Word Count: 1656

~Luella

She slips into the room, eyeing me warily.

My poor, beautiful sister. She used to admire me, once upon a time. Now, she stares at me through pale green eyes, terrified. I'm still tied down, after a day. My wrists are rubbed raw, to the point they never stop stinging, and no one has come in this room to let me know when I might be let out. Everyone just likes not make excuses.

"You're looking so much better already," Della says cheerfully, as if she thinks she can fool me. I can hear how forced her tone is, as she walks on what she thinks is broken glass, scared one word could send me spiralling back into the depression she most likely thinks she saved me from.

"I was never sick," I tell her pointedly.

Her once bright smile falls into a flat line, as she pulls up a chair to sit next to me. The only reason she is braving getting close to me is because I'm tied down. I'm no risk to anyone anymore.

"Ethan told me you would say that," she sighs, straightening he jacket. "I found you, unconscious for what must have been days. You can be honest with us, and tell me if you tried to take your life. We want to help you, to make you better. Finally, we can get rid of these hallucinations and you can get better. You have no idea how much I've missed you."

I'm hardly listening to a word coming out of her mouth. Della appears outwardly, pleased with herself, like she's accomplished something. I love her, but I always suspected she wanted to be better than me. Now I'm apparently sick, this is her opportunity.

"I'm only going to say this once," I tell her.

"Say what once? Is this about being Thought's mate? You don't have to be jealous anymore, him and I aren't together, and you know that," she exclaims.

I have to inhale slowly to keep a handle on myself. "This isn't a jealously thing. Thought dragged you along to get to me. Him and I are mates, and if you would please go and retrieve him for me, that would be great. He doesn't know I'm here, and will be worrying about me."

Della's expression doesn't move. I've tried contacting Thought myself, by calling for him in my sleep, trying to reach him in a dream. But it's radio silence, like he's disappeared completely. It does make me wonder, did he leave now because he has no interest in pursuing this with me? Was this his plan this entire time?

"Look, Luella, you're not well. I came here to tell you that I won't stop trying to get you back, okay?" Della says, reaching to hold my hand. I stare at it, the rings on her fingers, the painted nails.

She's been just fine without me.

I clasp her hand tightly, to the point it has to be painful for the both of us. "If you don't get me my mate right now, bad things will happen. Now go, and don't come back until you've decided you want to listen to me, your sister."

Della yelps, as I finally let her go. She jumps up from her seat, staring at me like I'm crazy. Maybe I am going crazy, sitting in this room alone, tied down against my will.

"You're going to get help," Della says firmly, before she leaves the room.

Exhaling, I lay back in the seat, closing my eyes. How could this have happened? There is no way I'm going to be able to convince them to let me out of here without sounding crazy. I mean, who would believe a girl claiming she is mated to a pure-blood immortal, or even communicating with one. They won't even give me a chance to explain myself.

Maybe I fell asleep, I'm not sure. But the sound of the door opening and closing softly startles me away again. It only takes a single glance to realise I'm done for.

Fate.

He saunters into the room, the air of confidence he brings with him cooling my skin to the point of shivering. He's so purely immortal, in a way that Thought isn't. Thought is my mate, so there is a form of protection there. But there is nothing stopping Fate from hurting me. He could take my life and think nothing of it; I'm not important enough in his eyes to cause a consequence.

"This is truly a sad sight," Fate croons, but that smile contradicts any kind of sympathy he attempts to feign. I pull at my binds again, as if it offers me any chance of escaping. What would I do if I got free anyway? Fate would hunt me to the ends of the earth to get any point across that he wishes to.

"If this is about our deal, you can clearly see I'm indisposed," I comment, raising an eyebrow at him, challenging him to let me out.

He doesn't even flinch.

He's dressed as he always is. In dark clothes, dripping with wealth in the most subtle of ways. He is a picture of raw beauty, but a kind of beauty people are afraid of, as it's used as a weapon to manipulate, so draw people in and turn them away as devils. Maybe these are just rumours, and Thought assured me he wouldn't do me any physics harm. But what about emotional?

"I could let you out, what but use would that be to me?" He questions, sitting in the exact seat Della was in only hours ago. He brings along with him the scent of the sea, which doesn't suit him, if I'm honest. Maybe it's because I expected him to smell like blood.

I grit my teeth. "I'm here, instead of ensuring the deal we made is done."

"The deal can't just be done," he exasperates, the condescending tone getting to me more than I would like to admit. "This is a lifelong commitment. Or as long as it takes for you to let his guard down, so I can get in."

"And why would I agree to hurt Thought, he's my mate?" I question.

Fate's smile grows, touching the corners of his mouth. It's a frightening sight, I just admit, to cause pleasure to an immortal who I fear so much. After all his threats to my territory, his own territory, and to Della. She may do me wrong more times than a usual sister, but she is the only reminding family that I know of. The rest are living their lives who knows where, surely within the reach of Fate.

"I see he's already caught more than just your interest. You care enough about him that you feel as though you owe him something," Fate tells me. I immediately shake my head, but even as I do so, I doubt my own intentions. Is he right? Do I care about Thought enough now that protecting him is my first priority.

"He's my mate. That's it. And I can't do what you want me to while being locked in this place. They don't believe me that I'm mated to an immortal," I tell him. At this point I'm begging him to let me out.

His smile never falters. "I see."

Mercifully, he reaches forward, and with one swift movement, snaps the binds from my wrists, then my stomach, and finally my ankles. It's a relief, being able to move my limbs, forcing the numbness from my legs. As I try get to my feet, my weakness betrays me, and I stumble. Fate grabs for my elbow, holding me until I regain my balance.

"You're weak. You need to come with me," he comments. I can almost taste the magic in the air, but I step away before he has a chance to transport me out of this place, letting out a scream.

"No! You can't take me away. I need to wait for Thought," I tell him firmly, leaning back against the chair to avoid falling over again.

Fate's expression darkens.

Suddenly the door behind him bursts open, and not only does Ethan step in, but as does my mate. He found me. It took him longer than I expected, but finally he found me, and is going to take me away before Fate can. I almost feel overjoyed for a selfish moment, but it's abruptly stolen from me, as Fate grabs my arms, stepping behind me.

"What is going on?" Thought questions, his tone lower, more threatening as he sees me in the arms of Fate.

I never thought I would be so happy to see him. Never once did I think I would ever think Thought was good, kind, and most importantly, trustworthy. Still, I don't trust him, but the happiness I feel when seeing him standing in front of me, ready to save me, is contrary to my rational belief.

"Your mate and I still have some things to discuss," Fate murmurs, right in my ear, but it's enough for Thought to hear. "And to avoid having you meddle with her mind, I'm going to take her away. Not for long, so try not to miss us too much."

Fate's humorous tone clearly does little to impress Thought. "Don't do this. You know the moment you do, you've crossed a line you can never come back from."

"It's too bad I'm not afraid of you," Fate says.

And before I can react, even scream, everything around me falls away. Including my mate. And I'm gone.

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