Chosen

Chapter 14- Flashback From the Past

A/N: LMAO I'M JUST NOW REREADING THIS AND THE FLASHBACK IS SO SIMILAR TO ROMEO AND JULIET. I DIDN'T READ THE ACTUAL STORY UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO. LITERALLY ALL I KNEW ABOUT ROMEO AND JULIET BEFORE IS THAT THEY WERE EXTREMELY YOUNG AND DIED BECAUSE THEY WERE STAR-CROSSED LOVERS

"My love?" The familiar voice whispers. I gasp softly, staring out of the window.

I tiptoe to the ledge, hoping not to wake up my parents. I look downwards, and nearly scream at the sight. My darling Erik, dangling from a vine almost as tall as my father. And papa's the mightiest of the land; no one dares to cross him.

"Erik, please, go back to your abode, if you're caught, daddy dearest may unleash his forces on thee." I command in a low voice, ignoring the way he looks at me. As if I'm the most precious jewel any man could ever find.

"Oh, I'd scrape the floors if that's what it takes. I'll lick his foot clean if that's what he wants. I'd take off a finger, just to see your beautiful face." He declares. My heart flutters at his words.

As much as I want to marry him, I know I'll never be able to do so. Father doesn't allow commoners to take my hand, nor does he allow men touch me. I know he'll be furious if he finds out I adored someone. Instead of a daughter, he believes me to be yet another trophy. He doesn't say so, but I can see it. If the man who is meant to give me uncondional love doesn't, I'll simply find another one to do it for him. And I've found that other: my dear Erik.

"Father won't grant us permission to wed." I mutter. He shakes his head at this, his beautiful blonde hair swaying side to side. I allow myself a moment to marvel at his beauty, before reaching to close the window.

"Wait!" He pleads, raising his voice slightly. Panic arises in me, but I force it back down. He mustn't see how afraid I am, for he may leave me sooner than expected. Selfish, I am, but I cannot help such a thing.

I open it a slim, peeking into his bright blue eyes.

"I'll get on my knees once I'm on the ground, but please, don't leave me. I won't be able to take it if you turn your back to me." He admits. My heart yearns for him, seeing as his rare vulnerable stage has introduced itself.

Turning back to see if anyone has awoken, I grin. Maybe a few moments alone with him will be appropiate.

"We have a few minutes, I suspect my father will wake soon. He usually takes a midnight stroll." I whisper. A goofy smile reaches his lips. My stomach flutters at this simple act. It's foolish, I know.

"Any amount of time with you is substainable, my love. If I can never see you during the light time, then every moment with you is precious." His words made me sigh of delight, but also made me realize something crucial.

He must've seen the worry in my eyes, because he says "Do not fret, Avalina, we will run away together. If we do so, your step-father will never be able to restrict us from joining in matrimony! Yes, yes! That is the answer to all of our solutions!" The thought runs through my head a few times, before shaking my head. Leaving won't be possible, he won't let it ever happen.

"No, please understand this. There is no escape from my fathe-"

He cuts me off with a groan.

"Don't dare to call him your father. Living with him does not make him family. Your actual parents died, remember that. He simply took you under his wing- actually, forget that. His wife did, if you told me correctly, he forbid it. But miraculously, he agreed after some amount of time. Does he not neglect you? Does he not only acknowledge you when villagers declare you the most beautiful? Please enlighten me so." Tears splatter onto my maiden dress. Every thing he has said is true. As much as I want to believe it isn't, I know deep down it is. He isn't my real daddy, the one that loved me with every ounce in his heart. Why I fool myself into believing he can adore me as much as my previous, I cannot fathom.