Iris stood in front of the mirror, fully dressed and ready, yet her heart pounded with nervous anticipation.

Today was the first day of her art lessons with Alaric-the man whose work she had admired for so long. He was finally going to teach her how to create art like him. The thought alone sent a rush of excitement through her, but at the same time, a wave of doubt crept in.

Oh God, I'm so nervous. Will I be able to do well? Even if I manage to, it's not like my work will ever match his style... she thought, biting her lip.

But despite the nerves, there was something else-something that made her cheeks warm.

Still... it's a good chance to get closer to him. That's all I really want, I guess.

A small, almost embarrassed smile tugged at her lips as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Her eyes flickered to the clock-11:11 AM.

It was their day off from college, and as promised, Alaric had agreed to give her the first lesson today. He had told her she could come over anytime after 11.

And now, it was time.

She exhaled deeply, placing a steadying hand on the mirror.

"God, please let today go well," she murmured under her breath before straightening her shoulders.

With one last deep breath, she grabbed her bag, turned on her heels, and walked toward the door.

***

He was washing his hands as the news played in the background. A smirk rested on his lips as the blood swirled down the sink, staining the water red before disappearing.

"I should have collected it instead of wasting it in water... but it's not like I didn't get enough," he murmured, smirking to himself.

A low chuckle escaped his lips. "I never thought I'd get inspiration like this. If I had known before, I would have collected so much more. My art would have had an even stronger touch of reality. But... it's okay. It's still not too late, is it?"

He finished washing his hands and looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, his smirk widening as he ran a hand through his hair.

His phone rang.

He dried his hands and moved toward it, picking it up.

"Hello," he said.

"Yeah, I called. After how many days can I get it?"

A pause. His fingers tapped against the table.

"I don't mind picking up the delivery myself."

Another short silence, then his smirk deepened.

"Sure. I'll be there in three days."

He ended the call.

Just as he placed the phone down, the doorbell rang.

"It must be Iris," he muttered, his expression shifting into something calmer-more controlled.

He walked toward the door and opened it.

"Hey, Iris," he greeted, his voice smooth and welcoming.

"Hi," she replied with a small smile.

"Come in," he said, stepping aside.

"Thank you," she said as she entered.

He shut the door behind her, locking it quietly.

She just looked at him for a moment, as if observing something.

"What happened?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Nothing," she replied quickly.

His lips curled into an amused smile. "Are you ready for your lesson?"

"I always was ready," she said with confidence.

"That's the spirit," he said, nodding.

He led her toward the art room.

Her breath caught the moment she stepped inside.

The room looked the same as the last time, yet something about it felt... different. More precise. More intentional.

"I arranged everything for you," he said smoothly.

A canvas stood in the center of the room, waiting. Colors were arranged neatly beside it, perfectly placed as if they had been waiting just for her.

"Come," he said, gesturing toward the setup.

She stepped forward, her fingers lightly brushing against the brushes.

"Shall we begin?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure," she said, taking a deep breath.

"Then go ahead," he said, stepping back.

She looked at him. "What should I draw?"

"Anything you want," he replied.

"Anything?" she repeated.

He nodded. "Yeah, anything. I just want to see your art."

She hesitated for a second.

"Don't be nervous," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "You don't need to draw perfectly. Just be yourself. It's your first lesson, so even if you're bad, I won't judge you."

"I'm not bad," she said, lifting her chin slightly.

His lips quirked up. "Even better. That's the spirit."

He gestured toward the canvas again. "Go ahead."

"Sure," she said.

"I'll be sitting behind you. Hope you don't mind a continuous stare on your art," he said, smirking.

"I won't," she replied confidently.

"Good," he said. "Good luck then."

"Thank you," she said, flashing him a small smile before turning toward the canvas.

He watched her, his gaze never leaving her figure.

She stood still for a moment, deep in thought.

"What should I draw?" she wondered silently, staring at the blank canvas.

He kept his eyes on her, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee.

Then, he saw it-the bright smile that spread across her face.

She had found her inspiration.

And he found himself completely lost in watching her.

***

Iris stood in the center of the room, completely immersed in her painting. The world around her blurred as she let the strokes of her brush dictate her thoughts. Colors blended, shadows stretched, and details took form under her fingertips.

