The Lord and his Queen

Chapter 3: Twisted Fate

“Its perfect.” He looked over at me while I blushed. 

“Thank you. Ronan what did you mean?” He looked at me and raised one beautiful eyebrow. “When you said “I had returned”? Were you thinking I was someone else?”

He sighed heavily. “It would seem so yes. I apologize for my forwardness last night, it will not happen again without your express permission.” I placed my hand on his. 

“I’m sorry for that. If that was what it was then whatever it was that happened to me when I went along with it cant have been easy for you. I hope we can be friends though.” I said as I finished my food and stood up. “our next class is coming up. We should go.” He nodded and stood. He stood quite a bit taller than me which also made me blush. Gosh what was it with this guy? I began to lead him from the hall when Amber Duschene called for me from the other side of the dining hall. 

“I’ll catch up with you in class. Save me a seat?” he nodded smiling  jaw dropping smile and walked off. I headed over to Amber still spinning from his smile.

“Yes Miss Duschene?” I asked, trying to be respectful.

“Follow me” I raised an eyebrow but did as she asked. She led me out and down to a spot behind the music hall where we would be alone. She got a bit far ahead of me but when we reached a small corner tucked away she set her books down and turned to me. I looked at her inquiringly and as I watched her expression changed. Her skin became pale and her hair suddenly turned black as night. I was horrified at the sight of it. Her fingers became elongated and claw like and her voice was that of 2 people speaking at once in unison.

“ I had Hoped not to see you here Vielle. You insist on returning time and time again! Do you never grow tired of this?!” I shrank down and shrieked in fear. Who was Vielle? Whoever she was I wasn’t her! Is this person who Ronan thought I was too?

“I don't know what you’re talking about! What are you? Please don't hurt me I'm not whoever she is!” I turned and tried to run only to be caught by the hair and pulled back against the body of the creature that Amber had become. I was terrified to the point I was shaking like a leaf. Her free hand began to explore my body from my hips up to my sides and stomach stopping just below my breast.

“You have come back younger this time, little morsel And human for that matter. this will be much easier than last time.” as she spoke a long amphibious tongue snaked from her mouth and slipped down my neck and collarbone and down my cleavage inside my shirt.

“Oh god what are you doing?!” I exclaimed trying to squirm away from her before feeling a sharp pain like a stabbing sensation on my sternum. I screamed in pain as I realized her tongue had a sharp protrusion in it that she had used to puncture my ribs. As she did this her hand groped up to my chest but I hardly noticed as I was still screaming. It felt as though something was being sucked from my chest but I couldn't tell. My vision was fading. I thought I saw Ronan run into the narrow space right before my eyes shut. 

Opening my eyes the first sensation was that of the strong smell of disinfectants. I was very aware suddenly that I was in a hospital bed. Opening my eyes I felt groggy and the white lights of the room stung so I shut my eyes again. God what had happened? Was I dreaming? It was then that I heard voices.

“This cannot happen again Ronan. I know the history of this school as you have told me but if it happens again the headmaster will be most distraught.” it was Professor Agnes speaking.

“Need I remind you of who funds this school of yours? I have told you it's her she's just...different. I fear I may have lost more of her over time than I thought. It will not happen again but that beast better be driven from the campus.” Ronan's deep voice was unmistakable. What on earth was he on about? Was he at all who he even said she was? I heard the sound of a curtain sliding and heavy footsteps as though someone wearing boots were coming toward me. I kept my eyes as shut as I could without drifting back into unconsciousness and felt a gentle finger brushing hair from my face. It then trailed along my cheek and traced my lips.  

“So fragile in this body.” I couldn't take it anymore. From the get go this man had kissed me, followed me from class to class, and saved me from attack from a terrifying monster that had violated me as it attacked me. 

“Who are you? For real” I opened my eyes and sure enough his sparkling rubies were level with mine. He didn't even seem surprised that I was faking my sleep.

“You are not ready for that answer in this state.” he said, pulling his fingers from my lips. I felt a small part of me yearning for him to continue touching my skin. 

“I need something. Nothing you do makes sense. You kiss me before you even know my name, muttering something that was obviously for someone else, you then masquerade as a student even though you clearly live on campus in a strange supposedly invisible tower that has been studied and proclaimed dangerous for centuries, and even though i had hoped this part was merely a bad hallucination or something saved me from a strange terrifying monster inhabiting one of my dorm mates. I didn't even ask to be pulled into this Ronan what the hell is going on? And why me?” I sat up feeling a sharp pain in my chest. The pain confirmed 110% that what had happened was real. He sighed and ran his hands through his silky crimson hair. 

“Sarafynah” he spoke my name as though he had said it a thousand times. “All I can tell you until you are well again is that my tower is not dangerous. And there are forces in this world you cannot even begin to fathom. I can show you everything. I can answer all of your questions. But you need to understand in this state you may not like or even know how to accept some of the answers I give you. Also I will not answer anything you do not open your mind to.” I nodded as he spoke, thinking him even more cryptic than ever. 

“ then right here right now. Can you tell me why it is that I seem to be in the very center of whatever strangeness is happening?” At this question his eyes seemed to fill with pain. 

“I can but that may be one of those answers you do not want to hear. Right now it will not make sense to you” I c****d an eyebrow at him.

“At this point Ronan, I can be open minded. I already know that monsters exist. Please just answer that one question with a straight answer. Why me?” he seemed to understand that I needed at least that much and buried his face in his hands for a brief second before meeting my gaze once more.

“It is because I love you, sarafynah”