Reincarnate | ✔️

Introduction

As I looked out at the Crystal Lake, which was fairly small, I smiled. If only I could feel that same feeling again.

The first week of May each year, the Blood Moon shows, strengthening our ability tenfold. The reason for this is because of the rays of light that bounce off the moon, affecting our brains and increasing our lust for blood.

For some reason, it didn't affect me, though. Why; I didn't know, but I could always feel it in my blood that I would never harm an innocent mortal. Especially Owen; the love of my life.

"Hey, El," I heard the rustle of bushes and the stench of blood just before the love of my life walked up behind me and embraced me. "Why'd you ask me to meet you here? You know what it's like at this time of night." As he spoke, I could feel his breath on my neck as he rested his head on my shoulder.

"I..." I hesitated, because to be truthful, I didn't know why I had asked him the night before to meet me at our special spot. Call it instinct; I don't know, but for some reason, I thought it was the right thing to do. "I wanted to talk to you about something." I bit the inside of my lip as I stepped away from him toward the edge of the lake.

"Don't tell me it's this conversation again." He spoke plainly as he walked around my left side to look me in the eyes. "If I have to listen to this one more time, I'm-"

I felt tears stream down my cheeks as I looked back out at the lake. The Blood Moon shone as bright as it did every year with its rays silhouetting every object, creature, and town. "It's dangerous here," I said at last before chuckling and beginning to wipe the tears off my cheeks.

He sighed heavily before brushing a strand of jet-black hair out of my face, making my face heat. "You think I don't know that, Layla?"

"I-I know you do, it's just..." I looked away to avoid seeing the hurt in his eyes.

"Just?" His voice was soothing, along with his touch as he hugged me.

"Owen-" I tried to pull away, but all he did was tighten his grip around me.

"The only thing I wish is for you to be happy, El, alright?" He brought his mouth up to my ear, whispering, "Well, that, and one other thing."

My heart pounded as he leaned back to look at me. "W-what are you saying?"

"I'm saying," He let go. "That if you love me enough, you'll accept this ring." He took my left hand and held it up.

I let out a light gasp. "Owen, it's beautiful." The ring was shining silver with a ruby.

"What do you say, Layla Reign?" His smile was loving as he squeezed my hand lightly and eagerly. "Will you marry me?"

The tears I tried so badly to hold in streamed down my cheeks as I blurted out my answer. "Yes! Absolutely, yes!" He slid the ring onto my finger. "God, Owen, you should have done it, sooner." I crashed my lips onto his, savoring his touch as he moved his fingers through my hair.

"You just made me the happiest person in the world, Layla." I moaned as he shoved me back onto the rock we usually sat on.

"And I'm the luckiest girl alive to have you as my fiancé, too." I giggled as his hand slid up my skirt.

"Well, this sure is a sight to see." I heard a familiar voice behind me before we both stopped to look at him. It was my twin brother, Keaton.

"Piss off, Moron." I snapped as we both stood up and turned to look at him. "You're not wanted here. I'm in a good mood, so I'm feeling generous."

Keaton cackled. "Your love won't last, Layla; we all know that."

I held my hand up for him to see the ring just for the satisfaction of seeing his mortified face. "So what? Walk away now before you get killed."

Keaton smirked. "If my recollection is accurate, I believe you should be the one backing down. I always beat you in a match."

"The woman said piss off, Keaton." Owen stepped to the right of me with a murderous expression.

Keaton rolled his eyes before looking back at me. "I hope they were good things. I've never heard of such a thing as a forbidden relationship in my time, right, Owen?"

"Are you deaf, son of a bitch?" Owen had snapped. "What do you think you can do, anyway? We're all immortal, here."

Keaton raised a brow at Owen. "If you ever feel the need for more power, come to me. You'd make a great asset." Before I had the chance to protest, he rushed off.

I cursed out his name before looking at Owen. "Don't even think about searching for him, you hear? I know we're all immortal, but we still have one weakness, alright?"

He turned around, dropping down onto the rock; I assume it was his adrenaline rushing down. "God, I was terrified."

I rubbed my fingers on my nose with my eyes closed before dropping down beside him. "Don't do it, seriously. All he spells is trouble."

He rolled his eyes. "I wasn't planning on it. That son of a bitch doesn't deserve the attention."

I sighed before standing up, again. "I should go home. It's late." I kissed him on the cheek. "Love you. I'll cherish this." I held my hand up for him to see the ring.

"You won't take it off?" He frowned.

I shook my head. "The worst my father can do is beat me half to death, tonight."

He chuckled before kissing me on the lips. "When he said forbidden love, for some reason I actually got excited."

I hummed as I lifted myself onto his lap and straggled him. "You have no idea how good you taste."

He smiled as he took a deep breath. "What about how I feel physically? Is that not good enough?"

I snickered. "Better, actually." I kissed him again before standing up and walking toward the village. "I should get the berries. I'll see you tomorrow, Owen."

He twisted around on the rock before jogging up to me and grabbing my wrist, twisting me around, and kissing me, again. "Bye, I love you."

I smirked before letting go and turning around, waving my hand up in the air. "Love you, too. Tomorrow at dawn."

"Tomorrow at dawn," I heard him whisper before I ran off toward the bush.

"You're a filthy liar, Sis." I heard Keaton's snake-like voice from behind me, along with the sound of footsteps in the bright green grass. "I told you it won't last. I've already informed sweet ol' Dad about the whole situation and he is not happy.

I turned around, berries in hand. "Owen's right. You are a son of a bitch."

He laughed. "What do you mean? Mom was always the nice one. Dad's the asshole, here."

"Where's Owen?" I took a step toward him before hearing the rustling of fast footsteps, faster than the average person.

He smirked. "You heard him, didn't you? Your ear just twitched."

I scowled before running off to the Town Hall.

My panic started to surface as I walked into the building. Owen was definitely there.

"Owe-" My body was slammed against a marble pillar before I could open the door to smell where it was coming from. "What in the actual he-" I was punched again and again, but instead of being tossed across the room, I was tied with weak rope against the pillar. "Let me go-"

I was punched again; I assumed to shut me up.

"Good job..." The voice faded just as my vision did; pain is harder to block when you haven't had any blood. "...Owen."

"O-Owen...d-don't do this..." My voice was hoarse as I imagined his face at that moment. And for a split second, I saw it; murder craving and sadistic. But there was something about his face that seemed different than its normal cheery expression; it was a look of hatred and craze. "I-I love you-"

"I'm sorry, Layla...but this is for the best." It was then that I felt a sharp pain across my throat and the next thing I knew, I was lying in my bedroom.