One Hundred & Twenty Seven

One Hundred & Twenty Seven
Darius woke in the middle of the night, the room unusually quiet. His arms instinctively reached for Amara… but she wasn’t there. Panic flared in his chest. He swung his legs out of bed, scanning the room, checking the bathroom, even peeking into the closets. Nothing.

A chill ran down his spine. He moved quickly, footsteps silent but urgent, calling her name softly at first, then louder. “Amara?”

Then he heard it… a sharp, trembling scream cutting through the darkness.

The sound made his blood run cold. He didn’t waste another second. He bolted downstairs, Valen already appearing behind him, eyes wide and alert, following instinct more than instruction.

The scream led them outside, to a part of the mansion none of them had known existed… a hidden path that opened up to a small, quiet lake. The moonlight shimmered across the water, casting pale light over the scene.

Amara stood at the water’s edge, shaking, tears streaming freely down her face. She was sobbing so hard it shook her small frame. Darius’s chest tightened at the sight… his heart racing, mind scrambling.

He sprinted to her, Valen close behind. “Amara!” he called, his voice breaking.

She didn’t answer, didn’t even turn. Her cries only grew louder, wracking her body.

Without thinking, Darius wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against him. “Shh… I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice soft but firm, trying to anchor her as her sobs tore through the night air. “It’s okay, im here, have got you sweetheart.”

Amara clung to him like he was the only thing keeping her from falling apart. Her body trembled in his arms, and though she didn’t speak, the flood of emotion pouring from her said everything… fear, anger, grief, confusion.

Valen stepped forward but stayed back, giving them space, his face tense with worry.

Darius carried her back toward the mansion, her head resting against his chest, her hands gripping his shirt like a lifeline. He whispered calming words into her hair, heart pounding with every step. She continued to cry quietly, the storm inside her slowly softening under the warmth and protection of his arms.

Once inside, he laid her down gently, still holding her hand, brushing her hair back from her tear-streaked face. He didn’t leave… not even for a second. He couldn’t.

“I’ve got you,” he said again, voice steady, full of promise. “Have got you honey. Ssh.”

Amara finally let herself relax slightly, her sobs turning into soft hiccups as Darius stayed by her side, watching over her.

Darius tightened his hold on her, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. “Sweetheart … what happened?” he asked gently, his voice low but urgent, trying not to scare her more.

She hesitated, her fingers gripping his shirt as if afraid the words would shatter her completely. Tears fell freely down her cheeks, wetting his arms. Finally, her voice came, shaky and barely above a whisper.

“I… I remember,” she said, her lips trembling.

Darius’s chest tightened. “Remember what? You can tell me… I’m right here,” he urged softly.

Her body shook as the memories hit, the past flooding back. “My… my dad…” she choked out. “He tried… he tried to kill me.”

Darius froze, his breath catching in his throat. “What?” His voice was sharp, disbelief and fear mixing in a raw, protective edge.

She sobbed harder, curling into his arms. “I was twelve… he… he pushed me into the lake. He wanted me… gone. I nearly drowned… I thought I was going to die.” Her words tumbled out in broken fragments, each one a dagger to her chest. “I can still feel it… the water… the panic… he didn’t care… he… he tried to kill me.”

Darius’s hands gripped her tighter, anger and heartbreak burning in his chest. “That… ,” he murmured fiercely, his voice trembling with emotion. “You’re safe now. I swear… no one will ever hurt you like that again. Not him, not anyone.”

Amara buried her face against his chest, letting herself cry fully, the fear and pain of twelve years ago mixing with the weight of the lies she had lived with. Darius stayed with her, whispering soft words into her hair, his thumb stroking her back, holding her as if his presence alone could erase the horror of the past.

she allowed herself to lean on someone completely, to let the terror of that memory meet the safety of his arms. And Darius, furious and heartbroken all at once, vowed silently that she would never face that darkness again… he would stand between her and the world forever.

Amara pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked face lifting to look at him. Her hands shook as she traced his jaw, trying to make sense of the storm inside her. “I… I can’t believe I didn’t remember all this time,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Why… why did he… why does he hate me so much? Why did he try to…”

She cut herself off, sobs choking her. Her chest heaved as the memory of the lake and his cold hands on her twelve-year-old body came back in sharp, vivid flashes. “Why did he want me dead?”

Darius pressed his forehead to hers, eyes dark with fury and sorrow. “Because he’s a monster, Amara,” he said softly but with fire in his voice. “Nothing you did… nothing you could do… ever gave him the right. He’s a coward, a coward who likes control and cruelty. And he almost… he almost… but not anymore. I’m here now. I’m going to make him pay.”

Her hands trembled as she gripped his shoulders, leaning into him. “I… I don’t understand why I didn’t remember. All these years… it was like a part of me was missing. And now… it’s all coming back, and it hurts so much.”

Darius’s fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her close again. “Your mind protected you,” he said, his voice low, careful. “It buried the memory so you could survive. It didn’t fail you… it kept you alive. But now that you remember… we face it together. You’re not alone in this. Ever.”

Amara shook, tears spilling again, but there was a glimmer of relief in her eyes. “I… I don’t know how I’m going to face him. After everything…”

“You don’t have to face him alone,” Darius murmured, his lips brushing her temple. “Not ever. I’ll be with you. Always. Whatever happens, whatever he tries… I’ll protect you.”

She let out a shaky breath, letting his words sink in. His presence, his warmth, the solid certainty of him holding her… something in her chest loosened.

“And I… I don’t know how to forgive him,” she whispered. “I …” Her voice faltered.

Darius’s lips pressed against the top of her head, lingering there. “He doesn’t need your forgiveness,” he said. “Let me take care of the rest.”