6

~Rosie 

As Time holds my arm tightly, everything around us disappears. 

It’s a very overwhelming feeling as the world falls out from under me. I scream, but my voice is swallowed up by a rushing sound in my ears. Before I could even gasp for another breath, my feet hit ground underneath me, pitching me forward. Right before I hit the ground, my arm is grabbed and I’m pulled to a stop. 

Yanked up, I growl, pushing myself away from the immortal who decided to save me from a bruised face. He doesn’t let go, grinning down at me in a way that’s almost sinister. No matter how hard I push at him, it’s worth nothing.

“I think I quite like saving you,” he murmurs, to which I only sneer at him. He may have brought me here, but I’m not going to adhere to his games. 

“I don’t need your help,” I snap. 

Finally, he lets me go, letting me stumble back a few steps. Brushing at my clothes, I adjust myself. I don’t need saving by a proud faced immortal who thinks he can control me. He did, however, bring me here, to the middle of nowhere, to keep me as his slave. Maybe that’s an over exaggeration, although it does feel fitting. 

“Where have you taken me?” I question. The landscape is a stretch of swamp. Wading through it would be costly, however I would be willing to take the risk. Above me the sky is a steel grey, imposing and somewhat depressing. 

Time grins loosely, looking devilishly sly with his hands shoved casually in his pockets. “This is my home. Turn around.”

I oblige him, spinning on my heels. 

Around me, all I see is a far expanse of swamp lands, that looks impossible to escape on foot. Right in the middle of my field of view, is a tall house, rather slender and formidable looking. It’s dressed in all black paint, built from the ground up with impressive carved wood. It looks abandoned, though, windows sealed tightly, doors remaining shut. 

“Am I meant to be impressed?” I comment, raising a skeptical eyebrow at him. He moves to stand in front of me as I glower at him. If I’m expected to live here for who knows how long, I can’t say I’m too excited. This place doesn’t look in the best condition. 

“I consider this place my oasis away from the rest of the world. I keep this glamour on to trick other immortal visitors. This isn’t what it truly looks like,” he tells me. 

I place my hands on my waist, impatient. 

Time winks at me, and all of a sudden, my vision is clouded by blinding light, causing me to turn away. It takes a few moments for sight to return to me, as I glance back up at the manor. The dark home that’s foundation was once dug deeply into the ground, has been replaced by a large building - practically a chateau - the grounds underneath my feet now a manicured lawn, rather than a swamp. 

“Welcome to my real home,” Time greets, motioning for me to follow him down the driveway to the front door. I do so, one foot tentatively in front of the other. In the air, the tangy taste of magic lingers. He truly is powerful. 

The exterior of the house is covered by large mullioned windows that tinted dark and somewhat aggressive. 

I hate it here already, as stunning as it might seem. 

“Might I note, this place doesn’t make me feel any better about being here,” I growl, as Time steps inside, motioning for me to follow suit. Inside, I feel small scale compared to the looming high ceilings decorated with carvings that depict something otherworldly. Under my feet, glossy oak wood floor tinted midnight black. 

Time walks across the room, drawing my eyes to a staircase that spirals upward to a story I hadn’t even noticed earlier. “You might say that now, darling, but you wait until you see your room before you form any harsh opinions.”

I keep my mouth shut, but only because I’m grateful I might have reprieve from this pompous immortal at times. 

That’s a relief. 

My room isn’t just a room. It’s an entire quarter all to myself, which is revealed to me with a graceful push of Time’s hand against a hard wooden door. Inside is not only a living area with a fireplace and furnishings worth more than all my life savings before coming to this immortal world, but a bedroom and a bathroom more lavish than I’ve ever experienced. 

Time lingers by the door as I wander around, feeling plush carpet under my feet, glancing into my room to admire the ivory bedspread I’ll be curling up into as soon as possible. It almost makes me forget about my depressing fate. 

“How do you like it? I can personalise it for you at your request,” Time murmurs from the doorway. I whirl around on my feet. 

“Why?”

“I don’t think I understand your question-“

“Why are you doing this to me? Why did you bring me here to give me this room, to have me as a slave in this place. I don’t even know where I am!” I exasperate, throwing my hands up around me. Time flinches. It’s the first noticeable moment of vulnerability I’ve seen. A moment where he is scrambling for an excuse for only a glimpse before the expression is replaced. 

Time loosens a breath, his entire attitude deflating. He steps into the room, sitting down on one of the plush couch seats, motioning for me to sit beside him. I sit opposite him. Not for a moment will I trust him or his true intentions. 

“I will admit, I’m not a good man. I’m not one who should be admired or trusted. I often make foolish decision, however, this one, I’ve thought through for many years.”

I blink, not quite understanding. 

“Being honest here, I didn’t bring you to this place of mine on a whim. Not because I was entranced by your beauty when I first saw your in that tent, and not because I was fascinated by the fact that you came off that train. None of that,” Time tells me. I grit my teeth. I don’t know where he is going with this, but I can’t say I like it. 

“Then why am I here?” I question. When I looks deep into those golden eyes, I see nothing but a wall. I see nothing other than what he wants me to see. Who knows what other glamours have been placed upon him, shielding who he truly is from me. 

I watch him bite his lip, withholding information, even from himself. Suddenly I’m not afraid, more concerned and curious about why I’ve been brought here. 

A few words come to my mind. 

“Do I mean something to you?” I ask. 

There’s a momentary flicker in his eyes that catches me off guard. I had posed the question out of curiosity, catching onto a hint that he is truthful about not bringing me here as a quick decision he’s thought this out, which has my stomach twisting over itself. 

“You mean everything-“ 

He suddenly cuts off again, rethinking this approach. I try to finish his sentence off for him within my mind, however, every conclusion makes me feel ill. He’s an immortal, who some would say I’m lucky for being selected by him. Especially since he’s not just any immortal, but one of the most powerful who exist. 

“All I’m saying, is that this was planned. You didn’t young within your mortal life because of me. I sent someone to murder you,” Time says casually. He doesn’t seem bothered by my reaction, which in my admission, rather over dramatic. 

I do remember my death clearly. A girl came into my house, claiming she was lost and cold. I offered her tea, and she poisoned me. I was in a dark time in my life after my brothers death and my mother’s sickness. 

I was vulnerable. And he took advantage of that. 

“You’re disgusting,” I mutter. I go to stand, but the sharpness in Time’s gaze stops me short. 

“In all fairness, I was reuniting you with your family. I didn’t want you to suffer anymore. Your brothers are in a neighbouring territory, and I wanted you to be close to me, so I brought you here,” he tells me, as if his explanation was meant to wash away all confusion to allow me to forgive him. 

“Why?” I question. “Why put me through all this. I’m just a girl, I have nothing to do with this life, and I surely don’t deserve it. So why? Why me?”

My exasperated begging didn’t make him flinch. He seems deep in thought, considering how to approach this. I want to jump up and attack him. I want him to let me free. I want to wake up from the nightmare reality for something sweeter. However, those are foolish, wishful thoughts. 

“I’m sorry. But I needed to. I’m a selfish man I know,” he admits. “And it’s all because you’re my mate.”Yup