MILA: IN HER HOUSE

My grandma gently took off Bella's leash, giving her a friendly ruffle behind the ears. Bella always loved it when Grandma petted her ears.

"Aw, poor Bella, I'm so glad you're finally back from the vet," she said, hugging Bella tightly. Bella jumped and barked happily, her tail wagging furiously.

I crouched down next to them, placing Bella's food plate on the floor. "Come on, Lily, it's time to eat," I said cheerfully, snapping my fingers to get her attention.

Bella immediately abandoned Grandma's hug and rushed to her food. Grandma pouted in mock disappointment.

"Huh? You chose food over me? What an ungrateful dog," she said, rolling her eyes and standing up.

I chuckled lightly. "You know how much she likes food, right?"

"Yeah," she replied, smiling softly as she continued to pet Bella's head while she ate.

But then her expression turned serious, and she looked at me with a stern gaze. I tensed up a bit; it was rare for Grandma to show such an expression.

"Why do you keep getting yourself into danger, Mila?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

I sighed, standing up and leaning against the kitchen counter. "It's not like I go looking for it. It just... finds me."

Grandma shook her head, her eyes filled with concern. "You've always been a magnet for trouble. But lately, it seems like things are getting worse. I am not a fool, and I do notice the bruises you've been getting lately, but I just chose to ignore it. That man you talked about... are you sure it was just a guy trying to steal your purse?"

I hesitated, not wanting to burden her with the details. "It was nothing. It's just a misunderstanding. Aiden was there, and he made sure I got home safe. Plus, I am 19, and I am not a kid anymore, you know?"

"A misunderstanding?" she repeated, her tone skeptical. "Mila, I saw the fear in your eyes when you came home. This isn't just about today, is it? There's more to it."

I bit my lip, feeling the weight of her words. She was right. It wasn't just about today. It was about everything, the threats, the danger that seemed to follow me like a shadow.

"It's complicated, Grandma. There are things happening that I can't explain. Things that scare me. But I think maybe it will stop for a while."

She stepped closer, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. "Mila, you don't have to face this alone. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together. You're stronger than you think, but even the strongest need help sometimes."

Her words brought a lump to my throat. "Thank you. I just... I need to keep Bella safe. She's all I have left from Mom and Dad."

Grandma's eyes softened, and she pulled me into a hug. "We'll keep her safe. And we'll keep you safe too. Just promise me you'll be careful. Promise me you won't take unnecessary risks."

I nodded, feeling the warmth of her embrace. "I promise."

We stood there for a moment, the silence filled with unspoken fears and unbreakable bonds. Bella finished her meal and trotted over, nudging my leg with her nose.

Grandma smiled, the tension easing from her face. "Come on, let's get some tea and sit down. We can figure out what to do next together."

As we moved to the living room, there were a tone of questions swirling through my mind. Edward got scared away. But does that mean the threats will stop? And how did Aiden know I was in danger? Why did he even care?

I felt really scared back then, even after that guy, Zane saved me. I still didn't feel safe.

But the minute Aiden arrived, the minute I saw that worried look on his face, relief flooded through my whole being. But why? I've only known him for a week or two. But for some reason, I really felt safe whenever he's around me.

ZOLARIS (Zane): ADONIS'S HOUSE

Whistling softly, I walked across the marble floor of this luxurious mansion. A vast, opulent place for just one person to live in, if you ask me. But then again, life has never been fair to everyone.

A hiss broke the silence-a sound that always brought a smile to my lips. My little friend, an albino snake, coiled around my arm, its scales glistening in the dim light. Together, we stepped into Aiden's room. Or should I say, Adonis's room.

He lay there, surprisingly vulnerable, in that enormous bed. His true form, his elven form, was on full display. His expression was calm and innocent, an almost deceptive mask.

Anyone might mistake him for a weakling, but I knew better. Beneath that façade lay a chained beast, a creature of immense power.

My fingers reached for the blue gem around his neck, the Frost Chain, and I gently brushed its smooth surface with my thumb.

Where I touched it, the gem turned a faint shade of red, and Adonis's brows furrowed slightly in discomfort. I withdrew my hand, a smirk playing on my lips.

As I circled his bed, I took in the sight of the intricate ice patterns etched across his chest, neck, and arms, visible beneath his robe. Three white strands of hair stood out starkly against the pillow.

"You're a stubborn one, aren't you? It's unfortunate that this peaceful slumber must be disturbed. I know your deepest, darkest fear," I muttered under my breath.

