\[Elise’s POV\]
Phantom faces haunt my dreams, making my skin break out in a sweat and my body toss and turn. They’re calling to me, and their clawed fingers are beckoning me, but I fight with all my might to stay away until my eyes fly open and I find that I’m in my room in the girls dorm of the academy.
“Fuck,” I sigh, sitting up and wiping tendrils of stray hair away from my soaked forehead. “What the hell is this?”
This was the second night that these phantoms haunted my dreams. Although I knew that they were something important, I couldn’t make heads or tails of what I was seeing.
Letting out a grumble of annoyance, I untangle the blanket that is wrapped tightly around me and then get up.
Peeking at my phone, I find that it is still fairly early and classes won’t be starting anytime soon. Although I would have loved to go back to sleep, I already know that won’t be possible, not with the anxiety I was feeling.
‘Some fresh air should help.’ Anna offers.
‘You’re probably right.’
Deciding that exercising wouldn’t be the worst of things to do, I quickly change into a tank top and some black sweat pants, then throw up my hair. Once I’m dressed, I grab my headphones, slip on my shoes, and begin to move.
Outside, the sun is still rising, and the air smells of fresh dew. After a few stretches, I turn toward the training pitch and then begin to move, fixing my gaze straight ahead.
With each hit of my foot on the ground and each inhale and exhale of my breath, I can feel the anxiety I’m feeling slowly fading away, but before it can disappear entirely, the glowing eyes and faces of those who were haunting me reappear.
“Fuck.” I growl, stopping and shaking my head. “Why won’t you go the hell on somewhere?”
Feeling my anger spike, I begin to move again until I can see the pitch on the horizon. Deciding maybe beating the shit out of a punching bag would help, I pick up the pace but stop when I spot two figures who have already beat me there.
“Well, well,” I whisper, recognizing them immediately. “What have we got here?”
Remaining in place, I watch as they begin to square off, each looking for an opening, and when they move, they’re almost equal in terms of speed. However, it is quickly evident that Serenity is stronger, as she manages to get the best of Maverick.
“That’s my niece.” I grin, giving a silent clap. “Don’t let any man act like they’re above you. Well, not when fighting.”
‘Pervert.’ Anna huffs. ‘You’re only sixteen. Shouldn’t you be more pure?
‘Only in body am I sixteen.’ I counter. ‘In mind, I am well into my forties.’
Shivering, I try not to imagine how I would look right about now if I were in my original body, but before I can fully picture it, Maverick and Serenity fall to the ground.
Together, they move, twisting and fighting for dominance until Serenity is on top of Maverick and pinning him.
“Oh ho!” I laugh, continuing to watch the scene unfold. “I know where this should go.”
Keeping my gaze fixed on them, I watch until I can almost feel the sexual tension between them and know that I should end things where they are. After all, they were out in public.
“Well, well.”
As the words leave my lips, both Maverick and Serenity’s gazes come to rest on me, and when Serenity’s cheeks flush a bright pink, I know that I’ve pegged what is happening correctly.
“Whoops,” I giggle, continuing to close the distance between us. “I didn’t mean to ruin your moment.”
“Moment?” Serenity repeats, her voice cracking ever so slightly. “I don’t…”
“You don’t have to explain to me.” I sigh. “You can continue with what you were doing; I just came to exercise before class.”
Giving them a final look, I position my headphones properly and begin to move while Maverick and Serenity’s gazes burn into me. Ignoring them entirely, I continue to move, and before I even realize where I’m going, I can see William’s cabin.
Stopping, I let my gaze skim the building while wondering whether or not William is inside, and almost as though my thoughts summoned him, he appears, but he isn’t alone.
Eyes widening, I watch as he gently helps a woman walk across his porch and then take a seat in a rocking chair. Once she is settled, she lets her bright blue gaze stare straight ahead at the horizon, where the sun is rising.
Breath hitching, I take in the woman’s face as something in me begins to stir.
“She…” I hiss, recognizing that face anywhere. “Looks like me.”
As the words leave my lips, William disappears into the cabin and then returns with a blanket, which he places across the woman’s knees. Even from where I stand, I can see the look of tenderness on his face as he does these things, and it irritates me.
‘Jealous?’ Anna asks, joining me. ‘Then shouldn’t you do something?’
Do something? How the hell could I do something as a sixteen-year-old girl? As far as he could see, I was nothing more than a charge at the academy in which he was principal. There was no fucking way he would even look at me.
‘Can’t you see?’ I snap, continuing to watch the scene. ‘She looks like me!’
Was he being so gentle with this woman because she reminded him of me? And if she was here, then what the hell happened to that bitch, Lydia?
Frowning, I continue to watch, half expecting the bitch in question to come out throwing a fit, but before she can, my gaze meets with my twin, and I feel myself being pulled out of my own body and thrown into a dark abyss.
Gasping, my eyes fly open, and I sit up, only to find that I’m no longer on the outskirts of the training pitch. Instead, I’m in a large bed with a white, flowy canopy that dances lazily in the wind wrapped around it. Under me is a soft mattress covered in silk sheets, and tangled around me is a black comforter.
Confusion growing, I begin to take in my surroundings, noting how rustic they look compared to modern times. When I’m almost ready to get up and explore a bit, the door to the room I’m sitting in opens, and a handsome man with deep, dark eyes and long, dark hair enters carrying a tray of food.
“Are you awake?” He asks, taking me in. “I was hoping to surprise you with breakfast in bed, Olivia.”
Olivia… Was that the name of the person whose body I was inhabiting, and if so, did that mean it was the name of the woman who looked so much like me? I didn’t know why, but I was certain that this was her memory, but I didn’t quite understand why I was seeing it.
“Are you okay?” The man pushes, coming forward and sitting the tray he carries on the bedside table. “You don’t look so good.”
“I’m fine.” I say slowly, not wanting to draw too much attention. “Just still waking up.”
“Is that so?” The man sighs, giving me a kiss. “Was I too hard on you last night?”
Last night. Eyes widening, I look down and find that the body I’m in is completely naked and covered in marks. Shit. Did I really find myself in a morning after memory? And if so, why was I seeing this particular time?
“I’m sorry if I hurt you.” He continues when I don’t speak. “Just the thought of not being able to see you for days at a time drives me crazy.”
“It’s…”
“I promise that I will make this expedition for the goddesses tomb as short as possible so that I can return you quickly.”
The goddess' tomb... Oh! I vaguely remembered hearing something about that. If I could just pin-point it, then...
I don’t get to finish my thought before I’m being tugged away from this time and place and returning to my own body, which is lying flat on the pitch.
“Dammit,” I growl, sitting up and looking around. “Why did…”
“Eleanor.”
Eyes widening, I lift my gaze in the direction of the one who must have woken me to find William.
“Care to explain what you’re doing spying on me?” He snaps once he is sure he has my attention.
“That…” I begin, trying to come up with an excuse. “That’s because…” Shit. Think, Elise, think! What would be a good explanation that wouldn’t get me in trouble? I didn’t have one! “Because I like you!”