Inferno's legacy (On Hold)

Chapter 31

"Eretria."

She jumped, startled by the voice, as she whirled around to face the source. It was late at night and the breeze was chilly, seeping in through her robe. But even in the dark, she could still see his eyes. Her throat suddenly went dry, remembering the kiss, but whatever emotion that came with the memory dispersed as she remembered the jolt and him fainting. Had she caused that?

"You no longer look so pale. For a moment, I thought you were going to die." She said, turning her back towards him.

"You seem to have pretty good eyesight."

"I do, if you haven't noticed." She said, tilting her head over her shoulder slightly. She saw him move beside her.

"What happened to you?" He asked.

Eretria swallowed. Her time in that desert wasn't something she wanted to recount.

"I was lost," she said, rubbing her arm. That must have caught his attention because he turned towards her, "in the middle of nowhere. I didn't know how I ended there or how to leave. I don't even know how long I was there but it was total torture." Her voice was low, on the verge of breaking. "Things happened, Damion, and I was scared."

"What happened?"

She shook her head, finding it entrancing  staring into his eyes. She realized they were darker than she had imagined, or maybe it was just the night. "I don't know. I feel..... different." She admitted honestly. "My powers." As if to demonstrate her point, she raised her hand and silently, flames came alive, licking at her fingertips, not hurting her. "It feels different."

Damion stared at the flames dancing on her fingertips. He knew she was different. She had unlocked her powers but he had a suspicion it wasn't entirely on her own.

Unlocking her powers was as much a good thing as it was a bad thing. He didn't know which one he'd rather have. The powers unlocked or with them locked.

"I didn't even think I'd be able to come here, but when I tried, I did." She added, staring into his eyes. "I even changed my appearance."

When she said that, he looked at her, brows drawn together.

She smiled, reading his confusion."I mean freshen up. I was a mess when I left that place."

Damion took a step away from her. "You've never have so much control over your powers?"

She shook her head. "I thought the only thing I could do was destroy things. I guess not." Then she chuckled and looked away."I guess it's a good thing. All I've wanted to do was know my roots and why I have these powers. But I guess that doesn't matter now that have a certain control over it. It also means I don't have to be here anymore. But I felt it'd be unfair to just disappear, again." A smiled crossed her lips. "I plan on going back home. To my family. I'll leave on the morrow. I know you want me gone, don't know why though."

Damion almost laughed. If only she knew. "You're leaving after getting what you want. Sounds like  typical Eretria." He said with a scoff.

Eretria nudged his side with her elbow. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, you did run away from home to get answers and, even though you haven't completely gotten it, you've gotten something, you wanna go back to the people you left heartbroken." He said.

Eretria chewed her inner lip, considering his words.

"It's selfish, isn't it? I can't fault myself, I've always been a selfish person." She sighed, "I do want answers and I'm going to get it. But first, I have to assure my family that we're all better off without me. I have this nagging feeling I might do something to hurt them and until I fully understand everything about myself, I can't put them in danger."

*-*-*-*

Eretria's words rang in her head as Eva walked down the hallway, heading towards Eretria's room. Her steps were hurried, a worrying thought accompanying her. What had she meant by that? She needed to find out.

Eretria being here after two months was quite a surprise, but her words told her she had encountered more while away. And Eva feared what that might be. It could be something that thwarts her plans.

"Isn't it a bit too late?" Eretria asked, holding the doorknob as she stared at Eva outside her door.

Eva ignored and pushed the door open with her hand. "We need to talk."

"What about?"

Eretria asked, watching as Eva stepped into the room.

"Firstly, your being here is a subject of discussion."

"It is not. It just happened." Eretria said.

"You can't say being away for two months and suddenly appearing is nothing."

Eretria leaned against the door. "I'll give you an explanation when I understand it myself."

Eva's brows shot up. "What do you mean?"

"What do you think?" Eretria rubbed her neck." Is that all? I'm quite tired from sleeping on the floor for so long. I'll love to retire to bed." She said, walking past Eva to her bed.

"What you said in the kitchen. What did that mean?" Eva asked.

Eretria paused. "Pardon?"

"Oh don't act like you don't remember." Eva said, turning to her.

Eretria sighed and closed her eyes. "Like I said, I'll be give you an explanation when I understand everything that's happening."

"There's something different about you, Eretria, I can feel it. Your aura seems....stronger."

Eva watched the corner of her lips pull into a smile. "Goodnight Eva."

"Aren't you bothered by what happened to Damion?" Eva asked.

Eretria took a pause. She was. She definitely was.

"I'm guessing you know what it is?" She asked.

"And I'm the only one who's going to tell you. No one will, even if he's practically dying."

Eretria's entire body stilled. Dying? Damion was dying?

"What do you mean?"

"Damion's cursed."

The way her eyes narrowed told Eva she must already know. Of course, Rio.

"I'm guessing you already knew."

Eretria nodded. Rio had told her Damion had a curse but she didn't know it was life threatening.

Eva sighed. "Did he tell you it's killing him?" She asked.

Eretria slowly shook her head. Where were her words?

"Well, it is. And he has to be rid of it before it kills him. I don't even know how much longer he has but he's adamant on not breaking it."

"What? Why?"

Eva was silent for a while before speaking. "Do you really want to know? It's because of you."

Eretria frowned as confusion took over. "What do you mean?"

"The reason he doesn't want to lift the curse. You. You're the only one who can break it."