Chapter 9: Stupid teenage heart

The figure turned towards me, and I was met with the most beautiful pair of green eyes I had ever seen. It was a younger Angelina, her hair dyed pink but her essence unmistakably her own. The familiar mole under her right eye confirmed it—it was my Angelina.

Recognition flashed in her eyes, followed by tears of joy and longing. The emotions mirrored my own, and a radiant smile spread across her face.

"Maxwell," she whispered, her voice filled with love and relief.

Without another moment of hesitation, we ran into each other's arms. It was as if the world fell away, leaving only the two of us in that moment. I held her tightly, afraid that if I let go she might disappear. But she held me just as tightly, her embrace a reassurance that this was real.

In her arms, I felt a sense of belonging and completeness that I had been missing since arriving in this strange world. The weight of my longing lifted, replaced by a deep sense of peace and happiness.

We stood there, locked in each other's embrace, the world around us fading into insignificance. It was as if time stood still, allowing us this precious moment of reunion.

"I missed you so much," I whispered into her hair, my voice choked with emotion.

Gently, I lowered her down and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, my arm leaving streaks of red from my earlier cut on her beautiful face. She leaned into my touch, her eyes closed in bliss, and whispered how much she had missed me.

Feeling overwhelmed with emotion, I couldn't resist pulling her into another tight embrace. Her arms wrapped around me, holding me close as if afraid to let go.

"I missed you more than words can express," I murmured against her hair.

"I missed you too, Maxwell," she whispered back, her voice filled with love and longing.

As we stood locked in our embrace, a small white snake escaped from Angelina's bosom, its curiosity about the reunion evident. The sight of the little creature snapped me out of my revelry, reminding me of the practicalities of the moment.

Taking Angelina's arm gently, I guided her towards where my two snake companions were waiting in my pocket. With a sense of familiarity that only comes from years of shared experiences, I carefully placed the snakes back in their cozy spot.

Once the little creatures were settled, I turned my attention back to Angelina. Without a word, she followed me as I led her through the winding corridors of the House of Shadows castle. Her silence spoke volumes, a silent understanding passing between us.

It felt natural, this unspoken communication that had always existed between us. Like a well-rehearsed dance, we moved together through the shadowy halls, each step bringing us closer to my little home outside the castle.

I couldn't help but steal glances at her as we walked, taking in the sight of her familiar features .

Finally, we reached my small abode outside the castle walls. Opening the door, I ushered her inside, the warmth of the cozy interior enveloping us both. The familiar surroundings felt comforting, a sanctuary amidst the shadows of the House of Shadows.

In my cozy little room, I carefully placed the snakes on the window sill, watching as they curiously observed each other. Angelina followed suit, gently settling her own little snake companion next to mine. The two creatures eyed each other with a mix of curiosity and indifference, much like their human counterparts.

With a sigh of contentment, I removed my outer jacket and turned to Angelina, reaching out to pull her into my arms once again. This time, I held her close, savoring the feeling of her warm body pressed against mine.

We stood there for what felt like an eternity, wrapped up in each other's embrace. Her presence was like a balm to my soul, soothing the ache of the past months of uncertainty and longing.

"Max, that's enough," she finally murmured, her voice soft but firm. "I need air to breathe, you know."

I couldn't help but chuckle at her usual aversion to overly romantic moments. Ignoring her protests, I gently guided her towards the bed, pulling her down beside me.

"I refuse," I declared, my voice filled with determination. "The past few months have been hell without you. Not knowing if you were alive... it was torture. Let me have this moment."

She struggled a little, her protests fading into a soft sigh as she finally gave in, settling into my side. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as if afraid she might disappear if I let go.

Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of her hair. It was a familiar and comforting fragrance, a mix of sweet flowers and herbs that reminded me of home.

As we lay there in the quiet intimacy of my room, I found myself opening up to Angelina, now known as Selene Vitalis. I told her about the person I had become, Nathaniel Shadowcrest, the leader of the House of Shadows. She listened attentively, her eyes filled with understanding and compassion.

In return, Selene shared with me the story of her life as Selene Vitalis. The name suited her, I thought. We laughed and teased each other about the quirks of our new identities. I couldn't help but tease her about her pink hair, to which she responded with a playful jab, saying she was glad it wasn't as eye-catching as her sisters' bright pink hair. I remembered the vivid image of her sister's head of cotton candy pink hair and couldn't help but agree.

As the night wore on, we caught up with each other's lives, sharing stories and memories. It was as if we had never been apart, the years melting away as we reminisced about our past adventures and experiences. Slowly, the conversation lulled into a comfortable silence, and I felt the weight of exhaustion settling over me.

*

As the morning light filtered through the window, I slowly became aware of the heavy arm wrapped around me. Memories of last night came rushing back, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the familiarity of it all. The arm's owner, my lover, leaned in closer, pulling me towards him as if trying to inhale me. It was a gesture I knew all too well, and I couldn't help but internally roll my eyes.

I glanced over at the window sill and saw the three little snakes, the purple one seemingly laughing as the white one ignored the black snake surrounding it. They reminded me so much of their owner, mischievous and full of personality.

The clothes I was wearing felt uncomfortable, a stark contrast to the warmth and comfort of last night's embrace. With a sigh, I decided it was time to get up, which led to a comical fight of limbs as I struggled to extricate myself from the tangle of sheets and limbs.

Finally free, I turned to look at the teenage face of my lover, mischief dancing in his eyes. I couldn't help but throw a shoe towards him, which he effortlessly caught with a smirk.

"Why are you being so ruthless in the morning?" he teased, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

I rolled my eyes, knowing full well the effect he had on me. He snickered, clearly enjoying the game he was playing.

Deciding it was time to start the day, I headed towards the shower to rinse my face. When I glanced back, he was leaning against the wall, watching me with a fond smile.

"I have to get back, they'll look for me," I said softly, feeling a pang of reluctance at the thought of leaving his side.

"I know," he replied, stepping forward to help me put on my shoes. With a gentle push, he guided me towards the door, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

He took my arm and led me through the castle corridors, the morning light casting a golden glow on the ancient stones. I watched as the light chased away the remnants of the night's embrace, feeling a pang of reluctance at the thought of leaving this moment behind.

Too soon, we reached our destination. He stopped and turned to me, his eyes filled with a mixture of fondness. Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, a gentle gesture that spoke volumes and then, with a sigh, he let me go.

My heart skipped a beat at his gesture, a rush of emotions flooding through me. It was ridiculous, really. I had been in love with this man for over 20 years, and yet he still had the power to make me feel like a giddy teenager.

I blame this stupid teenage heart.