Chapter 47 : A Dangerous Bond
Eighteen Years Ago
It was a bright and gentle day, the sky painted in hues of blue, birds chirping in the distance. A little girl sat quietly beside her mother in a modest carriage, while her younger sister rested peacefully in their mother's lap.
"Mother, where are we going?" the girl asked, curiosity dancing in her golden eyes.
Her mother, who was usually distant—her spirit dulled by the weight of life—wore something rare on her face today: a smile. A soft, warm smile that made her look younger, lighter… almost free.
Elysia Ashfall. That was her name. A woman of striking beauty with flowing crimson hair and eyes of molten gold, just like her daughters. Today, she looked less like the worn, tired woman they knew from home—and more like someone returning to a part of herself she had lost long ago.
"It's been five years since I've seen her," Elysia said softly. "She was my best friend in college. Her name is Elara… Elara Cross."
Hearing the joy in her mother's voice made little Aurelia's heart flutter. She rarely saw her mother smile—this visit must really be special. Even at five, Aurelia could feel that something about this day was different.
Soon, they arrived at a grand house nestled at the edge of a quiet street. There was something warm and welcoming about it—from the neatly kept garden to the sunlight dancing on the windows. It felt like a home filled with love.
Standing at the gate was a woman. Her long white hair swayed gently in the breeze, her black eyes soft and full of affection. She was breathtakingly beautiful, almost ethereal, and the sight of her made Elysia stop in her tracks.
Elara Cross.
Her expression softened the moment she saw Elysia. Aurelia watched in silence as her mother handed baby Seraphine—barely a year old—to her, and then walked forward.
"Elara…" Elysia whispered, her voice trembling.
Without a word, the two women embraced tightly. Elysia's tears spilled freely onto Elara's shoulder, years of silence and pain melting away in that moment. Elara gently held her, rubbing her back, comforting her as only a true friend could.
"It's okay… I'm here now," Elara whispered.
After a few quiet minutes, Elysia finally pulled back, brushing away her tears. Her expression was lighter now—relieved, almost.
"Come," she said, turning back to her daughters. "Aurelia, I want you to meet someone very special. This is Aunt Elara."
Elara walked over with a warm smile and gently took Seraphine from Aurelia's small arms. Then she reached out, resting her hand softly on Aurelia's head.
"Come inside, sweetheart," Elara said warmly. "All of you."
They stepped into the house, where everything felt gentle and lived-in. The scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air, and the walls seemed to hum with comfort.
Soon, they were all seated in the living room. Elara cradled baby Seraphine in her arms, sitting beside Elysia on the soft couch. Across from them, Aurelia sat with her little legs dangling off the edge of the opposite sofa. She couldn't stop smiling—watching her mother laugh freely for the first time in what felt like forever.
In that moment, surrounded by warmth and laughter, Aurelia felt something she hadn't in a long time.
Peace.
---
Aurelia sat quietly, her legs swinging slightly off the edge of the sofa as she watched the two women talk. Her mother's laughter rang softly in the air—something Aurelia hadn't heard in a long time. At home, Elysia was always tired, always worried, and rarely smiled. But here… she looked different. Lighter. Brighter. Like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Aurelia didn't interrupt. She simply sat there, listening to the gentle voices of the two women and soaking in the rare warmth of the moment. It felt peaceful. It felt right.
As the conversation continued, baby Seraphine slowly drifted off to sleep in Elara's arms.
"Looks like she's asleep," Elara said gently with a soft smile.
She rose to her feet. "I was going to let you all meet my children too, but they're fast asleep right now. And if I wake them up, they'll just end up troubling us." She chuckled lightly. "I'll put Seraphine with them for now."
They moved together toward the nursery. The room was softly lit, cozy and warm. Inside, two small children were already asleep—twins, their snowy white hair spread like silk across their pillows. Their peaceful expressions mirrored the tranquility of the home.
Elara carefully laid Seraphine down beside them on the bed, gently adjusting the blanket around all three of them.
"These two are Raven and Lyra," Elara said with quiet fondness.
Elysia leaned in, her golden eyes tender. "What beautiful names," she murmured, watching the twins with a softness that only mothers understood.
"Let's go before they wake up," Elara whispered playfully, leading the way out of the room.
But Aurelia, curious and quietly observant, lingered behind. Her eyes darted around the hallway, catching a faint glow coming from one of the rooms nearby. The door was slightly ajar, and light spilled into the corridor.
