Fated by Moon and Sea

Chapter Eight: I'm Not Ready to Give Up

Chapter Eight: I'm Not Ready to Give Up

Savannah POV

The next morning arrives far too quickly, the night providing little comfort or clarity. I barely slept, my mind too consumed with everything that had happened. Now, as I stand in my room, packing the last few items into my bag, the weight of what lies ahead feels heavier than ever.

Aurelia and Laasya are with me, helping with the last-minute preparations. Aurelia flits around the room, her wings shimmering in the early morning light as she double-checks that we have everything we need. Laasya is by the door, her arms crossed, looking as if she's ready to take on the world—or anyone who dares to mess with us.

"Do you have enough food and water?" Aurelia asks, her voice a mix of concern and practicality. "The portal trip can be draining, and who knows what kind of supplies they'll have in Lunaris."

"I think so," I say, glancing at the small pack. "I'm not planning to stay long, but it's better to be prepared."

"Better safe than sorry," Laasya chimes in. "And remember, Vannah, we're with you every step of the way."

I nod, appreciating their support more than I can express. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

Aurelia smiles, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders as she places a comforting hand on my arm. "You won't have to find out. We're in this together."

Just as I'm about to zip up my bag, the door opens, and my brothers walk in, followed closely by Selene. The sight of them—Onyx, Lux, Dax, Jax, and Fox, identical in appearance with their dark hair and piercing blue eyes—brings a lump to my throat. They've always been protective of me, and seeing them here, all together, reminds me of how much I'll miss them while I'm gone.

"Hey, Vannah," Onyx says, his voice unusually soft. "We just wanted to see you before you left."

Lux steps forward, his expression mirroring the concern in Onyx's. "We know this isn't easy, and we're sorry you have to go through this."

Dax, ever the jokester, tries to lighten the mood with a small smile. "Just remember, you're still our annoying little sister, no matter what."

I let out a small laugh, even as tears prick at my eyes. "Thanks, Dax. I'll keep that in mind."

Jax and Fox step up next, both of them placing a hand on my shoulders. "Be careful out there," Jax says. "We love you, Vannah. You're special to us. We don't want anything to happen to you."

Fox nods in agreement. "And if anything does, you know we'll be there in a heartbeat. Just say the word."

Selene, who's been standing back, finally steps forward. Her eyes are filled with a mother's love and worry. "Savannah, I wish I could take this burden from you. But you're strong, and I know you'll get through this. Just remember how much we all love you. You're part of this family, no matter what, and that will never change."

Hearing those words from her, the woman who raised me like her own nearly breaks me. I step forward and hug her tightly, feeling the warmth and comfort she's always provided.

"I love you too, all of you," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "I'll be careful, I promise. And I'll come back as soon as I can."

We stand there for a moment, holding on to each other, and for the first time since this whole mess started, I feel a sense of peace. But it's short-lived. The door creaks open again, and my father steps into the room.

The air between us shifts, the tension from last night still hanging heavy. My brothers and Selene exchange glances before quietly leaving the room, giving us space to talk. Aurelia and Laasya linger, their eyes on me, but I nod at them, letting them know I'll be okay. They follow the others out, closing the door softly behind them.

My father and I stand there in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on us. Finally, he clears his throat, his voice uncertain as he begins to speak.

"Savannah, I—"

"Why didn't you tell me?" I cut him off, my voice sharper than I intended. "Why did you keep Alyssa a secret?"

He winces, the pain in his eyes evident, but I don't back down. I need answers, and I need them now.

"I wanted to protect you," he says, his voice low. "You were so young when everything happened, and I didn't want to burden you with something you couldn't understand."

"Not understand?" I repeat, shaking my head. "I think I could have understood having a sister, Dad. What I don't understand is why you thought keeping her from me was the right thing to do."

"It wasn't about what was right or wrong," he replies, his tone conflicted. "It was about doing what I thought was best for you. Alyssa's situation was complicated, and I didn't want to put you in the middle of something that could hurt you."

