Unveiling The Vampire's Omega (Bound By Blood, Freed By Love)

Chapter: 74
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TALON:

The days went on, stretching into a void that swallowed me whole. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the darkness pressing down like a suffocating weight. My thoughts spiraled, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape the image of Altair's hurt eyes. They haunted me, flickering in the back of my mind like a candle struggling against the wind.

I had once relished the quiet hours, slipping out into the night to hunt, to feel the thrill of the chase as I stalked rabbits in the moonlight. But now, the thought of stepping outside filled me with dread. Each time I considered it, I pictured Altair, the way he looked at me during training-his gaze flickering with hope, only to be extinguished by my indifference. I had tried to remain distant, to keep him at arm's length, but it was a futile effort. The more I avoided him, the more I felt my spirit wither.

During the day, the sunlight poured through the training grounds, illuminating the laughter and companionship of my fellow trainees. I should have felt at home among them, but every joyful shout only reminded me of what I had lost. I could see Altair across the arena, his feigned laughter mingling with those of his pairs, and it twisted like a knife in my chest. The emptiness in his eyes gnawed at me, and I felt like a ghost, haunting the very place I once thrived.

I had thought I was protecting him-protecting myself-from whatever it was that lay between us. My uncle's warnings echoed in my ears, a constant reminder of the oath I had taken to keep my distance. "Stay away from him," he had said countless times, his voice a low growl. "Stay away from Altair. This is the only way you can show that you regretted what you had done to him!" But as the days turned into weeks, I realized the truth. Living without Altair felt like living in a hell of my own making, and I was the architect of my suffering. At least when I wasn't close to him and didn't see him at every turn it was bearable, now it was hell.

I tried to eat, but the food sat heavy in my stomach, unappetizing and bland, as if my body recognized the void left by my choices. I avoided the others during meals, stealing bites only when I thought no one was watching. Each morsel felt like a betrayal, a reminder that I was still here, still alive, while Altair endured his own personal torment.

The shadows beneath my eyes deepened, and my limbs began to feel heavy. I could sense the weakness creeping in, my body growing frail from neglect. I avoided the hunting trips, fearing that the thrill of the chase would only serve as a bitter reminder of the life I once relished. The blood of my prey had once invigorated me, but now the thought of it turned my stomach. I was losing myself, piece by piece, and I didn't know how to stop it.

At night, when the world was quiet, I found myself standing at the window, staring out into the darkness. I wanted to scream, to rage against the confines of my own heart. But even that felt pointless. Each time I thought about reaching out to Altair, the weight of my uncle's words pressed down on me, suffocating me. What would he do if he found out? What punishment awaited me for defying his wishes, for associating with the very person I had sworn to keep at a distance?

No hell was more torturous than this-a hell of my own making, where I was the prisoner of my choices and fears. I had thought I understood pain before, but nothing compared to the agony of watching Altair suffer while I stood by, helpless to change anything. I felt trapped between duty and desire, and every day the choice became harder.

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As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ground, I knew I was running out of time. I could feel the weight of my indecision crushing me. I didn't want to be this person anymore-the one who let fear dictate his choices, who allowed the pain of others to fester inside him. I wanted to fight back, to reclaim the pieces of myself I had lost.