Drawn by curiosity, she stepped away from the others and quietly entered the room without telling them.
---
The room she entered was unlike anything little Aurelia had seen before. It was darkly decorated, with an eerie yet strangely captivating charm. A large bed sat against the far wall, its frame heavy and imposing. A sleek table stood near it—covered in unfamiliar objects: a variety of knives, scattered metal tools, and a polished rod resting silently at the edge. None of it made sense to the five-year-old, but her curious gaze wandered over each item like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
Then, her eyes caught something—or rather, someone.
A boy sat by the window, his white hair catching the soft light spilling in through the glass. A book rested in one hand, a gleaming knife in the other. His eyes—cold, piercing black—locked onto hers.
He was dangerously beautiful in a way Aurelia couldn't explain, even at that age. There was something haunting in his presence, a silent power that made the air heavier.
Without a sound, the boy leapt from the window ledge and landed effortlessly on the floor. He moved with the grace of a shadow, approaching her with quiet steps until he stood tall before her. He was slightly taller than Aurelia, enough that she had to tilt her head to meet his stare.
His voice came out like a chill wind, low and emotionless.
"Hey, redhead. Who are you? Who said you could come in?"
Aurelia blinked. She wasn't afraid. Not truly. Something about him was strange... but fascinating.
"I was just curious," she said softly. "I'm sorry. I should have knocked first."
The boy didn't answer. He only stared, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it felt as if time had paused between them—her wide golden eyes locked with his pitch-black ones.
He began to move, lifting his arm slightly when—
Creak.
The door opened behind her.
"Aurelia! There you are," came Elara's gentle voice. She stepped into the room, her smile easing the tension. "I couldn't find you with us in the living room."
Then her gaze shifted to the boy.
"Grim, you're back. Perfect timing."
She placed a hand lightly on Aurelia's shoulder and smiled at the little girl.
"Meet Aurelia," she said, gesturing to the red-haired girl. Then to her son, she added,
"And Aurelia, meet Grim."
The two children stood silently, still staring at one another.
The strange energy between them lingered—silent, unexplainable, yet undeniable.
---
Elara's voice broke the quiet tension in the room. "Perfect. You two stay together, and I'll be with Elysia." With a gentle nod, she left, closing the door behind her and leaving little Aurelia and little Grim alone.
Grim turned to Aurelia, his dark eyes narrowing with annoyance. "Get lost, Redhead," he said coldly, spinning on his heel. He climbed back onto the window ledge with ease, picking up his book and ignoring her completely.
But Aurelia didn't leave. Instead, her golden eyes sparkled with curiosity as she stepped closer, her small hands reaching out to examine the strange items on the table. The knives, the metal tools, the polished rod—they fascinated her. She leaned in, her fingers hovering over a blade.
Suddenly, a knife whizzed past her, embedding itself with pinpoint accuracy beside her hand. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. It was the knife Grim had been holding.
"Didn't I tell you to get lost?" Grim snapped, his voice laced with anger. He leapt down from the window, landing silently before her. Grabbing her crimson hair tightly, he leaned in close. "This is the last time I'm warning you. Get lost, or I'll beat you."
Aurelia stood her ground, her mind racing. This boy is different, she thought. All the other kids she'd met were boring, but Grim—he was interesting. Excitement lit up her face instead of fear. With a sudden move, she grabbed his white hair and pulled back. "Let go!" she demanded, her golden eyes flashing with anger.
Aurelia stood her ground, her mind racing. This boy is different, she thought. All the other kids she'd met were boring, but Grim—he was interesting. Excitement lit up her face instead of fear. With a sudden move, she grabbed his white hair and pulled back. "Let go!" she demanded, her golden eyes flashing with anger.
Grim blinked, surprised. Every child he'd met before cried or ran when he showed his true self, but not her. She was different—mature beyond her years, just like him. He released her hair, and she let go of his, their stares locked in a strange standoff.
Maybe she's worth watching, Grim thought, retreating to his window perch and resuming his book, pretending she didn't exist.
Aurelia, undeterred, turned back to the table, her curiosity driving her to study the objects more closely. Grim watched her every move from the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable.
After a while, she approached him at the window, standing silently. Five minutes passed without a word. Finally, she spoke.
"Hey, your name is Grim, right? What are you reading? Tell me."
Grim glanced at her, his black eyes cold. "Redhead, you wouldn't understand."
"Still tell me," Aurelia insisted, her voice soft but firm.
He sighed, closing the book. "How to kill a person."
