- 1 day ago
When Dreams Wake : New 🔝
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00:00One week before the wedding, Camila flew from New York to Los Angeles to help me get everything ready.
00:05That night, while she was still in the shower, her phone rang.
00:08Water hissed behind the half-open bathroom door.
00:11Steam drifted into the room.
00:13The damp heat made me uneasy.
00:14And the succubus mark beneath my collarbone began to warm,
00:17warning me that someone's desire was getting close.
00:20Vivian, check who it is for me.
00:21I smiled and picked up her phone.
00:22Mailed and afraid I'll find some hidden man on here?
00:24Even as I said it, I thought it was ridiculous.
00:27After all, Camila hated men more than anyone I knew.
00:30She had been my friend since childhood, and like me,
00:32she was a half-blood succubus living quietly among humans.
00:35Half-blood succubi could smell desire, enter dreams,
00:38and when hunger or emotion pushed us too far,
00:41draw a little energy from a kiss, a touch,
00:43or the warmth left behind in someone's dream.
00:46Camila was proud, cold, and openly hostile toward men.
00:49She looked down on flirting with men.
00:51She looked down even more on feeding through intimacy,
00:53so I never guarded myself against her.
00:55I showed her photos from my wedding dress fittings,
00:57drafts of my vows,
00:59even the private dream boundaries between Luca and me
01:01that I had never told anyone else.
01:03I thought she was the last person in the world
01:05who would ever use my weaknesses against me.
01:07But when I unlocked her phone,
01:08I saw a message from the contact pinned at the top of her list.
01:11Baby, want to come into my dream and fuck me tonight?
01:14I'm all ready.
01:15Below it was a photo,
01:16black bunny ears,
01:17a velvet corset,
01:18pink handcuffs,
01:19a thin chain engraved with succubus contract marks.
01:22In one corner of the photo,
01:23I could just make out a hotel keycard.
01:25My fingers tightened around the phone,
01:27but Luca, impossible.
01:28He's my fiance.
01:30How could he possibly be in contact
01:31with my misogynistic best friend?
01:35Then the man sent a voice message.
01:37I've missed you, Camila.
01:39His voice was low,
01:40rough with the rasp of a man
01:41who had barely dragged himself back
01:43from the edge of desire.
01:45Don't torture me only in dreams tonight.
01:46You know I can't handle that tail of yours
01:48wrapped around my wrist.
01:49I froze.
01:50That voice was too familiar.
01:52So familiar that every drop of blood
01:55in my body went cold.
01:56It was not some stranger.
01:58It was my fiance Luca.
01:59It really was him.
02:01Los Angeles was cool on winter nights,
02:03but the hotel room was too warm.
02:05The sound of water from the bathroom
02:07hit my nerves again and again,
02:09wearing down the last of my reason.
02:10I stared at the private account on Camila's phone,
02:13an account I had never seen before.
02:15I read the chat between her and Luca,
02:17all those bold, intimate messages
02:20hinting at dreambinding.
02:21And all I could think was how absurd it was.
02:24Luca, my fiance.
02:25The man who knew I was a half-blood succubus
02:28and still held my hand and told me he loved me.
02:30I even tried to make excuses for them.
02:33Maybe the voice only sounded like his.
02:35Maybe it was a cool prank.
02:37Maybe some low-level glamour
02:39had stolen Luca's voice to sabotage our wedding.
02:43But now his profile picture and Camila's
02:46were a matching pair.
02:48In the chat, he called her baby.
02:51Tonight I bought a brand new clitoral ring.
02:53I thought you hated being controlled.
02:56If it's you, I'm willing.
02:58I can't wait to be fucked by you.
03:00Tears welled up in my eyes
03:01and my hands trembled uncontrollably.
03:04The man who was supposed to marry me in a week
03:06actually cheated on me with my best friend.
03:11I stood there, stiff from head to toe.
03:14Some numb instinct made me scroll upward.
03:17She never enters your dreams, does she?
03:19She's too clean.
03:20Too boring.
03:21Who can do it as well as you?
03:23It's unforgettable.
03:24In that moment,
03:25what chilled me more than the flirting
03:27was that every line.
03:29Camila used to tempt him
03:30stepped directly on secrets I had told her myself.
03:33I had told her I refused to cry
03:34into my lover's dreams.
03:35I had told her Luca was terrified of abandonment.
03:39I also had told her that I wanted to save
03:41my virginity for our wedding night.
03:43She had taken all of it
03:45and turned it into a knife.
03:47When Camila first met Luca,
03:49disgust was written all over her face.
03:51She looked him up and down,
03:53a dark red glint flashing in her eyes,
03:55the kind only half-blood succubi had.
03:58So you're the human who wants to marry Vivian?
04:01Luca smiled and offered his hand.
04:02I'm at Luca.
04:03Camila did not shake it.
04:04She only stared at him,
04:06her mouth cold.
04:07Human men's promises are worthless.
04:09If you ever hurt her,
04:11I'll make sure you dream every night
04:13of being torn apart by your own desire.
04:15Later, Luca complained to me about it.
04:17I only held back because she's your friend.
04:19Otherwise, I would have thrown her out of my club.
04:21Every time he mentioned Camila,
04:24his dislike sounded so real.
04:26So real I never doubted it.
04:28Back in the hotel room,
04:30I stared at the words
04:31until my fingers started shaking.
04:33Half-blood succubi could smell desire.
04:35Even through a scream,
04:37I could smell it now.
04:38Desire leaked from those messages.
04:40Hot and sticky and burning.
04:42This was not a misunderstanding.
04:44This was Luca's real desire for Camila.
04:46An impatient sexual desire.
04:50The shower stopped
04:51as if the phone had burned me.
04:52I locked it at once.
04:54Then I picked up my own phone
04:55and video called Luca.v.
04:57A few seconds later,
04:58the screen lit up.
04:59Baby.
05:00Luca's familiar face appeared.
05:01He was in Chicago,
05:02or so he had told me,
05:04meeting investors for a new private club.
05:05The camera shifted
05:06and several partners sat behind him,
05:09raising their glasses at me.
05:10Surprise call from the bride-a-be.
05:12Don't worry, at Vivian.
05:14We're watching him for you.
05:17Jackson's friends mentioned you
05:18about 800 times tonight.
05:20If he keeps going,
05:20we'll be forced to hear
05:21the entire wedding vow speech.
05:23I looked at the man
05:24smiling gently on the screen.
05:26His eyes were clear.
05:27His voice was soft.
05:28He looked like nothing had happened.
05:30Sweetheart,
05:31did you miss me?
05:32He leaned closer to the camera
05:34and lowered his voice.
05:36I'm almost done here.
05:37I'll be back with you
05:38before the wedding.
05:39I promise.
05:41My heart felt like
05:42something had seized it.
05:43It hurt,
05:44but some desperate part of me
05:46still refused to give up.
05:47I paused,
05:48then asked like it was nothing.
05:50Luca,
05:51what do you think of Camila?
05:54On the screen.
05:56His expression froze
05:57for the briefest second,
05:59only one second.
06:00Then he was natural again.
06:02That crazy man-hating snob?
06:05He gave a short laugh,
06:06his tone full of disgust.
06:07If it weren't for you,
06:08I wouldn't even want to hear her name.
06:10But I was staring into his eyes.
06:12For one second,
06:14Luca's pupils darkened.
06:15That was what happened to humans
06:17after a succubus dream
06:18had wrapped around them.
06:19He thought of Camila.
06:20He thought of the feel
06:21of her tail around his wrist.
06:23He thought about the pleasure
06:24of having sex with her.
06:25And even his breathing
06:26became a little heavy.
06:27Luca looked away.
06:29Baby,
06:30babe,
06:31I have to go.
06:32I'll call you later.
06:33I'll bring you a gift
06:34when I come home.
06:35The video ended.
06:36The lie was gentle.
06:38That made it hurt more.
06:40The wedding I'm looking forward
06:41to may never happen.
