The castle was silent, save for the faint rustle of wind brushing against its stone walls. Viktor leaned back in his chair near the grand fireplace, staring into the flickering flames. A half-empty bottle of wine rested on the small table beside him. Isabella sat across from him, her legs curled beneath her on the plush armchair, holding her own glass.
The events of the ball, the attack, and her strange powers weighed heavily on her. She had tried to bury her feelings in the depths of the wine bottle, but the emotions still clawed at her, threatening to spill out.
"It doesn't make sense," she murmured, swirling the red liquid in her glass. "I didn't even know I could do something like that. That light—it came out of nowhere."
Viktor's gaze flicked to her, his sharp features softened by the warm light of the fire. He took a slow sip of his drink, choosing his words carefully. "There's more to you than you realize, Isabella. This… power—it's always been there, waiting. You just haven't uncovered it yet."
She gave a soft, bitter laugh. "Uncovered it? It nearly killed someone. I don't even know what I am anymore."
Viktor's eyes darkened slightly, the flicker of an old, hidden pain crossing his face. "You're not alone in that. I've spent centuries trying to understand what I am." He paused, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "What I've become."
Isabella looked at him, her glass forgotten in her hands. "Viktor…"
He waved her off, refilling his glass and downing half of it in one gulp. "Tonight's not about me. It's about you."
She frowned, setting her drink down and leaning forward. "No, it's about us. You've been protecting me, guiding me—and I still don't know why."
The silence stretched between them, the fire crackling softly. Finally, Viktor leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Because you're worth protecting, Isabella. You always have been."
She felt the weight of his words, the sincerity behind them, and her chest tightened. The wine buzzed in her veins, loosening her inhibitions. "I feel like I've known you forever," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Even before all of this… before the paintings, the visions."
Viktor's lips curved into a faint, melancholic smile. "Perhaps you have."
The tension in the room was almost tangible now, a current of unspoken words and emotions flowing between them. Isabella reached for the wine bottle and refilled her glass, her hands slightly unsteady. "Maybe it's the wine talking, but…" she hesitated, then laughed nervously, "I don't think I've ever felt this comfortable around someone who keeps so many secrets."
Viktor chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "I'm not used to anyone being comfortable around me. Most people are too busy running away."
"Well," she said, raising her glass, "I guess I'm not most people."
Viktor clinked his glass against hers, his piercing gaze holding hers. "No, Isabella. You're not."
The warmth of the wine, the intimacy of the firelight, and the raw vulnerability of the moment created a cocoon around them. Time seemed to slow as they simply sat there, sharing the silence, the burdens of their pasts momentarily forgotten.
Eventually, Isabella stood, the room swaying slightly as the wine hit her harder than she'd expected.
Viktor's sharp eyes watched her every move, a hint of concern clouding his features.
"You've had too much," he said, his voice low yet teasing as he rose to steady her.
"And so have you," she countered, her lips curving into a soft smile.
She placed her hand on his chest to balance herself, feeling the solid, steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her fingertips.
For a moment, they stood there, the space between them crackling with unspoken tension. Her gaze drifted up to meet his, the air thickening as she whispered, "Stay with me tonight."
Viktor's eyes searched hers, an inner conflict warring within him.
"Isabella..."
But before he could finish, she grasped his hand and tugged him gently toward her room. He followed her without resistance, the warmth of her touch drawing him in like a moth to flame.
---
Inside her room, the air felt charged, heavy with anticipation. Isabella let her fingers trail up Viktor's chest, her touch tentative yet deliberate. "I don't want to think tonight," she murmured, her voice trembling. "I don't want to be afraid."
"You're not alone," Viktor replied, his voice rough with emotion. His hands cupped her face, tilting her head up so their eyes locked. "You never will be."
Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss that quickly deepened, the barriers between them crumbling. Viktor's hands slid down her back, pulling her closer, while Isabella's fingers tangled in his hair. The kiss was a release, an expression of longing and connection that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long.
They moved together with unspoken urgency, shedding their worries along with their clothes. Viktor lifted Isabella effortlessly, carrying her to the bed as if she were the most delicate thing in the world. The candlelight painted their skin in golden hues, illuminating every scar, every imperfection, and yet they saw only beauty in each other.
Isabella traced her fingers along Viktor's chest, marveling at his strength and vulnerability. "You've been through so much," she whispered, her voice filled with awe and sadness.
"And so have you," he replied, his lips trailing along her collarbone. "But tonight, it's just us."
They lost themselves in each other, their movements slow and deliberate, savoring every touch, every kiss. It was as if time had stopped, the weight of their shared pasts melting away in the intimacy of the moment. Viktor's gentleness contrasted with the raw passion that burned between them, and Isabella felt completely seen, completely loved.
As their bodies moved together in perfect harmony, flashes of their past lives surged through her mind-stolen glances, whispered promises, and a love that had defied time itself. For a brief moment, she saw herself as Victoria, lying with Viktor beneath the stars, their laughter echoing in the night.
When they finally collapsed into each other's arms, the room was filled with a profound stillness. Viktor held her close, his fingers brushing through her hair as she rested her head on his chest. Neither of them spoke, their breaths mingling in the quiet, their hearts beating in sync.
---
Elsewhere in the castle, the hidden room stirred with activity. The vines that had once held Isabella began to writhe, growing and twisting as if sensing the connection that had just been rekindled. The ritual table glowed faintly, and a haunting melody filled the air, reverberating through the stone walls.
In the shadows, the same figure from before reappeared, its presence commanding. "They've reunited," it whispered, its voice a sinister echo. "But it won't last. The prophecy is in motion."
The glow intensified, casting ominous shapes on the walls, and the figure disappeared once more, leaving the room to its restless slumber.
---
Morning arrived gently, the sunlight filtering through the heavy curtains and bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Isabella stirred, the warmth of Viktor's embrace grounding her before she even opened her eyes. For the first time in weeks, she felt at peace.
She turned to look at him, a soft smile gracing her lips as she traced the curve of his jaw with her fingertips. "You stayed," she whispered.
His eyes fluttered open, and he smiled back, his expression uncharacteristically tender. "I'd stay forever if I could."
They lay there for a while, basking in the comfort of each other's presence. Isabella couldn't remember the last time she had felt this safe, this loved.
Eventually, Viktor pressed a kiss to her forehead and rose from the bed, pulling on a loose shirt. "Stay here. I'll make us breakfast."
Isabella watched him leave, her heart full yet heavy with the knowledge that their happiness felt almost too good to be true. She stretched beneath the sheets, a dreamy smile on her face, and allowed herself a moment of hope.
But deep in her heart, she couldn't shake the feeling that their peace was only temporary-that the storm brewing in the castle's shadows would soon reach them.