46

GABRIELLA’S POV
As I gently turned the doorknob with utmost care, the familiar creak of the door threatened to betray my stealthy exit. I held my breath, trying to avoid any sound that could potentially alert Nicklaus to my presence.
With a mix of anxiety and determination, I gently opened the door, praying for it to remain silent.
Slipping into the room, I closed the door behind me with a barely audible click.
Relief washed over me, and I let out a quiet sigh, believing that I had successfully completed my mission of sneaking out unnoticed.
I turned around, my heart still racing, only to be startled by Nicklaus standing by the toilet door, his eyes fixed on me with a mix of intensity and concern.
My heart skipped a beat, and my mind raced to come up with a plausible explanation. “Hey, you’re awake already,” I said, trying to mask my surprise with a casual tone as I approached him.
Nicklaus’s gaze held a combination of worry and curiosity. “Sweetheart, where are you coming from?” he asked, his words laden with genuine concern, his voice tinged with the heaviness of sleep.
I took a deep breath, realizing that honesty was the only path forward.
His brow furrowed, a mix of confusion and worry lingering in his eyes. “I stirred in my sleep and wanted to pull you closer, but I couldn’t find you. Then I realized you weren’t beside me,” he explained as I walked toward his direction.
Moving closer to him, I reached out to hold his hand, seeking comfort in his touch. “Nicklaus, I’m sorry I didn’t inform you earlier,” I began, my voice filled with sincerity.
Feeling the urgency in his words and sensing his growing concern, I gently guided Nicklaus to the bed, urging him to sit beside me. We settled down, and I tapped the space beside me, silently urging him to take a seat.
“Baby, you’re scaring me. What’s the matter?” he mumbled, his voice filled with genuine worry. I could see the intensity in his gaze, his eyes searching mine for answers.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I reached out to hold his hand, offering him a comforting squeeze. “Calm down,” I said, my voice filled with reassurance. “It’s not a bad thing. In fact, there’s good news.”
A flicker of relief washed over Nicklaus’s face, but curiosity still lingered in his eyes. “Then tell me about it,” he whispered, his voice laced with a mixture of anticipation and concern.
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, choosing my words carefully to convey the gravity of the situation while reassuring him. “You know, in the past 24 hours, what has been happening has been quite surprising, and it has really been bothering me,” I began, my voice soft yet resolute.
“Even though you were able to eliminate the culprit, I was still worried because I believe whoever sent him would notice his absence, and then they’d strike back harder,” I confessed, my voice tinged with concern.
Nicklaus nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Hmn, that’s true,” he acknowledged, his eyes reflecting the weight of our predicament.
His gaze never wavered as he looked at me, concern etched on his face. “We were together, so why didn’t you tell me you were worried?” he asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and genuine care.
A pang of guilt tugged at my heart, and I lowered my gaze briefly before meeting his eyes again. “That’s the thing,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper. “You’re already getting worried now. I didn’t want to add to your concerns by burdening you with mine. I just wanted you to rest and not have to carry the weight of it all.”
He let out a soft sigh, gently taking my hands off his cheeks and holding them delicately in his own.
His touch was both tender and comforting as he leaned in, placing gentle kisses on my hands. I could feel the fire of passion and love that burned between us, even in the midst of the situation.
“I’m listening,” he murmured, his warm breath grazing my skin. “So, tell me, who did you go to see?” he asked, his voice a gentle whisper.
“I went to see Margaret,” I replied, my voice steady. “I had to talk to her about it because of the powers she possesses. I asked her for help to use her magic and find out who the person behind all this was.”
Nicklaus’s arms enveloped me, pulling me onto his lap as he held me tightly. The proximity felt both comforting and electrifying, his touch grounding me amidst the storm of emotions.
I could sense his anger simmering just beneath the surface, and I knew that my presence was a soothing balm for him.
“Calm down, baby. Just calm down,” I whispered, my voice soothing as I ran my fingers through his hair, my touch gentle and tender.
