CHAPTER 233: CHAPTER 233 THE WITCHES’ REALM (9)

"Don’t say that, no matter what you have done, I believe you still deserve empathy and forgiveness." My voice came out louder than I intended. My chest tightened with unresolved emotions, like my body was contradicting my words.

Damon stepped closer. Each step made my heart skitter in my chest. I had the strange urge to step back, away from his reach. But I didn’t.

He reached out, his fingers trembled slightly, and his warmth seeped into my skin as his fingers brushed my hair away.

Then, he cupped my face with both of his hands, and slowly he leaned in.

His forehead touched mine, his scent washed over me, sending shivers down my spine.

"If you speak the truth, and you speak from your heart you will be able to leave this guilt and resentment towards yourself behind."

His chest rose and fell faster. "You don’t understand..." I could hear his heart racing in his chest. "Ember... I really missed you. Ember, you drove me insane, I want you back... please come back."

His words stung and pierced my chest like a knife, so this was what it was about? Ember? My body stilled.

I pushed him away. "Ember? Really?" I felt something snap inside me. "Do you even see me for who I really am?" My lips quivered.

Damon stood frozen in his spot, remaining quiet. His silence drove me mad.

"I am AERIS and not EMBER!" My voice shook as I yelled it out. "Why can’t you see me for who I am? Does that also mean that your feelings aren’t true, because the person you see is Ember and not ME!" Tears burned my eyes.

Damon ran his hand through his hair and looked away, closing his eyes like he couldn’t deal with this either.

Unable to bear the pain and the disappointment, I turned and walked away, pushing through the crowd. I didn’t know where I was going... I just needed to get away from him.

I heard him calling my name behind me, his voice rough and panicked. I continued walking away with no intention of turning back.

I shoved past a group of dancers, barely noticing the spinning lanterns above me or the music thumping through the square. The lights felt too bright, the noise too loud. Everything blurred together, like the whole world had turned against me in one heavy, suffocating moment.

My chest was tight, like I couldn’t get enough air no matter how hard I tried to breathe. My hands shook at my sides, and heat stung the back of my eyes, threatening to spill out in tears I didn’t want anyone to see.

’Why did it have to be about her again? Why couldn’t he see me? And why could I still feel his emotions? I hate this... I hate him.’

I kept my head down and pushed through the crowd, trying to stay ahead of the panic clawing its way up my throat.

Suddenly, I felt fingers wrapping around my wrist, pulling me to a stop.

I tensed and turned, ready to scream or snap at whoever it was. But the moment I looked up, I froze.

’Rhydian.’

His face softened the second our eyes met. His expression changed from confusion to concern, his brows pulling together as he studied me. "Aeris?"

I quickly turned my face away, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "I’m fine," I said, voice tighter than I wanted it to be.

"You don’t look fine," he said, his tone gentle and calm. His grip on my wrist didn’t loosen.

"I said I’m fine," I repeated, trying to twist away from him.

But he held on just enough to keep me from running. "What happened?"

My throat tightened again. Words swelled in my chest, but I couldn’t bring myself to let them out. I didn’t want to talk, I didn’t want to explain, and I definitely didn’t want to fall apart in front of him.

"I just... needed air," I mumbled, barely able to get it out.

Rhydian tilted his head, clearly not buying it. His blue eyes searched mine, and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to ask more... but then his gaze glanced behind me.

I didn’t have to turn around to know who he was looking at.

"Did Damon say something to you?" he asked, his voice lowering.

I looked up at him again, and something inside me squeezed painfully. That question was so simple, yet it hit way too deep.

I didn’t answer.

Rhydian’s jaw tightened. His eyes narrowed slightly, not at me, but at the man standing somewhere behind us.

I could feel Damon’s presence like a weight pressing down on the back of my neck. I hated how I could feel his conflict.

"You don’t have to keep staying around him if he’s hurting you," Rhydian said quietly. "You don’t owe him anything."

My lips parted, but no words came out at first. I didn’t know what to say.

I swallowed. "It’s complicated," I finally whispered. "I just... I don’t want to talk about it."

Rhydian’s expression was unreadable now, but the tightness in his jaw remained.

He gave a small nod. "Alright. But if you ever do want to talk... I’m here."

I gently pulled my wrist free from his grasp. This time, he let me go.

"Thanks," I muttered, my voice barely above a breath. "Can we go back to the hostel? I would like to get some rest."

Rhydian nodded. "Sure," he glared at Damon one last time before turning to walk beside me.

The walk back was quiet, I was still trying to process my emotions... but I couldn’t because Damon’s emotions were flooding my senses.

By the time we got to the hostel, it was already dusk. I went straight to our room, Mr. Four eyes and Alaric’s looked like they had discovered an unspeakable tale by their expressions.

I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I remembered that I hadn’t solved my problem yet.