Alexander returned to the old estate, his mind a storm of thoughts.
The familiar weight of the forest seemed oppressive tonight, the trees that lined the path casted long, twisted shadows beneath the moonlight. He barely noticed them, his thoughts consumed by Lilith's cruel decision. He paused at the wrought-iron gates of his ancestral home, the crumbling facade looming before him like a sentinel of forgotten memories.
With a heavy sigh, he pushed open the gates, the rusty hinges creaking in protest. The estate had seen better days, its grandeur faded but still hauntingly beautiful. Vines snaked up the stone walls, and the garden—once a riot of colour—now lay overgrown, wild and untamed. He stepped inside, his footsteps echoing in the hollow silence, each one a reminder of the life he'd left behind.
Inside, the air was cool, carrying with it the faint scent of old books and aged wood. He moved through the dimly lit corridors, his heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and dread. The vision of Jane's innocent face, the softness in her eyes, haunted him, intertwining with the sharp memories of Lilith's whispered threats.
"Alex?" The voice broke through his reverie, rich and familiar, laced with concern. It was Phoenix, his oldest friend, seated in the grand parlour. A fire flickered in the hearth, casting a warm light that danced over Phoenix's chiseled features, a stark contrast to the shadows clinging to Alexander.
His sharp eyes, still as keen as they had been when he was human, narrowed the moment they landed on Alexander. "You're back." Phoenix said, his voice a deep, steady rumble. He crossed the room swiftly, his dark eyes searching Alexander's face. "Where have you been?"
Alexander didn't answer immediately. Instead, he moved to the window, his back to his old friend, staring out at the moonlit grounds beyond. The cool glass felt like a faint reprieve against his heated skin. He couldn't form the words, not yet. How could he? How could he admit that everything was spiralling out of control? That the choice before him was one he couldn't make? He ran a hand through his dark hair, letting out a low, frustrated breath.
Phoenix watched him in silence for a moment before stepping closer. "You made a choice." He said, his voice softer now. He had known Alexander too long, centuries of brotherhood forged in blood and battle. "Didn't you?"
Alexander's jaw tightened. He had always confided in Phoenix. For centuries, they had navigated this cursed existence together. But now...now, the weight of the secret, of the impossible decision Lilith had thrust upon him, felt too heavy to share. And yet, he couldn't bear the silence pressing in on him.
Alexander's thoughts swirled like the tempestuous ocean, a maelstrom of regret and fear. He turned to Phoenix, whose steady presence was a comforting anchor amidst the storm. "I never wanted to be in this position." Alexander confessed, his voice hoarse. "But Lilith....she forced my hand."
"Lilith?" Phoenix asked, his tone hardening. "You saw her?"
Alexander nodded. "Yes."
"For what reason?" Phoenix asked.
Alexander sighed. "I went to confront her, to demand that she leave Jane alone."
"What would she gain from that?" Phoenix asked.
Alexander laughed bitterly, his hand clenching into a fist at his side. "The same thing she's always wanted. Me."
Phoenix frowned, his sharp eyes narrowing. "What do you mean? I thought you-"
"But as always she is one step ahead of us." Alexander interrupted, his voice hard and raw.
Phoenix's expression darkened, his posture tense as he took in the meaning of those words. "What does she plan to do?"
"She's given me a choice. She knows about Jane's father. She knows it was me...I-" He broke off, the words choking him. "She'll tell Jane everything and it will destroy her."
For a moment, the room was heavy with silence, the fire crackling softly in the background. Phoenix's face was hard, his hands curling into fists as he listened, absorbing the gravity of the situation.
"With her, everything comes with a price. What did Lilith want in return?" Phoenix finally asked, though Alexander could already sense the dread in his tone.
Alexander closed his eyes, the words tasting like poison on his tongue. "What else? My hand in marriage. She wants me to bind myself to her-forever."
Phoenix barely kept his composure. His lips parted, but he found no words, no breath. He could almost feel the cold in his blood again. A flicker of longing, anger, maybe jealousy-emotions he'd thought he'd abandoned when he'd forsaken Lilith, but even as time passed by, her name still pained him greatly.
He had always known Lilith was capable of manipulation-cruel, cunning, and always chasing power-but this? This was something deeper, something more calculated. She was using Alexander now, weaving him into her dark web, just as she had tried to do with him before he lost everything.
