Aecus stepped forward the moment Yllona emerged from Ka Eros' house.
"What did he say?" he asked eagerly, his eyes searching her face.
"Th–The painting… it's gone. He said it was already sold," she lied, forcing out the words even as guilt tightened inside her chest.
Aecus' shoulders slumped. The glow in his eyes dimmed.
"I see… Then let's just go home," he murmured quietly.
Yllona breathed out shakily. What she did was wrong—she knew that. But the thought of losing him, watching him vanish from her life forever…it terrified her.
She loved him. That was the truth she could no longer deny.
.....
Back at Her Condo
By the time they returned from Zambales, evening had settled in. As they approached Yllona's unit, they found someone waiting outside—Drew Zake.
Drew had been her close friend in college. After graduation, he pursued modeling in New York, and his career skyrocketed quickly. Recently, she heard he was dating the famous actress, Miyuki Funtabella.
"Hey!" Drew greeted, grinning. "Nice to see you again! I swear, I thought I was going to grow roots waiting here."
"Hi, Drew. Sorry—I didn't know you were dropping by," Yllona replied.
"No worries. I wanted to surprise you, but—" he chuckled, glancing at Aecus, "I guess I'm the one surprised."
Yllona flushed in embarrassment.
Inside the unit, Drew chatted animatedly, but Aecus stayed unusually quiet—his gaze glued to Drew like a hostile guard dog.
After a while, Drew excused himself and left.
"Aecus, why are you so quiet?" Yllona asked, amused.
He abruptly turned away. "Don't talk to me."
"Hey," she laughed, poking him gently.
"Don't talk to me," he repeated, pouting. "Hmph."
Yllona chuckled. He looked exactly like a child throwing a jealous tantrum.
"He's just a friend, okay? He already has a girlfriend," she explained.
Aecus turned to her instantly. "Really?"
She nodded. Just like that, his mood brightened as though a storm had cleared from his chest.
.....
The Next Morning.
Yllona was still asleep when Aecus woke. He watched the pale dawn light spill across the sky outside the window, then glanced at her. He smiled and gently caressed her cheek as she slept. Suddenly, the phone on the bedside table rang.
Aecus jumped, startled. He grabbed it and stared cluelessly at the glowing screen. After pressing several random buttons, he accidentally tapped 'Answer.'
"Hello, Ms. Yllona? This is Ka Eros," a voice crackled through the speaker. "I just wanted to ask if you're still interested in the painting. We're preparing to move houses."
Aecus' eyes widened.The painting? With him?
"You have the painting?" he asked, confused.
"Who is this? Just tell Ms. Yllona what I said earlier," Ka Eros replied before ending the call.
Aecus hurried to the bedroom just as Yllona began to wake.
"Why did you lie to me?" Aecus demanded, his voice shaking. "Why didn't you tell me Ka Eros still has the painting?"
"I—I'm sorry," Yllona whispered. "I only did it because…"
"Because what?" he snapped.
"Because I don't want to lose you!" she cried.
Aecus froze.
"I love you, Aecus. That's why I said those things. I can't… I can't bear the thought of you disappearing from my life," she confessed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"But… I am not even—" Aecus choked, unsure of what to say.
"I love you," she repeated desperately. "I don't care who you are or what you are."
Aecus stared at her, stunned. She… loves me?
Yllona sobbed, covering her face, and instinctively he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered against his chest.
"It's alright," Aecus murmured gently. "I… I love you too, Yllona."
She pulled back, eyes wide. "You… you love me?"
He nodded. "Whenever I see you… this," he pointed weakly to his pounding chest, "it beats so hard I can't ignore it."
Yllona threw her arms around him again, trembling.
"I promise," she whispered fiercely, "I'll find a way to make you human. Completely human."
Aecus closed his eyes, silently hoping her promise would come true.
.
.
.
One night, Yllona and Aecus walked home after a short trip to the mall. Aecus looked unsteady—his breaths shallow, his steps slow.
"Aecus, are you okay?" she asked anxiously.
"I'm… fine," he said weakly, forcing a smile.
He is getting weaker—the longer he stays in the human world, the weaker he becomes.
Yllona was so worried; she knew he was just lying. She knew he was getting weaker, and it made her panic.
They were interrupted when two men suddenly showed up to block their path.
"Hey! Hand over your stuff!" one of them barked, pointing a gun straight at them.
Yllona's heart skipped a beat, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. Fear gripped her chest as she took a step back, her hands trembling slightly. Her mind raced, imagining all the things that could go wrong. The gun pointed at them made her stomach twist with panic, and she realized just how vulnerable they were.
"P-Please… we'll give you what you want," Yllona stammered, trembling. She reached for her bag—until Aecus gently pushed her behind him.
"Don't…" he said, stopping her.
"Well, well… the lady's pretty," the other thug sneered. "Bet she's fun to play with."
A dark, violent fury snapped inside Aecus. Hearing those words made his blood boil. If they dared lay a hand on Yllona, he wouldn't hesitate—he would kill them without mercy.
His claws extended—sharp, glowing with an unnatural blue. His eyes shifted into an intense, luminous azure, and his wolf fangs showed.
He lunged.
"M-M-Monster!" one of the thugs screamed. Without hesitation, he fired. The bullet pierced straight into Aecus' chest.
"AECUS!" Yllona screamed.
