Veins Of Shadow, Wings Of Snow

WHEN DARKNESS SLEEPS

Aisha stood by the bed, watching Tushar's peaceful, unconscious form. She was ready to leave, her mind filled with thoughts of the forbidden corridor and the mysteries it held. But as she turned to go, something tugged at the edge of her gown.

She looked down and realized the corner of her dress was caught in Tushar’s ring. With a quiet sigh, she knelt down to free it. As she carefully reached to untangle the delicate fabric, her hand brushed against his.

The moment their skin touched, a strange, warm sensation rushed through her body. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a second, everything around her stilled. The air, once tense and filled with unease, shifted into something entirely different—soothing, calm, and strangely serene. It was as if the very essence of the palace had changed in an instant, responding to the connection between them.

Aisha pulled her hand back, startled by the feeling. Her mind raced, trying to understand what had just happened. She had felt his power before—dark, consuming, and overwhelming—but this was different. This was... peaceful. Almost gentle.

The tension that had once filled the room had vanished completely, replaced by an unfamiliar quiet. She glanced at Tushar again, his face relaxed, no longer twisted in anger or cold indifference. He looked almost human in this state, a far cry from the dominant, ruthless man she had always known.

Feeling an odd sense of exhaustion herself, Aisha walked over to the sofa at the side of the room. She sank into it, her body heavy with fatigue, her mind swirling with questions she didn’t have answers to. She hadn't meant to stay, but something about the atmosphere made her feel safe, as if for the first time in this dark and eerie palace, there was a pocket of peace just for her.

Without realizing it, she closed her eyes, the weight of the day pulling her into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Unbeknownst to both of them, the entire palace had undergone a transformation. The restless spirits that usually roamed the halls were quiet now. The eerie whispers that haunted every corner were gone, replaced by an unusual silence. The souls that usually floated in the shadows had ceased their aimless wandering, and for the first time in what felt like centuries, the air itself seemed to hum with tranquility.

The dark corridors, normally filled with dread and sorrow, felt lighter. The very walls of the palace seemed to breathe, releasing an unseen tension that had long gripped them. And the souls—those ancient, tortured beings who had known nothing but restlessness—found themselves succumbing to a peaceful sleep.

Darkness, the force that had always ruled here, was finally at rest.

As Aisha slept on the sofa and Tushar lay unconscious on the bed, the entire palace basked in this newfound stillness. It was as if the very essence of the world around them had shifted, if only for a brief moment, to allow for this rare reprieve.

For the first time, darkness wasn’t controlling, tormenting, or consuming. It was simply sleeping.

And in that peaceful silence, the palace itself seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

The morning sun filtered through the heavy curtains, casting faint shadows across the room. Tushar stirred in his sleep, his brow furrowing as he opened his eyes, realizing he wasn’t in his usual chamber. The unfamiliarity of the surroundings hit him first, then the memories of the night before came flooding back—the argument, his uncontrollable rage, and then... Aisha.

He sat up slightly, his gaze moving to the sofa where she lay. The events of last night confused him. He couldn’t remember the last time he had slept peacefully, without the weight of shadows pressing on him. But now, after years of darkness, he had experienced something different—something calming.