When His Perfect Mask Shattered, I Awoke Novels & Stories

One had a mask, on the other hand no mask. The man in the mask was unrecognizable, but one thing was distinct, and that was the mask he had on. It was the exact mask those who killed my parents wore. There was nothing different about the mask. I began to tremble in fright and immediately woke up from my visions. When I opened my eyes, I took my hands away from the rogue's while trembling. “Gina, are you okay?" Cain instantly came to my side and held me in his arms. “Are you okay? What did you see?”

The normally impenetrable mask shattered like glass under the onslaught of my powerful blow, revealing nothing beneath - faceless. He crumbled to his knees, an ethereal apparition, his countenance veiled in every darkness. As he fell limp to the floor, I felt a fleeting sensation of victory, realizing the key to our liberation – the masks. "It's the mask." I breathed. "Their weakness is in their mask." then I strode toward the second man in front of Simon. With renewed vigor, my friends and I lashed at the remaining assailants, aiming for their cursed masks. Each strike of my claws shattered them into oblivion, releasing the men beneath from their silent torment.

It finds its way through, painting the room with a sliver of dark ash. I abandon her body on the floor, stumbling like some ruined, drunk bastard towards the bed. My hands and lips are bare as I grip the edge of the mattress. I barely stop myself from ripping my fingers straight into it. My bloodshot eyes fix on his unmoving ones. “Wake the fuck up.” “Tell me to fucking put on my mask. Wake up and tell me to go get some damn gloves, you weak piece of shit. You’ve already given up? Is that it?”

I roared wanting to break out even though I needed an embrace, a person to sob in his arms. "I can't leave you in this state" he whispers, his voice muffled against my skin and I part my lips slightly as though I'd say something but couldn't. I just ended up breaking down as he embraced me from behind. "Take your hands off!" I ordered again using a hand to break his grip. He did just that and I inhaled softly as I ran back to the safety of my room, I didn't look back. The mask, Alaric's mask, forever seared into my mind.

He let her play victim and tossed the Luna to the curb. My boots slapped too loudly on the tile. Couldn’t help it. I just wanted to get out of there, before my mask shattered completely. It still did, a little. For a second, I let myself be, well, ugly and hurting. Tears came, hot and slow, and damn, that made me even angrier. I wiped them away the way you clean something shameful, a quick swipe, like erasing evidence you were ever weak.

One last time. “My love,” I whispered, my voice cracking in the hollow space. I moved toward the casket. The flickering candles cast a deceptive golden glow over his features, mocking me with a shine of life that wasn't there. He looked like he was merely sleeping, but the stillness was too absolute. I reached out, picking up his hand and threading my fingers through his. His skin was like marble and utterly devoid of the heat that used to ground me. That was the moment the mask finally shattered.

Surely, he had to wash his face occasionally. I waited patiently, watching him assess the mask. He met my eyes through the mirror, and I could see the worry in his eyes. I gave him a kind smile in return to let him know that it was okay. He lifted his hands to the edges of the mask; I sucked in a sharp breath as he lifted it from his face. Removing the mask, he stared at his reflection with disbelief. I exhaled the breath I was holding. His face was flawless and perfect. There were no scars in place. I wasn’t surprised because I already saw it, but he looked utterly shocked.

They remembered everything. The way I took my tea. The way I tied my boots. The way I bit my lip when concentrating. And yet… none of them saw the truth. None of them knew I’d never truly left. Back in my dorm, I finally let the mask fall. I leaned against the door, breath shuddering. Feeling a little bit safe for now. I crossed to my desk to unpack and I was shocked. There, resting on my journal, was another note. Just there… waiting for me.

Amelia Wakening tucked safely in his arms is heaven and hell wrapped into one. How I wish we could have had a lifetime of this but I know each time we do this I put his life in terrible danger. I need to stop this somehow but every time I’m near him I loose my mind. Feeling him shift beneath me I steel myself and put my mask back in place, I need to stop this now before it spirals beyond control and he ends up dead. “Good morning” he whispers kissing the top of my head and my heart shatters a little. I pull back and look him dead in the eyes, ice rolling through me. I just need to get through this and then I can fall apart again.

I leaned over the frame, my hands clenching the metal edge so hard it bent. But just as I was about to lose all hope, his chest gave a violent, sudden heave, his mouth opening wide beneath the oxygen mask as his heavy eyelids fluttered open, exposing his dark eyes to the light. "Dad!" I shouted out, my tough mask completely shattering as a look of pure shock and desperation took over my entire face.