Ink

Chapter 17

I feel myself slip into unconsciousness. A soothing darkness surrounds me.

A sudden sensation appears. Like someone is calling out to me. I listen closer. Letting the voice guide me.

"Alliana" A gentle voice calls out to me.

My eyes open slowly into the clear night sky. I push myself up onto my feet and look around.

I'm in the middle of the forest. The same forest that I was first summoned by Mephistor.

Mephistor

"Alliana where are you?"

I look around frantically trying to find the source of the voice, but I find nothing.

"Alliana."

I pick a direction and begin to run. I can't afford to have him catch me.

A laugh sounds from around me.

"Where are you going? There is no point in running."

"Mephistor." I whisper and pick up speed.

It feels like I'm running in circles desperately searching for a way out.

"Why did you run from me Alliana?"

"I don't want to be your queen Mephistor." I yell to the voice."You shouldn't have marked me!"

All of a sudden by body comes to a halt. It's almost as if I'm so fatigued from running I can no longer move.

"Did you do this?" I yell.

"You don't understand, Alliana." The voice says softly. So gentle I almost feel bad for directing my anger towards it. "You don't understand."

"What don't I understand?" I say."You forcibly marked me and then expected me to willing be your queen."

In a flash I'm confronted by two glowing blue eyes. They peer deeply into my own. I'm suddenly released from my frozen state.

"Al, I-" He reaches a hand out and cups a side of my face gently. I can't help the way my body reacts to his touch as I involuntarily lean into it. He smiles softly at my response. "I-"

"What?" I whisper."You what?"

"I couldn't help myself." He looks down and removes his hand from my face.

"Why?"

"I can't explain it." He begins."It's like there's something pulling me to you. I needed to mark you."

"I don't-" I shake my head. He caresses both sides of my face now.

"I know it's impossible." He begins trying to get to me."I know it's unheard practically unheard of-" He pauses and in that moment I can't help but look at him again. His eyes hold an intense desperation. A need to get to me. "I think that you're my soulmate."

My mind attempts to process what has just been said to me.

I'm his soulmate? Soulmates haven't been an occurrence in centuries.