Twisted

Chapter 7

"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." -Keri Russell

~~

I stare blankly at Elijah. Welcome to the family. The four words bounce around in my mind like the steady beating of a drum. What does he mean?

"Emotions," Elijah begins, "a curious thing they are."

I can't stop the shiver that runs down my spine. He knows. "What did you do?"

Sara looks between us, as if begging for an explanation. One I don't plan on giving.

"Ah, my dear Elyse. It's not what I did, it's what you did." Elijah smirks, as he twirls a strand of my hair between his fingers.

"No. I-I didn't do that," I falter slightly, all of the confidence I had built slipping from my voice. Just moments before, I had felt Elijah's emotions as if they were my own. I didn't do that, right? "That's not possible!" I whisper, trying to convince myself now.

"But that, my sweet Elyse, is where you are wrong."

"What did he do, Elyse?" Sara questions, a concerned look etched on her face.

I open my mouth, but close it. There is no logical response to her question. If I say what happened, I would sound like a crazy person, even in a room full of mythical creatures. I open my mouth again, trying to think of something to say, but again nothing comes out.

A hand grasps mine and I jump, expecting emotions to fill me once more, but immediately calm when no foreign emotions appear. Realizing that it's Sara's hand, I offer a small smile.

"Elyse, please tell me what just happened?" Sara pleads.

"Alpha Benjamin, I will be taking Elyse to my palace. There are things that can only be explained there." Elijah instructs, ignoring Sara's question.

A quiet growl vibrates from Sara and I want to pull my hand away. "She is safer here. With us."

Elijah glares back at Sara. "Down, girl," he says, as if speaking to a dog.

A much louder growl rips through the room. This one comes from Benjamin and I find myself cowering from the sound. "Do not speak to her like that," Benjamin's voice is chilling. It brings back the feeling of fear that is far too familiar, something I have felt often in the past few days. It slowly creeps back in, trying to take over.

Elijah laughs. Of all things this crazy man choses to do, he decides to laugh. I gawk at him, awaiting his impending doom.

Finally calming himself, Elijah sits next to me on the bed. "You don't scare me, Benjamin." He emphasize Benjamin's name and I realize that this is the first time he has not addressed him as 'alpha.'

Elijah places a hand on my shoulder and the fear, that was slowly taking over my body, completely disappears. It's as if he reached in and plucked the emotion straight out of my body. "You don't need it," Elijah whispers in my ear, verifying what he just did.

"How?" The word falls out of my mouth without thought.

"All in due time. Will you come with me? You will be safe, I promise." Elijah gazes into my eyes, before placing his hand in mine. Immediately, his emotions rush into me, followed by the feeling of sincerity. He's telling the truth.

"She won't. She will never be safe with you," Sara sneers.

I release Sara's hand. "He's telling the truth," I whisper.

"Elyse, don't fall for his tricks. He can manipulate you," Benjamin breaks his own silence.

I stare at Benjamin. How could he manipulate me if I can feel his emotions as if they are my own?

"I must beg to differ. I am not able to manipulate my dear Elyse. Her thoughts are her own," Elijah begins, before turning to look at me. Elijah releases my hand, removing his emotions from my mind. "Take Sara's hand and focus on her emotions."

I contemplate what both Elijah and Benjamin have said. Not sure who to trust, a battle begins within my own mind. Finally, I decide to follow what Elijah has instructed me to do. If I can feel Sara's emotions, then surely Elijah is telling the truth.

I gently take Sara's hand and focus on her emotions.

Suddenly, all of her emotions fill me. It's as if I opened broke the wall that held her feelings and now they are pouring into me. Fear. Anger. Sadness. The emotions are overwhelming and exhausting. I release her hand, wanting to rid myself of the emotions.

As soon as her hand leaves mine, I am left with only my emotions. I breath in a sigh of relief.

Confusion flickers through Sara's eyes. I have to look away. I feel like an intruder, as if I have crossed a line that I should not have, entering her feelings without her permission.

"I'm sorry," I murmur, not able to look Sara in the eye.

"For what?" She asks, her voice soothing, as if speaking to a scared child.

Again, I want to tell her, explain how I took over her emotions, but can't. "I would like to go with Elijah."

I watch as my words hit Sara like a dagger. My words have hurt her deeply, but I have to find out what is happening to me. And it seems that Elijah has the answers I need.

Sara stands up and walks to Benjamin's side. She won't make eye contact with me and I know it is my fault.

Elijah stands and faces Benjamin. "It's settled then, we'll leave in an hour." His voice is giddy, like a child who has just been told they are getting a puppy.

Benjamin crosses his arms over his chest. The look on his face indicates his displeasure. He exhales slowly before making eye contact with me. "I will not fight against Elyse's wishes, but you must return before her eighteenth birthday. If she is not back by then, I won't hesitate to break the treaty."