Speaking of the devil

Selene

“I… I—"

“Speaking of the devil,” Alexa cut in, her face brightening as she waved at someone behind me.

My stomach dropped. I turned slightly, and there he was: Alaric standing in the doorway like he owned the air itself. I stared at him for half a second, just long enough for my pulse to spike, before I quickly looked away. He didn’t say a word to me either. The silence between us felt thick enough to choke on.

Alexa glanced back and forth between us, her eyebrows slowly rising. “Well… what is this atmosphere? Are you two okay?”

Alaric cleared his throat. “Congratulations on being discharged.”

I gave a small nod, barely meeting his eyes. “Thanks.”

He started walking toward me. I swallowed hard, nerves firing through my veins. Why is he coming closer? What does he want? I took a small, instinctive step back.

Then he stretched his hand out.

I froze, confused. Does he… want me to hold his hand? I shot a quick glance at Alexa, who only shrugged, looking just as lost as I felt. My heart hammered. After a soft, defeated sigh, I reached out and slipped my fingers into his.

What does he want, really? My thoughts raced. Is he regretting not showing up at the hospital? Is this some kind of apology?

“What are you doing?” His voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, low and puzzled.

My eyes widened. “What?”

He looked down at our joined hands, then back at my face. “Why are you holding my hand?”

Heat flooded my cheeks so fast I thought my face might catch fire. Oh god. Before I could even stammer out a response, he continued, “Can I please have the invitation card?”

Embarrassment crashed over me like a tidal wave. I yanked my hand back as if his skin had burned me. I couldn’t look at him. My gaze dropped to the floor, mortified. For a moment, I actually thought… damn it, Selene!

“So… can I have it now?” he asked again, calmer this time.

Alexa tilted her head. “What is he talking about?”

I didn’t answer her. My hands trembled slightly as I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the crumpled, rough-edged invitation. Without a word, I stretched it toward him.

Alaric took the card and stared at its sorry state, then lifted his gaze to me, one brow raised in silent question.

“What?” I muttered, still unable to meet his eyes fully.

Alexa took a careful step back, clearly sensing the tension thickening around us. “You know what? I’ll leave you two to it.” She gave me a sympathetic little smile before slipping out of the room and closing the heavy oak door behind her with a soft click.

Now it was just the two of us.

“That’s not how I handed it to you that day,” he said, eyeing the crumpled invitation.

I scoffed, folding my arms across my chest. “We aren’t kids anymore, Alaric. Don’t tell me you’re going to get upset over a wrinkled piece of paper? It’s not that serious.” I shrugged. “Even without the card, you can still go to the… you know, the funeral. Everyone knows who you are already.”

He let out a heavy sigh and took the ruined card from my outstretched hand. I pressed my lips together, saying nothing more.

“So,” he asked after a beat, slipping both hands into his pockets, “how do you like your room?”

I glanced around at the beautiful space he had prepared for me and gave a careless shrug. “It’s nice. Thanks.”

“You don’t seem to like it.”

“I do,” I insisted.

He only nodded. The silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable, pressing against my skin like a living thing.

“Aren’t you going to leave?” I asked pointedly.

“It’s in two days,” he said quietly.

“What?” A small frown creased my forehead.

“You know what I mean.”

“Fuck, Alaric.” My voice rose, sharp with frustration. “I said I’m not interested. Why would you want me to go to my own funeral? Doesn’t that sound like bad luck to you?”

He suddenly started walking closer. My heart jolted. I blinked rapidly, nerves firing through me. “What are you doing? Stay back,” I warned, my voice unsteady.

I took a step back, but my legs bumped into the edge of the bed. I lost my balance and sat down abruptly on the soft mattress. When I looked up, I found myself staring directly at the front of his trousers—his crotch right at eye level. Heat flooded my face. I quickly tilted my head up, glaring at him.

“What is up with you for real, Alaric?” I snapped, frustration and exhaustion mixing into a dangerous cocktail.

“Are you probably just too scared to come?” he asked.

“It's not your business, Alaric,” I snarled.

“I’ll be with you, Selene,” he said, his voice low and steady. “So you don’t have to be scared for no reason.”

I let out a soft, tired sigh and looked away. I was already tired of trying to talk to him and this situation.

“Selene, if I don’t get a reply from you by tomorrow, don’t bother coming the next day telling me that you changed your mind,” he said.

I looked at him. “Do not bother because I won’t. I would never change my mind about this.”

“Okay,” he nodded once.

He turned to leave, and relief had just started to settle in my chest when ‘grrrroooow’ my stomach let out a loud, humiliating growl.

What the fuck! Not now!

I had been fighting the hunger for hours, but it chose the worst possible moment to betray me. My eyes widened in panic. I prayed he hadn’t heard it… but the way he froze mid-step told me he had.

Slowly, Alaric turned back around and looked at me over his shoulder. I quickly glanced away, biting down hard on my bottom lip, wishing I could sink into the bed and disappear.

“What are you staring at?” I muttered, my voice sharper than I intended.

“You hungry?” he asked bluntly.

I scoffed. “No.”

My stomach answered immediately with another loud growl.

Fuck.