Hours passed in silence, the faint glow of the lantern flickered against the walls, casting restless shadows across the room. Raphael remained motionless by the window, his tall figure blending into the darkness.
Then, he heard it_ the change in her heartbeat. Subtle at first, then stronger, the slow steady rythm changing as consciousness crept into her body. His gaze flickered towards the bed, his expression unreadable as he observed her stir.
A dull ache throbbed behind her eyes as Larissa stirred, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her limbs. Her mind was sluggish, her body strangely light yet drained at the same time. The silence around her was thick, almost suffocating.
She blinked, her vision adjusting to the dim glow of the lantern flickering from nearby stand. The room was unfamiliar. The bed beneath her was far softer than the one she was used to, the air carrying the faint scent of something rich and unplaceable.
Panic stirred in her chest.
She was not in her room. Where was she?!
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to retrace her last memory. The kitchen... She had gone to fetch water. She remembered drinking it, the cool liquid soothing the dryness of her throat. Then_ weakness. Her body had felt foregn, frail. The hallway had stretched endlessly before her as her vision blurred.
And then_ nothing.
Her fingers clenched against the fabric of the blanket. She had fainted. But why...?That had never happened to her before.
A creeping unease curled in the edges of her thoughts.
Slowly, she turned her head, scanning the room with cautious eyes. The place was grand, yet eerily still, the heavy drapes over the windows keeping most of the moonlight at bay. Shadows stretched along the walls, the only source of illumination being the lantern.
Then, her gaze landed on him.
A figure stood by the window, tall and imposing, his back partially turned to her.
Her breath hitched.
Even without seeing his face, she knew, she could feel his burning gaze on her.
His presence was unmistakable, dark and consuming. He stood there like a ghost against the night, his silhouette barely outlined by the weak light filtering through the curtains.
Her chest tightened, an old fear stirring within her. The same fear she had when she first saw him, the same one she had tried to suppress every time she felt his presence nearby.
She forced herself upright, ignoring the weakness in her limbs. The sheets pulled around her as she sat on the edge of the bed, her pulse quickening.
Still, he said nothing. Neither did he move from where he stood. He just watched her .
A slow creeping tension filled the room as she remained on the bed, her heart still hammering from the sight of him. The silence stretched unbearably, heavy and suffocating, until finally, Raphael moved.
He turned.
Moonlight slashed across his sharp features as he shifted from the shadows, his eyes settling on her with an unreadable expression. His face, hauntingly beautiful yet wholly intimidating, held a certain cold amusement that sent a chill down her spine.
"Tell me.." he drawled, arms Loosely crossed as he leaned back against the window frame. " Do you make a habit of collapsing in the hallways, or was tonight a special occasion?"
Larissa blinked, caught off guard by his question. She had expected concern_ well, maybe not concern, but at least something less mocking.
"I.._" she started, her voice hoarse. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I was getting water.. I didn't expect to lose consciousness.._"
"Spare me the details. If you are still breathing, it doesn't matter."
Larissa stiffened. His dismissive tone irritated her, but she had no reason to argue. He had helped her even if he acted as if he didn't care. Forcing herself to push past the discomfort, she swallowed her price and slipped out of the bed. A sharp dizziness struck her the moment she met the ground, but she steadied herself with a deep breath.
Lowering her gaze, she bent slightly at the waist in a small bow.
"Thank you milord for helping me earlier."
She straightened. Her eyes briefly meeting his that stared at her blankly. There was no reaction from his face that indicated that he acknowledged her gratitude, rather, he looked as if he was ready to dismiss her out of the room.
Getting no response, she started moving, her fingers reaching for the door. Without waiting for another second, she pulled it open and stepped out, disappearing into the dimly lit hallway beyond.