Lured

Chapter 9- Ceri

He's staring down at me like I'm the saviour of the universe and I've answered every single one of his prayers. I don't know what he's doing in front of my room, he shouldn't even be interested in anything to do with me. 

"Cerianis," he whispers so softly, my heart beating out of my chest and I think I surely mis-heard him. "I came back to find you... The sounds you were making pulled me back to you."

I back pedal away from him, eyes opening in shock and horror as I practically throw myself away from him. "You.. You shouldn't even know who I am. You shouldn't know who I am..."

he stares at me, and I can so the look of worship on his face slowly turning to desperation and frustration with each second I look at him horrified. "I.. I don't. I don't know who you are." I can see the fight behind his eyes as he claws for any information or hint of who I might be. Trying to piece the information together. His eyes land back on my tear streaked face as he speaks again. "But there's something about you that I feel I can't walk away from..."

"No, no, no, no. NO!" I clutch my head in my hands as my emotions threaten to tumble back out again. As the stress of the situation eats at me, my body shifts to and from my human shape to my siren form. Scales black and poisonous green flicker along my skin. I can feel my jaw elongating as my teeth begin turning into their fangs. My human shape flickers back into place and remains steadfast as I begin reeling my emotions in.

During the entire transformation, I can feel Ghosts eyes steadily on me. He doesn't back up, doesn't even flinch at the small glimpse of what he's seen beneath the surface. He takes a step forwards, arms outreached as if to pull me into his embrace.

"Please, don't run. There's something between us, I can feel it." His words so sincere pierce my defences but I don't let him see any of that. Instead I look up and I know from the way his eyes fixate on mine that they're the only thing left that's still siren shifted. The evil red colour of my sirens eyes pinning him to the spot. I blink up at him and finally the pain shows on my expression alongside confusion. My eyes narrow at him.

"You shouldn't have any emotions left in regards to me. How is this possible? It's a gift to those partially ensnared by us... You should be wiped of everything. You shouldn't even be interested in me let alone seeking me out..."

I can see the confusion warring over Ghosts face, eyebrows drawing together crinkling his mask. 

"Wiped of everything?" He asks, curiosity and desire to know what is happening winning out over everything else. "What exactly are you saying?" He watches my face intently as the colour of my eyes returns back to their human hazel. 

"I wiped your memory of everything to do with me. You should not have come looking for me. You should not have feelings for me. You definitely shouldn't know my name..." I hunch in on myself as I try to fight the shift as well as my rising emotions and I know my eyes have flickered back to red again. "How are you doing this?" I ask accusingly.

I can feel Ghosts stare on me as he continues sidling closer as if trying not to startle me. The silence in the room is profound despite the bustling I can hear from outside. I look up to see Ghosts mouth moving underneath his mask as he tries to speak but nothing comes out.

"I felt you calling out to me," he finally manages to spit out. "And I had to come back." His voice is a hoarse whisper and I'm about to protest, argue I hadn't been doing anything when he continues. "And now that I'm looking in your eyes, I don't understand what's so terrifying about you." 

Your words are a shock like cold water on a hot day and my eyes turn back to their hazel again. "That... shouldn't be possible. I.. I should be practically invisible to you." I turn, grappling with my own feelings. "I have failed you," I whisper as my emotions win out and tears slide down my face. "I couldn't even protect you."

Ghost body flinches behind my back, my words striking him as if I'd physically hit him. Then he's stepping forward, arms wrapping around me holding me close to him as he whispers quiet nothings. He makes me promises that I didn't fail him and that he's ok. The he asks something I had never expected.

His voice is gentle when he asks, no hint of the hoarseness from earlier. 

"Can you undo it?"