Chapter 15

Athena reached for the book, dragging it out of the shelf; the sound of the cover of the book rubbing against the wooden surface of the shelf seemed to echo through the empty walls.

A surge of energy passed through her veins, flowing through her blood. The beautiful voices suddenly turned to a shriek so loud, turning into the very embodiment of pain. Athena let the book drop on the floor, trying to cover her ears from the shriek. She closed her eyes in despair groaning in pain.

Suddenly she felt two palms cover hers, trying to pry them away from her ears. She felt his hot breath tease her neck, distracting her enough to pull away her fingers.

"Listen to it my angel. Really listen to them. They are trying to tell you something."

He let go of her fingers, placing his hands around her waist, his lips leaving feather soft kisses on her neck as he kept whispering, "Listen to what I have to say."

Athena suddenly felt at peace, surrounded by his smell. Listening to his voice.

"Let me see you Christian…", she whispered.

"Not yet, Aya… not yet."

She felt his hands begin to slip away, she instinctively laced her fingers between his, holding him in place.

"Stay just a moment longer, Kalona. I feel at such peace right now. I did not know my soul was restless until the moment I felt you. And not just in my dreams, I felt you near me. I know this is a dream, but let me stay in it just a minute longer. Let the peace and calm wash over my skin so that when I wake up, I have a fingering smile on my lips. So, that I still feel the residue of your heat, your safety. Somehow, in this world there seems to be a place I completely belong and it's with you. Perhaps, that is because you are dream. Maybe it is because I am that drunk. I do not know what it is. But, it's right there in my reach."

Athena bent down and collected the book, submitting to the electric feeling this time.

"Nagis."

"It means mine." Christian whispered in her ears.

"And Sijack?"

"Yours. You are it. And it is you. It is us. You are my soul. The broken missing peace that I thought died."

Athena smiled and said, "You are only complete when you are with pain. Because that's what you feel you deserve but now I am here. You are me. And I am you. We are us. Let my love heal you and allow me your love, to heal me too."

"Do you promise to save me Aya?"

"I was created to save you."

"Many would beg to differ. You were created to punish me even further."

"I am your torturer and your solace, my fallen angel. Only the combination can save you."

"You can be whatever you like. Good or bad, the fact that you can see this book tells me I am going to come back every time."

"Good."

"Good."

"My eyes are getting heavy…" Athena trailed off.

"They were bound to. Breaking the spell took a piece of you."

Christian bent down again to carry her to his room, laying her in his bed. He bent down to kiss her forehead.

"Sweet dreams my Aya."

He left behind a note. A response to her letter.

'Had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design. These bitter accusations might have been suppressed, had I, with greater policy, concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination; by reason, by reflection, by everything. But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and just.

~C'

And for the first time in a century, Christian's lips curved into a genuine smile. His heart beat wildly as it dared to hope. Maybe, just maybe she would forgive and love the monster behind this face.