Lana
I woke up feeling sore all over, as if my body had been through a brutal battle. My limbs ached, my head felt heavy, and every small movement sent a sharp pulse of discomfort through me.
The cold air brushed against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. I instinctively pulled the blanket tighter around me.
And then—memories from last night crashed into me like a tidal wave.
The drinking contest. Coming back to my room. Kaelith. Sylas. Their hands. Their warmth. Me—drunkenly teasing Kaelith. And then—
My eyes widened in horror. "N-no…" I shook my head in panic. "Don't tell me I actually…!"
My fingers trembled as I slowly peeked under the blanket. My eyes widened in horror. My neck, shoulders, and other places that shouldn't be exposed were covered in faint red marks.
I quickly reached for the small mirror on the bedside table and almost dropped it when I saw my reflection.
"Oh my God!" I hurriedly covered my neck with my hands. "Love bites?! This many?! Am I insane?!"
I was.
I had to be.
But before I could fully process the catastrophe that was my life, I tried to move—only to feel a sharp pain shooting through my lower body.
I winced, biting my lip. Okay, walking was going to be a challenge today.
Trying to distract myself, I reached for the water on the bedside table. I took a sip, then paused. The taste was slightly bitter. Strange.
Still, I finished the entire glass, too preoccupied with my internal panic to care.
"Ugh… now's not the time to complain about water." I groaned, rubbing my face. "Last night… don't tell me I really—"
Before I could finish my sentence, the bedroom door swung open.
I froze.
Instinctively, I pulled the blanket up to my chin as Sylas casually strolled in, looking far too smug for my liking.
"Oh? You're finally awake?" His tone was dripping with amusement. "I thought you'd sleep all day after… well, you know~"
I panicked.
"N-No! I don't know! I don't remember anything!" I quickly denied, my voice coming out louder than I intended.
Sylas raised an eyebrow, his brown eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh? Is that so? Well then, I could help you remember~"
"NO NEED!" I yelped.
But the moment I tried to stand, my legs gave out.
I barely had time to brace for impact before strong arms effortlessly caught me.
"Whoa, easy there, my sweet human," Sylas chuckled before—without warning—lifting me into his arms in a bridal carry.
Wait… his sweet human?!
New nickname?
"W-What are you doing?!" I squirmed, but Sylas only smirked, holding me easily.
"Helping you, of course. You can't walk in this condition, so I'll take you to the bathroom."
"I can go by myself!" I protested, my face burning.
"Yeah? Then go ahead."
I opened my mouth to argue—but yeah. There was no winning this.
I scowled, but let him carry me.
His steady footsteps echoed against the stone floor, and I hated how effortless it seemed for him to carry me like this.
By the time we reached the bathroom, Sylas nudged the door open with his foot and gently lowered me onto a stool.
I immediately tightened my grip on the blanket, eyeing him warily.
"Alright, I'm here now. You can leave." I said quickly, hoping—praying—he would actually listen.
Of course, I was being naïve.
Sylas smirked. "Are you sure? You can't even stand properly. What if you fall and hit your pretty little head?"
"I'll be fine!"
"Really? Because last night—"
"Don't finish that sentence!" I shrieked.
Sylas grinned but leaned back, finally relenting. "Fine, fine. I'll let you suffer on your own, then."
He turned toward the door, but before he could leave, another voice cut through the room.
"You two are too noisy."
My entire body tensed.
I looked up—and my stomach dropped.
Kaelith stood at the doorway, his brown eyes dark, unreadable.
His gaze flicked between me and Sylas, lingering on me for barely a second before turning away, as if I wasn't worth his attention.
Something felt… wrong.
Kaelith always looked cold, but this was different.
Sylas, of course, remained completely unfazed. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Ah, perfect timing, Kael. Our sweet human here needs help washing up."
I turned to kick Sylas in the shin, but before I could, Kaelith's voice cut through the air like ice. "Do it yourself."
His tone was flat. Dismissive.
I stilled.