06:44I sat beside the window,
06:46staring out at the damp night.
06:47My chest sank inch by inch.
06:49Behind me,
06:50the bathroom door opened.
06:51Vivian?
06:52Camila had already changed.
06:54She usually wore black suits
06:56and ankle boots.
06:56And most days she could not
06:57even be bothered with lipstick.
06:59Tonight,
06:59she was in a fitted dark red velvet dress.
07:02Her long hair lay wet
07:03over her shoulders.
07:04Her lips were the color of blood.
07:06A thin black tail
07:07flashed beneath the hem of her dress.
07:09Then disappeared almost at once.
07:11I saw it.
07:11She knew I saw it.
07:12Succubi only lost control
07:14of their tails
07:14when they were starving,
07:15aroused,
07:16or about to hunt.
07:17But Camila only walked toward me
07:18as if nothing had happened.
07:19She looked almost like a stranger.
07:21Do you have someone you like?
07:22Her hand paused in the towel
07:23drying her hair.
07:24I wanted to warn her.
07:25I wanted to tell her
07:26the man was unreliable.
07:27But before I could speak,
07:29her face went cold.
07:30Out, Vivian.
07:31We're friends, sure.
07:32But you don't get to forbid me
07:33from having desire
07:34just because you're getting married.
07:36That's not what I meant.
07:37Then what did you mean?
07:39Her eyes slowly flushed red,
07:41not hurt,
07:41but the dark red
07:42of an angered succubus.
07:44Do you think you're
07:45the only one worthy
07:46of being loved?
07:47The only one men should worship?
07:51I'm worried about you.
07:53Camila laughed.
07:54Worried about me?
07:55She stepped closer.
07:56The scent of black roses
07:57and absinthe rose in the air.
07:58You were never worried about me.
08:00She lowered her head
08:01to my ear,
08:02her voice low and cruel.
08:03You just can't stand the idea
08:05that one day
08:05I could take something from you.
08:08Then she grabbed her bag.
08:10Vivian, you disappoint me.
08:12I chased after her.
08:16Camila!
08:17As the elevator doors slid shut,
08:19the look she gave me
08:20was cold,
08:20cold enough
08:21that I finally understood.
08:22This was not only betrayal.
08:24This was hatred.
08:26I stood in the hotel hallway.
08:28My mind a mess.
08:30Camila was a succubus.
08:31She would not be fooled
08:33easily by a human man.
08:34But what if that man was Luca?
08:36The image from her phone
08:37still burned in my mind.
08:39Black bunny ears,
08:40pink handcuffs.
08:41Succubus contract sigils.
08:43Then I remembered
08:43the hotel location Luca
08:45had sent in the chat.
08:46I grabbed my car keys
08:48and rushed downstairs
08:49without even taking a coat.
08:50The streets of Los Angeles
08:52were empty
08:53and cooled deep into the night.
08:54I drove all the way
08:56to a private hotel
08:57in West Hollywood.
08:58The moment I parked,
09:00I saw Camila's car.
09:02Then my whole body
09:03went rigid.
09:05Luca,
09:05who was supposed to be
09:06in Chicago on business,
09:08walked out through
09:08the hotel's revolving doors.
09:10He was wearing the black coat
09:11I had chosen for him.
09:13Camila stepped out of the shadows
09:15and walked toward him.
09:16She did not throw herself
09:17into his arms
09:18like an ordinary lover.
09:19She only stood in front of him,
09:21lifted her eyes
09:22and looked at him coldly.
09:24Luca's throat moved.
09:26The next second,
09:27he reached out,
09:28caught her by the waist
09:29and pulled her close.
09:31Camila laughed softly.
09:33Her black tail slipped
09:34from under her dress
09:35and slowly wrapped
09:36around his wrist.
09:38Luca looked down at it
09:39and his breath deepened.
09:41He did not pull away.
09:42Then they kissed
09:43in front of the hotel.
09:45Not a misunderstanding,
09:47not glamour,
09:48not a similar voice.
09:50It was Luca.
09:52It was Camila.
09:53Cold?
09:55Not with you here.
09:58How did you explain
09:59leaving to Vivi?
10:00She depends on you so much.
10:02How did she let you go?
10:03I threw a little tantrum.
10:05That was all.
10:07She rose on her toes
10:08and bit his throat.
10:10You still don't know
10:11how much she cares about me,
10:12do you?
10:14I left just now.
10:16She's probably still scared
10:17I'm angry,
10:18scared I'll ignore her.
10:19She gave me the spare key
10:21to your wedding house.
10:23She even asked me
10:24to keep your wedding ring safe.
10:28She trusts me
10:29more than she trusts you.
10:31That was when I heard
10:32something inside me crack.
10:34The person I trusted most
10:36had just used my trust
10:38as a trophy
10:38in front of the man
10:39I was supposed to marry.
10:43Camila's tail was still
10:44wrapped around Luca's wrist
10:45for a succubus.
10:46That was an act of possession.
10:48It was also a silent hunt.
10:50She said she hated men.
10:52She said their desire
10:53was cheap and filthy.
10:54But now she had her tail
10:55wrapped around my fiance's wrist
10:57in a possessive loop.
10:59Luca could have pulled free.
11:00He did not.
11:01His thumb even stroked
11:02her tail once.
11:03Camila narrowed her eyes
11:05slightly.
11:05Didn't you say you hated me,
11:07Mose?
11:07Luca looked down at her.
11:09I do hate you.
11:10Then why do you keep
11:11coming into my dreams?
11:12Luca did not answer.
11:13Her tail nimbly slipped
11:15into his crotch.
11:16Caressing his already
11:17erect penis,
11:18Luca reached out his hand,
11:19and I thought he would
11:20push her away.
11:21But to my surprise,
11:22he reached under her skirt
11:24and inserted his fingers
11:25into her vagina.
11:26Camila squeezed his fingers
11:28together in unbearable discomfort,
11:30then collapsed limply
11:32against him.
11:33Good boy,
11:34you've put on a penis
11:35locking ring so early.
11:37Admit it,
11:37at Luca.
11:38You like that I look down
11:39at you?
11:40You like that I hate men,
11:41but I only let you close.
11:43You like that this is stolen,
11:45dirty,
11:46and impossible to show
11:48in daylight.
11:49Luca caught the back
11:50of her neck.
11:50Shut up.
11:52Camila lifted her face.
11:54Then make me.
11:55The next second,
11:56Luca kissed her.
11:57The kiss was urgent
11:58and rough.
11:59His hands expertly
12:00kneaded her breasts,
12:01and Camila's face
12:02was full of enjoyment.
12:03Your penis is hard.
12:04It's hitting me,
12:04you little slut.
12:06Luca smiled happily
12:07and reached her hand
12:09under her skirt.
12:10You're not even wearing
12:12underwear.
12:12Be careful the water
12:13doesn't drip onto the floor.
12:15I sat there.
12:16Fingers clenched
12:17around the steering wheel.
12:19Half-blood succubi
12:20could smell desire.
12:22So I knew better
12:23than anyone.
12:24Luca was not fully controlled.
12:26He was sinking in
12:27with his eyes open.
12:28He picked her up
12:29and carried her
12:30into the hotel.
12:32Hurry up,
12:32Vivian will be looking
12:33for me soon.
12:36I remembered the first time
12:38I confessed my identity
12:39to him.
12:40It had been another
12:41wet, rainy night.
12:43I told him
12:44I was not entirely human.
12:46I dreamed differently.
12:48I could sense desire.
12:50If I was too hungry,
12:52I could draw a little life
12:54from someone's dream.
12:55I thought he would be afraid.
12:58Instead,
12:58he held my hand.
13:00So you've been forcing yourself
13:01to endure it all this time?
13:03I nodded dot.
13:04His eyes turned red.
13:05Vivian,
13:06you don't have to pretend
13:07to be normal with me.
13:09If you're hungry,
13:10take it from me.
13:12I almost cried.
13:12Luca,
13:13a donor gets weak.
