~Vaela
"Ugh, I bet he fucks so good."
My head snaps to my friend next to me, who sits back against the headboard, admiring Hale through a gap in the door. He is merely minding his own business in the other room, flicking through a book mindlessly, Eyla’s observation having come out of nowhere.
I tap her arm with the back of my hand. "Eyla!"
"What? I'm just speaking my mind." She rubs her arm, her suggestive smile lingering.
Now that the brutal,
~Vaela I’ve forgotten what freedom feels like. Now that I’m amidst it, I’m sitting like a fool, staring into a swarm of people. Some dance, others just drink and mingle. Not long ago I would be immersed in the throngs, but now, I watch on warily, painfully aware of my own mortality. Nudging Eyla, I point to a particularly adequate looking man. “I like the look of him.” Truthfully, I’m suddenly hyper aware of how mundane normal Immortals look. Seeing Hale everyday has poisoned my sense of normality, and now I’m concerned I’m going to struggl
~VaelaMy fork drags noisily across my plate as I push my dinner around mindlessly.Hale hasn’t so much as glanced up. He’s impossible to irritate.Finally he sighs, resting back in his seat, meeting my gaze. "You going around and touching strangers isn't going to work anymore."We’ve only stewed on last nights failure for a few hours, and it seems both of us are defeated. In hindsight, the chances of me finding my mate in a sketchy bar was slim."Why not?" I mutter drily."The chance of you finding your mate like that is near impossible. It's too dangerous," he decides. My stomach twists. He's confirmed all the doubts that plagued my mind all day today.I tap my fork against my lower lip. "So then what?""So, we wait. If you're meant to run into them, you will." Hale's gaze is sharp, monitoring me.Wilting into my seat, I discard of the utensil onto the table, defeated. Hale is the only person I can feasibly run into here, so I'm out of luck."Can't do that like this." I motion aroun
~VaelaHale’s bedroom door being slightly ajar is enough of an invitation for me to enter, seeking the Immortal out.He rests against his wooden headboard, flicking through a book.He doesn’t even glance up. "For someone who is so concerned about seeing me naked again, you have a proclivity for walking rather confidently into my private space.""You should have told me Larsen was coming,” I snap.Exhaling softly, he closes his book, dragging his attention to me. There is something painfully intimate about standing in his room. The large bed swallows have the space, making it impossible to be aware of anything else."How could I, when even I didn't know?" He kicks his legs out so he's sitting on the edge of the bed, resting the book on his bedside table.I fold my arms over my chest, fingers drumming against my ribs. "Who is he?""A Noble, from a far away land. I wouldn't worry yourself, he will not be here for very long," Hale muses dismissively. My eyes narrow."Can he kill me?" I as
~VaelaGroaning, I let my book topple to my lap, unbothered by the loss of my page placement."This book is going to make me fall asleep."Hale seems reluctant to drag his attention from his own book. It’s a ritual, to sit with two chairs pulled up to the fire, indulging in quiet reading time together. We can read anywhere, and yet we have established silent agreement to be in each other’s company for it.I watch Hale’s eyes scan the cover of the book as I pick it up again. "You haven't gotten to the good part, that's why.""Is that right?” My eyes narrow.Suddenly, my pages flutter wildly, until they still. Hale lowers his hand, magic ceasing. I note his smirk, as my attention drags down to the page he has intentionally guided me to.A gasp get's caught in my throat as I skim over the writing.His hands drag up my thighs, fingers winding through the lace band of my panties, drawing them down my legs, revealing my-I look back up at Hale, whose smile suggests he's amused, although hi
~VaelaI lean against the doorway to Hale’s office."Eyla is asleep." I inform him. Mercifully, it took little coaxing, having wrung all her energy out from the stress. "She will be okay."Hale sweeps a hand back through his hair, dark waves raining back down over his forehead. He’s been in here, simmering in his own anger. I came to terms with what happened to me a long time ago, so seeing Hale experience my death with fresh emotion is confronting."And you?" He asks gently.He speaks to me like he’s willing and ready to envelop me in a meaningful embrace if I need it. I’m almost weak enough to consider it."I'm numb," I murmur pitifully.His gaze softens. "Your grief will come."I practically fall into the room, leaning against the wall. I can't be alone, not yet. My fear is that once the lights darken, and I'm left to my own thoughts, my carefully constructed wall of valour will tumble down."I don’t want it to," I whisper. Hale exhales, as if he's working through my pain with me.
