Reveal All

Reveal All
"Why do you look like you're a criminal up for execution?"

Elias' voice was calm as he spoke, but there was a hint of unease in it as well. It was like he was expecting the worst but hoping for the best. That made two of us, I guess, but it made what I had to say that much harder.

"Maybe I am." I responded bitterly.

I knew he was trying to lighten the mood with his words, but he had no idea what I had discovered. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if he would look at me the same again once I revealed it to him.

"What could you have done so wrong for that?" He countered, stepping forward and reaching out a hand.

Instinctively, I found myself flinching away from his touch. As I was now, I didn't think that I deserved to be treated like that by him. Not when I was solely responsible for how much he and his people had suffered.

"You don't understand." I whispered as tears pricked at my eyes. "Elias, I've remembered everything. From my time before meeting you and before that even."

"You've remembered?" Elias repeated, his eyes growing wide. "Meaning you know where you're from."

"Yes, that's right." I admitted, wrapping my arms around myself. "From before and even before that."

At my words, his brows furrowed together. It was clear that he wasn't exactly understanding what I was saying.

"Elias, before living my last life, I was from here."

"Here..." Elias repeated slowly, trying to weigh the word on his tongue. "You mean from here or from Allsbrook?"

Of course, he would want to know where I was from. If I was from Halleluia Tyraniyaar, that meant I was technically the enemy. However, if I were from Allsbrook, then I wouldn't be.

"Here." I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was a resident of Halleluia Tyraniyaar before I lived on earth."

"How..."

As Elias spoke, he worked to control whatever emotions were rushing through him. Of course, this would be his reaction. After finally realizing we had mutual affection, we discovered that we were from warring territories. Add in the fact that I was going to die soon, and I couldn't help but wonder if the universe was laughing in my face.

"Would it be okay if I told you about myself before earth and before meeting you?" As much as I didn't want to tell the story, I knew it couldn't stay hidden. If I wanted to have any happiness with Elias, I needed him to know everything.

"Don't force yourself." He responded, closing the distance between us and brushing a hand against my cheek. "If it pains you to tell, then you don't have to."

"I want to."

I did and I didn't, but it had to be done.

"Can we sit down?"

Not waiting for a response, I headed towards the bed and sat down. Patting the spot beside me, I met Elias' gaze and waited as he remained in the middle of the room, looking unsure of himself.

"Come sit." I said, drawing his hesitant gaze towards me.

I could feel my heart beginning to pound in my chest due to the depth of emotion I saw within them while he let out a long breath. Nodding, he made his way towards me and took a seat. Placing a hand on my thigh, he waited as I gathered my thoughts.

"I'll repeat this again." He said gently, making my breath hitch in my throat. "You don't have to force yourself."

Smiling, I leaned forward and kissed him gently. It was because he wasn't going to force me that I wanted to do this. I didn't want any secrets between us.

"This is a story you should know." I sighed, bracing myself. "As it involves you and your kingdom as well."

I waited as his eyebrows shot up in surprise. I knew he wasn't expecting something like that to come out of my mouth. Hell, I wasn't expecting to ever have to say something like that either.

"Where to begin..." I wasn't sure where to even start. What was most important here—my previous life or the life before that? Both, if you asked me, but the only one that truly mattered to Elias and this land was the one before that.

"I was born in Halleluia Tyraniyaar as a mages' daughter." I began, closing my eyes as the images flashed before them. "For eighteen years, I grew up with both my parents in a small hut just on the outskirts of the land. We lived a peaceful life. My father ran a local apothecary, and my mother was a seamstress. In their down time, they taught me magic and the craft."

Opening my eyes, I found Elias watching and listening intently to my story.

"Never would I have guessed that my life would take the turn that it did." I continued, deciding to just get my story over with. "It was on the eve of my eighteenth birthday that I met the man who would change my fate."

I couldn't stop the shiver that rushed through me as I remembered the night I met Vladimier and how stupid I had truly been to allow myself to be blinded by his act.

"The king of this land, Vladimier, however, at the time, he was simply a prince. We met at a ball and got to know each other after that. I truly believed that he loved me, but little did I know that he simply wanted to use me."

At my words, I could feel Elias' hand tighten on my thigh, squeezing just enough to show me that he was growing angry.

"Do you want me to continue?" I asked quietly, fixing my gaze on him.

"Go on." He murmured, though from the expression on his face, it was clear that he may not actually have wanted to hear what I had to say.

"Vladimier and I were engaged. After that, I came to live with him and prepared to be the queen. That was when I discovered his true colors. I found him late one night, discussing a curse with his apprentice that he wanted to cast. The very same curse is currently in place over Allsbrook and Halleluia Tyraniyaar."

I could feel my heart clench painfully in my chest as I remembered again that I was responsible for the way things were. Had I not been so blind back then, maybe things would be different now, but there was no way to know that now.

"After I found out, I attempted to escape, but I was caught and thrown into the dungeon. From there, my life became a blur of beatings and experiments. All I was good for was being a sacrificial lamb that would ultimately give her life to curse people who simply wanted freedom. I was even willing to help if it meant that my life would end sooner. It was all because of me that you have suffered all this time. I'm so sorry."

Tears began to spring from my eyes as I waited for Elias' reaction. Honestly, if he decided that he hated me, then I would gladly accept. And if he wanted to kill me, I would not attempt to stop him.

"You had to go through that?" He asked, taking me by surprise.

Sniffling, I forced myself to look into Elias' eyes. Instead of looking back at me with anger or disgust, he looked at me with concern and love.

"I'm sorry." I repeated as sobs began to erupt from my throat. "I'm so sorry. For everything I've done. Everyone has suffered all of these years because of me."