It Only Gets Worse

Chapter Ten

×Chapter Ten×

                I almost jump out of my skin. The last time I saw this vampire I was all hokey with my memories and flashbacks. He had been commanding Aiden with the voice of a ruler, but then again, he was the king of all vampires. And straight after I had basically blacked out while cutting myself. So one could understand my reaction at seeing this vampire again.

                “…training. I’m sorry, is something wrong?” Aiden’s father asks. All of them are staring at me, now.

                “What?”

                “Don’t worry about it,” Aiden sighs, showing his old, true colors again—as in, letting me and everyone else know how annoying he thinks I am.

                “That’s not what I meant,” he mutters under his breath to me.

                Everyone is staring at us like we have five heads.

                “Look, I’m really sorry for interrupting…your highness? You can go on.” I can feel my entire face going red.

                Out of the corner of my vision I can almost see Nate smirking at me.

                “To start off, we need to know what your greatest strengths are and if you know how to use them.

                I stare off into space, wondering how I am supposed to find that out.

                “And,” Aiden adds in, “we will help you.”

                “Yes. Felicity, stand in the middle of the room. There is something I’d like to see.”

                “Father, wait—” Aiden interjects, but then I see Aiden concentrating on something. Maybe they’re talking in each other’s minds. I was clueless what this was all about, but followed the king’s directions.

                “Felicity, you have before passed the test of resisting our mind swipe. But there is one test you failed. And no, I’m not talking about Influences,” he waves his hand. “That takes a lot of strength to resist.”

                I can feel something bad going on here, but can’t put my finger to it. “Um. Okay. I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”

                Suddenly I can feel him in my mind. Again. You can stop this. You know how. The past is recurring, different things than the last. My cousin forcing himself inside me and my screaming, always my screaming. Cutting more and more. I open my eyes and I am still screaming, then precede to hyperventilate. You have to listen to me, Aiden’s father says. You are in complete control of this. “We’ll try again.” 

                I gasp as it happens again, this time going to the recent past, where Aiden was beating me. Concentrate. See me inside your mind. I’m right here. You have to find me and block me. Me running from Aiden; him chasing me, inevitably catching up with me. And then the screaming starts again.

                I come to, and am sprawled across the floor, shaking uncontrollably.

                “That’s enough!” Aiden yells at his father. Then he is right there beside me and helps me stand up, crushing me to him.

                “You tried your fucking test; now can you give her a break?”

                The king of all vampires laughs. “I see your bond is getting ever the stronger. Fine. We’ll pick up on this later. You can prepare for your wedding.”