Silent in the dark

Chapter Ten

In the embrace of Ramiel, he observed the fragile girl who outwardly projected strength, yet exuded an air of vulnerability. Although he had no knowledge of the contents of her nightmare, he instinctively knew that its nature was far from pleasant. The name Skylar, entangled with her past, intrigued him. He made a mental note to inquire Arya, a enigmatic vampire prophetess, about the origin of this name. Surely, there was a purpose behind her choice, but what could it be? Ramiel recognized that Skylar possessed the ability to perceive the concealed essence of Cindy—a trait even a vampire lacked. As he beheld her, he detected a change in her heartbeat, a reaction induced by her encounter with Cindy, although her thoughts remained elusive.

Regaining consciousness, she mustered a feeble voice amidst profuse perspiration, "I apologize for intruding even within my dreams."

Determined to dismiss her distress, Ramiel retorted, "If you truly seek forgiveness, then cease dreaming of my presence." A smile formed on her lips, evidence of his impact.

"Your constant vigilance brings me solace," she murmured, closing her eyes and drifting into slumber.

Ramiel regarded her tenderly, gently lowering her onto the bed and tucking her in with a blanket. Placing his hand upon her forehead, he sought insight into the nature of her nightmares.

In the depths of Skylar's dream,
Amidst a garden teeming with blossoms,
A tranquil and enchanting realm unfolded.
Skylar stood adorned in a flowing crimson gown,
Her tresses adorned with strands of ebony, ruby, violet, and cerulean.
Her piercing sapphire eyes mirrored the vast expanse above,
Her ethereal beauty unparalleled in his eyes.

Unexpectedly, an anonymous figure embraced him from behind,
An air of love and joy permeating their embrace.
Yet, curiosity arose within him,
For he pondered what had unsettled her moments prior.

Just as he contemplated withdrawing from her grasp,
The enigmatic figure abruptly released and bid her farewell.
"Apologies, but I must now depart," he whispered from behind,
Positioning her to prevent their gazes from meeting.

"Please, my love, stay," she implored,
Tears trailing down her cheeks like delicate streams.

"I must depart," he reiterated.

"No, please, my love, I cannot bear to be without you," she pleaded,
Her sorrow manifesting through an endless cascade of tears.

"Fear not, for it shall be but a temporary absence," came his assuring vow,
"I shall reunite with you, I promise."

Desperation laced her voice as she repeated, "please do not leave me,"

•••••••••••••••••

Battling with the decision of erasing her memory, Ramiel withdrew his hand from her head. He pondered on the consequences, realizing that it would only cause her further trauma if he proceeded. Placing his hand on her hand once more, he finally spoke.

"I urge you to forget whatever you witnessed in your dream," he said, before leaving the room.

Returning to his own quarters, he gathered his clothes and headed into the bathroom to take a shower. After thirty minutes, he emerged dressed in a bathrobe, his hair still damp. It was at this palace, contradicting his wishes, that he found himself. His deceased mother, once a concubine to the king, had given birth to Ramiel and Damien. He reflected on the complex circumstances, with his mother being a demon and his father an ancient vampire. Their love was destined to be short-lived, and his mother passed away years after Damien's birth. Despite this, Damien sought solace in Ramiel's presence, as his father and stepmother made him feel protected. Ramiel diligently investigated his mother's untimely demise, uncovering unsettling connections to the queen. However, his attempts to expose the truth only led to his manipulation and deception by his beloved stepbrothers, whom he had admired and cherished. Longing to escape from this bleak reality, he wished to erase the memories. Disappointingly, even his father did not believe his claims and chose to separate him from the palace. During that period, demons wreaked havoc, indiscriminately killing humans and forcibly mating with them, thus exposing their true identities. As punishment for falsely accusing the queen of murder, Ramiel became a member of the demon's slayers. His stepbrothers continued to send messages, feigning concern for his well-being, advising him not to return to the palace. Initially, he harbored no intentions of going back, until Arya's words began to make sense. Realizing his father's actions, appointing him as their leader, Ramiel bore no resentment. He understood that this decision was made out of trust. Sometimes, certain secrets were meant to stay buried. Patiently awaiting the opportune moment to strike, he embraced the calmness of this year.

Finally, exhaustion overcame him as he drifted into an uneasy slumber, plagued by nightmares.