Haylie POV
I had no idea where I was. The coldness of the castle seeped into my bones, an unyielding chill that refused to let go. The woman they called Melody, wicked and calculating, had locked me in this ornate yet suffocating room.
I could still see JC in my mind, trying to stop her, only for her to rip him from my grasp. She overpowered him with ease, leaving him helpless as I was dragged away.
Now I was here, trapped. The room was a lavish prison, draped in red and gold, its opulence doing little to soothe my unease.
The massive bed was adorned with golden accents and red velvet sheets, an almost grotesque display of wealth. The windows, high and unreachable, were shrouded in heavy red curtains that blocked out the world. Despite its beauty, the room felt more like a gilded cage, mocking me with its grandeur.
I had tried to escape, but there was no way out. The castle was perched high above the ground, and the windows offered nothing but a harrowing drop to certain death. Even the attached bathroom, as elegant as it was, felt like another cruel reminder of my captivity.
I paced the room, my thoughts a whirlwind of fear and longing. I didn't belong here. I didn't want to be here. My heart ached with worry for JC. Was he okay? Had Melody hurt him? I had no way of knowing, but I clung to the hope that he would find his way to me.
And then there was Melody herself—her presence unnerved me to my core. Something about her was deeply unsettling, a darkness that lingered in every glance, every word. I couldn't shake the feeling that she had plans for me, plans I wouldn't escape unscathed.
I sank onto the edge of the bed; the velvet sheets cool against my hands. My mind raced, searching for solutions, for any way to escape this gilded prison.
All I wanted was to go home, to feel safe again, and to see JC standing before me—whole and unharmed. Wherever he was, I prayed he could hear my heart calling out to him.
The dress Melody had forced on me was as far from my style as this place was from being home.
A long, black ballroom gown that clung to me like a mocking embrace. Her shadowy guards had ensured I wore it, their oppressive presence leaving me no room for resistance. I hated everything about this place.
Even at night, I could barely sleep. Strange, unsettling noises echoed through the castle, keeping me on edge. Every time I closed my eyes, I would wake moments later, heart pounding, scanning the room for threats.
A sudden creak shattered the uneasy silence. My eyes darted to the door as it opened, the wooden hinges groaning like a warning. My heart raced as I straightened, my back arching instinctively. It wasn't one of the guards.
It was Melody.
She entered with a predator's grace, her figure draped in an elegant velvet gown of deep crimson, matching the rich hue of her lipstick. Her dark hair cascaded over one shoulder,
framing a face that was both stunning and unnervingly cold. Her eyes locked onto me, and a sly smile played on her lips.
"That dress looks wonderful on you," she said, her voice dripping with mockery.
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms as I fought the urge to lash out. I had seen what she was capable of. I stood no chance against her power. Swallowing my anger, I demanded, "Where is JC?"
Melody closed the door behind her, the soft click echoing ominously in the grand chamber. Her smirk deepened as she replied, "He's fine. JC is with his brothers, and he's... unharmed." Her tone was light, almost playful, but it offered no comfort.
I folded my arms across my chest, glaring at her. "How can I trust you? You're the one who took him away from me!" My voice trembled with both fear and defiance.
A laugh escaped her lips, soft and mocking. She stepped closer, her movements fluid and deliberate, like a swan gliding across still water.
"Oh, Haylie," she said, her voice a mix of condescension and amusement. "JC isn't your problem. The real issue is something much bigger."
My frown deepened as her words hung in the air, heavy with implication. She continued, her voice a whisper, yet each word cut through me like a blade. "If you regain your memories, you won't think twice about JC. Instead, you'll find yourself longing for Liam."
The name sent a shiver through me, stirring something buried deep within. It felt familiar, like a distant echo of a melody I couldn't quite place. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice faltering as I stared at her.
Melody's eyes met mine, and I wished I could look away. They were dark and cold, filled with secrets I wasn't sure I wanted to uncover. She stepped closer, so close I could feel the chill radiating from her. My heart pounded, and my breath caught in my throat.
"I think it's time," she said, her voice low and commanding, "that you remember who you truly are and where you come from."
It sounded like a horror story when she said it like that, her voice weaving an ominous web around my thoughts. Deep down, I knew something was wrong—something foggy in my mind that I couldn't quite grasp.
