The Heir

Chapter 4 The Return of the history

" Sebastian," Reginald's voice cut through the air, cool and unvarying, as if he had not noticed the chaos in my mind." We need to talk about your future."

I leaned back in the chair, gaping out of the large window at my side, but not really looking at the view. It was on the storm of memories, hardly formed, swirling in my head who I was, what I was supposed to do, and the crushing weight of responsibility that was always there, staying for me.

The Green family empire, the heritage. Everything I had tried to run from, and yet- there it was again, clawing at the edges of my fractured mind.

" Your fiancée will be arriving shortly," Reginald continued, his tone sharp, nearly pleased as if he were about to deliver a gift." Victoria is eager to meet you. To. introduce you to your duties."

The word" fiancée" cut like a slap, sharp and cold. I had no memories of her- no one- but that did not count. I was to marry her, take my place as head of the Green family.

But what if I did not want that presently? What if this life I was erecting then, with Clara, was more real to me than whatever expectations my uncle had in mind?

" You are not harkening," I murmured, turning to face Reginald, my hands gripped into fists at my sides." I am not the same person you suppose I am. I do not want this life. I noway did."

The smile now spreading across Reginald's face was n't the least reassuring." You do not have a choice, Sebastian. You never did. The Green heritage is bigger than you, bigger than me, bigger than anyone. And it's time you flashed back that."

I pushed myself up from the chair, demanding space, air, anything to shake the suffocating thoughts swirling in my head. But as I moved toward the door, I set. That feeling — that one that had started to fade the longer I'd been down from my past — hit me again. The inarguable pull. A piece of who I was slipping back into place.

The room felt colder, darker. The walls felt lower. Suffocating.

Reginald's voice was a low hum in the back of my mind." Do not forget, Sebastian. You do not have the luxury of running presently."

The weight of it all counted heavily on me. The empire, the legacy, the family. I formerly had lived for those things, until I could n't. And now now I had Clara.

My teeth snapped into a tight vise as I forced off the tempting whispers of times gone in. I could n't- would n't- be dragged again down this same unfaithful slope. Not when at last there was something that felt real- a feeling that actually was with Clara, rather than something stemming from duty and/ or power.

" Sebastian?"

Her voice was a lifeline. It was soft, full of concern, and cut through the chaos in my mind as if it were a hot knife slicing through butter. I turned to her, her silhouette framed by the doorway and her expression conservative to a tee, for she knew something was wrong; always could tell." What is wrong?" she said, stepping outside.

I swallowed hard, fighting to regulate my breathing. I did not want her to see the storm raging in my gut. I could n't. Not now.

" Nothing," I prevaricated, trying to speak smoothly." I am okay."

Clara did not blench. She noway believed me when I tried a bluff.

" You are n't OK," she combated forcefully, inching near." You look like you are going to shatter from the pressure of the universe, Sebastian."

I let my breath out sluggishly, rubbing my hand over my face. The lies were coming easier now, but they tasted bitter in my mouth. How could I tell her the verity? How could I say it audibly, knowing that everything between us might change once she knew who I really was?

" You are right," I murmured, the words slipping out before I could stop them." I am not okay. I do not know who I'm presently, Clara. I feel like I am being torn in two. There is this life staying for me, one I have always known, but also there is this. this thing I am starting with you, and I do not know if I can keep them both."

Clara's eyes softened. She took another step closer and reached out, touching my arm smoothly; her fingers were warm against my skin." You do not have to figure it out now. Whatever is going on, I am then. You do not have to do this alone."

I shook my head, stepping back, demanding the distance." But that is the problem. I am not sure if I can have both, Clara. And I am spooked I am going to lose you if I choose the wrong path."

For a long moment, we stood there, the tension thick between us, each of us floundering to find the right words.

also, as if the universe itself decided to intermediate, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I did n't want to answer it, knowing who it was.

Reginald.

I glanced at Clara, her face impassive, but for one smallest transitory moment, I could have sworn I saw a flicker of something- things hurt, maybe? Or perhaps that was just me projecting my own fear.

" Go ahead," Clara said, veritably vocally, strained." You should take it."

I jounced, lugging the phone from my pocket and also fastening my eyes on the screen. The words there punched me in the guts.

From Reginald Victoria will be then at 6. Do not be late.

I goggled at the message, my mind racing. I had not been ready for this. I was not ready for any of it. And yet, then I was, standing at the edge of a cliff, with nothing but the once pushing me to jump.

Clara watched me, her eyes filled with uncertainty." What's it?" she asked in a tale.

" I I've to go," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them." There is something I've to do. I will be back soon."

She did not answer, but the hurt in her eyes was enough to make me want to turn around and stay. But I could n't. Not now.

The door shut behind me, and I stood out in the hallway, torn between the life I had with Clara and the life that was anticipated of me.