"Evangelina, a young girl with an enigmatic past, had spent her entire life in the quiet town of Mystic Falls, a place steeped in secrets and hidden histories. Growing up, she always felt a sense of otherworldly intrigue lurking beneath the surface...
❁ཻུ۪۪♡ ͎. ｡˚ • DEAREST DARLING • CHAPTER 𝐓𝐖𝐎 — the night of the comet
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2002
The night was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that felt unnatural. Moonlight spilled through the curtains, casting a pale glow across the room, its reflection stretching across the mirror. The sky, a canvas of deep indigo, was scattered with stars, shining like tiny beacons in the darkness.
A small figure lay still beneath the covers.
Aylana.
The young girl stirred, her long lashes fluttering as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She sat up slowly, her dark curls tumbling down her back. A faint sound echoed from downstairs.
"Mum?" she whispered, stepping toward the door.
As she reached for the handle, it creaked open on its own. The warm glow of a candle flickered in the hallway, illuminating a familiar face.
Her mother.
"Aylana," her mother murmured, brushing a gentle hand through her daughter's hair.
Aylana frowned, sensing the tension in her voice. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her mother hesitated for only a moment before taking her hand. "There's no time to explain, darling. I have to get you out of here."
Fear tightened in Aylana's chest. "Mum, I'm scared."
Her mother knelt before her, setting the candle aside to cup her daughter's face. "I know, sweetheart. But you must be brave."
With careful hands, she pulled a necklace from her pocket—a delicate golden key dangling from the chain. She fastened it around Aylana's neck.
"You must never take this off. Do you understand?"
Aylana nodded, gripping the key tightly. "I understand."
A sad smile touched her mother's lips as she pulled her into a tight embrace. "I love you, my darling girl."
A sudden knock at the door made her mother stiffen. Slowly, she rose and turned the handle. A man stood outside, his sharp eyes meeting hers.
"Take her to them, Jax," she instructed, her voice unwavering.
Jax extended a hand toward Aylana. "Come with me, child."
Aylana hesitated, eyeing his outstretched palm. "Mummy says never take a stranger's hand."
