Death's Kiss

Chapter 5

Chapter 5:
(Not edited)

"Where are you going?" Erik hurried after me. I didn't care I was in a nightgown and had no shoes. I didn't care if my life just got turned upside down. A big part of me did care that the man following me was supposed to be my soulmate or something. I did feel almost like a tether to him, wanting to be closer. It was strange but I didn't hate it. I didn't want to address it yet though, I needed to find the rat bastard who essentially killed me.

"Finding Peirce. I'm going to kill him!" I felt red hot rage rolling through me like thunder. There was still a shimmery outline in my vision which was concerning, but not my focus right now. Erik was in front of me, grabbing my shoulders within seconds.

"Please, as much as I want to hunt him down by your side, we must get you something to drink." he implored. I did feel very thirsty, but my anger was overriding it. I've never felt so incensed before. I wanted to find Peirce and gut him. He made this happen to me. I was still confused over what this meant but I now remembered the blade. I felt a ghost of pain in my chest and touched there gently. 

"I've never been this angry before." I confessed. Not even at my aunt who verbally abused me daily. "Is your name really Erik?" I asked absently. My thoughts were fragmented, and I couldn't seem to stay on one subject.

"Yes, and this is my mother Isla, everyone addresses her as Queen Isla except for family, which now includes you." His mom stepped out into the hallway several feet away, giving us space. "You're angry because you're still transitioning." He seemed to pause. "You've been asleep essentially for the last week." It took a second for that to sink in.

"A week?!" I was completely floored. "I need to sit down." I muttered before quite literally sitting on the floors in the large expansive hallway. The floor was cold and seemed to be made of polished stone the color of a deep gray. The walls surrounding us were incredibly tall, at least twenty feet high and made of dark stone as well. Warm lighted sconces decorated the walls every few feet providing lighting that wasn't harsh. Erik bent at the knees in front of me.

"Breathe Adira. I know this is so much more than most can handle but I know you can." He murmured quietly. I looked up from my lap and into his eyes, tears threatening to pool over.

"How do you know? I'm a mythic creature now. I can feel the change. My gums ache, I feel...thirsty. I feel stronger but also combustible too. Like any second, I'm going to explode." I confessed and sought comfort in him. It didn't make sense, but he was an anchor for me in the storm that has now become my life. I believed him when he said what we were to each other. I felt the connection, the undeniable feeling of rightness. Some might think I am a fool for believing this, but I didn't see a reason to fight this. I could either live in denial and make things worse or I could learn as much as I can.

"I know because you're mine as I am yours. You're fiercer than you know, and you will only get stronger the more you grow into your new self." His words did help some, but I knew it would take time for me to fully accept this. Just because I wasn't running away screaming didn't mean I wasn't freaked out.

"Erik? She needs to drink to feel more grounded. And to finish the transition you know you need to-" Erik cut his mother off,

"Yes, I know. Not now." I spotted Isla biting her tongue at whatever she was going to say. I would push to find out what she was going to say but Erik was right. Not now. I still had a rage simmering my blood that started to ebb. "Let's get you something to drink, it'll cool off the anger a bit." Erik took my hand and helped me back up to stand. I let him and as I stood, I looked around the hallway. I gasped as I took stock in a large mirror ahead of me. My feet carried me to the mirror, my mind not fully grasping the changes I saw in myself.