Crimson's Daughter

Chapter XI: Bringing Up the Past

It felt like a bucket of ice cold water had washed over me and I didn't know how to respond to what was happening. Out of pure instinct I felt my hand swing back and slap him across the face. My whole body was shaking and all I wanted to do was run far from here as possible. Mae gasped and rushed over to where Leo seemed unfazed by my slap.

"There is no way that any of this is true." I shouted trying to leave the room but Leo still had me cornered.

"Why would anyone lie about this?" Mae said incredulously.

I wondered if this revelation they seemed to have brought on that effect.

"Because you don't know me! Hell, I barely know myself!"

My chest was heaving up and down, the oxygen seemed like it didn't want to cooperate with my lungs. Nothing was making sense and I hated to be put in a vulnerable position like this. Mae's once perfect complexion was no longer and Leo just seemed to stare at me making this all more frustrating. I didn't know what to believe.

"Believe me I have questions too, but if you just let my brother and I explain-"

"I don't want an explanation from either of you! I let you keep the 'her' you clearly wanted to hide from me and any other secrets about yourself but now it seems like karma came to bite you in the ass! Because while I don't want to believe the girl in the photo is me, it triggered a memory that I couldn't possibly have made up! Now let me go!" I growled out and felt the power just rush out of me as Leo was roughly pushed back.

I didn't want any explanations. Whatever linked me to him that long ago had to be unreal...right? My legs were rushing me out the door and into the forest not caring if branches scratched my bare legs and arms. I was so angry and confused...why did I ever have to trade a life of simplicity of happiness for one full of questions and people that kept things from me.

"Aarrgh! Damn it!" I yelled out, gasping for breath as I felt my knees give out.

Life was so unfair.

I was a mess, both figuratively and literally.

"Why are you crying princess?" a voice that made me cringe spoke out.

It was deep and melodic, but felt untrustworthy. I furiously wiped my tears away to look around at who had been watching my breakdown. My nose didn't catch a scent and my eyes didn't find anyone in sight.

"Who's there?" my voice croaked even making me cringe at its sound.

My hair flew back and I was pushed, laying against the floor staring at deep blood red eyes. They were lifeless. Man, had I really messed up wandering too far. My instincts were telling me this guy wasn't safe at all.

"My name is Devon."

"Do I know you?"

"You once did."

All the memories from my previous life were never unlocked unless something triggered it, Devon didn't seem to do any of that for me. Although I had to admit that we must not be on good terms because I felt myself just trying to dig into the dirt to get further away from him.

He grinned at me. How weird it was that his essence seemed perfect but I'm pretty sure his soul was as dark as they came. Cold fingers brushed my cheeks and I felt a shiver go down my spine.

"You obviously don't remember, but if you're mate won't tell you then you'll know soon enough. I would keep my eye out if I were you, he won't be able to protect you for long."

"Get away from me."

A growl sounded through the forest and I looked back in the direction that I came from. Devon was no longer hovering over me and slight mist covered the forest's floor, drizzle pouring down. The thought of him returning scared me more than facing Leo and Mae. It hurt that I couldn't remember anything to make even some sense of this. Maybe I had been a bit irrational when it came to not hearing them out.