Venecia
The forest air was heavier than before, and an unshakable tension settled between Romeo and me. The tablet's cryptic warning played over in my head like a foreboding melody: "The one who burns bright risks consuming all." I wasn't sure what it fully meant, but I was sure of one thing—it was tied to the fire in his soul and the curse that bound us together.
Our next attempt to break the curse would be more deliberate. The stakes were higher now, and we knew we needed answers. So, we returned to the clearing, surrounded by ancient trees that whispered secrets we couldn't understand.
"Are you sure about this?" Romeo asked, his voice a mix of determination and hesitation. His eyes met mine, and there was something there—something deeper.
"I have to be," I said. "We both do. The marks... the curse... we need to know the truth."
Romeo nodded, his jaw tightening. He placed the last of the ritual candles around us, their flames flickering in the twilight. My pulse quickened as I spread out the ritual scroll we'd taken from the library earlier. The instructions were faded, the language unfamiliar, but something inside me seemed to understand it on an instinctual level.
As we knelt facing each other, I couldn't ignore the energy crackling between us. It felt like gravity, pulling us closer even though we weren't touching.
"Focus," I said, breaking the tension in my voice.
He smirked faintly. "I am focused."
We began to chant, each syllable foreign yet oddly familiar. The marks on our skin began to glow softly, their light mingling in the space between us. The pull became stronger, and I felt my breath hitch.
Suddenly, a spark of energy leaped from his mark to mine.
"Romeo!" I gasped, clutching my arm as the energy rippled through me.
"I feel it, too," he said, his voice strained. His hand twitched toward mine but stopped just short of contact.
The marks flared brighter as if responding to our connection. The wind in the clearing picked up, howling around us and whipping at our clothes. The ritual's power surged, but instead of unveiling answers, it spiraled out of control.
The moment our fingers brushed—only for a second—it happened.
Romeo
The moment her skin touched mine, I felt it: a heat so intense it could've ignited the world around us. The power surged, not just through our marks but through every fiber of my being.
Venecia's eyes locked on mine, wide with shock, yet her lips parted as if words would only get in the way. The ritual was crumbling, spiraling beyond what we'd prepared for, but I couldn't think straight. All I could feel was her.
Her scent, the warmth of her presence, the fire behind her every glance.
We didn't mean to do it. At least, I don't think we did. But the pull was undeniable. Before either of us realized it, we were kissing—wild, passionate, and completely beyond control.
When our lips met, the world around us seemed to shatter. The marks on our skin burned so brightly they illuminated the clearing. A surge of energy shot through us, binding us closer in ways I couldn't comprehend.
I felt her emotions as if they were my own—her fear, her longing, her desire, all blending into my own. It wasn't just the curse—it was us.
The power surged again, rippling out in waves that shook the ground and extinguished the candles. But neither of us stopped. We couldn't.
It wasn't until the clearing was plunged into darkness, the only light remaining that of our dimming marks, that we finally broke apart, panting
"Romeo," Venecia whispered, her voice trembling.
I didn't answer. I couldn't. My mind was a whirlwind of desire, fear, and a strange, undeniable need for her.
The ritual hadn't gone as planned. We still had no answers, but what it had awakened between us was undeniable.
***************
Liana and Damien's Perspective
Liana leaned against the balcony railing, letting the crisp evening air brush against her skin. The sounds of distant chatter and faint music floated up from below. The night had an eerie quietness, interrupted only by the faint hum of the city. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of earlier—Romeo and Venecia's failed ritual and the nearly unbearable tension that had followed.
But now, things were still. Almost too still.
"Escaping the madness?" a familiar voice drawled behind her.
Liana turned to see Damien leaning casually against the doorway, that infuriatingly confident grin plastered across his face. "Or are you just hiding
Her lips curved into a small smile despite herself. "What do you want, Damien?"
"To make sure you don't actually combust from overthinking," he replied, strolling closer. "You've got that 'troubled genius' look written all over you."
Liana shook her head, exhaling a short laugh. "It's been a long day."
He leaned on the railing beside her, studying her. "Long doesn't even begin to cover it. Between supernatural rituals and Romeo nearly setting everything on fire, I'd say we're due for a break."
For a moment, they stood in comfortable silence, the buzz of earlier chaos fading into the background. Liana found herself relaxing in his presence—something she rarely allowed herself to do.
"You were amazing, you know," Damien said softly, breaking the quiet.
Liana blinked at him, caught off guard. "What?"
"At the competition," he clarified. "You held your own, even with everything working against you." His tone lacked its usual teasing edge, his words genuine. "Not a lot of people could do that."
She turned back to the cityscape, her fingers tightening slightly on the railing. "It wasn't just me," she admitted. "I wasn't sure about you at first, but... you surprised me. You didn't let me down."
Damien chuckled. "Well, that's high praise coming from you."
She glanced at him sideways, catching the soft curve of his smirk. For once, it wasn't arrogant. It was warm. "Why did you help me?" she asked, tilting her head. "You could've ignored it. I mean, no one expects you to swoop in and save the day."
He shrugged, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Maybe I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it—that I could help. And maybe..." He hesitated before meeting her eyes. "Maybe I saw how much it mattered to you."
Something fluttered in Liana's chest at his words, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. "Well, you did more than help. You were... good."
"That almost sounds like a compliment," Damien teased, his grin returning, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
She rolled her eyes, though a faint smile lingered on her lips. "Don't let it go to your head."
Their banter eased the lingering tension, and for a moment, they just stood there, shoulders nearly touching, watching the world below.
"Do you ever think about what comes next?" Damien asked suddenly.
Liana turned to him, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"
"I mean..." He shifted, his fingers drumming lightly against the railing. "Everything we're dealing with—Romeo, Venecia, all of it. Do you think we'll get through it? All of us?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and unspoken until now. Liana stared at him, noticing the faint worry in his expression. It was so unlike him, and it made her realize how deeply he cared—even if he tried to hide it behind jokes and charm.
"I think we'll be okay," she said finally, her voice steady. "As long as we have each other."
Damien smiled, a real one this time—soft and genuine. "Yeah. I think so too."
In that moment, their usual playful dynamic melted away, leaving something raw and unspoken between them. It wasn't like the fiery, uncontrollable connection Romeo and Venecia shared. It was quieter, grounded in trust and understanding.
Damien reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Liana's ear, his fingers brushing her skin lightly. The gesture was small, almost insignificant, but it sent a ripple of warmth through her. She didn't pull away.
"Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"For what?"
"For being there. Even when I didn't want you to be."
He grinned again, that mischievous spark returning to his eyes. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."
Liana laughed softly, shaking her head. "Don't ruin the moment, Damien."
He chuckled, but the softness didn't fade completely. "Fine. I'll be serious—for now."
The silence returned, but this time, it wasn't awkward. It was easy, comfortable—a moment of calm in the chaos.
And though they didn't say it, they both knew: something between them had shifted. Something real.