#Hutao02 The Curse Beneath the Stars

Sophia Bennett sat in a dimly lit café in Covent Garden, the flickering candlelight casting a soft glow on her face, her emerald green eyes shimmering with resolve laced with unease. After the frenzied moment in Ordo Stellae’s secret archive, where the star curse had entwined her and Julian Blackwood in a tempest of desire, she couldn’t erase his image—his scorching kiss, possessive touch, and storm-gray eyes, as if he were the fated flame burning her heart. “Sophia, you’re playing with fire!” she muttered, gripping her coffee cup, trying to quell the smoldering heat still lingering in her body. But she knew she’d gone too far to turn back. The curse, Ordo Stellae, and Julian had drawn her into a mystical labyrinth, and she was determined to find the exit, whatever the cost.

She opened her laptop, reviewing notes from the archive. Julian had revealed his family created the star curse to guard an ancient secret, and he was bound to it, paying with his very existence. But a new email from her anonymous source chilled her: “Sophia, you’re the prophecy’s key. The curse stems from a betrayed star, and you bear its mark. Cassandra Vale won’t let you live.” Sophia frowned, heart pounding. “Prophecy? Mark?” she whispered, feeling a cosmic shadow tightening around her.

She texted Julian: “We need to talk about the prophecy. Meet me at St. James’s Park, 8 PM.” He replied instantly: “You’re quicker than I thought. Fine, but be cautious. Cassandra’s watching.” Sophia took a deep breath, choosing a deep green dress, standing before the mirror, muttering, “Sophia, don’t be afraid. You’ll face her and the curse.” But thoughts of Julian made her heart race, a mix of dread and longing surging within her.

At St. James’s Park, moonlight danced on the lake, casting star-like ripples. Julian emerged, his silhouette blending with the darkness, black shirt hugging his muscular frame, gray eyes glinting like a constellation. “Sophia,” he said, voice low, poetic, stepping close. “You’ve learned of the prophecy. You shouldn’t dig deeper.” She straightened, eyes resolute. “I’m the key, Julian. If the prophecy involves me, I need the truth. How are you bound? What does Cassandra want?”

He fell silent, eyes darkening, then grabbed her hand, pulling her into a secluded spot beneath the trees. “I’m immortal, Sophia,” he whispered, voice like a curse. “My family created the curse, and I’m bound to protect it, paying with eternal life. But you… you bear the mark of the betrayed star. If you break the curse, you might lose everything.” Sophia froze, heart aching. “Lose everything? You mean I’ll die?” Her voice trembled, but his eyes were heavy with pain.

Before he could answer, a starlight flare erupted from the lake, and the space around them warped, as if sucked into another dimension. Cassandra Vale appeared, cold eyes gleaming, a glowing starstone in her hand. “You’re a fool, Sophia,” she sneered. “Think you can break the curse? You’ll die, and Julian will be mine forever.” She activated the stone, and Sophia and Julian were pulled into a shimmering star-bound dimension, where the curse’s energy surged, igniting a desire in them like an unquenchable flame.

In the starlit dimension, where light fell like cascading constellations, Julian Blackwood pressed Sophia Bennett against a shimmering wall of starlight, his gray eyes a cosmic storm, blazing with fierce desire amplified by the curse. “Sophia,” he growled, voice husky, poetic as an ancient hymn, “you’ve entered the shadow of the stars, and now, you’re my only light.” Sophia trembled, her back against the radiant wall, 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 like a furnace, her core drenched, aching for his touch with a painful intensity.

He smirked, lips crashing onto hers, a ferocious kiss, as if to devour her soul. His tongue plunged in, tangling with hers, sucking hard, draining her breath, drawing loud moans that echoed in the celestial space. 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 green dress, prompting a primal growl, raw and beastly.

He pulled back, eyes ablaze, Adam’s apple bobbing. “Stop? Sophia, the curse has entwined us, 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 shine like a constellation, 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 belong to me alone, as the heavens 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 radiant 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 a glowing stone table in the dimension, 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 dimension shook, and a light surge from Cassandra’s starstone shattered the space, pulling them back to the park. Sophia jolted, pushing him away, panting. “No… we can’t… 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 hurriedly 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 the prophecy, not… this!”

Julian chuckled, softening. “Stubborn, but I like it. The prophecy speaks of a betrayed star, and you bear its mark. If you break the curse, you might lose your life.” Sophia froze, heart aching. “Lose my life? You mean I’ll die?” Her voice trembled, but his eyes were heavy with pain. “I won’t let that happen, Sophia,” he said, voice firm. “But Cassandra will do anything to preserve the curse.”

Before she could press further, Cassandra emerged from the shadows, her starstone glowing. “Julian, she’s a threat. Hand her over, or I’ll destroy you both,” she said coldly. Julian pulled Sophia behind him, eyes like daggers. “Touch her, and you’ll regret it, Cassandra,” he growled, voice commanding. Cassandra smirked, activating the stone, and a surge tried to pull Sophia away, but Julian held her tight, countering with his own starstone.

They fled the park, finding refuge in an abandoned warehouse. Sophia panted, looking at Julian, eyes resolute. “Julian, I’m not afraid of Cassandra. We have to break the curse, for you, for the missing.” He gazed at her, eyes shimmering, as if seeing a celestial warrior. “You make me believe in fate, Sophia,” he whispered, his hand brushing hers, making her heart race.

The next day, they planned to find an ancient book in the British Museum, rumored to hold the curse-breaking ritual. Sophia researched the prophecy, learning it involved a dangerous rite, possibly requiring a sacrifice. She looked at Julian, heart heavy. “If you have to sacrifice yourself, I won’t let it happen,” she said, voice firm. He smiled faintly, eyes tender. “You’re changing me, Sophia,” he said, pulling her close, but a noise outside startled them—Cassandra and her allies were closing in.

The chapter ends with Sophia and Julian preparing to face Cassandra, London’s stars twinkling above, as if witnessing their destiny. Sophia knew she’d entered a deadly battle, but with Julian beside her, she was ready to fight, even if the curse tried to pull her into the cosmic dark.