Chapter 9: The Truth in the Darkness
756 Words
Mine.
The word echoed in Lilah’s mind, wrapping around her like invisible chains.
Damien stood before her, his crimson eyes unwavering, waiting for her reaction. But she couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe—could barely think past the rapid pounding of her heart.
She should have pushed him away. Should have demanded answers.
But instead, she whispered, “What do you mean?”
Damien’s jaw tensed. He ran a hand through his dark hair, exhaling sharply as if he regretted saying it.
But the words had already been spoken.
“You don’t understand what you are,” he said, his voice low. “And I wasn’t supposed to tell you yet.”
Lilah took a step forward. “Then tell me now.”
Something flickered in his gaze—hesitation, conflict.
Then he sighed. “Sit down.”
She obeyed, settling onto the edge of the couch, her hands curled into the fabric of her dress.
Damien remained standing, pacing near the broken window. The city lights cast long shadows over his bare chest, highlighting the dark runes that traced his skin.
Finally, he spoke.
“The Order of Eclipsed Souls isn’t just hunting you, Lilah. They’re afraid of you.”
She swallowed. “Why?”
Damien’s gaze locked onto hers, sharp and unyielding.
“Because you’re not human.”
Lilah’s breath caught.
She let out a small, disbelieving laugh. “That’s not—no, that’s not possible.”
Damien arched a brow. “Isn’t it?”
A sudden chill crawled up her spine. Memories surfaced—strange dreams, unexplainable feelings, the way she always felt like she didn’t quite belong.
She shook her head. “No. I grew up here. I was normal. I am normal.”
Damien moved closer, stopping just in front of her.
“You think normal people can survive a shadow’s attack without a single mark?” His fingers brushed her wrist, where the shade had tried to grab her. “You think normal people react to my power the way you do?”
She shivered under his touch.
“What am I, then?” she whispered.
Damien hesitated. Then, softly, he said, “You are lightborn.”
Lilah frowned. “Lightborn?”
He nodded. “The opposite of what I am. I was born from darkness, from shadow. You… you were born from something else.”
She swallowed hard, her pulse racing.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It does,” Damien murmured, his voice laced with something unreadable. “It makes perfect sense, Lilah. The Order has been trying to destroy beings like you for centuries. Because lightborn have something the darkness fears.”
Lilah licked her lips. “And what’s that?”
Damien didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he reached for her hand, tracing his fingers over the mark on her palm—the mark that had appeared the night she met him.
Her breath hitched at the sensation.
Damien’s voice was barely a whisper when he said, “The power to destroy me.”
Lilah’s heart stopped.
She stared at him, wide-eyed, her fingers trembling against his.
“I—I would never—”
Damien smirked, but there was no humor in it. “Wouldn’t you?” He tilted his head. “If I was the only thing standing between you and your freedom?”
The question sent a shiver down her spine.
Because deep down, she already knew the answer.
And so did Damien.
But instead of pulling away, instead of fearing him, Lilah did the last thing she ever expected.
She reached up, brushing her fingers over his jaw.
Damien’s entire body stilled.
“I don’t want to destroy you,” she whispered.
His throat bobbed. His crimson eyes burned into hers.
Then, something in him broke.
With a growl, he cupped her face, his lips crashing against hers in a kiss that was desperate, consuming. Lilah gasped against him, but her body melted into his, her fingers tangling in his hair.
The world around them disappeared.
There was only him.
Only the way his lips moved against hers, the way his hands explored her body like he was memorizing her.
But just as quickly as he kissed her, he pulled away.
His breathing was ragged, his forehead pressed against hers.
“I should let you go,” he murmured.
Lilah’s fingers tightened around his. “Then why don’t you?”
Damien exhaled sharply. “Because I can’t.”
A beat of silence.
Then, he kissed her again.
And this time, he didn’t stop.
- Writer