“Who was it?” Nicklaus asked again, his voice filled with urgency and a tinge of pain. The weight of anticipation hung in the air as he awaited my response.
“It was no one,” I revealed, causing him to pause and look at me with disbelief in his eyes.
“What?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if unable to comprehend what he was hearing.
“Exactly,” I replied, my voice tinged with frustration. “That’s what I said to Margaret when she told me. I couldn’t believe it either.”
A mix of confusion and concern clouded Nicklaus’s face as he processed the information. “So, what did she see? She must have seen something. There’s no way she didn’t see anything. Tell me, Gabriella, what did she see? A war? A betrayal?” His words rushed out, his voice filled with desperation.
I took a deep breath, realizing the magnitude of the situation. Placing my lips gently on his, I kissed him softly, trying to quiet his racing thoughts and bring a moment of calm.
“Calm down,” I murmured against his lips as I pulled away from the kiss, my voice laced with tenderness. “She didn’t see any specific person or event. We were given instructions.”
Nicklaus’s brows furrowed, his eyes searching mine for answers. “What kind of instruction? What does it mean?” he asked, his voice now tinged with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
“We were directed to conduct a thorough search,” I explained, my voice steady as I tried to convey the seriousness of the task at hand.
A look of realization crossed Nicklaus’s face as he processed the information. “How are we going to do that?” he asked, his voice laced with determination and a touch of concern.
“According to her,” I continued, my voice steady, “the elders will convene a meeting to discuss the next steps. Then, a ritual will be performed to select the individuals who will participate in the thorough search. During this ritual, they will abstain from eating regular meals and drinking ordinary fluids for three days. The purpose is to open their visions and enhance their insights, allowing them to see with their inner eyes.”
Nicklaus let out a soft sigh, the weight of the situation evident in his expression. “Wow, this is a lot to take in,” he muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of astonishment and concern.
I reached out and gently squeezed his hand. “Yes, it is a daunting task,” I acknowledged, “but we will overcome it. Together.”
A tender smile crossed Nicklaus’s lips as he leaned in, placing a soft kiss on my temple. “You’re right,” he whispered, his voice filled with determination. “We will overcome anything together. Hand in hand.”
His words warmed my heart, reinforcing the strength of our bond in the face of adversity.
But his gaze soon shifted to a more practical concern. “How are we supposed to know who the right people are for this ritual?” he asked, his eyes searching mine for answers.
I couldn’t help but giggle softly at his adorable expression. His furrowed brows and the look of confusion made him resemble a curious child. I couldn’t resist leaning in and pecking his lips softly. “You look like a baby right now,” I teased, unable to contain my affection for him.
He looked so cute.
He chuckled, a hint of a smile returning to his face. “Well, I suppose I can’t argue with that,” he replied, amusement dancing in his eyes. “So, how will the selection process work? You mentioned another ritual?”
I nodded, ready to address his question. “Yes, that’s correct,” I explained. “Margaret mentioned that there will be another ritual performed to identify those who possess the necessary qualities. It will help us discern the individuals who are best suited for this important task.”
Nicklaus nodded, taking in the information. “Okay, got it,” he mumbled, his mind processing the details. “So, what’s our next step? When do we start?”
I let out a soft sigh, feeling the weariness of the day beginning to settle in. “An announcement will be made tomorrow afternoon,” I replied, my voice growing tired. “There’s a meeting happening at dawn, and it’s important that everyone is informed. We’ll have all the necessary details then.”
Nicklaus nodded in understanding. “Okay, let’s put the rest aside for now. We should get some sleep,” he suggested, pulling me closer to the bed. “We can discuss the next steps in the morning.”
I smiled, grateful for his comforting presence. “You’re right,” I agreed, allowing him to guide me to the bed. As we settled down, I found solace in his embrace, knowing that together we would face the challenges that lay ahead.