I stared at him, utterly confused. What is he talking about?โHow do you usually do that?โ he asked, his eyes scanning me intently.โDo what?โ I replied, unsure of what he meant.โHow do you always walk in without me hearing you? You did it in the bathroom, and now again. I wouldnโt even have known you were standing behind me if it werenโt for your scent calling my attention to you.โ His words made me frown as I instinctively sniffed the air and glanced toward the bathroom, trying to understand what he was referring to.โYou smell so good, and I canโt help but admit that your scent was the first thing that kept me groundedโespecially the night we met. You know, after witnessing the death of Ericโs parents, it awakened a fierce, protective side of me. A side that always wants to keep him safe. A side that wants to keep us safe.โHis confession didnโt just leave me stunnedโit set a whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind.โWhat? Did you just say you witnessed what happened to Ericโ
I walked into the sitting room and found Lily on the couch, her figure slouched as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. She seemed lost in thought, so much so that she didnโt notice me enter.It took a moment before she finally looked my way, and the exhaustion in her eyes hit me like a punch to the chest. Guilt twisted inside me, sharp and unrelenting, as I realized how much pain I might have caused her. I opened my mouth to apologize, to say somethingโanythingโbut the words refused to come out.โI see youโre ready. Letโs go. Iโm sure Jess and Alex are already waiting for us,โ she said, her tone flat, her eyes distant. She didnโt wait for a response as she walked past me and headed outside. All I could do was quietly follow her, the weight of her coldness pressing down on me.When we reached the car, I moved to open the front passenger door for her, hoping sheโd sit beside me. But instead, she slipped into the backseat without hesitation, creating an invisible barrier
โLily, stop! Please!โ Ericโs voice was desperate as another wave slammed into me, knocking me back for the tenth time. I was exhausted, but I didnโt care. That was until Eric stepped directly into my path, blocking me.โMove out of my way,โ I said, my voice laced with warning.โNo, this is insane!โ he shot back, but his words only stoked the fire of my anger.โWhy is it insane? Let me guessโyou donโt think I can make it to Terranovae, do you?โ I asked, staring him down. He avoided my gaze, and that hurt more than the waves ever could. He didnโt even have a shred of faith in me.โLily, Iโm just worried about you! I donโt know what that dragon told you, but the skills he taught you? Theyโre useless! Heโs just setting you up to get yourself killed. Letโs go back to the shore. Youโre soaked, youโre freezingโplease!โ He reached out to touch me, but I stepped back, anger flaring.I stared at him in disbelief. How could he say that to me? โI donโt need you to worry about me, Eric! Worry abou
โLily, Lily, wake up!โ A voice whispered in my ear. My eyes fluttered open, and I was met with nothing but darkness. A sharp pain throbbed at the back of my head.I couldn't understand what was happening or where I was. Looking around, I couldn't pick up a single sound or light. But the strange thing wasโI was still floating. Then it hit me. I was still beneath the sea. Panic shot through me as I immediately swam up to the surface, but that only made my fear intensify.Nothing made sense. When I reached the surface, the moon that once shone brightly on the seaโs horizon was gone, leaving me and the vast body of water swallowed in total darkness.But the moon wasnโt the only thing missingโthe storm had vanished too, leaving the sea eerily silent. A chilling stillness settled over me, and worst of all, I was completely lost, with no way of finding my way back to shore.I turned left, then right, but all I could see was endless water stretching around me. A shiver ran down my spine as pa
"Michael, wait up! Mum says we need to come home together.""I know, Lily, but you need to keep up.""I'm trying, but you're way too fast. And besides, why didnโt Dad pick us up today?""Because itโs your birthday. Dad is helping Mum at homeโIโm sure of it.""Are you sure? Or is he just in another meeting?""I donโt know, Lily. But Mum wants us to take the bus home.""This birthday is going to suck if Dad isnโt around.""You invited your friends, right?""Iโm not like you, Michael. You have friends. Youโre smart and cool. But no one wants to be friends with a freak like me.""Thatโs not true, Lily. And you need to stop saying things that are way beyond your age.""Way beyond my age? Michael, Iโm turning eleven today. Iโm not a child anymore. Complaining about not having friends isnโt something beyond my age."I sighed in frustration. Why does she always have to be so sharp? Itโs always been like this with Lily, and honestly, thatโs one of the things I love most about her."Iโm not say
Michael left, shutting the wardrobe doors behind me. The space was too small, too tightโI could barely breathe. My knees were pressed to my chest, and the scent of wood mixed with my own sweat filled my nostrils. Time dragged on, stretching into what felt like forever. My heart pounded so loudly I was afraid someone might hear it.I wanted to stay hidden like Michael told me, but fear and curiosity gnawed at me. I couldn't take it anymore. With shaky hands, I pushed the wardrobe door open and climbed out. My feet barely made a sound as I crept toward the bedroom door, every step feeling heavier with dread.Slowly, I opened the door and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. My body trembled, but I forced myself to keep going. I had to know what was happening. I had to see.Reaching the top of the staircase, I gripped the railing and peered down.Mum and Dad were on their knees, their hands restrained by two men. My breath caught in my throat. A woman I had never seen before sat before th
