Eliane stood by the window, staring out at the overcast sky, the heavy weight of her thoughts pressing down on her chest. The storm clouds mirrored the chaos inside her. Every part of her screamed to escape, but the pull of Seraphine's presence lingered like a shadow that followed her every move. Even now, as she felt the ache in her bones from the tension of their last encounter, she couldn't shake the strange, inexplicable desire that had sparked when Seraphine touched her.
She had promised herself that she wouldn't let it consume her. But in moments of stillness, when her thoughts wandered, there was no denying that the line between dread and longing had blurred beyond recognition.
A soft knock at the door broke through her reverie.
"Eliane?" came a familiar voice, one filled with concern.
She turned toward the door, her heart fluttering, though it wasn't from the same dark pull that Seraphine invoked. It was a different kind of warmth, a familiarity that grounded her.
"Come in, Vincent," Eliane murmured, almost without thinking.
The door opened slowly, and Vincent stepped inside, his eyes immediately locking onto hers. He was a steady presence in her life, a constant she had relied on through the years. His dark hair, neatly combed, and his piercing green eyes were a stark contrast to Seraphine's wildness, yet both seemed to possess a magnetism of their own. But Vincent's was calmer, warmer, like the stillness before a storm.
He didn't ask her what was wrong—he never needed to. Instead, he simply walked over to her, his gaze softening as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Eliane, I don't want to see you like this. What happened?" His voice was gentle, but there was an underlying urgency. He knew something was off.
Eliane opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. She had grown so used to being strong, to keeping her emotions locked away, but with Vincent, it was different. She felt like she could finally breathe, even if it was just for a moment.
"I… I don't know," she said quietly, her voice thick with confusion. "I'm… I'm lost, Vincent. I feel like I'm trapped in something I can't control. Something that's pulling me apart."
He studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before he sighed and gently guided her to sit on the couch. He sat beside her, close but not too close, giving her the space she needed while still offering his presence.
"I know this isn't easy for you," he said, his tone soft but firm. "But you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here, Eliane. I'll always be here."
A silence fell between them, thick and heavy, and for a moment, Eliane allowed herself to lean into the comfort of Vincent's words. She wanted to believe them, wanted to believe in the steadiness he offered her, the safety. But something inside her twisted, the memory of Seraphine's words echoing in her mind.
"You don't understand," Eliane whispered, her voice strained. "I can't escape her. I don't know what she wants from me, but I feel like I'm suffocating, Vincent. And yet… I can't stay away. Every part of me is telling me to run, but I can't."
Vincent's hand tightened slightly on her shoulder, a flicker of concern flashing across his face. "You don't have to face this alone. If it's her that's causing this pain, then we'll deal with her. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
Eliane's heart twisted at his words. She knew he meant them—knew he would protect her with everything he had. But there was something in her that told her Vincent didn't fully understand the hold Seraphine had on her. It wasn't just about safety or protection. It was deeper, darker, something visceral that couldn't be easily explained.
"I don't want to hurt you, Vincent," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm afraid. I don't know who I am anymore. Every time I think I have a grip on things, she pulls me back in."
Vincent turned to face her fully, his eyes searching hers for any hint of the Eliane he knew. "Eliane, you're stronger than this. You're not weak. You can resist her, whatever hold she has on you. I believe in you."
She looked away, unable to meet his gaze. His words were kind, but they only made the guilt churn inside her more violently. How could she explain to him that it wasn't just about resisting? How could she tell him that she wasn't sure if she wanted to resist anymore?
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, and Eliane's pulse quickened. Vincent stiffened beside her, clearly sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
"I'll go," Vincent said quickly, standing up. "But promise me, Eliane… you'll stay strong. Don't let her drag you down."
Eliane watched him leave, his concern lingering in the air long after he had stepped out. She wanted to promise him. She wanted to tell him that everything would be fine, but she couldn't. Not when the weight of Seraphine's hold on her was so suffocating.
She had no idea how long she sat there after Vincent left. Time seemed to stretch and distort, the silence around her deafening. The more she tried to think of an escape, the tighter the walls seemed to press in.
The knock at the door came again. This time, Eliane didn't hesitate to open it.
Standing in the doorway was Seraphine, her smile predatory and knowing.
"I told you you couldn't run, Eliane," she said, her voice soft yet heavy with dark promise. "And now… you've seen the truth, haven't you?"
Eliane's heart raced. The familiar dread filled her chest, but so did something else—a darker, more thrilling sensation.
She was trapped, and this time, she wasn't sure if she wanted to escape.
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End of Chapter 10
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