13:16Then I'm willing.
13:17He had sounded so serious.
13:20Serious enough
13:20that I thought the world
13:21had finally held me gently.
13:24Later,
13:24he pursued me so openly
13:26that all of West Hollywood
13:27knew about it.
13:28I mentioned once
13:30that I liked jazz,
13:31and he booked out
13:32Midnight Bar
13:33that same night.
13:34I said church bells
13:36frightened me,
13:37and when we passed
13:38the cathedral
13:39of St. Viviana,
13:41he covered my ears.
13:42When my first business
13:43failed and I hid
13:44in the attic
13:45of the old house
13:45refusing to see anyone,
13:47he stood outside
13:48in the rain all night.
13:49He pulled me out
13:50of my shame
13:50as a half-blood succubus
13:52and told me again and again,
13:53You are not a monster.
13:57Vivian,
13:58you just haven't learned
13:59how to love yourself yet.
14:01Back in the car,
14:02those memories
14:03were too heavy.
14:04Now those memories
14:05hurt more than
14:05the betrayal itself.
14:07The man who once
14:08told me I was not
14:09a monster was now
14:10proving that monsters
14:11could wear the face
14:11of love.
14:14I remembered the first
14:16time I confessed
14:17my identity to him.
14:18It had been another
14:19wet, rainy night.
14:21I told him I was
14:23not entirely human.
14:24I dreamed differently.
14:26I could sense desire.
14:28If I was too hungry,
14:30I could draw a little
14:31life from someone's dream.
14:33I thought he would
14:34be afraid.
14:36Instead,
14:37he held my hand.
14:38So you've been forcing
14:39yourself to endure it
14:40all this time?
14:41I nodded dot.
14:42His eyes turned red.
14:43Vivian,
14:44you don't have to pretend
14:45to be normal with me.
14:47If you're hungry,
14:49take it from me.
14:50I almost cried.
14:51Luca,
14:52a donor gets weak.
14:54Then I'm willing.
14:55He had sounded so serious,
14:58serious enough that I
14:59thought the world had
15:00finally held me gently.
15:02Later,
15:02he pursued me so openly
15:04that all of West Hollywood
15:05knew about it.
15:07I mentioned once that I
15:08liked jazz,
15:09and he booked out
15:10Midnight Bar that same
15:12night.
15:13I said church bells
15:14frightened me,
15:15and when we passed the
15:16Cathedral of St.
15:18Viviana,
15:18he covered my ears.
15:20When my first business
15:22failed and I hid in the
15:23attic of the old house
15:24refusing to see anyone,
15:25he stood outside in the
15:26rain all night.
15:27He pulled me out of my
15:28shame as a half-blood
15:29succubus and told me
15:30again and again,
15:32You are not a monster.
15:35Vivian,
15:36you just haven't learned
15:37how to love yourself yet.
15:39Back in the car,
15:40those memories were
15:41too heavy.
15:42Now those memories hurt
15:43more than the betrayal
15:44itself.
15:45The man who once told me
15:46I was not a monster
15:47was now proving that
15:48monsters could wear
15:49the face of love.
15:52I looked up and saw
15:54Luca having sex with
15:55Camila through the
15:55floor-to-ceiling window
15:56upstairs in the hotel.
15:58Camila's face was
15:59flushed,
15:59her red dress was
16:00lying at her feet,
16:01and she was only
16:02wearing sexy lingerie.
16:04I picked up my phone
16:05and called Luca.
16:07When the phone rang,
16:08Camila saw my name
16:09and her face cooled
16:10at once.
16:10She reached for it.
16:12Luca lifted the phone
16:13out of her reach.
16:13I told you,
16:14I don't ignore Vivian's
16:15calls.
16:16Jealousy flashed through.
16:18Camila's eyes,
16:19the call connected.
16:20Baby,
16:21miss me?
16:22I bit my lip hard
16:23enough to keep the sob
16:25from escaping.
16:26He was right in front
16:27of me.
16:27He was answering my call
16:29while playing with
16:30Camila's tail with his
16:31fingers,
16:33even the penis,
16:33was still inside her.
16:35Camila stared at my
16:37name on the screen
16:38and suddenly smiled.
16:39She tiptoed and kissed
16:41Luca's sensitive
16:42Erlo,
16:43deliberately moaning.
16:45Luca's fingers paused,
16:46her tail hooked
16:47around his buttocks
16:48and slowly rubbed
16:49against them.
16:49Through the phone,
16:51I heard his breath
16:51turn heavier.
16:53I'll be back tomorrow.
16:55I bought you a gift.
16:56You'll like it.
16:58I looked at him
16:59for the first time.
17:00I understood that
17:00tenderness could be
17:01a blade.
17:04Luca,
17:05do you love me?
17:07He stopped moving
17:08for a second.
17:09Of course.
17:10Then would you betray me?
17:12Silence fell on the other end,
17:14right in front of me.
17:16Camila suddenly dripped
17:17the wax from a nearby
17:18low-temperature candle
17:20onto Luca's lower abdomen.
17:22Luca let out
17:23an excited groan.
17:27It was quiet,
17:29but I heard it clearly.
17:31Vivian,
17:32don't overthink.
17:35I'll be back by your side
17:37before the wedding.
17:38Camila's tail
17:38wrapped tighter.
17:39She held a candle
17:40dripping wax
17:41onto Luca's body
17:42little by little.
17:43From his collarbone,
17:44chest muscles,
17:45abdominal muscles,
17:46and finally onto
17:47his lower abdomen
17:48near his penis.
17:50Be good.
17:50I have something to handle.
17:53I'll call you later.
17:55The call ended.
17:56He had just lied to me
17:57with the same voice
17:58he used to promise me forever.
18:01After the call ended,
18:02Luca caught Camila
18:03by the waist
18:04and leaned down
18:05to her ear.
18:06You did that on purpose.
18:08Camila laughed.
18:09Of course.
18:11Isn't that exactly
18:12what you like?
18:15Luca gripped her chin.
18:17Camila,
18:18you're gonna drive me insane.
18:20She placed her finger
18:21in Luca's mouth
18:22and stirred it gently,
18:23red light in her eyes,
18:25teasing and cruel.
18:26Then go insane for me.
18:28He fucked her hard
18:29with a frenzied excitement.
18:32The semen was ejaculated
18:33on her body,
18:35some of it staining
18:36the glass window,
18:37making it particularly noticeable.
18:40I sat in the car
18:41until dawn.
18:43When the first light fell,
18:44Camila came out
18:45of the hotel,
18:46her mouth bright
18:47as if she had just
18:48drunk from a dream.
18:49Luca followed behind her.
18:50A few partners
18:51walked with them,
18:52laughing and talking.
18:54Camila acts so untouchable,
18:56but put her in a dress
18:58and she's not
18:58that far behind Vivian.
19:00Camila laughed
19:01and smacked his arm.
19:03Don't compare me
19:04to Vivian.
19:05A delicate little princess
19:07like her?
19:08What can she do
19:09except be spoiled?
19:10Luca did not argue.
19:12He only smiled.
19:14That smile
19:15was the last straw.
19:16Camila opened
19:17the passenger door.
19:18That was my seat.
19:19Every time,
19:20Luca had opened
19:21that door for me
19:22and said it was
19:22reserved for his fiancée.
19:24Now Camila
19:25was about to sit there.
19:26I suddenly did not
19:27want to endure
19:28another second.
19:29I pushed my car door
19:29open and walked
19:30toward them.
19:31Luca saw me first.
19:32His face went white.
19:33At Vivian?
19:35Camila's smile froze.
19:38I took off
19:38my engagement ring.
19:40Inside the band
19:40was the vow Luca
19:41had written by hand.
19:42I will never betray you.
19:44I threw the ring
19:45into his face.
19:46We're done.
19:48Luca.
19:49I don't want you anymore.
19:50As soon as the words
19:51left my mouth,
19:52heat surged
19:53through my chest.
