Chapter 18: Echoes of Home and an Unspoken Heart
She blinked and found herself standing in the middle of her childhood home. The walls were the same soft cream color she remembered, adorned with family pictures, moments frozen in time. The sound of laughter echoed from the kitchen, a melody so dear to her heart that it made her chest tighten.
"Mel, wake up! Breakfast is ready!" Her eldest brother, Ethan, called out, his voice filled with warmth and familiarity.
"Don't hog all the bacon this time, or I swear—" her second older brother, Lucas, interjected, making her laugh.
She turned towards them, her heart swelling. Their faces were exactly as she remembered—Ethan's protective gaze, Lucas' teasing smirk. And then, beyond them, their parents stood together, their mother smiling as she placed a steaming plate of pancakes on the table, their father chuckling at a joke only he seemed to understand.
Melinoe felt tears sting her eyes. "Mom… Dad…" she whispered, stepping forward.
Their gazes met hers, soft and filled with unconditional love. "Welcome home, sweetheart," her mother said gently, reaching out to her.
A sob escaped her lips as she rushed forward, desperate to feel their embrace. But just as she was about to touch them—
The warmth vanished. The laughter faded. Darkness surged forward, swallowing everything whole.
Melinoe gasped, her body trembling. She felt dampness on her cheeks, and though she remained unconscious, tears streamed down her face. In the waking world, two figures hovered over her, their expressions etched with concern.
"She's crying in her sleep…" Havvaris muttered, his brows furrowed deeply. He reached out, brushing his fingers over her damp cheek with a gentleness that seemed uncharacteristic for a hardened warrior like him.
Nyxpanther stood silently beside him, his golden eyes unreadable, but his fingers clenched tightly into fists. "She must be dreaming of something painful," he finally said, his voice unusually soft.
Havvaris let out a heavy breath. "We should do something. She's been unconscious for three days. If she doesn't wake up soon…"
"She will," Nyxpanther interrupted, though there was the faintest trace of worry in his voice. "She has to."
Three days had passed before Melinoe's eyes finally fluttered open. The world around her was blurred at first, but she immediately felt the warmth of something soft holding her hand. As her vision cleared, she saw Havvaris sitting beside her, a warm cloth in his hand, gently wiping her fingers. His usually sharp, battle-hardened features were softened with worry, his blue eyes scanning her face for any sign of distress.
"You're awake," he breathed in relief, leaning closer. "How do you feel? Does anything hurt?" His voice, normally strong and commanding, was laced with concern.
Melinoe blinked, trying to find her voice. Her throat was parched, her body sore, but the raw emotions from her dream lingered heavier than any physical ache. "I'm… fine," she croaked.
Havvaris frowned. "You don't look fine. I should call the physician and the priest—" He made a move to stand, but Melinoe weakly reached out, grabbing his sleeve.
"No," she said softly. "I'm really fine. I just… need water."
He hesitated before nodding. With careful hands, he helped her sit up, his arm bracing her back as he reached for the cup on the bedside table. The way he handled her as if she were made of the most fragile glass, made her chest tighten with something she couldn't quite name.
She sipped the water slowly, letting the cool liquid soothe her throat. When she finished, an awkward silence settled between them. Havvaris still hovered close, his fingers lingering near her wrist as if afraid to let go.
Desperate to break the tension, Melinoe glanced around. "Where's Nyxpanther?" she asked, her voice light, but the question had an unexpected effect.
Havvaris stiffened, his jaw clenching. A flash of something dark crossed his expression—jealousy, irritation? He looked away for a brief moment before letting out a sharp exhale. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath.
Melinoe blinked, confused. "Havvaris?"
"I don't know what's wrong with me," he admitted suddenly, his voice rough, raw. "Ever since I met you, I've felt this… need to protect you. To be by your side. And now, seeing you hurt, crying in your sleep, asking about him before even looking at me—it's unbearable."
Melinoe's lips parted slightly in surprise. Was he… confessing?
Havvaris met her gaze then, his blue eyes burning with an intensity that made her breath hitch. "I don't know when it started, or how, but I—" He hesitated for only a second before he continued, his voice deep and unwavering. "I have feelings for you, Melinoe."
Her heart pounded in her chest. The room, the pain, even the lingering sadness from her dream—all of it faded in the wake of his words.
This world, strange and unfamiliar, had taken everything from her. But as she stared into Havvaris' eyes, filled with something raw and real, she wondered if maybe—just maybe—it had also given her something in return.