NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 11: Jealous
Chapter Eleven: jealous
Lothaire walked through the misty fog, his breathing uneven as Angelina lay unconscious in his arms. The weight of her limp body was nothing compared to the storm raging within him. He didn't even know where they were; opening a portal had been a last-minute solution to save her from Nikko's attack. The spell had drained him more than he anticipated, but he pushed forward, determined to get as far from Nikko as possible.
The air was damp and cold, clinging to his skin like a second layer. The forest loomed around him, ancient trees stretching toward the sky, their gnarled branches weaving a thick canopy overhead. The faint sounds of rustling leaves and distant creatures echoed through the stillness, creating an unsettling ambiance.
Finally, he spotted a patch of soft moss at the base of a large tree. Lowering Angelina gently, he sat beside her, his hand instinctively reaching for hers. He began rubbing their palms together, trying to bring warmth back to her cold skin. The sight of her so still unnerved him more than he cared to admit.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly, but at last, Angelina stirred. Her lashes fluttered before her eyes opened, a mix of confusion and weariness clouding her gaze.
"What... happened?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lothaire didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stood abruptly, his expression unreadable. "Get up. We can't waste daylight." His tone was cold, leaving no room for argument.
Angelina frowned, slowly sitting up and taking in their unfamiliar surroundings. Her body ached, but she managed to stand, brushing off the dirt and leaves clinging to her dress. "Thank you for saving me," she said softly, hoping for some acknowledgment.
He responded with nothing more than a curt "hmm" before turning and walking deeper into the forest.
--
As they ventured further, Angelina's eyes darted around, taking in the eerie beauty of the woods. The mist swirled at their feet, and faint rays of sunlight struggled to pierce through the dense foliage. She quickened her pace to keep up with Lothaire's long strides, her heart sinking at the sight of his rigid posture.
She tried to break the silence, her voice hesitant. "Where are we going?"
"Forward," he replied without looking back.
She bit her lip, frustrated by his aloofness. "I was just asking—"
"Save your breath," he interrupted, his tone sharper than he intended.
Angelina fell silent, her mind racing with questions. Why was he so angry? Was it because of Nikko? Or was there something else he wasn't saying?
---
Lothaire's gaze remained fixed ahead, his jaw clenched as he battled the thoughts swirling in his mind. He couldn't stop replaying the scene in Nikko's chambers—Angelina bound and vulnerable, the way she had called out to him, the desperation in her voice.
And yet, despite her plea for his help, the memory of Nikko's taunts lingered like a thorn in his side. "That mate of yours melted under my touch. Her moans echoed off the walls."
His hands curled into fists, the mere thought making his blood boil. Was it true? Had Angelina…? He shook his head, trying to banish the poisonous idea.
Should he ask her? Would that make him appear weak, jealous even? He hated the uncertainty, the way it gnawed at his resolve. But more than that, he hated how much it mattered to him.
---
Angelina, walking a few paces behind, watched him with a mix of curiosity and frustration. He was usually so composed, so sure of himself, but now he seemed distant—almost lost.
She decided to try again. "Lothaire…"
"What?" he snapped, stopping abruptly and turning to face her.
She hesitated, taken aback by the sharpness in his voice. But she held her ground. "I just wanted to say… I don't know what Nikko told you, but whatever it was, it's not true."
His eyes narrowed, searching hers for any trace of deception. For a moment, the tension between them was strong, the air thick with unspoken words.
Finally, he exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Let's keep moving."
Angelina nodded, deciding not to press him further. But as they continued their journey, she couldn't shake the feeling that Lothaire's anger wasn't directed at her alone—it was a battle he was fighting within himself.
Lothaire couldn't deny that she had calmed his fury in an unexpected way. Despite his doubts, her presence grounded him, reminding him of a truth he didn't want to admit.
As they walked in silence, Lothaire's thoughts drifted, taking him back to a time long before this madness. He and Nikko had been friends once—brothers in arms, bound by a shared thirst for power and loyalty. They had trusted each other, shared their ambitions and darkest secrets.
He remembered the day Nikko confessed his feelings for Helen, a human woman who had captured his heart despite the impossibility of their union. "She's different," Nikko had said, his eyes glowing with a rare softness. "But… she'll never accept me. I'm a demon. What human could love that?"
Lothaire had offered him encouragement, though privately, he doubted Helen would reciprocate. Yet Nikko's feelings only deepened, his obsession with her growing by the day.
Then everything changed. Helen was sent on a mission by the higher powers to seduce Lothaire, to sway him into betraying his allegiance. She played her part flawlessly, her every word and touch designed to weaken his resolve. But Lothaire had been blinded by beauty and fell into the trap that got him locked in that dark cave.
When Nikko discovered the truth, his love for Helen twisted into hatred—not for her, but for Lothaire. The betrayal he felt, though unspoken, burned brightly in his every action. From that moment, their friendship began to crumble.
"Nikko vowed revenge," Lothaire murmured to himself, his jaw tightening. "And here we are."
The sound of Angelina's scream snapped him back to the present. His heart leaped into his throat as he spun around to see her seated on the ground, tears streaming down her face. She was clutching her ankle, which was twisted at an odd angle.
"What happened?" he demanded, kneeling beside her.
"I tripped," she whimpered, her voice trembling. "It hurts so much."
Lothaire exhaled sharply, forcing himself to remain calm. He gently took her foot in his hands, examining the injury with careful precision. Her skin was flushed and swollen, a clear sign of a sprain.
"You've twisted it," he said, his tone softer now. "We can't go any further tonight. We'll camp here."
Angelina nodded, wiping her tears as she watched him with a mix of relief and gratitude. Despite his cold demeanor, he had stopped everything to care for her.
Lothaire began gathering materials for a makeshift camp, his mind still haunted by the ghosts of his past. But as he worked, he found himself glancing at Angelina, her vulnerability tugging at something deep within him.
For now, the woods stood silent around them, a brief respite from the chaos they had left behind.