19:54A dark red contract mark
19:55slowly surfaced
19:56beneath my collarbone.
19:57My skin felt
19:58as if fire had kissed it.
19:59I froze.
20:00Luca saw it too.
20:01His pupils shrank.
20:02Vivian?
20:03Your mark.
20:04Camila's face changed.
20:05I looked down
20:06at the succubus
20:07blood mark
20:07that had never
20:08appeared before.
20:09The next second,
20:10I smelled the desire
20:12of everyone around me.
20:13Shock, fear,
20:15jealousy, greed, guilt.
20:17And on Luca,
20:18regret so strong
20:19it was almost bitter.
20:21So betrayal
20:21could awaken
20:22a half-blood succubus.
20:24So when pain
20:25reached its limit,
20:26blood would tear away
20:27the final layer
20:27of disguise for me.
20:29Mila stared
20:30at my collarbone.
20:31Her shock turned
20:31into envy.
20:32How did you awaken?
20:34Why you?
20:35She had always thought
20:36I was a weak
20:37half-blood succubus.
20:38Too scared to feed.
20:40Too scared to cast glamour.
20:41Too scared to enter
20:42someone else's dreams.
20:44That was why she dared
20:45take my fiance.
20:46That was why she dared
20:47step on my feelings
20:48to prove herself.
20:49I smiled.
20:50Because you pushed me
20:51this far.
20:52I turned to leave.
20:53Luca grabbed my wrist.
20:55Vivian!
20:55The moment his palm
20:56touched my skin,
20:57the contract mark burned.
20:59I saw his desire.
21:00It was not lust.
21:01It was fear.
21:02He was afraid
21:03I did not want him anymore.
21:05But this time,
21:05I did not soften.
21:07Don't touch me.
21:09The color drained
21:10from Luca's face.
21:12Vivian, listen to me.
21:13His hand was still shaking.
21:15It wasn't me
21:16who started it.
21:17It was Camila.
21:20She entered my dreams.
21:22She amplified
21:23what I already felt.
21:25She said
21:26it would only happen once
21:28and you would never know.
21:29Camila snapped her head
21:30toward him.
21:30Luca!
21:31But he had finally
21:32found an excuse
21:33and he shoved
21:33all the blame onto her.
21:34Vivian,
21:35I really love you.
21:36I was influenced by her.
21:38I looked at him.
21:39Once,
21:40I had thought Luca
21:41understood betrayal
21:42better than anyone.
21:43He had told me
21:43his mother betrayed
21:44her marriage
21:45and left with
21:45his father's best friend.
21:47His father did not want him.
21:48His mother did not
21:49want him either.
21:50He said he felt like
21:51an old suitcase
21:52kicked from one door
21:53to another.
21:54Back then,
21:55my heart ached for him.
21:56I stayed with him
21:57through one nightmare
21:58after another.
21:59When he dreamed
22:00of being abandoned,
22:01I took his hand
22:02and let him out.
22:03I never took more life
22:04from him than I needed.
22:05Even when hunger
22:06left me cold all over,
22:08I only kissed his forehead
22:09while he slept
22:10and took a little harmless warmth
22:12from the edge of his dream.
22:13Now he was telling me
22:14he cheated
22:15because someone tempted him.
22:17I suddenly laughed.
22:19At Luca?
22:21You're pathetic.
22:24You don't even have the courage
22:26to admit you're rotten.
22:27Camila suddenly laughed too.
22:29Half hate.
22:30Half madness.
22:31Now you're blaming me?
22:32She walked toward Luca.
22:34Who was the one
22:35holding my tail last night
22:36and refusing to let go?
22:38Shut up.
22:39Who said
22:40Aunt Vivian was too clean
22:41and you couldn't bear
22:43to use those thoughts on her?
22:44Aunt Luca?
22:46Do you want me to repeat
22:47every word you said
22:48in my bed?
22:48Shame flashed
22:49through Luca's eyes.
22:51The last warmth
22:52in my heart
22:52finally died.
22:55So she had not
22:56led him astray.
22:58He had not been controlled.
22:59They had shut me
23:00out of those dreams
23:01a long time ago.
23:02One of them enjoyed
23:03being tamed
23:04by a proud succubus.
23:06The other enjoyed
23:07dragging the man
23:08I loved down
23:08from his pedestal.
23:10I got into my car
23:11to leave.
23:12Luca rushed in front of it
23:13like he had lost his mind.
23:15Vivian, you can't go!
23:16You said you would
23:17never leave me!
23:18Camila ran after him,
23:19grabbing his arm,
23:20her voice sharp.
23:21She doesn't want you anymore!
23:24Why are you chasing her?
23:27Luca, look at me!
23:29I'm the only one
23:30who can accept
23:31the real you!
23:32I looked coldly
23:33at the two of them
23:33tangled in front of my car.
23:35One betrayed me,
23:36one used me.
23:37Perfect match.
23:39I stepped on the gas.
23:40The car lurched forward.
23:42Luca's face
23:43went white.
23:44Camila screamed
23:45and dragged him
23:45out of the way.
23:46They fell hard
23:47onto the ground.
23:48Both of them
23:49a mess.
23:49The engine roared
23:50as I drove out
23:51of the parking lot,
23:52leaving their voices behind.
23:54In the rearview mirror,
23:55they looked ugly
23:56and helpless,
23:57still trying to drag
23:58each other down.
23:59I did not stop.
24:00I did not look back again.
24:02The city was waking up
24:03around me,
24:03but something in me
24:04had already gone cold
24:06and quiet.
24:08I returned to the wedding house.
24:10It was the house
24:11Luca and I had bought together.
24:12Only my name was on the deed.
24:14At the time,
24:15Luca had held me and said,
24:18What's mine is yours.
24:19What's yours is still yours.
24:21Vivian,
24:22the greatest achievement
24:23of my life
24:24is making you happy.
24:25Now,
24:26everything in the house
24:27seemed to laugh at me.
24:28The matching keychains
24:29by the door.
24:30The jazz playlist
24:31we had tested
24:32for the wedding
24:33in the living room.
24:34The wedding dress
24:35hanging in the bedroom.
24:36And in the mirror,
24:37the dark red mark
24:38under my collarbone,
24:39growing clearer and clearer.
24:41I did not take much.
24:43Only the black pearl necklace
24:44my mother had left me.
24:46And an old book
24:47recording the taboos
24:47surrounding Succubus'
24:49true names.
24:49I had just reached the door
24:51when Luca caught up.
24:52The mark from my slap
24:53was still on his face.
24:54His eyes were terrifyingly red.
24:56Vivian,
24:58where are you going?
25:00He blocked the doorway,
25:01his voice shaking.
25:03This is our home.
25:06You said you would
25:07stay with me forever.
25:09I looked at him
25:10and found it almost funny.
25:12You also said
25:13you would never betray me.
25:15His face turned pale.
25:17I walked around him,
25:18but he suddenly dropped
25:20to his knees,
25:21grabbed my hand,
25:22and pressed my palm
25:23to his face.
25:24Hit me.
25:25Curse me.
25:26Do anything you want.
25:27Just don't go.
25:30Please.
25:31If this had been before,
25:31I would have softened.
25:33But now,
25:34all I smelled in his regret
25:35was selfishness.
25:36It was not that he could not lose me.
25:38It was that he could not accept
25:40being abandoned.
25:41I pulled my hand free.
25:42Luca.
25:44You lost me with your own hands.
25:47I opened the door
25:48and saw Camila standing outside.
25:50Her eyes were red.
25:51Her makeup was ruined.
25:53Compared to Luca,
25:54the pain Camila brought was duller.
25:56And much deeper,
25:57Camila raised her hand
25:58and slapped me across the face.
26:00Pain burst open.
26:01Luca froze.
26:02So did I.
26:03Camila looked as if she had finally
26:05torn off years of disguise.
26:07Her voice was sharp and shaking.
26:09Vivian,
26:11why is everything
26:12always better for you?
26:14Why does everyone
26:15circle around you?
