CHAPTER FOUR: THE MORNING AFTER
985 Words
The next morning came all bright and calm, like the crazy nightmare from last night didn’t even happen. Sunlight poured through the tall curtains, painting the room in soft lines. I blinked against it, squinting at a world that looked way too perfect.
For a second, I forgot where the hell I was. The air smelled sweet roses, vanilla, some crap like that. Then it all came back the kiss, Kael’s damn dark eyes.
I shot up. Heart pounding like a drum. “I’m still f*****g here,” I muttered.
I wrapped a soft robe around myself and padded to the window. The rain was gone. Blue sky. Bright gardens. Everything stretched out like some fairy tale mansion, perfect and sickening. Flowers lined the paths, birds chirping. Ugh.
I tried the door. It opened. Too easy. My steps were slow, careful. Hallway bright, grand. White walls, gold frames, sunlight pouring in. Everything screamed rich and perfect like it was mocking me.
Down the hall, I heard soft laughter, dishes clinking. Followed it. Ended up in a huge kitchen.
Two women turned to me, neat black and white uniforms.
“Good morning, miss,” one said. Smile so fake it hurt. “You must be Luna.”
I hesitated. “Yeah… that’s me.”
The other, older, silver hair. “I’m Clara, housekeeper. This is Mira. You must be hungry.”
My stomach growled, damn it. “Maybe a little.”
“Please, sit,” Clara said. “Master Kael left word—you can have whatever you want.”
Of course he did, I muttered under my breath. But I sat anyway. Warm bread, fruit, tea smelling like mint and honey.
I watched them move. Calm, friendly, almost… normal. Made me sick.
“Has he always been like this?” I asked, curiosity poking through my anger.
“Like what, dear?”
“Controlling. Mysterious. Quiet.”
Mira smiled small. “He’s always… careful. Some people carry more pain than they show.”
I frowned. “Pain? What kind of pain?”
Neither answered. Clara poured my tea, changing the damn subject. Figures.
After breakfast, I wandered the mansion. Each room prettier than the last. Floors polished so I could see my reflection. Tall bookshelves, old novels, paintings like they were alive. A piano in one room, shiny as water.
I touched the keys. Soft. Haunting.
For a few minutes, I forgot I was trapped.
Outside in the garden, I breathed deep. Air smelled clean. Fountains sparkling. Butterflies dancing. Maybe… maybe he wasn’t a total monster. But thinking that scared the hell out of me. I did NOT want to start understanding him.
Evening came slow, gold and purple painting the mansion. I stood on the balcony outside my room, watching the sun dip behind the trees. Low music drifted up from the piano room.
My chest jumped. It was him.
I followed the sound, bare feet making zero noise.
Kael sat at the piano, back to me. Fingers moving slowly. Melody deep, sad, like it hurt to remember.
I didn’t speak. Just watched. Shoulders moving. Light brushing his hair. He didn’t know I was there.
Music stopped. “You’ve been exploring,” he said without turning.
I froze. “I didn’t mean to”
“It’s okay,” he said. “You’re not a prisoner here, Luna.”
I laughed bitter. “Feels like I am.”
Kael turned, eyes catching the dim light. “You think I enjoy keeping you here?”
“Then why the hell do it?” I snapped. “You could’ve let me go!”
“I told you,” he said quietly. “I couldn’t.”
I crossed my arms. “You speak like you don’t have a choice.”
“Maybe I don’t.”
He walked toward me. Slowly. Heart thumping harder with every step.
“You belong to a world you don’t understand yet,” he said. “If you go back now, they’ll find you.”
“They?” I asked, voice trembling.
He stopped in front of me. “People hunting people like me. Now, people connected to me.”
I shook my head. “Because of… that mark?”
Kael nodded once. “It bound us. You can hate it, but you can’t undo it.”
I frowned. “This is insane.”
“I know.”
He reached out, brushed hair from my face. I wanted to pull away, but damn it, my body didn’t listen.
“You looked peaceful this morning,” he said softly. “I almost didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Don’t pretend you care,” I hissed.
“You think I don’t?” His voice dropped lower.
Our eyes locked. Everything else disappeared. I could feel his heartbeat through that tiny space.
“Kael,” I whispered, voice shaking, “you can’t keep doing this.”
He leaned close, breath warm on my skin. “Doing what?”
“Making me feel s**t I shouldn’t.”
He smiled faint, calm. “Then stop feeling it.”
“I can’t,” I admitted, barely above a whisper.
His eyes softened, rare light breaking through the cold. “Neither can I.”
Before I could argue, he kissed me. Slow. Tender. Careful. Not hungry like last night. Like he was scared I’d vanish if he held me too tight.
When he pulled back, forehead resting on mine. “You make me forget what I am,” he whispered.
My heart raced. “Maybe you’re not as lost as you think.”
He smiled sadly. “If only that were true.”
I wanted to ask what he meant, but he stepped back. Cold distance returned. “Good night, Luna,” he said, walking aw
ay.
I stood there long after he left, tasting him on my lips, heart torn between fear and something I didn’t want to name.
- Writer
