#Hutao02 The Curse Beneath the Stars

Sophia Bennett stepped out of a taxi, the misty glow of London’s streetlights shimmering on her long brown hair, accentuating her emerald green eyes ablaze with determination. At 28, Sophia, an investigative journalist from New York, had crossed half the globe to pursue a story that could redefine her career: mysterious disappearances in London, rumored to be linked to a secretive supernatural organization called Ordo Stellae (Order of the Stars). Vague articles and online whispers spoke of star-bound curses, but no one had concrete evidence. With sharp instincts and relentless curiosity, Sophia was determined to uncover the truth.

She pulled her suitcase along Covent Garden’s cobblestone streets, muttering, “Sophia, this is your shot. Don’t let London’s fog rattle you!” She paused before a quaint café, the aroma of fresh pastries and coffee making her smile. She snapped a photo of the night street, texting her best friend back home: “London’s like a fairy tale, but I’ve got a strange feeling.” At her boutique hotel, Sophia opened her laptop, heart racing as she read an email from an anonymous source: “Ordo Stellae operates in shadows. Find Julian Blackwood, but beware. He’s not what he seems.” She searched Julian Blackwood, and articles flooded the screen: a 33-year-old art entrepreneur, strikingly handsome, enigmatic, rumored to be a high-ranking member of a secret society. His photos—dark hair, storm-gray eyes, a smug half-smile—made her swallow hard. “Julian Blackwood, huh? Sounds like a thriller villain,” she murmured, her heart beating faster than usual.

The next day, Sophia attended an art exhibition in Soho, where her source suggested she might find Julian. The gallery buzzed with abstract paintings and golden lights, elegantly dressed guests chatting animatedly. In a fitted red dress, she strode in confidently, eyes scanning the crowd. Then she saw him—Julian Blackwood, standing before a painting, in a rolled-sleeve black shirt, exuding a chilling yet magnetic aura. As she approached, he turned, his gray eyes sweeping over her, making her heart skip inexplicably.

“Julian Blackwood, I’m Sophia Bennett, a journalist from New York,” she said, voice steady, offering a professional smile. “I’m investigating Ordo Stellae and the London disappearances. Can you help?” She cut to the chase, eyes challenging.

Julian raised a brow, lips curling into a sardonic smile. “Bold, Miss Journalist,” he said, voice deep and poetic, like an ancient verse. “But Ordo Stellae isn’t a game for outsiders. Go back to New York before you’re ensnared by something you can’t escape.” He turned to leave, but Sophia grabbed his arm, unflinching.

“I’m not going anywhere without answers,” she declared, eyes blazing. Julian glanced at her hand, then met her gaze, his eyes a storm of danger and allure. Suddenly, an invisible energy enveloped them, like twinkling starlight, making Sophia’s body heat up, her heart pounding erratically.

Beneath the gallery’s golden lights, Julian pulled Sophia behind a velvet curtain into a secluded corner, his gray eyes glinting like stars, brimming with power and desire. “Sophia,” he whispered, voice low, a curse woven into words, “you’ve no idea what you’ve stirred.” Sophia trembled, her back pressed against the wall, heart hammering. “J-Julian… what are you doing?” she asked, voice quivering, but her body refused to resist, as if mesmerized by his gaze.

He leaned in, lips hovering near hers, his hot breath grazing her skin. “The star curse has chosen you,” he murmured, then kissed her, a slow, possessive kiss, as if marking her soul with his own. His tongue brushed her lips, teasing gently, drawing a soft moan that echoed in the hidden space. Her hands clutched his shirt, fingers trembling, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. “Mmm… Julian… stop…” she whispered, but her voice faltered, heart racing from his touch.

He pulled back, eyes gleaming, his hand brushing her cheek, thumb tracing her lower lip, sending shivers through her. “Stop? You don’t want that, Sophia,” he said, voice poetic, commanding. His hand slid to her neck, grazing her collarbone, pausing at the curve of her chest, not venturing further but enough to make her body burn, breath quickening. “You… we shouldn’t…” she stammered, face flushing, but her eyes were drawn to him, as if enchanted by starlight.

