Consciousness came knowing in slowly, lazily unwrapping sleep's arms from around me touching me as sleep sunk away, detaching itself from my senses, falling down to wait for the next time we would meet. Consciousness came to me with slow soft caresses, in shapes of circles and twirls, it came with a finger drawing shapes on my arm.

It came with low mumbles, and almost whispered orders. I blinked as the last remnant of sleep slipped away and the feel of a hard chest against my cheeks became clear to my mind. The smell of soap and a musky cologne filtered into my nostrils and I automatically inched closer, the top of my nose brushing against the slightly brittle skin, I wrinkled my nose, closing my eyes for a second as I snuggled into the comfort. Romanov's strong grip around me, caressing slow circles on my arm made me feel warm, safe.

A soft smile on my lips I pressed my lips to the skin of Romanov's neck, but froze when I felt him still against me, the low mumble stopping for a second before I felt him relax, and it began again. My eyes still closed, I frowned, then slowly open them again, quickly realising I was not in bed. Eyes wide I looked up to see Romanov's strong jaw, a serious expression on his face as he talked to someone in front him. Immediately my head snapped down, digesting the fact that I was in Romanov's lap, curled up against him, a white blanket wrapped around me — while he sat in his office and worked. That I had been there, asleep, while he had worked.

Romanov seemed to be talking, but everything suddenly felt on mute as I slowly turned, and froze, feeling my cheeks redden instantly.

Seated across Romanov's table, Dom and Grayson's eyes met mine and I almost swore under my breath when I noticed the amused twinkles in their eyes.

"Good morning," Grayson nodded, before he picked up a black file and getting out of the seat, strode towards the closed door and left. My eyes widened slightly, seeing him in a suit for the first time.

"Good morning, Olli," Dominic mumbled softly, eyes moving behind me as he nodded before picking his own files and following after Grayson.

"Morning," I replied lamely into the air, not clearly sure who I was even say that to. I froze when I felt the strong arms around me tighten. Romanov's chin lowered until he pressed his lips to my forehead, just keeping his lips there.

"Good morning," Romanov mumbled into my forehead, his tone not giving anything away.

I shook my head. Refusing to talk. Morning breath was never a wonderful thing to make someone, especially your soulmate—deal with your morning breath.

"You're not going to talk?" Romanov asked, a crinkle of amusement in his voice.

I shook my head again. Slightly mortified and confused. I was not going to talk until I brushed.

"Not even if I tell you your arm's poking against a wound from last night?" Romanov asked again, his voice suddenly gruff and serious.

A loud squeak left my lips as I jolted forward, trying to remove myself from him, last night's memories flooding in through the slow blur, quickly. I twisted as Romanov's arms around me tightened and pulled me back into him.

"Don't. I need you close."

It was only a mere whisper. His warm breath against my neck. His lips brushing against the suddenly hot skin. But I still froze. But it still swept my breath away.

I sighed as I felt myself involuntarily ease against him again, curling back in his arms, closing my eyes. I felt as Romanov's posture changed, and he relaxed in his seat. Then slowly the sound of his pen scribbling came back, and I sighed again. What was even going on?

The second-time consciousness came in, it crashed in like a wave. With the clattering and crashing of something to the floor, followed by a loud growl. My eyes instantly snapped open and zoned into the tight chiselled jaw just above my line of sight.

"You woke her up," Romanov snapped, his voice cold and punishing. Immediately my eyes followed his and I felt myself blush at the sight before me.

Marsha stood before the broken platters on the floor, behind her a dozen mortified looking maids, staring straight at the broken platters. It was then when I noticed the stranger beside Marsha. Her shoulder length shining silver hair framing her beautiful sharp face, a fashionably designed pair of spectacles resting upon her nose.

"Romanov, dear, who is this?"

I hesitated under the older woman's sharp gaze. Suddenly feeling like being caught playing pranks on people, by someone older.

Holding me, Romanov looked like the epitome of relaxed. His coal black eyes on the woman's slightly grey ones.

