Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 88: Hide And Seek

Lilia stood in front of the mirror, staring at her flushed cheeks. She splashed water on her face once more, trying to calm her racing heart.

But as her gaze shifted to her neck, she froze. A deep purple mark—more pronounced than before—stood out against her skin.

Her cheeks burned hotter as memories of the previous night surfaced. That mark—it was his. A lingering trace of their passion.

She pressed her fingertips against it, feeling the warmth radiating beneath her skin. It wasn’t just the physical reminder that made her heart pound—it was everything it symbolized. The way he had looked at her. The way he had touched her. A shiver ran down her spine.

Shaking off the thoughts, she hurried into the bath, reminding herself that someone else would need one too. Once she was done, she slipped into a robe and stepped out, only to sense a shift in the atmosphere.

The room felt heavier. Quieter. Almost suffocating.

She frowned. Something wasn’t right.

A soft click made her tense.

The door had just closed.

Yet, she hadn’t seen Zethan when she stepped out. How had he closed it?

Her grip tightened on the edge of her robe as she glanced toward the bed.

Brushing off the unease, she walked toward the wardrobe, reaching for her lotion. As she massaged it into her skin, she instinctively grabbed one of his shirts and a pair of his boxers before slipping into them for comfort.

The fabric scents like him.

That familiar scent—dark spices and something uniquely Zethan—wrapped around her, bringing a sense of safety. But as much as she wanted to drown in it, a nagging feeling in her chest wouldn’t let her relax.

Needing fresh air, she finally decided to step outside, eager to take in the breathtaking view.

As she approached the door and pushed it open, her eyes widened, and a soft gasp escaped her lips.

The sight before her was mesmerizing.

The gentle cascade of a small pond waterfall shimmered under the golden sunlight, its surface glistening like liquid silver. On one side, black flowers glowed vibrantly, their petals almost ethereal, while on the other, delicate white blossoms swayed gently in the breeze. The contrast was striking, making the entire scene feel almost unreal.

Lilia took a deep breath, savoring the crisp freshness of the air as she slowly turned, absorbing the beauty around her.

Drawn toward the waterfall, she stepped closer and stood in silence, captivated by its elegance. The soothing sound of flowing water, the soft rustling of leaves, and the sheer serenity of the moment held her still.

She simply stood there, lost in admiration, letting nature’s beauty wash over her.

Then, footsteps.

Lilia turned around.

A flicker of excitement sparked in her eyes as she opened her mouth to speak, but the words never came.

Something was wrong.

Zethan’s usual playful expression was gone. In its place was a familiar but distant coldness—his natural demeanor. And yet, it felt different this time. Off.

She had grown so used to his teasing and lightheartedness that seeing him revert to this unreadable state unsettled her.

Before she could say anything, he simply said, "Let’s go," and, to her surprise, walked past her.

Lilia blinked, slightly taken aback by his indifference. Still, she followed behind him, her steps slowing as unease settled in her chest.

Just as she hesitated, Zethan noticed her pause and turned to face her.

"If you don’t want to come, it’s fine," she said quietly. "We could just go back. There’s a lot of—"

Before she could finish, his voice cut through the air, low and steady.

"What are you saying? Let’s go, Loris."

Something about his tone made her feel as though she was disturbing him.

Then, without another word, he extended his hand toward her.

For a brief moment, she hesitated. But eventually, she stepped forward and placed her hand in his.

"Are you... alright? Is something wrong?" she finally asked, her voice softer now.

Before Zethan could say anything, he suddenly felt her warmth.

Lilia had wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

His body stilled, his hands hovering in the air for a moment before slowly lowering. He looked down at her, his expression unreadable.

She lifted her gaze, her curious eyes searching his. Then, with quiet determination, she spoke.

"I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s wrong."

Zethan lowered his gaze, watching her intently. A wave of guilt crashed over him as he took in her innocent expression.

’Why her?’

Of all the people in the world... it had to be her.

This innocent wife of his...

Before Lilia could react, he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling a quiet sigh. His chest rose and fell with a slow inhale before he finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Nothing’s wrong."

Lilia hesitated, her arms still loosely around him. Was she being too clingy? Overstepping?

A flicker of doubt passed through her, and she quickly stepped back. Without another word, she turned and began walking ahead of him, creating distance between them.

The trees were tall, the flowers bright, and the birds chirping.

Before Lilia could react, she suddenly felt her body lift off the ground.

Her eyes widened as a surprised gasp escaped her lips. But this wasn’t the kind of embrace she had expected.

Instead, Zethan had hoisted her over his shoulders.

She sat there, one leg draped over each side, her breath hitching in shock. The position was unexpected—almost playful—but the reality of it stunned her.

