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Dark Enchantment

Chapter 1:

Elara

Have you ever craved something so deeply, only to regret it when it became reality? That’s exactly how I felt, but tenfold. My heart felt as if it had been ripped from my chest, and I had to suppress all that pain. I had to fix everything because the trouble was of my own making.

Six months earlier…

My father sent me to this place when I turned sixteen because I was what he called the family disappointment. Back home, I was as girly as a girl could be and popular. But it seems it wasn’t enough.

My father, a highly respected doctor in London, had sons who were eager to follow in his footsteps. I, however, craved adventure, travel, and experiences. and that didn't fit well with them. My mother, who passed when I was younger, might have understood, but then who knows, because my father said she was unstable.

So, here I was, the small-town girl with big dreams, the ‘broken’ girl sent to be fixed. As if it could be that easy.

Oak Hill, with its population of roughly two thousand, was home to this boarding school where only one out of the two hundred students ever bothered to acknowledge me. Despite my flaming red hair, I was practically invisible here. Except to Asher. He was a few years older than me, but he saw me, really saw me.

Every time our eyes locked, my heart pounded fiercely against my ribs. His gaze held a sense of mystery and that took my breath away. It was as if he understood the real me.

-

Today was a typical sunny October day. As usual I sat under the shade of my favorite tree during lunch, engrossed in a dark romance novel. The passionate exchanges between the characters had my heart racing with each page I turned.

I was so lost in the fictional world that I didn't notice Asher approaching until he was there, next to me. Startled, I bit my lip as I tried to regain my composure. Asher, however, had already swiped the book from my hands, a mischievous glint in his gorgeously dark eyes.

"What's got you looking so flustered, Elara?" he asked, a playful grin on his lips. I felt my cheeks heat up as I stammered, "It's... it's just a novel... quite intense. I'm not sure your little brain could handle it."

With a raised eyebrow, Asher flicked through the pages, scanning each word. An awkward silence ensued as I waited for his reaction to the steamy scenes. Would he be disgusted, surprised or not bothered? Though didn't the saying go 'men watch p**n, but women read it.'

"Well, well, Elara," he finally broke the silence, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "I never took you for the type to enjoy such… explicit literature."

"Wow Ash, thats a big word, does your brain hurt?" I teased, but Asher just snickered. "It’s only a romance novel," I retorted, trying to regain some composure. Asher chuckled more deeply and moved closer, his body heat radiating onto me. But as I reached out to take the book back, he gently pushed me back onto the damp grass placing his hands either side of my head.

"That’s not the part I meant," he said, his voice low and suggestive. His closeness made me flush, but he simply grinned and leaned closer, his breath fanning against my skin leaving goosebumps in its wake. "How's about you show me how it starts."

"Asher..." I began to protest, but he silenced me with a finger on my lips as he moved his face slightly closer to mine.

Was this my queue to kiss him? God, no otber guy had ever made me this nervous before.

"I'm just teasing you," he reassured, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He then leaned back and asked, "Are you going to the Halloween party?"

I hesitated before replying, "No, I don't think so," my voice barely above a whisper.

Asher simply shook his head, "Yes, you are," he stated confidently. "You're going with me. Be ready by eight. And... wear something sexy.”

As Asher walked away the school bell rang, marking the start of my final class for the day. My mind, however, was elsewhere. But my daydreaming was abruptly halted when I felt a forceful shove. I hit the floor, my heart hammering in my chest as I looked up to see Millie. She was what passed for the popular girl here. A very plain, but flawlessly gorgeous Barbie doll of our school.

She towered over me, her sneer cutting deeper than any physical wound. "Elara, isn't it?" she taunted. "I heard Asher invited you to the party. Poor thing, he only did it out of pity. He has a thing about bringing the trash in, insteadof taking it out."

Her words stung. I had always prided myself on my strength, but Millie had a way of making me feel tiny and insignificant. I ground my teeth, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. As she turned to leave, a dark thought slipped into my mind – I wished I could knock that smug smile right off her perfect face, teeth and all. But even as this thought formed, another part of me quickly pushed it away. Those thoughts weren't me. I was better than that.

But as if my dark thoughts had somehow materialised, a loud crash echoed through the classroom. A ball came hurtling through the window, smashing into Millie's face and knocking her backwards. Her teeth, once perfect, were now scattered in her lap.

As chaos broke out around me, I quickly grabbed my things and slipped out of the classroom.

Back in my room, I fell onto my bed, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Had my dark thoughts brought about Millie's misfortune, or was it merely a coincidence? I shook off the unsettling thought, dismissing it as a strange bur warranted twist of fate.

With Millie's taunts still ringing in my ears, I shifted my focus to the upcoming Halloween party. I pushed aside the doubts that had been planted - Would he show up? Or was he just playing with me? - and started to rummage through my wardrobe. I picked out things to make a witch's outfit and applied dark makeup, trying to embody an aura of mystery and intrigue, a far cry from the girl Millie had belittled earlier.

But I prepared myself, a shameful sense of satisfaction crept in, and I couldn't help but smile at Millie's misfortune. It was a satisfying end to an otherwise terrible day.

As 8 o'clock approached, I watched the minutes tick by. And with each passing moment, my excitement turned into disappointment. Asher hadn't shown up.

Accepting tonight wasnt going to happen, I changed into my nightgown. Only then for a soft knock to echo through the room. Startled, I opened the door to find Asher standing there, a sheepish smile on his face.

My heart began to race as I took in his appearance. The boyish charm, the tousled hair, the twinkle in his eyes – it was all so overwhelming and even though I wanted to be angry with him, neither my heart nor mind would let me.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Can we talk?" he asked, his voice filled with sincerity.

As Asher finished his sentence, his eyes roamed over my nightgown, causing a rush of embarrassment to flood my face. "That's not a Halloween costume, Elara," he said, his voice stern and disapproving.

"It's nearly 10 o'clock, Asher. You never came," I replied, my voice tinged with disappointment.

 

As I turned my back to him, Asher invited himself into my room and closed the door behind me. He stepped in front of me causing me to step back, my back hitting the door.

 

"Asher..." I began, but my words were abruptly cut off as he placed his hands on either side of my face, his lips pressing against mine in a sudden, and unexpected kiss.

 

"That's not an apology, Asher," I managed to say as I mustered the strength to break the kiss.

 

"Is it not? Then what would be an apology, Elara?" he replied, his voice smooth and unwavering.

 

As he placed one hand firmly on the door beside my head, I felt a surge of excitement building within me. His touch was electrifying, sending a wave after wave of excitement coursing through my veins. With deliberate intent, his other hand moved to rest on my thigh, the warmth of his palm searing through the fabric of my nightgown.

 

Keeping his eyes locked on mine, he slowly began to move his hand higher. My stomach fluttered with nerves and desire, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within me as I struggled to maintain my composure in the face of his bold advances.

 

“Do you like that, Elara? Hm...” Asher whispered in my ear, his warm breath as it tickled my skin.

 

I tried to gather my thoughts, to form a coherent response, but I couldn’t, “I…” I started, but the words caught in my throat, unable to find their way out.

 

“Do you accept my apology?” Asher's voice was soft, his tone dark and teasing.

 

All I could manage was a nod, my heart pounding in my chest as his hand rested on the hem of my knickers.

 

“Then get dressed, because if you don’t, I’ll undress you myself.”