Page 65 of The Fractured Veil

"She invited me here, so no," Zarek retorted, standing up and offering me a hand. "Come on, Firefly, let's eat. I'm starving."

* * *

After dinner,I decided a quick shower was in order, wanting to wash away the lingering stress of the last few days. I rummaged through Zarek's drawers and found one of his shirts and a pair of boxers, deciding they would do for the night. The shirt was oversized, the soft fabric falling comfortably around my thighs. I couldn't help but smile at the faint, familiar scent of Zarek clinging to the material.

I started to brush through my tangled, rat's nest of hair, wincing at the knots, when I heard a soft knock at the door, followed by a moment of expectant silence.

"You can come in," I called out, turning my head towards the sound, the brush still in my hand.

The door opened slowly, revealing Nox framed in the doorway. He looked different in the dimness—less intimidating, the sharp edges of his usual demeanor softened, replaced by a hint of vulnerability. His gaze flicked to the shirt I was wearing, and for a split second, I thought I saw the ghost of a smile play on his lips before his expression returned to its usual form.

"Hey," I said softly, offering him a small smile. "Everything okay?"

He seemed to hesitate, shuffling his feet slightly, before stepping further into the room with a nod, closing the door gently behind him. "I just wanted to check on you. Make sure you're comfortable," he murmured, his voice lower than usual.

I set the brush down on the dresser, turning fully to face him. "I'm good, really. Thank you for everything today. I know I made things... complicated," I admitted, thinking back to the confrontation with Astaroth and the strange new power that had surged through me.

Nox shrugged, his gaze softening slightly, the tension seeming to ease from his shoulders. "Complicated is kind of our thing, isn't it?" he replied with a hint of dry humor. "Besides, you handled yourself well. Astaroth is... difficult. But you stood your ground."

A small, self-deprecating laugh escaped me. "Yeah, well, I don't think he liked that very much. He didn’t seem too pleased with me—nor did Damon."

Nox's lips twitched, the hint of a smile returning. "No, probably not. But you showed him you're not afraid. That's important."

There was a moment of comfortable silence, and I found myself studying him—the way his shoulders seemed a little less tense, the way his eyes held something other than their usual guarded look. There was a warmth in his gaze that I hadn't noticed before, a subtle shift in his demeanor that made my heart beat a little faster.

"You know," I began, my voice softer, almost hesitant, "you don't have to keep looking out for me like this. I mean, I appreciate it—more than you know, but..." I trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence.

Nox shook his head, cutting me off gently. "I want to. We look out for each other. That's what we do. And besides," he added with a hint of teasing, "you're not as much trouble as Zarek is."

I laughed, the sound light and genuine, the tension easing from my chest. "Well, that's a relief. I was starting to worry about my reputation."

"Get some rest. Tomorrow will be another long day. And if you need anything... we're right here." He said, his eyes locking with mine.

I nodded, "Thanks, Nox. For everything."

He gave me one last nod, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer before turning and heading towards the door. Just before he left, he glanced back at me, his expression softening—a genuine smile finally gracing his lips. "And, Thalia?"

"Yeah?" I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

"That shirt suits you," he said, his voice low and husky.

With that, he slipped out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him, leaving me with a lingering smile on my face. I climbed into Zarek's bed, pulling the covers around me, and let myself relax, the tension finally draining from my body.

Sleep took over fast, but my dreams were far from peaceful. They were chaotic, swirling with dark images and unsettling whispers. Astaroth didn't let up after I fought off his darkness—no, he retaliated instantly. His shadowy presence invaded my subconscious, twisting everything familiar into a grotesque mockery.

The nightmare began in a twisted version of the room I had just fallen asleep in. Shadows crept along the walls, taking on monstrous shapes, their claws scraping against the stone. The sconces flickered erratically, as if struggling against an unseen force. I stood there, alone, with an overwhelming sense of dread pressing down on me—suffocating me. The walls started to close in, the familiar carvings distorting, turning into faces, each one whispering my name—a chorus of chilling whispers that echoed in my mind.

I turned, desperately trying to find an escape, my heart pounding against my ribs, when I saw him—Astaroth. His eyes burned with an unnatural light, a cold fire that seemed to sear into my soul, and a cruel smile played across his lips. He moved towards me, his form dark and imposing, tendrils of shadow swirling around him like hungry serpents. I tried to call for help, but my voice wouldn't come. My throat felt tight, constricted by an invisible force, and fear wrapped around me like a vice, squeezing the air from my lungs.

The door burst open, splintering wood flying through the air, and Zarek appeared—his face a mask of fury. He charged at Astaroth, a warrior facing a demon, but the shadows lashed out sending him crashing into the wall with a sickening thud. I screamed, my voice finally breaking free—a desperate cry of terror. Shadows wrapped around my body, tightening, holding me in place, their icy touch searing my skin. Nox and Damon appeared next, both of them fighting their way through the oppressive darkness, their movements a blur of motion, their eyes filled with a primal rage as they fought to reach me—to break the hold of the shadows. But Astaroth only laughed, a sound that echoed through the room, a sound that chilled me to the bone.

He raised his hand, his fingers long and skeletal, and the shadows wrapped around Nox and Damon, lifting them off the ground like puppets on invisible strings. They struggled, their faces contorted in pain, their muscles straining against the suffocating grip as Astaroth's hold tightened. I felt helpless as I watched them fight, unable to do anything but witness their torment.

"You think you can defy me, little girl?" Astaroth's voice was cold, mocking, dripping with contempt. "Youare nothing.Theyare nothing." His words were like poisoned daggers, piercing my heart.

I tried to fight back, tried to summon any power, but it was like trying to grasp smoke. My hands felt empty, my body weak, drained of all energy. The shadows tightened around me, pulling me towards Astaroth, his smile growing wider, more predatory.

"You will never be safe," he whispered, his voice echoing in my mind—a chilling promise that burrowed deep into my soul.

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