26:16Why did the sucker
26:18for a blood
26:18choose you too?
26:20The red in her eyes
26:20grew darker.
26:21Her black tail
26:22lashed restlessly behind her.
26:24Do you know
26:25how much I hate men?
26:27The way they look at me
26:28makes me sick.
26:29Their desire
26:30sticks to me like mud.
26:33Camila looked at Luca
26:33and laughed
26:34while crying
26:35wild and broken.
26:36But Luca was different.
26:38He loved you.
26:40The more he loved you,
26:42the more I wanted to take him.
26:44I didn't like him.
26:45I just wanted to prove
26:46that you could lose to me too.
26:48Mila stared at me,
26:49tears in her eyes
26:50and no softness in her face.
26:52Do you know the funniest part?
26:54The first time
26:55I entered Luca's dream,
26:57it wasn't because
26:58I wanted him so badly.
27:00It was because you,
27:01you sent me the playlist
27:03for your first dance
27:05and asked which song
27:06fit the wedding better.
27:08I looked at that message
27:09and suddenly wanted to know
27:10what would happen
27:11if I stole your groom
27:12from inside his own dreams.
27:15At Vivian?
27:16The more you trusted me,
27:18the more I wanted to destroy
27:19that trust with my own hands.
27:21My heart sank slowly.
27:23So that was it.
27:25Camila had not suddenly
27:26fallen in love with Luca.
27:28She hated me.
27:32I remembered the year
27:33we applied to college.
27:34She had hugged me and cried,
27:36saying she did not want us
27:37to separate.
27:38Back then,
27:39I had already received
27:40an acceptance letter
27:41from a top school
27:42on the East Coast.
27:43My admissions counselor
27:44said it was the best
27:45opportunity of my life.
27:47But Camila cried
27:48and asked me,
27:49Vivi, will we grow apart?
27:51If you go to New York,
27:52what will happen to me?
27:54At that time,
27:55I truly believed
27:56we would always be
27:56the most important people
27:57in each other's lives.
27:59So I turned down
28:00the acceptance.
28:01I stayed in Los Angeles
28:02and went to the same
28:03local university as her.
28:04It was the first time
28:05my parents were
28:06disappointed in me.
28:07My counselor also
28:08talked with me
28:09for a long time,
28:10but I had thought
28:11it was worth it.
28:12Because Camila had said,
28:14Vivian,
28:15let's never be apart.
28:16Back in front of
28:16the wedding house,
28:17looking at her face
28:18twisted by jealousy,
28:20I finally understood.
28:21Maybe the sacrifices
28:23I had thought
28:23were precious
28:24had only given her
28:25another reason
28:25to hate me.
28:26Camila,
28:27my voice was
28:28very quiet.
28:29I never tried
28:30to compete with you,
28:32but you treated me
28:33like your enemy
28:34the whole time.
28:35Camila laughed
28:36even more bitterly,
28:37because you never
28:38have to compete.
28:40People hand
28:41everything to you.
28:43She raised her hand
28:44to hit me again.
28:45This time,
28:45I caught her wrist.
28:47The succubus mark
28:48under my collarbone
28:49burned.
28:49For the first time,
28:51I did not suppress
28:52my power.
28:53If she wanted to
28:54tear open
28:54every old wound,
28:55then I would
28:56finally look
28:57directly into hers.
28:59I saw the deepest
29:01desire inside
29:02Camila's heart.
29:03She wanted to
29:04become me.
29:04She wanted to be
29:05accepted by a family
29:06like mine.
29:07She wanted to be
29:08praised by counselors.
29:09She wanted to be
29:10seen by friends.
29:12She wanted,
29:13when Luca looked
29:14at me,
29:14to tear my face
29:15out of his eyes.
29:16I saw more.
29:18I saw her sitting
29:19beside my wedding dress,
29:21fixing my veil
29:22while leaving the
29:23scent of black roses
29:24in Luca's dreams.
29:25I saw her helping
29:27me choose wedding
29:27vows while secretly
29:28texting Luca.
29:30She said never
29:30betray.
29:31Did that make you
29:32laugh?
29:32I saw that every
29:34time she hugged me,
29:35comforted me.
29:36Or said she would
29:37stay with me until
29:37the wedding was over.
29:39There was a vicious
29:40thought hidden underneath.
29:41She wanted to watch
29:42me put on the dress,
29:44then push me down
29:45herself.
29:46So her so-called
29:47hatred of men,
29:48her pride,
29:49her cold disdain,
29:50had only been armor.
29:51Under that armor
29:53was jealousy rotting
29:54for years.
29:55I let go of her wrist.
29:58My palm came down
29:59hard.
30:00Her face turned
30:01with the blow.
30:02She staggered back,
30:04covering her cheek,
30:06staring at me
30:07in disbelief.
30:08My tears finally fell,
30:10not because of Luca,
30:12because I had buried
30:13years of friendship
30:14with my own hands.
30:16Camila,
30:17from today on,
30:18we are not friends
30:20anymore.
30:21The red light
30:22in her eyes trembled.
30:23I turned to Luca.
30:25He stood there,
30:26looking as if he
30:27wanted to come closer
30:28but did not dare.
30:30I smiled faintly.
30:32You two really
30:33are a good match.
30:35One uses love
30:36as an excuse,
30:38the other uses
30:39jealousy as a reason.
30:41People like you
30:42should stay tied together.
30:45Don't let either
30:46of you escape.
30:48When I walked out
30:49of the wedding house,
30:50my parents had
30:51already arrived.
30:52My father stood
30:53outside.
30:54He saw the slap
30:55mark on my face
30:56and the succubus mark
30:57beneath my collarbone.
30:58He asked nothing.
30:59He only opened
31:00his arms.
31:01Vivian,
31:03dad's taking you home.
31:04I ran into his arms
31:05and finally broke down.
31:06Dad,
31:07I'm not getting married.
31:10I don't want Luca
31:11anymore.
31:12I don't want Camila
31:13anymore.
31:13I don't want any of it.
31:15My father patted
31:16my back gently.
31:17Then don't.
31:18You will always
31:19have a home.
31:20Behind us,
31:21Luca tried
31:22to step forward.
31:24Vivian,
31:24please,
31:26let me talk
31:26to you one more time.
31:28My father looked
31:29at him,
31:29his voice cold.
31:31You've said enough.
31:33Camila stood
31:34behind Luca,
31:35one hand pressed
31:36to her cheek.
31:36For once,
31:37she had no clever words.
31:39I did not turn back.
31:40I let my father
31:41lead me into the car,
31:42the wedding house,
31:43the dress,
31:43the rings,
31:44the dream boundaries
31:45I had once protected
31:46for love.
31:47All of it stayed behind me.
31:48Through the car window,
31:49I saw Luca standing
31:50in the driveway,
31:51finally realizing
31:52that begging at the door
31:53was not the same
31:54as being allowed
31:54back into my life.
31:56The car pulled away.
31:57This time,
31:58I was not running.
31:59I was leaving.
32:01The day after I went home,
32:04Luca came to the house.
32:05I did not see him.
32:07I only heard
32:08my father's furious voice
32:10downstairs.
32:11Get out.
32:13She doesn't want
32:14to see you.
32:15The door slammed shut.
32:17My mother brought
32:17hot cocoa to my room
32:19and sat beside my bed.
32:22The wedding is canceled.
32:24Your father has contacted
32:26the planner,
32:27the venue,
32:27and the lawyers.
32:28The cancellation
32:29and the end of the engagement
32:31are being handled.
32:33The engagement gifts,
32:35the deposits,
32:35and the expenses
32:36both families prepared
32:38have all been settled.
32:39My mother gently held my hand.
32:42As for Luca,
32:44he refuses to accept it.
32:46He keeps saying
32:47the wedding will go on
32:48as planned.
32:50But that has nothing
32:51to do with you anymore.
32:53I leaned against her,
32:54my chest tight and sore.
32:57Mom, Luca isn't even
32:58the one I hate most.
