Syn

I could hear her screams- making my chest pain as I felt her anguish but she needed to pull through. I tore a part of my shirt— scrunching it into my bloody hand and placing it over the wound I had cut into myself. It hurt, but not to the point where I felt like I was dying. Maybe I was a bit heavy-handed but I was used to the feeling of a blade cutting into my skin— she wasn't. I tried to be gentle though.

I wasn't as affected as she was but I could feel her misery and confusion. I closed my eyes and focused on her. I heard him intrude next- trying his hardest to be me and my jaw clenched in anger.

What happened? Are you okay?

The fucker.

"You're getting blood on me, Princess," I heard him hiss lowly, making me cringe violently. Ew. It was followed by the faucet and my brows scrunched in curiosity. What was a little blood when your girl was practically bleeding out? Either he was completely selfish or blood made him squeamish...maybe both. Either way, I took mental note of it.

"I don't know what happened. I must've accidentally cut myself." I heard her say and my chest ached. Come on, I mentally willed her to figure it out as if I could communicate with her telepathically. When this was over I'd have to look into that. It'd be helpful for times like this.

"With what?" He asked her, I heard small movements and all I could think of was the fact that he might've been touching her- comforting her like I would've done.

If he were truly trying to replicate my actions- he would've done exactly that while on the brink of losing his mind trying to figure out what was going on, but that didn't matter right now. She needed to put together the puzzle pieces right now. She should've seen by now that he wasn't the one that was bleeding- he wasn't me.

"Are you still upset with me?" I heard him ask her. That piqued my interest. Perhaps that was the reason she moved into the other bedroom.

Good. I was suddenly thankful for Queen's tendency to fly off the rails over small things- he probably was stressed out thinking she was going to be an easy victim.

"I just want to be alone tonight. This was an accident— I'm fine."

Oh, please. Tell me you don't believe that, Princess. She was smarter than that. If she was being serious, she'd have me to deal with after this was over.

There was a silence that followed- making my mind fill in the gaps of what could've been happening. None of the scenarios were good.

"At least let me help you back to bed."

Oh, fuck no! There was no goddamn way he was using this trick on her right now. The let me help you to bed was always followed with a short seduction before- boom! Sex. I had done it before— I had probably done it a million times with Queen.

Say no...

She didn't. I heard a grunt from him and a sharp wince from her before footsteps filled my ears and I tensed. I knew the layout of the place like the back of my hand just as I did with most places I stayed in. In two steps...one more— they reached the bed, the faint sound of the mattress being an indication that he set her down and I tensed.

Silence.

He cleared his throat. "Do you want me to stay—"

Fuck no she doesn't.

"No!" She replied.

That was fast, Princess. A little too fast, but good girl.

I heard his footsteps going toward the door and I relaxed a bit before she yelled, "Wait. Where's Paris?"

Good, ask questions. No more after this one, though. Aiden was already on edge with my presence out here- I didn't need her simple words being the thing to make him snap when I didn't have the means to intervene.

"Paris isn't here."

"Where is he?"

Stop...

"He had something to take care of. He'll be back soon."

Right. Just how exactly did he think he could keep up all of these lies?

"Okay." I heard her reply to him. "So it's just us," she said, her lingering question seeming like she was confirming and I smiled slightly. Why'd you ask that?

"Like it should be."

Bitch.

They continued with a mundane conversation- sounding like any other couple in a relationship that just argued. Queen was reserved, clearly upset by whatever he said given the strain in her voice. She just wanted him to go. I was relieved by that small fact, but I was quickly losing hope— not knowing whether or not my message helped at all. I purposely cut it over where her tattoo would be— that should've screamed; NOT SYN along with Aiden's lack of wound.

I didn't propose to an idiot. There was no way.

I held onto that idea for a bit— clinging to that last shred of hope I had as they finished their conversation.

"Have a goodnight, Queen. I love you."

I froze at his words, anticipating her reaction as it would give me all the answers I needed. Seconds passed but after a moment she gave him a weak reply, "Same."

She knows. 

