Forbidden dawn

chapter 3

The car ride home was just as tense as the ride to school. Adrian remained silent, focused on the road, while I seethed in the backseat. Every snarky comment I formulated died on my tongue, knowing it would only fuel his already evident disdain for me.

He pulled into the driveway moments later, the engine cutting out with a sigh. We both sat there for a beat, neither of us making a move. Finally, I unbuckled my seatbelt and pushed open the door, practically leaping out of the car.

The front door swung open before I even reached the porch steps. Claire stood there, her face breaking into a warm smile as she saw us. But it faltered slightly when her eyes landed on Adrian.

"Welcome home, boys!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Adrian in a hug. He stiffened for a moment, then endured it with a stoic expression. It was over too quickly, barely a hug more than a polite gesture. As Claire pulled away, she reached up and tried to brush a stray strand of hair out of Adrian's face.

He flinched away, his amethyst eyes flashing with something akin to irritation. "I'm fine, Mom," he muttered, and without another word, brushed past her and disappeared into the house.

Claire's smile faltered completely, a flicker of sadness clouding her features. "He… he gets like that sometimes," she mumbled, as if apologizing.

I stared at her, a wave of unexpected understanding washing over me. This wasn't coldness directed at me, it was just Adrian. A deep well of something dark seemed to reside within him, a darkness that pushed everyone away.

Claire sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "That's fine," she said, her voice strained. "I'm used to it." Her gaze met mine, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a glimmer of fear, a fear that sent a shiver down my spine.

In that moment, I understood why Dad had brought me here. It wasn't just about family. It was about Claire, about the desperation etched into her face when she looked at Adrian. He might be a cold, arrogant jerk, but he was her son. And for some reason, my family needed him.

I leaned over and gave my stepmother a small, reassuring squeeze on the cheek. "Don't worry," I whispered, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice. "I'll handle him."

Claire stared at me for a moment, then a flicker of a smile returned to her lips. "Thank you, Eloise," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

A strange feeling settled in my stomach, a mix of apprehension and determination. Maybe living with a heartless beast wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe I could be the one to c***k his icy exterior, the one to find out what lurked beneath the surface. After all, mysteries were something I was good at unraveling. And Adrian Stone, with his captivating beauty and chilling detachment, was a mystery I couldn't wait to solve.

The warmth of Claire's hug lingered on my cheek as I watched her face crumple in the wake of Adrian's rejection. It wasn't fear I saw in her eyes, not exactly. It was a deeper, more complex emotion – a blend of worry, sadness, and a kind of frustrated love.

"He… he gets like that sometimes," Claire mumbled, her voice strained.

"Is he always… so… cold?" I asked hesitantly.

Claire turned to me, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. "Cold?" she echoed, then sighed. "No, not always. Not the Adrian I knew. He used to be… different."

Her words hung heavy in the air, piquing my curiosity even further. What had changed him? What had turned this boy with a mother's love in his eyes into the stoic, aloof person he was now?

But Claire wasn't in the mood for a conversation. She shot me a tired smile. "Why don't you settle into your room? I'll whip up something for dinner."

I nodded, retreating back inside. The events of the day replayed in my mind – the unnerving scream, the forbidden door, and now, the undeniable tension between Claire and Adrian.

One thing was clear – there was a lot more going on in this seemingly sleepy town than met the eye. And Adrian, with his brooding good looks and hidden depths, was at the center of it all.

Later that evening, as I sat hunched over a textbook, the silence in the house was unsettling. Dad was working late, and I hadn't seen Adrian since his curt dismissal of Claire at the door.

A sudden creak on the stairs sent a shiver down my spine. I peeked out my door, cautiously making my way down the hallway. The only sound was the low hum of the refrigerator. Then, I saw it – a faint light filtering from under Adrian's door.

Curiosity gnawed at me. Maybe this was my chance to learn more about him, to c***k the shell of coldness he seemed to wear. Taking a deep breath, I crept closer, stopping just outside his room.

Hesitantly, I raised my hand, then stopped. Was this a good idea? What if he reacted badly? But before I could second-guess myself, a low growl emanated from the room. A primal sound, guttural and raw, that sent a jolt of fear through me.

My hand flew back to my chest, my heart hammering against my ribs. Adrian wasn't just cold, there was something else there, something dark and unsettling. I stumbled back, the unanswered questions swirling in my mind now tinged with a new element – fear.

"Who's there?" Adrian's voice cut through the air, cold and sharp.

I froze, caught red-handed. There was no point in denying it. I pushed myself off the wall, forcing myself to stand tall.

"It's me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Silence. Then, the door creaked open a c***k. A sliver of moonlight illuminated Adrian's face, highlighting the amethyst of his eyes. They were narrowed, a dangerous glint in their depths.

"What do you want?" he snapped.

The coldness in his voice sent chills down my spine. Maybe getting to know Adrian wasn't going to be as straightforward as I thought. But one thing was sure – the mystery surrounding him, and the unspoken fear he evoked in this household, was something I couldn't ignore.