Phoenix' piercing gaze met his, the flicker of the moonlight revealing the depth of understanding in his ancient eyes. "You can't allow her to dictate your fate, Alexander. She thrives on manipulation."
"I know that." Alexander bit out, his voice strained. "But what choice do I have? If I refuse her, she'll tell Jane about her father. She'll tell her I'm the one who killed him. Do you know what that would do to her? She's only just lost her mother. Knowing this would break her."
"And if you agree to marry her?" Phoenix asked. "If you give yourself to Lilith, then what? You'll live eternity chained to her, a prisoner in your own skin. Is that any better than losing Jane?"
Alexander didn't answer. He couldn't. The truth was, Phoenix was right. Either path led to ruin-one in which Jane was shattered by the truth of his monstrous past, and the other in which he condemned himself to an eternity of misery by Lilith's side.
He sank into one of the chairs by the fire, his face buried in his hands. "I don't know what to do." He admitted, his voice hoarse with the weight of the confession. "I can't let Jane suffer because of my past mistakes."
Phoenix stepped closer, his presence calming. "Your desire to protect her is noble, but you must ask yourself this: what kind of protection is built on lies? You're caught between two worlds—your love for Jane and your entanglement with Lilith. Each choice carries its own weight."
"But what if telling Jane the truth about my past shatters her?" Alexander asked. "What if she can't accept that I killed her father? I would rather bear the burden alone than risk her happiness."
"The truth can be painful." Phoenix agreed, his tone serious. "But it also has the power to heal. Hiding your past only prolongs the inevitable. Jane deserves to know the truth even if that man carries darkness within him."
"I've already destroyed too much. I can't lose her, Phoenix. I can't let her suffer because of what I did." Alexander felt his chest tighten, the thought of Jane's reaction a blade twisting in his heart.
Phoenix watched him for a moment, then sat across from him, his tone gentler now, though no less firm. "You're not the same man you were fifteen years ago. But if you give in to Lilith...if you let her control you like this, you'll become something worse than the monster you have tried so hard to bury."
Suddenly, Alexander shoots up from his chair and paced the length of the dimly lit study, the shadows creeping along the walls like specters of his past. The flickering candlelight cast elongated shapes that twisted and writhed, much like the turmoil roiling inside him.
"Tell me you're not actually considering marrying Lilith?" Phoenix asked, breaking the silence that hung heavily between them. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of urgency that belied the stillness of the room.
Alexander stopped and turned, his brow furrowed. "I have no other choice. Lilith made it clear that if I don't comply with her demands, she'll go after Jane." The mention of Jane's name sent a fresh wave of dread through him, tightening the knot in his stomach.
Phoenix leaned forward, the flickering light catching the sharp angles of his face. "Marrying Lilith is not the answer. You know what she is—what she's capable of."
Alexander shot back, frustration boiling to the surface. "It's better this way. I marry Lilith, and Jane stays safe. That's all that matters."
"Safe from what?" Phoenix's voice rose slightly, the intensity of his gaze unwavering. "Safe from the truth? Or safe from you? You're not a monster, Alex. Yes, you've made mistakes, but you've changed. You've fought to be better, to leave that life behind. Why do you think marrying Lilith will protect her? It will only drag you back into the darkness."
Alexander's hands clenched into fists, his heart pounding in his chest. "I'm not trying to go back, but Lilith is ruthless. She'll find a way to hurt Jane, and I can't let that happen. If marrying her is the price to pay, then so be it."
Phoenix rose from the chair, pacing the small space like a caged animal. "You're thinking of this all wrong. Love isn't about sacrificing yourself to protect someone from the truth. It's about sharing that truth, no matter how painful it may be. Jane deserves to know who you really are. She deserves the chance to decide for herself if she can accept you."
"Do you think it's that simple?" Alexander's voice was strained, the weight of his decision pressing down upon him. "I can't just drop this on her. She's been through enough."
Phoenix paused, his eyes piercing into Alexander. "Then, you understand that there's no going back if you decide to marry Lilith."
Alexander closed his eyes, trying to steady his racing heart. He could picture Jane's smile, the warmth of her laughter, the light she brought into his life. But with that image came the chilling knowledge of what his past held.
Finally, he nodded. "Yes, I understand."