18

Xander gently laid Charlie in their bedroom, thinking he'd finally found rest. Charlie's stillness was a relief, and Xander's concern slightly eased. He leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from Charlie's forehead, and whispered, "I'll be back soon, Baby." With a soft kiss, Xander left the room.

But Charlie wasn't asleep. He pretended, waiting for Xander to leave. Earlier, a maid's accidental bump in the hallway had secretly passed Charlie a note. "I want to talk to my man. Do what's necessary." Cloud's handwriting. Charlie's heart sank. To avoid burdening Xander further, Charlie complied.

As Xander departed to meet Cloud, Charlie rose. He stood at the window, gazing into Moonlight City's dark clouds. The city's eternal twilight shrouded everything, casting long shadows across the rooms. Charlie's thoughts swirled. Why did Cloud want to talk? What did he want from him? Fear and uncertainty gripped Charlie. He felt trapped.

The window's chill seeped into his bones, but Charlie remained transfixed. His eyes remained fixed on the darkness outside, the city's eerie glow illuminating his pale face. His breath fogged the glass, and Charlie's thoughts drifted to the unknown conversation between Xander and Cloud.

In Lucas's garden, Xander approached Cloud, his protective instincts simmering. Cloud's gaze locked onto Xander, his expression unreadable. The air thickened with tension.

Charlie's thoughts swirled, consumed by the cryptic note. Cloud's words echoed in his mind, "I want to talk to my man. Do what's necessary." The phrases danced, taunting him. What did Cloud mean? Why did he want to talk to Xander?

Charlie's gaze drifted, lost in the Moonlight City's shadows. His reflection stared back, pale and worried. Fear crept in, whispering dreadful possibilities. Cloud's malice was no secret; his hatred for Charlie, palpable.

Charlie's heart pounded, each beat intensifying his anxiety. Xander's protection was his only solace, but Cloud's note hinted at a hidden agenda. Charlie felt trapped, caught between his love for Xander and Cloud's ominous intentions.

As the darkness outside seemed to closing in, Charlie's thoughts turned to Xander. His strong, gentle hands, his reassuring smile. Charlie's safety net was fragile, and Cloud's words threatened to rip it apart.

A shiver ran down Charlie's spine. He wrapped his arms around himself, seeking comfort. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the city's distant hum.

Charlie's eyes remained fixed on the window, his thoughts racing with the unknown.

Charlie's gaze remained fixed on the window, lost in thought, when the sound of the door closing jolted him back to reality. He spun around, his heart racing, to face the intruder. Elijah stood in the doorway, his eyes locked onto Charlie's fragile form.

Charlie's fear resurfaced, memories of Cloud's venomous words and Elijah's presence that day flooding back. He trembled, tears welling up anew. Cloud's plan became clear: distract Xander, leave Charlie vulnerable. Charlie's mind reeled with dread.

Elijah's hands rose, palms open, in a calming gesture, but he kept his distance. "I am not here to hurt you, I promise," he said quickly, his voice laced with urgency.

Charlie's pain and fear boiled over. "Why are you here in my room?" he demanded, his voice cracking. "Why did you come to this palace in the first place?" The words tumbled out, laced with desperation.

Tears streamed down Charlie's face as memories of happier times assaulted him. He missed flying with Xander, feeling the wind rushing past; he yearned for Xander's warm hugs, the gentle way he drank blood from his neck. Those moments made Charlie feel irrevocably bound to Xander, loved and cherished.

Now, with Elijah and Cloud's arrival, those joys seemed lost. Charlie's world had shrunk, confined to fear and uncertainty. His body shook, sobs threatening to consume him.

Elijah's expression softened, his eyes filled with a deep empathy. He took a step forward, hesitated, and stopped, respecting Charlie's boundaries.

The room hung in silence, heavy with unspoken emotions. Charlie's anguish filled the space, a palpable, suffocating presence. Elijah's promise lingered, awaiting verification.

Charlie's gaze never left Elijah's face, searching for reassurance, a guarantee of safety. His heart pleaded for Xander's return, for the protective shield only his love could provide.