It was like a light snapped on—so bright it made me wince. I blinked as if waking from a dream. I saw Carter standing a few feet away from me. No… not from me. From us.
Darien was with me. His body close enough that I could feel the heat of him, close enough that I remembered exactly what I had been doing. My left arm was pressed lightly against the wall, my right extended towards him—as if to push him away? His arm was firm around my waist; the other rested over my collarbone, his palm warm and grounding.
And then it hit me. I remembered that strange, aching thought I'd had before the world blinked back into place—that he still felt too far away.
That my outstretched arm wasn't pushing him away.
It was meant to pull him closer.
My vision had come true, but like before, it shattered in an instant.
One moment it had been only him and me, wrapped in something intoxicating and impossible—a world without edges, without noise, without meaning beyond the feel of him. His voice had slipped into me, velvety and warm, curling through my mind and sinking deep into places I didn't know could respond like that.
Yet it was the part when he said my name that truly undid me. It unravelled me, melted me, shattered me into a thousand aching pieces and exposed a desire no one else had ever touched. He could say my name forever and I would give him everything I was. Everything I wanted. Everything I longed for. More—the very thing I desired—I would give to him without hesitation. I had never felt that way about anyone before.
My heart had raced wildly, blood rushing hot and dizzying, sharpening every sense I had to the presence of him. His touch wasn't something I enjoyed; it was something I craved.
And now, exposed in the open, the real world crashing back in, shame flared through me.
What have I done?
We were still tangled together, still locked in this intimate position that made my cheeks burn. The realisation jolted me, and I pulled back far too quickly, the guilt like a red-flag parade.
I forced myself to look at Carter—even though everything in me screamed not to.
His expression stole the breath straight out of my lungs.
Fists clenched.
Eyes dark as a storm.
A fury twisting his face into something sharp and dangerous.
And it wasn't me he looked ready to destroy.
His deathly stare was fixed on Darien.
I stepped forward to try to control the situation. This was my mess. I'd got myself into this, and I owed Carter an explanation.
"Carter, please, let's go somewhere to talk and I can explain—"
"Not now, El. I'll deal with you later."
I flinched. He had never spoken to me like that before. Cold. Dismissive. His eyes never left Darien.
Speaking of Darien—he was smirking at Carter. Relaxed. Amused by the drama unfolding before him. When he saw me break away, he turned lazily to notice Carter behind him, and he didn't look surprised. No, he didn't seem bothered at all. Then he spoke directly to Carter.
"Perhaps you should do as Elena says. Leave, and go have your little chat." He gestured vaguely, completely uncaring.
"Fuck you, leech," Carter snarled, venom dripping from the word.
Darien's eyes lit up, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. He glanced quickly at me, then back at Carter. His lip curled into a faint, knowing smirk, and he sighed as he strolled casually to his glass. He paused, took a sip, and winced at the burn of the liquor, tilting his head and rolling his neck as if gearing up for a fight—though the calm in him suggested he had nothing to fear.
"So… we have ourselves a brave little vânător," he said, voice mocking. His eyes flicked to me for just a moment, as if checking something.
I stared back, confused. I'd never even heard that word before. I knew he carried a small lilt in his accent, but I'd never been able to place it. When he said vânător, though, it shifted completely—like his true heritage had slipped out. Whatever that word meant, it carried more weight than I could understand.
Darien's gaze returned to Carter, sharp and calculating. Carter's lips twitched, the tiniest flicker of irritation betraying him.
I'd had enough. I stepped forward, desperate to diffuse the situation.
"Carter, let's go, please!" I emphasised the please, my heart hammering. The air felt heavy, dangerous, like violence waiting to spark.
He grabbed my hand suddenly, yanking me behind him as if Darien would lunge for me first.
"Hey!" I shouted, tugging back. It took more strength than I expected, and pain throbbed through my wrist as I tore free. I rubbed it quickly, glaring at the back of his head. What the hell was that for?
He ignored me, all his focus locked on Darien. But when I followed his gaze, something made me stop cold.