Julian leaned closer, kissing her neck, lips gliding over her skin, leaving trails of heat. “You’re my star, Sophia,” he whispered, voice a curse, making her moan softly, body melting in his arms. He kissed her earlobe, tongue flicking lightly, making her arch, a jolt of electricity coursing through her. “Julian… don’t…” she gasped, but her hands gripped his shoulders, as if begging him to continue. He chuckled softly, pulling away, eyes twinkling. “Tonight is just the beginning, Sophia. You’ll soon be mine.” He stepped back, leaving her flushed, heart pounding, body trembling from his touch.

Sophia returned to her hotel, mind reeling. The moment with Julian—his kiss, his touch—felt like a curse, lingering in her thoughts. “Sophia, you’re here to work, not fall for a dangerous guy!” she scolded herself, cheeks burning. But she couldn’t deny his pull. She reviewed her notes, preparing for the Bodleian Library meeting, determined to uncover Ordo Stellae’s secrets.

The next day, she scoured London’s libraries for curse information. An elderly professor at the British Library whispered, “Don’t seek Ordo Stellae. The star curse claims those who get close.” Sophia jotted it down, a chill running down her spine, but her resolve held. She boarded a train to Oxford, heart filled with anticipation and dread.

At the Bodleian Library, moonlight streamed through windows, illuminating ancient shelves. Julian appeared, his silhouette blending with the shadows, black shirt hugging his muscular frame. “You came,” he said, voice tinged with surprise. “Follow me, but don’t look away.” She nodded, trailing him into a secret chamber, where glowing ancient runes on the walls pulsed with starlight. Julian retrieved an old book, voice low: “Ordo Stellae guards the star curse, an ancient power. The missing… they were called away.” Sophia frowned, stepping closer. “Called? What does that mean? How are you involved?” But before he could answer, the runes flared, and an unseen force enveloped them, igniting a burning desire in Sophia.

Beneath the shimmering glow of star runes, Julian Blackwood pressed Sophia Bennett against the cold stone wall, his gray eyes a tempest, blazing with fierce desire amplified by the curse. “Sophia,” he growled, voice husky, poetic as an ancient hymn, “you’ve entered the dominion of stars, and now, you’re mine.” Sophia trembled, her back against the stone, heart pounding as if it would shatter. “J-Julian… what are you doing? This… isn’t me!” she cried, voice panicked, but her body betrayed her, burning, her core drenched, yearning for his touch.

He smirked, lips crashing onto hers, a ferocious kiss, as if to claim her soul. His tongue plunged in, tangling with hers, sucking hard, draining her breath, drawing loud moans that echoed in the stone chamber. Her hands clutched his shirt, nails tearing fabric, leaving red scratches on his shoulders. “Mmm… Julian… stop… stop…” she panted, but her breasts pressed against his chest, nipples hardening through her red dress, prompting a primal growl, raw and beastly.

He pulled back, eyes ablaze, Adam’s apple bobbing. “Stop? The curse has chosen you, and I cannot resist,” he whispered, voice florid, ripping her dress’s zipper, letting it pool at her feet, revealing a black lace bra cradling her full, heaving breasts. He swallowed hard, his erection straining painfully against his trousers, brushing her thigh, massive and searing. “You’re radiant as a star, Sophia,” he murmured, hands kneading her breasts, thumbs pinching her nipples through the lace until they stood erect, pink as radiant gems. Sophia arched, a jolt of electricity surging through her, her panties soaked, fluids glistening under the starlight. “A… ah… you… it’s too much…” she gasped, nails digging deeper, leaving red welts.

He grinned lasciviously, yanking her bra down, exposing her petite, pink nipples, beckoning him. He latched onto one, sucking hard, tongue swirling, nibbling lightly, while his other hand squeezed her breast, kneading until Sophia screamed, body melting in ecstasy, tears of pleasure streaming. “A… a… Julian… I’m… gonna die… it’s too good…” She clutched his head, fingers tangling in his thick black hair, pulling him closer, tears rolling down her cheeks.

