Until Death Do Us Apart

The Morning After

I wake up in the middle of nowhere. Not really nowhere. The walls are dark and mouldy and this whole place is smelly. The scent of dirt, blood and suffering makes me shiver a little. It’s chilly and I can already see goosebumps decorating my skin.

The chamber is somehow fortified, because I can’t fully access my powers and this results in me getting stuck in desperation. I don’t want to admit it yet, but I don’t wish to be vulnerable. Not now, not ever. I fold my arms trying to warm myself a little by keeping my blood flowing in my veins. At least I’m not in chains.

I feel a little bit dizzy as I would have hangover. They had probably drugged me.

Before I even realize, somebody surprises me.

“Hello, princess,” the voice utters and its echo sends shivers down my spine. I try to concentrate and find out where the speaker is, but even with my vampire’s eyes and super reflexes I’m not able to do it. I can’t do anything. One thing is for certain though, I don’t know its owner.

“No questions? Not even a tiny little resistance? Nothing?” the voice says playfully almost as a friend would talk to me.

I’m not sure how I feel about the whole situation and speaking has never helped anybody. Only fools open their mouth and spill the beans.

“You’re not quite the same as I remember you, Selene,” he sighs as he would wish the other me would me here.

“I’m not Selene anymore,” I retort. His voice is making me angry. Of course, I have plenty of questions I just don’t wish to give you the satisfaction. Just let me out of here and then you’ll see me fighting back. Hell, I’ll kick your ass and you’ll end up crying and begging me to show mercy.

“You’re probably planning your escape right now,” he smirks, “or you might be thinking about kicking my ass either,” he jokes with easiness.

“Not keen on talking to ghosts,” I almost spit while losing my temper a little.

Not really regal at all, Seraleyane. You should definitely cool down a bit.

Why should I try to be polite when I’m stuck in this dark hole (I can think about other names for this place).

“Oh, come on!” he teases me with utter joy.

“Don’t you have somebody else to annoy?” I sigh in desperation, because clearly, he’s not going to reveal himself.

“I certainly do, but getting on your nerves, princess, is much funnier. You should be thanking me,” his voice sounds suddenly so serious and the change makes me uneasy.

“For what exactly? For dumping me in this dark cold hole full of mould?” I try to sound ironic, but the only outcome I hear in my voice is a pin of desperation. How pathetic!

“For saving you from your father if for nothing else,” he twitters. “I presumed you wouldn’t remember. Do I have to…”

This small talk is really turning me on. Literally. I have one ability which is perfect for this exact moment. I can shut down all my senses and he will be just talking to himself.

The silence feels refreshing. I know he’s talking because I can still detect the vibrations, but it’s just as an indistinct chattering somewhere far far away.

“One thing has not changed for certain,” I suddenly hear despite the fact I’ve made myself deaf two minutes ago. That freaks me out. “You’re still very charming and I can’t wait to spend more time with you,” he almost sings with excitement.

How the hell did he do that? He shouldn’t be able to even reach me. Out of the blue I realize that he wasn’t talking out loud, he spoke to me through his mind.

“How is it even possible that you are able to supress my powers? And who the hell are you?” I blurt out, because one thing is to get me imprisoned, but the other is to enter my mind uninvited. And here we are. It shouldn’t happen, because with every loss of my temper I get more and more vulnerable.

Stupid!

“There you are!” he exclaims happily as a child and all I want to do is to punch him. Hard. And even harder. Even though I can’t really see him I know he’s thrilled. I sense it in his voice. I just desire to smash up his victorious face.

“I thought that all the rules, life at court or maybe your body evolution has changed the person inside you,” he sounds somehow relieved which doesn’t make any sense to me, but his words softens my anger.

“Just stop,” I exhale. “If you want me to trust you, stop playing games, stop pretending, stop fooling me around.”

“Oh, it’s not pretence, Selene,” he seriously announces.

“Don’t call me that! I’m not her, not anymore!” I can’t bear the thought. In this life, I’m certainly more than just her.

If only you knew.

I’m disgusted by her even though I have her powers, but I’m not happy with Yara either. I feel like I don’t belong anywhere, neither to the royalty and supernatural world, nor to the mortal world.

“Judging according to your behaviour, you don’t know why are you here. You don’t remember, do you?” his voice is full of sad subtones even though he tries to hide it very well.

I wish I could punch his head or some rock instead, but it would only hurt me (not really my body I guess, but my pride and ego – and that’s even worse). I don’t have my powers and I’m stuck here with this god-knows-who-fool who can enter my mind any time.

I stay silent. I try to regain as much power as I can.

“I don’t want you to shut yourself away, it wouldn’t help you or me,” he announces as if it was weather forecast that he was talking about, “and it would probably get you nowhere,” he adds.

“I told you, I’m not keen on talking to ghosts,” I state plainly with no emotions.

“I’ll show myself to you, but are you sure you can bear the consequences?” he smirks.

“I’m sure that I have seen many things in my life,” I assure him with an emphasis on the word “things”. He catches my insult and I hear him smirk once more, then; he suddenly appears right in front of me, looking at my face studying it very closely.

My words almost leave my mouth in exclamation of a one name.

William?!

However, there it comes then. The realizing that something is wrong and he’s not the one I think he is.