Darien was staring at me, rubbing my wrist, darkly. His violet eyes had bled into black, and I'd never seen such a deadly expression. Then, just as suddenly, he transformed it into a smile—eerie, amused, dangerous.
"Well, well," Darien drawled. "A bit overprotective, aren't we? I wonder… what exactly are you protecting, blondie? She doesn't strike me as your type. No… she's got quite the free spirit. And yet you'd cage her. What perfect picture have you painted in that boyband head of yours?"
The blow of his words landed on both of us, but while Carter bristled, I froze. My stomach knotted. Everything I'd confided in Darien—thrown back at me, twisted into a weapon to rile Carter. I hadn't expected that.
Before I could breathe, Carter's hand shot down his sleeve. A gleam of steel flashed, and I gasped as he drove a knife straight at Darien. They slammed against the wall, the sound echoing through me like a gunshot.
The blade pressed to Darien's throat. He only chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender, as if the deadly edge didn't matter. This only enraged Carter further.
"Fucking try me, leech," Carter snarled through gritted teeth. That was the second time he'd called him "leech." What was with that?
"Stay away from her. You don't know her!" Carter pushed the knife harder into Darien's neck. A cold dread ran down my spine. This was too much. I had to stop it.
"And you do?" Darien mocked. What is he doing? Is he mad? Carter looked ready to commit murder.
"Stop this!" I screamed, lunging to pull Carter's knife-wielding arm away. He barely even noticed me.
"El, get the fuck out of here and let me deal with this!" Carter hissed. I pulled on his arm again, trying to move the blade away from Darien's throat.
Suddenly, Carter's elbow slammed into my collarbone. I collapsed, gasping as the air was knocked out of me.
I stared at Carter in disbelief, clutching my chest as I tried to force my lungs to work. Pain radiated sharp and hot from the point of impact, and when my hand pressed over it, I could already feel the swelling.
He hit me.
My mind screamed it over and over again, the words louder than the pounding music, louder than the shouts around me. Reality and disbelief tangled together as I fought to breathe, releasing only thin, panicked gasps.
"Elena? Oh my god—Elena!"
Iah's voice cracked as she dropped beside me, her arms wrapping around my shoulders.
"Val! She's over here—quick!"
Val's footsteps thudded across the floor before she slid down next to us. Their eyes flicked from me, clutching my collarbone, to the chaos unfolding in front of us.
"Oh shit," I heard Iah mutter, horror tightening her voice. "Is that a knife?"
"Help me get her up," Val said, urgency sharp in her tone.
As they pulled me upright, Carter's eyes darted to me for a split second—anger flashing into shock at what he'd done. His grip on the knife faltered.
That was all Darien needed.
His expression snapped from lazy amusement to something lethal the moment I hit the ground. He smacked the blade from Carter's hand, sending it skittering into the maze of crates, and then slammed his forehead into Carter's. Carter grunted and staggered, clutching the forming lump as blood trickled down his forehead.
In a single fluid movement, Darien twisted Carter around and wrenched his arms behind his back with one hand, while the other clamped around his neck, forcing him to face me as I struggled for breath.
"Look at her," Darien growled into his ear.
Carter resisted, but Darien twisted harder, making him cry out. I flinched as he finally looked at me—his blue eyes, once full of warmth, now blackened by something darker, colder. It made my stomach knot.
He hit me, my mind whimpered.
A dark chuckle rumbled from Darien. His smile was cruel.
"Would you look at that? You thought you came to her rescue—but you're the monster she fears."
Carter snarled, trying to shake free, but Darien held him effortlessly.
I leaned into Iah and Val as they guided me to sit on a nearby crate. Darien lowered his mouth to Carter's ear again, mocking:
"Ah, ah, ah, vânător. You'd better realise you're all alone here."
He jerked his chin behind us.
I looked over my shoulder.
Darien's band stood there, slowly creeping forward, eyes locked on Carter like predators waiting for permission to pounce.