I watched, waited as Romanov continued to look at the fashionably regal woman.

Finally, he spoke.

"My soulmate."

A collection of gasps ripped out in the large hall, my own being one of them and my eyes snapped to Romanov to find him already looking at me. I watched dumbfounded as he looked up at the woman and repeated himself.

"Aunt Meryl, Olivia is my soulmate."

I felt faint.

His words echoing inside my head.

Soulmate...

Soulmate...

Soulmate...

He had said it. Acknowledged it. Out loud.

Lady Edika...

A little laugh of delight erupted form the tall lady and I looked at her, wide eyed and still unbelieving of what had just happened. The woman stood before me, her serious eyes on me, and It was only when she smiled, and her eyes softened when I realised her eyes had been hopeful behind the sharpness.

"Well that's brilliant then!" Aunt Meryl beamed, then she wrinkled her nose, "Although it's odd how I met both Olivia and Theia in the most awkward of times. Why exactly are you carrying the poor girl around?"

I heard as Romanov sighed, giving in to his aunt, "I need her close,"

Completely sure I was red by now my eyes turned towards all the girls behind an amused looking Marsha and met a panic-stricken Rose's face. I frowned when I noticed her hands fisted beside her. Standing beside her, Sophia and Rachael smiling softly.

For a second, I frowned, worrying over Rose. Was she okay?

"Very well then dear, take your mate to your room, will you? I must restock the dear's closet with my latest collection. I see I guessed her size perfectly!" Her eyes turned to me again and again she smiled her bright motherly smile, "Oh and Olivia, it's so very nice to meet you, dear. Lord knows Romanov needs you."

I could do nothing but smile, mumbling out a soft "Thanks," before hiding my disastrous bed face against Romanov's chest again.

"I apologise I'd forgotten you would visit, Aunt Meryl. It is, like always, wonderful to have you here."

Aunt Meryl smiled at Rome as she waved her hands in front of her dismissively, "You know I always visit randomly."

"Quite," Romanov scoffed and I almost gasped when his hand readjusted and braced under my breast, his thumb unconsciously giving the swell of it a caress.

The knowing look of mischief Aunt Meryl gave me then clearly told me that she had witnessed that caress. Despite the impossibility, I felt myself redden more.

Aunt Meryl's grin widened, and she looked back up at Romanov, her hand holding onto her Gucci bag.

"Romanov, dear, I think it's time you ought to take your mate upstairs now."

The feeling of finally having peed, brushed, and bathed, felt liberating. And I swirled in the freeness of being able to talk and look at people without worrying about the morning breath or look as I walked out of the bathroom and into Romanov's room. My short red skirt and long white sleeved top on, my hair held only by a red ribbon.

Romanov's room smelt like him. The air radiated the power he always carried. The white and grey theme— his personality. My eyes fell on a silent seated Romanov on the bed and I slowed in my pace, casually strolling towards him.

I was curious, and so overwhelmed about how he had so suddenly just admitted it to everyone, had said it out loud. Soulmate.

A chill ran down my spine, and I suddenly stopped just as Romanov looked up and his golden eyes met mine.

"You acknowledged it... In front of everyone." I blurted out, my hands limp beside me while I just stood there, desperately aching for answers.

"I did," Romanov nodded, but then he stopped, and I felt my heart sink a little. He wasn't going to tell me more.

Sighing, I let my head fall low, before slowly padding my way towards him again, coming toe to toe with him I braced my hands on his shoulders and climbed back onto his lap until I straddled him.

"This is so complicated," I whispered out suddenly, not clearly knowing if I was saying this to him or myself.

Romanov's hands slipped around me and his lips automatically found his mark, my grip on Romanov's shoulders tightened as he ran the tip of his tongue on his mark, slowly, tentatively.

"Nobody said this was going to be easy,"

"And this is?" I breathed out loud as he bit into my sweet spot, instantly suckling onto the skin next. A low growl left his throat and I felt the sharp tips of his canines almost piercing my neck.

