Chapter Forty-Five

Iris:

“What do you mean that my father is missing?” I snapped at Finn who shifted away from me as if he could escape my rage that way.

“He has not been seen in over three days and none of his retainers knows anything about where he is. If he is not found in the next four days, you would be pulled out of school so that you can hold the position down for him until his body is found.” Finn explained but my head was banging, like I was fighting a war with myself.

“Stop talking, nothing has happened to my father, he probably took a breather.”

“He didn’t iris.” Finn said, his eyes was filled with sympathy and pity, something which I just could not tolerate right now. My father was okay. I know that, he just needs to realize that too. “His people would be aware.”

“He is a king, Finn. Kings don’t just go missing without trails…”

Finn nodded. “And that is why he is declared missing because he should have trails. You need to prepare yourself for the worst…”

“STOP TALKING.” I shrieked at Finn as sobs broke my voice, I could not even remain still.

“Iris.” Finn said softly, trying to reach me but I escaped his hold and ran away, I needed some time to myself. I needed to breathe, I felt like I couldn’t and that was not good. I needed to take some moments for myself and just breathe.

I rushed out of the hallways and into the atrium as tears stated rolling down my cheeks as memories and me and my father over the years came to mind. No, He has to be okay. He just has to be. It has always been the two of us against the world. I couldn’t be without him just yet. It was too bloody soon for that.

The headache picked up as I felt something inside me slacken. I panicked, this was not a normal headache, something else was happening. Something was wrestling with me.

Let go. Something whispered in my mind, but I shook my head, my breathing was coming short, what was happening. The headache increased and this time, my body jerked at each loud throb. I was in pain and a red haze covered my face.

What the hell was going on?

I said let go.

“No, you let go, who the fuck are you.” I gritted out, not bothering about the fact that I sounded insane, talking to the voice inside my head but I was unwilling to let go.

The voice chuckled, you can no longer fight me, make this easier for yourself and let go.

“Screw you and screw that.” I gave a yell as liquid started coming out from my nose and ears, with the metallic scent in the air, I knew that it was blood.

You are hurting us.

“There is no us, just me.” I replied as it chuckled. Then it eased its fight for dormancy in my head. The headache reduced instantly, and I was skeptical, my barriers were still up, and I was tentative if it had truly let go.

I needed help, I knew this was not normal, not even by Faery standards. Picking myself up slowly I turned towards the door, hoping to give a shout when the being slammed against my border once more but this time, instead of pain and trying to make me relinquish my hold, it did something else.

He slammed me with memories that were hurtful, my memories while magnifying the emotions I felt the moment it happened.

He slammed me with memories of my eight years old self watching my mother’s video, the rejection I felt and also the memory of Viana hugging and pecking Cirdan, the despair I felt. I was so stunned that for a moment I dropped my guards down, and that moment was all it needed.

He presence flooded my mind, the sensation like that of drowning, more energy kept shoring at me, I could not catch my breath. It wasn’t long before I was submerged completely. I was still aware of what was going on but there was nothing that I could do to stop it.

I was not in control of my body.

“I told you it was useless to struggle.” The being said with my voice and that was when some underclassmen came to the room, they greeted me with giggles before attempting to move on. Where were they when I needed their help?

“Excuse me.” The being said in my voice, the thought that it was going to be acting like me, taking my identity gave me a burst of strength as I tried to fight back, clawing at the presence. It just staggered a little bit.

“Princess Iris, are you okay?” One of them moved to help me.

“No, I am not, can you please get Finn?” The being said shakily and I watched as two broke away from the group and moved away while the rest tried to help me.

I wondered why the being needed Finn, but I could not help but smile. Finn would know the difference and he would help me.

You stupid girl, who do you think helped me in getting into your body in the first place. It whispered to me, but I shook my head. It wanted to create doubts, wanting me to think that I really was alone while I was not. I would not allow it to win.

“Iris…” Finn said as he rushed in, he froze for a second before gripping my hand and helping me up. “Come on Iris, let’s get you in your room.”

He kept his hold on me while taking me to my room even then, I kept clawing at the being, I wanted my body back.

As soon as the door of my room closed, Finn threw me to the opposite side of the room. “Who are you?”

“Gader’el.” The being tilted his head. “You are not the one who placed me in this body, but you knew I existed in here.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“You trained her defenses until it was nonexistent so I could gain control easily and you saw me when I was leaving during her blackouts, but you did nothing.”

I watched in horror as Finn gave a stiff nod. “Observant. I am not the person who you are indebted to, but she is also my mistress.”

“Who is she?” Gader’el ordered.

“The queen of the light fae. Iris mother.” Finn sighed as my world stopped. I immediately stopped clawing to get control back, the will driven out of me.