Revelations Of The Past

Engulfed in a whirlwind of nostalgic mist, Visenya found herself atop a mighty Dragon, Lucian's father, as he flew a young Lucian to a kingdom he had never ventured to before: her kingdom.

The sky around him came alive with dragons, their majestic forms soaring in unison. As his father descended from the haze of the clouds, Lucian's gaze fixated on the ground below, and that's when he saw her for the first time, catching his attention like a beacon in the night.

Visenya saw herself as a young girl perched upon her father's shoulders. Her eyes, wide with wonder, mirrored the same awe that filled Lucian’s own heart. She felt the depth of his adoration for her, his gaze lingering, unable to tear it away.

His breath caught in his chest, his heart skipping a beat as her long, chocolate brown curls flowed in the wind, framing a face of unparalleled beauty. He was completely captivated by her, every movement, every gesture igniting a fire within him that he had never known.

A young Visenya closed her eyes, a radiant smile adorning her lips as she lifted her arms in a graceful gesture, as if she, too, possessed wings. To him, she embodied everything magical and enchanting in the world. And now, Visenya was aware of the profound impact this memory had on him, how this chance encounter had imprinted itself upon his soul, forever shaping his perception of her.

Later that day, a young Lucian was fueled by his insatiable curiosity and found himself drawn to Visenya like a moth to a flame. He followed her through the forest near her childhood home, the joyful laughter and carefree chatter of her and her little friends echoing through the trees.

His eyes remain fixated on her, hypnotized by her radiant energy and infectious smile. He keeps his presence concealed though, unwilling to betray his secret obsession, even though at that time, he refused to acknowledge it as such.

He quickly positions himself behind the sturdy trunk of a large oak tree, seeking its gnarled branches as a veil of anonymity. From this hidden vantage point, he continues to observe Visenya as she gracefully dances through the woods, her laughter harmonizing with the rustle of leaves.

However, fate had its own mischievous plan. As Lucian watched, completely spellbound by her existence, Visenya's gaze suddenly shifted towards his hiding spot, her eyes sparkling with blissful surprise. She took a few steps in his direction, while her friends remained unaware of the unfolding encounter behind them.

Visenya's voice, filled with innocent curiosity, breaks the silence. "Why are you hiding behind that tree?" She asks, her words laced with a melodious giggle that floated through the air. The sound is both enchanting and endearing to him, as if she finds his actions completely adorable and silly.

"It's alright, you can come out. Don’t be afraid," she reassured him.

"I'm not afraid," his ego asserted, as if he had something to prove to her.

"Come play with us," she said, extending her hand invitingly.

His eyes shifted between her hand and her beautiful smile, and slowly he placed his hand into hers, feeling a spark ignite at their touch. She guided him out from behind the tree, his heart pounding inside his chest. A blend of euphoric angst from being in such close proximity to her, as well as being the center of her attention, made him feel like the luckiest boy in the world.

The memory shifts to that unforgettable birthday, the one he had ruined with his childish antics. It becomes evident to her now that his actions were not driven by hatred or a sadistic enjoyment of her suffering, but rather by an overwhelming sense of jealousy and a desperate yearning to be close to her like the other boys – a desire he believed was impossible to attain.

She witnessed the moment when he discovered she was his, seeing herself through his eyes as he walked out onto that terrace. She was a vision of perfection and elegance, like an angel with a celestial aura enveloping her. Her captivating hair frolicking with the wind, as her enchanting eyes pierced the depths of his soul. It was the happiest he had ever been, but he let his ego ruin it.

And their first kiss, experienced through Lucian’s perspective, the profound sense of completeness and utter bliss that he felt in that moment. It was as if all the pieces of his tumultuous life had finally fallen into place now that he had found his soulmate… and it was her; he had always wanted it to be her. There was no other girl in the world that he wanted more.

The last few memories were the moments they shared after he brought her back to this world. The whispered conversations in the night, the inside jokes, and shared dreams. The way her laughter filled his ears, like music that brought him to life.

The flurry of stolen kisses, their breaths mingling as time stood still. The taste of her on his tongue, the warmth of her touch, and the electricity that surged through their bodies with every embrace.

The way they expressed their love through the language of passion. Their bodies entwined, the warmth of her naked skin melting into his. The sensation of her breath against his neck, and the rhythm of their hearts beating in sync, a symphony of their unwavering affection. She encountered through his eyes all the nights he had lain awake and watched her sleep, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her beautiful face as her chest rose and fell with every breath.

The last memory was different; it wasn't one she recalled being part of. She saw Lucian standing in front of a mirror, appearing to be the same age as when they shared their first kiss, the same age as when her father did the unspeakable. He was nervous, fidgeting with the collar of his stylish button-up shirt with matching slacks, as if he were heading to a ball.

