Chapter 36 :The Burden of Truth

The silence in the hallway was suffocating, broken only by the rapid pounding of Aria's heart. Kael's grip on her shoulders tightened as he stared down at her, his breath shallow and quick. His eyes were full of unspoken words—words he had kept hidden for so long—and yet, she could feel a growing intensity in him that made her pulse race.

Kael wanted to say something. She could see it in the tightness of his jaw, the way his muscles seemed to coil beneath his skin. But what could he possibly say that would make things better? What could he say to explain the chaos that was building between them, to justify the distance he had placed between them?

"Kael…" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough to make him flinch.

He took a slow breath, as if steadying himself before letting go of her. His eyes softened just a fraction, but the tension in the air didn't dissipate. If anything, it grew heavier.

"I'll explain everything, Aria," he finally muttered, the words coming out more like a promise than a reassurance. "But not like this. Not right now. There's… there's too much at risk."

Aria's heart clenched. What could possibly be more at risk than this? she thought. What could be worse than this overwhelming feeling that something was slipping through her fingers? She wanted to scream at him, demand that he finally tell her everything, but a part of her, the part that still wanted him close, held her back.

"What are you hiding from me, Kael?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions brewing inside her. "What's so dangerous that you can't even tell me the truth?"

Kael's gaze flickered to the stairs, as though he were searching for an escape. But there was nowhere for him to go. Nowhere for either of them to hide.

"It's not just about me anymore, Aria," he said, his voice quieter now, tinged with regret. "It's about you. And about everything that's coming."

Aria shook her head, frustration and confusion welling up inside her. "What's coming, Kael? What aren't you telling me?"

He took another step back, his eyes narrowing, his hands clenching at his sides as though he were fighting to hold himself together. "I can't do this right now," he said, his voice strained. "You wouldn't understand. You're not ready."

Her breath caught in her throat. Not ready? She had been ready for this from the very beginning—ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead. But Kael… Kael was still hiding something from her.

Suddenly, there was a noise—soft at first, almost imperceptible. It was the kind of sound that you didn't notice until it was too late. Aria turned her head, her senses suddenly on high alert.

The air shifted, the temperature dropping. The shadows in the corridor seemed to stretch, darkening around them. It felt as if something was drawing near, something unseen but undeniably present. Aria felt a chill run down her spine.

"Kael…" she began, but her voice faltered as a figure emerged from the darkness at the end of the hall.

At first, Aria couldn't see who it was, but her heart skipped a beat as the figure stepped into the dim light. A flash of recognition hit her.

It was Lila.

But something about her had changed. Her posture was different now—tighter, more purposeful. Her eyes were narrowed, and the air around her seemed to pulse with a strange energy that made the hairs on the back of Aria's neck stand up. The tension between them was palpable, like the calm before a storm.

Kael stiffened beside her, his body tensing with palpable dread. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Lila didn't answer right away. She took a slow step forward, her gaze never leaving Aria's. "It's time you both understood," she said, her voice almost a whisper but carrying an edge that made Aria's skin prickle. "There's more to this than either of you realize. Kael's curse, Aria's bloodline—everything. It's all connected. And the sooner you both accept it, the better."

Aria felt a surge of anger rising in her chest. She didn't know if it was because of the way Lila was speaking to them or because of the chilling energy that seemed to radiate from her. But she could feel the danger in the air—the same feeling she had when she first met Lila, but now it was much stronger, more insistent.

"What are you talking about?" Aria demanded, stepping forward. "What do you mean, connected?"

Lila's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "Kael doesn't want you to know the truth. He doesn't want you to understand what you're getting into. But you're already a part of this, Aria. You've always been a part of it."

The words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Aria felt a shiver race down her spine. She turned to Kael, her eyes searching his face for any clue, any sign that he might finally speak the truth. But he was silent, his face an unreadable mask.

"Kael," she said softly, her voice trembling. "What is she talking about?"

Kael's jaw clenched, and for a long moment, he didn't answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper, raw with emotion.

"Lila's right," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "You're connected to this curse in ways you don't understand. Your bloodline, Aria, it's… it's linked to everything that's happening."

Aria felt her knees go weak, the ground beneath her seeming to shift. "What do you mean? How?"

Kael stepped closer to her, his hand brushing against hers. It was the first time he had touched her without hesitation, and the warmth of his skin sent a jolt of electricity through her. But it didn't erase the fear, the dread, the uncertainty.

"I didn't want to tell you," he admitted. "But now… now it's too late to keep hiding it."

The weight of his words settled in the pit of Aria's stomach like a stone. She could feel the tension building between them, like a string stretched too tightly, ready to snap at any moment. And in that moment, Aria realized something—whatever they were facing, whatever danger was coming for them, it was much bigger than she had ever imagined. And Kael… Kael had been carrying this burden alone for so long.

"I don't know what to do, Kael," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared."

Kael's eyes softened, a flicker of something unspoken passing between them. He took a deep breath, his grip on her hand tightening. "I know. But whatever happens, I won't let you face it alone."

Before Aria could respond, a sharp, distant noise pierced the air—a crackling sound, followed by a low growl. The tension between them broke, and Aria's heart leaped into her throat. Something was coming. Something dark.

Kael's expression hardened as he turned toward the sound. "Stay close," he ordered, his voice commanding. "We need to get out of here."

Aria nodded, fear twisting inside her. The danger wasn't just coming for Kael anymore. It was coming for both of them.