"I'm sorry." I said quietly as a small voice in the back of my head began screaming danger. "It won't happen again." Moving forward, I slowly lifted a hand to touch Vladimier's cheek. For now, I needed to calm him down. If things kept progressing, I wasn't sure what would happen. "It meant nothing." I continued gently, meeting his still-outraged gaze. "Next time, I won't let any man touch me if he isn't you."I could feel my heart beginning to hammer in my chest as I spoke. To be honest, I didn't know how he would react or if my soothing words would work. However, I needed to try.As I watched Vladimier's face slowly begin to untense before finally a sigh escaped his lips and I knew the worst was over."I'm sorry." He murmured, finally releasing my arm. "However, you will receive punishment for your actions.""Punishment?" I squeaked, feeling my heart drop. Was this man truly the man I once knew? "What punishment?"As I tried to think of what he could do, many scenarios flashed through
It felt as if the world around me had crashed to the ground. Was this man really saying that I was going to die again and this time stay dead?"As a mage, you should know about this." Geofrey pointed out, seeming amused. "Are you really one, or are you just faking?""I only recently learned of my past self." I responded slowly, still trying to process what I was just told. "There is still a lot I have to learn again."Closing my eyes, I took a calming breath. How is this even happening right now? How long did I have?"Can you tell me more about this body-snatcher thing?" I asked, suddenly feeling desperate. "Is there a way to stop the rejection?"Instead of responding, Geofrey narrowed his gaze. From the look that was slowly forming on his face, it was clear he didn't know what to think of my question."Come with me." He sighed, reaching out and grabbing my wrist. "This isn't the place to talk."Having no reason to decline, I allowed him to lead me down the long hallway and towards a d
Letting a scream escape me, I felt the creature's teeth sink into my arm, instantly tearing the skin and drawing blood. Hissing in pain, I used my free hand to grab hold of its jaw and began to try to fight to break free."Let go." I growled while managing to get the creature's mouth open wide enough to pull myself free.Jumping back, I managed to avoid it clamping down a second time. Realizing it missed, it let a loud reptile-like hiss escape as it lowered down onto all fours and began to quickly scuffle towards me.Turning, I clutched my injured arm to my chest and ran towards the end of the hall that I was currently in. As I moved, the walls themselves began to seem to move, almost like they were trying to guide me somewhere.Too scared of the creature that was chasing me, I continued to move until I found myself in a large room with a pond sitting in the middle of it. Below my feet sat lush green grass that I could barely see through the fog that hovered close above it.Unable to g
Lifting my hand, I gingerly touched the spot that Vladimier had hit. The skin there was already swollen and tender to the touch. There was no mistaking the amount of force he put behind it. He intended to do damage and damage he had done."Why?" I managed, trying to remain calm. From the anger boiling off of the man before me, I knew that losing my temper wasn't a wise move. "Why did you?""Who gave you permission to wander the castle alone?" He demanded instead, ignoring my question. "Do you know what could have happened?"After my run-in with that lizard creature, I was well aware of what could have happened. However, I didn't understand how that warranted my needing to be smacked."It seems I've been giving you too much freedom." He continued, crossing his arms. "From today on, you'll be in confinement until the wedding.""Wedding?" I squeaked, my eyes growing wide. "But I never...""You've taken long enough deciding." Vladimier said, cutting me off. "Now, I'm making the decision fo
Opening my eyes, I looked around the familiar office as my heart beat rapidly and a light sheen of sweat dotted my forehead."Welcome back." Geofrey spoke, drawing my crazed eyes to him. "Are you alright?"Taking in a few deep, calming breaths, I tried to catch my breath."I'm okay." I managed to rasp. "I just wasn't expecting..."Eyes widening, I stopped talking, realizing that I was about to admit to meeting Elias. I couldn't let anyone know that happened. Otherwise, I would be in a lot of trouble."Expecting?" Geofrey urged, curiosity coloring his expression."My death." I lied, hoping that he would buy it."Did you at least go out in a blaze of glory?" He asked, seeming disappointed with my response.Feeling a surge of annoyance rush through me, I held back my initial response. What kind of person shows that much excitement over someone's death?"Would be boring to just die in your sleep." He continued to muse. "Would be better to die battling, or at least imploding, maybe?""Do pe
The next three days flew by in a blur of preparations and hopes that Elias and his army would show up in time to save me. However, in the end, he never showed up, and the night of the engagement ceremony came.Vladimier made sure that I was up early in the morning so that I could go through the motions of preparing for what was to come. Starting from fasting from sun up to the ritual cleanse to remove any and all taint that may be on my body from another man, and then, of course, being placed in a parlor to have my hair and makeup done. Followed by being squeezed into a long white dress with too many ruffles and lace.Staring in the mirror now, I wondered how it would look to see this beautiful woman before me splattered on the ground, because if in the end I wasn't rescued, there was a good possibility that would be my fate. One thing I was well aware of was that if I let this ceremony take place, then my life would be forever tied to Vladimier's. That was simply the way this type of
