LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 29: After Dark
Raelynn shifted under the blankets, the discomfort in her throat making her stir. She blinked her eyes open, groaning softly at the faint glow of moonlight seeping through the curtains. Thirst clawed at her throat as she reached for the bedside table, fingers bumping into the empty glass she'd left behind.
"Right," she mumbled to herself, her voice raspy. She had finished the water before falling asleep and had forgotten to refill it.
Pushing herself up, she ran a hand through her messy hair and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She shivered at the cool air, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as she moved. She didn't bother turning on the lights as she opened the door and stepped into the darkened hallway.
The mansion was eerily quiet at this hour, the kind of silence that felt heavy and a little unsettling. Raelynn rubbed her arms as she made her way downstairs.
She sighed in relief as she reached the kitchen and swung open the fridge, blinking at the sudden bright light. She squinted, grabbing a chilled bottle of water and unscrewing the cap. She tilted her head back and gulped down the water, the cold liquid cooling the burn in her throat.
When she felt satisfied, she screwed the cap back on and took the bottle with her. Raelynn sighed and turned to leave, her bare feet making soft sounds against the cold tiles.
Walking back through the As she made her way back through the dark halls, her thoughts wandered. She paused briefly by the back of the house, thinking about earlier. She had seen the workers unloading the groceries, their hurried movements seeming unusual. Something about it still tugged at her curiosity.
Unconsciously, her feet carried her toward the back of the house, where she had spotted them. The night's shadows seemed to stretch endlessly, and the soft hum of the fridge in the distance only made the silence more noticeable. Reaching the area, Raelynn stopped and stared.
Nothing.
The space was empty, as if the peculiar scene from earlier had never happened. She let out a soft sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly.
"Maybe I imagined it," she muttered, turning around.
Her train of thought abruptly ended when she walked straight into something solid. The impact sent her stumbling back, but before she could fall, a strong hand caught her arm, steadying her.
Raelynn's breath hitched as she looked up, her wide eyes locking with Elion's piercing gaze. He stood before her, his expression calm yet intense, as though he could see straight into her soul. The faint light from the window highlighted his face, giving him an almost ethereal look in the dark.
She grabbed his hand without thinking, her fingers wrapping around his for balance. His hold was strong but not rough. Neither of them said a word, full of tension neither was ready to break.
"Elion," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
His gaze flickered to where her hand clutched his before returning to her face. Slowly, he let go of her, stepping back just enough to give her space.
Raelynn blinked, regaining her senses. Her cheeks flushed as she realized how close they had been. Clearing her throat, she straightened and crossed her arms, attempting to mask her embarrassment.
"What the hell, Elion!" she yelled, clearly not holding back her anger. "You scared the living daylights out of me! What if I had a heart attack?"
Elion's lips curved into the faintest smirk, his tone dry as he replied, "You're welcome."
"For what?" Raelynn shot back, placing a hand on her chest as if to steady her racing heart. "For scaring me half to death?"
Instead of answering, Elion raised an eyebrow, his expression calm and unbothered. "You were standing there like a statue. I wasn't exactly hiding."
Raelynn's mouth opened to argue but closed again as she realized she had, in fact, been too lost in thought to notice him. She scowled, tapping her chest once more before glaring at him.
"And why are you wandering around at this hour?"
Raelynn huffed, folding her arms again. "I was thirsty. Am I not allowed to drink water now?"
Elion's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're not supposed to wander around at night."
She frowned, tilting her head. "What? Why not?"
"Did Hera not mention the rules to you?" he asked, impatience clear in his voice.
Raelynn paused, thinking. "Uh, yeah, she mentioned something about rules… but I didn't exactly commit them all to memory."
Elion let out a quiet sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose briefly before meeting her gaze again. "One of those rules is that you're not allowed to roam the house at night."
Raelynn's jaw dropped slightly as she stared at him, clearly not buying it "Seriously? That's a rule? What kind of weird mansion rules are these?"
"It's for your own safety," Elion said simply. "You'd do well to follow all the rules while you're living here."
She started to say something but decided against it, clamping her mouth shut instead. Instead, she glared at him as he turned on his heel, his back straight as he began to walk away.
"Fine," she muttered under her breath, sticking her tongue out at his retreating figure. "Weirdo. You're the one who wanted me here, not the other way around."
Elion didn't respond, his steps disappearing into the depths of the mansion.
Left alone, Raelynn let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair. "What have I gotten myself into?" she muttered, turning back toward her room.
The shadows around her felt bigger as she walked, her thoughts stuck on the moment with Elion. There was something unsettling about the way he had looked at her—so focused, too intense, and impossible to read.
By the time she reached her bed and slipped under the covers again, the chill of his gaze still clung to her, making her shiver despite the warmth of the blanket.