Taking a deep breath, he cleared his throat, as if he were about to give some kind of speech but was unexpectedly interrupted by a knock. As he made his way over to the door, Visenya realized they were in his lair, which surprisingly had a elegant interior… not what she had expected at all. It resembled any other luxurious bedroom fit for a prince.

On the other side of the door stood Lucian's little brother, Mason, so sweet and innocent, and as far as Visenya could recall, always polite and well-mannered. He reminded her of Synora.

"What do you want, Mason?" Lucian's tone undoubtedly impatient.

"Will you come with me to the temple?" Mason asked.

"I'm busy right now, ask Cheyenne."

"I don't want to ask Cheyenne. I can't concentrate with her around; she's always teasing me. Please, Lucian."

"I have better things to do right now, Mason. It's time to grow up and learn how to do things by yourself for a change." Lucian's tone was harsh.

Mason let out a dejected sigh, his eyes falling to the ground as he tried to hide his hurt feelings. "Fine."

His brother walked off without another word, and a twinge of guilt tugged at Lucian's heart. Nonetheless, he closed the door and went right back to the mirror.

"Hey," he began, dissatisfied with the greeting. "No," he muttered, frustration evident as he ran his fingers through his hair.

“So, you’ve got your wolf now? That’s pretty cool… ugh… I sound like such an idiot," he ridiculed himself.

He looked back into the mirror, took a deep breath, and for the first time in his eighteen years of life, he spoke from his heart.

“Hello, Visenya. I’m sorry to show up like this uninvited, as I’m sure I’m the last person you wanted to see… and the last person you'd want as a mate. I came here tonight to apologize to you, not just for how I behaved a couple of weeks ago and left you alone on that mountain… Gods, that was such a dick thing to do, but I also wanted to apologize for how I’ve treated you throughout the years. I’ve been a real jerk to you, and I truly am sorry for all of it. The truth is… I love you, Visenya. I’ve always loved you… since the first time I ever laid eyes on you. And though I know I don’t deserve it, if you have it in your heart to give me a chance, I promise to be better for you.”

Suddenly, a series of deafening explosions shattered the tranquility of the moment. The walls trembled around him with each detonation, and fear and confusion gripped him as he rushed towards the door. Just as he reached it, the room caved in around him, snapping Visenya back to her current reality, the tips of Lucian’s fingers slipping from her marking.

He was teetering on the edge of death, his life force nearly drained to the last drop. The fire in Visenya's eyes began to burn out, replaced by the return of her soft brown gaze. Tears streamed down her cheeks, each droplet a declaration of the anguish that consumed her. She regained control back from Marienne, immediately restoring his essence and releasing him from her grip.

Lucian crashed to the ground, struggling to catch a lungful of air, feeling as if he had just been revived from beyond the grave. Visenya slowly made her descent, crumpling to her hands and knees, her body convulsing with sobs that seemed to emanate from the depths of her soul. A pain, so raw and unfiltered, reduced her to nothing more than a shell of the person she once was.

"Visenya," Lucian called out, stretching his hand towards her but she was out of his reach.

"Get out of my head…" Visenya's voice trembled with a desperate plea, her fingertips digging into her scalp as if she were trying to claw away Marienne’s presence.

"Visenya," Lucian pushed himself up, only to stumble back onto the unforgiving dirt.

“Get out of my head!” The battle between Visenya and Marienne raged on, their conflicting desires clashing in a storm of mental chaos. Lucian could see the flickering turmoil in Visenya's eyes, the struggle between her true self and the invasive presence that threatened to consume her.

"Let me help you," Lucian’s voice cracked with emotion, his eyes pleading for her to hear him. "You're not alone in this."

Visenya's grip on her hair tightened, her expression contorting with pain and determination. The strands of her hair fastened between her fingers, fully prepared to rip out every last strand. “GET OUT OF MY HEAD!”

A rippling shockwave of energy sprung forth from her, crashing into Lucian at lightning speed, instantly catching him in its gravitational pull. The world around him blurred and twisted, an array of colors and shapes whirling past him in a dizzying frenzy. Time seemed to dissipate, each passing moment stretching to eternity as he hurtled through this chaotic void.

He was violently expelled into a vast desert, where the scorching sun beat down mercilessly upon him. The grains of sand, like tiny shards of glass, embedded themselves into his skin, while many clung to his face as he lay face down in it.

Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, Lucian slowly lifted his head, squinting against the blistering sunlight. The desert stretched out endlessly before him, a barren and desolate landscape devoid of any signs of life.

The golden dunes undulated like waves in a sea of sand, and the silence of the desert was broken only by the occasional whisper of the wind, carrying with it the haunting echoes of his displacement.

Exhaustion overwhelmed him, and with a final gasp, his face sank back into the hot desert sand as darkness claimed him, offering a temporary respite from the harsh reality of his unfamiliar surroundings.