*~Leon’s POV~*
It was already night, but I just kept pushing forward. I couldn’t stop, not now. I can’t lose Aurora.
Where had she gone?
I pushed through the thick bushes, searching every corner she could have possibly run to, but she was nowhere. The forest was eerily quiet, except for the distant sounds of demons still hunting behind . I was just a few feet ahead of them, close enough to hear their growls, but far enough to stay out of their sight—and their senses.
"Aurora," I whispered, my voice cracking into the night.
Then my foot caught on sothing. I stumbled and crouched, my heart hamring. A familiar scent drifted through the cold air... Roses and herbs.
Aurora.
I bent down and froze. There, tangled in the dirt and leaves, was a thick strand of red hair. My breath hitched.
No... no, no, no.
A wave of panic crashed into . My mind raced with terrible thoughts—what if she’d been attacked? What if so wild creature had gotten to her? Why would so much of her hair be on the ground like this?
I followed the trail of hair and then I saw her.
Her body lay still beneath the dim light of the moon, her face pale and lifeless.
"Aurora..." I dropped to my knees beside her, my voice breaking. I reached out, gently shaking her shoulder. "Aurora!"
Her hair was shorter...much shorter. She had cut it. But she was still in that sa wedding gown, the red fabric now dirt-stained and torn in places. I checked her pulse.... She was breathing. Weak, but alive. Confusion hit all at once.
Did she cut her hair herself? Or did soone attack her?
I scanned her body—no blood, no wounds, nothing that looked like a struggle. Just exhaustion.
"Aurora," I whispered, patting her cheeks softly. "Wake up. Please."
Her lashes fluttered. A soft, broken sound escaped her lips.
"It’s , Leon," I said quickly. "We need to get out of here. Darius and his demons are close. You hear ? They’re coming now."
Her eyes opened slowly, dazed and distant. I leaned closer, making sure my eyes glowed faintly...so she’d recognize , so she wouldn’t scream and draw attention.
But then she blinked at —Like I was a ghost.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
I froze. "It’s , Leon," I said softly. "We need to move. Co on."
Her body tensed. "I said...who are you?"
My chest tightened. "Aurora... it’s ." I reached out to help her sit up, trying to steady her before she fell, but she pulled back violently.
"Get away from ! What are you talking about? Where am I?"
I swallowed hard. Her voice... her eyes... there was nothing in them.
"You’re safe," I said quickly, trying to calm her. "You were at your wedding, rember? I saved you from it. We need to go now before they find us."
She shook her head, confusion twisting her face. "Wedding? I don’t—I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Aurora, please." My tone cracked with desperation. "I know you hate . I know you don’t want to see . But you have to trust right now. Darius and his demons are coming, and if they find you here, they’ll kill us both."
I reached for her hand again, gently, carefully.
"Your powers. they’re gone, right? You can’t fight them like this. So let’s go now, before it’s too late."
"Get away from , Leon! Who are you?"
"It’s , Leon," I said quickly, trying to calm her. "Why are you behaving like this? We’re in danger right now..we need to leave."
"I don’t... I don’t know, Leon," she stamred. "You just ntioned my powers. Have I... have I awakened my powers? Have I cast any spells?"
"What?" I frowned, completely thrown off. "What are you talking about?"
She just blinked blankly, her voice detached. "I just did, that’s all."
Was she joking? Did she think this was a ga?
"Aurora, this isn’t a joke," I said, my frustration bleeding through my voice. "I don’t understand what’s wrong with you. Maybe it’s because of all the stress, but we need to move now."
"Leave? Where?" she asked, her tone trembling. "Please... take back ho. I don’t know where I am. My mom and dad must be worried."
I froze. What?
Sothing was seriously wrong with her.
Without wasting another second, I scooped her up and threw her over my shoulder.
"Let go!" she scread, kicking and pounding at my back. "Leave alone! Put down!"
I clenched my jaw, trying to hold her steady. She kept thrashing until I had no choice but to pinch her neck gently, pressing the right spot until she went limp and unconscious.
I took off running again, fast and quiet.
The demons must have heard her screams, because their footsteps were closing in fast. I darted behind a thick tree and crouched low, holding my breath as their voices drew near.
"I heard sothing here!" one of them growled. "It seems to be Aurora."
"Look!" another demon pointed. "Her hair—it’s here on the ground. She must be close. That nasty wolf’s with her too. I swear, I’ll cut his head off."
I clenched my fists at the sound of Darius’s voice.
"Hey! Each and every one of you—find my wife!" he shouted. "She must not be far!"
The demons split up, scattering in all directions. I waited until their footsteps faded, then slowly slipped out from behind the tree.
Aurora stirred in my arms, her eyes fluttering open. I quickly covered her mouth before she could speak. She blinked, startled, and I shook my head.
"Shh."
She looked at , wide-eyed, confused. Her expression softened slightly, and I gave her a small nod.
She nodded back slowly, reading the fear in my eyes.
The demons’ footsteps echoed faintly in the distance before fading completely. Only then did I pick her up again and start running through the woods.
This ti, she didn’t struggle.
When I was sure we were far enough, I stopped and set her down gently.
"What was that?" she asked, clutching her head. "And who were those creatures? They’re all white and look... weird."
"Anyti you see any of them," I said firmly, "you need to run. Understand? Run."
"Why?" she asked, tilting her head. "They looked kind of cute."
"Aurora," I said sharply, "they’re not cute. They’re demons."
She frowned. "How do you know my na? Do you know ?"
I stared at her, realizing how strange she’d been acting ever since she woke up. Her hair was shorter now—cut almost like mine—and her eyes had this lost, innocent look that wasn’t there before.
"Aurora," I said carefully, "do you rember anything? Do you know who I am?"
She blinked, confused. "I should be the one asking that. Do you know my na? And why are you suddenly protecting from those cute creatures?"
I rubbed my temples, disbelief washing over .
"Oh my God," I muttered under my breath. "She’s either lost her mory... or she’s not Aurora at all."
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