The silence in Damian’s car was suffocating. His knuckles were white against the steering wheel as he sped through the empty streets, his mind clouded with fear and rage. He had searched everywhere every alley, every corner of the city but there was no sign of Aurora. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.
The thought of her being alone, scared, and hurt made his chest tighten. He slammed his foot on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt in front of the decrepit warehouse his sources had pointed him to.
Damian stepped out, his breath visible in the cold night air. The building loomed before him, dark and uninviting, but he didn’t hesitate. He pushed through the broken door, the metal groaning under his force. Inside, the smell of oil and rust filled his nose, but the sight was worse empty crates and dust-covered machinery scattered everywhere.
No Aurora.
“Damn it!” he hissed, slamming his fist against a nearby wall. His voice echoed through the hollow space, but it brought him no relief.
He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his mind racing. She had been here he was sure of it. But where was she now? The thought of someone taking her, hurting her, made his blood boil.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. “I’ll find you,” he muttered, his voice trembling with determination. “I swear, Aurora, I’ll find you.”
Damian stormed into his house like a man possessed. His breaths were ragged, his heart pounding as if it would burst from his chest. He didn’t bother removing his coat or shoes; his focus was singular.
“Lina!” he roared, his voice echoing through the grand halls.
Lina appeared at the top of the staircase, her lips curling into a slow, mocking smile. She descended the stairs with deliberate grace, each step measured, her heels clicking against the polished marble.
“You’re awfully loud for someone who prides himself on control,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Where is she?” Damian demanded, his voice sharp, his eyes blazing with fury.
Lina laughed, the sound high and cold. “Who? That little commoner you’re so obsessed with?” She leaned against the banister, her posture relaxed, as if this was all a game to her.
“Don’t play games with me, Lina,” he growled, stepping closer. His presence was menacing, his frustration palpable. “Where is Aurora?”
“Oh, Damian,” Lina cooed, tilting her head as if pitying him. “You’ve really fallen, haven’t you? Look at you desperate, frantic all for a girl who doesn’t even belong in our world.”
“Tell me where she is,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
She chuckled again, shaking her head. “Even if I wanted to help you, I couldn’t. Aurora is gone. Your father made sure of that.”
Damian froze. Her words hung in the air like a death sentence. “What do you mean, gone?” His voice cracked, the anger giving way to a hint of fear.
Lina stepped closer, her smile cruel. “Oh, you poor thing. Did you really think you could keep her safe? That you, with all your money and power, could shield her from the consequences of her bloodline?”
“I don’t care about her bloodline!” Damian snapped, his voice rising. “She’s innocent!”
“Innocent?” Lina repeated, her tone mocking. “Your father doesn’t think so. And guess what? He’s taken care of her. Permanently.”
Damian’s jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists. “You’re lying.”
She laughed again, louder this time. “Am I? You can keep searching, Damian. Tear the city apart if you want. But you’ll never find her. Even if you killed me right now, it wouldn’t change anything. Aurora is gone, and you’ll never see her again.”
The room seemed to spin around him. His breathing grew shallow, his mind racing with thoughts of Aurora-her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. The idea of never seeing her again was unbearable.
“Why?” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “Why would you do this? Why would he?”
Lina’s expression hardened. “Because she doesn’t belong here. She’s nothing, Damian. A nobody. And yet, you let her crawl into your heart, blind you to everything that matters.”
“She matters,” Damian said, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. “She matters more than you or my father ever will.”
Lina’s smile faltered, but she quickly masked it with a sneer. “Pathetic,” she spat. “You’re pathetic, Damian. A man like you, brought to his knees by a girl who doesn’t even deserve your time.”
His patience snapped. In two quick strides, he closed the distance between them, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Tell me where she is!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
Lina didn’t flinch. She looked him dead in the eyes, her own filled with malice. “I told you, Damian. She’s gone. Forever.”
He released her with a shove, stepping back as if her words had physically struck him. His chest heaved, his mind spiraling. He wanted to scream, to hit something, to make this nightmare end. But all he could do was stand there, staring at the woman who had played a part in destroying everything he cared about.
Lina adjusted her dress, smoothing the fabric as if nothing had happened. “You should accept it, Damian. Move on. Forget about her.”
“I’ll never forget,” he said quietly, his voice trembling. “And I’ll never forgive you. Or him.”
Lina’s smirk returned, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. “Suit yourself. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Without another word, Damian turned and stormed out of the room, the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance. Lina watched him go, her smile fading as she was left alone in the grand, empty hall.
Damian collapsed onto the couch in his study, his head in his hands. The weight of everything crushed him Aurora’s disappearance, his father’s betrayal, Lina’s cold cruelty. He felt like a failure, powerless to protect the one person who had ever truly mattered to him.
Images of Aurora flooded his mind her laughter, the way she challenged him, her stubborn determination. She had brought light into his life, and now that light was gone, leaving him in darkness.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. “I’ll find you,” he whispered to himself. “No matter what it takes, I’ll find you, Aurora.”
For the first time in years, Damian felt tears sting his eyes. But he didn’t let them fall. He couldn’t afford to break down now. Aurora needed him, and he wouldn’t stop until she was safe in his arms again.