CHAPTER 5
1285 Words
Shadow of Betrayal
Varian’s POV
You ought to have mentioned this.
Aria's voice, harsh and accusing, sliced through the gloom. I gasped, my heart thumping. Her eyes were sharp, betrayed, and pained.
My hands dangled uselessly at my sides while I wanted to reach for her to explain. "I was looking out for you."
"Protect me," she spat, her voice shaking. "You lied to me." While those creatures sought me, you kept me in the dark.
Guilt closed in around my chest. "I wanted you not to be terrified."
She laughed bitterly. "Too late to be for that. Varian, they defined me. I knew nothing till they arrived for me. No warning; nothing.
My voice was low, and I stepped in closer. "I believed I could handle it... Keep them away from you.”
Her eyes softened momentarily and then hardened once again. One cannot tackle this by herself. You cannot continually put yourself last for me.
"Aria, this is my curse. My struggle".
She shook her head, tears shining on it. Not yes. It became our battle the moment you entered my life.
Her comments cut hard; my chest clenched. She pointed out the right thing. Though I had tried to shield her, ultimately, I had only harmed her.
My voice lifeless, I turned away. "I apologize."
She came forward, her hand brushing mine. "I do not need your apologies. I need the truth.
Her touch set off a shock in me, my heart pounding. The reality is... I was terrified.
She fixed me, her eyes looking around. "Afraid of what?"
I said, my voice shaking, "Losing you." I have lost everyone I have ever loved. It is not too easy to lose yourself either.
Her breath seized, her eyes grew wild. "Varian...?"
I turned away, my jaw tight. "The shadows feed on love, on suffering. I adored them, hence they took my family and my sister as well. They will take you also if they know how much you mean to me.
Her fingers drew tightly around mine. Then stop acting like you don't care.
With anguish in my heart, I fixed her gaze. I was attempting to guard you.
She said, "You were pushing me away." Tears filled her eyes. "I thought... You didn't want me."
I closed my eyes as agony tore across me. "I thought it would be easier if you walked away and hated me."
She moved closer, her kindness encircling me. "I have nowhere to go."
My heart hammered, and my will collapsed. "You should."
Her fingertips lightly stroked my cheek. "I love you, Varon."
My body froze; my breath seized. She had said... the words I had dreamed of hearing... the ones that might wipe out both of us.
"No," I muttered and turned away. You cannot... You cannot love me.
Her eyes were harsh and uncompromising. "I have already acted."
My heart pounding, I turned away. "You don't understand; they'll turn it against us. They will pick you.
Then fight them, she said in a calm voice. "War for us."
My body trembled; anxiety seized me. "I'm not sure how...".
She grabbed for me, her fingers twinning into my shirt. Then we will work things out together.
I gazed at her; her will was flaming. You're not afraid?
Her lips curved, and her eyes softened. "I'm terrified but more afraid of losing you."
My heart was hammered and my chest constricted. "I am not deserving of you."
"Let me decide that," she said, her lips brushing mine.
The planet vanished, my anxiety subsiding around her. With my arms around her, dragging her near, I kissed her. Her heart pounding in time with mine, she melted into me.
More than I had ever wanted anything, I needed her. But depending on her meant putting her at risk.
I drew back, my forehead resting on hers. "Aria, they won't stop." Not until they ride with you.
She raised her ferocious-looking eyes. Then let them battle for it.
A chilling breeze blanketed the room, while the shadows twisted in anticipation. Hisses with echoes in their voices. We can sense she loves you.
Tensing my body, I shoved Aria behind me. "Stay back," she says.
The shadows laughed; their forms changed. She marked; she belongs to us; you cannot protect her.
I flung my arms, my force flying. Darkness slammed into the shadows and danced about me. "You can't have her."
They withdrew, their figures whirling, their red eyes shining. You could just make her sweeter; it won't save her.
Aria held my arm and said in a shaky voice. "Varian...what are they?"
I murmured, my voice low, "Cursed spirits." "They feed on love as well as pain."
Her fingers sank into my arm; her body stiffened. "They are aware of my feelings towards you."
My heart dropped, and panic seized me. "They taste it; they will never stop now."
The shadows surged ahead, their claws extending. I threw more energy; my blackness whirled around to surround us. Get out!
They laughed with echoes in their voices. She's ours, not something you can save, like others.
My resolve wavered, and I clenched my teeth. "Not this time," he says.
His shadows shriveled and shrank back. You will fail; your strength is cursed; it serves just to fuel us.
I got a chilly chill, and their words sank in. My strength, my curse; it was not only shielding me. It gave them more strength.
Aria fixed me with wide eyes. "Varian...what are they saying?"
I choked hard, my body shaking. "My power connects to them." Their diet consists of this.
Her body stiffened, and her face went white. Then... are you in touch with them?
I nodded; shame coursed over me. I was cursed, connected to them. They get stronger the more I struggle.
Her eyes narrow as she stares at the shadows. Then we need another strategy.
I shook my head, my heart sinking. I have none. I had battled them all my life, and they constantly resurfaced.
Her hand slid into mine, her affection anchoring me. "Then it's time to stop arguing."
I looked at her, perplexity whirling. "What?"
She stared at me, firing in her determination. "If your power feeds them... then stop using it."
I hesitated, my anxiety turning around. But I cannot protect you without my power.
She tightened my hand with an angry gaze. "We will discover still another path. All together.
The shadows twisted in their forms, snarled. You cannot run; she belongs to us.
Aria shot at them, her body shoved against mine. "Come and get me."
My body froze, my heart stopping. "Aria... don't...!"
She met me with a calm gaze. "I have no fear of them. Your curse worries not one of me. My only fear is losing you.
My heart contracted, my anxiety breaking through. "I won't let them take you."
"Then let's cease giving them food," she said softly.
The shadows twisted and laughed, echoed. You are already ours; you cannot avoid yourself...
The chamber turned frigid, darkness pressing in. Desperate to battle, my power sparkled. But Aria's palm tightened over mine, grounding me.
My heart thumping, I gazed at her. "I won't drop you."
Her lips curved, and her eyes softened. They rely on me.
The shadows rushed ahead, claws reaching. Aria gently corrected me, her voice steady. "Don’t use your power... don't feed them."
I hesitated, terror seizing me. Her faith was unbroken, yet her eyes were steadfast.
The shadows closed in, laughter echoing. One cannot conceal....
I held my breath and started to shake. Strong in voice, Aria's hand clenched in mine. "Trust me, Varian."
Closing my eyes, my power vanished just as the shadows fell.
- Writer