I opened my eyes- wincing as the brightness of the afternoon sky filled my eyes and I looked around in shock. It was late at night just a couple of minutes ago. "It's about time," I heard Xavier's voice and my head snapped to my side where he sat in Paris' seat. There was a blanket draped over my shoulders- dried blood on my torso was the only indicator of any wound I had.

"What the fuck?" I whispered in confusion.

"Here." My head snapped to my other side where my father stood, changed in new clothes and with a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. I shook my head, needing answers instead of the bitter drink and he sighed. "Take it."

I took it into my hands, taking a sip of the hot drink and rubbing my brows. "I got sucked into it, didn't I?"

"Deep in it," my father confirmed with a whisper and I ran a hand down my face. Aiden wasn't lying about the time. The longer I listened to what was going on inside the barrier- the more I lost track of what was going on out here. I was only listening for maybe ten minutes at most— but hours passed.

I yawned, glancing at the house shrouded in daylight but I knew it wasn't day for her. She was still living the moments after Aiden left the room. The whole thing was a mind-fuck.

"Where are we with everything?" I asked.

"Still researching," my father said. "The only person right now capable of doing anything is in there..." He gestured at the cabin and I sighed. "Did anything happen?"

I shrugged. "Not really. I think she knows it's not me, but she's playing along." I didn't give the whole I told you so spiel but he nodded slowly, acknowledging my accurate guess of what Queen would do. "Have you seen anything about them not liking blood?"

"Well, they see blood as impure. When they shed their skin, their blood is a reminder of their sins- most of them can't stand the sight of it," he said. "Very sacrilegious beings. I must've included a spell from Heaven somehow- I was all over the place back then."

"That you were, Dr. Frankenstein," I muttered, making him sigh. "Do you remember how you created them? If I know the spells then maybe I could work backward and—"

"I couldn't remember them if I tried," he said lowly. "I didn't know what I was doing. I was just in so much pain..."

"Because of Lilith," I said slowly, deep in thought. "Because you created these beings with her essence..."

"Unfortunately."

"Get her and bring her here, please," I said to Xavier. "Maybe she can make herself useful for once."

"She's alive?!" My father snapped. "I thought you killed her a long time ago! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would you have cared?" I looked up at him. "What would you have done if I told you?" I asked with a raised brow. "Helped her escape? Left my mother?"

"No," he answered. "How could you say that? I just should've known. She destroyed my life—"

"No," I corrected him. "She broke your heart a few times and I can only hold her accountable for the first time because you let her come back. You willingly let her damage your soul but me and Queen's lives are the ones she destroyed," I said. "Me not telling you is simply me delaying news of her inevitable death. It has nothing to do with you."

"Does Adam know?" He asked, arms crossed.

"Well, of course. That was his wife," I emphasized, watching him clench his jaw. "Out of respect, I let her doomed fate fall into his hands— a decision which I will be taking from him today. Go get her."

They both nodded— him more defeated before retreating behind me to create a portal as I drank the coffee. When they were both gone, I let out a sigh of relief and turned my attention back to the house. If I wanted to hold onto my sanity, keeping away from the time-eating trance of the cabin was the first step— but I couldn't help myself. I just needed to make sure she was okay.

I stared blankly at the cabin, my vision slightly blurring as the sky around me turned dark. The cabin was back to being covered in darkness, the sound of an owl in the distance telling me that I was here, but the tweeting birds in the unseen distance tethering me to reality.

I set the coffee down, standing up as I looked at the bedroom balcony. The orange light of the lamp shone through the curtains- partly opened as I saw Queen step into view. My breath caught- her naked body on full display as she held a hand to her side; the only thing covering her was a pair of thin panties. She glanced out of the double doors- no doubt seeing nothing before she blew out a breath.

What are you thinking?

My eyes flicked to a movement in the window a few feet away from the balcony and I was paralyzed to my spot. There was a shadow in the window of the hall- clearly Aiden...just facing her door. He didn't move.

