Falling for my Murderer

Chapter three: The name I forgot

Run from Jasper.

The voice inside Evelyn's head screamed the words again.

Run.

Her knees nearly gave way.

Jasper moved toward her.

"Evelyn...."

"Don't."

He stopped.

She backed away from him.

Her breathing was uneven.

"Don't come near me."

Pain flashed across his face.

But he obeyed.

Lucian stood on the balcony, watching them with an expression that looked almost amused.

Evelyn turned toward him.

"You're saying I'm not Evelyn Vale."

Lucian shook his head.

"Not exactly."

"Then who am I?"

"That's the question you should be asking Jasper."

Her eyes immediately moved to him.

Jasper said nothing.

"Tell me."

His jaw tightened.

"Evangeline."

Hearing the name sent a strange sensation through her.

Not recognition.

Something deeper.

Like grief.

She pressed a hand against her chest.

"Why does it hurt when you say that?"

Jasper looked at her.

"Because it's yours."

"Then why have I spent my entire life as Evelyn Vale?"

"Because that was the name your mother gave you."

"My mother?"

Jasper hesitated.

"Your mother knew who you were."

Evelyn's eyes widened.

"You knew my mother?"

"Yes."

"How well?"

His silence answered the question.

She stared at him.

"You loved her?"

"No."

"Then what was she to you?"

"An ally."

Evelyn's expression hardened.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I expect nothing from you."

"Good."

She turned toward Lucian.

"Then tell me."

Lucian smiled.

"I'd be delighted."

Jasper immediately stepped forward.

"Don't listen to him."

Evelyn looked at him.

"You've lied to me since the moment we met."

"I didn't lie."

"You told me you killed me."

"I did."

"You told me you loved me."

"I do."

"You told me my memories were erased."

"They were."

"And now he's telling me I'm not even Evelyn."

Jasper's eyes darkened.

"You're both."

Lucian laughed softly.

"That's not possible."

Jasper looked at his brother.

"You know it is."

Lucian's smile disappeared.

For the first time, Evelyn noticed something between them.

Hatred.

Not ordinary sibling rivalry.

Something ancient.

Something personal.

She looked between them.

"What happened between you two?"

Neither answered.

"Tell me."

Lucian's gaze remained on Jasper.

"He stole my throne."

Jasper scoffed.

"You never wanted the throne."

"I wanted what came with it."

"What?"

Lucian's eyes moved toward Evelyn.

"Her."

Evelyn's stomach tightened.

Jasper's expression became dangerous.

"Don't."

Lucian smiled.

"You remember, don't you?"

Jasper didn't answer.

"You remember the night she chose you."

"Enough."

"She was supposed to marry me."

Evelyn stared.

"What?"

Lucian looked at her.

"Three hundred years ago, you were promised to me."

Jasper's voice was cold.

"She chose me."

"After you manipulated her."

"I loved her."

"You stole her from me."

"I saved her from you."

Lucian laughed.

"Did you?"

Evelyn's head began to ache.

Images flashed through her mind.

A ballroom.

A golden crown.

A man with silver eyes.

Another man with golden hair.

Someone holding her hand.

Someone placing a ring on her finger.

Then blood.

So much blood.

She gasped.

Jasper immediately moved toward her.

"Evangeline."

She grabbed her head.

"Stop."

The memories came faster.

A wedding.

A black dress.

A burning castle.

Jasper screaming her name.

Lucian standing in a doorway.

A sword.

A kiss.

Then...

A baby crying.

Evelyn's eyes flew open.

She looked at Jasper.

"Was I pregnant?"

His face changed.

She knew immediately.

"Jasper."

He looked away.

"Answer me."

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"You disappeared before I could find out."

Evelyn's breath caught.

"You disappeared?"

He nodded.

"You vanished the night you died."

"But you said you killed me."

"I thought I did."

"What do you mean you thought?"

Jasper stepped closer.

"I stabbed you."

Her face went pale.

"But you didn't die?"

"I watched you fall."

"And then?"

"You disappeared."

Evelyn swallowed.

"Where did I go?"

"We never found your body."

Silence.

Lucian laughed quietly.

"Because there was no body."

Evelyn turned toward him.

"What does that mean?"

Lucian's eyes gleamed.

"It means you were never dead."

Jasper looked furious.

"Leave."

Lucian ignored him.

"You weren't reincarnated, Evelyn."

He took a step toward her.

"You were hidden."

"By whom?"

Lucian smiled.

"By the only person powerful enough to hide a queen from an entire kingdom."

Evelyn's heart raced.

"Who?"

Lucian looked directly at Jasper.

"Your husband."

Jasper's eyes closed.

Evelyn stared at him.

"You hid me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because everyone wanted you dead."

"Everyone?"

"Kings. Witches. Assassins. Your own family."

Evelyn shook her head.

"Why would my family want me dead?"

Jasper's voice softened.

"Because you were born with something they wanted."

"What?"

He looked at the mark beneath her collarbone.

"The Shadow Heart."

Evelyn touched it.

"What is that?"

Jasper walked toward her.

"Magic."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the oldest magic in existence."

Lucian interrupted.

"Tell her what happens when it awakens."

Jasper glared at him.

"She doesn't need to know yet."

"I think she does."

Evelyn looked at Jasper.

"What happens?"

He hesitated.

Then he said:

"If the Shadow Heart fully awakens, you'll become the most powerful person in the seven kingdoms."

Evelyn stared.

"And?"

"And whoever controls you controls the kingdoms."

Her heart sank.

"So that's why everyone wants me."

"Yes."

Lucian smiled.

"Not everyone."

Evelyn looked at him.

"I want something else."

"What?"

Lucian's gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

"I want you to remember."

