CHAPTER- 7
1745 Words
Freyah.
I found Gillian standing frozen in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection as though it were someone else’s face. He blinked repeatedly, slow, deliberate... like he was willing his eyes to change back to the color he remembered. I stepped closer and stopped behind him.
“How… how did this happen?” he whispered, voice trembling. “I just went to sleep, and when I woke up… my eyes looked like this?”
I heard every word, no matter how soft.
But I played along.
“Gillian… is there something you want to tell me? You’ve been uneasy since earlier,” I asked, pretending I hadn’t caught his whisper.
He shook his head lightly. “No… nothing. I’m just confused why my eyes look so different from the photo. And the last thing I remember is being attacked out there in the snow. After that… when I woke up yesterday, something felt off. I didn’t tell you because we were in a rush, and I thought I was imagining it. But now… even if I blink a hundred times, they stay the same... golden brown.”
I drew a slow breath.
“Would you believe me if I told you’ve been asleep for a year?”
“What?” His voice cracked. “W–what do you mean?”
“It’s the truth. A whole year passed after I found you in the snow... already lifeless. You sacrificed yourself for my family.”
“You’re saying… after I saved them from Lazarus’ men, I died?”
“Yes,” I said quietly. “And what you didn’t know was that they tricked you. They told you my parents were being attacked by other vampires. You believed them… and that’s when they killed you.”
A soft laugh escaped him, disbelieving, almost fragile. He stepped toward me and pulled me into his arms, as if embracing me would make my words less real.
“How are you? You drank so much last night. Don’t you have a headache?” he teased lightly.
I frowned. He was deflecting... clearly.
Does he really think I’m making this up?
“You don’t want to believe that Lazarus’ men killed you?”
He chuckled again. “You’re joking. I’m obviously alive, see?” He lifted his hands slightly, as if presenting himself.
I gently pushed against his chest and met his gaze head‑on.
“Gillian, listen to me. You’re alive because I bit you... because I turned you down. I brought you somewhere safe and protected you the only way I knew how. That’s why we keep moving… because Lazarus’ camp hasn’t stopped hunting us.”
He stared straight into my eyes, as if trying to pierce through me, to see whether I was lying. A few seconds stretched by before he finally nodded.
“I believe you. So… you’re saying the reason my eyes changed color is because of that?”
“Yes. And… you’re not the same as before. Uhm…”
“What do you mean? Why are you hesitating?”
“Don’t be startled,” I murmured, gently holding both of his hands in mine. “Ever since you woke up yesterday… you’ve become immortal.”
“T-Truth? Immortal? You mean… I won’t die anymore? No matter who attacks me… I’ll live forever?”
“Yes, it’s true. But… your memories won’t return all at once. Not until the ritual is complete.”
“The ritual? I… I don’t know anything about that,” he said, confusion etching his features.
“You’ll understand once we reach your kingdom,” I replied, careful not to reveal too much. I wasn’t ready to tell him everything... he could panic easily. Gillian had a soft heart, and I didn’t want to frighten him. “Yesterday you said you wanted to go home. I think… we can start traveling there now.”
He took a deep breath and studied me. “Honestly… I’m worried. Especially with how I look now. What if they don’t recognize me… or even believe me?”
After saying that, he turned his back and walked toward the window, shoulders tense.
“Are you afraid of how people will react when we arrive? Or… is there another reason you suddenly changed your mind?” I asked, a pang of concern tightening my chest. His courage seemed to have vanished.
“My eyes… they’re different. And as far as I know, no one in my bloodline has eyes like this. How am I supposed to explain it to them?” he said, voice quiet, still not facing me.
I moved closer and wrapped my arms around him from behind, resting my chin on his shoulder. My voice softened as I spoke. “Don’t worry. I’m here. Whatever awaits us, I promise… no one will hurt you. I won’t let the thing you fear the most happen.”
“Sweetheart… that’s not the only thing on my mind,” he murmured, leaning slightly against me. “I’m worried about you too. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me. The palace guards… they’re ruthless... merciless killers. And when they see you… they’ll hate you. Your kind is blamed for the m******e of the first generation.”
