The Midnight Oath

Chapter 14: Shadows in the Library

The next morning, Elara made her way to the local library, determined to uncover the secrets

of her family's past. The old building stood as a relic of time, with its towering shelves and

dusty corners, a sanctuary for lost souls seeking knowledge.

As she sifted through old newspapers and forgotten journals, she stumbled upon an article

that caught her attention: **"Local Family Tied to Disappearance: The Blackwood Curse."**

Her heart sank as she read the details, her father's name mentioned alongside rumors of

dark rituals and the mysterious woman who had vanished.

The words twisted in her stomach, revealing a legacy she had never wanted to confront. Her

family was entwined with shadows, and the curse that plagued her was rooted in their

history.Just as she was about to delve deeper, the library doors creaked open, and Damien entered,

looking both handsome and troubled. Their eyes met, and Elara felt a mixture of desire and

fear.

"Elara," he said, approaching her. "I was hoping to find you here."

"What do you want, Damien?" she asked, her voice steady but her heart racing.

"I want to talk," he replied, his expression earnest. "About last night. I need you to

understand..."

"You need me to understand what? That you're using me to get revenge?" Elara retorted, her

frustration bubbling to the surface. "Lucy thinks you're dangerous, and maybe she's right."

"I'm not a monster," he said, frustration etched on his face. "I'm just trying to uncover the

truth. Your father... he was involved in things he shouldn't have been. Things that led to the

woman I loved disappearing."

Elara's breath hitched. "You mean my mother?"

"No," he replied, his voice tense. "Not your mother. Someone else. I thought if I found her

connection to your family, I could finally get closure. But now..."

"Now what?" she pressed, stepping closer.

"Now I'm afraid that my quest for revenge is threatening everything I care about. I don't want

to lose you, Elara. Not like I lost her."The weight of his confession hung between them, and for a moment, Elara saw the

vulnerability behind his dark exterior. But the shadows loomed large, and doubt gnawed at

her.

"Damien, I need time to think," she said finally, pulling away. "I have to find out the truth

about my family-about everything."

With that, she turned back to her research, determined to uncover the secrets that bound

them together, even as her heart yearned for the man standing behind her, a man shrouded

in darkness and obsession.