Markus arrived at my door one evening, his familiar, easygoing smile making him look out of place against the bleakness of my apartment. I hadn't told him about leaving the mansion—hadn't told anyone, really. I wasn't ready for questions or sympathy. Yet here he was, with that same steady presence that had always been there, lurking quietly in the edges of my life.
"Hey, Nina," he greeted, holding up a bag of takeout and a bottle of wine as he leaned against the doorframe. "Thought you might need a break from, well, whatever it is you're doing out here."
For a moment, I didn't respond. Seeing him at my door felt strange, like a reminder of the life I'd tried to leave behind. But the loneliness was real, and Markus, in his own way, felt like a piece of home—only warmer, more forgiving than the cold walls I'd come from.
I let him in, offering a small, tired smile. "I could use the company," I admitted, stepping back to let him inside.
The apartment looked even smaller with Markus there, his easy movements filling the space as he unpacked the takeout and set it on the tiny kitchen table. He glanced around, taking in the bare walls, the boxes I still hadn't unpacked. There was no judgment in his gaze, only curiosity mixed with a hint of concern.
"Not exactly the Ritz, is it?" he teased gently, handing me a takeout box. His tone was light, but I could see the questions he wasn't asking lingering in his expression.
I shrugged, trying to keep my voice casual. "It's enough. I didn't need much, anyway."
Markus studied me for a moment, his eyes softening as he set down his box and leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. "You don't have to pretend with me, Nina. I know leaving… it wasn't easy."
I sighed, looking down at the cheap linoleum floor, the reality of my choices settling in more heavily than I'd expected. "It was necessary," I replied quietly, though a part of me still struggled to believe it. "Daemon and I… we were holding each other back. I needed space, Markus. I needed to be away from him to figure out who I am."
Markus nodded, his gaze steady, understanding. "You know, there's no rush. You don't have to figure it all out at once. Sometimes, it's okay to just… breathe."
There was something comforting in his words, a warmth that softened the ache I'd been carrying since I left the mansion. Markus wasn't pushing, wasn't judging. He was simply here, his presence a gentle reminder that maybe, I didn't have to do this alone.
Over the next few weeks, Markus became a steady presence in my life. He would drop by after work, bringing takeout or coffee, his laughter filling the empty spaces of the apartment. He didn't ask about Daemon or the fight or the mess I was slowly untangling myself from. Instead, he let me be, let me exist in this strange limbo without forcing me to define it.
One evening, we sat on the floor, takeout boxes scattered around us, and Markus glanced at me, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"You seem… happier," he said, his tone soft, as if he were afraid to break the spell. "Like you're finally letting yourself breathe."
I looked at him, the weight of his words settling over me like a warm blanket. "I didn't realize how much I needed this," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "To be away, to just… exist without expectations."
Markus reached over, his fingers brushing against mine in a light, reassuring touch. "You're allowed to take up space, Nina. You're allowed to find yourself. You don't have to be anything but you."
His words lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a promise. For the first time, I felt seen—not as a responsibility, not as someone who needed saving, but as a person who was enough, exactly as I was. And as I looked at Markus, the familiar warmth in his gaze, I felt a quiet sense of hope blooming in my chest.
Yet even in those quiet, peaceful moments, Daemon's shadow was never far. I'd catch myself wondering if he missed me, if he regretted letting me go. The mansion had felt suffocating, yes, but it had also been a part of me—a part I wasn't sure how to let go of. And Daemon… he had been a constant, however cold and distant. He was family, and now, without him, I felt adrift in a way I hadn't anticipated.
But Markus was there, grounding me, reminding me that I didn't have to carry that weight alone. He was warmth and comfort, a steady presence that filled the emptiness Daemon's absence had left behind. And for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, I could be happy.
Days turned into weeks, and the small apartment began to feel like home. The boxes were slowly unpacked, the walls decorated with memories I chose to keep, and the city outside my window became a familiar hum that lulled me to sleep at night. I was rebuilding, piece by piece, and though it was far from perfect, it was mine.
And every step of the way, Markus was there.