A subtle smile tugged at my lips. Even with his back turned, I could feel the truth in his heart. He loved me... and that was all that mattered.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” I said, my voice firm and steady. “They can’t kill me. And remember... you’re immortal now, and your immortality… came from me. So just like you, they can’t touch me either.”
He turned toward me, lifted my chin gently, and pulled me closer until our faces were only inches apart. I saw the flicker of hesitation in his eyes, uncertainty, fear, disbelief... so I rose on my toes and brushed my lips against his before he could say anything.
“Gillian,” I whispered against his breath, “I would never lie to you. And about your eyes… we can buy contact lenses. No one will see the golden brown unless you want them to.”
He exhaled shakily, then wrapped me in a tight embrace, as if he were afraid I might disappear.
“I can’t lose you, Freyah. I love you so much,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady, but the tremor beneath it betrayed him.
“I feel the same,” I whispered back. "That’s why I brought you back... because I couldn’t bear to lose you. I love you, Gillian."
“I love you too, sweetheart.” He pulled back just enough to press a kiss to the top of my head. “Let’s go.”
He laced his fingers with mine.
“Close your eyes. We’ll do it together,” I said.
“Okay. They’re closed,” he said.
I peeked at him first, unable to resist his face... and smiled. Then I grasped my pendant, closed my eyes…
One second… two… three—
When we opened them again, we were already inside the mall.
We headed straight for the optical shop. But the moment we stepped in, I froze. My fingers tightened around Gillian’s hand. A foreign energy rippled through the air... neither vampire nor werewolf.
Witch.
My gaze swept across the store, searching for the source of the aura.
“May I help you, sir/ma’am?” a woman asked. I turned toward her, and in that instant, the witch’s energy vanished. The atmosphere returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
“Miss, our contact lenses are damaged. We need two new sets... for me and my fiancé.”
I smiled sweetly, especially after noticing the way she eyed Gillian. Flirting. Clearly.
Well… she needed to know Gillian was taken.
She guided us to the seats.
“What color do you need?”
“Blue and black,” I answered, still smiling.
“Would you like to try anything else? Eyeglasses, maybe?”
“No. Just contact lenses.”
My voice sharpened. She was talking to me, but her eyes stayed glued to Gillian.
“Sweetheart,” Gillian murmured, bending down toward me. “Are you jealous?”
His tone had a teasing warmth.
I arched a brow... and instead of replying, I discreetly pinched his side.
“Ouch!” he yelped.
I looked up at him, fighting a smile. My pinch wasn’t even hard. He was being dramatic… but adorable. Especially with those golden-brown eyes that suited him far too well.
But before I could get lost in him again, that same mysterious energy pulsed through the air.
My attention snapped to a woman standing a few meters away, holding a pair of eyeglasses. When her eyes met mine, I knew instantly... she had a message.
“Gillian, stay here,” I said, rising to my feet and approaching her.
“Who are you? What do you need to tell me?” I asked.
“King Magnus sent me,” she whispered urgently. “You have to leave now. Lazarus’s men are outside... they know Prince Gillian is alive. And be careful. Danger is waiting wherever you’re planning to go.”
She turned and vanished into the crowd as quickly as she appeared.
I returned to my seat... just in time to see the saleslady practically throwing herself at Gillian.
My patience snapped.
“Miss, is this going to take long? We’re in a hurry,” I said sharply.
“Please wait until your name is ca—”
“Why wait? We’re only buying contact lenses,” I cut in.
“We still need to check your—”
“No need. Just give them to us.”
I locked eyes with her, letting the authority in my voice take hold. Within seconds, her expression softened.
“Here’s my card. Hurry... we don’t have time.”
“R-right away, Ma’am,” she stammered before rushing off.
When I looked at Gillian, he was smiling... far too amused. I opened my mouth to ask why, but he suddenly pulled me into his arms… and kissed me.
“Don’t be jealous,” he whispered, his lips brushing my ear. “You’re the only one I love. The only woman I will ever love.”
His embrace tightened, warm and sure... and for a heartbeat, the entire world fell away, leaving only the two of us.
- Writer
