“This time

The world around me started to collapse as the realization of what had happened dawned on me. 

All I could do was panic.

‘Oh, no, no, not again, this couldn’t happen again.’

My vision darkened at the edges and the last thing I felt before I fell was Olpheus arms around me, holding tight, whispering words I could barely make out.

Only for me to wake up slowly in a room I had never been before. 

My mind was a fog, and I couldn’t remember much, until everything crashed in like a flood. i remembered Ian’s hands around me, his cruelty, and his bite. My chest tightened and the fear came back. I lay still on the bed, wondering if this was what death felt like. Ian had bitten me with enough force to kill me, so maybe i was dead. ‘Was this what it felt like to die?’

‘Where was I? … had Ian locked me up again? … why could i not recognize this place? … i needed to escape’

I sat up fast, the paranoia hitting me before my brain caught up. I pressed my finger to the mark at my neck, heat burning through me.‘I needed to get out of here. I needed to leave right now. I would not be bound to a life with Ian. I refused it.’

“Hey, hey, calm down,” i heard a familiar voice, blinked away the tears from my eyes, and saw Olpheus in the room.

‘how long had he been here? … was i too in my head that i didn’t notice him?’

“You’re fine,” he stood up and closed the gap between us.

I stared at him with wide eyes, lungs tightening as anxiety climbed higher in my throat. I braced myself for the worst.

‘i don’t know who he is, and who know if he is … worse than Ian?’

“You’re safe, Eloise. I am not going to hurt you. I am not him.” He assured me firmly, and oddly enough, i started to feel … safe.

I felt the warmness spread through my shoulder until it reached my pounding heart. ‘What was happening to me?’

I looked around and exhaled deeply. The room was large and smelled like herbs, the cieling above me was stone, old stone, and the fire guttering in the heart looked like it had been there for years. I had never been here before and it didn’t look like a prison. I was safe.

“Here, drink this,” he picked up a bowl, and handed it to me.

I frowned, taking it from him reluctantly.

‘Should i be drinking things handed to me by strange men?’

“It will help with the forced mark.” he explained.

I drank it all at once, determined to do anything to be free from that vicious bastard. My neck was still hrobbing painfully and i found it hard to think straight. The content of the cup smelled like dirty and i almost threw up when the taste hit my tongue. Goosebumps broke over my skin and i forced myself to swallow. The warmth spread down my throat and the throbbing at my neck dulled a little.

“Where are we?” I asked, handing him the cup.

He took it from me, and frowned, “you truly don’t remember me, do you? Even now?”

‘Am i supposed to?’

I shook my head, chewing on my bottom lip, “I’m sorry, I don’t.”

He gave me a small smile, “You have nothing to be sorry for, Eloise.”

The way he said my name sent a jolt to my heart, one i didn’t understand.

“And you’re in my home, so do not worry, you will be safe here. Ian cannot get in, he is not welcomed here and he wouldn’t be stupid enough to try to enter. All you need to do is rest, the herbs you took will handle the rest, it will wash out the forced bond from you and you will be healed.” he explained calmly.

I nodded, looking at him, still confused by what he said earlier.

“Should i remember you? Were we familiars?” i asked, unable to hold the thought in.

Something flashed over his face, and he shuttered it off, “do not worry about it, just focus on your healing. I would be in the library if you need me.” 

‘He’s leaving? … he is leaving me all alone here? … what am i supposed to do?’

He watched my face for a second long before leaving.

I sighed, unable to relax. I was very restless. His home was different from what i was used to. I had never seen something like this and i knew if i went outside, i would see more.

‘What did he want from me? Am i to be a prisoner here? … did i know him from my past life? That was impossible, but … was it? I didn’t know what the rules were. I didn’t know the dynamic of this new life. I was thrown into it without preamble and from the looks of it, i was making a mess.’

My chest grew heavier and I sighed.

I wasn’t sure how long i sat on the bed, until suddenly, i wasn’t alone anymore.

Out of nowhere, the old woman from earlier was standing in front of me.

My pulse raced and i almost jumped off the bed. She was standing in front of me, wearing the same outfit she had on before. I looked around, afraid and confused.

‘Was this a joke? Was she working with him? What the hell was going on?’

“Do not mess it up this time.” she warned me firmly, before walking out the door.

“What?” i whispered in disbelief. I couldn’t even move, i was made immobile by my confusion. She was the only one who knew what was happening to me, and she came and went as she pleased.

I stifled a groan, but her words kept ringing in my head ‘this time’ it meant that i had a chance of fixing everything.