~HaleI look at her over the crystal decanter I drink from, her back turned to me as she busies herself at the other end of the room with a notepad and a pen.Glancing to my left, I see my friend admiring her with the same intent stare. “I hate the way you look at her,” I growl.Vaela, and all her mortality, has no conception of what powerful men like myself and Larsen are capable of doing to her. We are natural predators, existing for wicked purposes only.It took me a long time to accept that I don’t have to lean into my true nature. That fighting it is far more rewarding.Resisting being an Immortal Sin keeps me alive.I see the restraint glimmering in Larsen. He wants to taunt her, play with her. Larsen is revered where he is from, but boredom plagues him as it does me.But he will not entertain himself with Vaela. I won’t allow it.“She’s easy to look at.” He swirls the liquid around his cup, entranced.Vaela is beautiful. Unnervingly so, in fact.She looks our way, but only for
~VaelaPacing back and forth, I watch Hale, blissfully entertained by his sketchbook under the dim candlelight.“I’m bored,” I complain.“There are plenty of things to do,” he responds distractedly.After dinner, we found ourselves in one of the far, generally avoided rooms. I’m not sure why we stay away. It’s calm in here, with the low lighting, plenty of books and generous seating.“Not really. Larsen has returned to whatever hellscape he comes from, Eyla is working and…” I draw off, swinging my arms around hopelessly.“You could read?”“All I ever do is read these days.” I stride in front of him, back and forth. He doesn’t glance up.Groaning, I fall back into the chair opposite him in the most dramatic fashion I can manage. Boredom leeches from every pore, yet nothing sounds appetising enough to sate it.Getting out of the cave would help, but I can already anticipate Hale's reaction if I brought it up.Finally, Hale sets down his sketchbook, holding my gaze with him. “We can talk
~VaelaEyla comes to stand over me, grabbing my book from my hands.“Hey!” I protest.“We are going out somewhere today,” she announces.She looks over her shoulder at Hale, who is busy adjusting a newly acquired painting on the far wall of the foyer. She expects him to refuse, but he remains distracted.I blink. “We are?”“Yes Vae.” She dumps the closed book onto the table beside me. My nose scrunches up irritably at my lost page.“It’s been two weeks, and you’re still mourning,” she exclaims, propping her hands on her hips.“You are too,” I retort.A lump immediately gathers in my throat. I’ve spent far too many nights buried under my pillow, sheets wound around my limbs as I cry in a vicious, soul-wrenching manner.Eyla is more of a bury it deep kind of mourner. Instead of acknowledging that finding my dead ex in such a state has traumatised her, she remains unshaken and adamant. I'm patiently waiting for it to catch up with her again, so I can be right there for it.“I know, which
*Mature Content Warning!! Read at Your Own Discretion!!*~Vaela"What are you reading?"I look up, mildly irritated that I'm being interrupted, just when my book was getting to the good part."A book," I respond, staring up at my mate, who seems to be enjoying looming over me with a very particular look on his face.I've only been home for two days, and finally I'm feeling better after having a good portion of my blood drained out of me. All my time I've spent reading this book, since it's not like I have anything else to do.Hale rounds my chair, looking over my shoulder. "I was going to ask what kind of book, but I think I get the idea."Frowning, I slam the book shut, dumping it on my lap. There goes that."I wasn't making fun of you," he assures me, leaning down to kiss me on the cheek, which I don't manage to dodge away from in time."Believe it or not, it's quite interesting," I mumble, feeling my cheeks flush.I'm quite sure I know why I picked up this book today. Hale has been
~Vaela Part of me didn’t expect Keo to actually keep his word once he grabbed me and assured me he would return me to my mate. But the moment my feet touch snow, I know everything is going to be okay. Glancing over my shoulder, I see the looming drop down the familiar mountain that I once climbed to a date I could never have imagined. Keo looks around distastefully, either not liking the snow or the height. Even as I sway unnervingly on my feet, still drained of a lot of my blood, I want to hug him. It’s not like he isn’t getting something from our deal, but the fact that he kept his word despite breaking it in the past gives me the sense that maybe the world isn’t trying to punish me. “I’m all about hiding, but up here? Really?” Keo mutters, kicking a clump of ice off the edge of the ridge, watching it shatter against a rock below. "What...what are you, exactly?" I ask, taking cautious steps back into the cave, grateful to be out of the environment. He looks normal…to an exte
~VaelaKeo holds his hand out, something appearing in the palm of it.I'm not bewildered by that kind of magic, considering Hale wields it at will. I just wish I had it right now so I can summon a way to either get out of here, or enact my revenge on the powerful men in front of me.I quickly realise, as Keo approaches me, that he's holding a needle, attached to a long tube that disappears somewhere I can't see.Flinching away as much as possible, horror consumes me."I apologise about any pain you feel," Relm says, seeing my reaction to the sight of the needle. He's going to dig it into my skin, and he's going to extract my blood for his own use.I've known many selfish people in my life, but this is just disturbing."Don't waste your breath," I tell him. I'll get my revenge, whether it's now or in the future, because I have to survive this. I can't not return to my mate, who will be looking everywhere for me in Death's realm.Keo grabs my arm. "This may hurt."Twisting my head, I tr
