The bandit and I managed to prepare the meal while Angel and the alpha gallivanted in the river. The bandit and I never shared a word but it was not awkward being around him. The atmosphere reminded me of my time with Rob. He was never the talking type. He often set a goal and worked towards that, no matter how many obstacles were in his way.
This bandit wanted to get more power to defeat a stronger ghost. It could be considered a short-term goal. Rob's goal was to get revenge for his father. Sabastian saw something in this bandit as I had in Rob. They had the potential to be better persons.
Regardless, I never dared to look at the bandit or start a conversation with him. He was Sabastain's friend, not mine. It should remain that way.
As if Sabastian timed the pot, he was dressed and ready by the time the food was done and shared. He ate more than everyone else and left the rest of us to do the dirty work. No, I stood uncorrected. He left me to clean up. The jerk dragged the bandit off to talk about manly stuff, or whatever they talked about. Angel went to do strategy and do an inventory on supplies.
Oh, that bitch was getting on my nerves. She never helped with this stuff. It was as if they signed me up to be their personal maid.
I washed up the dirty utensils and packed them away in my tent. Sabastian and the bandit were still chatting at the bank of the river, so I went into my tent to await nightfall. It would be much better to take a bath when it was dark. I might have done a lot in my past life but modesty was a quality Mother didn't snatch away.
I ended up falling into a doze.
******************************
A white stretch of nothing spread out around me. I wondered if it was the afterlife. The memory of what happened earlier flashed through my mind. On my way back from me and Kyleon's hideout a spellbound dragon attacked me. I tried to fight it off but in the end, the beast was stronger. After all, it was enraged by my presence.
I looked death right in the eye. Kyleon was summoned by his mother. He was too far to assist me. Miranna was going to be upset. I should be at home in my bed. Yet, here I was out in the middle of the woods with a boy. She couldn't explain this to Father.
Oh, I was so stupid. I should have run instead of battling the beast by myself.
I sank on the white floor. Someone was bound to show up any minute to register me in the afterlife. I doubt hell would see my face. Maybe it would, Kyleon and I have been sneaking around for months now.
Miranna and Caroline didn't think we should be together. Hence, we found another way to do whatever we wanted. It was sad. I never meant to deceive any of them. But they left us no other choice.
There was no way of telling how long I dawdled in this place. It felt like forever. No one showed up. My mind played over the history of my life three times. When I thought all this would drive me insane, a figure sauntered towards me.
I shot to my feet at a familiar face. "Kyleon? What are you doing here? Aren't I dead?"
He paused in front of me with a sneer. His glistening gold eyes held nothing but annoyance. His muscular form was wrapped in a gleam lavender tuxedo. Gold hair styled in one to the back.
I cocked my head to the side. "Why are your hair and eye color different?"
Could this be a fragment of my imagination? Maybe. Kyleon had silver hair.
"Why are you here?" I asked. "You're not supposed to be here. I'm dead, aren't I?"
He held two glowing silver strings in hand. The strings were knotted together. "He doesn't want you to die. I don't agree with him but you know how he is, an annoying son of a bitch."
His voice; it was different. Deeper. More commanding.
I cocked my head to the side. "Who are you talking about? Is it Daddy? Is he angry with me?"
Wait, did he call my father a son of a bitch? Kyleon cursed but he respected Father. He had a man-crush on him.
Kyleon rested a palm on my chest. A similar silver string appeared. It was not until he attempted to tie the strings together did I realize what he was doing.
I grabbed his arm. "What are you doing? You can't. We aren't even mated."
He was binding my soul with his. We were together but not mated. There was no telling if our souls were compatible. If our souls were not synonymous and the process was carried out, the result would be death for both parties involved.
Gold irises pierced into mine. "We know the risk. If this is not done you'll die."
I was dying. So, I wasn't dead yet.
Oh, Kyleon, why would you risk your life for me?
My grip tightened. "But, if it is done and we are not compatible, you will die. I love you too much to let you die."
Kyleon was too much of a sweetheart to die. He was an amazing man. The world needed him.
"He loves you too," Kyleon whispered. "Too much that he's not thinking straight. He'll be punished for doing this. Mom will hate it but he doesn't want to hear any of it." He attempted to drag his hand away. "You have to let me do this."
He loved me. Kyleon loved me. Kyleon was an obedient child. He did whatever his parents told him. If he was willingly disobeying Caroline without being influenced, the situation was serious.
Kyleon prised my fingers from his hand. "I'm doing this whether you want it or not. You don't have a choice. You'll have to decide if you want me to hold you down or if you want to take it willingly?"
He arched a brow.
I contemplated my options. It wasn't a lot. Kyleon was always stronger than I. He was far more powerful. My siphoner power was no match for his quadbrid power. Then again, Kyleon was never a forceful man. He was often tender and kind. Yet, this side of him was somewhat scary.
I dropped my hand and stood still.
He smirked. "Wise choice."
I watched as he tied the knot. When done, the strings glowed brighter and the knots disappeared to form one long string. My heartbeat accelerated as we waited for what would happen.
"Kyleon," I whispered, "I really do love you. If we die now, I will be by your side forever. If we face separate ends, just know wherever I am, I will be thinking about you, whether it be heaven or hell."
It would always be Kyleon and Scarlet forever.
His brows knitted together. "There is no nee—"
I cut off his words with a kiss. It was a peck but it would remain with me forever.
Kyleon pulled away with a frown. "You won't die today. Next time think before you kiss people."
With that, he grabbed my hand and dragged me with him into a bright light.
**********************************
My eyes flashed open.
Kyleon? No, I should have known. That person was not Kyleon. He was Sabastian. That scene plagued me nights after that encounter. I always wondered why Kyleon's appearance was different. He was never the type to talk about himself in the third person. Little did I know, the man in the white place was different from Kyleon. His twin. Now everything fell into place.
I stretched and slipped from the bed padding.
I confided in Kyleon about my experience. He laughed and told me not to worry about it. Boy, did they trick me. I should have won a medal for the world's stupidest chick. Been duped by two brothers.
Gosh, I put the Jones name to shame.
Father was a far clever man. He would have been ashamed of me. Heck, I was ashamed of myself.
I stripped my clothes and wrapped myself in a towel.
Blinded by love, I gobbled up all the deceit those two brothers fed me. Sick. That ended now. Kyleon belonged to another and his brother wanted to kill me. I owed them nothing.
With a new resolve, I stepped out into the night. All thoughts of the Andersons left my mind at the sight before me. The river shimmered silver. A large soft Blue Moon kissed the water. The rest of the sky was black like an endless stretch of darkness. Dots of red glinted in it.
Night at this place was way more beautiful than the day. The lights in the tents were off. I tried not to think about what was happening in Sabastian's tent. It was none of my concern. He was a friend-enemy colleague. Once this trip was done, so would our relationship.
I folded the towel and rested it on a stone and waddled in the water. To my surprise, it was warm and soothing. I paused at a safe distance from the shore. Before I could enjoy the water, something jumped at me.
My eyes widened. A palm covered my mouth and stifled my scream.
"Shhh! Stop screaming."