The night was deep. There was no moon in the sky over the sea, only thick darkness. The light in Onik's room was dimly lit.
Ira was engrossed in reading a vampire story, leaning against the bed. The story was quite chilling—a tale of a restless spirit and a blood-sucking vampire hiding inside an old castle. The excitement grew with every page, and Ira's body trembled slightly.
She was so engrossed that she didn't even notice when Onik slowly approached her. Onik wasn't willing to miss an opportunity for mischief. He quietly stood by the side of the bed.
Onik (In a very low, grave voice, whispering):
"Ira..."
Onik's call was so unexpected, and his voice sounded so ghostly—it merged completely with Ira's world of imagination. Ira had reached the extreme limit of fear. Her blood ran cold, and her body felt electrocuted.
The next moment, without any thought, purely from the instinct of self-preservation, Ira dropped her book and instantly raised her hand!
SLAP!!
With a loud sound, Onik received a hard slap on his cheek.
Onik was completely unprepared. He froze for a moment, holding his cheek. There was surprise and momentary pain in his eyes.
When Ira returned to reality, her hand was trembling, and she felt as if she had made a terrible mistake. Her heart pounded as she saw the red fingerprint marks on Onik's cheek.
Ira (Crying out):
"Onik! Oh God! I... I..."
She quickly got out of bed and rushed to Onik. Realizing her mistake, she was overwhelmed by fear, remorse, and shame.
Ira (Mumbling, crying):
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! I... I was just so scared... truly..."
Tears started flowing due to fear and remorse. She began sobbing uncontrollably. She put her hand on Onik's cheek, wanting to see how hard she had hit him.
Although Onik was initially stunned, his anger or resentment vanished instantly when he saw Ira's terror and desperate crying. He understood this was not a slap of anger, but a reaction to extreme fear.
Onik (Suppressing his pain, in a calm voice):
"Hey, calm down! I'm fine. Look... I was just joking. I didn't know you would be so scared."
He gently took Ira's hand away from his cheek.
Onik:
"You don't need to cry, Ira. I know you didn't mean to hit me. You were just afraid."
Onik held Ira tightly to his chest. There was no mischief or romance in this embrace, only deep sympathy and reassurance. Ira buried her face in Onik's chest and cried, her wet tears soaking Onik's shirt.
The Slap's Aftermath and The Price of Love
Onik held Ira tightly to his chest. He gently stroked Ira's hair with one hand. He placed the other hand on his injured cheek.
Onik (To himself):
"Ouch! That slap must have been really hard. It's still ringing. Seriously! I forgot how fierce Ira gets when she's scared. It hurts, but calming her down right now is essential."
Onik suppressed the pain. He didn't want any expression of his pain to frighten Ira further or make her feel more guilty.
Onik (In a very calm and soft voice):
"That's enough, Ira. No more. Look, nothing happened to me. It's just a little sting, nothing more. Please don't cry anymore. Seeing you cry makes me feel even worse."
Onik slowly pulled Ira away from his chest and wiped her wet eyes.
Onik:
"Come. Let's put this vampire story away for now. Lie on my chest and tell me some beautiful things instead."
Ira was still sobbing, but Onik's steadiness gave her courage. She nodded in agreement. Onik settled her on the bed and lay down beside her again. This time his face was cautious—making sure he wouldn't play any more tricks.
Ira (Sniffling, looking at Onik with wet eyes):
"No... I will tell you this story today. I won't have peace until I finish it."
Onik laughed.
Onik:
"This story? Even after being so scared? Okay then, your stubbornness surprises me. But before telling such an intense story to an innocent listener like me..."
Ira (Curiously):
"What?"
Onik (Smiling sweetly, holding her cheek):
"So... do you agree? You will tell the story?"
Ira (Nodding):
"Hmm, I agree."
Onik:
"Okay, I agree. Then give me a pappi before you start the story."
Onik offered his injured cheek forward, as if to imply that a kiss was due as compensation for the slap.