"Good bye." I murmured as my body began to fall toward the earth. "I'm sorry we couldn't meet one more time, Elias," I continued, feeling regret that I wouldn't see his face before I died. However, before I could fall into misery, I felt an odd tug at my consciousness.Confused, I tried to allow whatever was happening to happen. Slowly, flashes of the past appeared one by one. Each showing Vladimier with a crazed look on his face, pulling at chains that I could only assume were attached to my wrists at the time."You belong to me!" He hissed as his hand shot out and connected with my cheek. "HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO KILL YOURSELF?""I don't want to be part of your plan!" I heard my voice speak as fear clutched at my heart."You don't have a choice." Vladimier snapped, turning and leaving.Finding myself alone in a cell with whip marks across my arms and legs, I finally realized what was going on here. This was another memory of my time with Vladimier. Only this was the one that showed h
"Elias..." I hissed as I watched the group of wendigos that were beginning to make their way towards us. "What should we do?"Behind me, I could hear him moving, but I didn't dare turn my attention away from the trouble that was fast approaching. One wrong move and I could become monster chow, and I wasn't about to let that happen so easily."When I say move, you move." Elias finally responded close to my ear, sending a shiver through me.Tensing, I nodded, knowing that he must have a plan in place. At least, that was what I hoped."Ready..." He murmured, "Set... GO!"As the word left his lips, I could feel a hand wrapping around my wrist and tugging. With wide eyes, I found myself being pulled in the opposite direction of the wendigos while they began to chase."This is your plan?" I demanded, managing to not fall on my face despite the roots that were threatening to trip me. "You aren't going to attempt to fight them?""Are you really going to sit here and fuss about escaping?" Elias
That evening, in the dead of night, Tristan appeared, escorting a single Griffin. He seemed slightly nervous, and I wondered just how much danger he was putting himself in to help us."Are you sure this is okay?" Elias asked as he took the creature's reigns from him. "Won't they notice one is missing?""I have a plan." Tristan smirked."Okay," Elias murmured, holding out a hand. "Thank you for all your help, my friend.""Anytime." Tristan beamed. "Just try to stay out of trouble, got it?""Sure." Elias chuckled.I could feel tears beginning to prick at my eyes from the warm send-off between the two men. I couldn't explain it, but to see Elias having someone on the other side that has his back made me feel a little more at peace with the fact I could leave him at any moment."I'll see you when I see you, then." Tristan announced taking a step back. "Hopefully next time will be under better circumstances.""We can only hope." Elias agreed.With that, he turned and grabbed my waist. A sma
For the next few days, Elias and I laid low in the cabin that Tristan provided for us. Each morning, he would bring us food and a change of clothes and then disappear for the rest of the day, leaving us to our own devices. It was a good time for us to grow closer—much closer. It was also a good time for me to tell him a bit more about my past than I now remembered, starting from when I was born to the time I was murdered.I knew that it pained Elias to hear these things, but he listened quietly and didn't ask many questions. Likewise, he told me more about his past, like the time before the curse. Back when he was a happy young boy, the king wasn't so strict and smiled more. It looked like we were a pair of ruined souls that somehow managed to find each other despite the difference in universes and time."You awake?" Elias murmured on the morning of the third day.I was, but I was still thinking about everything, including the fact that I hadn't told him that I was slowly dying. As tim
"Listen." I said, slowly sucking in a breath. "I know maybe this sounds ridiculous, and honestly, it could be highly offensive towards you.""Offensive?" Elias repeated, lifting a brow. "What exactly is going through that head of yours?""I can't help but wonder if it is me that you care for or my blood." I said quietly, feeling the blood begin to rush to my face.There, I expressed my biggest worry. It was now out in the universe, and I couldn't take it back. I could only hope that I wasn't ruining the moment entirely, but before we proceeded, I had to know.Lifting my eyes, I met Elias' unreadable gaze and found myself wishing that I could read his thoughts. I wanted to know what he thought. I wanted to know how he felt about what I had just confessed to him."You think..." He said slowly, clearly trying to get his thoughts together. "That I would possibly mistake my feelings for you for an addiction to your blood?"Flinching, I realized just how bad what I had said sounded. Of cours
