❝ 𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ❞ ʲᵃˢᵖᵉʳ ʰᵃˡᵉ ( EN )

☇ 𝟮𝟮

Theodora was sitting on her bed, knees pulled up to her chest, her thoughts in disarray. The curtains were half-drawn, allowing the pale moonlight to cast its reflection on the walls of her room. Every shadow seemed to dance and whisper worries, fueling the anxiety she had felt since her conversation with Jasper. This threat, that of Maria, now hung over her head like a sword ready to fall. Each passing second weighed down her heart a little more, leaving her in a state of anxiety she couldn't soothe.

She absentmindedly ran a hand through her hair, trying to hold onto something tangible, something real. The world seemed blurry, unreal, as if everything around her was just a fragile set, ready to collapse at the slightest shake. Her fingers were cold, just like the air in her room, but it was an internal cold, a cold that had settled in her since Jasper had spoken to her about Maria. A wind of fear blew in her soul, icy, relentless.

How could I face a threat I don't even know? she thought. How could I compete with someone who meant so much to him? These thoughts, like relentless waves, kept crashing against the fragile walls of her mind, gradually eroding her confidence.

Lost in her thoughts, she jumped slightly at the sound of a light tapping at her window. Raising her eyes, she saw Alice, who gave her a friendly wave before entering with her usual grace. Relief washed over Theodora like a warm wave. Her presence, like a gentle breeze, brought a welcomed reprieve to the storm inside Theodora. She needed to talk, to put words to what she was feeling.

"I thought you might need some company tonight," Alice murmured, closing the window behind her. Her movements were fluid, almost unreal, and Theodora couldn't help but wonder how Alice always managed to exude that aura of tranquility.

"Thank you," Theodora replied, her voice slightly trembling, her gaze lowered to her clasped hands. "Actually, I... I really need to talk."

The words, held back for so long, burned on her lips, ready to burst out like a river too long contained.

Alice sat down across from her, a gentle smile on her lips, and nodded. "I'm here for that. What's troubling you?" she asked in a reassuring voice.

Theodora took a deep breath, trying to bring some order to her chaotic thoughts. "It's Maria... and Jasper," she finally admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm terrified that she might manipulate him again, make him fall back into her clutches. That she might reignite the flame between them, that he'll realize he always loved her." Her words spilled out like a torrent she could no longer hold back. "And what if he realizes I was just a distraction?"

The anxiety crushed her chest, each word she spoke ringing like a death knell in her mind. The silence that followed her words seemed to stretch endlessly. Alice gently reached out to take Theodora's hand, her fingers cold but comforting, pressing it with an unexpected warmth. "Jasper loves you, Theodora," she murmured with a conviction that made Theodora's heart tremble. "I know it. I see it. What he feels for you is deeper than anything he ever experienced with Maria."

Alice's words were like a cool breeze on burning skin, soothing but unable to completely dispel the persistent heat of worry.

"But... what if she makes him believe otherwise?" insisted Theodora, her voice wavering under the weight of her fears. "She has that power over him, doesn't she? She could remind him of their past, the moments they shared, and... and I'll never measure up to that." Her throat tightened at the thought, and she lowered her head, ashamed of her vulnerability.

Alice squeezed Theodora's hand, her eyes glistening in the dim light of the room. "It's true that Maria once had power over him," she began softly. "She shaped him, manipulated him, but that wasn't love. It was control, domination. What Jasper feels for you is different. With you, he is free. He is himself. And that's what makes it so terrifying for him."

Free. The word echoed in Theodora's mind. With me, he is free. But could that freedom really compete with the hold Maria had on him for decades?

Theodora remained silent for a moment, trying to absorb Alice's words. A mixture of comfort and worry washed over her. "But... what if she manages to pull him back into her world? What if she rekindles in him what he once was?" she asked in a trembling voice, fighting the tears threatening to overflow.

Alice shook her head gently, a determined glint in her eyes. "Then, we'll fight for him," she said firmly, her hand not leaving Theodora's. "And I know you're capable of that. Because you're strong. Stronger than you think."

Strong. The word felt hollow in Theodora's mind, like a cracked bell trying to sound the alarm.

The courage in Alice's voice stirred something in Theodora. She felt warmth spread in her chest, dissipating some of the fear that had taken hold in her. "I never felt strong," she murmured, almost to herself.

"It's often those who doubt themselves who are the strongest," Alice replied with a smile. "Because they don't realize the courage it takes to face their own demons."

Alice's words wrapped around her heart like a warm coat, gradually chasing away the cold shadows of her fears.

A silence settled between them, broken only by the rustling of the leaves outside the window. The moonlight bathed the room in a silvery glow, highlighting Alice's delicate features and making the moment feel almost unreal. Theodora looked up, seeking comfort in the vampire's gaze. "Will... the watch last much longer? With Maria around, I guess it's not going to end anytime soon."

Alice nodded softly, her gaze hardening. "That's right," she replied seriously. "As long as Maria's threat looms, we can't take any risks. Your safety is our priority, and we must remain vigilant."

A faint hint of humor, weak but invigorating, pierced the fog of uncertainty weighing on her.

"Great," Theodora murmured, a touch of irony in her voice. "As if my life wasn't complicated enough."

Alice burst into a crystalline laugh, a sound so light that it made Theodora smile despite herself. "Welcome to the Cullen world, Théo," she joked. "Nothing is ever simple here."

A genuine smile appeared on Theodora's lips, and for a moment, the heaviness on her shoulders seemed to lift. "Thank you, Alice," she said softly, her heart a little lighter. "Thank you for reminding me I'm not alone."

"You're not," Alice confirmed, looking at her gently. "And never forget that, no matter what happens, we'll be here for you. And Jasper too."

The two girls sat together for a moment, enjoying this truce, this bond that had formed between them. Alice's presence, with her wisdom and calm, seemed to infuse the room with a comforting warmth. And even though the shadow of Maria still loomed over them, Theodora felt ready to face whatever came as long as she had her allies by her side.

Slowly, Theodora lay down on her side, pulling her knees up to her chest, as if to shield herself from the cold and the anxieties that had plagued her all day. The reassuring presence of Alice beside her, her comforting words still resonating in her mind, helped her release the tension that had gripped every muscle in her body.

Alice's words lingered in the air, like a comforting echo: You're strong. Stronger than you think. And as she closed her eyes, her fingers lightly brushing the blanket, she felt, for the first time in days, a sense of peace wash over her.

Theodora finally allowed herself to believe it, a faint smile appearing on her lips as she surrendered to sleep, curled up in a fetal position.