Chapter 68 Chapter Sixty-Eight
Chapter Sixty-Eight
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Mirah
I was falling.
Not falling in the actual sense. But my mind wasn't in sync with my heart. Xavier was winning, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I'd attempted to kill Zeke. With my own hands.
My heart clenched tightly, and I couldn't breathe once more. I looked around, not seeing beyond my nose. This place.
It was so dark, and haunting. I felt trapped.
As if to confirm my words, vines crept up my legs, effectively tying me down. Struggled hard as I could, I couldn't get myself off their grip.
“Princess,” Xavier called out cynically, and I shuddered.
I hated him. He'd pay with his life for making me go through so much torture.
I raised my head. The darkness was receding. I could see him clearly now. He was still dressed in the same blood-stained white shirt and black trousers. His cloak swayed behind him.
The epitome of evil.
“What have you done to me?” I hissed, as the vines tightened. My breath came out in short raspy pants.
“I'm helping you to fight, nothing more.” He shrugged nonchalantly, his irises swirling with power.
My anger surged. “You wanted to kill Zeke!” At the thought, my blood boiled in anger.
Zeke. My beloved.
The hurt look in his eyes as I tried to sink a dagger into his chest.
His whimper as he leaned up to kiss me.
His reassuring words that he'd save me.
All the memories crashed into my mind, leaving me woozy headed.
“Tsk, you're wrong, Princess. You wanted to kill Zeke. I merely gave you a dagger.” His smile broadened, and I felt sick.
“I'd never try to kill Zeke! Ever!” I shook my head violently.
“Of course you want to. He turned you into a vampire against your wish. Don't you hate him for that? Isn't that why you tried to kill him?” He pressed on wickedly.
No.
No.
I shook my head, willing myself to stop listening to his words. He was trying to poison my mind.
I'd never intentionally hurt anyone.
I cried whenever I saw blood from a wound. How could such a softhearted person like me kill someone?
I was soft hearted to the point where I couldn't bring myself to hurt my father who'd hurt me so many times.
No.
Xavier was lying.
I wasn't the one who tried to kill Zeke.
But a skeptical part of me couldn't help but wonder if Xavier was right. If truly I hated Zeke to the point where I'd try to kill him. To the point where I'd try to stab him with a dagger, without remorse.
No!!
I breathed harshly. “Zeke, please be safe.” I whispered.
“You can be in denial for as long as you want. That doesn't change the fact that you're a murderer.” Xavier's voice floated into my mind.
Murderer?
But Zeke wasn't dead.
I looked around nervously. I couldn't see Xavier anymore, but I could hear him clearly.
“Are you ready to join me now?” Xavier asked, his voice coaxing.
I felt dazed. My mind wanted to succumb. I'd already tried to kill someone. It wouldn't hurt to join Xavier in his revenge scheme.
I parted my lips. “I-”
And then Zeke's image flashed through my mind.
“No! Never!”
He finally vanished, just as darkness enveloped me once more. I could hear distant voices now.
“Add the force,” I heard someone say.
Force? What force-
An excruciating pain coursed through me, as someone chanted some words. I wanted to open my eyes. I wanted to see what was happening.
I wanted to see if Zeke was there. But my eyes weren't obeying my will. They remained tightly shut.
I whimpered as the pain died down. My eyes finally slipped open, and I squinted, trying to adjust to the surroundings. The place looked like an open field. It was a little bit dark, with blue lights illuminating everywhere.
Natasha was standing to the side, with Qyle beside her. Someone hovered above me.
He looked like Kai. I looked closely, my vision becoming clearer. It was Kai.
I parted my lips to speak, but no words came out.
Zeke wasn't in sight. My breath quickened as different scenarios filled my mind. Was Xavier right then?
Had I succeeded in killing Zeke? Did I-
Someone came into the field at that moment. My heart swirled with joy as his scent brushed my senses.
Zeke. My Zeke.
His eyes held no emotion as he stood next to Kai. I felt a twinge of hurt in my heart, but I didn't dwell on it.
I'd tried to stab him a few hours back. I wasn't expecting him to look at me the way he used to.
“She's under a spell. Obviously the Rogue-brid's doing.” Kai said grimly.
I blinked slowly.
“Can it be undone?” Zeke asked, his voice as bland as his face.