"Well, it hurt anyway," I say, my voice breaking. "Finding out now, after she's gone, hurts more than anything. I never even got the chance to know her, to be a sister to her, because of your decision."

My father takes a step toward me, his eyes pleading. "I'm sorry, Savannah. If I could change things, I would. I just… I didn't know what else to do after your mother told me never to let you return; I didn't know what to do."

I look at him, seeing the regret etched on his face, but it doesn't make the pain go away. "I need time, Dad. I need to figure out how I'm going to deal with all of this."

He nods, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of his choices is finally settling on him. "I understand. Take all the time you need. Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

I give a slight nod, not trusting myself to say more. The truth is, I don't know how to move forward from this. But I know that I have to, for Alyssa's sake and mine.

My father takes a deep breath as if to say something more, but then he seems to think better of it. Instead, he reaches out and pulls me into a hug, his embrace strong but filled with the uncertainty of a man who doesn't know how to make things right.

"I love you, Savannah," he whispers, his voice heavy with emotion. "Please, be safe."

"I will," I whisper back, though the words feel hollow. I pull away from him, and for a moment, we stand there, neither of us knowing what to say next.

Finally, I turn to my bag, picking it up and slinging it over my shoulder. "I need to go. The portal won't stay open forever."

He nods again, his eyes following me as I head for the door. "Remember, Savannah… no matter what, you're still my daughter. That will never change. And, whatever I've done, I've done it to protect you. I always will protect you."

I pause at the door, his words hitting me harder than I expected. I look back at him, my father, the man who kept so much from me in the name of protection, and for a brief moment, I see the love and pain in his eyes, the same emotions that mirror my own.

"I know," I say softly. "But it doesn't make it any easier."

Without another word, I walk out, leaving him alone in the room, both of us grappling with the consequences of choices made long ago.

The morning air is crisp as I step out of the castle, my bag slung over my shoulder. My heart is still heavy from the conversation with my father, and I feel the weight of everything that has happened pressing down on me. As I make my way to the courtyard, where a convoy of cars waits to take us to the portal, I catch sight of Aurelia and Laasya standing by the first car, their faces set with determination.

Aurelia's golden hair shimmers in the early light, her wings fluttering slightly as she adjusts the strap of her bag. Laasya, ever the stoic warrior, stands with her arms crossed, her short dark hair framing her sharp features. They both turn as I approach, their expressions softening when they see me.

"You ready?" Laasya asks, her voice steady but laced with concern.

I nod, though I'm not sure if I'm ready for what's to come. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Aurelia steps forward and pulls me into a tight hug. "We're with you, Vannah. Whatever happens, we're not leaving your side."

"Thanks, Aurelia," I say, hugging her back. "I don't know what I'd do without you two. I know I'm on a tangent with those words, but you don't know what they mean."

Laasya smirks, trying to lighten the mood. "Probably something reckless. Good thing you've got us to keep you grounded."

I laugh softly, though the sound is tinged with sadness. "Yeah, a good thing."

Just as I'm about to open the car door, a voice behind me stops me in my tracks. "Savannah, wait."

I turn around to see Orion striding toward us, his deep blue eyes locked on mine. His usually calm expression is tense, and I can see the worry etched in the lines of his face. He reaches me in a few quick steps, his presence commanding as always.

"Ride with me," he says, his voice leaving no room for argument.

My heart skips a beat, but I hesitate. "Orion, I—"

"Please," he interrupts, his tone softening. "Just for this part of the journey. I need to talk to you."

I glance back at Aurelia and Laasya, who both give me small nods of encouragement. "Go ahead," Laasya says. "We'll meet you at the portal."

Aurelia smiles reassuringly. "We'll be right behind you."

I turn back to Orion and nod. "Alright. Let's go."

He leads me to his car, a sleek black Bugatti that seems almost too luxurious for the sad task ahead. The car is a powerful machine, and its design is both elegant and intimidating, much like Orion himself. As I slide into the passenger seat, I catch a glimpse of myself in the side mirror. My deep indigo hair, streaked with lighter blue and purple, falls around my shoulders, and my sea green eyes, flecked with silver, look tired and uncertain. My skin, usually smooth and fair with a sun-kissed glow, seems pale in the morning light.

