The soft hum of the door opening broke the oppressive silence of the room. I entered with a purpose, my heart heavy with the weight of what I was about to reveal. Seraphina was still tied to the bed, her eyes bright with a mixture of defiance and fear. The sight of her restrained like this, a stark contrast to the way I remembered her, stung deeply.
I approached her, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm of emotions brewing within me. "I see you're still in the same stubborn mood, Seraphina," I said, attempting to keep my tone conversational, even though anger simmered beneath the surface. "But I need you to understand why this is necessary."
Seraphina's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and confusion. "What could you possibly have to say that would justify all of this? You've taken me away from my life, from Dragonir. What sacrifices are you talking about?"
I took a deep breath, trying to keep the flood of memories from overwhelming me. "Do you really want to know?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. "Do you want to hear about the sacrifices I've made for you? Fine. I'll tell you."
I sat down on the edge of the bed, making sure to stay just out of her reach. My gaze fell to the floor as I began to recount the story that had led me here, the story of the choices and sacrifices I had made.
"I grew up in a place far from here," I began, my voice carrying a note of bitterness. "It was a world of hardship and struggle, where every day was a battle for survival. I was just a child, trying to get by, when I was forced to make a choice that changed my life forever."
Seraphina's expression softened slightly, but I could still see the skepticism in her eyes. "What choice?"
"I was part of a group that helped children escape from dire situations," I continued, my tone growing more intense. "We took them in, gave them hope, and tried to offer them a chance at a better life. But to do that, we had to make deals with people who were far from benevolent."
I paused, the weight of those memories pressing down on me. "I made deals with people who promised protection in exchange for my compliance. I sacrificed my own safety, my own happiness, to ensure that the children I helped had a chance at something better. I turned a blind eye to the darker side of those deals, the parts that threatened to consume me."
Seraphina's eyes widened with understanding, but she still looked conflicted. "You put yourself in danger to help others? That's... admirable, but it doesn't explain why you're doing this now."
I nodded, feeling the sting of her words. "Yes, I did. I thought I was making a difference, but the cost was steep. I had to leave everything behind—my family, my old life, my own sense of security. I came to the Kingdom of Orphic with nothing but a determination to do good."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. "When I found you, Seraphina, I saw someone who needed help, someone who was lost and in need of protection. I thought I could offer you that protection, that I could be the guardian you needed. But when you chose Dragonir, when you started drifting away from me, it felt like all the sacrifices I made were for nothing."
Seraphina's face was a mix of sorrow and frustration. "You didn't have to go this far. I didn't ask for this. I didn't want to betray you. But this—what you're doing now—it's not helping anyone. It's only causing more pain."
I shook my head, my emotions frayed. "I know it seems like madness to you, but you have to understand. I did this because I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. I wanted to keep you safe, to protect you from anything that might harm you. And when you started distancing yourself, I felt like I was losing control over everything I had fought for."
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced myself to stay focused. "I don't want to hurt you, Seraphina. I want you to see why I did what I did. I want you to understand the depth of my feelings, the sacrifices I made. I did it all for you."
Her gaze softened further, though the pain was still evident. "I wish you had trusted me, Eleri. I wish you had believed in me enough to let me make my own choices."
I looked down, feeling a pang of regret. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I let my fears cloud my judgment. But I need you to stay with me now. I need you to understand why this is so important to me. And I need you to promise that you'll never leave me again."
Seraphina's eyes were filled with a mix of sadness and resolve. "I can't promise that, Eleri. Not while you're doing things like this. You need to let me go, to let me live my life."
I felt a sharp sting of betrayal at her words, but I forced myself to maintain control. "I can't do that, not yet. I need you to stay with me, to understand the full extent of what I've sacrificed. And if you don't, if you try to leave again, I will have to make sure you don't get the chance."
I stood up, feeling the weight of my emotions. "Think about what I've said, Seraphina. I'll be back later. Until then, stay safe and remember why you're here."
As I left the room, closing the door behind me, I felt a mix of anguish and determination. I had made sacrifices, and I needed Seraphina to understand that. I had to make her see the depth of my commitment, even if it meant taking drastic measures. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but I was determined to keep Seraphina by my side, no matter what it took.