33:00I just can't understand
33:02why it had to be Camilla.
33:04Why it had to be
33:05the person I trusted most.
33:07My mother stroked my hair.
33:09Some people hate you
33:11not because you hurt them,
33:13but because you make them
33:15see what they don't have.
33:16I held the mug
33:18with both hands.
33:19The heat did not erase
33:20the pain,
33:21but it reminded me
33:22I was still alive.
33:23Outside my room,
33:25Luca kept calling.
33:26Inside,
33:27I finally stopped answering.
33:30The day before the wedding,
33:32Vivian did not answer
33:33a single call from Luca.
33:35Luca sat alone
33:36in the empty church,
33:38staring at the wedding scene
33:39Vivian had spent
33:40three months preparing,
33:41from dusk until
33:42deep into the night.
33:44White roses covered the pews.
33:45The jazz band
33:46was still rehearsing.
33:48Every time the bells
33:49of the cathedral
33:50of St. Vivianna rang,
33:51his face grew paler.
33:53Church bells weakened
33:54the dream glamour
33:55left by succubi.
33:56That meant every ring
33:57made him a little more sober.
33:59He finally began
33:59to understand.
34:00Vivian truly was not coming.
34:02Camilla went to him.
34:03She wore a white dress.
34:05Looking like a poor imitation,
34:06she stood in the candlelight.
34:08Her black tail held tight,
34:09though red still
34:10lingered in her eyes.
34:11Luca,
34:12even if Vivian doesn't come,
34:14you still have me.
34:16Luca looked at her dot,
34:17the face that had once
34:18seemed exciting,
34:19fresh,
34:19and dangerous
34:20now only made him tired.
34:21You?
34:22He laughed once,
34:23his voice cold.
34:25What do you have
34:25that could compare with her?
34:28Camilla's face went white.
34:31You wanted me to.
34:34Luca stood,
34:35his eyes full of self-loathing.
34:36Yes.
34:38I wanted you
34:38because you made me feel
34:39like I didn't have
34:40to be responsible
34:41because you said
34:41you didn't care.
34:43Because you made me feel
34:44like I could briefly
34:45become a piece of trash
34:47and pay no price for it.
34:49He moved toward her
34:51step by step.
34:51But you will never be Vivian.
34:55Luca's voice echoed
34:57through the empty church.
34:58She could be shaking
34:59from hunger
35:00and still refuse
35:01to take one extra bit
35:02of life from my dreams.
35:07She knew I was afraid
35:08of being abandoned.
35:10So she stayed with me
35:11through every nightmare
35:12until I woke up.
35:13And you?
35:15You only amplified
35:16my desire
35:17and watched
35:18while I destroyed her
35:19with my own hands.
35:20Camilla's eyes wettinged.
35:22That was still your choice.
35:24The words pierced
35:25Luca's last excuse.
35:26He stumbled back.
35:28Yes.
35:28It was my choice.
35:35So the person
35:36who deserves to die most
35:37is me.
35:38Camilla reached for him.
35:40Luca,
35:41I can stay with you too.
35:42He threw off her hand.
35:43Don't touch me.
35:45Every time I touch you
35:46I feel a little dirtier.
35:48That sentence
35:48drove Camilla
35:49completely over the edge.
35:51Red light flared in her eyes
35:52the candles in the church
35:54flickered hard.
35:55She lunged forward,
35:56grabbed Luca
35:57by the collar
35:58and kissed him.
35:59It was not love.
36:00It was one last hunt
36:01to prove she was still desired.
36:03Luca froze
36:03against his mouth.
36:05She said viciously,
36:06That's not what you said
36:07last night.
36:10When you were holding on
36:11to me and refusing
36:12to let go
36:12you didn't sound
36:13so disgusted.
36:14Luca shoved her away.
36:15Camilla staggered back.
36:17Her eyes red enough
36:18to bleed.
36:18Luca ran out of the church
36:20wanting to find Vivian.
36:22Camilla chased him
36:23into the rain.
36:26The rain before dawn
36:27came down hard.
36:28Luca ran toward his car,
36:29soaked through,
36:30his hands shaking
36:31as he tried
36:32to call Vivian again.
36:33Pick up!
36:34Please, Vivian!
36:35Pick up!
36:36Only the cold,
36:37busy tone answered him.
36:38Camilla got into
36:39the passenger seat
36:40before he could
36:41lock the door.
36:42You can chase her
36:44all night,
36:45but she won't come back.
36:48Get out.
36:49No.
36:50Look at me.
36:52Red light filled her eyes.
36:54Luca gripped
36:54the steering wheel.
36:55Trying not to look at her,
36:57Samela tried to trap him
36:58with succubus glamour.
36:59In the illusion,
37:01Luca saw Vivian
37:01walking toward him
37:02in her wedding dress.
37:04Her veil was soft,
37:05her eyes were gentle.
37:06The church behind her
37:07was filled with white roses.
37:09Luca.
37:10For one second,
37:11Luca forgot how to breathe,
37:12but when that version
37:13of Vivian came closer,
37:14he suddenly woke her.
37:16No.
37:18She will never look
37:19at me like that again.
37:21Camilla screamed
37:22and grabbed his arm.
37:23Why her?
37:25Why is it always her?
37:27Because she loved me
37:28and I destroyed her.
37:30The car swerved.
37:32He yanked the steering wheel.
37:34The car crashed
37:35into the iron railing
37:36beside the road.
37:37In the distance,
37:38the bells of St. Viviana rang.
37:40Camilla's illusion shattered.
37:42Blood, rain,
37:44and broken glass
37:44spread across the road
37:46where a wedding
37:46should have begun.
37:49Before my flight took off,
37:51I received a video call
37:52from a friend.
37:53I did not want to answer.
37:56But the call came again
37:57and again.
37:58So I finally swiped
38:00the screen.
38:01In the frame,
38:02Luca lay in a hospital bed.
38:04His face was ashen.
38:06Gauze wrapped his forehead.
38:07The moment he saw me,
38:09his eyes reddened.
38:11Vivian.
38:13He started crying
38:14as soon as he said my name.
38:16I know I was wrong.
38:18I really know I was wrong.
38:20His voice broke
38:21like the little boy
38:23who had once been trapped
38:24in nightmares.
38:25It wasn't that I
38:26I didn't love you.
38:28I was greedy.
38:30I thought that as long
38:31as I hid it well,
38:32I wouldn't lose you.
38:34I thought you would
38:35always forgive me.
38:38But I was wrong.
38:40He cried until
38:41he could not continue.
38:43The friend beside him sighed.
38:46Vivian,
38:46he was trying
38:47to go find you.
38:48Camellia stopped him.
38:49They fought over
38:50the steering wheel
38:51and the car crashed.
38:53Camellia still
38:54hasn't woken up.
38:56Luca keeps calling
38:56your name.
38:58Could you maybe-
38:59No.
38:59I cut him off.
39:01The other side
39:01went quiet.
39:02I looked at Luca.
39:04It was not that my heart
39:05did not hurt.
39:05But pain did not mean
39:07going back.
39:08Luca,
39:09you and I are over.
39:11I have him after any of you
39:12for helping him hide this
39:13from me
39:14because I still remember
39:15our past friendship.
39:17But that does not give you
39:18the right to speak for him.
39:20From today on,
39:21we are no longer friends either.
39:24Luca fell apart on the screen
39:26and called my name.
39:28Vivian,
39:28don't hang up.
39:31I really can't live
39:32without you.
39:33I looked at him.
39:34For the first time,
39:35I did not soften.
39:37You can.
39:39You just aren't used
39:40to living with the
39:40consequences of losing me.
39:42I ended the call.
39:43Then I blocked
39:44everyone connected to him.
39:45When the plane
39:46rose into the clouds,
39:47the cold rainy night
39:49of Los Angeles
39:49was left far behind.
39:51My mother held my hand.
39:53My father sat
39:53on my other side,
39:55pretending to read
39:56a travel guide,
39:57though his eyes were red.
