DANCING IN THE RAIN
782 Words
A flash of lightning illuminated the mouth of the cave.
Moments later...
The rain began.
At first, it was only a gentle drizzle.
Then the heavens opened.
Heavy drops poured over the mountain, creating a curtain of silver that hid the outside world.
The soft sound of rain echoed beautifully through the crystal cave.
Octavia smiled as she watched the water fall beyond the entrance.
"I've never seen rain this beautiful."
Lincoln stood beside her, his hands resting behind his back.
"The mountain always looks different when it rains."
She glanced at him.
"I think everything looks different when you're here."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Her cheeks immediately turned pink.
Lincoln's lips curved into a gentle smile.
"I'm glad you think so."
---
The rain continued to fall.
A cool breeze drifted into the cave.
Tiny drops landed on the glowing blue lake, creating shimmering circles across its surface.
Lincoln removed his royal coat and gently placed it over Octavia's shoulders.
She looked up at him.
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine."
"But you'll get cold."
He smiled.
"I doubt that."
She laughed softly.
"You're impossible."
"And yet..."
"You still choose to spend time with me."
She looked into his deep blue eyes.
"I do."
For a brief moment...
The world seemed to disappear.
---
Outside...
Aurora, Arina, and Damien had taken shelter beneath the roof of a small pavilion near the university gardens.
Students crowded together, laughing as they watched the rain pour over the campus.
Lanterns reflected beautifully in the puddles.
Aurora stretched out her hand, letting raindrops fall into her palm.
"I love the smell of rain."
Damien looked at her instead.
"I think I know something that smells even sweeter."
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"What would that be?"
He smiled mischievously.
"The flowers in your hair."
Aurora stared at him.
Then burst into laughter.
"That was terrible."
"I know."
"But it made you laugh."
"It did."
Arina watched the two of them with a grin.
"You two are just as bad as my brother and Octavia."
Both immediately denied it.
"We're just friends!"
Arina laughed.
"If you say so."
---
Back inside the cave...
The rain finally began to ease.
The blue lake became perfectly still once again.
Octavia stood and slowly walked closer to the water.
She removed her shoes.
Lincoln watched curiously.
"What are you doing?"
She smiled playfully.
"I've always wanted to try this."
She dipped one foot into the glowing lake.
The water was pleasantly warm.
"It's wonderful."
Lincoln chuckled.
"You'll tempt me to join you."
She looked at him.
"Maybe that's exactly what I'm doing."
For the first time...
Lincoln laughed freely.
The sound echoed through the cave.
Octavia couldn't help smiling.
"I like hearing you laugh."
"It doesn't happen often."
"I know."
"I hope it happens more."
He looked at her quietly.
"I think it will."
---
They sat at the edge of the lake with their feet resting in the glowing water.
They spoke about their childhood dreams.
"What did you want to become?" Lincoln asked.
Octavia thought for a moment.
"When I was little..."
"I wanted to travel the world."
"And now?"
She smiled.
"I still do."
"What about you?"
Lincoln looked across the lake.
"I wanted one day where nobody expected anything from me."
She frowned gently.
"That sounds lonely."
"It was."
Her heart ached for him.
Without thinking...
She reached for his hand.
This time...
She held it first.
Lincoln looked down at their joined hands.
Then back at her.
A warmth spread through his heart that no throne could ever give him.
---
Outside...
The clouds slowly drifted apart.
Moonlight returned.
The rain had washed the forest clean.
The air smelled fresh and alive.
"It looks like we should head back," Lincoln said.
Octavia nodded reluctantly.
"I wish we could stay a little longer."
"So do I."
They slowly walked back toward the university.
---
High above the mountain...
Hidden among ancient pine trees...
Several shadowed figures watched them leave.
One vampire narrowed his crimson eyes.
"So..."
"The rumors are true."
"The prince has chosen the human."
Another lowered his head immediately.
"Be careful."
"If the Nightfall family learns we're here..."
"We won't live to see another sunrise."
A witch stepped from the shadows.
Her violet eyes glowed beneath her hood.
"The prophecy is moving exactly as foretold."
She smiled coldly.
"And when the time comes..."
"Neither love..."
"Nor the Nightfall family..."
"Will stop what is coming."
The three figures disappeared into the darkness before the moon fully emerged.
Far below...
Lincoln and Octavia walked side by side beneath the moonlight.
Completely unaware...
That fate had already begun counting down the days.
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