The sweet intense moment was shattered by a sudden, loud banging on the door. Caelia pulled away from Damon, a hand on her mouth.
Damon frowned as he walked towards the door, his hand on the doorknob. "What the hell?"
He swung the door open, revealing a man with dark blond hair and piercing eyes. Caelia didn't know who he was. And he didn't look like he was room service or anything. He looked very unfamiliar.
But the look on Damon's face showed that he knew him and he was shocked to see him.
Kai's gaze immediately fixated on Caelia, his instincts kicking in. "And who is this lovely dinner my Lord?"
Damon stepped protectively in front of Caelia. "What are you doing here?!"
Damon ignored his question.
"Can't I say hello?! I heard you were in town, I had to stop by."
Kai's eyes darkened as he grinned menacingly, his eyes still on Caelia. "Is she your new snack? You should share."
Before Damon could react, Kai lunged towards Caelia, fangs bared. The attack was swift, but Damon's reflexes were faster. He intercepted Kai, wrestling him away from Caelia.
Damon growled, his eyes glowing with intensity. "Are you out of your mind? She's off-limits."
Kai laughed sinisterly, struggling against Damon's grip. "Off limit?! I've never heard of such a thing."
Damon's voice turned cold. "I'm warning you. Stay away from her. Now."
Caelia, stunned and shaken, watched the confrontation unfold before her. She knew who Damon was, she knew what this Kai person was. When he lunged for her, she thought certainly that she was going to die. That was all she could think of. She was certain of it.
If it wasn't for Damon, she might have been dead. Dead and gone.
Kai, realizing he was overpowered, backed off reluctantly. "Fine, have your human. I'll give you this one."
Damon left Kai and Kai stood up and dusted the imaginary dust off his dark clothes.
"Now if you wouldn't let me eat, at least you'd let me discuss business with you. Wouldn't you?"
"This missing bride business is really a pain in the ass."
He continued.
"Leave Kai."
Damon ordered.
"When I need you I'll call."
Surprisingly, Kai didn't argue. As Kai disappeared into the night, Damon closed the door, his anger dissipating. He turned to Caelia, concern etched on his face.
"Are you okay?!"
He asked her.
"Not really," Caelia said, her voice shaky.
Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry about that. Kai is crazy. Don't take anything he said seriously."
She shook her head.
She wouldn't let him lie to her. Or pretend that she had not seen a thing.
"I saw his face Damon. It wasn't human, you don't have to lie to me."
She said as calmly as she could muster.
Damon looked at her, for a really long time and then he sighed.
"How long have you known?"
He asked.
She didn't answer. If she told him the truth, he would know that she had been at the ball and he might connect the dots that she was the bride he was looking for. And definitely didn't want that.
"Does that matter?"
She asked and he sighed.
"It does. If you had known for a long time and you didn't tell me, it would explain your recent behaviour towards me."
Caelia took a step back.
"I don't think my behaviour towards you has changed. I mean, I'm here am I not?"
"I came with you here against my better judgement."
She said as she swallowed hard. Realising that she wouldn't have been in such danger in the first place if she wasn't with Damon.
"If you know then you understand why I had to keep it a secret."
"You understand why I couldn't tell you."
He added and Caelia nodded uncomfortably.
"To an extent."
"Are you afraid of me?"
Damon asked and Caelia couldn't answer. She would be lying if she said she wasn't. His face was scary enough whenever she looked at him. But he was still the Damon she remembered, the one who shared the love of books for her. The kind and gentle Damon who gave her books.
But the few times she had seen his dark side, she couldn't deny that she was absolutely terrified of him. That was how bad it was.
"I'm afraid of what you are. Not you."
She explained.
Damon nodded.
"Fair enough."
"I don't need to explain the importance of keeping this a secret do I?! If anyone finds out what I am, it can put me and the others in danger."
She nodded her head, feeling a little bit better.
"I won't say anything. Don't worry about that."
She looked around, already feeling uncomfortable.
"I'll go downstairs. You should get some rest. And some sleep. Kai won't come up here to disturb you."
Caelia nodded.
"I hope."
She murmured as she turned away, ready to forget everything and go to bed.
"Caelia."
He called out to her and she turned to look AG him.
There was something that resembled agony in his face.
"Does this change things?"
He asked her.
She stayed mute. She could lie, she could say that it didn't but it did. Ever since she had found out she knew it would change things. She fought against her feelings for him and decided to do what's best for her.
Greta's words continued ringing in her ear.
'He's the worst of them all'
She had said.
She would be stupid to ignore that. But she still wanted him. Badly.
"Yes. It does Damon."
.........
The atmosphere in the Wright family dining room was tense as Sophia called her mother, her father and Olivia, to gather for an impromptu family meeting downstairs. She had even sent the maids to their quarters, to give them the privacy that they needed. The air thickened with curiosity as they settled around the table, glancing at Sophia with questioning eyes.
Sophia took a deep breath, her hands clutching the letter that Caelia had dropped and the ring. Ever since she got the letter she had been thinking of what to do, how to present the news. Caelia being her brother's lost bride had shocked her and she was sure it was going to shock her parents even more. "I have something crucial to share with all of you," she began, her voice steady.
Her family exchanged puzzled glances, and her father spoke first, "What's going on, Sophia? You seem quite serious."
"Yes this is unlike you."
Olivia said as she folded her arms. She and her sister told each other everything, so when she had been called down for the meeting she was surprised that Sophia had not told her anything prior to it.
And she was very curious to know what was so important that her sister had kept from her.
Sophia hesitated for a moment before revealing, "I know who Damon's missing bride is." Her words hung in the air, creating a ripple of tension.
Carolyn Wright raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Damon's missing bride? Don't play games, Sophia. This isn't the time to."
Sophia shook her head, presenting the ring and the letter. "I found these in our mailbox. I saw her putting them there. This isn't a joke; it's real."
Olivia chimed in, "Who is it then?! Tell us."
"Caelia. It's Caelia."
Sophia answered.
There was a silence like no other on the table. Her parents exchanged glances with each other, Olivia looked dumbstruck.
"This isn't the time to play games."
Olivia finally said.
Sophia insisted, "This letter was written by Caelia. She was returning the ring, saying she no longer wants to be Damon's bride and she wants him to stop looking for her. She used the alias Ella Stone. Damon said that his bride's name is Ella. There's no way Caelia would have known that unless she really is his bride."
Mrs. Wright scoffed, "But how! How did she attend the ball?! Last I heard Samantha Dortmund was the only one not accounted for but had someone attend in her stead."
Sophia passed the letter and ring to her parents, her father took it, examining it closely.
"There's also no way Caelia would have that ring if she isn't the missing bride. And from what I heard, Caelia knew Samantha Dortmund. She used to model clothes for her."
Her father sighed.
"If what Sophia says is true, we need to inform Damon immediately. This is not a matter to be taken lightly."
Sophia nodded, "Exactly. We cannot ignore this. Damon needs to know the truth immediately.
Mrs. Wright disagreed vehemently, "No! And have him marry a human?! A nameless human who isn't even a member of the founding family! What disgrace!"
Mr. Wright sighed, "But the ritual has been started. It has to be completed. There's nothing we can do now. If we risk not completing the ritual because of her status, we risk everything."
"Call your brother and inform him immediately Sophia."
Olivia interjected, "Where's Caelia?! That conniving witch! She must have planned this all along!"
Sophia hesitated. "Planned it?! I don't think she knows what we are. But she must have been scared when she found out. Maybe that's why she returned the ring."
Her mother scoffed, "She still tricked us. Let her come back home first, we'll deal with that when the time comes."