FORBIDDEN

5

Music: Feels // Kiiara 🎼

Blade could sense Lily's restlessness. He sniffed her out, flashing through the branches of the woods as he draws in closer and closer to the vanilla mint scent in the air.

He stood before her, taking in her small frail figure. Her head was pressed against her hands while she silently sighs to herself.

In front of her, laid a white rose. Blade's eyes widen as he quickly scans the area around them. He sniffed, barely catching the male's scent. His hands balled into fists, trying to compose himself.

"Lily." Blade tried to call softly, but out came a growl instead.

She immediately looked up, signs of distress clearly written underneath her eyes.

Lily didn't know if it was the desperation of being alone, or the fact that she was incredibly terrified that caused her to do what she did next.

Blade stiffened, confirming that it wasn't an illusion that Lily's arms were wrapped around his waist as she silently cries into his chest. Instinctually, he wrapped his arms around Lily protectively. "You're safe now." He whispered before lifting her up, and in a flash, was back standing on the palace's granite floors.

Lily lifted her head from Blade's chest, her eyes widened--clearly from shock and confusion. Every time spent with this man, more questions raised than answered. She seemed to know even more less and less of who exactly Blade is.

She squirmed uncomfortably in his hold, signaling for him to let her down. Except he doesn't. Instead, he just stares intently in her eyes as if trying to read her and draw something from within them.

"You can let me down now." She awkwardly stated. It was embarrassing that her attempt to escape moments ago only landed her in his arms now.

"Who did you meet in the woods?" Blade plainly asked, ignoring her request.

"You know, I'm tired of being ordered around by you. Maybe, if you put me down, I'd respond."

"How will I know you won't try to escape from me again?"

Lily rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Psh--like I could ever escape from you."

A ghost of a small smile etched his lips, but just like that, it was instantly gone. "Accepting your failures is the first step for change."

Lily threw a glare at Blade. "Thanks for the wise quote of the day. Now, put me down."

Blade placed her down, as Lily silently regrets her plea. At least in his arms, she was eye level with him, but now he was towering drastically over her.

His face hardened into a serious stare once again and sternly, he asked, "Who did you meet in the woods?"

"Some guy named Deimos."

Like before with her encounter with Deimos, the temperature around them dropped drastically. Goosebumps covered the bare skin of her neck and arms as she takes a look at Blade. His eyes were oddly dark--so dark, that no traces of the intriguing blue were in them anymore, only the color of charcoal black remained.

She should've been afraid. She should've ran away and screamed for help, but instead she inched closer to the monster.

"Blade..." Lily softly spoke his name while she gently touched his cold arm.

She was expecting a snarl or growl, but her eyes met with the normal blue eyes of Blade as he slowly begins to awaken from his short trance.

"We need to get out of here, now." He pulled her along with him as she rushes up the stairs.