~VaelaMy feet touch the ground only moments later.Keo immediately let's go of me, striding forward. He's taken me to some kind of home. It's simple, rather uninteresting, but there is something haunting about the darkly coloured walls, about the lack of anything distinguishing."What is this place?" I ask distastefully, turning in a circle. Keo doesn't turn back, making his way down the lengthy corridor."One of Relm's many residences," he explains as I catch up with him.My hands brush against the hallway walls. There are no windows, which means I have no idea where I am. Has Hale gotten to Death's realm yet? Has he noticed I'm not there?"Where do you live?" I ask tentatively, looking at Keo's back as he walks. He's such an imposing, terrifying man, that I'm curious about him.I shouldn't be, I know that. Not with someone so dangerous."I live nowhere," he responds tightly.Narrowing my eyes upon him, I fight the urge to call him to a stop. "That can't be true.""I prefer not to s
~VaelaMy entire existence feels off its axis as I slowly come to consciousness.I feel different. Better.Sitting up, I look down at my skin, knowing I’m immortal again. A smile slowly stretches across my face. It worked, or at least, I’m alive.I’m in a small, unfamiliar room. The walls are stained a dark crimson, looking nothing like how I remember when I first came into Death’s realm.This doesn't feel right, but at least I'm Immortal.Standing from the bed, I shake the tension from my shoulders. I need to establish my surroundings, and then wait for a sign from Hale. I just hope this sign comes quickly.The home I've woken in is stunning and decadent, with rich wood furniture and dark carpet. However this place belongs to is obviously powerful and wealthy, which isn't a good sign.I find myself in a small living room. There are no windows anywhere, and in this room, only a small candle from the corner of the room lights the area.I draw in a breath, noting a body laying across th
~VaelaKicking my feet up, I lean back, flipping the page of my book."You're strong enough now," I hear Hale say. I let my book fall onto my lap. It's been a couple days since we last talked about how my wound is healing. Admittedly, I'm feeling much better.I grin. "Good, let's have sex then.""Woah," he laughs, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees. "We need to be thinking about what is going to happen once you step back into that pool."I sigh, knowing this conversation was coming.It's not like we can avoid it for much longer. Keo is lurking, waiting for my twelve days to be up before he can come and collect me for Relm. I need to make the transition to Immortal again."You'll have to kill me," I tell him. I'm not sure I could do it myself. I died once, I'm not looking forward to doing it again.Hale frowns. He doesn't want this to happen, but what other choice do we have?"You will be sent back to Death's Realm. I know you are familiar with the procedure, so just go
*Mature Content Warning! - Read At Your Own Discretion*~VaelaKeo finally lets go of me, but I don't stumble too far."I think it's obvious what I'm here for," he says, looking around the cave, clearly dissatisfied with whatever he finds lacking. Hale shakes his head. "So you're serving him?""I serve no one, but myself. But where he happens to succeed, as do I." Keo spreads his arms out, smirking. I can imagine how such a smile has disarmed many in the past.But I see the cruel intentions behind it."Hale...What's happening?" I question.Keo turns his attention to me. "I'm here to warn you, Vaela.""About what?""Your existence is poisoning the very fabric of this fragile realm. And where this realm faces its demise, other's do also," he explains, a tight smile upon his face.He's clearly suggesting that one of these other realms he speaks of is where he originates from. I suppose that explains why he is so ardently pursuing me."Trust me, I don't want to be this way," I grit out.
~Vaela“Mate huh.”I chew on my fingernail. “I know.”Glancing at Eyla, I scowl at her smirk. She’s been infinitely amused since Hale brought her up to the cave, and we told her together that we are mates. Naturally, she was overjoyed for a moment, before she went on a rant about how obvious it was.“I knew it, and so did you, you just didn’t want to hear it,” she says, jabbing me in the side multiple times teasingly, making me jump.I'm still not entirely held. Being mortal again has reminded me of how long the recovery process can be.“He made it seem impossible. I’m just glad he was wrong about it," I admit, stretching out over the bed. I've spent most of my days here, trying to pretend my thoughts aren't driving me crazy.I want to be normal again. I want to be me.“Have you slept with him yet?” Eyla asks.I sigh. “No, I only found out a little while ago.”It's not like it hasn't been on my mind. In fact, each time I look at Hale I think about it, and I know he's thinking about it
~VaelaHale drinks in the scene in front of him, expression muddled with confusion."What the hell is going on?" He demands, looking between Trace and I.Trace now cowers against the far wall, mortified. He thought I was hallucinating after the hit I took to the head, and now he’s looking at a Sin."You're the Pureblood Vaela talked about." His voice shakes as he speaks."And who are you?" Hale demands.Trace swallows, pushing away from the wall as Hale strides in, slamming the door closed behind him. He’s realising how weak he is compared to the Sun, so he may as well own his fear."I'm Trace. I'm her boyfriend.” I grimace. Trace is setting himself up to face what he inflicted upon me all those years ago.Hale blinks, coming to terms with who he is looking at."You're the one who murdered her," he says softly.His tone is deceptive. I can feel the anger rolling off him, so palpable it hurts me, and I'm thoroughly enjoying this exchange already, even if I've fought against all these w