❝ 𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ❞ ʲᵃˢᵖᵉʳ ʰᵃˡᵉ ( EN )

☇ 𝟮𝟱

After class, Theodora made her way into the forest, where Jasper was always waiting for their training sessions. The rain had eased, leaving the ground muddy; with each step, her shoes sank slightly, emitting small splashes. The sunlight, struggling to pierce the thick clouds, cast an almost surreal, magical glow over the clearing, while a thin veil of mist rose gently from the damp earth.

Jasper was already there, leaning against a tree trunk, his slender silhouette standing out in the dim forest. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and that's when Theodora noticed them for the first time: scars. Not just any scars, but long, interwoven bite marks scattered across his arms. They formed a strange pattern on his skin, silent witnesses to a violent past etched deep in his flesh.

"You're late," he said with his usual smirk, though his eyes held a flicker of curiosity as she approached.

"I had an important debate about aliens to settle," she replied, rolling her eyes with a playful smile. But despite the lightness in her words, her gaze kept drifting back to those scars. How had she not noticed them before?

Her heart tightened. These marks, these scars, spoke of pain, of battles, of moments where Jasper had fought for his life. What had he gone through to end up like this? Slowly, almost unconsciously, Theodora stepped closer and reached out, her fingers delicately brushing one of the bite marks as if seeking to soothe his wounds, to ease his pain. Her gesture was hesitant, almost timid, as if she feared touching him where he was most vulnerable.

Her fingers grazed one of the scars, and Jasper tensed at her touch, a shiver running across his skin. With a sudden, sharp movement, he pulled back, an instinctive reaction as if he'd been touched by a burning flame. That motion, that abrupt rejection, sent a pang through Theodora's heart, a cruel reminder of the distance that still separated them. She withdrew her hand immediately, trembling slightly, a shadow of sadness crossing her face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her cheeks burning, feeling foolish for daring to touch what he seemed so intent on hiding. She pulled her hand back as if it had been scorched.

Jasper shook his head slightly, but his expression remained tense, marked by an unmistakable pain. "It's nothing," he replied hoarsely, but Theodora could feel that, to him, it was anything but "nothing." It was everything—those scars were everything that defined him, everything he tried to run from.

"Was it... was it Maria who did this to you?" she finally dared to ask, her voice almost smothered by timidity and the fear of going too far, her eyes lingering on those scars that seemed so painful.

Jasper closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, she saw something indecipherable in his gaze. "Not just her," he admitted, his voice heavy with deep sadness. "These marks come from many battles. Most of them are bites, memories left by other vampires in the life I led after my transformation. Each mark tells a story of violence, of survival."

Theodora's throat tightened, tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to hold them back, not wanting to appear weak, but the thought of Jasper enduring so much suffering was unbearable to her. "Why? Why did you never talk about it?"

"Because it doesn't matter," he said, attempting to sound detached, but his tone betrayed his pain. "It's the past, Theodora. A past I'd rather forget."

She stepped closer to him again, this time with more determination, refusing to let him close himself off. "You say it's the past, but these marks are here, on your skin. They're part of you, whether you like it or not."

He looked at her, his dark eyes reflecting an emotion he had tried to hide for so long. "And you," he finally whispered, his voice barely a breath, "they don't scare you?"

Theodora shook her head. "No, they don't scare me. Because I know you are more than these scars, more than what you've been through."

They stood in silence for a moment, the cold wind brushing their faces, making the fallen leaves dance around them. "Come," he suddenly said, breaking the heavy silence. "Let's continue the training."

Theodora thought determinedly: I must become stronger, faster. It's as if I'm fighting Maria with every strike, with every move. I refuse to let her have any advantage over me. This is my fight too, and I won't let her take what matters from me.

The ground had become slippery from the mud, making each movement more difficult, more demanding. Jasper watched her intently, his golden eyes never leaving hers. He corrected her, adjusted her movements, encouraged her when she hesitated. Each time they brushed against each other, Theodora could feel the warmth of his scars beneath her fingers, as if a bit of his pain seeped into her, binding them in a way she didn't yet understand.

"You're doing well," he complimented after another exchange, a faint smile on his lips, though his eyes still held a hint of worry.

"Thank you," she replied, breathless but satisfied. Her hair, tied in a braid, had come loose during the training, and she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, smudging her face slightly with dirt. After a moment of silence, she gathered her courage and asked the question that had been haunting her. "I want to know your story, Jasper. I want to understand what these scars mean, what they tell."

He looked at her, a mix of pain and tenderness in his gaze. For a moment, Theodora thought he would close off again, that he would distance himself as he always did. But finally, he nodded slowly, his eyes drifting to the distance. "One day," he murmured, his voice rough, "I'll tell you everything. But not tonight."

"Why not tonight?" she dared to ask, her heart pounding.

"Because tonight," he replied, looking directly into her eyes, "I just want to be here, with you, without the ghosts of the past."

Jasper's words touched Theodora far deeper than she had expected. She felt her heart race, a gentle warmth spreading through her being. Maybe he was ready to move forward, to leave the past behind, she thought. But for now, she was simply happy to be by his side, sharing this moment with him.

They sat there, side by side. Their closeness, the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, and the golden light of the setting sun created an almost unreal atmosphere. Theodora reached out, and this time she gently touched the nearest scar on his wrist, a light gesture, like a silent promise. Jasper didn't pull back. Instead, he turned his hand to gently lace his fingers with hers, his cool fingers entwined with hers.

Without really thinking, carried by the moment and the emotions bubbling within her, Theodora turned slightly toward him, her eyes locked on his. In that gaze, there was an intensity, a depth she had never seen before. She leaned in slowly, and in that suspended moment, without words, their lips met.

The kiss was soft, hesitant, like a whispered promise. Jasper's cool lips contrasted with the warmth that spread through Theodora, an inner fire that burned gently within her. It was a fragile moment, as if the world had stopped around them, and all that mattered was this silent, unbreakable bond.

When they pulled apart, Theodora felt a smile form on her lips, a newfound lightness in her heart. Jasper looked at her with the same intensity, but this time, there was a tenderness she had never perceived before. They stayed there, hands still entwined, as if that simple gesture was enough to say everything.