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Soraya paced in circles around her bedroom, her thoughts spiraling like a whirlpool.
Ujuu and Zaruna have to find the statue of Zodia Equestria tonight. I don't know what else to do if this fails!
The lamp hanging from the ceiling provided enough light for her to see where she was going, but the dirt making up the walls and ceiling reminded her she was underground.
Gods, where are you? Why aren't you intervening in this mess?
A soft knock on the door jolted her out of her thoughts. She promptly swung it open.
"Hey, Rhys."
Her boyfriend was taller, his shoulders more broad and short stubble hair dotting his chin and jawline. "Mind if I come in?"
"Please do."
Rhys stepped forward, his crimson eyes shining in the dark.
"I wanted to check on you," he said, his cat-like ears twitching. "How are you holding up?"
Soraya hugged herself and looked down at the floor in shame. "I hate myself," she admitted. "I hate what I've turned into. I'm a monster."
A tear freed itself from Soraya's sky-blue eyes and dripped down her face. She wiped it off with her sleeve and kept the rest welling behind her blue gems at bay.
Rhys wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "No, you're not," he whispered softly. "You're still the same Soraya I went to school with, you just have more Demonic powers, is all."
Soraya fell into Rhys' embrace, slumping into his chest and resting her head just below his neckline.
Cloudberry tea... Soraya thought. He always smells so amazing.
The two stood in silence, enjoying each other's company and warm affection.
"Rhys," Soraya finally whispered. "I'm really sorry about earlier, with Ujuu and Zaruna..."
"I know," he replied. "It's not your fault."
Soraya shook her head, burying her nose into Rhys' shirt. The more she inhaled, the more she could smell his blood beneath the fabric and skin. She tried to ignore her mouth watering at the scent. "I still feel responsible for everything that's happened."
Rhys gently squeezed her tighter. "You're doing the best you can. There's nothing more you can do than that."
Soraya closed her eyes and listened to her boyfriend's heartbeat. It was quickening despite his calm exterior.
He always controls his emotions so well. I don't know how he does it.
Rhys placed his hand on the back of her head and stroked her hair. "If we fail, I don't know if we'll ever have another calm moment like this again."
