Vampire Assassin: Love and Lies

Damian rushed down the path to meet Emma and Oliver after classes. The sun was starting to set, casting long shadows across the school courtyard as he walked fast, dodging students and glancing at his phone.

When he turned a corner, his eyes landed on Nadia and Cassius standing by the edge of the courtyard. They were arguing, but the words were lost in the noise of the bustling campus. Nadia looked tense, arms crossed, and Cassius was towering over her, his voice getting louder with every second.

Damian slowed his steps, feeling that uneasy knot in his stomach. It wasn't his problem, but something about the scene tugged at him. Suddenly, Cassius reached out and tried to grab Nadia.

Without thinking, Damian's feet moved faster, adrenaline kicking in. He rushed forward, his voice firm as he called out, "Enough!"

Cassius froze. The smugness that usually sat on his face faltered, and for a second, he looked uncertain. Damian stood tall, locking eyes with him, and something in his gaze made Cassius back off. With a scoff, Cassius turned and walked away, muttering under his breath as he left.

Damian's gaze moved to Nadia, who was still standing there, looking completely drained. Her shoulders were hunched, and there were tears in her eyes. She didn't notice him at first, but when she finally looked up at him, her face softened for a second before she quickly wiped her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Damian asked, his voice quieter now, softer than he had intended.

Nadia blinked, clearly caught off guard. She sniffled and shook her head. "I—I'm fine," she lied, trying to steady herself.

Damian could see right through it. He sighed and gave her a small, awkward smile. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up."

He pointed toward the restroom nearby, not sure if she'd want him to walk with her, but she nodded without saying anything.

He waited outside, leaning against the wall, giving her space. The quiet sobs drifting from inside were a reminder of how much she'd been holding back. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do, but he stayed there, patiently waiting.

When the door creaked open, Damian straightened up. Nadia stepped out, looking a little less red in the face, though her eyes were still a bit puffy. She gave him a small, unsure smile.

"Better?" Damian asked.

Nadia nodded, her smile a little more genuine now. "Yeah. Thanks."

Damian cleared his throat, feeling that awkwardness again. "So, where are you going now?"

Nadia shrugged, glancing around. "I don't really know. Just walking around, I guess."

Damian hesitated for a second. "I'm about to meet Emma and Oliver. You can come with us, if you want."

Nadia seemed to think it over for a second before giving a small nod. "Okay. I'll come."

As they walked toward the school fields, the silence between them felt different now—less tense, more comfortable. But after a while, Nadia spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know how much longer I can deal with this," she said quietly.

Damian turned to her, confused. "Deal with what?"

Nadia paused for a moment before speaking again, her voice strained with emotion. "My engagement to Cassius. It's... it's arranged. It was decided for me when I was little, and now it's suffocating me." She looked down, clearly uncomfortable, as though the words had just spilled out before she could stop them.

Damian frowned, surprised. He hadn't expected her to open up like this. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "That's... a lot to handle."

Nadia nodded, her shoulders slumping. "It's just... I don't know how to escape it. He's controlling, and I'm supposed to be with him, but all I feel is trapped." She glanced at him then, her eyes full of uncertainty. "I'm not sure what I want anymore."

Damian didn't know what to say. He hadn't expected to hear that, especially not from someone as strong as Nadia. But somehow, hearing her talk about it made him feel more connected to her than he'd ever expected.

The moment stretched, but before either of them could say anything else, they arrived at the meeting spot where Emma and Oliver were waiting. Emma saw them first, her face lighting up with a smile as she waved.

"Hey, Damian!" Emma called out. "Where have you been?"

Damian waved back, moving toward her, but Emma's smile faltered when her eyes landed on Nadia walking next to him. She blinked, looking between them, surprised. "Nadia? What... what are you doing with Damian?"

Damian could feel the shift in the air, the awkwardness of the moment settling in. It was like everything had stopped for a second. But instead of feeling nervous or defensive, Damian just let the question hang there. Maybe it didn't matter so much right now. This wasn't about them, not really—it was about him and Nadia, and whatever was starting to unfold between them.

He didn't have an answer yet, but he didn't mind that. Not really.

🤗🤗🤗🤗.