Scarle wanders through the house, the dream's whispers were still in her mind. Daman's desperate plead haunted her, and though Kier's comfort had eased her anxiety but she still felt a fear growing in her.
As she turned towards a corridor leading to the library, she spotted Maddon seated by the window. He had a book in his lap and a distant look in his eyes. For once, his usual self was absent from his expression. She hesitated first, unsure if she should interrupt.
But Maddon looked up and caught her watching. "Well, well," he said, his lips give a light smirk. "The little ghost haunting my thoughts has decided to appear in person." Scarle rolled her eyes on floor, with awkwardness, "I didn't mean to interrupt you," she replied. "But since you're here, maybe you can help me."
Maddon's expression darkens slightly. "Careful what you go looking for," he said, his voice giving a warning. "You may not like what you find."
Before she could press further, he set the book aside and stand, crossing the room. His eyes held hers. Slowly, he reached out, his fingers sliding on her cheek, tracing a line down to her jaw. "You're not like the others," he murmured, he whispers. "You make us feel things that we'd buried long ago."
Scarle felt her breath stuck. But then Kier entered. "Am I interrupting something?" "Just helping our little guest find her way," he replies, his tone was casual. Kier stepped closer. "Be careful. Not everything in this house is as it seems."
The warning in his words made Scarle's pulse quickened, her curiosity grows. She knew there was something deeper, they weren't telling her. But every attempt to dig further seemed to be met with warnings.
That evening, Scarle, seeing over old family documents in the room. She had uncovered journals, letters, and faded maps, all hinting at a past that her brothers want to keep hidden. One yellow journal caught her eye. It was bound in dark pages yellowed and fragile. Opening it carefully, she sees the faded handwriting, her heart was racing hard as she read an entry that speak of a "binding ritual." The words were filled with warnings, describing how the curse could bind not only bloodlines but souls also that connects them so deeply that escaping would come at a high cost.
The thought was fearful. Was this what her brothers feared? That if she became too entangled with them, they would all be forever? Lost in thought, she didn't hear Daman footsteps until he was right behind her, his eyes falling to the journal in her hands. His face hardened as he reached down, gently closing it.
"You shouldn't be reading that," he said, firmly. Scarle meet his eyes, "Why? Because it might tell me the truth?"
Daman clenched, a shadow on his face. "The truth is dangerous, Scarle. Knowing too much will only make things harder for you. She stand-up her hands turned into fists. "I don't care about danger. I want to understand why is that happening to me and why I feel this… connection to each of you."
A light pain crossed on Daman's face, his expression softened as he stepped closer, his fingers reaching out to gently on her face. "You don't understand. The curse…The more you know, the stronger it becomes."
Her heart pounded as he leaned in, his lips on his ear, "We're bound to you. More deeply than you can think."
Before she responds, his lips were on hers in a kiss that was both gentle and fierce which was filled with a desperation that left her breathless. His hand slide to the back of her neck, holding her closely as he deepens the kiss, his passion was hinting something wild within her.
But just as quickly as it had begun, he pulled away, his expression was a mix with longing and regret. "This is why we keep our distance," he said, stepping back. "Because if we give in, there's no way we will turned back."
Scarle spent the rest of the night awake, her heart racing with thoughts of Daman's kiss, Maddon's and Kier's protectiveness. She feels trapped between them, drawn to each of them in different ways. How can I to….my brothers? How can I feel it?
To be continued...