Marked By Darkness

Chapter 74- Nightmare

Ruhan's POV...

The warm chocolate aroma drifted up as Ruhi took slow sips from her cup, sitting across from me, her gaze occasionally lifting to meet mine before darting away, as if she wasn't quite ready to hold the connection. Silence sat comfortably between us, the kind that didn't demand words.

Seeing her like this, vulnerable yet still carrying that quiet resilience, stirred something protective deep within me. I wanted to say something reassuring, something to let her know she wasn't alone tonight. Instead, I leaned forward, watching her closely, knowing she'd pick up on it without me saying a word.

"Feels different here, doesn't it?" I asked casually. She looked up, a hint of a smile on her lips.

"Yeah, it does," she replied, her voice softer, almost as if she were admitting it to herself as much as to me. "Calm. Almost... normal."

Normal. It was the life she craved-free of curses, spirits, shadows from the past. I leaned back, crossing my arms as I watched her, studying the faint lines of worry on her face.

"You know," I began, keeping my tone light but with an undercurrent of seriousness, "being normal isn't exactly something I'm known for. But for you, I think I could manage it." The words were teasing, but as they left my mouth, I realized how true they were.

Ruhi looked at me, her gaze softening. "Ruhan, you're..." She stopped, as if searching for the right words. There was a small smile, though, a grateful one that hinted at something unspoken.

"What?" I prompted, curious.

"Nothing. Just... I'm glad you're here," she said, her words faltering slightly, a confession hidden beneath. I caught the glimmer of doubt, or perhaps guilt, in her expression, but I didn't press her. I had a feeling I knew the reason, though she hadn't spoken it aloud.

After a moment, she glanced away, fingers tracing the edge of the cup. Her expression tightened, almost as if she were caught in thoughts she couldn't escape. Sounak. I knew his name and what he'd meant to her, but I also knew that this wasn't the time to show her I understood that part of her past. Not yet.

Instead, I shifted a little closer, just enough so she could feel my presence. I wanted her to know I was here for her, no matter what weighed on her mind. And maybe, someday, she'd let that part of her heart find room for something new, something... ours.

As if sensing my thoughts, she looked up, her eyes meeting mine. There was something unspoken in her gaze-gratitude, maybe, but also a flicker of something warmer. I could feel it too, the slow build of something we weren't ready to name.

"Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"For what?" I replied, my voice equally low, mirroring the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"For... being here. For letting me feel this way, just... safe."

A warmth spread in my chest, and I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Anytime," I said simply, knowing she understood the weight of that promise.

We fell silent again, but it was a silence that was anything but empty. She kept her gaze on me a moment longer, and I felt a slight pulse, an unspoken understanding passing between us. Maybe it was the start of something that neither of us had anticipated, but somehow, tonight, it felt like enough.

Ruhi's eyelids grew heavy as she sat curled up on the couch, her head resting against the cushion, the half-empty mug slipping from her fingers. I reached out to take it, setting it down on the table. She looked exhausted; the weight of everything she was carrying was finally catching up to her.