I blinked, uncertain if I had misheard him.
Kaelith had never been warm to me, but this wasn't just indifference. This was rejection.
Something inside me twisted painfully.
I hesitated before forcing the words out. "Kaelith… are you… mad at me?"
A stupid question but I needed to ask.
Kaelith's jaw tightened.
For a fleeting second, something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
Then, his expression hardened.
"Don't flatter yourself, human."
And before I could react—he turned on his heel and walked away.
The door slammed shut behind him.
The sound rippled through the room like a final decision.
Like a wall slamming down between us.
I felt something in my chest sink.
I… I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this.
Sylas let out a low whistle. "Damn. He's in an even worse mood than I thought."
I said nothing.
Because I didn't know how to respond.
A tense silence filled the bathroom.
Kaelith's presence had left a lingering chill, and I hated that I could still feel the weight of his cold gaze on me, even after he had gone.
Sylas, on the other hand, didn't seem affected at all.
In fact, he was watching me with an annoyingly amused expression.
I clenched my jaw. "Stop looking at me like that."
Sylas grinned. "Like what?"
"Like you know something I don't."
His smirk widened. "Oh, but I do."
I didn't have the patience for this.
Not after what just happened. Not after the way Kaelith had looked at me—like I was nothing.
I turned my back to Sylas, hugging the blanket around me.
"Just leave. I can handle myself."
Sylas raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
Because the moment I tried to step into the bath, my knees buckled again.
A sharp gasp left my lips as my body tilted forward, but Sylas was faster.
Warm hands gripped my waist, catching me before I hit the ground.
I stiffened.
His fingers pressed into my bare skin, steady, firm.
Too close.
Too familiar.
"Tch. You really can't do anything on your own, huh?" His voice was playful, but there was something else beneath it.
Something I couldn't quite place.
Sylas slowly lifted me upright, his grip lingering for a moment longer than necessary before finally letting go.
"Guess I'll have to help you after all," he mused.
I glared at him. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
He tilted his head, pretending to think. "Yes."
I was going to die of embarrassment.
But before I could protest again, Sylas suddenly leaned in—so close I could feel his breath against my ear.
"Relax, sweetheart," he whispered, his voice smooth like silk. "I've already seen all of you, remember?"
I shoved him away. "Get out!"
Sylas laughed, stepping back with his hands raised in surrender.
"Fine, fine. I'll behave—for now."
With one last smirk, he finally walked out, closing the door behind him.
The moment he was gone, I let out a heavy sigh.
My heart was pounding.
Not because of Sylas but because of Kaelith.
Why?
Why did his rejection hurt more than it should?
With that, I slowly sank into the warm water, trying to wash everything away.
The tension. The confusion. The dull ache that refused to fade.
But even as I closed my eyes, even as the heat soothed my sore body…
I could still feel it.
The ghost of Sylas and Kaelith's touch.
And the cold emptiness Kaelith left behind.
I let out a shaky breath. Just forget it.
Everything.
For now, I just needed to breathe.
I sank lower, the water reaching up to my chin. My body finally began to relax—
Until something grabbed my wrist.
I froze.
The warmth of the water turned ice cold.
Another hand—wet, slimy, inhuman—wrapped around my ankle.
Then another.
And another.
No—
I gasped, jerking up, my hands thrashing against the unseen grips tightening around me. My pulse pounded in my ears as the water rippled violently, the once-still surface now churning with shadows.
No. No. No.
This wasn't real.
Right?
Then why—
Another hand slithered up my back.
I screamed.
I couldn't move.
The hands pulled. Dragging. Tearing me down.
No.
Not now.
Not like this.
I kicked, twisted, fought against the invisible force, but it was useless. The grip was too strong. My lungs burned, my breath turning shallow.
I was sinking.
No.
No!
Not now.
Not when—
Not when I still needed to apologize to Kaelith.
For crossing the line last night.
For everything.
I haven't—
I haven't apologized yet!
Then—the water swallowed me whole.
To be continued…