𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗
𝙰𝚗𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚊'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

I stirred from a peaceful rest, greeted by the soft caress of the morning sunlight streaming through the windows.

The room bathed in a warm glow, casting a serene ambiance over the rustic furnishing of Arion's cottage. The air felt different here- tainted with the magic of the enchanted forest.

Nestled in a cozy bed, I took in the hues of the linens, mirroring the earthy tones of the surrounding nature.

The cottage creaked gently, as if it had a heartbeat of its own, contributing to the tranquil rhythm of the morning. As I sat up, a sense of curiosity enveloped me.

The unfamiliar yet inviting surroundings beckoned me to explore. A wooden table adorned with wildflowers stood near the window, where the gentle breeze carried the forest's scent into the room

Stretching and feeling the remnants of a restful night's sleep, I slipped out of bed and approached the window. The enchanting view of the woods unfolded before me, their emerald leaves swaying in the morning breeze.

Barefoot, I padded across the weathered wooden floor. The air was tinged with the smell of bacon wafting through the small room.

I almost moaned at the delectable smell. I quickly slipped on a black turtleneck and black linen pants, my ruby-red necklace peaked underneath the fabric. I slowly opened the door, the sight in front of me making my heart full.

Arion was wrapped in a red flannel apron, his hooves clattered against the kitchen tiles as he opened the fridge.

He was humming a soft tune under his breath as his tail swung behind him brushing against the floor. A smile plastered across my face as I sat on the wooden stool tucked underneath the counter.

"Whatcha cookin?" My voice boomed against the quiet serenity of the cottage. I chuckled as I saw him jump up from his little haven, his hooves bumping into the fridge behind him.

I watched as he dusted off his apron before clearing his throat.

"I uh- I thought cooking something for you this morning could make up for what I did yesterday," He shuffled about, looking down at the floor. "You're right, it was too soon to prepare you for that considering you had just healed. It was....thoughtless of me.

The aroma of herbs and something sweet wafted through the air, tickling my senses.
"You didn't have to, Arion," I replied, my voice a gentle reassurance. "But I appreciate the gesture. What are you cooking?"

He straightened up, a hint of pride in his eyes. "A special herbal tea...different from the one I made you when we first met," he announced gesturing towards an array of jars containing an assortment of leaves and petals.

"It's a blend I learned from an ancient text. Far older than you." An amused glint sparkled in his eyes. "It's said to bring clarity and calmness to the mind- " A hint of blush dusted his cheeks. Aw what a cutie.

As he prepared the tea, I took a moment to absorb the details of the cottage. Shelves adorned with mysterious trinkets, old books with worn pages and the crackling fire that stood against the wall opposite of the kitchen- all of it wove a tapestry of old history.

Arion returned, carrying a tray adorned with delicately painted cups, a steaming teapot and two plates full of bacon and pancakes.

He poured the fragrant brew into the cups, the rich aroma enveloping us. We sat by the table, the morning light casting a golden glow on our quiet breakfast.

"You say you used an old book to make this tea? How'd you get it? Aren't you only like 30 or something?" I asked, beginning to sip my tea.

He chuckled, "Actually, my dear, I'm a bit older than I look. Just add a few centuries b-" Tea sprayed all over the centaur as I tried to contain the rest in my mouth.

I looked at him dazed, my eyes wide in surprise. "-But I'll take the compliment." He finished.
"What?!" I swear I could hear birds fluttering, squawking away frightened by my scream.

Arion wiped the tea from his face, a mixture of amusement and embarrassment dancing in his eyes. "I suppose I should have mentioned that earlier," he admitted, a sheepish grin playing on his lips. "Being immortal does come with a few surprises."

I sat there, my mind trying to wrap itself around the revelation. It was unfathomable, and yet, the lines etched on his face seemed to tell stories of ages long past. I shook my head, trying to dispel the disbelief that lingered.

"But why?" I stammered, still in shock. "Why did you hide this?"

"I didn't see much importance 'till now." He leaned back, a distanced look on his face. "There's a certain loneliness that comes with immortality, Ana. Few beings survive the contract of eternity, well at least survive it morally.

Any connection you ever share with someone is bound to end with being immortal, a certainty that you'll live forever and that partner, a knowingness that their life is bound to end. In sharing my immortality with you there's a certain-"

He licked his lips. "-there's a certain vulnerability. And I don't know if I'm ready to share that with a mortal such as yourself."
Loneliness.

Something I'd become fascinatingly familiar with over the years, it trailed me like a ghost in purgatory, leaving behind a haunting reminder of the emptiness in my heart.

I'd walk through the halls of my home, a melody of isolation that only I could hear. In the quiet spaces of my school, amidst the loud laughter and chatter, I carried an anchor of a solitary journey.