But the idea of remembering who I truly was filled me with dread. What if the truth was something I couldn't handle?
Melody's cold fingers wrapped around my wrist, her grip tightening painfully. "You're hurting me," I protested, wincing as I tried to pull away. Her dark eyes snapped to mine, sharp and icy, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Come with me," she ordered, her voice leaving no room for argument.
"What if I don't want to? You can't make me," I snapped, trying to summon a courage I didn't feel.
The words had barely left my mouth when I felt her magic seize me. It washed over me like a wave of ice, paralyzing me. My limbs stiffened, my breath caught in my throat, and a terrifying realization settled over me—I wasn't in control of my own body anymore.
Without effort, she dragged my immobilized form out of the opulent bedroom where she had kept me prisoner.
The hallway beyond was dim and frigid, the air thick with an unnatural chill. Our footsteps echoed off the stone walls, each sound amplifying the oppressive silence.
As we moved, Melody turned to one of the shadow guards lingering in the darkness. "Get my brothers together," she commanded. "We have work to do in the Room of Water."
The guard nodded silently and vanished into the gloom. I loathed the shadow guards. They weren't men but wisps of darkness, their forms shifting and insubstantial.
I had tried once to escape through them, only to fall helplessly through their ghostlike shapes. They were impossible to fight, and their very presence set my nerves on edge.
My body, still under Melody's control, followed her as she led me deeper into the castle. The hallway grew colder with every step, the air biting against my skin. The only sounds were our footsteps, echoing endlessly in the oppressive silence of the castle's labyrinthine corridors.
I had no idea where she was taking me, but fear coiled in my stomach like a serpent. Whatever awaited me in the so-called Room of Water, I was certain it wasn't salvation.
My eyes darted to everything we passed in the dimly lit hallway, the flickering glow of the candles casting eerie shadows that danced against the cold stone walls. My breath hitched in my throat, and my chest rose and fell rapidly. The oppressive silence, broken only by the faint crackle of flames and the sound of our footsteps, was suffocating.
I tried to calm myself, but every step deeper into this labyrinth brought with it a wave of dread I couldn't shake.
Melody came to a halt before a heavy wooden door carved with intricate patterns that looked like flowing waves. She pushed it open effortlessly, and I had no choice but to follow as she dragged me inside.
My eyes widened in awe—and unease—at the sight before me. A massive waterfall cascaded from the far wall into a crystal-clear pool of water that stretched across most of the room. The sound of rushing water echoed endlessly, filling the air with a deafening roar.
The room was illuminated by an otherworldly blue glow emanating from the water itself, casting rippling reflections onto the high ceiling above. It was beautiful, but there was a strange heaviness to the air, as though the room itself was alive and watching.
I couldn't help but wonder why she had brought me here. What was this place? What was she planning? My eyes scanned the room for answers, darting from the waterfall to the shadows along the edges, searching for anything familiar.
Then I saw him.
My heart skipped a beat as my gaze landed on JC, standing across the room. Relief surged through me like a tidal wave, and my lips wanted to curve into a smile, but my body remained paralyzed, unresponsive to my will.
I could only walk where Melody directed me, every movement forced, my own actions stolen from me.
"Brothers," Melody's voice cut through the roar of the waterfall, sharp and commanding.
I tore my gaze away from JC to see three other figures emerging from the shadows at the edges of the room.
My breath caught again as the three men stepped forward, their features eerily similar to Melody's—dark eyes, cruel smirks, and an air of power that made the room feel even colder. The one was covered in tattoos and had this scary look in his eyes then there was two other men both had brown hair and brown eyes. Was this Melody brothers I thought. They looked older than she was.
JC didn't move. He stood still, his expression unreadable, but I could see the tension in his stance. Was he trapped, like me? Or was there something else at play here?
As Melody pulled me closer to the center of the room, the weight of the situation pressed down on me. Whatever was about to happen, I had a feeling it would change everything.
Her grip on my wrist was crushing, the pain shooting up my arm with every step. I wanted to scream, to demand she let me go, but my lips were somehow glued shut, refusing to obey me. Panic surged as I darted my gaze across the room, taking in the figures on the far side of the pool.