He looked up, lips glistening, a wicked smirk spreading. “Die? I’ll make you chant my name alone, as the stars decree,” he growled, tearing her panties, revealing her pink, sopping core, pulsing like a blooming flower, begging to be filled. He knelt, kissing her inner thighs, tongue tracing soft skin, leaving wet trails. He latched onto her core, sucking fiercely, tongue plunging deep, lapping from inside out, as if savoring a divine delicacy. Sophia arched, screaming, legs quaking violently, fluids gushing, soaking the stone floor, pooling beneath her. “A… a… Julian… I… too good… I’m done…” She gripped his head, body taut, hitting her first climax, mind spinning like a galaxy.

He didn’t stop, tongue delving deeper, sucking harder, making Sophia scream again, body convulsing, fluids streaming, soaking his chin. “A… you… I… I can’t take it…” she choked, body arching, hitting her second climax, tears streaming, body nearly spent. He stood, unbuckling his belt with lightning speed, revealing a massive, rock-hard penis, tip red and glistening, aimed at her like a declaration of ownership. Sophia flushed, looking away, heart racing. “You… too fast…” she stammered, but he pulled her close, letting her feel his steel-hard length.

“Feel it, Sophia? This is our fate,” he growled, kissing her, tongue entwining fiercely yet lovingly. His hand slid down, three fingers plunging into her soaked core, thrusting fast, thumb rubbing her sensitive bud, drawing relentless moans, fluids streaming, soaking his hand. “A… you… I… I need you… now…” she whispered, eyes glazed with desire, body trembling, pleading to be filled.

He smirked, lifting her onto an ancient stone table, spreading her legs, her wet, pink core pulsing invitingly. “You’re mine, Sophia, as stars belong to the sky,” he growled, his tip brushing her entrance, making her moan and arch. He pushed slowly, filling her inch by inch, until she screamed, “A… you… so deep… I’m… gonna die…” Her body shook violently, fluids gushing, soaking the table, the sound of flesh slapping echoing. He moved, thrusting slow but deep, each stroke hitting her core, making her moan incessantly, body arching, breasts bouncing, buttocks quivering with each impact. “A… a… Julian… faster… I… can’t take it…” she screamed, tears of pleasure streaming, nails clawing the stone.

He growled, accelerating, hands squeezing her breasts, pinching her nipples, making her arch, hitting her third climax, fluids flooding, drenching them both. “Sophia, are you lost in it?” he rasped, eyes blazing. “So good… I’m dying… I love you…” she choked, voice breaking, body taut.

But the runes flared, an energy surge breaking the spell, pulling them from their trance. Sophia jolted, pushing him away, panting. “No… the curse… it’s controlling us!” She pulled her dress to cover her chest, face flushed, heart pounding. Julian stood, erection throbbing, eyes a mix of frustration and adoration. “Sophia, you won’t escape me, curse or fate,” he whispered, voice commanding.

Sophia adjusted her dress, face burning, struggling to regain composure. “Julian, that… it was the curse, wasn’t it?” she asked, voice trembling, eyes wary. He stepped closer, gray eyes still scorching. “The curse amplifies desire, Sophia, but the emotions are real,” he said, brushing her cheek. She stepped back, heart racing. “Don’t… we need to talk about Ordo Stellae, not… this!”

Julian chuckled, softening. “Stubborn, but I like it. Ordo Stellae protects the star curse, an ancient power linking humans to the cosmos. The missing… they were called away. You mustn’t be next.” He turned to the ancient book, voice low. “Leave London, Sophia, before the curse claims you.”

She shook her head, eyes resolute. “I’m not leaving. If the curse is dangerous, I’ll help you break it.” He gazed at her, eyes twinkling, as if seeing a new star. “You’ll regret it, but I won’t stop you,” he said, leading her out, moonlight still glowing.

On the train back to London, Sophia’s mind churned. The chamber’s sensations—Julian’s kiss, his touch—burned within her. “Sophia, you’re insane! He’s dangerous, and you nearly…” she muttered, cheeks flushed. But she couldn’t turn back. The curse, Ordo Stellae, and Julian had drawn her into a fated game, and she was determined to face it.

The chapter ends with Sophia on her hotel balcony, gazing at London’s starlit sky, whispering, “Sophia, you came for the truth, but maybe… you’ve found something bigger.” Under the stars, she felt an invisible thread tying her to Julian, heralding a journey of passion, mystery, and destined love.