Carter's gaze finally softened when it settled on me. I couldn't hold it. I let my friends lead me away. As we stepped back, I glanced once more at Darien. His purple eyes were fixed on me. Concern?
Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted it to be.
"Please… let's go," I whispered.
Iah and Val held tightly to my arms as the band members stepped aside for us, closing ranks again the moment we passed. We slipped back into the pulse of music and bodies, leaving Carter with Darien.
As we pushed through the crowd, Bastian suddenly blocked our path, eyes narrowed.
"What have you gotten yourselves into this time?"
When he saw me clutching my collarbone, his expression softened.
"Hey… are you okay?"
I nodded weakly. Iah answered for me.
"Her boyfriend turned up and attacked Howl. Leni tried to stop it and got winded by him."
Bastian's eyes went wide.
"I swear to fucking gods, you three will be the death of me. Just get her home. I'll see what's happening back there."
Iah and Val guided me back to the dance floor. The pounding beat hit my chest, my breathing still ragged. We climbed the stairs to the main exit, and finally, cool air filled my lungs. My chest eased, but my mind raced. I'd left Carter with Darien and his band. Would they hurt him? Part of me feared the worst, another part… couldn't deny a little justice.
He hit me, my mind repeated, shock anchoring the thought.
Iah's sharp voice snapped me back. "What the fuck happened, Leni? One minute you're chatting with Mr Gothic Hottie, the next we see Carter running after you and you on your ass!"
I closed my eyes, nearly in tears. "I… I think I fucked up."
True, I'd been alone with Darien, gotten close… but nothing had happened… I think.
Val sighed. "Did Carter hit you?"
I nodded and explained how he'd elbowed me while I tried to stop them from killing each other. Both Iah and Val seethed.
"Leni, you didn't fuck up, okay? Regardless of what you were doing back there, it doesn't give him the right to hit you! The more I hear about this guy, the more I hate him!" Iah's fury was rare; she always tried to see the good in people. I couldn't help but still feel guilty. I honestly struggled to remember exactly what had happened between Darien and me. He had touched me, yes, and it was intimate. I had been a willing participant, but then… I couldn't remember anything else. We hadn't kissed. I hadn't touched him. But we had been caught in a very intimate position. That I could not deny. I shivered as an icy breeze cut through the air.
"Val," I sniffed, "is the limo coming back? I want to go home."
Val sighed and looked at me sympathetically.
"I'll call the service. They weren't supposed to pick us up for another couple of hours." She pulled out her phone and turned away as she made the call. Iah put her arm around me, holding me tight.
"Leni, I'm so sorry. This isn't how we wanted your special night to go." I smiled at her weakly.
"No sorry, Iah." I repeated the phrase we used as kids whenever the other apologised. It was our way of saying no apologies needed.
Iah smirked, her honey-coloured eyes twinkling at the memory.
"Oh my god, Leni, how old are you making me feel!" she laughed.
"Well, you are three months older than me—practically a senior citizen!" I teased. Iah mock-pushed me and scoffed. Val finished her call and turned back to us.
"Limo should be here in fifteen minutes."
"Ah, so long as we don't freeze to death by then!" Iah exclaimed, echoing my thoughts as another arctic breeze hit us.
"Elena!" An angry voice rang out from behind us. I flinched at the sight striding toward us. Carter.
He hit me…
He looked unscathed; there was no evidence of a physical fight on him. I really didn't want to face him right now. Sensing my discomfort, Iah stepped in front of me—her small height didn't offer much protection, but I appreciated the gesture.
"Back off. After what you did, you don't deserve to breathe the same air as her!" Iah shouted.
He stopped a couple of feet away. His fists had been clenched while walking, but he suddenly unclenched them and looked at me with such guilt.
"El, I am so sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt. I was trying to protect you… I am not the one you should be afraid of." His apology was erratic, almost like he was searching for the words and still couldn't find them. What was he trying to tell me? Iah scoffed and glared.
