Chapter 7-part2
618 Words
The shore was tranquil, the rhythmic crashing of waves the only sound piercing the stillness of the night. Arora stood motionless, her feet sinking slightly into the wet sand, the ocean breeze tousling her hair. She appeared almost otherworldly—serene yet enigmatic, a puzzle I couldn’t resist trying to solve.
I had to know. Was she truly human? Deciding there was no better way to find out, I teleported silently from the shadows, materializing just a few feet in front of her. The air shimmered with the magic of my arrival.
She didn’t startle or cry out, as most humans would. Instead, she stood her ground, her eyes widening slightly, a mix of curiosity and suspicion flickering within them.
“How did you do that?” she asked, her voice soft but steady.
“Magic,” I replied, my gaze fixed on hers, studying her every movement.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she fell silent. The pause between us stretched, heavy with unspoken questions.
“Arora,” I said, my tone gentler now, “are you human? How were you able to heal me?”
She didn’t answer right away. Her gaze flickered to the ground, then back to me, the silence thickening.
I stepped a little closer, hoping my calmness would put her at ease. “Let me reintroduce myself. You don’t need to be afraid. You can tell me anything.” I took a deep breath, choosing my words with care. “I’m Lucas—a well-known businessman, heir to a great fortune. But there’s more you should know.”
Her brow furrowed slightly, but she remained silent.
“I’m cursed,” I said quietly, my voice dropping to a near whisper. “I’m a vampire prince—one who needs true love to heal, to restore a kingdom lost to time.”
“Vampire?” she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief.
“Yes,” I nodded. “We’re like humans in many ways, but we don’t age. And we need human blood to survive. But you don’t need to be afraid. I won’t harm you.”
Her expression softened, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. But then her eyes darkened, filled with something unreadable. “Lucas,” she said, almost to herself, “it’s not me who should be afraid.”
I frowned, confusion rising within me. “What do you mean?”
She hesitated before speaking again, her voice barely above a whisper. “My name is Princess Arora. I’m a banished mermaid princess, forced to live in the human world for three years.”
The words hung between us like a heavy fog.
“I miss my mother,” she continued, her gaze distant, filled with sorrow. “I miss my family. But I can’t go back. I… I broke my grandfather’s promise when I told you the truth.”
I felt the weight of her confession settle over me. This revelation shifted everything. Arora wasn’t just a mysterious figure—I now knew that she was something far more extraordinary. And she carried a burden, a secret she could no longer keep.
I blinked, something dawning on me as I processed her words. “Oh, I see now. That’s why my mom insisted I eat fish not long ago…” I trailed off, the connection suddenly clear. It means Arora is part fish?
A strange sense of protectiveness welled up inside me, as well as a growing, undeniable attraction. But I knew I had to keep this secret—for both of our sakes. The more I learned about Arora, the more I felt something special between us, something that couldn’t be ignored.
- Writer
