Chapter Fifteen

He moved suddenly, lifting me off his lap effortlessly. His hands lingered on my waist, hesitant, almost reluctant,but his eyes held something darker, more urgent.

Without a word, he stood and covered me gently with the sheet, as if trying to protect me. His claws brushed my arm, and then he stepped back, his eyes still on me but distant.

"You have to go," he rasped, his voice rough and filled with something close to fear. He moved toward the door, blocking it, as if afraid I'd stay.

I stood frozen, heart racing.

He nodded, his eyes meeting mine one last time. "Go," he repeated, softer this time, but there was no mistaking the urgency.

"What about you?" My voice shook, caught between the remnants of what had passed between us and the reality standing before me. "You can come with me."

His lips twitched into a bittersweet smile. His eyes, though still predatory, softened with something I hadn't seen before—regret. "I can't," he whispered, the words thick with pain. "I return to the place I came from. To hell... until next time."

The thought of him returning to that dark realm was unbearable. "No," I pleaded, stepping closer, instinctively touching his arm. "You don't have to. Stay with me. You don't belong there."

His gaze dropped to my hand, resting lightly against his cold, sinewy arm. For a moment, he closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of my touch. When he looked at me again, sorrow clouded his dark eyes. "If I stay, I won't be able to control myself. I'll take you with me... to my hell. And you..." His voice broke. "You won't like it there."

I shook my head, unwilling to accept it. The thought of losing him, of watching him vanish into some hellish realm, was more than I could bear. "I don't care," I whispered, my throat tightening with emotion. "I don't want to lose you."

His claws, sharp but gentle, lifted to brush a strand of hair from my face. The touch was so tender it sent a shiver down my spine. "You made me feel something, Rose," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "Something I didn't know I could feel. But I won't let you suffer. I won't make you endure that world."

My heart ached at the finality of his words. They hung in the air between us, heavy with everything unspoken. Before I could protest, he leaned down, capturing my lips in one last, lingering kiss. It was soft, filled with a raw tenderness that made my chest tighten. His lips moved against mine with an urgency that spoke of the goodbye neither of us wanted but both knew had to happen.

"I'll always remember this," he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath, his forehead resting against mine. His warmth, his scent—it was all too much. "But now... you have to go."

I swallowed hard, fighting the burning in my throat. "I will come back. I promise."

He gave me a mirthless smile, his eyes searching mine for a moment, then he sighed. There was no belief left in his gaze, just the acceptance of what we couldn't change.

Without another word, I turned on my heels, the heaviness of the moment pressing down on me. Every part of me screamed to stay, but I kept walking. For Katie.

I hurried up the stairs, my breath coming in shallow, panicked bursts. The house felt colder now, emptier, as though it knew its time was ending. My bare feet slapped against the dusty floorboards as I made my way back to the living room, where Katie lay unconscious, her body crumpled in a heap.

"Katie," I gasped, kneeling beside her. My hands shook as I pressed my fingers to her neck, relief washing over me when I felt the faint but steady pulse beneath her skin. "Katie, we need to go."

Her eyes fluttered open, dazed and unfocused. She didn't resist as I hoisted her arm over my shoulder, dragging her toward the door. My muscles screamed with effort, but I couldn't stop. Every second we spent here felt like borrowed time.

As I reached the door, I glanced back—just once—locking eyes with him. He stood in the basement doorway, his towering form cast in shadow, watching me with an intensity that made my heart ache. There was something unspoken in his gaze—a promise, a regret, a final goodbye.

I forced myself to turn away, pushing open the door and stepping into the cold morning air. The October chill bit into my skin, but I barely felt it. My mind was consumed by what I was leaving behind.

With trembling hands, I helped Katie into the passenger seat of the car, her body slumped against the door. I slid into the driver's seat, my fingers shaking as I turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life, and for a moment, I hesitated.

In the rearview mirror, I saw the mansion.

It stood dark and silent, the once-vibrant shadows now cracking under the flames. At first, it was just a spark, catching on the old wood, growing quickly, hungrily. The fire spread fast, racing up the walls and licking the shattered windows. The roof began to groan, giving way under the heat, sending pieces crashing down.

I watched, frozen, as consumed the mansion.. Smoke billowed up into the sky, thick and black, covering everything in a haze. The flames climbed higher, devouring every last piece of the life that had existed inside. And with it, the Creeper vanished, lost in the blaze.

Tears stung my eyes, but I didn't wipe them away. With a heavy heart, I turned and drove. The road ahead was empty, and I didn't look back. Not once.

But I knew. Even though the mansion was gone, and perhaps the Creeper too... a part of me had been left behind. Yet one thing was certain: I was going to keep my promise.