~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
~VaelaThe sweeping motions of his brush against the rock are hypnotic, colours muddying together to create the base of a painting I know is going to be otherworldly.Just for me to sit out in this part of the cave with Hale, I’m bundled in three thick jackets, with multiple blankets layered over me. Still, I’m cold, but Hale’s skills are distracting enough.He pauses suddenly, tugging his brush from the flat slab of rock."I wouldn't kill you during sex, by the way." He doesn’t turn, leaving me to gape at the back of his head."What?"He starts painting again, this smile evident in his voice. "Your conversation with Eyla."I’m stunned.I’m tempted to stand, strip off all my jackets and send myself spiralling down the mountain. Hale’s shoulders shake ever-so-slightly from a faint laugh."Seriously? You have super hearing or something?" I snap, wilting against the rock, wondering if it would be a swift ending to just throw my head back against it forcefully.He gives a half shrug. "Bet
~VaelaFor a blissful, quiet moment, I'm not in pain, wrapped in a blanket of warmth.And then it's brutally disrupted.“Vaela….Come on Vae, wake up.”There are hands on my shoulders, shaking me frantically. Gasping, I sit up, spitting water out from my mouth, eyes flying open.“What’s going on?” I choke out, clutching my throat.Hale is next to me, silver eyes wider than I’ve ever seen as he searches my face, hands clutching the edge of the bath tightly. He seems to click that I’m okay, his shoulders deflating.He rests his head against the edge of the tub. “You’re alive. Thank fuck.”“What happened?” I question, rubbing the blurriness from my eyes.Memories cautiously approach me. I was sick, on the verge of death, and now I’m sitting in a tepid bath, staring back at a horrified Pureblood.“You fell asleep in the tub. Your head was slipping under the water." He sounds breathless. Reaching behind me, I touch my wet hair, realising that he is right, I could have died had he not return
~VaelaEyla smooths over the paper she has stuck to the wall in the book room, twisting back around.Hale and I sit on different chairs, having been summoned in here moments ago by my eager friend. We exchange amused glances, as Eyla pops the top off her marker, straightening.“Okay, so here’s the plan.”“This should be good," Hale murmurs over the top of his glass.“To find your mate, we are going to have to narrow down our searches. Now tell us, Vaela, what do you look for in a mate?” Eyla asks, raising a quizzical brow in my direction.Startled, I look toward Hale for help, but he merely shrugs his shoulders, smirking as he takes a long drink.“You know this isn’t how I find a mate. It could be anyone,” I remind her. I have no intuition about who my mate could be at all.Eyla rolls her eyes at my lack of cooperation. “This will help, trust me. Law of attraction.”“I don’t think that applies here," Hale muses.Eyla's fist clenches around her marker a little tighter. “We can do witho
-Mature Content Warning! Read At Your Own Discretion-~VaelaDays turned into weeks.Hale brought Eyla up as often as he could, but I’m restless. The blizzard hasn't settled, whipping violently around the mountain.I’m on the brink of toppling into insanity. Hale and I have established a quiet routine, not having strayed from it for a single day. We don’t speak about much, keeping to ourselves most of the time. Tonight, I feel like causing trouble.I thought I would sleep early, but after an hour of glaring at the ceiling, I clamber out of bed, stalking toward where I know Hale will still be reading.Sure enough, he’s in the book room under a dim lap, eyes skimming the page while his finger mindlessly runs over the edge of the paper.I clear my throat. “Do you think I’m fuckable?”Startled, he looks up, gaze pinning me in place. I don’t flinch away, remaining where I linger in the doorway.“Woah…where is this coming from?” he murmurs.I don't know. Boredom, wanting to push a reaction
-Mature Content Warning! Read At Your Own Discretion!*~VaelaI wander into the dining room, fatigue weighing down upon me mercilessly.Hale’s eyes glitter as I sit opposite him at the table. "Good morning.""Morning,” I grumble in response.I don’t feel well. Not sick, but my entire body feels tight, uncomfortable. I know Hale notices, watching me intently as I lean back in my seat, uninterested in any of the food at the table."You don't appear to have slept very well last night." He’s not asking. He’s making it obvious he knows, teasing me into his sick game. I’m not in the mood to play it.My jaw settles into a hard line. "Had other things on my mind."The edge of his mouth tilts up. Bastard."Well then. Any plans for the rest of the day?" He asks, stiring a small spoon through his coffee, eyes never leaving mine."Not particularly."He takes a sip of his drink. "I think I may do some painting.""Good for you."I can't believe I heeded his warning last night. Had I any sense of d
~VaelaI stare up at the ceiling, my mind entirely numb.“That was…” I draw off.Hale leans on his side, looking over me. “Intense?”“Yeah, yeah it was,” I breathe. My body is still reeling, struggling to piece together the state it was in before Hale thoroughly wrecked it.He did it so effortlessly too, stoic and unbothered the entire day. He’s thought about this, I can tell. I’m not sure for how long, but he’s considered what he would do to me the moment I came to want him.“I know," he murmurs.“That’s why you made me wait?” I sweep my hair back through my sweaty hair, noting the devious glint in his eyes.“Worth it?”I nod numbly. “I think so.”“Good girl.”“If you can do that with just your fingers on just the outside of my clothes…” I break off, unsure if I can even conceptualise such a situation. Not once did our skin brush, yet that was an overwhelming experience.His jaw clenches slightly, and he looks down to where my fingers fidget with the edge of the sheet. “Let’s hope yo
*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