~Kezziah
I know Time is insane. But this insane?
Looking at him, I’m trying to judge how serious he is being. His expression is stern and solemn, as if he is regretful for this decision. However, it is such a wild request I can’t imagine it being anything other than a test. Unless of course, I gave Time the benefit of the doubt once, but now I see the monster he truly is.
“I’m not killing someone for you,” I growl under my breath. I’m starting to shiver under this cold. I wasn’t prepared for it at all, as it melts into my shoes and pants. “I’ll find another way to get rid of this matebond.”
Time shakes his head at me, snow dusting his eyelashes and cheeks. “There is no other way but for me to remove it. You have have no other choice but to do this.”
My heart sinks into my stomach.
“You’re disgusting. Why would you want to hurt your mate?” I question. I can’t bear to do it, and I need to at least know why he would even consider it. I’m not sure if losing the mate bond affects immortals the same way it does mortals, but I can’t imagine even thinking about losing Alden. And with Time, it’s his hand that is killing her. Or technically, mine.
Time rolls his eyes at me. “In order for her to reach the immortal lands, she needs to die here first. I don’t want a mortal mate.”
My jaw clenches, despite his admission. He might not be wanting to kill his mate completely, however, he is doing this without her permission, and I’m the one who has to do it. I doubt if I walked in there and asked her if she wanted her life ended in order to be with the most wicked immortal that exists, she would be happy.
“Do you really think she would want that?” I question, trying to get into his head that everything isn’t about him and what he wants. Immortals truly are a rather strange amount of selfish at the best of times.
Especially Time.
“Well, what is so great mortal life? You’re not immune to any diseases, you get injured so easily and what are you living for? Your lifespan is so short and pathetic,” Time says dismissively, as if a small mortal life meant nothing to him. “Look at you, you’re freezing. Pathetic.”
“Stop saying that word,” I growl. He might be right about me sitting here in melting snow while fresher stuff falls, however, I would never admit it. I pull my thin jacket closer to my body instead. “I’m not killing her.”
Time sighs deeply, rustling around his pocket. He pulls out a small vial, filled with a concentrated purple liquid. My reflection stares back at me for a moment, and I shivered.
“This. This will do it.”
As he tries to push it toward me, I shy away. Whatever is in that bottle is surely some magical concoction I don’t want anything to do with. Time sighs again at my stubbornness. “It’s tasteless and mixes into anything within a few moments. Slip it into her drink and she would be none the wiser. In fact, it sleeps within the brain until...well, she falls asleep. It will swiftly take her life.”
“That’s disgusting,” I say, my face screwing up. I would rather let my feet go numb buried within the snow then go inside her house and poison an innocent girl. Time may not want her to see him yet, but I’d rather he risk it, or not do it at all.
“Look, don’t do it, fine, but you’re not doing yourself a favour, or her,” he tells me, jaw clenching in irritation.
He’s right about the former, at least.
“I am doing a favour for her. If I don’t go in there, she doesn’t have to be with you,” I mutter. I stand, unsure of where I want to go, however, Time grabs the back of my shirt, pulling me back down behind the bush. I brush him off, while he tries to hide us both back behind the bush, as if the girl, Rosie, would come out and see us again.
“You’re doing her no favour. Two weeks ago, both her brothers were killed in a freak work accident. In one week, her mother will die from grief. Her father died when she was younger,” Time explains. “You’ll be putting her out of her misery.”
Hugging my knees, I close my eyes. What a horrible fate. My heart aches knowing what she is going through, however, I’m not sure if death is the answer.
Especially not if Time is involved.
“She will reunite with her brothers within the immortal realm. She will be happier. With me or not with me. And, you would be getting rid of that pesky mate bond,” Time murmurs, a smile touching at his lips. He sits so close to me, I can smell his unique scent, so close I can feel his breath. “Unless of course, you want to be with me forever.”
Growling under my breath, I snatch the vial from his hand, and stand up. Already, I have an idea of how to get into her house and build her trust. It feels wrong to approach her front porch with so much confidence, but I’m hoping Time isn’t lying about her family. Yet at the same time, I hope he is.
I knock a few times on the door. My wet clothing and flushed face should convince her enough that I’ve been wandering out here without a shelter, and needed her help for a moment.
She answered the door rather abruptly. Her and I both startle for a moment, trying to see who the other is.
I’m struck by how beautiful she is.
It’s clear immediately by the way she looks down that she doesn’t know it. She has the softest tone of light brown hair I’ve seen, somewhat close to blonde. Her eyes are a stunning shock of emerald green which I can hardly believe she acquired naturally. Perhaps I would have assumed she was royalty or something, before I looked at the small details.
Her eyes are shadowed, rubbed raw and red. Her skin looks oily, unwashed. Even he clothes are in horrific condition, as if she hasn’t changed out of the frumpled fabric in weeks.
“I’m so sorry to do this so late, but I got lost on my way home and I’m cold and…”
Rosie opens the door immediately.
The heat is a welcome relief. She has a fire going at the end of her small living space. One tattered couch, a dining table and a few scattered chairs. Not much exists in here. It’s messy too but clean. An unorganised chaos.
“Go sit by the fire. I’ll make you a hot drink,” she tells me. I oblige her, not wanting to step out of line. She opened her door for me with no hesitation. Independence Pack members are kind, but cautious. I’m surprised she is so kind to me already.
“Thank you,” I tell her honestly, rubbing my hands in front of the cracking fire. “I’m Kezziah by the way.”
“Rosie.”
As she prepares the drinks, I sit in front of the fire, wondering what to do. I shed the jacket, laying it down by the fire to dry. The vial is sweaty within my palm. I want to ask her questions about herself, shocked she is trusting me, not questioning my intentions. She just let me in and accepted my presence. I can tell from that alone, she has given up. Her life is suddenly without meaning. It makes my heart ache.
My eyes suddenly notice something on the wall. A frame. It’s Rosie, and two other boys. Their hair is darker than hers, but they have similar eyes.
I stand, coming to look at it closer. “Are these your brothers?”
Rosie flinches. She turns around, drinks in hand. She was naturally hoping to go without having to talk much. I assume she wanted to warm me up and send me out. I feel guilty, but seeing the way the colour drains from her face, the way her eyes go cold, this has destroyed her entire life.
“Yes,” she murmurs.
I take the glass of hot chocolate she gave me, setting it down on her coffee table among books and various pieces of screwed up paper. She sets hers down too, sitting on the far end of couch. At least she has some sense left through all that dark emotion.
I feel terrible, for what I’m about to do. But I need to get her up again. So I can be alone with her mug.
“I’m so sorry for being a burden. I swear I’ll be on my way when my jacket dries...I just, I’m hungry,” I tell her. Her eyes soften, and she stands quickly, heading to the kitchen.
“You can stay as long as you wish,” she says gently. Truthfully. “Although your jacket should dry soon.”
While she rustles around in the kitchen, I fumble around with the top of the vial, popping it off quickly. With one pour, it falls into the liquid, blazing bright purple before it returns to dark brown again. Rosie returns, placing a packet of cookies in front of me. I take one.
While I chew the edge, I watch her take a sip. Her beauty and innocence is so palpable. If only she knew Time was her mate. The cruel, dark immortal everyone fears.
“Your brothers are very handsome,” I comment. She simply nods, and says no more.
I can’t help but feel sorry for her.