Ira burst out laughing. All her remaining anger, sadness, and guilt vanished in that moment. Her heart filled with relief seeing how easily Onik had accepted the entire incident.
Ira (Sweetly smiling):
"You are impossible!"
She didn't delay. She gently kissed Onik on that injured cheek—a very soft touch. Onik closed his eyes and enjoyed the touch.
Onik (Opening his eyes after the kiss, whispering):
"Ah! Now I feel like the pain of the slap has lessened a bit. Now tell me, what was Mr. Vampire saying?"
Ira laughed as she picked up the book. Outside, the deep night was silent, and inside, their love story was ready to be told.
The Vampire's Love (The Narration)
Ira picked up the book and lay down, leaning against Onik's chest. In the faint light of the room, her eyes dove back into the mysterious world of the story.
Ira (In a serious tone, starting to narrate like a storyteller):
"The vampire's name was Damon. He was immortal, a soul thousands of years old. And the one he loved was a mere mortal girl—Serina. Damon knew Serina's life was only a few decades, while his love was eternal."
Ira looked at Onik, who was listening intently.
Ira (With emotion):
"Damon used to tell her, 'You have filled all my dark world with light. But I cannot lose you, Serina. I cannot bear to see your beautiful hair one day turn gray, and the light in your eyes fade. I can do anything for the immortality of our love!'"
Ira lowered her voice, adding mystery:
"What did they do? They went to the mountaintop in the dead of night. Damon held Serina's hand and said, 'Are you ready to accept my darkness, Serina? Only then will you remain by my side forever.' Damon didn't just protect Serina with all his power; he transformed her into something like himself—eternal, terrifying, yet beautiful. He took Serina's blood, he gave her his world. The love of a vampire is not about granting freedom, but about taking that freedom away and binding their beloved to them forever."
Ira paused and looked at Onik. His eyes were still shining.
Onik (Fascinated, holding Ira's hand):
"Terrifying love! But isn't that true? A powerful entity can do whatever it takes to protect the person they love from harm. The slap you gave me today—Damon would have pulled Serina close to protect her from that fear."
Ira snuggled further into Onik's chest. The vampire of the story and his love felt like a deep reflection of their own relationship that night.
The Painful Truth (Onik Cries)
Onik's comment about the vampire and his lover's fate encouraged Ira. She knew a deep, emotional fear was hidden beneath Onik's composure about losing her.
Ira (Continuing the story, but her voice suddenly became grave and profoundly heavy):
"But there was no peace in Damon's heart. Because he knew giving Serina immortality meant pushing her away from himself, dragging her into the same eternal loneliness and the blood curse. One day, sitting Serina on the mountaintop, he said—"
Ira paused, a moment of silence. Onik was listening breathlessly.
Ira (Very slowly, with sadness, as if every word carried pain):
"'I love you, Serina. That's why I am ready to let you go. Because my love is so pure that I do not want you to bear me in the name of love for eternity. May your love for me never become your curse.'"
The moment Ira finished the sentence, she saw Onik stir. His chest suddenly trembled. Onik had his eyes closed silently, but a tear rolled down his wet eye, landing on Ira's shoulder.
Ira was instantly shocked. She stopped narrating and quickly sat up.
Ira (With surprise and fear):
"Onik! You... why are you crying? What happened? Did you dislike my story?"
Onik opened his eyes. They were brimming with tears. He pulled Ira close to his chest again, this time even tighter.
Onik (In a choked voice, whispering):
"No, Ira. I didn't dislike the story. That line... that line hurt me. 'My love is so pure that I do not want you to bear me in the name of love for eternity.'—I am always afraid that my love will cause you pain. I don't want you to ever have to pay the price of this loneliness or any hardship just to be with me."
The depth of his earlier promise, "I will never let you go," and the fear behind it, was clearly visible in his eyes now. Ira understood how deeply Onik loved her, and thus, how intense his fear of losing her was.