Orion gets in beside me and starts the engine, the car roaring to life with a low, throaty growl. We pull away from the castle, the convoy of cars following close behind, and for a while, neither of us speaks. The silence between us is thick with unspoken words, and I can feel the tension in the air.

Finally, Orion breaks the silence. "Savannah, I know you're upset with me. And you have every right to be."

I stare out the window, watching the scenery blur by. "It's not just about being upset, Orion. It's about trust. I trusted you, and you kept something so important from me."

"I know," he says quietly, his voice filled with regret. "And I hate that I hurt you. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I see now that I was wrong."

I turn to look at him, his sharp features softened by the remorse in his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me, Orion? Why did you keep it from me for so long?"

He grips the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white. "Because I didn't want to lose you. Your father asked me to keep it a secret, and I convinced myself it was for your own good. But deep down, I was afraid that you'd pull away from me if you knew the truth."

I feel a lump forming in my throat as I process his words. "Orion, you're supposed to be my partner, my match. How can we build a future together if we're not honest with each other?"

He glances at me, his deep blue eyes filled with pain. "You're right. And I'm sorry. I know I've damaged your trust in me, but I want to make it right. I want to be the partner you deserve."

I look away, my emotions swirling inside me. "I don't know how to fix this, Orion. I don't know how to move past what's happened."

He reaches over and takes my hand, his touch warm and steady. "We'll figure it out together. I know things need to be better between us, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn back your trust. You mean everything to me, Savannah."

I squeeze his hand, feeling a mixture of hope and uncertainty. "I need time, Orion—time to process everything and to heal. But I don't want to lose what we have. You're my compatible match, and I want us to work."

Orion's eyes soften as he brings my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss against my skin. "I'll give you all the time you need, Little Melody. Just promise me you won't shut me out."

I nod, my heart aching with the weight of our conversation. "I promise."

We fall into silence again, the road ahead stretching out before us. I can feel the emotions swirling between us, unresolved but no longer hidden. As we near the portal, Orion pulls the car over to the side of the road and turns off the engine. He shifts in his seat to face me, his gaze intense.

"Savannah, there's something I need to do before you go," he says, his voice low.

Before I can respond, he leans in and kisses me. It's not a gentle kiss but a deep, passionate one that takes my breath away. His lips move against mine with a desperation that makes my heart race, and for a moment, I lose myself in the intensity of it. His hands cup my face, holding me close as if he's afraid to let me go.

I kiss him back, pouring all of my confusion, anger, and longing into that moment. The world outside the car fades away, leaving only the two of us tangled in a web of emotions that we can't fully untangle.

When we finally pull apart, we're both breathless, our foreheads resting against each other's. I close my eyes, letting out a sigh that's part relief, part frustration.

"I need this to be better, Orion," I whisper, my voice trembling. "I need us to be better."

He nods, his breath warm against my lips. "We will be. I promise."

I pull back slightly, opening my eyes to meet his gaze. "I want to believe that. But I need to see it, too. Actions, not just words."

"You'll see it, Savannah," he says, his voice firm. "I'll prove it to you."

I give him a small, sad smile. "I hope so. Because I don't want to lose you, either."

He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering. "You won't. No matter what happens, we'll get through this."

I nod, feeling a little more reassured, though the uncertainty still lingers. "I should go. The portal won't stay open forever."

Orion hesitates, then reluctantly releases me. "Be safe, Savannah. And come back to me."

"I will," I say, my voice soft but steady.

As I step out of the Bugatti, I feel the weight of our conversation settles over me like a heavy cloak. I know that things between us are far from resolved, but there's a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, we can find our way back to each other.

With one last look at Orion, I turn and head toward the portal, ready to face whatever lies ahead in Lunaris. But as I walk away, the memory of his kiss lingers on my lips, a reminder of the connection we share—a connection that I'm not ready to give up on, no matter how difficult the road ahead may be.