Adrius. My heart tightened, trembled. Please don't be an illusion. Please be real. The teacher ignored the disruption and returned to the formulas he scribbled on the board. This wasn’t something I was expecting or prepared for at all, but from the rigid set of his jaw, it was clear why he had come. Taking a deep breath, I purposefully collected my things and got up, paying no attention to Davin’s disapproving stare.
Adrius sat in one of two empty seats at the back of the room, his eyes fixed on me. With my chin lifted, I defiantly met his gaze head on, disregarding the jolt of electricity racing through me. I strode to the back of the room, and dropped into the seat next to him.
“So, we will continue where we left off…” The monotony of the teacher’s voice muffled over the erratic pounding of my heart.
Though distant and warped, Mr. Reasor’s words echoed my thoughts. Was it the reason Adrius had come back? …to continue where he had left off? That could mean so many things. It took all of my will to break away from his poker face stare, but I straightened my back, and turned to the front of the classroom. Glued to the chalkboard for the remainder of the class, I managed to relax a little. Across from me, Adrius tensed, the muscles of his jaw clenching tighter as we drew closer to the end of class.
When the dismissal bell rang, I was careful to avoid my friends. No need for anyone else to be dragged into my recurring nightmare, however it ended.
I left school and took the back route to my house, knowing he would follow. The sound of tires spitting gravel in the far parking lot forced me to walk faster. Removing myself from any eye witnesses seemed best. I stomped along the shadowed trail, deeper into the seclusion of the trees. Drearyton’s forest may not have the vibrant luminescence and beauty of Mythlandria, but it was sheltered and dark… And almost always deserted. The rain had slowed, but the cool dampness clung to my hair, and chilled the skin beneath my shirt. It couldn’t have been a more fitting setting.
Surrounded by the towering evergreens, the forest seemed oddly ordinary. In fact there wasn’t much to differentiate this visit from any other I had made. Nothing to indicate the bizarre turn my life had taken. It was the same cold drizzle which fell almost every day. Had that not been the case, perhaps the chill in the air would have forewarned me… served as a prophetic sign that today was the day I was going to die.
Despite the cold, a new heat burned inside me. The hunted leading the hunter, I mused darkly trudging deeper into the forest.
Coming to an abrupt stop, I spun around to face him. He was only a few paces behind and stopped on cue, his golden olive eyes watching with wary expectation.
What exactly was he anticipating? I bristled. That I would run? He should have known better.
Rain splattered on the everyday clothes he wore. Torn, faded blue jeans and fitted white t-shirt. It was odd to see him look so… normal. Aside from being too intensely attractive, he could have passed for an average high school guy. Sure he was stunning and mysterious, and yet something about his appearance suggested a supernatural being, but no one would guess the truth of his identity — an Elven Prince from another realm, sent to kill me.
A wall of emotional shields surrounded me. This wasn’t the time to get caught up in his other-worldly beauty. My life was at stake. He had his kingdom… his new love… his life. And he had come here to take away mine.
I glared at him. How dare he come here, into my world, turning things upside-down — again?
I stared into his dark olive eyes. My fascination with them lingered even now while they were tinged with danger. I wanted to show him I wasn’t afraid of him. He stepped closer and my heart beat quickened. It gave me away, as it always did.
“What are you doing here?” I finally blurted when I couldn’t bear the silence any longer.
“We have unfinished matters,” he said slowly.
“Oh, really? So you think you can take me back there? Just like that?” I could taste the acid of my words.
“Of course I can take you, Lorelei.” The corner of his mouth quirked, then he added, “You’ve always been within my reach.” In one fluid motion he closed the distance between us, catching my wrists in his hands.
His eyes bore deeply into mine, holding me firmly when I tried to pull away.
“Great,” I snarled. “Then let’s get this over with.”
He frowned. “Get what over with?”
“Finish where you left off,” I retorted, lifting my chin. My heart slammed against my chest, threatening to crack a rib. “That’s why you’re here isn’t it, to kill me?”
He cocked his head to the side in mock inquisition. The thrill of fear spreading through me felt too familiar.
I wrenched wildly in a futile attempt to free my wrists from the warmth of his touch. His chiseled face was inches from mine. His eyes working their way into my soul, as if nothing had happened, as if things were still like before, but I’d never forget the bitterness and anger on his face that day, the hatred that eclipsed all traces of love. Tears stung behind my eyes, I blinked, pushing them away along with the memories.
Be strong, Lorelei. No more moments of weakness… Moments of weakness were what led to the fatal mistake of falling for a mythological prince who’d rather see me dead than let me into his heart. I licked my lips, refusing to let my somersaulting emotions take over.
His gaze flicked briefly to my mouth. The heat of his breath fanned my face as he exhaled, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. He released my wrists, but the skin still burned as though he was holding them. A slow deliberate smile spread across his face.
“I could kill you, if you like,” he murmured, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Though, I think we’ve come too far for that now.”