't stay away. Not anymore.

Moments later, she sensed someone approaching. She opened her eyes to see Nicholas standing a few feet away, his hands in his pockets.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked.

Aria hesitated, then nodded. "Sure."

Nicholas sat down beside her, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words.

"It's a beautiful spot," Nicholas said, breaking the silence.

"It is," Aria agreed. "I come here when I need to think."

Nicholas nodded, his gaze distant. "I do the same. Sometimes, it's the only place where I can find peace."

Aria looked at him, searching his eyes for answers. "Why are you always alone, Nicholas?"

He turned to her, his expression unreadable. "It's easier that way."

"Easier?" Aria echoed. "Why?"

Nicholas hesitated, as if weighing his words. "Because getting close to people always ends badly."

Aria felt a pang of sadness for him. "That sounds lonely."

"It is," he admitted. "But it's safer. For everyone."

She wanted to ask him more, to delve into the mystery that surrounded him, but something held her back. Instead, she said, "You don’t have to be alone, you know. There are people who would understand. People who would care."

Nicholas smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "You’re kind, Aria. But you don't know what you're saying."

"Maybe I don’t," she said softly. "But I want to."

He looked at her, and for a moment, she thought he might open up. But then he stood, the moment broken.

"I should go," he said. "Take care."

Before she could respond, he was gone, leaving her with more questions than answers.

Aria sat there for a long time. She knew she should heed Elara's warnings, but the pull towards Nicholas was stronger than ever. She couldn’t explain it, couldn’t rationalize it. All she knew was that she was drawn to him, and that feeling wasn’t going away.

Nicholas walked away from the garden, his mind a turmoil of emotions. Being near Aria was dangerous.

"Why is she different?" he wondered again. "Why do I feel this way?"

He had no answers, only a deep, gnawing need to understand. But understanding meant getting closer, and getting closer meant putting her in danger. She was a mere human, oblivious to the supernatural world around her. She probably didn't even know her best friend is a witch from a powerful coven.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I can't stay away," he admitted to himself. "But I can't get close either."

Caught between the two, he knew he was treading a dangerous line. One wrong step could mean disaster.

Taking a deep breath, he resolved to find out more about her. Perhaps understanding who she was and why she affected him so deeply would help him find a way to protect her from the dangers of his world, and from himself.