It was something she had only ever seen happen with children, which made the moment all the more bewildering.

Then, as if sensing her surprise, Zethan spoke.

"Sit still for a better view."

Instinctively, her fingers gripped his silver hair—not too tight, nor too loose—for balance.

From up here, everything seemed different. The landscape stretched wider, the details sharper, and most of all... she truly realized just how tall Zethan was.

Lilia’s eyes darted around, taking in the breathtaking scenery. The place looked almost magical, like a hidden grove within the forest. She clung to Zethan’s hair for support as she sat on his shoulders, her fingers lightly tangled in his locks while he walked.

As they moved forward, he approached a thick cluster of leaves, their dense green curtain concealing whatever lay beyond. Without hesitation, Zethan lifted a hand and gently pushed the foliage aside, revealing a hidden path.

Leaves rustled softly as they parted, allowing Lilia to see what had been concealed.

Her eyes widened in awe, and her lips parted slightly.

Before her stretched a stunning landscape—an expanse of colorful stones in various shapes and sizes, as though the land itself was dedicated to them. The way they gleamed under the soft light made the entire area feel almost enchanted.

Nestled in the corner was a small, crystal-clear pond, its surface shimmering with scattered stones that glistened like jewels beneath the water.

"Wow... this is beautiful," Lilia breathed, unable to contain her amazement. Her wide eyes reflected the glow of the softly shimmering stones scattered around them, each one uniquely stunning in shape and color. The entire place felt almost surreal, as if they had stepped into a hidden world untouched by time. A light breeze whispered through the air, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers and damp earth.

Zethan smiled at her reaction, his expression gentle yet unreadable. Then, with careful ease, he lifted her from his shoulders and set her down on the soft, moss-covered path.

Lilia’s fingers brushed against one of the stones as she crouched, its smooth surface cool beneath her touch. She turned it over in her palm, watching as the dim light reflected faint iridescent hues across its surface. There was something mysterious about this place, something that made her wonder why it had been kept hidden for so long.

And then, to his surprise, she bent down. A particular stone caught her eye—a translucent gem with a round, black-like seed trapped inside. It fascinated her, drawing her closer as her hair flew to the side with the motion.

As she finally raised her head, her eyes widened slightly in surprise. She looked breathtaking. From the way her hair swept to the side to the gentle motion of her fingers tucking away a stray strand that threatened to veil her face—it left him utterly still.

"Isn’t it beautiful?" she asked.

He nodded still mesmerized Lilia finally stood her breath caught Zethan leaned in slightly, his face hovering close to hers as he spoke.

"Let’s play hide and seek, as promised."

Lilia blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He still remembered? She had mentioned it back in the car, but she hadn’t expected him to take it seriously.

After a brief pause, she tilted her head and finally responded, "Fine. Who’s starting?"

A glint of mischief danced in Zethan’s eyes. "You’ll start," she decided, straightening her posture. "I’ll count, you hide. I’ll count for thirty seconds. The rule is no cheating, no peeking."

Her voice, though soft, carried an unmistakable firmness. She had played enough games with her younger cousins to know how important it was to set the rules from the start.

Zethan nodded, but something about his expression made her wary. A playful smirk curled on his lips before he said, "Make it five seconds."

Lilia’s head shot up. "Five seconds? Isn’t that too short?"

Her gaze flickered across the area—large, jagged stones stood in clusters, offering plenty of places to hide, yet five seconds was hardly enough time. Even for someone like Zethan, it seemed ridiculous.

She folded her arms, her frown deepening. "No. That would be cheating."

Zethan chuckled, the sound low and smooth. "Just make it five seconds."

She narrowed her eyes. Something about the way he said it, the quiet confidence in his voice, made her hesitate. Was he planning something?

After a moment, she sighed in resignation. "Fine. Five seconds."

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and began counting.

"One..."

Before she could finish exhaling, a sharp rustle of flowers and leaves met her ears. The sound was quick, almost too quick.

Zethan was already gone.

A faint breeze carried the scent of crushed petals, and Lilia’s brows furrowed still her eyes were closed.

He had vanished without a trace. Even the grass where he had been standing barely stirred.

Her heart thumped a little harder, but she ignored it, continuing to count. frёewebηovel.cѳm

"Two... Three..."

The wind shifted, or maybe it was her imagination, but she was sure she felt something—an almost imperceptible presence lingering for just a fraction of a second before disappearing entirely.

"Four..."

She opened her eyes just a sliver, peeking through her lashes. Nothing. No movement. No sign of him anywhere.

Her pulse quickened.

"Five."

Silence.

Somewhere, hidden among the stones, Zethan smiled to himself.

"Let’s see how long it takes for you to find me, Loris."