With a final glance at the Frost Chain, I began to weave my magic. The room darkened, shadows lengthening as I delved into his subconscious. It was time to bring forth the nightmare that haunted him the most-the day his mother was executed.

My power, a gift of the sun fire elves, allowed me to twist dreams and create illusions. I channeled it now, pushing into the recesses of Adonis's mind.

The air grew colder, the temperature dropping as I forced him into the depths of his most dreaded memory.

In his dream, the scene unfolded with cruel clarity. Adonis was back in the elven village, surrounded by familiar faces twisted in sorrow and fear.

His mother stood on a raised platform, her hands bound, her face pale but resolute. The executioner, a towering figure with a gleaming axe, loomed over her.

Adonis whimpered in his sleep, a pained sound that echoed through the room. "No... stop... please let her go," he murmured, his voice breaking with each word.

The axe rose, catching the light in a sickening gleam. Adonis cried out, his body twitching as he relived the horror. "No... no stop," he mumbled incoherently in his sleep, gasping as if struggling to breathe.

His hands clutched the bed sheets tightly, and sweat trickled down his forehead.

In his nightmare, his mother looked so much like him-beautiful and youthful, her eyes kind and warm, full of love and empathy for her five-year-old son. And her silky black hair, flying freely by the wind breezes.

I smirked as I delved deeper into his memories. "You were only five? How cruel of them to let a child watch this," I whispered mockingly.

He couldn't hear me, but from the way he winced and his eyes squeezed shut tighter, I knew he was in immense discomfort.

I watched, my expression impassive, as the axe fell. The sound of the blade slicing through the air was sharp and final. Just milliseconds before it cut through his mother's neck, she mouthed something to him.

I couldn't quite make it out, which meant even he didn't hear it back then. It didn't exist in his memories at all.

Adonis's body shivered, and he moved his head from side to side, breathing heavily and wincing in pain. "Don't... wait... she didn't..." he muttered breathlessly, as if desperately trying to wake up.

But I didn't allow him to. The axe came down, slicing through his mother's neck. The five-year-old him stood right in front of the horrific scene. Her blood splashed through the air, some of it landing on his small, terrified face.

(⚠️TW might be disgusting)

His mother's head rolled down, and finally fell right in front of his legs, her eyes closed, and what remained of the blood flowed from her slayed head.

In reality, his body began shaking violently. A loud, pained scream tore from his lips and echoed through the room. His hands moved to his head, clutching it tightly. "Stop!!" he yelled in agony.

I knew he was about to wake up, so with a final pat on his head, I allowed him to. I disappeared into the darkness of the room, leaving him to face the aftermath of his nightmare.

Adonis snapped awake, his body drenched in sweat, tears streaming down his face. He lay there, gasping for breath, his chest heaving with the remnants of his fear.

The room felt cold, the echoes of his screams still reverberating through the walls.

He sat up, his hands trembling as they wiped at his tear-streaked face. The vivid images of his mother's execution haunted him, replaying over and over in his mind.

The need to throw up hit him suddenly, and he stumbled out of bed, nearly tripping over the sheets in his haste.

He made his way to the bathroom, his legs feeling weak and unsteady. He barely reached the sink before he retched, his body convulsing as he emptied the contents of his stomach.

When he finally stopped, he leaned heavily against the counter, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes red and puffy, his face pale and drawn.

The Frost Chain around his neck glowed brightly but with a dark light, a cruel reminder of the power and curse it held.

He splashed cold water on his face, trying to wash away the remnants of the nightmare.

But the images were burned into his mind, the sounds of his mother's execution still echoing in his ears.

Adonis gripped the edges of the sink, his knuckles turning white as he fought to regain control.

Ice began to spread from beneath his palms, creeping across the edge of the sink, the cold seeping into the porcelain. He quickly pulled his hands away, a shiver running through him.

He fell to his knees, his legs giving out as the weight of his emotions crashed down on him.

He covered his face with his hands, tears streaming down his cheeks and pooling on the bathroom floor. His sobs filled the air, raw and unrestrained, the sound echoing off the tiled walls.

The temperature in the bathroom plummeted, the air growing frigid. Frost crept along the floor, the walls, the mirror, turning the room into a winter scene.

The ice patterns on Adonis's body glowed faintly, an ethereal light that cast ghostly shadows. A mist surrounded him, swirling like a cold breath of wind.

I know all of your weaknesses, my dear friend... and soon, all of this anger, agony, fear, despair, and sadness. Will turn into an unstoppable storm. Your powers will be mine. All mine.

<~~~~>