Dark Desires

Chapter 19

The cold night air bites at my skin as I stand hidden among the shadows of the trees, watching Amelia flee from the Hargrove manor. Her sobs echo in the silence, each one a dagger to my heart. This wasn't how I wanted things to go. All I wanted was to show her the truth, to free her from Daven's hold. 

But instead, I've only caused her more pain. I watch as she stumbles through the snow, her heartbreak tearing her apart. The urge to run after her, to hold her, to tell her that everything will be alright, is almost overpowering. But I can't. Not yet. She needed to know what Daven truly is, to understand the monster he's been hiding behind that tortured façade. 

Amelia is too good, too pure to be caught in his web of lies. She doesn't deserve the pain he brings, and I'm going to make damn sure she never has to suffer because of him again. 

Turning away, I slip deeper into the darkness of the forest, my mind racing. I've been planning this for so long, waiting for the moment when I could finally expose Daven for what he is. But now that Amelia knows the truth, I have to act quickly before he tries to pull her back into his clutches. As I make my way to the old, secluded cabin I've been using as my hideout, I can't shake the image of Amelia's face when she learned the truth. The devastation in her eyes... God, I never wanted to hurt her. 

I only wanted to protect her, to show her that she's been falling for a monster. But that's the thing about truth — it hurts. Inside the cabin, I light a lantern, the flickering flame casting shadows on the rough wooden walls. 

The place is sparse — just a few old chairs, a table cluttered with maps and papers, and a bedroll in the corner where I've been sleeping. This is where I've been planning every move, every step to bring Daven down. I never asked for this life. Centuries ago, I was nothing more than a servant in his father's house, a secret bastard born from an affair. The Hargroves made me suffer, treated me like dirt beneath their boots. 

And Daven — he was the golden son, the one who got to live the life that was denied to me. Turning him was never about giving him power; it was about taking everything away from him like they took everything from me. But then Amelia came into the picture, and everything changed. She made me want something different. She made me want... more. I've watched her for months, making sure Daven didn't drag her into his world of blood and darkness.

 She was always so full of life, so kind. Every time she laughed, every time she smiled, it was like a light breaking through the shadows I've been living in for so long. But I know better than anyone that the people you love can become your greatest weakness. That's why I needed to show her what Daven really is, before he destroyed her the way he's destroyed so many others. 

I lean against the table, my fingers tracing the edges of a photograph — one of the few I have of Amelia. Her smile is radiant, her eyes bright. How could someone like her ever belong in a world as dark as ours? My phone buzzes in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pull it out and see a message from Amelia. "Johnathan, I don't know who to trust anymore. Can you meet me? Please." A surge of relief and something like hope blooms in my chest. She's reaching out to me. She's confused, hurt, but she's turning to me for answers. 

She needs someone she can rely on, someone who's not trying to manipulate her like Daven. I quickly type a response: "Of course, Amelia. I'm here for you. Tell me where you are, and I'll come right away." Her reply comes quickly: she wants to meet at an old church on the outskirts of town. It's isolated, far enough away that we won't be interrupted. The perfect place for a conversation that could change everything. 

As I pocket my phone, a flood of emotions rushes through me. I've waited so long for this moment — a chance to finally show her that I'm not like Daven, that I'm someone she can trust. But there's a fear gnawing at the edges of my resolve. What if she still chooses him? What if she can't see that everything I've done was for her? No. I can't think like that. I won't lose her to Daven. I refuse to. I grab my coat and head out into the night. The snow crunches beneath my boots as I make my way toward the meeting place. Each step feels heavier than the last, my thoughts spinning as I try to prepare for what's to come. Amelia is everything I've been fighting for.

 Everything I've done — exposing Daven, pulling her away from him — it was all to protect her. She's the only good thing in this wretched world, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. But there's a voice in the back of my mind, a whisper of doubt that I can't quite silence. I've manipulated, I've schemed, and I've lied. Will she see through me? Will she realize that, in trying to save her, I've become a monster myself? No. I won't let that happen.

 I just need to make her understand. If she'll just listen, if she'll give me a chance, I can show her that I'm not the villain in this story. I can protect her. I can love her. The old church comes into view, its dark silhouette standing stark against the moonlit sky. As I approach, I see Amelia waiting near the entrance, her arms wrapped around herself, her breath misting in the cold air. My heart tightens at the sight of her. God, she looks so fragile, so lost. I have to do this right. I have to convince her that I'm the one who truly cares for her, that I'm the one who can keep her safe. 

"Amelia," I call softly, stepping out of the shadows. She turns to face me, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, her expression a mixture of hope and fear. For a moment, I see a flicker of trust in her eyes, and it gives me hope. But then she takes a step back, her gaze wary. "Johnathan," she says, her voice trembling. "Tell me the truth. What's really going on?" I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "I promise, Amelia, everything I've done was to protect you.

 You don't understand the kind of danger Daven poses. He's a killer. He murdered your mother."Her eyes narrow, and I can see the war raging within her. "And you?" she asks, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Are you really any different?" The question cuts through me like a knife. I step closer, my voice soft, desperate. "Yes, Amelia. I am. I would never hurt you. Everything I've done was to protect you from him. I love you." 

There. I've said it. The words hang in the air between us, raw and vulnerable. For a moment, she just stares at me, her expression unreadable. And then, finally, she speaks, her voice breaking. "If you truly loved me, Johnathan, you wouldn't have torn my world apart." The ground feels like it's slipping away beneath my feet. I reach for her, but she pulls back. "No more lies," she says, her voice firmer now. "I want the truth. All of it."

 I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. This is it. The moment of truth. "Alright, Amelia," I whisper. "I'll tell you everything. But once you know, there's no going back." Because whether she chooses to believe me or not, one thing is certain: I won't let Daven take her from me. Not again.