Cora lifts her arm, staring at her now badly bruised wrist. Kristian already witnessed her having these nightmares twice and he'll never stop asking about it now.
Kristian sits on the bedside, patiently waiting for her to speak. The towel still hangs on his shoulder, rustling on his hair to keep it from dripping.
"I've been having these nightmares…" she finally speaks. "Weird ones. It all started when my sister, Stella, and I looked into Papa's case files. I saw something that seemed familiar. And since then, I keep on dreaming about that place."
"And the bruise?"
"There's this vampire…" She starts rubbing the now almost healing red patch on her neck. "Every time I dream about that place, he's always there, as if expecting me. As if he has been waiting for me for so long. The first time he appeared, it felt like he manifested into reality and gave me this." Showing her neck.
"He bit you?"
"I think so. But there are no puncture wounds. Just another bruise." She takes a deep breath. "Every time I dream about him, he gets more and more physical." Shows the bruise on her wrist now looking purple. "He wants to take me. I don't know where or how."
"Did you get a good look at him?"
She shakes her head. "I can't always see his face. Just his silhouette, his eyes, and his grin."
"And the place. What does it look like?"
"It's a church. From Papa's case file, it looks fine. But in my nightmare, it appears to be an abandoned church. There's this big Wisteria tree growing at the middle of the altar."
Kristian grabs his phone from the nightstand, tapping on it before showing a picture to her. "Is this the church?"
"Yes! That's it!" Her skin felt like crawling as she stares closely at the picture. "Where is this place?"
"Scarlet District. The district closest to the Paramount. We should avoid that district as much as possible then."
"Another thing."
"Hmm..?"
"A friend of mine said this was an Undone Bite. The one on my neck. I don't know what that means."
"An Undone Bite?" He leans forward, almost crossing her side. "Can I?"
She nodded.
He pushes back her hair, taking a closer look at the red patch on her neck. He gently touches it. "Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore."
He gently rubs her skin before pulling her hair, letting it drape down to cover her neck. "Theseus didn't say anything about this to you?"
She shakes her head. "He must have missed it."
"Theseus never misses a thing." He moves back, resting his back on the headboard. Folding his arms as he tilts his chin up, thinking deeply. "It's quite a rare phenomenon but I've heard of it."
She leans back beside him, keeping her head down.
"If I'm not mistaking, an Undone Bite is somewhat like an unfinished bond between a vampire and his human Consort," he muttered.
She turns to him. Surprised. "Consort? How did I become a Consort? I haven't been in Wisteria before. And I sure as hell didn't apply myself to serve blood to vampires."
Shaking his head. "No. Consorts are different from Givers. Givers devote their lives with their Masters with a purpose of providing them blood for life. A Consort has a different role."
"How so?" Her eyes speaks of confusion.
"There's this other type of relationship or unity wherein, before reaching the matured age, specifically before ten-years-old, a human and a vampire has to form a bond. This unity is usually done within wealthy vampire families, including Highborns and their Scions." Shrugging his shoulder. "Humans here would sell away their children just so they get high social status. These human kids don't know what they're getting themselves into. And same goes with the vampire kids." Clenching his fist tight. There is a frustration in his voice.
Cora noticed how Kristian's tone changed to somewhat angry.
"These human kids serve as Consorts to their vampire Mates. Bonding for the rest of their lives."
"You mean like an arranged marriage between a human and a vampire?"
He nodded. "Exactly like that. Except there's no way out of it. Once the bond has started, the human and the vampire had no choice but to be drawn to each other. Once separated, say having an unfinished bond like yours, both parties will go through inexplicable insanity. It's like having both parties obsessed with each other."
"That's cruel." Curling up her knees then slouches forward. "Does that mean that I'm suffering the same thing now?"
He turns to her, his stare blank and cold. "Yes. And your Mate. He's probably tormented for a very long time now, that's why he already manifested in your nightmares. And I guess that's how he tracked you down. That image of that church is probably a part of your past here in Wisteria. And that served as his way to link back to you."
"But why just now? Why can't I remember becoming a Consort or undergoing some bond with him? I can't even remember staying here in Wisteria." Her hands over her head. Frantic. "How dare our father sell me to some vampire only just to end up being detached from him?! How could he?! All he did was hide things from us! I can't--".
Kristian immediately turns then pulls her to embrace, stopping her from exploding. "Calm down. We don't know the facts yet. There must be a reason why your father did it." His voice now gentle as he rubs her back.
She starts sobbing. "I can't sleep. I can't rest. Every time I close my eyes, I feel his fangs…his hand… That vampire is hurting me, Kristian."
Moving back, he gently wipes her tears. "I'm here now. Whenever he tries to come back, think of me. Think of me and you'll be back to reality. Call out my name and I'll wake you up." Slowly guiding her to lay down, he hovers over her. For a moment he stares at her in the eye then immediately moves away to get out of bed.
"Where are you going?" she faintly asked, her voice tear-stained.
Without looking back, he smiles. He hangs the now almost dry towel on the rack then turns off the lights. He went back in bed, laying beside her. Turning to face her. "I'll move on the floor as soon as you fall asleep."
"No…" She closes her eyes. "Please stay…"
He moves closer, guiding her to lay on his arm. "Am I crossing a boundary now?"
She shakes her head, turning around to face him. Burying her face on his chest. It is obvious that they're both crossing some boundary here and she couldn't deny the safety she feels whenever she's near him.
"Would you go to him?" he asked.
"Hmm…?"
"Once he finds you. Once you find each other. Would you go to him?"
"You said both parties are supposed to be drawn to each other. If that's the case then why am I not drawn to him?"
"I don't know…" He pulls her closer, slightly leaning down to rest his head on hers. "I don't know how the human's heart works."
"I don't know how it works either. But there's one thing I know…"
"What is that?"
"I don't feel anything for him. And some bond can't force me to do so."
He takes a deep breath as he closes his eyes. A sudden disappointed feeling hit him but he can't understand why. "I can't assure you on that. The bond has its own rules."
"I know what I want. And it's not him…"
But if not him, then who? If the bond is actually that strong, then why isn't she affected by it? She should be running straight towards that vampire now, especially now that she is in her vulnerable state. But what's stopping her?
There is a theory that suddenly crossed her mind. She doesn't want to accept it. It shouldn't happen. It's impossible.
Keeping her eyes closed, she turns around, facing away from Kristian. Her heart, couldn't be still.
-------------------
A faint glimpse of light illuminates the floor as Highborn Lizeth Daycreek opens the door. "How's the meeting, son?" she hesitantly asked.
The room is almost pitch black, with the curtains down and lights shut. Lizeth turns on the light on the sconces, not enough to light up the room but good to at least see what is going on in the room. "Colby…"
Colby Daycreek is sitting on the floor with his back resting on the wall. His long straight hair, all messed up draping down his face. His clothes soaked in sweat.
"She won't come to me, Mom," he sobs. "She won't come to me and I just… I just can't stop thinking about her. She's driving me crazy!" he frustratingly yelled out. His hands trembling. He takes a deep breath, placing his hands over his head. "I can't sleep! I can't--"
Closing the door behind her, she immediately approached him, on her knees as she checks on her son. "Calm down." Gently tucking his hair behind his ears, she clears his face. Taking a look at him. "She'll come around. I promise you."
"I so badly want her, Mom." He lifts his head up. His eyes, now raging crimson. His hand forms a fist, his nails dig in his palm until it bleeds. "I must have her, whatever it takes. And no one's gonna stop me."