Your Highness

Lina woke up in pitch darkness, but she knew it wasn't her dorm room. She could tell by the familiar scent of the forest mixed with fresh charcoal, and the vibrant colors that sprang to life. Then, she felt something wet drip onto her nose, then another, and soon, rain was pouring down on her.

The rain went through her body, making it known that she was a spirit lingering in the past. It was always like this. 

The scene before her reminded her of the ancient east. There were spiraling red pillars coiled with gold, majestic rooftops, and red walls that'd scale to the sky if it dared. Silk clothes, detailed embroidery, and elegance seen from miles away. 

This was not the modern world, but another nightmare of the past. 

"Your Highness, wait for me!" A voice cried out in dismay, chasing a man and woman. He  was frantically waving an umbrella as one would with a war flag.

"It's raining, Your Highness. You'll get sick!" He pleaded, watching as the regal Prince allowed his silk to be drenched. Such a priceless material and the Prince was risking it all for a woman.

"Only idiots get sick in summer," a familiar voice responded, causing Lina to jolt.

Lina's breath came to a halt when she saw him. As radiant as the sun, as cold as the moon. He had a face that could stir a nation, a voice that sliced through hearts, and eyes that commanded a kingdom. 

"But the Princess will get sick, Your Highness!" Sebastian blurted out, pointing to the Princess' pale skin, her drenched hair that clung to her face, and her limp body.

The Prince finally lifted his head from the unconscious woman in his arms. Despite carrying her on foot from the entrance of the palace to his private estate, he wasn't out of breath. She weighed like the calligraphy paper she always wrote on.

"Kade?" Lina muttered the name of the Second King of Ritan, but it fell on deaf ears. 

Right now, Kade was just a Prince. Soon, he would be known as the bloody and merciless tyrant of the East whose sword was always covered in red… all for a single woman.

"Are you implying the Princess is an idiot?" Kade shot back at Sebastian who stiffened and paused.

"W-what, no, Your Highness, I—"

"Go and fetch the Imperial Doctor," Kade growled, ignoring how drenched he was. He was more worried about the tiny little thing in his arms. She was so proud and prideful earlier. What happened?

Images of her long black hair fluttering against the wind, and her sharp stare but hesitant smile flashed into his mind. But now, she was pale and blue. 

Kade's face darkened. Once he found the abuser, he was going to rip that person apart, limb by limb, chop it up, and feed it to their family. 

"And you!" Kade snarled, turning to Lina, causing her to jump.

Lina was wide-eyed, staring at him, wondering if he could see her. Sometimes he could. Sometimes he couldn't. This was her dream, but somehow, it felt like his.

"What are you standing there for?" 

Lina looked behind her to see a woman in plain clothes was present. She blinked in surprise at the resemblance between this woman and Isabelle.

"Fetch warm clothes," Kade instructed. 

"Yes, Your Highness," the servant whispered, bowing her head and quickly running off.

Lina stared at the servant, confused as to why Isabelle was showing up in her nightmares as well. 

Suddenly, Kade kicked his door open and slammed it shut behind him. Lina ran after him and her body went through a door, like a ghost. 

Quietly, Lina observed Kade's familiar bedroom, where their bodies had once been tangled in. Everything was coming back to Lina.

The rich wooden furniture with impeccable design, the bamboo screens with paintings of tall mountains and flying cranes, the dark drapes that went from one tall pillar to the other, and the muslin curtains resting by the elegant window. 

This wasn't the modern world where vampires had come out of hiding. This was the past, ten centuries ago, when humans were treated with the highest esteem in the world, and not the dirt on people's shoes. 

"Don't go…" 

Lina jolted when she heard her own voice coming from the woman. She knew she shouldn't have been surprised, but she was.

"Who did this to you?" Kade demanded, grabbing her shaky hand. He bent down closer to her to hear her properly. Who dared to hurt his woman? 

"Stay…" the woman whispered, clinging onto him.

Kade's eyes flared at her words. She was on his bed, in his room, under his blankets, and she thought he'd leave?

"I'll always stay. By your side, under you or on top... the choice is yours to make," Kade murmured with a dangerous edge to his voice. His darkened eyes flickered to her trembling mouth.

Lina's heart ached when she saw this scene. It felt too intimate to witness. How long had it been since she last heard his tender voice? The last thing she remembered from her past life was a cold blade against her neck and Kade's murderous reaction. 

It was painful enough that Lina remembered her first life, but now, they were making her witness it all over again.

"How long will you continue to fight me?" Kade muttered, brushing the wet hair from his enemy's face. He should've killed her the minute he got the chance to, but he didn't. Instead, he was nursing her back to health—in his sacred bed.

"I've won hundreds of battles. War is child's play to me, and it won't be long before I conquer your Kingdom," Kade cruelly told her, even though she was at her lowest. "Why won't you submit to me?"

The woman said nothing. She was so quiet and still, Kade thought she was asleep. 

"Silly dove of mine," Kade let out a breath of amusement. 

"I am the reason you'll never win this battle," she breathed out, her lips blue and cold, but she dared to squint up at him.

Kade's heart stirred. The things he wanted to do with those lips. The sweet, sweet Princess of his enemy. He wanted to ruin her innocence with his hands, this woman that many worshipped.

Lina dug her nails into her palm. People always got this line mixed up. Everyone always thought the Prince of Ritan said it, but all along, it had been the Princess of Taren.

"This battle has already been won, your Kingdom is mine," Kade growled.

Lina trembled. This line was never written in the history books. It was never mentioned anywhere in the museum. No one in this world had heard this line, no one except Kade and the Princess.

So, how exactly did the stranger from the museum know these words? Unless Kaden DeHaven was the Second Prince of Ritan himself. But that would make the modern-day Kaden at least 1000 years old. Which could only mean one thing—he was immortal.