Ryce placed his hand on his prince’s shoulder. Gaijryc slowly raised his head and pierced him with his blue gaze. He looked haunted and tormented, a feeling Ryce was very familiar with, a feeling he lived with every day. “Make sure this is what you really want. Make sure you are prepared to leave your heart behind, because I will tell you this, my lord. When you lose the one you love, you also lose yourself.”
“It’s all for Helina, for her protection. It’s the right thing to do.”
Ryce uttered a curse and left, not bothering to look back at his prince or comment on the monumental mistake he was about to make.
Helina sat in the living room, under the dull glow of the lamp on the side table as she read. She put the book down and looked at the clock, again. The hypnotizing sound calmed her like a perfectly tuned pendulum. The sun had set hours ago and she hadn’t heard from Gaijryc. He had never been away this long and it had fear and worry coursing through her. She had gotten used to him being around, had gotten used to the deep sound of his voice, the rough textures of his hands, and the heated look he seemed to give her every time he looked at her. Now that she was truly alone, every little sound in the cabin seemed amplified, seemed too loud for her ears.
She looked back down at the book, the words seeming to pass through her eyes unread. The pages were weathered and dog-eared, a testament to how often the story had been read. Romeo and Juliet was her favorite, but on this particular night, at this particular time, her mind was someplace else. Tossing the book on the cushion, she stood and stretched. She started pacing as she bit her nails nervously.
Dropping her hand, her eyes strayed back to the clock. She watched the hand of the clock move slowly, the thin needle making its way in a full circle. She fell into a daze, her eyes following that little stick as it touched ever number along its way. Dropping her eyes, she moved toward the window and glanced out. It wasn’t until her eyes adjusted to the darkness that her heart stopped and a scream swelled in her throat.
She could see the distinct shape of eyes, the dark color that seemed to glow in the shadows. She stumbled back until she felt the counter dig into her back. She closed her eyes, saying a mantra, a prayer for what she was seeing to be her imagination. Slowly she opened them again, her heart picking up a more normal rhythm when she saw the eyes were gone. It had to be her imagination. Gaijryc had assured her that no one would find her, that no one knew where she was.
She eyed the bed and walked over to it, sitting on the edge. Maybe all she needed was just a good night’s sleep? She was just about to lie down when a light tap sounded on the front door. Her eyes grew wide in apprehension. She glanced over at the window again, only darkness greeting her. Helina shook her head and smiled nervously. She knew she really needed to get a hold of herself. Standing, she hedged her way toward the door. It was probably Gaijryc, because he’d assured her no one knew she was staying here. She gripped the handle tightly and pulled the door open. Her heart stopped at who stood on the other side. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, her pallet going dry.
He stood in front of her, his body huge as he walked through the threshold. She stumbled backward in fear. He seemed as wide as the door and as thick as the wood itself. Her back hit the kitchen counter, and his steps stopped several feet before her. He was so fast that in the blink of an eye he had the door shut and was right back in front of her. Her body was shaking, her palms sweaty. “Wh-What do you want?” Her voice shook as much as her body did.
He stared at her, his expression flat. He wore faded blue jeans, a black fitted shirt and a black leather jacket. He looked like menace, like danger personified. His head was shaved, the hairs fine and close to his skull. She could easily see the black flame tattoos that snaked up the sides of his neck. All she could picture was her dead sister lying on the floor.
“Do you love him?”
Panic swelled inside of her further. Sweat was beading on her forehead and the urge to flee was strong. Lizzy’s image came to her mind and she wondered if this was how she’d felt before her life was ended.
“What?” Her voice squeaked from fear. She looked around the small room, trying to see if there was a way for her to escape. Of course there wasn’t; he blocked her only exit.
“You have nothing to fear, Helina. I won’t hurt you.”
She wanted to laugh hysterically, wanted to ask him if he had said the same thing to Lizzy before he drained her dry.
“Look at me, Helina.”
Her mind was numb, and when he spoke again, it was deeper, more commanding.
“Look at me.”
She was helpless not to obey him. It was as if there was an invisible string pulling her head up to meet his gaze. She stared into his gray eyes, eyes that seemed to glow. For the life of her, she couldn’t pull her gaze from his. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, just stared at her.