Chereads / Embers Of The Night / Chapter 10 - Chapter Ten:

Chapter 10 - Chapter Ten:

Mia stood there dumbfounded. Was she really the one he was referring to? Her breath caught in her throat. Is he confessing his feelings to her? Was he really serious?

Mia placed her hand on her chest, her heart was beating fast.

She has never felt this way before. How was he making her feel this way? She barely knew him but she felt something deep inside her.

She didn't even know his name and yet he was already confessing his love?

"Look, I know we kissed and all that, but it does not mean there is something between you and I."

She watched his face drop but she took a deep breath to calm herself. She had to put her foot down, this was a guy she had known for just a day. He disappeared and returned after a week as if nothing happened.

He broke into her house when she was asleep and now he was confessing love to her?

"Anna look….."

"Please sir, please just leave. Leave me alone. I don't want this. You saved me from those guys and I'm very thankful for that. But this can't happen. I don't know who you are, where you come from or what you do. So please sir, please leave me alone," Mia begged.

Lysander didn't know what to say or do. He hasn't been in a situation like this.

"Anna," he whispered, his voice filled with desperation and longing.

"We've only shared a moment, I don't even know your name and a kiss feels too heavy to understand what lies beneath."

Mia didn't know why her voice was trembling like that. She has never felt this way and the only question was who was this man? Why was he making her feel this way? Why was she yearning for him just a moment ago and how he's here but she's pushing him away.

Lysander stepped forward, his gaze gentle and soft on her. Why was she making things difficult for him? Why couldn't she just reciprocate what he felt? Why was she hurting him like this?

Lysander didn't want to feel this pain. He wanted the pain to disappear, yet, the only person who could help him was rejecting him.

Mia stood glued to her spot, anticipating his next move as he walked towards her.

Was he going to kiss her again? Was she going to feel those little things he made her feel?

Lysander stopped right in front of her and held her face gently in his palms.

"Anna, I have lived for centuries and no one has made me feel this way. I don't look at any woman twice and I have never thought of that but you changed it. You make me yearn for you every single day by doing absolutely nothing. You are so delicate, pure and innocent and I wish not to drag you into my world of darkness but I can't seem to stay away from you. But as much as I love you, I'm not willing to let you suffer or do something you don't want to, so I'll just leave."

Tears stung Mia's eyes, her throat hurt from trying to hold back her tears as she watched slowly turn to leave through the open window.

'Stop him Mia, don't let him leave,' a part of her yelled.

She wanted to stop him too. Ask him to stop and hug her, kiss her like he did the last time, but all these emotions were overwhelming. Her brains was in a state of disarray, she wasn't thinking straight. She didn't know what she wanted and didn't even know what to do.

This was all new to her.

She slowly turned her head to look at him and their gaze locked for a second before Lysander slipped out of the window.

Mia's heart sank. She stood frozen, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions. His presence still lingered in the air, but doubts clouded her thoughts. She felt a deep ache in her chest, a longing that pulled her towards him even if she pushed him away.

Mia's heart was torn. She has never felt such an intense feeling for someone but here she was heartbroken about a stranger she shared a stupid kiss with.

'Was it actually stupid?' She wondered.

The kiss they shared ignited something within her that was hard to ignore. Was it because it was her first kiss? Did everyone feel this way after their first kiss? Was she in love?

Fear gripped her, whispering to her that she didn't really know him.

'Didn't really?' That sounded stupid because she didn't know him at all. And judging from the way he looked, she could tell they were worlds apart.

Mia now stared at the window where he had just jumped out of. It was now empty, just like she was feeling inside. What if she made a mistake? Was if this was her only chance to be with him?

Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized she was probably in love with him too.

'Was this really love at first sight?'

Mia sighed when she realized she made fear dictate her actions. She wished she had the courage to call him back or find him, to tell him her heart was his. Even if her mind was still battling with uncertainty.

*************

"You took Lysander to see that human? How can you be this reckless?"Lucian snapped, his voice enchoing through the hall.

Alaric didn't know what to say to Lucian so he just stayed silent but his silence only added to Lucian's fury.

"What don't the two of you get? She's too fragile, unpredictable and far too tempting for our kind. Especially for Lysander, yet you just disregard my warning and take him to see her? What is wrong with you Alaric?"

Alaric scratched the back of his neck, looking at Morg with a pleading look but she just smirked at shook her head.

"Lucian, Lysander is really in love with her. And besides, it felt like the right to do," Alaric tried to justify himself.

"Right thing? You know how dangerous this is. What if she exposes us? Or worse, get hurt."

"You don't understand Lucian. That human is different . You should see the way Lysander talks about her. I think she sees him for who he is and not just some monster lurking in the dark. I think he deserves a chance to love."

Alaric was trying to make Lucian understand, even though he knew it was an impossible task.

" And what happens when she discovers the truth? When she learns we're predators and not just creatures of the night.Do you think she will still be willing to stay?"

"I think Lysander knows the risk involved here, but he chose to follow his heart. And that's beautiful, because I do believe in true love.

Alaric's words made Lucian's jaw clench in anger. Why can't this man in front of him think like for once?

"Beautiful?" Lucian scoffed, anger shimmering below the surface. "Fleeting fantasy, that's what it's called. He'll lose her….and when he does, he'll realize the price of his foolishness."

"And what if nothing like that happens? What if she chooses him? You know you don't get to dictate Lysander's life right? You can't let your fears lead his life.

The tension between them cackled like lightning and for a moment, Lucian felt a pang of doubt. Was he really afraid, or was he trying to protect the people he cared about? But the thought of losing Lysander to a human was unbearable. He didn't even want to imagine that.

"He's going to stay away from her. I won't let him put himself in danger because of some infatuation," Lucian said, his voice low and dangerous.

"Lysander is a grown man Lucian, let him do whatever he wants. Besides, he's not just any normal vampire," Morg chipped in.

"Then he shouldn't be acting like a normal vampire," Lucian snapped.

"What's going on here?" Lysander's voice broke the tension in the room. Alaric was finally able to breath properly.

"Talk to Lucian," he said, leaving the two to settle what was between them.

Morg seeing the way Lucian and Lysander were looking at each other, she knew all hell was going to break loose soon so she quietly followed Alaric out.

************

Morg and Alaric were standing on the rooftop, staring at the sun that was now rising.

Their thoughts were somewhere else - Lucian in Lysander.

"Do you think they'll be alright?" Morg asked, her voice soft and laced with concern. " Lysander is so taken with the human girl and, and Lucian…..I don't even know what to think," she sighed.

Alaric sighed, his gaze distant on the distant horizon.

"Lucian doesn't understand love. He sees it as a mere weakness. I think he's just scared of what could happen if Lysander gets too close. But Lysander….he had never felt this way before. It's different for him."

"I just can't imagine the tension in the room right now," Alaric shook his head.

"Do you think we should intervene?" Morg asked concerned.

"Let's give them time. Even though I'm curious about what is going on there." Alaric chuckled.

"Me too," Morg laughed.