𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒

Ep 10. Unraveling Secrets

The shadows loomed over Lucian, their movements swift and precise. From my hiding spot behind the bushes, I felt utterly powerless, my breath coming in shallow gasps. I had no idea who or what these figures were, but there was no mistaking the danger they posed.

Lucian stood his ground, his shoulders squared, muscles tense. His gaze flicked toward them, unflinching. Whoever or whatever they were, he wasn't afraid—he was ready.

I crouched lower, clutching the hood of my scarf tighter around my face. The silver cross hanging from my choker dug into my skin as I tried to calm the storm of panic rising inside me. The memory of Lucian's words echoed in my head: "You can't get involved."

But the more I watched, the more anger flared within me. Why am I hiding? I was sick of being kept in the dark, sick of running from whatever twisted reality I had been dragged into. Lucian had said I couldn't protect myself—but how could I believe that when I didn't even know what I was supposed to be protecting myself from?

The figures finally closed in, their faces still hidden beneath hoods that seemed to blend into the darkness itself. A low, menacing voice echoed from the tallest one. "You've interfered for the last time, Lucian. Step aside, and we'll let her go."

Her. Me.

Lucian's body shifted slightly, his stance more protective than before. "You're not touching her," he growled, his voice dripping with an edge I hadn't heard before. "She doesn't even know anything."

"But she will," the figure replied, stepping closer. "Soon enough, she'll know everything. And when that happens, you won't be able to protect her anymore."

The words struck me like a punch. What did they mean by that? What was I supposed to know?

A sudden crack echoed through the clearing, and before I could blink, Lucian lunged forward. His movement was a blur—a flash of speed and precision that left no time for the attackers to react. In the moonlight, his form seemed to shimmer, moving faster than I'd ever thought possible.

He was... different.

One of the cloaked figures crumpled to the ground, barely making a sound as Lucian dealt blow after blow, his strength unnatural, his reflexes sharp. But there were too many of them. No matter how quickly Lucian fought, they swarmed him like a dark tide.

I couldn't just sit there anymore. My heart raced as adrenaline surged through me. I had no idea what I was walking into, but I wasn't about to let Lucian face this alone.

Before I could stop myself, I bolted from my hiding spot, sprinting toward Lucian. My boots barely made a sound on the damp grass as I moved toward the clearing. The torn stocking on my leg snagged on a branch, but I didn't care. I needed to do something.

"Lucian!" I yelled, but my voice was swallowed by the chaos. As I reached him, one of the attackers caught sight of me, their head snapping in my direction. Their hood fell back slightly, and I caught a glimpse of a pale, emotionless face—inhuman.

I stumbled, my body freezing as fear gripped me.

In that instant, Lucian turned, his eyes locking onto mine. Panic flashed in his gaze, but it was too late. One of the figures moved faster than I could process, lunging toward me with impossible speed.

I braced myself, preparing for impact, but just as the figure's hand reached out, Lucian was there, blocking the blow. He grabbed the figure's arm, twisting it with a sharp snap. The attacker let out a guttural cry before falling to the ground.

Lucian was at my side in a heartbeat, his hands gripping my shoulders. "Aria, what the hell are you doing?" His voice was harsh, but underneath it, I heard the fear.

"I couldn't just sit there!" I shot back, my chest heaving. "I'm not helpless, Lucian. I'm not going to keep hiding while you fight for me."

He opened his mouth to argue, but before he could, the remaining figures began to retreat, melting into the shadows as quickly as they had appeared. In seconds, they were gone, leaving the clearing eerily silent.

Lucian's grip on my shoulders tightened for a moment before he let go, his expression a mixture of frustration and relief. "You shouldn't have done that," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "You have no idea how dangerous they are."

I stepped back, my anger flaring again. "Then maybe you should start telling me! I'm tired of being left in the dark, Lucian. If I'm in danger, if I'm involved in something—anything—I deserve to know."

Lucian stared at me, his jaw clenched, eyes shadowed with guilt. He looked like he was about to say something when a sudden noise broke the tension.

A rustling behind us.

We both turned, but there was nothing there. Just the quiet night and the trees, swaying gently in the wind. But something felt off. The air was too still, too charged.

Lucian let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping slightly. "We need to get out of here."

I glanced around, still on edge, but nodded. As we started walking, my mind raced. So many questions, so few answers. I didn't know who those figures were, or why they wanted me, but one thing was clear: something far bigger than I could imagine was unfolding around me. And whether Lucian liked it or not, I was already in the middle of it.

We walked in silence, the tension between us thick. My head spun with everything that had happened, but the one thing that stuck with me was how effortlessly Lucian had fought them off—how fast, how strong he had been. I couldn't ignore it anymore. He was hiding something from me, something huge.

"Lucian," I said quietly, stopping in my tracks. He turned to look at me, his expression unreadable. "You're not... normal, are you?"

He stiffened, his gaze dropping to the ground for a moment before meeting mine again. There was no more room for half-truths. I needed to know.

His silence spoke volumes, and finally, after what felt like an eternity, he answered in a voice barely above a whisper. "No. I'm not."

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Wrote this whilst listening to Montell Fish and Tory Lanes.

Do you feel the vibe??

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