The Biological - Part Three

The space I was standing in shook and twisted, everything became blindingly white for a few seconds.

"Theo, just open your eyes!" She begged me.

It was the voice of someone I cared about deeply, I tried to remember her face, I tried to remember her name, but I felt something blocking both, and I just couldn't. Perhaps years had passed since the last time I saw her. Wherever she was and whatever we once meant for each other didn't matter right now — I wished her happiness. That's all.

I was back in the darkness that surrounded me. When new images formed from all over around me, I wasn't standing in the forest anymore. I was in the fanciest hotel room I had ever seen. That, or some kind of a mansion that was owned by a billionaire.

The door to the room opened, a woman in a white cloak came in and then she closed it behind her, when she stepped inside the room further, I recognized the face of my mother, she looked exactly like the last time I had seen her in Portland.

I didn't attempt to touch or talk to her this time; I knew that it wouldn't work out. She headed to the nearest window and stood there gazing outside. The door to the room opened again, Arthur came in wearing his black cloak, there was one thing I noted clearly about him.

At one point in his life, he stopped aging altogether.

She turned around and faced him, but their interaction was very different this time, she took me by surprise when she hurried up to him and got down on one knee, she held his hand in hers and kissed the back of it softly. When she looked up from where she was on the floor, her red eyes were the same color as his.

I wished I never had to see her like this.

"My king." She said emotionlessly.

He pulled her up and held her hand in his, he turned it around then kissed her palm twice, "My queen," he said, in an equally cold manner that mirrored hers.

My head shook in denial, refusing what my ears heard and my eyes saw.

"I did not call for you yet, my apologies for not escorting you myself, I was going to send you a letter today and plan the itinerary accordingly." His face was as unfathomable as ever.

"No need to apologize, my king, I felt you through the bond and came at once after."

Something changed in their eyes, it wasn't the foreboding crimson that didn't weaver, but the intensity that passed between them as they stood there looking at each other.

"GET ME OUT OF HERE!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Was it a duty that she fulfilled? Or did she finally get what she had long wished for?

"Get me the hell out of here…" My voice was weak now, I waited. I was looking down at my hands, so I couldn't see their expressions anymore.

I didn't want to see this. I didn't want to know. All I could think about right now was my dad.

How did he end up raising the son of his rival, the boy that looked just like his biological father? Those were questions I preferred leaving unanswered.

Some things were better left unsaid.

"You were always different, Emmeline."

I looked up again and watched them, he almost smiled at her. Using the full name that very few people knew about, and no one was allowed to use.

She looked at him with anxiety. "Arthur," She reprimanded him softly.

"Our time will come soon, once our son is ready," he promised.

"What if I don't conceive from the first try," she whispered.

"You will." He promised again.

The darkness slipped by me, it was close to being trapped in a container full of water, the water was leaking through the sides in silence. My body parts were going numb, and it got me thinking that this time, I might be dying for real.

I had one regret.

"I'm sorry dad." My voice burned with helplessness.

I knew he wasn't here to forgive me; I was only trying to ease the load off of my heavy conscience.

Just before the numbness became unbearable, I heard a magnificent growl that sounded as if it came from right next to me, the image of Liam's red demon was the last thing I thought about.

***

My body was light again, almost as if everything I experienced was only a nightmare, if I opened my eyes now, I would probably find myself in my bed in Portland, I would go out of my room to wash my face and get a glass of water, but my mother would beat me to it, she'd have the water ready for me by the time I left the bathroom. We'd end up spending some quality time together while dad and Li were sound asleep for the night.

"Theodor?"

I turned slowly with my eyes still closed. I was having trouble moving with the head-splitting pain in my brain.

"Yes?" I said after a few seconds, but there was no response.

I opened my eyes and saw her, she was leaning toward me, her pretty face only inches from mine. My heavy heart stumbled a bit, confusing me.

"Where am I," I asked Sophia as I was trying to pull myself up.

She pressed her hand over my chest, "You're in your room, don't get up yet," she said.

Her breath blew in my face, confusing me again. She clung to my elbow and her proximity was starting to get uncomfortable, we were friends, but I needed to set some boundaries. I was two years older, and already had someone irreplaceable. She felt my uneasiness, as intuitive as ever. she leaned away.

"How did I get here?" I asked in a strange tone even to me, I was hesitant to find out.

"Li brought you back from the forest, you passed out there," Her tone was grave, and her hazel eyes were full of secrets.

"Where's Liam?" I asked, Uncomfortable again.

"Downstairs, I'll go get him," she was about to stand up when I held her wrist, stopping her.

She sat back on the bed next to me, no questions asked, I realized that I missed her.

"You disappeared." It was enough of a statement, I didn't want to bother her but I didn't want her to leave either, she ran her fingers through my hair.

Friends could do that to each other, right?