Eternal Symphony

21. Swan Lake

When the first hint of light entered the sky, the pair awoke and remained ensconced within their shared, loving embrace, clothed in only blankets. Alice rested her head on Elijah's chest and playfully said, "Now, tell me the truth. Am I really the only one you've been with, or are you just telling me what I want to hear?"

He laughed and laced his hand with hers. "I swear it's the truth."

"Oh, please. Have you never once wanted anyone else? I'm sure people have lined up, waiting for you to pick and choose. How is that possible that I'm the only one you've been intimate with?"

"I could ask you the same question," Elijah ran his fingers through her hair, twirling strands between his fingers, "You're lovely and haven't even been kissed by anyone else. Your admirers must have thrown themselves at you just to get your attention."

Alice sat up and brought her knees to her chest, her hair cascading past her shoulders as she rested her head in her hands. "I hadn't noticed. My sister swears she saw it every time, but I guess I never cared enough to look up." Elijah reached over and wrapped his arms around her waist, but Alice squirmed away before he could pull her down. "Do you mean to tell me you weren't intimately involved with her?"

He raised a brow and frowned. "With who?"

Alice almost didn't want to say it: "Your first love," she grumbled.

Laughing, Elijah lunged for her and pinned her to the sheets. "I've never once lied to you," he began, his face inches from hers, giving her a view of his partially displayed fangs from his lascivious grin, "It's always been you."

"You keep saying that, and I still don't know what that means." Alice bit her bottom lip as her fingers curled around his, hoping he would elaborate further.

Yet Elijah smiled and kissed the tip of her nose before letting her sit up again. "It means exactly that. Please, believe me."

Of course, Alice did. However, what she wanted most was for him to be more open with her regarding all they had endured; she was no longer angry with him for leaving, but his sudden departure following her confession of her dreams made her fearful that he would do so again.

I'm convinced they're old memories from a past life, or lives, slowly returning, but I wish he could tell me that himself. Why can't he? Though her dreamland was nothing short of unusual, Alice's reoccurring nightmares had wholly vanished, even upon their reunion. Despite his claims to be the trigger, she was grateful that he wasn't the cause of her previously plagued stupor, but Elijah's connection still made her thoughts swirl within her mind's brewing maelstrom.

Instead, she gave him a small smile and returned his affections. "I trust you." Even as they hugged and kissed before he left to bring her a change of clothes, Alice felt secretly relieved; if her notions were correct, Elijah had never loved another, despite having met so many people. That means I'm the only one to whom he's ever said those words.

When the refreshed Alice returned inside to fetch her purse, she was welcomed by a missed call and a few text messages from her sister, asking if she wanted to bring anything from home with her to the estate. Before Alice could reply, Lia quickly warned her: "Dad wants to talk to you before you leave again."

I had a feeling.

She conveyed the message to Elijah, who suggested they leave soon, not wanting to invoke her father's wrath further. The pair made it to her house by midday, in the middle of her family having lunch; they invited them to join their table, but Alice's father took this opportunity to speak with her alone in his study while Lily and Lia were busy acting as fawning hosts.