Chapter 9 – Fallen and Found

Nighttime Daydreams

Kate’s POV

Later that night, the house was covered in a peaceful silence, the kind that only comes after a long, exhausting day. The air was still filled with the faint scent of the Paprikás we had for dinner, mingling with the comforting aromas of old wood and fresh linens. I sat on the edge of the bed, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm, cozy light across the room. The furniture was simple yet inviting, with signs of years of care and history. The thick, handmade quilt beneath me felt heavy and cozy, like a hug from my grandma.

I glanced at the clock on my phone. It was late, but I knew my dad had likely just finished working. He was always a night owl, often burning the midnight oil on his latest excavation. My fingers hovered over the name “Dad” in my contact list, trembling slightly as I took a deep breath and clicked to call him.

The phone rang once, twice—each ring seemed to stretch on, heightening my anxiety—until finally, his warm, familiar voice came through. “Hey, sweetheart. How are you?”

“Hi, Dad,” I replied, forcing a smile he couldn’t see. “I’m good. I wanted to let you know that I’m going on a trip with some friends for a little while.”

There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost hear him frowning. “Christian called me. He said you needed to take a leave for personal reasons. Is this about your mother’s disappearance?”

A lump formed in my throat, making it hard to speak. Christian Petrescu, the head of the archaeological dig and longtime friend of my father, had obviously informed him about my sudden departure. “I’m… not sure yet, Dad. There might be a connection, but I can’t say more about it right now. I promise I’m with friends, I’m safe, and I’ll stay in touch.”

Another long silence followed, filled only by the distant sounds of the garden and the faint buzzing of the bedside lamp. Finally, he spoke, his voice softer, almost pleading. “Kate, whatever happens, don’t disappear without a trace like your mom. Promise me that.”

His words were like a punch to the gut, bringing back a flood of painful memories. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “I promise, Dad. I won’t disappear. I’ll keep in touch, I swear.”

I tried to lighten the mood. “How’s your current excavation going? Found anything exciting?”

But he saw right through my attempt to change the subject. “Kate, I know you’re trying to deflect. We’ll talk about work when you’re back safe and sound. Then we can meet in person and discuss everything.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of his concern. “Okay, Dad. I understand.”

“Just promise me you’ll be careful,” he added, his voice softer now. “I worry about you.”

“I promise, Dad. I’ll be careful.”

“Alright,” he said softly. “Take care, sweetheart.”

“I will. Love you, Dad.”

“Love you too, Kate.”

I ended the call and placed my phone on the bedside table, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. Leaning back onto the bed, I stared at the ceiling. The events of the past few days played through my mind like a chaotic, disjointed movie.

My thoughts drifted to that moment with Cyrus earlier today in the cellar, and I couldn’t help but cringe. I just wanted to see how the wound had healed but instead I had basically fondled him…. What the hell was I thinking? My cheeks burned at the memory. But I had to admit, the guy was built like a Greek god. His muscles were firm and defined, and for a split second, I let myself imagine what it would be like to run my fingers over them again, intentionally this time.

Our relationship had clearly changed after the night in the cellar. Before the attack, he had kept a friendly but polite distance—never so far away that it could be awkward but neither closer than absolutely necessary. But now, his attitude had drastically changed.

The way he had put his arm around me in the car and played with my hair as I was dozing off went way beyond the boundaries of a business relationship. I could still feel the weight of his hands on my shoulders from when I had tried to summon the barrier earlier. His breath had been warm against my ear as he whispered words of encouragement, sending a shiver down my spine and making my heart race. It had both distracted and intensified my focus in that moment, creating a strange mix of sensations.

Each touch felt intentional, a blend of professional attentiveness and something far more personal. His actions were both comforting and confusing, stirring emotions I did not want to deal with right now.

Cyrus was undeniably attractive. If he ever decided to quit the demon hunter life, he could easily consider a career in modeling. He was the kind of guy who made you rethink your life choices, starting with why you didn’t hit the gym this morning.

If there were a Nobel Prize for jawlines, he’d win it hands down. He looked like a mix between an Old Hollywood heartthrob and a fitness magazine cover model. His blue eyes and the way his muscles moved under his shirt could make even a nun weak.

Maybe dating a demon hunter while being actively hunted by demons might not be such a bad idea after all…

I indulged myself for a few minutes, fantasizing about what it would be like to be kissed by him. I imagined the feeling of his lips on mine—warm, firm, and inviting. He would probably taste like dark chocolate and espresso. I could almost feel the rough texture of his stubble against my skin.

Lying on the bed with a grin on my face, I let the daydream linger a bit longer. But then I scolded myself for even considering it. Now wasn’t the time for romance, and mixing love and business was never a good idea. Especially when the business involves battling demons and saving the world.

We were literally in a life-and-death situation, and I needed to stay focused on learning how to control my powers or we might both end up dead sooner than later. We had been incredibly lucky to even survive the last demon attack.

I groaned and rolled up into a ball on the bed, trying to block out the sound of my own heart pounding in my ears.

I could hear the distant chirping of crickets and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. The room smelled faintly of lavender, a soothing scent that helped to calm my racing thoughts. Or at least, it tried to.

Instead of falling asleep, the energy from my earlier thoughts still seemed to buzz under my skin, refusing to let me rest. I needed an outlet for this restless energy, something productive to calm the whirlwind in my mind. Something that didn’t involve thinking about Cyrus’s abs.

Sitting up, I decided to practice the barrier spell again. Marcus had made it sound so simple, but when I tried, it felt like wrangling an unruly cat. A very angry, invisible cat.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, trying to summon the feelings of calmness and balance he had described. Of course, my mind had other plans tonight, stubbornly replaying every awkward moment.

I concentrated harder, my fingers splaying out, pressing against the invisible force as I attempted to summon the barrier. The air around me remained unchanged, and frustration built up inside me. I tried to calm myself, to find that inner peace, but it was difficult with my thoughts all over the place.

My mind slipped to the feeling of Cyrus’s breath against my ear again, his voice low and encouraging. I felt butterflies in my stomach and my heart started to race at the memory before I felt a sudden surge of warmth spreading through me. I focused on that sensation, the mix of security and excitement it had brought. Suddenly, the barrier flared up around me, strong and solid, glowing with a steady light.

I opened my eyes wide in amazement and shock, staring at the barrier. It contradicted everything we had read about needing a calm and balanced mind earlier tonight. I clearly felt anything but calm and balanced, yet the barrier was stronger than I could ever even have imagined. How was this possible?

I examined the barrier around me, amazed by its strong and solid glow. The warm light pulsed gently as if it was greeting me. I reached out and tried to touch it, but it expanded its radius, always keeping the same distance from my furthest body part. It was like a force field with a personal space bubble.

My thoughts raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Perhaps there was more to controlling my powers than we thought. The connection between my emotions and my abilities was clearly stronger than I had realized, but not in the way we had expected.

After a while, I let the barrier fade, exhaustion quickly catching up with me. As I lay back down, I knew I had a lot to learn. But this discovery gave me a new sense of hope and determination. With that thought, I closed my eyes, letting the events of the day drift away.

I pulled the quilt over my body and hugged it tightly to my chest. The warmth of the quilt, the soft sounds of the night, and the faint scent of lavender finally eased me into a peaceful sleep. Or at least, as peaceful as it could be with the occasional uninvited image of a certain blue-eyed demon hunter flickering through my thoughts.