Damon

Damon's pov

A week had slipped by since Elara's departure, and then, a flicker of news arrived—a letter, unmistakably hers. In its familiar scrawl, she shared snippets of her life, recounting how she was doing well and weaving tales of a newfound friendship that seemed to brighten her days.

While part of me felt a swell of relief at her happiness, another part gnawed at me. I had my own matters to attend to. We had finally obtained the elusive address of the silent order lord, which led us to both his hospital and house, albeit in a distant city. But distance was a trivial obstacle for me and Jared; we were resolute in our mission to confront him. Underneath it all, I felt a bittersweet solace in Elara's absence, a hollow space left in my heart that only she could have filled. The sadness of her departure lingered, yet somehow, I knew I had to move forward.

"Damon, you're leaving tomorrow?" My mother's voice, laced with concern, interrupted my thoughts as she regarded me with her ever-worried expression.

"Yes, Mum, I have to go," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil brewing within me.

"Damon, please keep an eye out for Elara… there's no telling if she might be nearby," she urged, her gaze dropping to a photo of Elara I had carelessly left on my desk. The image captured her radiant smile, a stark contrast to the void her absence created.

"I will, Mum. I promised you, didn't I? I won't let you down," I reassured her, the weight of the promise settling in my chest.

"Just… be careful," she whispered, her voice trailing off as she left the room, leaving me with my thoughts.

*******

Nights like this stretched endlessly before me, a tapestry of restless thoughts woven with worry. I lay awake, the moonlight spilling through my window, my mind consumed with thoughts of Damon and what he might be facing. Sometimes tears would spill down my cheeks; other times, I would simply sit in reflective silence. I confided in Luna about my turmoil, and unlike others, she offered no judgment. Instead, she whispered words of comfort, suggesting it was just a phase—a storm I would eventually weather. Yet, doubt lingered in my heart; the intensity of my feelings felt far too real to dismiss as mere passing clouds.

"Elara?" I heard Luna's voice break through my reverie, calling out to me like a beacon in the night.

"Luna, I'm here," I responded, curiosity piqued as to why she was searching for me.

"Well… I was sifting through my parents' documents, and I stumbled upon some intriguing information," she began, her tone rich with intrigue.

Suddenly, the shrill ring of my phone pierced the room, pulling me from our conversation. It was my boss, his voice urgent and tinged with an edge of panic as he inquired about my blood type. My heart raced as I told him it was O+, an unsettling feeling creeping over me. He instructed me to come immediately, and I could sense that something was gravely wrong.

Without hesitation, I slipped into my clothes, glancing at Luna, who was already dressed. We hurriedly jumped into the car, the tension heavy in the air as I steered us away, a sense of dread gnawing at my insides. I suspected my boss's urgency had something to do with his father, and the thought sent a shiver down my spine.