Bound by Shadows

15

As I left shop where I had a heart warming catch up session with Elizabeth, I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging from our reunion. I tucked her number safely into my pocket, promising to visit again soon. Yet, despite the pleasant conversation, a lingering sense of caution nagged at the back of my mind.

Fingers hovering over the keypad, I hesitated, the weight of Elizabeth's unsettling words lingering in my mind. Before I could muster the courage to dial Caelus's number—

"Zanya."

My grip faltered, and my phone slipped from my grasp, clattering to the ground as a startled gasp escaped my lips.

My heart hammered against my ribs, and I instinctively recoiled, the memory of that haunting dream flooding my senses. "Stop, don't come near me!" I blurted out, my voice quivering with fear.

"What's going on? Are you okay?"

With a sudden jolt, I snapped open my eyes expecting to see something straight out of a nightmare. Instead, I found myself face to face with Caelus, his features softened by genuine worry.

I put a hand against my forehead, "I... I thought you were someone else," I stammered, trying to steady my nerves. "Sorry, I just got startled."

Caelus's features morphed from confusion into a mask of deep concern, his hand reaching out towards me. I flinched, and he quickly pulled back, a flicker of hurt crossing his expression as if my reaction had stung him. "What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising panic threatening to overwhelm me. "I... I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... everything felt so real, like a déjà vu or something."

His brows furrowed with worry, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress. "Hey, it's okay," he reassured softly. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I shook my head, the memory of the haunting dream still too fresh in my mind. "Not right now," I managed to say, my voice wavering. "I just need a moment to... to catch my breath."

Caelus nodded understandingly before picking up my phone from the ground. "Here," he said gently, offering it to me. "Let's get back to the house."

As we settled into the plush leather seats of the Mercedes S Class, the ride home was cloaked in a heavy silence. While I stared out the window, lost in my thoughts, I could sense Caelus stealing glances in my direction as he navigated the familiar and quiet road for what felt like an hour. It felt strange, this newfound tension between us, making me question why I suddenly felt so on edge in his presence.

With just a subtle shift from him, my body instinctively leaned towards the door, as if urging me to escape. I caught the flicker of concern in his eyes as he shut his own, taking a deep breath before breaking the silence. "Tell me what's wrong."

Turning to face him fully, I finally noticed the tension etched in his features. "I'm fine," but the weight of his gaze made me reconsider.

"No, you're not. So tell me," he insisted, stealing a quick glance at me before refocusing on the road ahead. "You've been different ever since we left that shop. Did something happen? Were you threatened or—"

"No, nothing like that," I interrupted, sensing a hint of hurt from his expression. We lapsed into silence once more, the hum of the engine filling the car until Caelus suddenly spoke up again.

"I picked up some limited edition books," he mentioned, nodding towards the back seat. "Feel free to read them if you'd like."

With nothing much to do but gaze out of the car window and feeling frightened by every little thing, I figured I might as well see what he picked up. Reaching behind the backseat, I grabbed the paper bag and settled it on my lap. Inside were three books, all by William Shakespeare.

One seemed to be about the realm of war, another into the depths of tragedy, but it was the third that caught my attention. "The Sonnets? Seriously?" surprised by his choice. After all, Shakespeare's sonnets are renowned for their exploration of love, beauty, mortality, and the passage of time, making them some of his most famous works.

"Does it surprise you that someone like me would be into these kinds of books?" He offered me a soft smile.

"You don't strike me as the type," I observed, getting a light chuckle from him as I checked out the book, reading chapter by chapter as it started raining heavily. "Do you actually read this? I can't understand a single thing."

"Flip the page to Sonnet 29," he said while taking a turn to the right for our destination. I flipped the pages and when I reached that page, he started reciting it.

"When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings."

Caelus had surprised me by reciting the sonnet, causing my jaw to drop when he effortlessly recited every word. "So you not only read them but you memorized them?"

"My mother used to recite them from time to time. She had a deep love for literature," he explained casually, his words tugging at my heartstrings. It was the first time he had spoken about his mom. "I've mentioned it before, but I actually wanted to be an archivist. Preserving special books and such. But my dad had different plans. I had to follow the family business. So I turned my love for books into a hobby."

As Caelus spoke, his voice carried a hint of nostalgia, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy as he shared his hidden passion for archiving. "Your mother sounds like she was quite the influence," I remarked, trying to keep my tone light despite the weight of his words.

He nodded, a wistful smile playing on his lips. "She was. Always telling me to do things that didn't match up with the family business."

I paused for a beat, gathering my courage before asking, "Ever think about changing your career path? Maybe pursuing your dream of becoming an archivist?"

Caelus's expression softened, and he shook his head gently. "As much as I loved the idea, I've come to terms with the path I'm on. The family business is important to me, and I've found ways to incorporate my love for books into my life outside of work."

I respected his decision, even though a part of me wished he could pursue his passion wholeheartedly. "It's admirable how you've managed to balance it all," I acknowledged, offering him a small smile of encouragement.

As he was about to reply, Caelus suddenly threw out a hand, pressing me firmly back into my seat as he slammed on the brakes, sending us both lurching forward. "What the hell, Caelus!" I exclaimed, the rush of adrenaline coursing through me, but his expression was filled with fury as he stared ahead.

My heart pounding, I followed his gaze, only to see a figure standing in the rain ahead. Before I could make sense of the situation, Caelus barked, "Get down!"