The night seemed alive, it's cold breath weaving through the spaces between them as if trying to uncover the secrets neither dared to speak. Aika stood close, her chest brushing against his, her warmth defying the chill. Her hands rested lightly on his chest, their tremor betraying the calm she worked so hard to project. Her breaths were steady but shallow, her dark eyes locked on his with an intensity that made the air between them feel heavier. The faint hum of the streetlights above was the only sound, but even that seemed distant compared to the unspoken tension filling the silence.
“That was… some crazy luck,” she said at last, her voice soft and uncertain. A wry smile flickered across her lips, but it was faint, unconvincing. “I mean, they just ran off like that? It doesn’t make sense.”
Her words weren’t accusatory, but they pressed against him like a weight he couldn’t shake. He forced a laugh, low and easy, running a hand through his hair as if to downplay the moment. Inside, his thoughts raced, searching for a response that wouldn’t betray the truth he worked so hard to conceal.
“Well, you know,” he began, his tone casual. “Sometimes dumb luck is all you need. I just happened to stumble at the right time, I guess.”
But Aika didn’t laugh. Her gaze stayed fixed on him, sharp and unrelenting. The slight furrow in her brows deepened as she tilted her head, studying him in that way that always made him feel exposed.
“Sharva,” she said, her voice soft but firm, “you don’t seriously expect me to believe that was just luck, do you?”
He felt the dragon stir within him, its presence coiling at the edges of his restraint like a predator awakened by her words. Its instincts screamed for release, for action. It wanted to show her, to prove to her what he was capable of, but Sharva silenced it with the sheer force of his will.
“I mean it,” he said, shrugging with an apologetic smile. “Adrenaline does weird things to people. I didn’t have time to think—I just reacted. Honestly, I’m as surprised as you are.”
Aika’s lips parted as if to argue, but she hesitated. Her fingers pressed slightly harder against his chest, grounding herself as she stared into his eyes. “The way you fought tonight,” she said slowly, her voice measured, “it didn’t look like someone who was just reacting. It was precise. Controlled. Like you’ve done it before.”
Her words struck him with the force of a blow, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe. The dragon’s fire burned in his veins, urging him to act, to protect her in the only way it knew how. But he couldn’t let her see that side of him—not now, not ever.
“I guess I’ve watched too many action movies,” he said, forcing another laugh. He reached up to rub the back of his neck, his movements deliberate, casual. “You know, muscle memory or something? I’m really not as coordinated as I looked tonight, trust me.”
Aika’s eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable. She didn’t look angry, but the weight of her silence pressed against him, making the space between them feel suffocating. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, almost a whisper.
“You think I don’t know you by now?” she asked, her tone tinged with a mixture of frustration and tenderness. “You’re not as clumsy as you pretend to be, Sharva. And tonight… tonight felt different.”
He swallowed hard, his thoughts a tangled mess of fear and guilt. The dragon roared within, clawing at the walls of his composure, but he forced it back. He couldn’t let her see.
“Aika,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He reached up to cup her face, his thumb brushing gently against her cheek. Her skin was warm beneath his touch, grounding him in the moment. “I swear to you, there’s nothing more to it. I just got lucky tonight. That’s all.”
Her gaze softened at his touch, and for a moment, the tension in her shoulders seemed to ease. But the doubt in her eyes didn’t completely fade. “I want to believe you,” she murmured, leaning slightly into his hand. “But something tells me there’s more you’re not saying.”
Her words cut deeper than any blade, and for a moment, he considered telling her everything—the dragon, the power, the part of himself he had buried to keep her safe. But the thought of seeing fear or mistrust in her eyes stopped him cold.
“I’ll always protect you,” he said instead, his voice steady, resolute. “No matter what. That’s all you need to know.”
Aika studied him for a long moment, her expression a mixture of frustration and resignation. Finally, she nodded, though the slump of her shoulders betrayed the weight of her unanswered questions.
“Alright,” she said softly. “But I hope you know I’m not giving up. If there’s something you’re hiding, I’ll figure it out.”
He smiled faintly, the gesture more for her benefit than his own. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you,” he said.
They stood in silence for a moment longer, the night air wrapping around them like a shroud. Then, gently, he took her hand and began leading her toward the car. Their footsteps echoed softly against the pavement, the tension between them lingering like an unspoken question.
When they reached the car, Aika glanced at him again, her expression thoughtful. “You’re always so calm,” she said quietly, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his arm as they stood by the door. “Even tonight, when everything felt so… chaotic. How do you do it?”
He smiled down at her, his heart heavy with the weight of his secret. “I guess I’ve just gotten good at keeping it together,” he said lightly. “For you.”
Her lips curved into a small smile, her head tilting as she looked up at him. “Well, I’m glad you’re here,” she murmured. “Even if you’re frustratingly secretive sometimes.”
He chuckled, the sound genuine this time, though the guilt still gnawed at him. “And I’m glad you’re safe,” he said simply.
As they climbed into the car, the hum of the engine filled the quiet between them. Aika leaned against his shoulder, her fingers absently tracing patterns on his arm—a small, unconscious gesture that always soothed him.
“You really are full of surprises,” she murmured, her voice soft, her eyes fluttering closed.
Sharva glanced at her, his heart aching with the weight of what he couldn’t say. She was his light, the one person who made him believe he could control the fire within, who gave him a reason to keep the darkness at bay.
The dragon within him settled, its restless energy contained—for now. But he knew it wouldn’t stay silent forever.
One day, she would learn the truth. And when that day came, he could only hope she would still look at him with the same love and trust she did tonight.
For now, this moment—this fragile, fleeting peace—would have to be enough.
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14 Dec 24
Since no one read this story, I will not continue the story on Wattpad and only for myself at googledocs.
If any of you read this message and want me to continue the story, just comment. I will continue. Thank you
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Beneath the Ashes
Paranormal⚠️ ADULT STORY - Magical Realism In the quiet, lantern-lit streets of Matsushima, Sharva stumbles upon a small ramen shop hidden between towering buildings. Hungry and desperate for warmth, he steps inside-only to be captivated by Aika, the enigmati...
