Chapter 68 - A snowman

While Elora and Erik were absorbed in their interrogation, Emma and Emily sat awkwardly across from each other. They hugged their knees close as they sat engulfed in heavy silence, punctuated only by the sounds of the interrogation.

Fear shimmered in both their eyes. Emma's eyes held a wariness born of what Emily might do, reflecting past mistreatment and present events. Emily's gaze, in contrast, was clouded with the terror of potentially losing Emma forever, a prospect that seemed to hollow her out from within.

Emily opened her mouth, and the voice of a desperate woman came out, "I- I'd never hurt you, Emma. Not in any way when I'm myself, but even when I'm… not entirely myself, I'd never do anything like what I just did to you. Please believe me…"

At the mention of the violence, Emma involuntarily shivered, her body recoiling as if the blood splatter and the gruesome sounds of Emily tearing off the vampire's leg were happening all over again.