My room, a sanctuary of silent conversations with my own thoughts. The walls bore witness to my solitude, eyes staring as I walked back and forth across my bedroom crying, pleading, more some sort of connection. I wasn't desperate, I was just lonely. I wanted to be acknowledged...appreciated.

He looked back at me, his eyes holding a mixture of ancient wisdom and a spark of vulnerability. "Perhaps it's time to break the cycle of isolation, even if just for a moment. The world is changing, and so am I, in ways I never expected."

~~~~~~~~~~

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a canvas of warm hues across the sky, Arion and I retreated to the cozy comfort of the cottage. The crackling flames in the fireplace danced like fireflies, casting shadows on the cobblestone walls.

The air carried the scent of burning charcoal, mingling with the comforting scent of lavender

I'd so soon become accustomed to over my stay the past few weeks. Seated across from each other, we shared a silence that spoke volumes.

The warmth of the fire mirrored the connection between us. A burning bond that, like flames, could set fire to my loneliness and heat up my lonely heart.

It was the burning sensation of my necklace that I felt first. The once soothing warmth transformed into an intense, almost searing sensation.

I winced, feeling the burning energy pulsing through the necklace. It was as if the pendant itself had caught fire, the magical energies within it roaring to life. Arion, noticing my discomfort, leaned forward, concern etched across his features.

"Anastasia, what's happening?" he inquired, his eyes narrowing as he observed the pendant's reaction.

I clutched the necklace, the metal now radiating an intense heat against my skin. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead dripping down my scalp. The flames in the fireplace danced erratically as if resonating to the heightened energy of the gem wrapped around my neck.

"I-I don't know," I stammered, my voice strained. The burning sensation intensified, and I could feel the magical currents surging through my veins.

Arion, sensing the escalating tension, reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. His touch, though grounding, couldn't quell the storm within.

"Let me look for some rose petals, those may be able to help with the pain..." I watched as Arion rose from his seat...his hooves quickly clicking across the floor.

He worked tirelessly as jars panged against each other as he grabbed a cup from the cupboard.

"P-please Arion h-hurry." My neck started to ooze blood as the gold started to drip into my skin.

I screamed into crook of the wooden chair, my eyes sewed shut into complete tortue. The necklace burning. The same ticking sound from the ballroom approached the silence. Ticking away like clockwork.

"You know, there's something so beautiful about the phantom...he's everywhere," he uttered, his words hanging off in the air."

"W-what...?" My voice cracked slowly peering over to Arion, my eyes widening. His lower half shifted from the equine to the human, and the center of his body became a swirling void.

The pain from my necklace was nothing compared to the fear that coursed through me as I quickly jutted from my position in the chair.

The globe from before tipped over and crashed against the stone flooring as I tripped and fell over the seat.

Arion peered over his shoulder, fangs dripped from his mouth as his eyes smiled. "You can't escape him." His voice broke up like broken pieces of glass, distorted and haunting.

The ticking sound was even louder than before...pounding in my ears.

The room stirred, awaking from its quiet slumped as wind lapped against the curtains easing the burning torches on my skin.

Arion's voice hummed into a drumming rhythm, "You see, Anastasia," his tongue curled against my name, "the Phantom is not just a man; he's a force- an entity. A force that will forever eternally transcend your meer mortal mind. You can never escape him."

As he began to speak, whisps of smoke started to rise from underneath the closed door. The smoke twirled and danced. The scent of incense filled the air as puffs of rose eased my muscles, the stone cottage slowly melted away.

Paintings tipped over the walls, twirling around the floor.

As Arion turned towards me, his figure began to shift. Smoke crawled upwards towards Arion, the voice that once occupied his center opened and closed- vines of dark tethered fingers seeped upward around his shoulders gripping his head back as he breathed in the darkness.

The fragments of his body, which had danced in the air moments ago, now coalesced seamlessly into the silhouette of the Phantom...Lucien. The tick-tocking sound was erratic now...becoming louder and louder as his figure finally erupted.

Paintings that had adorned the walls of the cottage now floated around us, held by the fingers of the dark vines that circled Lucien.

Arion- no Lucien- turned towards me. His cloak billowed and his eyes gleamed, his head tilted downwards at me.

"There's a certain mystery in my presence isn't there?" he murmured, his words seemed so far away from me as the pendant scorched my skin. Though despite my tears he continued. "His allure is inescapable...haunting you."

As he spoke, the room itself seemed to respond to his words. Shadows elongated and twisted, casting patterns on the now stone walls. The paintings thatfloated seemed to merge together. The air hummed with energy as the walls toppled around me- stone burst together as tiny specks of dust floated around.

He slowly stepped towards me, pulling me towards him as he grabbed the side of my face brushing his gloved hands on my temple.
"You really thought you could escape me?" The relentless tick amplified, circling around me as he enveloped me.

Word count: (2799 words)

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭!

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