Calix stepped out of the car, leaving me alone, his sudden absence both a relief and a source of anxiety. I watched him approach the woman, his steps measured but quicker than usual, almost as if he was closing the distance to keep her from saying something he didn’t want me to hear. My heart pounded louder, each beat a reminder of how out of my depth I was.
Who is she? What’s going on? I strained to see through the windshield, my exhaustion blurring the edges of my vision. I felt like a rubber band stretched to its limit, ready to snap at the slightest pull. Despite that I forced myself to read his body language, every movement telling me that this encounter was unexpected—and unwelcome.
The woman stood still, her expression a mix of shock and determination. Her eyes were wide, reflecting a strange mix of hope and anger. There was a wildness about her, as if she had been searching for something—or someone—for a long time.
“Venus,” he called out, his voice low, carrying just enough for me to hear. The woman flinched at the sound of her name, her eyes narrowing as if she’d been expecting something different, something softer.
Venus. Seriously, who names their kid after a planet? My sarcastic thought was a weak attempt to distract myself from the curiousity clawing at my insides. But it didn’t work.
The woman’s voice was filled with both desperation and challenge. “I came to find you. I need answers.” Her gaze flicked to the car, as if sensing my presence, before snapping back to Calix. “You owe me that much.”
Answers? What kind of answers is she looking for? I pressed closer to the window, trying to catch every word. The tension between them was palpable, each moment stretching out, heavy with unspoken words.
Calix’s face was a mask, but his eyes—those intense, unyielding eyes—flickered with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. Concern? Regret? It was there for just a heartbeat before vanishing, replaced by his usual cold detachment. “This isn’t the place for questions,” he said, his voice even. “You need to leave. Now.”
The woman’s expression hardened, her desperation giving way to defiance. “I won’t leave, not until you tell me the truth. Why didn’t you protect her? Why did you let her die?” Her voice broke, and for a moment, I thought I saw tears glistening in her eyes.
Calix’s reaction was subtle, but I caught it—a slight tightening of his jaw, a flicker of pain behind his calm exterior. “You don’t understand everything,” he replied, his tone softer, almost imploring. “There are things that are better left in the past.”
I barely caught his last word, the pounding in my ears drowning everything out, my mind screaming for rest. My eyes felt heavy, every blink a battle to stay focused. It hadn't even been a full day since I was pulled into this vampire's orbit, and already it felt like I was being dragged into the depths of his world, entangled in the twisted threads of his life.
Freya, listen. I forced myself.
The woman’s laugh was bitter, a harsh sound that sent a chill through me. “Left in the past? Is this how you view her death? She was my sister, Calix. Psyche trusted you, and you did nothing!” Her voice was raw with emotion, each word a blade cutting through the late morning air. "And yes, maybe I don’t understand everything, but I know enough to see that you’re hiding something."
Sister. The word hit me like a slap. The picture was starting to come together, but the edges were still fuzzy. Calix, Venus, Psyche—there was a woven web of history and pain here, one that I was now caught in the middle of.
They were locked in a silent battle, the air between them charged with years of unresolved tension. I wanted to scream at them to stop, to shake them out of their staring contest, but I knew better. This wasn’t my fight.
I watched Calix closely, searching for any crack in his composure, any sign that her words had reached him. But his face remained impassive, his gaze steady. “I did what I could,” he said quietly, a hint of something in his voice that made me think he was speaking more to himself than to her. “It wasn’t enough, but it’s too late now.”
The woman took a step closer, her voice dropping to a whisper that I could barely make out. “If you won’t help me find out what happened, I’ll do it myself. I’ll find the truth, with or without you.”
Calix’s eyes flicked to the car, his gaze briefly passing me. As if checking if I was listening. Was he thinking of me? Worrying about what I’d overhear? Or was he contemplating what Venus might do next? “Leave,” he said, his tone suddenly harsh. “This is dangerous. You’re only putting yourself at risk.”
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The woman—Venus—hesitated, her resolve wavering for a fraction of a second. Then she lifted her chin, her eyes blazing. “I don’t care. I have nothing left to lose.”
Venus held his gaze for a long moment, then turned abruptly, her footsteps echoing as she walked away. The late morning sun made her look like a ghost, her form fading into the light. The tension that had filled the air between them seemed to dissipate, replaced by an emptiness that echoed in the stillness.
Calix watched her go, his face a mask of calm, but I could sense the tension radiating off him. He stayed like that for a moment before turning back to the car, his movements slow and deliberate.