39:59Vivian,
40:00if you want to sleep,
40:01lean on me.
40:02Or on me.
40:04I'm not really
40:04reading this thing anyway.
40:06I smiled.
40:07I'm okay.
40:08This time,
40:09I was not pretending
40:10to be strong.
40:11I had been badly hurt,
40:13but I had not died
40:14in that betrayal.
40:15I had my parents,
40:17I had a home,
40:18and I had the courage
40:19to keep walking forward.
40:21The city below
40:22grew smaller and smaller
40:24until Luca,
40:25Camila,
40:26and the wedding
40:27that never happened
40:28became a cluster
40:28of lights behind the clouds.
40:30I pressed my palm
40:32over the mark
40:32beneath my collarbone.
40:34It was still warm,
40:35but it no longer
40:36felt like a warning.
40:37It felt like proof
40:39that I could keep
40:39moving forward.
40:42Over the next two months,
40:44we went many places.
40:46From the white sands
40:47of New Mexico,
40:49to the red rocks
40:50of Arizona,
40:51from the neon
40:52of Las Vegas,
40:54to sunsets
40:55along the Pacific,
40:56my succubus mark
40:58grew steadier.
40:59I stopped being afraid
41:01of my bloodline.
41:02I learned how to build
41:04boundaries in dreams.
41:06I learned to read desire.
41:08I learned not to make
41:09myself responsible
41:10for the emptiness
41:11inside other people.
41:13One night in Arizona,
41:15my father found me
41:16sitting outside
41:17the motel alone.
41:19Nightmare again?
41:21Not exactly.
41:23Then what is it?
41:24I think I'm scared
41:26that if I accept
41:27this part of myself,
41:29I'll become like Camila.
41:31My father sat beside me.
41:33Power doesn't make
41:34you like her.
41:36What you choose
41:37to do with it does.
41:38The first time
41:39my black wings
41:39fully unfolded
41:40was in a motel
41:41outside Las Vegas.
41:43That night,
41:44the moonlight was cold.
41:45I woke from a nightmare
41:47and felt a faint,
41:48tearing sensation
41:49behind my back.
41:50In the mirror,
41:51I saw a pair of black
41:52wings slowly open.
41:54Not evil,
41:55not a curse.
41:56Only proof that I had
41:57finally stopped
41:58denying myself.
41:59My mother knocked
42:00softly at the door.
42:02Vivian?
42:03Are you alright?
42:04I looked at the reflection
42:05in the mirror.
42:06For the first time,
42:07I did not hate
42:08what I saw.
42:09Yes mom,
42:10I think I am.
42:11I finally understood.
42:13I was not a monster.
42:15The monsters
42:16were the people
42:16who used love
42:17and desire
42:18as excuses
42:19to hurt others.
42:22Two months later,
42:23I returned to Los Angeles.
42:25As soon as I reached
42:26the house,
42:27I saw Camila.
42:28She had lost
42:29a lot of weight.
42:30She stood outside
42:31the fence
42:32looking in again
42:32and again.
42:33She was not wearing
42:34heavy makeup
42:35and she was not
42:36in one of those bright,
42:37eye-catching dresses.
42:38Her tail was gone.
42:40Or rather,
42:40she was forcing it
42:41to stay hidden,
42:42too afraid to let it
42:43appear in front of me.
42:44My mother's face
42:46turned cold immediately.
42:48What are you doing here?
42:49Camila looked startled
42:51when she turned
42:51and saw me.
42:52Her eyes reddened
42:53at once.
42:54Vivian,
42:55can I talk to you?
42:56I did not want to go,
42:58but I knew
42:59some old wounds
43:00had to be stitched
43:01by my own hands
43:02or they would keep
43:03rotting under the skin.
43:05You don't owe her anything.
43:08I know.
43:09I looked at Camila
43:10through the fence.
43:12The girl who once
43:13walked into my room
43:14without knocking,
43:16now stood outside
43:17like a stranger
43:18asking permission.
43:19Ten minutes.
43:20Camila nodded quickly,
43:22as if afraid
43:23I would take the words back.
43:27We walked to a corner cafe.
43:29We had come here
43:30all the time.
43:31She ordered an iced latte.
43:32I ordered hot cocoa.
43:34She used to laugh at me
43:35and say I was still a child.
43:37Now she sat across from me,
43:40stirring her cup
43:41again and again.
43:44Camila looked at me
43:45across the table.
43:46Have you been okay
43:47these past two months?
43:48I did not answer.
43:50She lowered her head.
43:51I haven't.
43:52The people from our old circle
43:54won't talk to me anymore.
43:55Even the counselor
43:57from our college application
43:58year called me.
43:59Her voice shook.
44:00She said,
44:01Camila,
44:02losing at Vivian
44:03is something you'll regret
44:04for the rest of your life.
44:05I didn't understand
44:06at first.
44:08Then she told me
44:09that the year
44:10we applied to college
44:10you could have gone
44:11to that top school
44:12on the east coast
44:13but you turned down
44:13the offer for me.
44:16She said,
44:16everyone knew.
44:17I was the only one
44:18who kept pretending
44:19I didn't.
44:20Camila cried.
44:21Vivian,
44:22I was so jealous of you.
44:25You had a good family.
44:27Parents who loved you.
44:29Great grades.
44:31Beauty.
44:32And even succupus blood
44:33that felt cleaner than mine.
44:35You didn't have to take anything.
44:37People loved you anyway.
44:38And no matter how hard I tried
44:40I felt like your shadow.
44:42She looked up at me.
44:43So I wanted to steal from you once.
44:45Her voice sank.
44:48Actually, that night
44:49when I asked you
44:50to check my phone
44:50it wasn't because
44:52I trusted you completely.
44:53I knew Luca might message me.
44:55I should have taken the phone
44:57but I didn't.
44:58For one second
44:59I even wanted you to see it.
45:01I wanted to know
45:03what your face would look like
45:04when you realized
45:05I could make the man you loved
45:07lose control too.
45:09So even the beginning
45:09of my heartbreak
45:10had been staged
45:11by her own hand.
45:14Camila could not quite
45:16meet my eyes.
45:17I wanted to see you
45:19lose to me once
45:21but now I know
45:22what I stole
45:22wasn't Luca.
45:24What I destroyed
45:25was the best thing
45:27you ever gave me.
45:28She cried so hard
45:29she almost could not breathe.
45:30I'm sorry.
45:32Vivian, I'm sorry.
45:33If this had been before
45:35I would have felt
45:36sorry for her.
45:37I would have handed
45:38her tissues.
45:39I would have held her.
45:41I would have said
45:42it was okay.
45:43But now
45:43I only looked at her
45:45calmly.
45:46Some apologies
45:47came too late.
45:48Too late
45:49did not undo
45:50the damage.
45:51Too late
45:51did not erase
45:52betrayal from memory.
45:54Camila,
45:55I stood.
45:57Don't come looking
45:58for me again.
45:59Her face went white.
46:00Vivian, I regret it.
46:02I looked at her.
46:03Then live with
46:04what you did.
46:06Don't make me digest
46:08it for you.
46:08I turned and left.
46:10Behind me
46:10she sobbed my name.
46:13Vivian!
46:14Please
46:14I don't have anyone else!
46:16I stopped for only
46:17one second
46:17then I kept walking.
46:19Once
46:19those words
46:20would have chained
46:21me to her guilt.
46:22Now
46:22they only proved
46:23I had been right
46:24to leave.
46:25I did not look back.
46:28Later
46:29people said
46:30Luca sold
46:30his private club
46:31in Los Angeles.
46:32He went to Chicago
46:33and left their
46:34shared circle
46:35completely.
46:35Some people said
46:36he was trapped
46:37by nightmares
46:38every night
46:38in those dreams.
46:40Vivian walked
46:41toward him
46:41again and again
46:42only to turn
46:43into black smoke
46:44before he could
46:44touch her.
46:46Vivian, wait!
