Captivated

EPILOGUE

We lie in bed next to each other. She's sleeping and I listen to the soft noise of her breath going in and out through her nose. She looks so still and perfect. Her soft skin so porcelain and fragile. Her dirty blonde hair tousled on the pillow. She looks just like Breanne.

I remember when I had first spotted her – Reign. I thought it was Breanne at first. I had to take a second look. The similarities were uncanny right down to the length of her legs and the shape of her jaw. I remember how easy it was to convince Dane that she would be perfect for his next capture. All he had to do was take one look at her and he thought she would fit in well.

I snuggle up close beside her and feel the warmth radiating off of her body.

Breanne was so afraid when we first brought her home. I remember she cried for days, just as Reign did. I began talking to her – spending time with her. I was only sixteen at the time and had never really been in love before. But there was something so different about Breanne. She was special. I remember the day that I knew I loved her. We were sitting on the floor of her room. She was lying down horizontally, her head in my lap. I was running my hands through her hair and she was telling me about the time her family took a vacation to Japan. The way she spoke – her words so sharp and articulated – and the soft sound of her voice made it all so intriguing. I was mesmerized by her and her beauty. I kissed her lips and she kissed me back. I think she loved me.

I remember the day that Dane made me choose. He told me I could be with Breanne forever, but it would require both of our hearts to stop beating. He told me that I could end her pain and suffering myself. That if I ever wanted to earn his forgiveness, he would give me the opportunity to do it myself. Perhaps I thought it would lessen the blow; if it were me to do it rather than him. There is something very intimate about taking the life away from the one you love. If it was going to happen, it had to be me. I decided right then and there. I didn't want to – I loved her. But I didn't have a choice. I couldn't spend my life with her if we were both dead. So I figured I would do it myself.

Nothing was the same after she was gone. I would wake up in the middle of the night and imagine that she was beside me. I swear I could feel the softness of her hair on the pillow beside me. I would talk to her sometimes. Tell her about the new girls that Dane had scouted and brought home. I always told her that none of them compared to her. That is, until, Reign came along. She was perfect. I immediately knew.

I was so fascinated with Reign in the beginning. I would sneak down and watch her sleep while she was attached to that pole. I wanted her to be comfortable so I would slide a pillow underneath her and place a blanket on top to make sure she was warm. I could tell that Jo was jealous that I would give Reign more attention. Good riddance to her; I'm glad Reign shoved a knife into her chest.

I knew that Reign could be the one. The one to replace Breanne for good. I knew that Breanne was never coming back and I had accepted that years ago. But then Reign walked into my life and it was almost too good to be a coincidence. Perhaps this was Breanne sending me a gift in some way. I wonder if she forgives me for what I did.

And now I lay with Reign by my side. She chose to be with me, a choice Breanne never had. And as I shift my body closer to her, I feel the chain around her ankle and know that she will be mine; forever.