"You're making a love bite, aren't you?" I breathed out again, a minute later, when he didn't reply.

Pressing a peck on the spot Romanov moved back and smiled at me. A real smile, and if I hadn't seen the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, I would never believe what he said next.

"No, Olivia. I've already made the love bite."

~^~
Life is such a contradiction. And to each life — other lives are a contradiction. Sitting in a coffee shop, or a restaurant, or anywhere, seeing an old lady walk in, I often found myself wondering about her story, about her life. Back when she was young and dazzling, and now when she had aged in wisdom like fine fine wine.

Or was she not wise at all? Sometimes I wondered if other people wondered this, looking at others and trying to peek into their lives. Sometimes I wondered if other people watched me and wondered about my life story.

It was strange, lately, I was finding myself suddenly beginning to wonder if there was a possibility anyone wondered about Lady Edika. It wasn't strange when I had found an ancient looking book hidden on the top most shelf, hidden behind the other books. It wasn't even strange that the author, Julius Naightuitem, had begun to research and write about his young dead bride after her demise. It was strange though, how fascinatingly detailed his work was. Julius Naightuitem had really been curious about Edika's life, wondering enough to actually penning down her life story.

Her portrait covered the entire page of 349. One glance and I found complete reason Julius Naightuitem had been smitten by the woman. Painted with such precision not even the tiny beauty spot above her left breast seemed to be forgotten, her greenish yellow eyes pierced straight at me from the portrait, the long dark straight ebony hair falling low until it covered her waist. Milky white skin contrasting dangerously with the full red lips. I just couldn't look away from the woman.

Her whole face, her composure seemed to demand attention, and I found myself wondering how someone who looked like her could do be so rotten inside. What and why? Two very different words, but I could relate as two of the front most words I found myself wondering about the evil Lady Edika.

What had led her to being so?
And why had she let herself be?

I slow breath slipped from between my teeth, and I ran my flat palm on the page I was currently on.

Gemini.

It seemed so simple, so exact, the perfect way for Julius to describe his estranged dead wife. Gemini. Twins. Two faces. Two sides. Beauty and Decay.

Yes— I flipped the book close— slipping in a bookmark. Very accurate.

It was getting dark now. Between updating my journal and reading Romanov's great grandad's book, time had seemed to fly.

Unconsciously tugging on the scarf tied around my neck I slowly tidied my hidden alcove as I prepared to return to the company of breathing humans.

I had spent almost all day curled up with my laptop and the large bulky black book, Julius's handwriting curving and curling in the most intricate of ways on every paper.

Picking on my laptop I eyed the black book before quickly picking it up and placing it with my laptop, holding both against my chest.

"Oliviaaaa,"

A dreading chill ran down my spine and I turned when I felt something move behind me. The whole library suddenly felt darker. My grip on my book and laptop tightened.

"Oliviaaaa, sooonnnn. Sooonnnn Oliviaaaaa,"

The whisper seemed loud, a whisper that seemed to resonate completely around the massive library. Echoing back at me from every wall. The whisper came from everywhere.

"Deathhhhhhh"

I stilled. The whisper seemed closer. Like it came from behind me. Flinching as the sudden sweep of cold air hit my back I clenched my eyes shut, gritting my teeth together, hoping the whisper would end. Praying the whisper would end.

Somehow after what had happened in the morning I had expected this. But I had hoped, just like I was hoping now, that it would not happen, that it would end.

But it didn't... The whisper continued.

"Bloooodddd"

"Sooonnn"

"SOON!!!"

A loud scream left my lips as the whisper turned into a scream. Loud, it was so loud it could make my ears bleed, and I screamed with it. With her. Edika. My eyes landed on the closed balcony just before me. The flimsy white curtains moving with the wind that seemed impossible behind the closed door. She stood there. Her tall silhouette, her long straight ebony hair covering her face. Just stood there. And I watched. Edika had finally shown herself.

Edika was real.