***author's pov***
The night is quiet, the sky clear with the moon shining bright. Valeria lies in bed, half asleep, lulled by the sound of crickets chirping outside. The room is peaceful, filled with the soft light of the candles flickering on the bedside table.
**Emilia’s Voice (soft and caring):**
“Sleep well, Valeria. Tomorrow, we’ll visit the old willow tree. I know how much you love its shade.”
Valeria smiles at Emilia’s words, feeling a sense of calm and safety. Emilia’s presence has always been soothing, like a balm to her soul. Valeria closes her eyes, letting sleep take her.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through Valeria’s chest, jolting her awake. She gasps, her eyes flying open, her body tensing. The pain spreads, searing through her veins like liquid fire. Valeria clutches her chest, her breathing ragged.
Valeria voice was strained “Emilia… Something’s wrong… It hurts!”
The pain intensifies, a darkness spreading through her body. Black veins start appearing on her pale skin, snaking up her arms and across her chest, pulsing with each beat of her heart. Valeria’s eyes widen in terror as she looks at her hands, seeing the veins crawling under her skin.
Valeria screamed “Emilia! Help me!”
Emilia rushes into the room, her eyes widening in shock as she sees Valeria writhing in pain, the black veins covering her body. She had feared this day would come, the day when the past would begin to surface.
Emilia 's voice was trembling but firm
“Valeria, stay with me. Breathe, just breathe.”
Emilia kneels beside the bed, placing her hands on Valeria’s shoulders. She begins to chant softly, her voice filled with a soothing magic that she hopes will ease Valeria’s pain. But the curse is powerful, ancient, and beyond the spells Emilia knows.
Valeria “Why is this happening to me? What is this?”
Emilia looks into Valeria’s eyes, seeing the fear and confusion. She feels a pang of sorrow, knowing that the truth will hurt her more than the pain she feels now. But she can’t let Valeria suffer without trying to help.
Emilia spoke softly, with a hint of sadness
“It’s a curse, Valeria. A curse that was placed on you a long time ago. I hoped it would never awaken, but it seems it’s time you knew.”
Valeria’s mind reels with Emilia’s words, struggling to comprehend. A curse? Why would someone curse her? Who would do such a thing? The pain in her body is unbearable, each pulse of the black veins like a knife cutting into her soul.
**Valeria “Who did this to me? Why?” she asked pleading.
Emilia hesitates, knowing the truth will shatter the illusion of the simple life they’ve built together. But Valeria deserves to know, especially now that the curse has started to show itself.
Emilia whispered “The Dark Lord, Zelerious. He is bound to you by fate, from a time before you can remember. He cursed you, and through that curse, you are connected. Every eclipse brings you both pain, a reminder of the bond you once shared.”
Valeria’s eyes fill with tears, the name Zelerious echoing in her mind like a haunting melody. She doesn’t remember him, doesn’t remember the life she supposedly had before. But the pain, the black veins, feel real. They make her feel like a part of herself is missing, like there’s a darkness inside her she can’t escape.
Valeria "What am I supposed to do? How do I stop this?”
Emilia cups Valeria’s face in her hands, her eyes filled with compassion and determination.
Emilia spoke firmly “We will find a way to break this curse, Valeria. You are not alone in this. We will face this together.”
The pain begins to subside, the black veins fading back beneath Valeria’s skin. She gasps for breath, her body trembling with exhaustion. Emilia wraps her arms around her, holding her close, whispering soothing words.
Emilia whispered softly
“You are stronger than you know, Valeria. We will find a way. I promise.”
As Valeria leans into Emilia’s embrace, tears slipping down her cheeks, a strange sense of familiarity washes over her. The name Zelerious lingers in her mind, like a shadow she can’t quite grasp. She feels a pull, deep in her soul, towards something or someone she doesn’t remember but knows is important.
Valeria whispering to herself
“Who are you, Zelerious? Why does your name feel like a part of me?”
********************************************
Zelerious was pacing restlessly in his grand chamber. His usual calm demeanor is marred by frustration and longing. His yellow eyes burn with an intensity that matches the storm brewing in his mind
The castle is eerily silent, save for the soft crackling of the fire in Zelerious's chamber. Shadows flicker along the stone walls, their movements mirroring the turmoil in his heart. Zelerious paces back and forth, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, memories of Valeria haunting him.
He stops abruptly, his eyes narrowing as a sudden sensation grips him. A whisper, faint and distant, reaches his ears, not from the outside world but from within his own mind. It’s Valeria’s voice, echoing through the darkness like a ghostly melody.
Valeria’s Voice 's echoed in his mind
“Who are you, Zelerious? Why does your name feel like a part of me?”
Zelerious freezes, his breath catching in his throat. Her voice, so familiar yet filled with confusion, sends a shiver down his spine. It’s been centuries since he last heard her speak his name. The sound of her voice reverberates in his mind, awakening memories he thought he had buried deep.
**Zelerious (whispering, more to himself than to anyone):**
“Valeria… You remember.”
His hand clenches into a fist at his side, black veins pulsing under his skin in response to the curse. The pain is a constant reminder of the bond they share, a bond forged in darkness and love. He can feel her pain, her confusion, and it stirs something within him—a mix of regret and yearning.
**Flashback (visual):**
A memory flashes before Zelerious’s eyes. Valeria, standing before him in a dark forest, her eyes filled with tears. He remembers the rage he felt, the betrayal that led him to utter the words of the curse. But beneath his anger was love, a love so deep it bordered on madness. He had cursed her to bind her to him, to ensure she could never leave him again.
**Back to the present:**
The echo of Valeria’s voice fades, but the connection remains, stronger than ever. Zelerious's eyes darken, his jaw tightening as he stares into the flickering flames. The bond is awakening, pulling them towards each other. Every part of him longs to reach out, to find her, to see if she remembers more. But he knows she is not ready. Her memories are still clouded, her heart conflicted.
Zelerious spoke ,his voice determined, voice filled with resolve
“You cannot hide from me, Valeria. Our souls are intertwined. You will remember, and when you do, I will be there.”
He turns, striding towards the massive windows that overlook the dark expanse of his kingdom. The eclipse is nearing its end, the pain receding, but the mark it leaves is permanent. He presses his hand against the cold glass, his eyes narrowing as he gazes into the distance.
Zelerious whispers, his voice low, almost a whisper
“I will find you, my queen. The curse binds us, but it also unites us. Nothing will keep me from you, not time, not distance, not the elemental kings. You were mine once, and you will be mine again.”
The fire in the hearth flares up, casting his shadow against the wall, a tall, imposing figure shrouded in darkness. The castle seems to hum with his power, resonating with the depth of his desire. Valeria’s voice lingers in his mind, a soft echo that fuels his determination.
YOU ARE READING
ACROSS THE DEPTHS OF THE UNIVERSE
FantasyValeria is a normal girl , living a normal life but life is never boring or happy it will break you and mend you at the same time . she is a little different from humans , she has a dark aura which is not known by her yet . but the moment she gets t...