He slid back into the driver’s seat without a word, his face a careful mask of indifference. But despite his calm demeanor, the tendons in his hands stood out, his knuckles whitening as he clenched the wheel, each vein pulsing with the strain of holding back whatever storm was brewing inside him.
The silence stretched on, pressing down on me like the weight of the entire mansion we’d just left. I wanted to ask who Venus was, what she’d meant about Psyche, why he seemed so... human for a moment. But the exhaustion was settling into my bones, making my thoughts sluggish.
“Who was she?” I managed, my voice barely more than a whisper.
“Just someone,” Calix replied, his tone flat, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “It’s none of your concern.”
I bit my lip, swallowing my frustration. Of course it’s not. Nothing in this world made sense, and I was too tired to even pretend like I could keep up. I leaned back in my seat, staring out at the sunlight filtering through the trees, feeling like the ground was constantly shifting beneath my feet.
As the car rolled forward, my thoughts drifted back to Venus, her defiance, the way she had stood her ground against Calix. It stirred something in me—a spark of recognition, a reminder that even in the darkness, there were still choices to be made, questions to be asked.
And maybe, I thought as my eyelids grew heavier, I wasn’t as powerless as I felt.
----------------------------------------
The city started to wake up around us, the noise of traffic and the hum of life seeping into the car. I glanced out the window, the sight of people going about their normal lives making me feel like I was watching a world I no longer belonged to. Buildings grew taller as we merged onto busier streets, and I felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe being around other people would make this less terrifying.
Calix pulled into a parking lot, the car rolling to a stop near the entrance of a large mall. The sight of families walking together, teenagers laughing, and couples holding hands was a stark contrast to the turmoil that had become my new normal.
He got out and walked around to open my door. I hesitated, the reality of being out in public with him making my heart race. “Stay close,” he instructed, his voice low. “Don’t draw attention to yourself.”
I nodded, swallowing the sarcastic remark that almost slipped out. Drawing attention was the last thing I wanted, especially with a vampire by my side. We made our way into the mall, the bright lights and bustling crowds enveloping us.
As we walked, the noise around me became a distant hum. My steps slowed, my head feeling like it was filled with fog. The exhaustion was pulling at me like a tide. The short nap I had taken wasn’t enough.
I could feel Calix's presence beside me, like a shadow I couldn’t escape. He led me into a clothing store, and I grabbed a few basic items—jeans, t-shirts, a hoodie. Practical things that wouldn’t draw too much attention. My movements were automatic, my mind struggling to keep up. This is what he meant by necessities? I thought hazily.
We moved to the checkout, Calix's hand hovering near my back, guiding me without touching. I watched him hand the cashier a sleek, black credit card, barely registering the transaction. The cashier didn’t look at him, her eyes sliding past him like he wasn’t even there.
My forehead creased, why is nobody looking at this man? He was practically a magnet, drawing you in but nobody seems to notice that here. The pull that he had on me was inexistent.
Is he purposely doing this? I thought but my mind wouldn’t let me go further.
As we left the store, Calix turned toward the supermarket, his hand lightly touching my arm to guide me. I followed him into the aisles, the bright lights and endless shelves of food feeling almost overwhelming after everything that had happened. Calix pushed a cart, and I picked out a few essentials—instant noodles, canned soup, and some snacks.
I was so tired. Each step felt heavier than the last, my limbs aching as if I’d run a marathon. The adrenaline that had kept me awake was fading, replaced by a bone-deep weariness. I felt like I was on the verge of falling apart.
The checkout line seemed to stretch on forever. I leaned against the cart, my eyes half-closed, the chatter of other shoppers blending into a soft murmur. Calix’s presence was a steady, silent force beside me, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
I wanted to ask him more about Venus, about Psyche, about why he was doing any of this. But the questions tangled in my mind, blurring together as my exhaustion took over.
As we loaded the bags into the trunk, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I stumbled slightly. Calix’s hand was there, steadying me, his touch cool and firm. “You need to rest,” he said, his voice devoid of judgment, simply stating a fact.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, shaking my head to clear the fog. But even as I said it, my vision swam, and the car seat called to me like a promise of relief.
We got back into the car, and as soon as the engine started, the gentle vibration lulled me. My eyes grew heavier, each blink taking longer to open. I fought to stay awake, to hold onto my determination, but my body betrayed me.
“Who was she?” I managed to mumble—thinking about Psyche—my voice barely more than a whisper.
Calix didn’t respond, and in the silence that followed, I found myself drifting. The last thing I felt was the cool press of the window against my forehead, and then darkness took me.