"You have some interesting taste," she said, a smile tugging at her lips. "Can you teach me how to do that too?"
Grim let out a rare laugh. "Yeah, I've got interesting taste. But there's no need for a little girl like you to know."
He set the book down and jumped out the window. Aurelia, driven by curiosity, followed suit, leaping after him without looking down. The height was daunting for an untrained child, and she squeezed her eyes shut, expecting pain.
But she landed on something soft—Grim's arms. He held her easily, his strength surprising for his age. "What are you doing, Redhead? Are you stupid?" he asked, his tone sharp.
But she landed on something soft—Grim's arms. He held her easily, his strength surprising for his age. "What are you doing, Redhead? Are you stupid?" he asked, his tone sharp.
"No, I was just curious where you were going," Aurelia replied, her voice steady.
"It's none of your business. Get lost," he said, setting her on the ground and turning away.
Aurelia followed silently, sticking close as they moved farther from the house. The area grew abandoned, the streets empty and unfamiliar. She wasn't foolish—she knew she could get lost here and stayed near him. Grim glanced back, noticing her persistence.
As they walked, Grim's sharp senses picked up on someone following them. He veered into a narrow alley, and Aurelia trailed behind. He stopped and turned, his dark eyes meeting hers.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her golden eyes searching his.
Before he could answer, a middle-aged man approached, his gaze impure and unsettling. "Well, look here—children wandering around. Didn't your parents teach you not to roam these streets?" he said, his voice oily. "Come here, and I'll take you to your parents."
Aurelia and Grim exchanged a look, instantly sensing his bad intentions—likely to sell them somewhere. Grim laughed, a crazed edge to it, and pushed Aurelia toward the man. "Hey, old man, I'm running away from home. You should take her instead."
Aurelia's eyes widened, realizing he was serious. Looks like I have to help myself, she thought. The man stepped closer. "Ah, it's all right. We'll be okay," he cooed, reaching for her hand.
Aurelia masked her fear, putting on a sweet smile. "Uncle, can you take me home?" she asked innocently.
The man grinned, thinking it would be easy. "Of course, dear. Tell me where your home is." He gripped her hand tighter.
Waiting for the right moment, Aurelia struck, kicking him hard between the legs. "AHHH!" he yelled, releasing her and throwing her to the ground. Enraged, he loomed over her. "Looks like I need to teach you a lesson!" He swung his arm.
Grim, watching from the shadows, leapt onto the man's back, his small hands clamping around his neck. With surprising strength, he choked him until the man went limp. "Hey, old man, I was going to let you have her, but I've changed my mind. She's interesting, and only I can have her," Grim said, a smirk on his face as he tossed the unconscious man aside.
He turned to Aurelia. "Are you all right, Redhead?" he asked, his smile showing he enjoyed the chaos.
Aurelia stood, wincing as she noticed her bleeding hand from the fall. Instead of blaming him, she said, "That's why I told you to teach me how to kill someone."
"Well, I can't teach you now, but when you're older, I will—if you come again," Grim replied.
Aurelia's expression turned serious. "If I have someone to kill now, will you do it for me?"
Grim laughed, amused. "I'll kill someone for you if you become my toy," he said, his smirk widening.
Aurelia found it intriguing. Only I can have this person, she thought. "All right, I'll be your toy. But if you take another toy, the first person I'll kill will be you," she said, her warm smile hiding her resolve.
Grim grabbed her bleeding wrist, licking the blood with a strange intensity. "All right," he agreed, lifting her easily into his arms. "I was going somewhere, but let's go home instead."
The day had slipped away, and it was now 6:00 p.m. He climbed back through the window, carrying Aurelia inside, and set her on the bed. Just then, Elysia and Elara entered the room.
"Where were you two? You weren't in here when we came earlier," Elara said, her tone firm.
Aurelia shifted the blame, tears welling up as she pointed at Grim. "He was bullying me!" she cried, shooting him a sly look that promised trouble, though she laughed inside.
"Didn't I ask you not to bully anyone, Grim?" Elara scolded.
Grim stood silently, his expression unreadable.
"It's all right," Elysia said with a smile, glancing at Grim. "Children are supposed to be like that. Thank you for taking care of Aurelia. It's time for us to go."
Grim leaned close to Aurelia, whispering, "Next time you come, I'll make sure to pay you back, RedHead."
Aurelia whispered back, "I'm looking forward to it." With that, they left, the strange bond between them lingering in the air.