Shadow Of The Heart: A Dance With Deception Duet

Truths

I hold my breath, the silence in the library heavy, as I strain to listen to the tense exchange between Sebastian and his father. My heart pounds in my chest—every word feels like a knife cutting through the air.

“Why did you bring her here Sebastian?” his father barks, fury lacing his voice. “You know how serious this is! You know the rules!”

Sebastian's voice trembles as he takes a deep breath. “I was just showing her the house! It wasn’t meant to be anything serious.”

“Nothing serious?” His father scoffs, incredulous. “Do you have any idea what this could do to our family? Everything we’ve sacrificed for you, and you throw it back in our faces for the Collins girl?”

I feel heat rise in my cheeks at the mention of my name, but I force myself to stay hidden.

“Where is she?” his father rasps, his voice low and dangerous. “Why didn’t you stay with her? Where did she go?”

“I don’t know! I don’t know!” Sebastian mumbles, desperation creeping into his tone as their footsteps echo ominously through the library. My hands tremble, and I grip the edge of the bookshelf, fighting the urge to bolt. I need to get out of here before they discover me.

“Sebastian, this she is a lost cause!” his father continues, his voice rising. “You think this is good for us? Everything we did was to save you, to save this town, and now you’re jeopardizing it all!”

“Dad, I will fix this!” Sebastian pleads, his voice cracking with emotion. “I swear I will find her, and we’ll put this behind us.”

“It won’t be behind us, Sebastian!” his father snaps. “She’s already connected to him! She knows he’s here! I saw it with my own eyes when I was down in the cellar!”

A sick feeling coils in my stomach as I realize the truth: Sebastian and his family are behind the tragedies that have plagued this town for years. They were supposed to be our protectors, the ones who kept us safe, yet they’ve been tearing families apart.

The library door slams shut, jolting me from my thoughts. “I know you’re here, Delilah,” Sebastian calls, voice low and filled with frustration. “You can come out now. You know everything, so it doesn’t really matter. Just… just come out.”

I hesitate, my heart racing.

“Please,” he urges, his tone softening. “Don’t make me come and find you.”

I step out from behind the bookshelf, anger igniting within me. “Why are you doing this, Sebastian?” I demand, my voice trembling with fury. “All these years you have acted like my friend, like you cared. Watching me rot away while you knew exactly what was happening. All this time it was you”

His gaze sharpens. “My father knows you’re a danger to us. I’m trying to protect you!”

“Protect me?” I scoff, stepping closer, my chest pressing against his. “I never asked you to protect me! You knew what was happening. You knew the dangers, and you just sat there, watching me suffer.”

His fingers tremble as they run through his hair, frustration etched on his face. “I never wanted this! My family is sick, Delilah. If we don’t do what we do, people die. Not quickly—painfully, slowly. This town is rotting from the inside out. If we didn’t do this, none of us would survive!”

“That’s a load of bullshit!” I snap, my voice breaking. “You’re monsters! You think you can justify this?”

“Darling,” he says, his voice a mix of sadness and resignation, “you may think we’re monsters, but… Kai is one too.”

As he turns away, the weight of his words settles over me like a shroud. I sink to my knees, overwhelmed, a whirlwind of anger and sadness spiraling within me. I’m trapped in a nightmare, surrounded by those who should protect me but instead have become the very embodiment of my fears.

I sat in the vast silence of the library, the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. Hours seemed to blend into an endless haze of confusion and dread.
“Monster…” I murmured to myself.The word tasted bitter on my tongue. How could they label Kai a monster? He was nothing like the them, who seemed to  thrive on chaos and suffering.

My fingers brushed over the smooth oak of the shelves as I paced, searching for answers among the dust-covered books. I felt as if the library itself was mocking me, its secrets locked away, just like the truths about my town’s tragedies. Each creak of the floorboards echoed in the stillness, a reminder of my isolation. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and pushed open the large library door. It groaned loudly, the sound slicing through my reverie.

Peeking into the hallway, I glanced both ways, my heart racing. She had to be careful; Sebastian father seemed to have eyes everywhere. Stepping out gingerly, I tiptoed through the dim corridor, my mind racing with anger and frustration. “I can’t believe I’m stuck here because of you, Sebastian,” I whispered fiercely to myself, recalling the way he had looked at me with that mix of concern and something darker.

As I reached the door that hopefully was his room, I hesitated, then took a deep breath and entered. Sebastian lay sprawled on the bed, his expression shifting from relaxed to alert as he met my gaze. I took in the luxurious room—the plush furnishings, the extravagant decor—and felt a pang of resentment. This was a prison dressed up as a palace.

“We need to talk,” I said, my voice steady but laced with defiance.

He pushed himself up, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Delilah, please, just let’s talk about this tomorrow. It’s late, and you need to rest.”

“Rest? You think I can sleep in this creepy house, knowing what your family is capable of? You’re taking me home tonight. I won’t stay here, not with you or your—your evil father!” My voice cracked slightly, revealing the fear that lay beneath my bravado.

Sebastian's eyes softened, but his expression was serious. “Delilah, we can’t keep you here against your will, but I promise, we’ll talk about everything tomorrow. It will all make sense. I swear.”

My frustration bubbled over. “I’m not sleeping in the same bed as you! Not after everything I’ve heard!” crossing my arms, feeling exposed in just my tank top and underwear, as if the room itself was judging me.

“You don’t have to sleep in the bed,” he said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “I can take the couch.”

My breath caught as I glanced around the opulent lounge area, suddenly self-conscious. Feeling the heat rise in my cheeks as he looked me over, his gaze lingering just a moment too long. “This isn’t about comfort, Sebastian! This is about the disappearances in Kingston. Your family is behind it all, and you know it!”

He leaned forward, his expression earnest. “I know it sounds terrible, but there’s so much you don’t understand. My father… he’s done horrible things, and the kings—they’re not what you think. There’s a darker truth beneath it all, one that I need to explain to you.”

“Then explain it! Don’t make me wait until tomorrow. I can’t just sit here and pretend everything is fine.”

Sebastian sighed, his frustration mirroring mine. “I wish I could, but it’s complicated. I need to protect you, Delilah. If you knew everything now, it could put you in real danger.”

I met his gaze, searching for sincerity. “I don’t want to be a pawn in your family’s game. I want to help Kai, and I want to know the truth.”

“Tomorrow, I promise,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “You’ll understand everything, and we can make a plan. I want to help you Delilah, but for now, just trust me, please.”

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of his words settle in my mind. “I hope you’re right, Sebastian. Because if I’m still trapped here tomorrow, I swear I’ll find a way out—no matter what it takes.”