I watched Queen tie her hair into a ponytail, oblivious to the threat right outside her door and I sucked in a sharp breath. "Put on some fucking clothes, Princess," I said through gritted teeth, pacing a bit.

I watched her grab a hoodie from the dresser and slip it over her head. "Good," I said to myself. "Some pants too, please." I couldn't have it all though.

She stepped toward the balcony door, slowly unlocking it and I watched her in question, my eyes shifting between her and Aiden's shadow. The door to the balcony opened and she stepped out, making me sigh as it felt like I was able to breathe again.

Her hands wrapped around the railing as she looked down at the floor, biting her lip in thought. My eyes widened as I figured out what she was planning to do and I shook my head in thought. "Don't do it," I whispered.

She couldn't do it right now. If she were to jump- she'd hurt herself...therefore hurting me and making me incapable of fully being able to help her. Aiden would get to her before we were able to make any portal and get out of here. Then if he were to catch her, he'd know that she knew the truth.

"Bad idea, Princess. Think..." I said to myself as I watched her. She edged closer to the rail, lifting her leg and I cursed.

I was never fazed by horror movies— Queen was always petrified, not knowing what was coming next and screaming at every jump-scare. For once, I was able to feel how she felt during them. The fear of not knowing- rooting desperately for the one person in it to not do some dumb shit to get themselves killed.

That was me right now.

"Get your ass back in that house," I hissed as if she could hear me. In my peripheral, I saw the movement again- its tall shadow turning its frame toward the window...toward me. They watched me and I embraced it, figuring it was better than watching whatever Queen was about to do. I gave him an unbothered smile, sending him a slow wave as he moved closer to the window.

Shit! If he got close enough or even worse- looked out of the window, he'd see Queen's escape attempt. I hated this shit. Being able to witness everything yet not having the power to do a damn thing. It was overwhelming not to mention, fucking scary.

I subtly glanced at Queen, seeing her pause as she looked down— contemplating her moves and I relaxed- only a fraction. If she was thinking, there was a chance she wouldn't do it.

He inched closer to the window. I could see the shadow of his arm reaching for the curtain and I froze, watching the scene in front of me and begging with everything inside of me that she wouldn't do this. I'd do everything I could to stall him if she made it close to me, but I couldn't guarantee either of our safety. I didn't know how powerful he was and that made him a greater threat than I had anticipated.

As if snapping out of her thoughts just in time, she lowered her leg and stepped away from the edge of the balcony. "That won't work," I heard her think out loud and I smiled. That's my fucking girl. She stepped back into the room, her arms crossed as she looked out into the distance past me. I wondered if a part of her could feel me— could sense that I wasn't far and that I'd do everything I could to protect her. I hoped she could.

Just in time, Aiden snatched open the curtains- just missing Queen by a hair as he stared down at me. I smiled up at him, raising my middle finger and he stepped back, letting the curtain fall. I watched his shadow turn right, heading into a room across from Queen's and I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding in.

Queen's head turned at the sound of his door closing and a puzzled look crossed her expression. Don't worry, you're okay. I could feel her anxiousness, starting as a knot in my stomach and spreading to my head. I looked behind me for a moment- her paranoia becoming my own before my mind separated my reality from hers and I looked up at her.

I needed to give her something. Just something small her mind could hold onto that would put her at ease a bit.

Before we had come, I hadn't been here in a couple of years. I owned the property- letting it be a place Xavier and I came occasionally to just escape. The room she was staying in now was Xavier's— his sweater was the one that she was wearing.

Back then, he was heavy into planting. He looked at it like some ritual- him causing so much destruction yet being able to create something beautiful. He had a section of his balcony dedicated to that hobby- the hanging planters of dead flowers hooked onto the railing indicating the time that had passed.

I focused on them, whispering a spell and ignoring the pain spreading across my chest. Her wince told me she felt it too, but I only needed a few more seconds. I wasn't supposed to be using my magic or exerting myself, but fuck that. This wouldn't kill me and I was sure it'd make her feel a million times better— that was what mattered.

꧁꧂

On some real shit, I was scared as hell this chapter.
Y'all leave me alone.