THE LURKING SHADOWS

CHAPTER 23

Damon's arm lingered in mid-air as he hesitated before knocking on the door. The eerie silence that followed prompted him to exhale a breath, considering retreating. However, Kerez intervened, her determination shining through her steely grey eyes. Without uttering a word, she seized his arm and knocked on the door a second time, unwilling to let the silence deter them.

The front door creaked open, revealing Damon's childhood home, where a warm ambience embraced them. Damon's mother, Diana, stood at the entrance, her eyes lighting up with genuine excitement. She was wearing a loose, dark blue dress that elegantly defined her figure. Beside her stood Cole, Damon's father, wearing a welcoming smile. The sight of their son and his guest seemed to fill the room with an air of anticipation.

"Damon! Oh, it's been too long," Diana exclaimed, pulling him into a tight embrace. Cole joined in, offering a firm handshake to Damon and a friendly nod to Kerez. The warmth of their welcome extended to Kerez, who found herself enveloped in a familial embrace. "And who is this lovely young lady?" his mother inquired, her eyes assessing Kerez with a polite smile. Damon hesitated for a moment before introducing Kerez as his girlfriend, a subtle shift in the atmosphere palpable. 

Diana's smile remained polite, though a flicker of something unreadable crossed her eyes as she regarded Kerez. "Ah, yes," she finally said, a hint of recollection trailing her voice. "Her name...?"

Kerez offered a warm smile as Damon's arm tightened around her shoulder. The air held a sudden stillness, filled with unspoken questions and simmering curiosity. Diana's gaze lingered on Kerez, seeking answers in her face, before returning to Damon, her expression tinged with an emotion Kerez couldn't decipher.

"Kerez," Damon finally spoke, his voice slightly strained. "Kerez, this is my mother, Diana." As the introductions hung in the air, a palpable tension settled over the threshold. The warmth of the welcome seemed to have cooled, replaced by an unspoken uncertainty that permeated the atmosphere. Was Diana's hesitation simply due to surprise, or did it hint at something deeper, something hidden beneath the surface of this seemingly ordinary family reunion?

"Don't listen to him, dear. You can call me Ana. All my friends do," she warmly offered before turning her attention to the black-haired man standing beside her. Kerez couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance between him and Damon. From the tousled hair to the expressive eyes, even down to the artful smile masking genuine emotions, Damon had inherited it all.

Smiling, Diana continued with the introductions, "And this is Damon's father, Cole." She held onto Cole's arm, and his gaze settled on Kerez with a discerning expression, as if silently assessing whether she measured up to his expectations for his son.

"Come in. Come in. Make yourselves at home," Diana invited, extending a welcoming gesture as she opened the door wider. 

As Kerez stepped inside, the warm aroma of simmering stew and freshly baked bread enveloped her. The living room, bathed in the soft glow of lamplight, held a tapestry of memories: childhood portraits, faded sports trophies, and a dog-eared family photo album overflowing with laughter. Laughter now filled the air as Damon's brothers bombarded him with friendly jabs and playful accusations.

As they stepped into the lively household, Damon guided Kerez into the living room where his two younger brothers were engrossed in a game of chess. Damon's face brightened as he approached them, and he called out, "Hey, guys, I want you to meet someone special. This is Kerez."

The younger of the two, Alex, looked up from the chessboard and gave a friendly smile. "Hey, Kerez! Damon has told us a lot about you."

"Yeah, it's nice to finally meet you in person," added the older brother, Jake, extending a hand for a handshake.