Chapter 8
A little over a week ago, I had woken up in a dog cage.
The first face I saw-was Lilith’s.
I gave up everything to escape, and in return, I asked her for a lowborn vampire. With that, I staged my own death.
Only through this could I finally break free from Damien’s grip. Finally leave him behind.
Only through this-Could I ensure Damien would spend eternity buried in guilt.
From a distance, I watched him leap from the window. But the satisfaction I had expected never came.
Instead, all I felt was a bone-deep chill.
I had thought I would never see Damien again in this life.
But just days after settling down, he appeared at my doorstep.
In that moment, it felt like an invisible hand closed tightly around my throat.
Instinctive fear and hatred rooted me to the spot. My legs felt like they were made of lead-I couldn’t move an inch.
Before I could even close the door, Damien rushed forward and pulled me into his arms.
“Thank god, Carmilla… you’re still alive.”
“I’m sorry-for everything. I’ve done so many things to hurt you. I’m so sorry…”
I couldn’t even count how many times he whispered “sorry” into my ear.
But the coldness in my heart never thawed.
The man I had once loved now felt like a beast with fangs, and I couldn’t stop trembling in his arms.
Sensing my shaking, Damien slowly loosened his grip, eyes full of sorrow.
Before I could speak, he dropped to his knees.
This man, who had always been so proud, knelt before me with such rare humility. Even when he had proposed to me, he
hadn’t done it like this.
“It was my fault. I was blinded by Lilith.”
“But I’ve already avenged you. I made her pay.”
“If you still hate me, then hit me. Yell at me. You can make me do anything.”
“Just come back with me, Carmilla. Let’s go home. We can have our own child… and I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”
He grabbed my hand and guided it as I struck him over and over, begging for forgiveness with every blow.
I yanked my hand free and sneered.
“Damien… go back?” I scoffed.
“Do you really think we can go back? Or is it that your precious Lilith needs another dog, and you want me to come back
Chanter &
100.00%
and give you two a child?”
The words left my mouth before I realized how badly I was shaking.
Panic filled Damien’s eyes. “No… it’s not like that! I swear, Carmilla, please don’t be afraid of me-please…”
But looking into his desperate eyes, I said coldly, “Damien, I hate you. I hate you more than anything.”
“From the moment our daughter died, there was no going back for us.”
“Every single day, I’ve prayed that you would stay away from me. That you’d never find me.”
“So why… Why won’t you let me go?”
“I’m begging you,” I sobbed, tears falling uncontrollably, “Please. Just stop looking for me.”
Damien held me helplessly, trying to comfort me, trying to say he was sorry.
But then I whispered in his ear, through gritted teeth-
“I wish you were dead.”
And with that, he let go.
From that day on, Damien disappeared from my life.
I built a grave for our daughter and I prayed. That in some distant future, we might meet again. That we could finally do all
the things I had been ready for, but never had the chance to do.
Then, one afternoon, I received a letter.
It came from Damien’s estate.
On a sunny day, he had quietly stepped into the Forbidden Zone.
I burned the letter without a word.
As the flames flickered, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time-Peace.
For a brief moment, I thought I saw our daughter smiling at me, waving.
I smiled too, lips trembling with joy.
Then I reached forward and firmly took her hand.
