I sat in my room, staring at the wall, feeling like I'd been punched in the gut. The room was dimly lit, shadows stretching long across the stone floor.
My thoughts were a chaotic mess, tangled like a knot I couldn't untie. I'd been in fights, faced down demons more terrifying than any nightmare, but this... this was different. This was inside, gnawing at me from the inside out.
I couldn't shake the image of Aeliana running away, her eyes filled with hurt, betrayal, and something else I couldn't quite name. The look on her face haunted me, a constant replay in my mind.
I could still feel the heat of Cassandra's lips against mine, uninvited and unwanted, but it wasn't the kiss that unsettled me. It was the thought that Aeliana had seen it. And that I'd lost her trust, maybe even her affection.
"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples as if I could massage the frustration out of my head. I felt like a complete idiot. The heartbreaker, the fierce, untouchable Ciara, now sitting here, broken-hearted. How had I let this happen? How had I become so... so tangled up in feelings?
I kicked my foot against the leg of my chair in frustration, the sharp crack of wood on wood cutting through the silence of the room.
"What the hell am I supposed to do now?" I groaned, burying my face in my hands. I felt like I was losing control, and I hated that feeling more than anything.
The demon side of me craved chaos, thrived on it, but this… this was different. It was personal. Messy. And it was eating me alive.
The door creaked open, and I immediately tensed, ready to snap at whoever dared to interrupt my brooding. But when I glanced up, I saw my mother standing in the doorway, her soft eyes twinkling with that mix of amusement and concern she always had.
"Ciara, darling," Lucie began, her voice smooth like silk, "Why do you look like a wet cat?"
I blinked, momentarily taken aback. "A wet cat?" I repeated, frowning.
She smiled warmly and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Yes, a wet cat. All sulky and miserable." She tilted her head, studying me with those knowing eyes of hers. "What's happened to my fierce little demon?"
I scowled. "Nothing. I'm just… thinking."
"Thinking?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow as she crossed the room to sit beside me. "You never think, darling. You act."
I couldn't help but let out a small, frustrated laugh. "Yeah, well, maybe that's my problem. Maybe I've been acting too much, and not thinking enough."
Lucie sighed and gently placed a hand on my shoulder. "You know, for someone who prides herself on being so strong and fierce, you're awfully fragile right now."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not fragile, Mother. I'm just… confused."
She chuckled softly. "Confused, heartbroken, whatever you want to call it. I know that look. It's the same look your mother had when she first realized she loved me. Completely lost."
I groaned, leaning back in my chair. "This isn't love. This is… Attraction."
Lucie gave me a knowing smile. "You can lie to yourself all you want, but I'm your mother. I know what love looks like. Even in a demon like you."
I felt a blush creeping up my neck and immediately scowled, trying to mask it with annoyance. "Mother, please. You're not helping."
She laughed again, the sound light and musical. "I'm always helping, darling. You just don't like hearing it."
I folded my arms, pouting slightly despite myself. "I don't know what to do. I feel like… like I've messed everything up."
Lucie leaned in closer, her smile fading into a more serious expression. "Do you care for this girl?"
I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. "I… I don't know. I mean, yes. I do. But it's more than that. It's like I need her, and it scares me."
She nodded, her eyes softening with understanding. "That's a good thing, Ciara. It means you're capable of caring, of feeling something deeper than just hunger or desire."
"Yeah, but what good is that?" I huffed, frustrated. "I've just ended up hurting her, and now she won't even look at me."
Lucie sighed, leaning back. "Ciara, you've always been so strong, so fierce. But strength doesn't mean pushing people away or hiding from your feelings. Sometimes, it means letting yourself be vulnerable, letting yourself care."
I swallowed hard, her words striking a chord deep within me. "I don't know how to fix this," I admitted quietly.
Lucie's hand moved to cup my cheek, her thumb brushing gently across my skin. "You don't have to fix everything right away. Sometimes, you just need to be honest, to say what's in your heart."
I snorted. "Honesty? That's not exactly my strong suit."
She chuckled. "Well, maybe it's time to practice, then."
I looked at her, searching her face for answers, for some kind of guidance. "But what if… what if it's too late? What if I've already lost her?"
Lucie's smile was soft and reassuring. "Oh, darling, it's never too late. You just have to find the courage to try."
I let out a long breath, feeling some of the tension ease from my shoulders. "And if it doesn't work?"
She shrugged. "Then you'll have tried. And you'll be stronger for it. But I have a feeling that girl feels more for you than you realize."
I stared at her, trying to process her words, trying to find some comfort in them. "You really think so?"
Lucie grinned. "I know so. And besides, no one can resist my daughter for long."
I laughed, a genuine sound that felt good, easing some of the weight in my chest. "You're biased, Mother."
She winked. "Of course I am. But I'm also right."
I sighed, feeling a little better, a little more hopeful. "I don't know if I have the courage to face her yet," I confessed.
Lucie nodded. "That's okay. Take your time. But don't wait too long, Ciara. Life's too short to waste on doubt and fear."
I nodded, feeling a bit lighter, a bit more ready to face whatever came next. "Thanks, Mother," I said softly. "I needed that."
She leaned over and kissed my forehead. "That's what I'm here for, darling. To remind you that everything will be alright, even when it feels like it won't."
And somehow, hearing those words made me believe it, just a little bit.