Jasper moved between them.

"You've said enough."

Lucian laughed.

"You're still jealous."

"I'm not."

"You always were."

Jasper's jaw tightened.

Lucian looked at Evelyn.

"You'll remember everything eventually."

Then he stepped backward.

"Just remember one thing when you do."

"What?"

His smile returned.

"Jasper wasn't the only one who loved you."

A flash of golden light filled the balcony.

Lucian disappeared.

Silence returned.

Evelyn stared at the empty space.

Then she looked at Jasper.

"Was he telling the truth?"

"About what?"

"Did he love me?"

Jasper's expression became unreadable.

"Yes."

"And did I love him?"

Jasper didn't answer.

That was enough.

Evelyn looked away.

A strange feeling settled inside her.

Jealousy.

She didn't understand why.

She had only known Jasper for one night.

Yet the thought of another woman touching him or another man having once loved her made something uncomfortable twist inside her.

She hated that.

Jasper noticed.

"You're jealous."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Why would I be jealous?"

"Because you're still you."

She looked at him.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you were always jealous."

Despite everything, she almost smiled.

"You sound like you knew me well."

"I did."

"How well?"

His eyes held hers.

"Better than anyone."

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Jasper took a step toward her.

Evelyn didn't move.

Another step.

He stopped directly in front of her.

His hand slowly lifted.

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

She shivered.

"Don't."

His hand stopped.

"Do you want me to stop?"

Evelyn didn't answer.

His fingers moved gently along her cheek.

"Tell me to stop."

She looked into his eyes.

She couldn't.

Jasper leaned closer.

His lips brushed hers.

Barely.

A question rather than a kiss.

Evelyn's heart hammered.

She closed the distance herself.

Their lips met.

For a moment, everything disappeared.

The kingdom.

The secrets.

The three hundred years between them.

There was only the warmth of his mouth and the way his hand settled against her waist.

The kiss deepened.

Jasper pulled her closer.

Evelyn's fingers curled into his coat.

He kissed her as though he had been waiting centuries to do it again.

And perhaps he had.

When they finally separated, both were breathing harder.

Jasper rested his forehead against hers.

His voice was barely a whisper.

"This is a mistake."

Evelyn swallowed.

"Then why did you kiss me?"

"Because I'm weak when it comes to you."

She looked at him.

"Maybe I'm weak too."

His eyes darkened.

For a second, it seemed like he might kiss her again.

Instead, he stepped away.

"We can't do this."

"Why?"

"Because you don't remember me."

"I remember enough."

"No."

He shook his head.

"You remember nothing."

"Then help me remember."

He stared at her.

"You don't know what you're asking."

"Then tell me."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because the truth will change how you see me."

Evelyn stepped closer.

"Maybe it should."

He looked away.

She caught his hand.

"Jasper."

He looked back.

"I don't know who I was."

Her voice softened.

"I don't know who you were."

She squeezed his hand.

"But I know who you are now."

His expression softened.

"And?"

Evelyn's eyes moved to his lips.

"And I want to know you."

Something inside him broke.

He pulled her against him.

This kiss was different.

Less careful.

More desperate.

His hand moved around her waist, pulling her close enough that she could feel his heartbeat against her chest.

Evelyn's fingers slipped into his hair.

Jasper kissed her neck.

A quiet gasp escaped her.

He immediately stopped.

His breathing was unsteady.

"Evelyn."

She looked at him.

"We should stop."

"Why?"

"Because if I don't..."

He closed his eyes.

"I won't be able to."

The words sent a shiver through her.

She touched his face.

"Then stop."

He looked at her.

"But don't leave."

Jasper stared at her for a long moment.

Then he stepped back.

"I need to show you something."

---

He led her through a hidden passage behind the fireplace.

Evelyn followed him through a narrow stone corridor until they reached a massive underground chamber.

Hundreds of candles burned around the walls.

At the centre stood a stone pedestal.

On it was a glass box.

Inside was a ring.

Evelyn stopped.

She knew it.

She didn't know how.

But she knew it.

The ring had belonged to her.

Jasper opened the glass box.

He lifted it carefully.

Then he took Evelyn's hand.

"I gave you this."

He placed the ring in her palm.

The moment she touched it...

The chamber disappeared.

Evelyn saw herself standing before Jasper.

She was wearing a white wedding gown.

He was holding her hands.

They were smiling.

Happy.

Then the memory changed.

Evelyn was crying.

Jasper was kneeling before her.

"Please."

She shook her head.

"I can't."

"You have to."

"They'll kill you."

"I don't care."

"I do."

Then Evelyn kissed him.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

She whispered:

"If you love me, Jasper, you'll kill me."

Evelyn screamed.

The vision shattered.

She fell against Jasper.

He caught her.

Her entire body trembled.

"I remember."

Jasper froze.

"What?"

She looked up at him.

"I remember why you killed me."

His face went pale.

"What did you see?"

Evelyn stared at him.

"You didn't kill me because your father ordered you to."

Jasper's breathing stopped.

"You killed me because..."

She touched his face.

"...I asked you to."

His eyes widened.

Evelyn whispered:

"And I remember why."

The candles suddenly went out.

A voice echoed through the chamber.

"Because you were carrying his child."

Jasper spun around.

Evelyn froze.

Someone was standing at the entrance.

A woman.

Her face was hidden beneath a hood.

She slowly lowered it.

Evelyn's blood ran cold.

The woman looked exactly like her.

But older.

And there was a scar across her throat.

Jasper stepped in front of Evelyn.

"Who are you?"

The woman smiled sadly.

"Someone who knows how this story ends."

Evelyn stared at her.

"Who are you?"

The woman looked directly into her eyes.

"I am you."

TO BE CONTINUED.