The room was dim, the air thick with an unnatural chill. My head still throbbed, and a strange sense of disorientation lingered, as though I were caught between worlds. Adam's presence filled the space, but something within me tugged at the edges of my awareness—something far beyond this room.
"I hate you," I whispered, but even as the words left my lips, I felt the familiar pull deep in my chest. My power stirred inside me, a force I had long tried to bury, tried to ignore. Yet here, in his presence, it felt stronger than ever.
Adam smirked, his eyes dark and knowing. "Hate me all you want, Ella. But you can't deny what you are."
I took a deep breath, my hand trembling as I pressed my fingers to my lips. My power—it could erase everything. With just one kiss, I could make him forget. All the twisted memories, the pain, the darkness. Everything.
He took a step closer, his gaze locked on mine. "What are you thinking now?" he asked, his voice low, almost teasing. "Planning something?"
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I had to act quickly, before he could read my thoughts. Closing the distance between us, I grabbed his arm, pulling him closer. His eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, I pressed my lips against his.
In that moment, the world seemed to freeze. Time itself slowed as my power surged through me, spreading from my lips into his mind. I felt the connection, felt the memories begin to unravel—his memories of me, of this place, of everything that had happened between us.
Adam stiffened, his eyes fluttering shut as the spell took hold. When I finally pulled away, I could see the confusion in his gaze. He blinked, as though waking from a dream, his expression blank.
"What... what just happened?" he muttered, stumbling back, his hand rubbing at his temple.
For a brief second, I hesitated, watching as the fog of forgetfulness clouded his mind. It was working. He would forget. He would never know.
But then, just as quickly, a familiar pull gripped me, pulling me from the room—pulling me away from this place and back to where I truly belonged.
The world shifted in a blur of light and color, and suddenly, I was standing in a vast field of golden trees, their leaves shimmering like liquid sunlight. The air was warm here, filled with the scent of lavender and honey. My homeland. The place I had always come back to, in moments like this.
And there, standing among the trees, was my mother.
"Ella," she said softly, her voice carrying with it a weight of worry. "You used your power again."
"I had no choice," I whispered, still catching my breath. "He was... Adam was trying to trap me. I had to make him forget."
Her eyes, filled with both sorrow and understanding, met mine. "But you know what that means. You can't stay hidden forever. The more you use your power, the more it draws them to you."
"I had no other way, Mother," I pleaded. "I didn't want this, but Adam—he's different now. He's not like before. There's something darker in him."
She sighed, her gaze turning toward the distant mountains that framed our land. "There is danger coming, Ella. Not just from Adam, but from forces much greater than him. You must be careful. The next time you use your power... it may be the last."
I felt a shiver run down my spine. "What danger? What's coming?"
She stepped closer, placing a hand gently on my cheek. "There are those who seek to control the power you possess. They have been searching for you, waiting for the moment you reveal yourself. And now, they are closer than ever."
A gust of wind swept through the trees, rustling the golden leaves and filling the air with an ominous whisper. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath. "What should I do? How do I stop them?"
"You must be strong, Ella," she said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "But more than that, you must trust yourself. You have the power to shape the world around you, to bend fate to your will. But with that power comes great responsibility. Be careful who you trust, and remember—there are some memories that are too dangerous to erase."
Before I could respond, the world began to blur again, the golden trees fading from view. The air around me grew cold, and I was pulled back to where I had come from.
I stumbled forward, back into the dim room where Adam still stood, rubbing his head. He looked dazed, confused—just as I had left him.
"Who... who are you?" he mumbled, his eyes unfocused.
My heart ached, watching him like this. He didn't remember anything. Not who I was, not what we had been through. For a moment, I considered telling him, letting him in on the secret that was his life. But I couldn't. Not now.
Without another word, I turned and left the room, my heart heavy with the weight of my mother's warning. Danger was coming, and I had only just begun to realize how deep it ran.