Aecus collapsed onto the pavement, blood spreading beneath him. The two thieves fled into the darkness.
"Aecus, no—please—please don't die!" Yllona cried, pulling him onto her lap. Blood dripped from his lips.
"Y-Yllona…" he whispered, forcing every breath. "I… love you…"
More blood spilled from his mouth as his body convulsed.
"No, no—Aecus, stay with me! Don't leave me!" she begged, her voice breaking.
You can't die… you can't leave me!
She looked around, screaming for help, but they were the only ones in the area, and it was so dark. Her eyes darted back to Aecus, who was now fighting for his life in her arms. Panic gripped her chest, clouding her thoughts. She couldn't think clearly—just the terrifying thought of losing him made her sob uncontrollably.
Then—she remembered.
Ka Eros.
The painting.
He moved houses nearby.
It was her only chance.
She tightened her hold on Aecus.
"I won't let you die," she whispered fiercely. "I'll save you. I'll save you no matter what."
Because losing him… was something her heart would never survive.
.
.
.
Before Yllona could even knock, Ka Eros opened the door.
"Bring him inside," he instructed calmly.
They carefully laid Aecus on the floor. His body was unconscious, limp and pale, yet his chest still rose and fell with shallow breaths.
"He needs to return to the painting… that's the only way he can survive," Yllona sobbed, clutching his hand as if letting go would mean losing him forever.
Ka Eros looked at her solemnly. "Are you certain? Once you send him back into the painting, he won't be here… not in your world, not in your arms."
Yllona's eyes burned with tears, but her resolve hardened. "Yes. If it's the only way for him to live… I'll sacrifice my own feelings just to save him."
Ka Eros nodded. Without another word, he took out the painting and carefully placed it beside Aecus.
He began chanting in a low, melodic rhythm. Ancient orations, prayers of binding and restoration, filled the room with a strange energy that made the air shimmer.
A soft glow began to emanate from Aecus' body. Slowly, the wounds that had marred his chest disappeared, leaving no trace of the bullet or blood. His long white hair, once darkened by despair, regained its pristine brilliance. And, as if awakened by magic, his wolf ears and tail returned.
Aecus' eyelids fluttered open. His gaze, heavy and uncertain at first, fell upon Yllona, who was still trembling and crying beside him. Instinctively, he reached out and gently wiped away her tears.
"Yllona…" he said in a low voice.
"A-Aecus… always remember that I love you… with all my heart…" she whispered through her tears.
Tears welled in his eyes as well. "I love you too… Yllona. I will never forget you…" he murmured.
As the magic of the painting began to pull him back into its world, his form started to blur, the edges of his body fading like mist. Yllona clung to him, holding him tight as he gradually disappeared, leaving her sobbing, lost in the echo of his presence.
.
.
.
Three days passed. Yllona's condo was eerily quiet, each corner a reminder of Aecus. Her heart ached with the emptiness, and tears flowed freely as the weight of losing someone she loved pressed down on her chest.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
She rushed to open the door—but no one was there. Her eyes fell on a large delivery box, with her name clearly written on it. She looked around—there was no one in sight.
With trembling hands, she opened the box. Inside, nestled safely, was the painting. She knew immediately—it must have come from Ka Eros. Relief and overwhelming emotion surged through her, and she clutched the painting to her chest, holding the image of her beloved.
From his hiding place, Ka Eros quietly watched. Seeing Yllona embrace the painting, he smiled softly before disappearing.
.....
Evening came, and Yllona left the museum, her mind still buzzing from the day's work. The streets were quiet as she gazed up at the moon. It had been all over the news since yesterday that a lunar eclipse would occur tonight. Sighing, she continued forward. She walked briskly toward her car, sensing a presence behind her. Her pace quickened, a shiver of fear climbing her spine. Suddenly, a hand touched her shoulder.
"AAAHHHHH!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. She spun around, ready to throw her bag at whoever it was—when she froze, eyes widening. Her fear disappeared instantly, and tears began to spill from her eyes.
"A-Are you… real? Aecus?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
There he stood. Smiling. The same Aecus she loved, though his long hair was now black, and his wolf ears and tail were gone. But his essence—the same warmth, the same eyes—radiated toward her.
She slowly touched his face, feeling it to make sure he was real. Aecus held her hand, savoring her touch.
"I'm real…" he said softly, pulling her into his embrace. "I'm so happy to see you again, Yllona."
Tears blurred her vision. "Is it really you… Aecus?" she choked out.
She still couldn't believe it. What if she was only dreaming? If this was a dream, she didn't want to wake up anymore.
He released her slightly, holding her at arm's length, his eyes gentle but fierce. "Yes. The beloved Goddess fulfilled my wish—allowing me to come and go from my world into yours. From now on, we will always be together, my love."
Yllona's tears continued streaming as she wrapped herself around him. The joy that had been absent for so long surged through her chest. He kissed her—soft at first, then deep—every touch filled with hunger and longing, consuming them both and igniting a fire between them.
In the distance, the howl of a wolf echoed—a reminder of the worlds they came from, different yet intertwined.
Though their realms remained separate, nothing could ever tear them apart. Not time. Not distance. Not even death.
Their hands clasped tightly as they walked under the lunar eclipse, hearts beating in unison, souls intertwined—bound by love that defied worlds.
.
.
.
The End