46:48But the dream
46:48Vivian never stopped.
46:50Every night
46:51he woke
46:52with his hands
46:52stretched into
46:53empty air.
46:54He stopped
46:55attending parties.
46:56He stopped
46:57answering old friends.
46:58The man
46:58who once knew
46:59exactly how to smile
47:00for every room
47:01now sat alone
47:02until dawn
47:03afraid to sleep
47:04and more afraid
47:04to wake.
47:05Others said
47:06he found a
47:07succubus contract
47:08lowyer
47:08and tried to
47:09trade half his
47:09life for Vivian's
47:10return.
47:11The lowyer
47:11looked through
47:12the old contract
47:12book
47:13then closed it.
47:14Succufibur contracts
47:15can trade in
47:16desire,
47:17memory,
47:18dreams,
47:19pain,
47:20and time.
47:21Then take it!
47:23That is not
47:24the problem.
47:24Luca's face
47:25was pale.
47:26Then what is?
47:28They cannot
47:29trade in
47:30another person's
47:31free will.
47:33I don't need
47:34her forced.
47:35I just need
47:36a chance
47:37to see her.
47:37If she does
47:38not want to
47:38return,
47:39no contract
47:40can bring her
47:40back.
47:41Luca lowered
47:42his head.
47:42For the first
47:43time,
47:44there was no
47:44one left
47:45for him to
47:45blame.
47:46Because Vivian
47:47did not return
47:48for one simple
47:49reason.
47:49She did not
47:50want to.
47:53Half a year
47:53later,
47:54I opened a
47:55dream counseling
47:55studio.
47:56I specialized
47:57in helping
47:57people trapped
47:58by desire,
47:59nightmares,
48:00and low-level
48:01succubus contracts.
48:02I no longer
48:03denied my
48:03succubus blood.
48:04I no longer
48:05treated my
48:06ability like a
48:06curse.
48:07I could see
48:07desire,
48:08and because of
48:09that,
48:09I could also
48:10see sincerity.
48:11That rainy
48:12night,
48:12my last
48:13client sat
48:14across from
48:14me,
48:15fingers twisting
48:16together.
48:17Will this
48:17contract make
48:18me a bad
48:18person?
48:19No,
48:20but letting
48:21someone else
48:21use it to
48:22control you
48:22will hurt
48:23you.
48:24How do I
48:25know if what
48:26I feel is
48:26mine?
48:27I looked at
48:27the faint
48:28contract shadow
48:29around their
48:29wrist.
48:31Real desire
48:31leaves you
48:32with a choice.
48:33Control takes
48:34the choice
48:34away.
48:35The client
48:36slowly nodded.
48:37Did you learn
48:38that from
48:38books?
48:39I smiled
48:39faintly.
48:40No,
48:41from losing
48:41something I
48:42once thought I
48:43couldn't live
48:43without.
48:44After the
48:44client left,
48:46the bells
48:46of the
48:47Cathedral
48:47of St.
48:48Viviana
48:48rang.
48:50Once,
48:50those bells
48:51had made
48:52me weak.
48:53Now I
48:54only stood
48:54by the
48:55window and
48:55watched rain
48:56fall through
48:57the street
48:57light.
48:58The
48:58succubus
48:59mark under
49:00my collarbone
49:00warmed
49:01faintly.
49:02This
49:03time,
49:04it was
49:04not warning
49:05me of a
49:05contract,
49:06hunger,
49:07or someone
49:07else's
49:08desire.
49:09It was
49:10only reminding
49:10me that I
49:11finally belonged
49:12completely to
49:12myself.
49:13My father
49:14called.
49:16Coming home
49:16for dinner?
49:17I smiled.
49:18I am.
49:19I live a
49:20real life.
49:21And my
49:22parents'
49:22love is
49:23real too.
49:25After I
49:26hung up,
49:26I turned
49:27off the
49:27lights in
49:28the
49:28counseling
49:28studio.
49:29The glass
49:30door reflected
49:30my shadow.
49:31Black hair,
49:32red lips,
49:33a faint
49:34dark gold
49:34light in
49:35my eyes.
49:35Behind me,
49:36a pair of
49:37black wings
49:37opened softly
49:38in the
49:39reflection,
49:39then folded
49:40away.
49:41For a
49:41moment,
49:42I stood
49:42still and
49:43looked at
49:44myself.
49:44I remembered
49:45the girl
49:46who used
49:46to hide
49:47every sign
49:48of hunger.
49:48I remembered
49:49the girl
49:50who refused
49:51to enter
49:51the dreams
49:52of the
49:52man she
49:52loved,
49:54because she
49:54thought love
49:55should never
49:55become control.
49:57I remembered
49:58the girl
49:58who trusted
49:59her best
50:00friend with
50:00wedding dress
50:01photos,
50:02vow drafts,
50:04keys,
50:05rings,
50:05and every
50:06soft place
50:07in her heart.
50:08That girl
50:09had been
50:09hurt,
50:10but she
50:10had not
50:11been foolish
50:11for loving
50:12sincerely.
50:13The foolish
50:14ones were
50:14the people
50:15who mistook
50:16her trust
50:16for weakness.
50:17The phone
50:18buzzed again.
50:19For one
50:19second,
50:20an old
50:20reflex made
50:21me glance
50:21at it.
50:22It was
50:23not Luca.
50:23It was
50:24not Camila.
50:24It was
50:25only my
50:25father sending
50:26a picture
50:26of dinner.
50:27Your mother
50:27says if
50:28you don't
50:28come soon,
50:29I'll eat
50:29your portion.
50:30I laughed
50:30for the
50:31first time
50:31that night.
50:33Don't
50:34you dare.
50:34The
50:35ordinary
50:35warmth of
50:36that message
50:37was worth
50:37more than
50:38every dramatic
50:39vow Luca
50:39had ever
50:40made.
50:41I pushed
50:42the door
50:42open and
50:43walked into
50:44the rain.
50:44This city
50:45was still
50:46bright,
50:47intimate,
50:48and dangerous.
50:49Desire was
50:50everywhere.
50:51But I would
50:52never lose
50:53myself in
50:53someone else's
50:54desire again.
50:57Luca,
50:58Camila,
50:59all the love
50:59that had
51:00vanished in
51:01midnight dreams.
51:02It was all
51:03behind me now.
51:04My life did
51:05not need me
51:06to look back.
51:07Even if
51:07betrayal had
51:08made me stumble
51:09once,
51:10I would
51:10keep
51:11walking
51:11forward.
51:12Luca's
51:13voice once
51:14told me,
51:15Vivian,
51:16you are
51:17not a
51:17monster.
51:17Camila once
51:18asked me,
51:19Vivian,
51:19we'll never
51:20be apart,
51:21right?
51:21Back then,
51:22I had
51:23believed both
51:23of them.
51:24Now,
51:25I no longer
51:26hated myself
51:26for believing.
51:27Love had
51:28been real
51:28on my side.
51:29Betrayal had
51:30been real
51:30on theirs.
51:31And I did
51:32not have to
51:33carry both.
51:33The rain
51:34softened the
51:35city lights.
51:36The succubus
51:37mark beneath
51:37my collarbone
51:38glowed once,
51:39calm and
51:40steady.
51:40I looked up
51:41at the sky.
51:42I belonged
51:42to myself.
51:43No one
51:44answered,
51:44because no
51:45one needed
51:46to.
51:46The answer
51:47was already
51:48in the way
51:48I kept
51:49walking.
51:50Behind me,
51:51a pair of
51:51black wings
51:52opened softly
51:53in the rain,
51:54then folded
51:54away.
51:55I was not
51:56running from
51:56desire anymore.
51:58I was not
51:58starving myself
51:59to prove I
52:00was good.
52:01I was not
52:01waiting for
52:02someone else
52:02to tell me
52:03I was safe
52:03to love.
52:04I was alive.
52:05I was free.
52:07And I would
52:07never again
52:08mistake someone
52:09else's hunger
52:09for my home.
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