Chapter 14 :
The soft rustle of curtains was the first thing Adrian heard when he woke. Cool breeze poured through the tall windows of Selene's manor, spilling across the bed in gentle waves. His body felt lighter — the aches that once burned beneath his skin now only faintly lingered, like ghosts of a memory.
He blinked slowly, taking in his surroundings — the carved ceiling, the faint scent of roses and old parchment, the flickering candle that had long since melted down to its base.
> **Adrian:** "Selene?"
No answer. The silence stretched, heavy but strangely comforting.
He sat up, noticing that he wore only a pair of jeans. His bare chest bore faint scars — a reminder of Reya's cruel shadows. He exhaled deeply, testing his limbs. To his relief, they obeyed.
When he called out again and still got no response, curiosity tugged at him. He swung his legs off the bed and stood, wincing slightly but determined. The manor felt oddly alive — each step echoing faintly through the hall, the air whispering around him like the walls themselves were watching.
He followed the faint sound of running water to a door slightly ajar.
And then he froze.
Selene stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a white towel, her silver hair wet and clinging to her shoulders. Droplets ran down her collarbone, catching the sunlight like liquid diamonds.
For a moment, Adrian forgot how to breathe.
She noticed him almost instantly — her crimson eyes widening in surprise before softening.
> **Selene:** "You're awake?"
Her voice broke the spell. Adrian blinked rapidly, heat creeping up his neck.
> **Adrian:** "Y-yeah… I, uh… didn't see you in the room, so I came looking for you."
Selene tilted her head slightly, her lips curving in amusement.
> **Selene:** "I see that."
Realizing how awkwardly he was staring, Adrian rubbed the back of his neck and stepped back toward the hallway.
> **Adrian:** "I'll just… wait outside."
She watched him leave, a small, unreadable smile tugging at her lips before she turned toward her vanity.
---
**Selene's POV**
Sitting before the mirror, Selene brushed her damp hair slowly, her reflection catching in the flickering candlelight.
Why had he looked at her like that?
It wasn't unusual for humans to stare — vampires were, after all, creatures of beauty by nature — but there had been something different in his gaze. Something curious… warm.
She frowned at herself in the mirror.
> *"Why does it bother me?"* she thought. *"He's human… fragile. But those eyes…"*
She sighed, finishing her hair and dressing quickly in a soft white blouse and dark trousers. Then, shaking the thoughts away, she made her way to the kitchen.
---
By the time Adrian came back inside, the air was filled with the warm aroma of food — herbs, roasted bread, and something faintly sweet. Selene was setting two plates on the dining table.
> **Adrian:** "You cook too?"
> **Selene:** *smiling faintly* "I do a lot of things, Adrian. Even immortals need hobbies."
They sat down opposite each other. The clink of cutlery was the only sound at first. The quiet between them wasn't awkward — just thick with something neither could name.
After a while, Adrian broke it.
> **Adrian:** "Is your place always this quiet?"
Selene chuckled softly.
> **Selene:** "Not really. My cousins visit sometimes — they're noisy. We go out, explore… have fun."
> **Adrian:** "Fun? In Blackville?" *He raised an eyebrow, grinning faintly.* "You mean the park?"
> **Selene:** "Oh, no." *Her eyes glimmered with amusement.* "I wasn't talking about Blackville. I've been to places you wouldn't believe."
> **Adrian:** "What do you mean?"
> **Selene:** "I've seen nearly every part of the world."
Adrian laughed softly, assuming she was teasing.
> **Adrian:** "You make it sound like you can just snap your fingers and be anywhere."
Selene leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering.
> **Selene:** "That's because I can."
He stared at her.
> **Adrian:** "Wait, what? Like teleportation? is that even real?"
> **Selene:** "It's not common," *she said with a small smile.* "Only a few vampires can do it. My aunt taught me — her name is Medusa."
> *Adrian:* *half-laughing* you mean the lady with the snakes thing on her head?
Selene laughed — a genuine, melodic sound that filled the room.
> **Selene:** "No, nothing like that. She's… beautiful. Powerful. She's the one who taught me to move through space, to bend the distance between places."
Adrian blinked, trying to process that.
> **Adrian:** "you mean , all vampires can do magic like that?"
> **Selene:** "No. Only those from strong bloodlines — the royals, or those trained by them."
She hesitated, then smiled softly.
> **Selene:** "Give me your hand. I'll show you."
---
Their fingers brushed, and for a moment, everything went quiet. Adrian met her gaze, and time seemed to slow. Her eyes glowed faintly in the candlelight, red and deep like polished rubies.
His thoughts tangled — *Why can't I stop looking at her? Why does my chest feel like this?*
Meanwhile, Selene's mind raced. *Why does he stare at me like that? Is there something on my face? Or… is it something else?*
> **Selene:** "What is it?" *she asked softly.* "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Adrian blinked, startled.
> **Adrian:** "I— I wasn't… I mean, sorry, I didn't mean to stare."
She smiled faintly.
> **Selene:** "Hold still."
She whispered a few words under her breath — soft, ancient syllables that shimmered in the air. The world blurred. Wind rushed around them.
Then — light.
When the world stilled again, Adrian's jaw dropped.
They stood on a quiet balcony overlooking the glittering skyline of **Paris**. The Eiffel Tower rose in the distance, its golden lights shimmering like fireflies against the night sky. The cool wind carried the faint sound of music and laughter from below.
> **Adrian:** "Is… is this Paris?"
> **Selene:** *smiling* "Yes."
> **Adrian:** "You— we—" *He laughed in disbelief.* "We're in Paris."
Their eyes met, and they both burst into laughter — the sound mingling with the hum of the city below.
> **Selene:** "It's one of my favorite places."
> **Adrian:** "I can see why."
They strolled along the rooftop, the world stretching endlessly beneath them. For a while, Adrian spoke — about his past, his childhood, the nights he and Ethan spent wondering about their missing parents.
> **Adrian:** "We never saw our mom. And when I was eight, our dad left to look for her. He never came back. Ethan's the only one I've had since."
Selene's expression softened.
> **Selene:** "I'm sorry, Adrian."
He shook his head.
> **Adrian:** "You don't have to be. I just… I miss him sometimes."
Without realizing it, she stepped closer. Her hand brushed his arm — a small, human gesture.
> **Selene:** "You're stronger than you think."
He looked at her, gratitude in his eyes — and something else, unspoken but growing.
They stood there for a moment that felt like forever — until Adrian's thoughts snapped back.
> **Adrian:** "Ethan. I need to see him."
Selene nodded.
> **Selene:** "All right."
She took his hand again, whispered the spell, and the world folded once more.
---
They reappeared before the Blackwood house. The air was still, the windows dark. When Adrian pushed the door open, dust and silence greeted them.
> **Adrian:** "Ethan?"
No answer.
He moved deeper inside, calling again — his voice trembling.
In a small room at the back, Ethan sat on the floor, clutching a framed photo of the two of them, tears streaking down his face.
When he heard his brother's voice, he froze.
> **Ethan:** *"Adrian?"*
The second time the name echoed through the house, Ethan was already running. He crashed into Adrian with such force that they both fell to the ground, laughing and crying at once.
> **Ethan:** "I.. I thought you were gone."
> **Adrian:** *grinning through tears* "Not a chance."
Selene stood at the doorway, watching them — the warmth of the reunion reflected in her eyes. For the first time in centuries, she felt something stir inside her chest — something she hadn't known vampires could still feel.
THE FEAR OF LONELINESS