I felt a shiver rush through me at Elias' sweet words and tender touch. It was definitely going to take a lot for me to get used to him being like this."I think I will go find a healer." Tristan said slowly, drawing my attention to him."You don't have to." I said, quickly blushing ferociously. "I'm really okay."I was okay, truly. However, I wasn't going to be okay. I had almost forgotten what I had been told about slowly dying. That meant that eventually I would start to show signs of the end, and I wasn't sure how Elias would take it."What's wrong?" The man in question asked, immediately catching on to my discomfort. "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?""I'm fine." I assured him, plastering on a fake smile. "I just want to be able to go back to Allsbrook."For now, I simply wanted to go back to the place that had become my home and spend the rest of the time I had left with Elias. I didn't want to have to worry about a major battle or about having to kill someone."Soon," Elias s
The room around me grew quiet as my words sank in. We were in for quite a fight with the fake Vladimier. I knew from experience how nasty and terrifying he could be when he wanted something. What the hell was he even planning?"Tell me how the original curse was cast." Elias spoke, causing shock to roll through my body. "That way, we know what we are up against.""A life." I whispered, shivering. "In order to cast the curse, a life must be sacrificed.""A life?" He hissed, seeming unable to quite believe what he had just heard. "If that's the case, then who..."The rest of his question never managed to escape, as realization began to show in his eyes, followed by a horror that left me feeling happy and sad at the same time."You're saying..." He managed as his face paled. "That bastard."I could feel Elias' aura beginning to seep off of him as his anger at Vladimier's method of cursing his land sank in."You need to calm down." I murmured, reaching out a hand and touching his arm. "We'
Elias held me while I cried, not speaking a single word. Instead, he just made comforting noises while his hand rubbed soothing circles against my back. I knew that I didn't deserve this kindness that he was giving me, but I couldn't bring myself to try to pull away from it. After days of being with Vladimier and dealing with conflicting emotions at all times, it was just too wonderful to be in the arms of the man that I truly loved."I know you're upset, and now isn't the time to be asking this," Elias began, finally breaking his silence. "You mentioned that you were used to cast the curse."Tensing I began to realize exactly what it was that he wanted to know. He wanted to know if there was a way to break the curse since I knew how to cast it. Of course, I knew how to break the curse, but there was only one way to do it. To break the curse, I would have to repeat what happened to cast it."There is a way to lift it." I responded slowly while sitting up enough to wipe tears from my fa
"Why do you look like you're a criminal up for execution?"Elias' voice was calm as he spoke, but there was a hint of unease in it as well. It was like he was expecting the worst but hoping for the best. That made two of us, I guess, but it made what I had to say that much harder."Maybe I am." I responded bitterly.I knew he was trying to lighten the mood with his words, but he had no idea what I had discovered. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if he would look at me the same again once I revealed it to him."What could you have done so wrong for that?" He countered, stepping forward and reaching out a hand.Instinctively, I found myself flinching away from his touch. As I was now, I didn't think that I deserved to be treated like that by him. Not when I was solely responsible for how much he and his people had suffered."You don't understand." I whispered as tears pricked at my eyes. "Elias, I've remembered everything. From my time before meeting you and before that even.""You've rememb
"Elias..." I hissed as I watched the group of wendigos that were beginning to make their way towards us. "What should we do?"Behind me, I could hear him moving, but I didn't dare turn my attention away from the trouble that was fast approaching. One wrong move and I could become monster chow, and I wasn't about to let that happen so easily."When I say move, you move." Elias finally responded close to my ear, sending a shiver through me.Tensing, I nodded, knowing that he must have a plan in place. At least, that was what I hoped."Ready..." He murmured, "Set... GO!"As the word left his lips, I could feel a hand wrapping around my wrist and tugging. With wide eyes, I found myself being pulled in the opposite direction of the wendigos while they began to chase."This is your plan?" I demanded, managing to not fall on my face despite the roots that were threatening to trip me. "You aren't going to attempt to fight them?""Are you really going to sit here and fuss about escaping?" Elias
"Good bye." I murmured as my body began to fall toward the earth. "I'm sorry we couldn't meet one more time, Elias," I continued, feeling regret that I wouldn't see his face before I died. However, before I could fall into misery, I felt an odd tug at my consciousness.Confused, I tried to allow whatever was happening to happen. Slowly, flashes of the past appeared one by one. Each showing Vladimier with a crazed look on his face, pulling at chains that I could only assume were attached to my wrists at the time."You belong to me!" He hissed as his hand shot out and connected with my cheek. "HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO KILL YOURSELF?""I don't want to be part of your plan!" I heard my voice speak as fear clutched at my heart."You don't have a choice." Vladimier snapped, turning and leaving.Finding myself alone in a cell with whip marks across my arms and legs, I finally realized what was going on here. This was another memory of my time with Vladimier. Only this was the one that showed h