The Eternal Promise
Seeing the tears in Onik's eyes, the fear and anxiety that had risen in Ira instantly turned into love. She understood that the tears in Onik's eyes were merely a reflection of his deepest love.
When Onik expressed his fear while wiping his tears, Ira didn't wait. She held his wet cheeks with both hands and looked into his eyes.
Ira (In an affectionate voice):
"Listen, you are not Damon. My love will not be your curse. And your love... that is my biggest blessing, Onik."
Ira was about to say more, but Onik couldn't wait. He pulled Ira closer to him in one swift motion, into his arms.
He rested his head on Ira's shoulder, trying to calm his emotions. His voice was still wet, but firm.
Onik (Hugging Ira tightly with deep emotion):
"I will never leave you, Ira. And I know you won't leave me either. This fear is the weakness of my heart, but this love is the strength of my life. I will keep you with me forever."
Ira rested Onik's head on her chest. She gently stroked Onik's back to comfort him. There was a smile on her lips that conveyed—she also desired this bond.
Ira (Softly, confidently):
"I know. And I want to stay with you, Onik. Don't be afraid. Damon's story ends here. There is no separation in our story."
In the midst of their silent embrace, the deep night outside quieted down. The synchrony of their heartbeats completed the moment.
Sleep and The Unconscious Kiss
While they were in their silent embrace, the deep night outside calmed down. As Ira rested her head on Onik's chest, she felt an absolute sense of security that made her forget all her fears and tears.
As Onik held Ira after finishing his words, Ira didn't respond anymore. Her mind had calmed down by then. After the extreme emotional rollercoaster of the day, her body felt exhausted.
Onik felt—Ira, leaning on his chest, was completely still. Her breathing was now deep and regular.
Ira had fallen asleep in Onik's lap/arms.
Onik looked at her. Ira's face was peaceful, her eyelashes were wet, but a smile of peace lingered on her lips. A smile bloomed on Onik's face seeing her asleep. He gently kissed Ira's forehead.
Onik (To himself):
"There, peace at last. I scared you too much myself."
Onik very carefully, so as not to wake Ira—loosened his grip. Then, with great caution, he lifted Ira into his arms.
Ira's head gently rested on Onik's shoulder. Onik walked towards the bed carrying her. He very carefully, as if setting down a precious glass object—laid Ira on the bed. He adjusted her soft pillow and moved the scattered hair away from her face.
Onik was still sitting by the side of the bed, watching Ira. All her anger, stubbornness, and anxieties were now lost in sleep.
Onik (Whispering):
"Sleep now, my princess. No vampire or curse will bother you now."
Then Onik gently pulled the blanket and covered Ira. He himself lay down beside Ira, but keeping a slight distance—just enough to see her sleeping face. That night, love and trust created an invisible wall between them, which would keep any storm away.
A little later—
Despite being in a deep sleep, Ira's heart seemed to still search for her only refuge, Onik. In her sleep, Ira stirred gently. She turned slightly in bed and moved closer to Onik.
Ira, still unconscious, hugged Onik tightly. Her hand came to rest on Onik's chest, and her warm body leaned toward him.
Although Onik was slightly startled, a deep smile appeared on his face at this unexpected embrace. He understood that even in her sleep, Ira was ensuring her security.
Just as Onik was enjoying this warmth, at that moment—
Ira, still in her sleep, moved her face towards Onik's cheek. She gently kissed Onik's cheek with her lips. That kiss was soft, deep, and innocent—expressing her deepest love and dependence.
Afterward, Ira remained in a deep sleep, resting peacefully on Onik's chest.
Onik's heart swelled. This spontaneous love made him forget all his resentment and pain. He felt that no matter how much they hid in daylight, their souls spoke to each other like this in the deep night.
Onik gently pulled Ira closer to him, sealing the deep night with a soft kiss on her head. They both slept peacefully in each other's warmth that night.