I woke up after the worst nightmare, my heart pounding in my chest. My eyes darted around, and I found myself inside my room. A wave of unease washed over me. Without wasting a second, I rushed outside to find my mum, but the entire house was eerily silent.โMum! Mum!!โ I called out, but there was no response.Swallowing the growing fear, I walked to her room and knocked. No answer. With trembling hands, I turned the doorknob and pushed the door openโonly to find an empty room. My breathing grew shallow. Something was wrong.Panic set in as I ran upstairs to find Michael, but his room was empty too. My chest tightened. Everyone was gone. I was alone.โMum! Dad! Michael!โ I screamed, my voice breaking as tears blurred my vision.Then, I heard itโfootsteps approaching. My entire body froze. Slowly, I turned around, and there she wasโthe lady in the red dress. She stood in front of me, laughing like a maniac. The sound of her laughter echoed around me, growing louder and louder until it
Lilyโs POV"Lilly! Lilly! Wake up, you log of wood!" Annabellaโs shrill voice pierced through my ears as she screamed beside me.I groaned, reluctant to leave the comfort of sleep, but when I opened my eyes, I saw Anastasia standing at the door, arms crossed with an unimpressed expression. Of course, the twins. They made my mornings a living nightmare, and today was no exception."Youโre in so much trouble," Annabella sneered, her lips curling in disgust. "Mum told you to wake up earlier, and itโs already 6:30 a.m. Yet, here you are, still sleeping like some useless princess."I sighed, pushing myself up from the bed and walking past them without a word. There was no point in arguingโI had learned that the hard way.Itโs been eleven yearsโeleven whole f*cking yearsโsince I was washed up by the sea and found by a kind farmer who took me in. But instead of the life I hoped for, he died, leaving me with his wife, who has done nothing but turn my life into a living hell alongside her chil
โLily, Lily, wake up!โ A voice whispered in my ear. My eyes fluttered open, and I was met with nothing but darkness. A sharp pain throbbed at the back of my head.I couldn't understand what was happening or where I was. Looking around, I couldn't pick up a single sound or light. But the strange thing wasโI was still floating. Then it hit me. I was still beneath the sea. Panic shot through me as I immediately swam up to the surface, but that only made my fear intensify.Nothing made sense. When I reached the surface, the moon that once shone brightly on the seaโs horizon was gone, leaving me and the vast body of water swallowed in total darkness.But the moon wasnโt the only thing missingโthe storm had vanished too, leaving the sea eerily silent. A chilling stillness settled over me, and worst of all, I was completely lost, with no way of finding my way back to shore.I turned left, then right, but all I could see was endless water stretching around me. A shiver ran down my spine as pa
โLily, stop! Please!โ Ericโs voice was desperate as another wave slammed into me, knocking me back for the tenth time. I was exhausted, but I didnโt care. That was until Eric stepped directly into my path, blocking me.โMove out of my way,โ I said, my voice laced with warning.โNo, this is insane!โ he shot back, but his words only stoked the fire of my anger.โWhy is it insane? Let me guessโyou donโt think I can make it to Terranovae, do you?โ I asked, staring him down. He avoided my gaze, and that hurt more than the waves ever could. He didnโt even have a shred of faith in me.โLily, Iโm just worried about you! I donโt know what that dragon told you, but the skills he taught you? Theyโre useless! Heโs just setting you up to get yourself killed. Letโs go back to the shore. Youโre soaked, youโre freezingโplease!โ He reached out to touch me, but I stepped back, anger flaring.I stared at him in disbelief. How could he say that to me? โI donโt need you to worry about me, Eric! Worry abou
I walked into the sitting room and found Lily on the couch, her figure slouched as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. She seemed lost in thought, so much so that she didnโt notice me enter.It took a moment before she finally looked my way, and the exhaustion in her eyes hit me like a punch to the chest. Guilt twisted inside me, sharp and unrelenting, as I realized how much pain I might have caused her. I opened my mouth to apologize, to say somethingโanythingโbut the words refused to come out.โI see youโre ready. Letโs go. Iโm sure Jess and Alex are already waiting for us,โ she said, her tone flat, her eyes distant. She didnโt wait for a response as she walked past me and headed outside. All I could do was quietly follow her, the weight of her coldness pressing down on me.When we reached the car, I moved to open the front passenger door for her, hoping sheโd sit beside me. But instead, she slipped into the backseat without hesitation, creating an invisible barrier
