CHAPTER 6- The Morning After

Celeste’s POV

"Celeste, are you alright?"

Elyse asked, jolting me back to reality.

For a moment, I couldn't recognize where I was. The mattress felt unreal, like something I can't afford. I perceived the smell of antiseptic, and cheap perfume, but it was a shelter at least. A place of abode, a place of safety for me.

I sat up quickly the moment I regained myself. I hissed as the shar pain cut through my entire body. My hand quickly flew to necklace, and of course, as I suspected, there were bruises all over. My uniform was lying beside me, a complete mess, and with stains.

"I'm... I'm fine," I stammered, my throat sour from crying as I tried covering up so that Elyse wouldn't find out what happened.

She frowned, not buying into my lies. "I noticed you didn't return last night after you went to serve drinks. I was completely worried. What really happened? The image of you that I'm seeing, might have encountered a ghost."

Did she say a ghost?.

If only she knew what I experienced.

I calmly forced a laugh, one that didn't reach my eyes, that even I couldn't accept as genuine. "A client at Nocturne mistakenly spilled a drink on me. I stayed behind after the close of work to clean up. Then, it got late.

She furrowed her brows, not buying the story. "And your uniform?"

I quickly glanced at the fabric lying beside me, my heart pounding as I had lost track of the lies to tell her. "I mistakenly got caught in something you shouldn't bother yourself with. I will quickly fix it back to the normal shape."

Elyse's eyes said it all, showing how she didn't believe even a word of what I said. She just sighed and muttered under her breath. "You need to be more careful with those customers. Bad things happen almost on a daily basis."

Bad things she said. The words stunk in my memory, refusing to go.

I mumbled that I needed some armor, then stumbled outside to clear my head. The morning sun seemed a bit harsh, too merciless for that time of the day. I quickly pulled my shawl to get cover myself so it won't peel my skin.

As I walked through the quiet street, as many had rushed off to work, memories of what had happened the night before began flooding my mind. I remembered vividly his gray eyes, the pain and confusion that were in his eyes as he called me Elara.

"My Elara..." He had whispered.

He wasn't even ready to listen to what I had to say. All he wanted was his Elara, the woman he loves so much

I didn't even have the slightest idea of who I was," I whispered to myself. "He didn't see me for who I am."

"Who didn't see the real you?"

I jerked around on hearing the familiar voice from behind me. It was Mother Dana, the matron. On facing her, I saw she was just a few feet away from where I was standing.

Her eyes softened on seeing the heaviness in mine, carefully studying me.

"No one," I responded quickly to avoid more questions, but I knew she wouldn't let me off the hook so easily. "Just... speaking to myself."

"Hmmm," she hummed, but instead of moving back, she shifted closer. "This isn't my first time seeing that look, child. Codedly hiding pain in silence. You shouldn't allow it to eat you up alive."

Her words came do hand fully, almost breaking me. I wanted to scream my lungs out, to break down and tell her everything. But the shame of being judged stopped me before I even gave it a second thought.

"I will be fine," I finally replied calmly. "I just need to take some rest."

She studies me for a few seconds, then nods. "Ensure to rest then. Secrets shouldn't be left for a long time, as they rot faster than wounds."

Then, she walked away just the way she had come. I finally released the I never realized I was holding back. Just then, my body trembled. That wolf in him, I had felt it when we were together. It wasn't ordinary, it was wild, primal, and to my shock, strangely familiar, like I had known it somewhere before.

Why am I finding it difficult to forget that scent?

Why do I feel sad he wasthat mentioning another woman's name while with me?

All these was gothings were on in my head, but I didn't know how.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Hours later, I made my way back to the safe house, my uniform still torn, my fingers shaking. Elyse could not take it any longer. Though she tried her best in preto pretendasn't watching me, howecouldn't hold it for a long time.

"You are seriously scaring me, Celeste. You've this wbeen doing ay fours without eating anything. Your body is as pale as death. What really happened to you?"

"I have told you to stop worrying about me. Nothing happened!"

She statedstaredthe gaze that says she's worried sick. It's surprising how she now care fcarese like a sister, completely taken aback by her extension of sisterhood.

Then, without saying any other word, she turned and left the way she had entered.

I didn't know how to open up to anyone without being judged, do I broke down into sobs, hoping to get Sola e from crying. By the time I was down,y body myached so badly, my heart broken I to ,piewas in.piecesould reset him for what he did, but no, I felt it was meant to happen.

Night crept in so fast, the shadows of what transpired earlier on still hovered over me.

I lay awake, staring hard at the ceiling, sleep refusing to visit me. And then, I perceived it again.

The faint scent of honey and wild jasmine. I was shocked because it shouldn't be here. It only belongs to him. Why am I suddenly perceiving it again? Why does it feel like he's here again? Could it be that he's searching for me? Searching for his Elara instead of Celeste? Why do I feel like Elara's shadow even without knowing her?