Alaric sat a few feet away, his chin resting on his hand, watching her intently. The soft golden glow of the studio lights bathed her in warmth, making her look almost surreal. She didn't notice the way his eyes traced her-how he wasn't watching her paint, but watching her. The way her lips parted slightly when she concentrated, how her fingers delicately controlled the brush, how completely lost she was in her creation.

Then, something flickered in his gaze. An idea. A smirk ghosted over his lips. Without a word, he picked up his sketchbook, flipped to a fresh page, and began to draw.

The pencil glided effortlessly over the paper, each stroke bringing her to life in his own way. Unlike her, he didn't focus on the details of the physical-he captured the essence. The way she existed in his mind, the way she belonged to his canvas before she even knew it.

Now and then, Iris glanced at him, curiosity flickering in her eyes. He didn't react. His focus remained unbroken, his fingers moving with practiced ease. She watched the intensity in his expression-the way his pupils darkened when he was lost in creation, the faint smirk tugging at his lips. It was... captivating.

And a little unsettling.

"Done," she finally said, stepping back from her painting.

Alaric didn't respond immediately. His pencil still scratched against the paper, his lips curving into an almost secretive smile.

"I'm also done," he finally murmured.

Her brows lifted. "You were drawing?"

He exhaled a quiet chuckle, closing the sketchbook swiftly, placing it face down on the table beside him. He got caught off guard "It's nothing," he dismissed. "Let's see yours."

She frowned slightly but let it go. Turning her canvas toward him, she held her breath as he observed her work.

For a moment, he said nothing.

At first glance, it was undeniably him-his face, his presence. But as he looked closer, a sharp amusement flickered in his eyes. It wasn't just a portrait. It was something more.

The left side of the painting was a perfect representation of how the world saw him-handsome, composed, confident. But the right side... it was darker. The colors deepened, the expression changed. His lips curved into a smirk, and his eyes sparkled with an unmissable, eerie excitement. There was an unmistakable thrill in them.

A thrill he recognized.

"Interesting," he mused. "Why did you paint me like this?"

She smiled, pleased that he noticed. "That means I did well if you can tell it's you."

Alaric tilted his head, his gaze flicking from the painting back to her. "Tell me. What does it mean?"

She stepped closer, pointing at the canvas. "This side is the person we all see-handsome, confident, in control."

He hummed in amusement. "And the other?"

Her eyes flickered to his. "Why I'm smirking in it?" he asked, arching a brow.

She took a breath, her voice thoughtful. "I noticed something yesterday when you were explaining your paintings. The way your eyes sparkled, the way you spoke-it was different. You were... amused, excited, almost thrilled." She hesitated, then added, "Your confidence changes. It's like-this side of you only comes out when you're painting. The way you talk about your art, the way you look at it... I could feel it. That's what I captured here."

Alaric let her words settle, his lips curving slightly.

Not bad, Iris. Not bad at all.

She had seen something most people overlooked. And yet... she had no idea how deep that darkness ran.

"I noticed that spark in your eyes when I just got here as well  if  I guess it tight,  you got a new idea for art , am I right ?" she said.

He looked at her for a while. Perfect, isn't she? he thought to himself as her explanation truly captivated him.

She's already matching my vibe... just a little more, and she'll become a perfect second me.

The thought sent a strange thrill through him. I think she was meant for me-my soulmate. Isn't that what they say? A match made in heaven?

A smirk tugged at his lips as he got lost in the idea.

"Hey, where are you lost?" she asked, snapping her fingers in front of his face, pulling him back to reality.

" No where " he said

"Impressive," he said smoothly. "You captured me well."

She grinned, pleased. "Thank you."

His gaze flickered toward his closed sketchbook.

She followed his line of sight. "What about yours?"

His expression didn't change, but there was the briefest flicker of something behind his eyes. "It's nothing," he repeated.

She wasn't convinced. "Come on. You were just as lost in it as I was. What did you draw?"

Before he could stop her, she grabbed the sketchbook.

"Iris," he warned.

A playful smile tugged at her lips. "Why are you so secretive?"

But as she turned it over and saw his drawing-her smile vanished.

Her fingers tightened on the edges of the book. Her breath caught.

The eerie beauty of it sent a shiver down her spine.

Alaric leaned back slightly, watching her reaction "See?" he murmured. "I told you , you wouldn't like it."

To be continued...

Author note: I feel like I wrote nothing here since we didn't get to see Alaric doings in this chapter 😅lol. But I have something really shocking planned for the next chapter.