[©Lynnifer Ice – February 10, 2023]
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My heart skipped a beat as he closed his eyes. I could feel his breath tickle my skin as his nose brushed against mine. My eyes closed, a subconscious reaction. His lips pressed lightly against mine.
So warm…
My brain felt a little foggy as butterflies danced in my stomach. Xinith didn't pull back after a light peck. Rather, his lips pressed more firmly against mine. Slowly, sensually, his mouth moved against mine in gentle strides.
I should despise this, but I don't. My body feels weird, as if I'm actually craving for more? That has to be the mark talking, right? There's no way I feel like that toward him.
I could feel energy surge through my veins. My muscles were regaining their strength somehow. Then, I felt a small pang in my heart, the same moment I felt something wet fall on my cheek. Xinith pulled back just enough to break the kiss, his forehead leaning against mine. I opened my eyes, seeing his still closed and….tears falling from them?
"I'm so sorry," Xinith whispered.
That small pang… Was I feeling his emotions?
"For which part?" I whispered back, glad to hear my voice again.
"All of it. I'm sorry for all of it. I was scared seeing you look so lifeless. It's completely my fault. If I just controlled my emotions better, suppressed my anger… Maybe this wouldn't have happened. I promise I'll do better in the future. I promise I'll never hurt you again."
I frowned, unsure if I should take his word for it or not. When his tears didn't stop falling on my face for a little while, I took it as a sign that he was being genuine. I wanted to push him off, but I'll never have the heart to push away someone that's crying. So, I just patiently waited.
Just a few minutes before, I was sure I would never forgive him in this lifetime. Now, I'm not so sure. I've never had a guy that cried for me. I still don't want to live in the same dorm, though… I'd rather live with other women than be surrounded by testosterone; it's suffocating.
"Don't leave me, okay? I'll do better. I'll respect every decision you make," Xinith asked, slowly opening his eyes and wiping his tears away with the back of his hand. "I mean it," he finished, placing a peck on my forehead before backing away from me.
Dammit… He's making this very difficult. I should feel repulsed not attracted. This has to be because of the mark; there's no other explanation. I feel so confused, and my body feels a lot cooler than before. That's weirdly good.
"Your dormitory is all males. Shouldn't I be rooming with other females instead? I still need to ask if I can move," I tried to reason.
"If there aren't any rooms available in the female dormitory, will you stay…?"
So persistent…
"I-…," I hesitated, "I don't know if living with the opposite sex is such a good idea…" I genuinely continued to answer.
"I can learn to control my anger so that I won't lash out at you again. Please, Alex? I'll change for you."
That's what they all say…
"Do you even hear yourself? We just met a couple of days ago and you sound like you're obsessed with me to the point you don't want to be away from me. I need space, Xinith. You're still practically a stranger to me. A stranger who keeps trying to push these ideas on me, especially about this whole thing about some red string of fate. That's just an old legend – nothing but a myth; it doesn't really exist."
"You thought demons, vampires, werewolves, and much more were just myths too, but look… We're very much real and so are the Three Fates. You're bound to me as much as I am to you. Only the Three Fates can change that," Xinith tried to explain.
Really? Again? This is real life, not some fairy tale.
"So… What? You thought I'd suddenly fall for you because of some stupid invisible string?" I stared at him in disbelief, noting that the gashes on his body had stopped bleeding and were smaller. It looked like his body was repairing itself.
"Would you be angry if I told you yes?" Xinith lowered his voice to a softer tone.
If you really NEED to ask…
"I think I'd be weirded out more than anything else," I stated the fact, "-and to answer your earlier question… Yeah, I'll allow you to sit by me, but you are not permitted to touch me unless I say otherwise," I crossed my arms, giving in to the voice inside me that was more than delighted to have Xinith closer.
"That's fair…," Xinith nodded as he grabbed a stool and placed it next to my bed on the left side. He sat as close as achievable to me without actually touching me.
Doesn't matter if it's fair or not. You have no choice in the matter this time.
I watched the livestream, feeling bored out of my mind. They just kept talking about how they wished for the school year to go well and to remind students of safety precautions…yada yada blah blah blah… Same old stuff that gets said at every student orientation I've ever been to, no matter the country.
Though, at some point, it was either the boredom or my nerves that put me to sleep. I woke up much later to the sound of crickets and something cold touching my skin.
Why…does it sound like I'm outside?
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw were stars in the night sky. I blinked, convinced I had to be seeing things because how could I have slept the entire day away? I rubbed my eyes, but when I did so, I got water in my eye.
Water? Oh no…
I sat up, looking around to find that I had somehow been laid in a shallow stream. I shivered as the cold night air blew across my dampened skin. I was trying to figure out where I was when I heard a very loud snap… from above.
Please, don't be some mythical monster.
Gaining the smallest amount of courage, I slowly tipped my head upward. My eyes shook at the sight, body beginning to tremble as I let out a blood-curdling scream.
End of Chapter Twenty