"You've got to be kidding, right? That is some half-assed apology if I ever heard one."
"Iah, right?" Carter addressed her. "Kindly back off. This is between Elena and me. You've done enough damage tonight." He glared at her.
He hit me. Those words in my head were changing tone. At first, it was disbelief, then confusion, and now… anger.
"He's trying to blame us for the whole thing, as if we set it up so she got close to the singer." Val's glare was icy. Iah huffed incredulously.
"Going to that damn club was irresponsible. You could have… gotten hurt or drugged or worse!" Carter ran his hands through his blonde hair and then placed them on his hips, shaking his head. My anger was building. First he hit me, and now he was trying to blame my friends for this? I was done.
"You hit me, Carter!" My tone dripped with anger and disgust. He froze, then took a step toward me.
"No, I—" I cut him off.
"Don't even try to make more excuses. You hit me. That's a stone-cold fact." I stepped in front of Iah, placing a hand on her shoulder to let her know I was okay.
"El, please, let me—" I cut him off again.
"You also had a knife and held it at Darien's throat! Who even are you?" I looked him up and down, as if I didn't recognise him. I barely did. He was on edge, scanning our surroundings, his eyes cold.
"You know who I am," he said, exasperated. He ran a hand through his hair and looked at the ground. I could tell he was struggling to communicate. I didn't care anymore. Yes, we had only been together three months, so I was bound to discover his jealous side eventually. Perhaps it was better I discovered it sooner rather than later.
"No. I don't think I do anymore. This needs to end. I will not be with anyone whose jealousy turns violent." I said it coolly. I needed to get home, have a long, soothing shower, and collapse into bed. This day had been an emotional clusterfuck.
He glared at me. "Don't be ridiculous. Just take the time to calm down, sleep, or whatever, and we'll talk tomorrow."
"No, Carter. I mean it. What you did to me was not accidental, and you intended to hurt him as well."
"El—" Carter struggled for words. "You don't understand. You have to trust me. I am sorry for hurting you. I was just trying to get you as far away from that leech as possible."
"There you go calling him that again! What does that even mean?" I demanded. He looked away, scowling, and said nothing.
"You know what? Never mind. Just leave, Carter." I turned away, moving toward my friends who put their arms around me.
"El…" Carter started, then addressed Iah and Val. "Just make sure she gets home safe."
I saw Val nod from the corner of my eye. When I could no longer hear his footsteps, I realised he was gone. That's when the tears came. Just like that, our relationship was over. Yeah, I'd messed up, but that didn't excuse what he did.
"Oh, Leni," Iah said, rubbing my arms in comfort. "I'm sorry, girl." I sniffed and smiled weakly. We walked slowly to the limo pick-up point, back to the place where the whole crazy night had started. I saw the door Iah had disappeared into, Val and I following. The evening replayed in my head: sneaking in, becoming VIP, partying like no tomorrow, being seduced by a vision, panicking in the bathroom, connecting with a very seductive singer almost reliving my vision, a knife fight, me on the ground in pain… and heartbreak. I looked at the people still waiting in line outside the club. Would their night be as intense as mine? Probably not. I envied them. Their night was only beginning; mine had ended in devastation.
When we reached the corner to cross the street, I looked back at the door that started it all. A strange feeling crawled over me, as if I were being watched. There he was—Darien, dressed in black, leaning against the wall next to the back door, one leg bent, arms crossed, staring at me. I looked back, unsure what to do or think. When he saw me staring, he pushed off the wall, maintaining eye contact as he walked through the door. Was he checking on me? Making sure I was okay? Perhaps wishful thinking. Yet I couldn't ignore the intensity in his gaze. It made me shiver. When he was gone, I realised I didn't want him to leave. I wanted to run back and talk to him. I wanted him. I wanted… more.
My parents were already asleep by the time I got home, and I was grateful for it. I didn't want them to see me like this. Val and Iah had said they'd come by tomorrow to pick up their things, and I was grateful for that too — I needed to be alone with my thoughts.