I stared at him, utterly confused. What is he talking about?โHow do you usually do that?โ he asked, his eyes scanning me intently.โDo what?โ I replied, unsure of what he meant.โHow do you always walk in without me hearing you? You did it in the bathroom, and now again. I wouldnโt even have known you were standing behind me if it werenโt for your scent calling my attention to you.โ His words made me frown as I instinctively sniffed the air and glanced toward the bathroom, trying to understand what he was referring to.โYou smell so good, and I canโt help but admit that your scent was the first thing that kept me groundedโespecially the night we met. You know, after witnessing the death of Ericโs parents, it awakened a fierce, protective side of me. A side that always wants to keep him safe. A side that wants to keep us safe.โHis confession didnโt just leave me stunnedโit set a whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind.โWhat? Did you just say you witnessed what happened to Ericโ
I stood in front of the mirror, fidgeting with the hem of my swimsuit. It felt like it exposed far too much of my body, leaving me vulnerable and self-conscious. Maybe I shouldโve ordered something more modest, but it was too late to change that now. With a deep sigh, I grabbed my bathrobe and headed to the pool, knowing Ericโs dragon side was already waiting for me.A part of me wished Eric, the calm and composed version of him, was in control. But deep down, I knew this was my chance to connect with his dragon side, no matter how intimidating he could be.When I reached the pool, he was already in the water, sitting casually with his back to me. The tattoo on his back drew my attention immediately, as it always did, its intricate details glimmering in the dim light. He must have sensed my presence because he turned to face me, his glowing green eyes locking onto mine. A smirk curved his lips, an expression so different from Ericโs usual demeanor that it made my heart skip a beat.Hi
โLily, is not going to be easy,โ Jess said, but that was not what I wanted to hear.โIt has never been easy, Jess, and Iโm done waiting around for some miracle when we can end this. What I need right now is everyoneโs support. With you, Alex, and Eric, I believe I can do it,โ I said, taking her hands in mine. I needed her to see how much I wanted to get this done.โLily, I believe you can do this, but we donโt have much time. We need to make it back to Terranovae before Ericโs second transformation. I spoke to Ericโs dragon side, and it wants us to find the heart before the second transformation, or both the dragon and Eric will be lost. If that happens, a beast shall be born. It doesnโt matter if Eric or the dragon is in controlโthey will both go wild because theyโve been together since birth,โ Alex said, leaving Jess and me staring at him.โOkay, Iโll help you, but first, I need to heal myself. I canโt help you if Iโm this weak,โ Jess said, and in that moment, all I wanted was to hu
Just as I suspected, Lily was still sitting in the exact spot she had been when I left earlier. But now, she looked far worseโher face blotchy and swollen, as though she'd been crying the entire time.Eric stood silently at the doorway, his eyes fixed on her. He looked utterly heartbroken, his pain written plainly across his face as he watched Lily in her despair. She hadnโt noticed our presence yet, lost in the dark cloud of her thoughts.And then, her head lifted, her glassy eyes locking with mine for a brief moment before shifting to Eric. Recognition flared in her gaze, and in the next heartbeat, she flew into his arms.Understanding they needed this moment, I stepped out of the room, giving them the space they so desperately needed. I headed toward the sitting room in search of Jess.When I walked in, I found her curled up on the couch, her legs hugged tightly to her chest. Even in sleep, exhaustion clung to her like a heavy weight, her face taut with tension. The sight of her vu
I watched as an enraged roar tore from the dragonโs mouth, reverberating through the water like a violent storm. His massive body shifted with a rippling motion, scales shimmering ominously from his head down to his long, spiked tail. In one swift movement, he swung the deadly appendage toward me.The sharp, menacing spikes aimed my way forced me to dart aside, narrowly avoiding his weapon. He charged at me with terrifying speed as I swam deeper into the sea, frantically searching for a place to hide. My gaze landed on a large rock near the ocean floor, and I surged toward it. But before I could reach it, the dragon beat me there, cutting off my escape.His wings unfurled, creating a shadow that enveloped me, while his spiked tail lashed menacingly through the water. Those piercing green crystal eyes locked onto mine, burning with fury. The intensity of his glare was suffocating, a silent declaration of his rage. He didnโt just see me as preyโhe saw me as an enemy.I had nowhere to ru
โNo, no, no, we need to find him! Alex, do something!โ Lily's frantic cries filled the room. Her face was a portrait of horror, her pale skin only adding to the starkness of the moment. Tears streamed down her face, and her breath came in sharp gasps, the kind that made my chest tighten with worry. I feared she might pass out if she didn't calm down.โLily, please, look at me. I need you to calm down!โ I pleaded, my voice trembling with urgency as I reached for her. But she recoiled, her body trembling violently, only intensifying my concern. I turned toward Jess, who had been standing behind me, silent and distant. The look on her face told me she was too devastated to help.Why is Eric doing this to me? Everything is spiraling, and I'm losing control. How am I supposed to handle Jess, let alone Lily?Before I could even try to speak, Jess moved toward Lily, gently approaching her before pulling her into a tight hug.โItโs okay, weโll find him. But I need you to calm down,โ Jess said