I studied him closely, wincing as my gaze landed on the red patch around his chest. The part where I'd tried to stab him.
Kai didn't respond immediately.
“Kai?” Zeke prompted.
“It can't. The spell is linked to her life. Undoing it would end her life automatically.” Kai said solemnly.
“More like you can't undo it?” Natasha questioned tauntingly.
Kai turned to her with a challenging expression, his nose flaring.
“You're welcome to try, Pest.” Kai retorted.
Natasha harrumphed. “Just admit that you can undo the spell. Stop trying to change the topic.” She arched a perfect brow.
Kai crossed his arms. “Are you challenging me, Pest?” He asked.
“Whatever way you choose to look at it, Shadower.” She threw back.
“I-”
“Enough, guys.” Qyle cut off their argument.
I inhaled sharply, trying to stop the tears which threatened to slip down. Zeke was still looking at me.
I wanted to speak. To apologize for trying to hurt him. For betraying him.
But I couldn't speak.
Kai and Natasha stopped arguing, and turned to me.
“I have to undo the vampire force, and turn her human again.” Zeke decided, and my stomach churned. I admitted that I'd acted feisty when he turned me into a vampire. But Zeke never did anything without a reason.
His decision to turn me back into a human, meant he was about to send me back. He was cutting off ties with me.
The tears slipped down this time, my chest feeling as if a huge chunk of it had been dug out.
“Zeke,” I finally whispered, my voice cracking.
His facial expression didn't change. “You can speak now.”
His cold voice shot straight into my heart, and I winced.
“Can I have a moment with you, please? Alone.” I added the last part hesitantly, unsure if he'd agree.
He turned to the others. “Leave us.” He requested.
“What if she-” Kai began saying.
“Shut up, and let's leave.” Natasha cut him off.
I smiled in gratitude at Zeke, as they disappeared. A gesture which he didn't reciprocate.
“Where's this place?” I asked conversationally.
“Kai created it.” Zeke simply replied.
“So technically, we're still on the battle ground, but we're hidden?” I continued.
He nodded.
“I'm sorry,” I whispered, tears brimming in my eyes.
“What are you sorry for?” He asked calmly.
“I'd never attempt to kill you, Zeke.” I sniffled, trying to shift from my position from the futon mattress I was lying on.
Zeke's eyes finally burned with emotion. An emotion so foreign.
Anger.
He was angry at me. Of course he had every right to be. He had the right to say hundreds of thousands of hurtful things to me. He-
“I know, Kitten.” He said softly, crouching down to my position.
I'd never been so pleased to hear that nickname, as I was at that moment. Relief surged through me, as the dam of tears broke apart.
“So,” I whimpered. “You don't hate me?” Tears blurred my sight.
He wiped my tears away with his thumb. “I'd never hate you, Kitten.”
Thank you.
I didn't say it aloud, but I knew he could feel my emotions. He could read it from my eyes.
“I'm sorry for turning you into a vampire, against your wish. And now,” he rose to his feet, and I subconsciously held my breath.
“I have to turn you into a human, and return you to Vermont. Return you back to your former life as a cheerful human before you met me.” His tone was solemn.
Before I met him.
Was he going to -
My eyes widened. “You want to wipe my memories, and send me back in time to my previous life.” It wasn't a question. It was a statement. A very confident one at that. 'Cause his intentions were written on his face.
“No,” I shook my head. The tears rained down fast.
“I don't want to forget you. Ever.” I stared directly into his eyes.
“Please, Zeke.”
“I have to. This isn't you, Mirah. You're a human. You have no business with the supernatural realm. You shouldn't be here, Kitten.” His tone softened.
“I want to be here. With you. Please, Zeke,” I begged, reaching out to hold his hand. He moved away, and my hand froze midway.
I gently lowered it down.
“Don't make this harder than it already is, Mirah. This is the right thing to do. Look what almost happened. You were used as a tool by Xavier.” He said exasperatedly.
I was silent for a moment. “Are you sending me back, because you don't want to have any weaknesses? But I can be your strength if you let me.” I didn't want to imagine leaving him.
“Natasha!” He called out, ignoring my words.
She came back, alongside the others. They all had grim looks on their faces.
“Send her back in time,” Zeke ordered, and left without sparing another glance at me.
No.
No. This wasn't happening.
No!!!