Three men stood there, their presence commanding and cold. One of them, dressed casually in a brown jacket and jeans, stepped forward. His sharp gaze locked onto Melody. "What are you up to, Melody?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Beside me, Melody let out a low, mocking laugh, her smirk widening. "I just wanted you to be here when this thing gets her memories back," she said, her tone dripping with condescension.
Her words struck like a dagger to my chest. This thing? That was low, even for her. I wasn't some object to be toyed with—I had a name, a life, feelings. My throat tightened, but no sound came out. I could only stand there, my body a prisoner to her magic.
My gaze flicked to JC, and my heart ached at the sight of him. His striking blue eyes met mine, filled with an unspoken anguish. I could see the deep furrow of his brow, the way his hands clenched at his sides. He didn't like this any more than I did, but something held him back—fear, or perhaps the same magic that bound me.
"What are you planning?" another voice interjected, low and sinister. It came from the man standing slightly behind the first, his tone sending a shiver down my spine. His dark eyes gleamed with malice as he added, "I want to taste her. My wolf can't wait to come out and take a bite."
The air seemed to vanish from my lungs. I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Did he mean that literally? Was he serious? I wasn't a meal to be devoured. My mind reeled, struggling to comprehend the insanity of the situation.
I darted a terrified glance at Melody, my silent plea begging for an explanation, for her to say this was all some twisted joke. But her expression only darkened with satisfaction.
"Well," she said smoothly, her voice carrying an unsettling calm, "that will have to wait. For now, let's get her into the water."
My stomach dropped. Into the water? What did she mean? What was she planning to do to me? The sound of the waterfall suddenly felt louder, the roar echoing in my ears as my fear mounted.
I tried to struggle, to resist her pull, but my body betrayed me. I couldn't move on my own, couldn't fight back. All I could do was stare at the glimmering surface of the pool as she began dragging me toward it, the blue glow reflecting ominously in her cold, unyielding eyes.
I never felted that helpless like I did when she had her magic over me and was dragging me to the water. At this moment I wanted to scream but instead, tears was running down my eyes of how horrified I was at this moment.
We came to stand before the water of the pool and I could almost feel the coldness shiver down my spine as I stood there.
" Haylie" I hear Melody say making me look at her " Just so you know that me and Liam are going to be parents so if you wake up and get your memory back don't waits your time with Liam "
I frowned, confusion gripping me like a vice. The name Liam echoed in my mind, familiar yet distant, like a half-remembered dream slipping through my fingers. I tried to grasp onto it, to pull it into focus, but all I found was a wall of emptiness. Who was he? Why did the name feel like it belonged to me, yet carried no tangible memory?
Melody's wicked voice cut through my thoughts. "Well, have a good swim, sweetheart," she sneered, her tone dripping with malice.
Before I could react, her hands shoved me forward with unexpected force. My balance faltered, and before I could steady myself, I was falling. A startled gasp left my lips just as the icy water engulfed me.
The shock was instantaneous—coldness pierced me to the bone, stealing the air from my lungs and replacing it with panic.
The weight of the water surrounded me, pressing against my body, dragging me deeper into its depths. The magic she had placed over me dissolved in the cold embrace of the water, but freedom was meaningless if I couldn't break the surface.
I thrashed against the pull, my arms and legs fighting to propel me upward. But the more I moved, the stronger the current seemed to become, pulling me further down as if the water itself had a will of its own. Panic tightened around my chest like a vice, and my lungs screamed for air. My hands clawed at the water, desperate to find the surface that now seemed impossibly far away.
The light above grew fainter, the surface rippling further out of reach. My movements became sluggish, my limbs heavy with exhaustion and cold. I could feel the fight draining from me, the last reserves of my strength slipping through my fingers like sand.
I couldn't hold my breath any longer. My body betrayed me, and I gasped, only for water to flood into my lungs. Pain shot through me as the icy liquid filled me, choking the last remnants of air from my body. My chest burned, my vision blurred, and the cold wrapped around me like a shroud.
In those final moments, I felt my mind slip away, the world around me fading into darkness. My struggles ceased, and the last thing I felt was the numbing cold, pulling me into its eternal embrace.