Shadows Of Rebirth

(Chapter 15: Callidus pov) 

 I stood on the rooftop, feeling the wind lash against my face, carrying with it the charge of thunder. Lightning cracked, illuminating the world in a flash of white, but the storm's origins were no mystery to me. This wasn't nature's fury—it was hers.

 The magic in the air was unmistakable, a wild surge of energy, fierce and potent. Only one person could summon something so raw, so… reckless. Mira. The name alone brought a smirk to my lips.

 Closing my eyes, I reached out, letting her emotions flow through me like a current. Grief, betrayal, a blistering anger… she was unraveling. Good. The more she suffered, the more powerful she would become, if only she could grasp it. But that's what made this so interesting, wasn't it? She didn't even realize the depth of her own power yet. The girl was a storm bound in fragile skin. 

"You're finally waking up, Mira," I whispered, savoring the thought. "And soon, you'll be mine to control."

 I had watched her from the shadows, a distant curiosity. But now, this… awakening of hers… changed everything. I could feel the allure of her magic, the heat of it, begging to be unleashed and shaped by someone with the will to master it.

 The wind picked up, the rain slicing down in icy drops that matched my resolve. I knew others would try to keep her in check. Lorenzo, with his ridiculous sense of duty. Vicenzo, clinging to fragments of the past. Fools, the lot of them. They were content to let her power stagnate, to confine her in bonds of sentimentality.

 But not me. No, I would draw her pain out, feed it, twist it until she saw clearly—until she saw me as her true ally. With each pulse of the storm around me, my resolve grew. I'd bring her to the brink, let her break if need be, until she understood what she was meant to become.

 When that moment came, she would thank me. And by then, it would be far too late for her to refuse me.

 (MIRA POV)

 I stumbled back to my bed, frustration boiling over as I tried to rein in the storm within me. I could still feel the weight of my stepmother's gaze, the way it had pinned me down like I was some kind of animal she wanted to capture. The raw emotion clawed at me, but deep down, I craved solace. I closed my eyes, imagining Lorenzo's comforting presence, his words echoing in my mind like a soothing balm.

"You're stronger than you think. You're not alone in this".

 I pictured his house, the warmth and familiarity of it wrapping around me like a hug. I focused on the memory of the way he'd looked at me, the way he believed in me, and I let that image fill my mind, pushing away the darkness.

 And then—something shifted. A rush of wind, the faintest shimmer of light.

When I opened my eyes, I was standing in his living room.

 The familiar scent of cedar and leather enveloped me, but the scene was different. Lorenzo stood there, and he was not alone. A group of figures turned to face me, eyes wide with surprise.

"What the—?" one of them muttered, his voice a mixture of shock and confusion.

 I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as I realized how utterly ridiculous I must look. My hair was wild, my clothes still wrinkled from the chaotic dinner. But more than that, the wariness in their gazes made me feel like an intruder.

"Mira?" Lorenzo's voice broke through the tension, his surprise quickly morphing into concern. He stepped forward, but his friends remained on edge. "What are you doing here?"

"I—I didn't mean to," I stammered, my heart racing. "I just needed to see you. I thought… I thought maybe I could find some peace."

 The tension in the room was palpable. The others exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from surprise to something more cautious. I recognized a couple of them from Lorenzo's stories, fellow practitioners of magic, their eyes sizing me up as if I were a mystery to solve.

 "You shouldn't just appear out of nowhere," one of them said, crossing her arms defensively. "You could disrupt the balance—"

 "It's okay," Lorenzo interrupted, his voice firm yet gentle. He turned his gaze back to me, softening his demeanor. "You're safe here, Mira. I promise."

 But the weight of their scrutiny felt heavy, and I could feel my pulse quickening again, the storm inside me beginning to stir. "I'm sorry for intruding," I said quickly, glancing between the group. "I didn't mean to disrupt anything. I just—"

 "You need to control that," another voice cut in, a man with a serious expression. "Teleportation like this can be dangerous if you're not grounded."

 I clenched my fists, my frustration bubbling back to the surface. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask for any of this!"

 At my outburst, the atmosphere shifted, the storm raging outside reflecting the turmoil within. The wind outside howled, and for a moment, I feared I'd lose control again. But Lorenzo stepped closer, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder.

 "Breathe, Mira," he urged, his voice low and soothing. "You're not alone. Let's take a moment."

 The others watched, their expressions cautious but intrigued. I felt the warmth of his hand seep into me, grounding me in a way I desperately needed.

 As the storm raged outside, I took a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs, letting Lorenzo's calm wash over me. I was still here, still standing, and maybe—just maybe—I could find a way to navigate this chaotic new reality with his help.

 He took me out of the meeting room I guess and back to his bedroom, with his arms wrapped around my tiny waist making me feel warm and giddy, we sat on the bed looking closely at each other, as I observe how his eyes tend to drop to my lips with curses leaving his lips everytime. 

 Before I could think his lips came crashing down on mine, it was a slow kiss, soft and sweet as I remembered, I let my worries float while savouring the taste of his lips, I felt his mouth leave my lips while nibbling and sucking on my neck, which will probably leave marks and bruises, and as I predicted he backed away while storming out of the room like I was a plague, containing the hurt and aching in my heart, I decided to leave.