The moment I closed the front door, the tears came. I cried from anger, disappointment, heartbreak. Three months gone in one night. Thrown away over a mistake.
Your mistake was bad… but his was worse.
The nasty little voice in my head wasn't wrong. It was the only thing stopping me from going full soppy-romance-film-with-a-tub-of-ice-cream mode.
I slipped off my high heels and sighed as my feet sank into the fluffy living room carpet. My ears were still ringing from the music and bass at the club, making everything feel fuzzy as I went upstairs to my room. It was exactly as chaotic as we'd left it — pizza boxes, scattered makeup, and the stale scent of sparkling wine mixed with pink lemonade clinging to the air.
I started untying my corset and jumped when my phone fell from where I'd tucked it. I rubbed it against the satin of my skirt to clean it and switched it on. Carter's messages lit up the screen. Dozens of them. The more I read, the clearer it became that ending things had been the right choice. Still… I would mourn the relationship, however brief.
Grabbing a packet of face wipes from my desk, I began removing my makeup. Washing my face properly would've been faster, but I was too drained to care. Bed was calling, soft and warm and far too inviting.
Once my face was clean and I was curled into a self-made cocoon beneath the blankets, the tears returned. My relationship was over. I was single again. My parents would be thrilled — now I could "focus on my studies."
I groaned and cried harder. I didn't even want this degree anymore. I didn't know what I wanted at all. My life was a mess, and tonight had only made it worse. I pulled the covers over my head and eventually fell into a restless sleep.
*****
I stood in the void, shoulders sinking in despair. Here I was again. What did it want to show me this time?
I walked through the black, inky world. As I moved, the symbols appeared — the eye, the flame, the owl, the flower, the forest, and finally the wolf. They circled me in slow, deliberate motion.
When my gaze rested on the eye, something shifted at my side. I froze. The hairs on my arms stood on end. Slowly, I turned.
The wolf was moving. And growling.
My hands curled into fists as my spine straightened with instinctive alertness. The wolf paced, its white eyes glowing like holes torn into the darkness. It stared through me, unblinking.
Its mouth opened and a rough breath poured out, wisps of smoke curling into the black. I flinched.
It circled once more, then paused in front of me. It took a few steps closer. And closer.
I didn't move. I didn't dare.
It brushed its head against my hand. A shaky breath rushed out of me — I hadn't realised I'd been holding it. The wolf nudged my hand again, gentler this time, and I realised it wanted me to touch it.
I reached out, slowly… carefully…
But it jumped back with a snarl, teeth bared. I jerked my hand away. Confused didn't even begin to cover it. The wolf paced again, glancing at me as though it shared the confusion.
Then, without warning, it lunged.
I yelped as we crashed to the ground. The wolf pinned me beneath its weight, growling low in its throat. My breathing stuttered, fear tightening around my ribs.
The growl faded into a soft whine. Its white eyes shifted, a small glimmer of familiar purple shining through.
I stared up at it, heart hammering. My hand lifted on instinct, trying to soothe him.
But before my fingers touched his fur, the wolf snapped — a violent, guttural growl tearing through the void — its canines inches from my throat. I didn't flinch this time. Instead, I let my gaze slip from those impossible purple eyes and turned my head, baring my neck in quiet submission.
The other symbols circled us in a slow, ghostly orbit. Their glow pulsed with my heartbeat. The eye symbol drifted forward, stopping directly before me as if it, too, were holding its breath. A small, knowing smile tugged at my lips as I closed my eyes. I felt calm and at peace. I was ready for whatever the wolf wanted to do next. I almost compelled it to.
The wolf hesitated. I felt the warmth of it hover near my skin, a trembling uncertainty.
Then it bit.
There was no pain — only light. My eyes opened as a burst of red exploded outward from us, not blood but a weightless brilliance that scattered into star-like fragments before they ever touched the ground. The void shook with it, trembling like something ancient had finally cracked open.
I opened my eyes just as the burst star flared violently in my vision.
"Elena!" a yearning voice called.