by Hannah888
A pained sigh escaped Hadaen’s lips. “Apparently, she does not remember who she is.”
Gideon groaned and massaged his temples. “Are you certain?”
“Yes! I could read her mind…her memories. There is no trace of her life in Maruj there. Her life seemed to have only started a quarter of a century ago. She did not even recognize me at all.”
Gideon moved in closer and took a swig from Hadaen’s flask. After a short pause, he took three more and then pulled up an armchair. “If that’s so then it means we will have to carry her to the Hub of Lensai.”
“It’s the only way.”
Gideon sighed and then jumped to his feet, looking like his usual frisky self. “You know what I find hilarious about all of this?” Hadaen glowered and swallowed thickly but did not answer. “It’s amazing how you were the one who drove her away in the first place.”
“I did not drive her away,” he snarled—yes, snarled—between clenched teeth.
Gideon chuckled. “You forced yourself on the poor thing. Why else would she run?”
A puff escaped his lips and Hadaen held his hands up at eye level. “Fine! Are you done; rolling around in your formidable immaturity?”
Gideon cleared his throat weakly and said, “Well then… So you found Amelia. Where do we go on from here?”
“She works nights at a liquor store on some dark alley crawling with thieves and whores…” He exhaled sharply and then continued. “I followed her home. Her place isn’t much better. It appears to be some sort of old abandoned industrial building.” He got to his feet in an instant, wonder evident on his features. “What I found strange was that the moment she set foot inside the building, it was as if she did not exist at all. I could not reach into her mind. There was nothing…”
“Well, that only leaves two explanations…” Gideon tucked his hands into his pockets and shook his head. “Either she really is playing with you or…” His eyebrows rose immediately. “You don’t think…?”
Hadaen met his eyes firmly. “That’s exactly what I’m thinking, little brother… Someone is shielding her.”
~*~
“You really didn’t have to wait up for me again.”
Amelia smiled as she trotted bare-footedly through the kitchen, pulling on a robe over her thin pajamas. She blew out a breath and reached for a mug to pour herself some coffee. Stopping dead in her tracks, she frowned and mentally scolded herself. Really, Mel! Coffee at this hour? Sighing, she reached inside the refridgerator, poured some milk and then tucked the mug inside the microwave for a minute.
Her roommate, Reese, folded her legs beneath her on the sofa and wove around her copy of Cosmo. “Yeah… I was bored. Decided to read about how to find me a new man.”
Amelia laughed and sat next to her, sipping on her warmed milk. “There was a hot guy in the store tonight…”
Magazine suddenly flung aside, Reese sat up straight, her face bright with interest. “Do tell... How hot was he?”
“I don’t know. He seemed like a mystery to me,” she responded and then stared at her friend. “Seems like I’ve seen him before but I don’t know where. He even knew my name. Strange…”
“Strange? A super-hot guy knows your name and you think that’s strange?” Reese laughed. “Talk about giving attention to the wrong girl.”
Amelia frowned slightly and sipped at her mug. “I’m serious. I don’t know how to explain it but when I saw him… it was almost as if I knew him and there was this look in his eyes… Then he said something that sounded like French to me. It sort of gave me the creeps how he said it.” She turned to look at her friend who was now suddenly looking skeptic. “Okay, I know it sounds weird but—oh, never mind.”
Reese giggled. “Sounds like some of that reincarnation stuff. You know, past lives and all that.” Then her face lit up. “But what if…?”
“No. Nuh-huh. I do not believe in that crap. Forget about it.”
“But think about it, Mel. You could have had sex with this guy centuries ago…” she laughed.
Trying to ignore the heat that was now crawling up her neck, Amelia pulled her robe a little closer and sighed. All this talk about sex was seriously making her regret that she hadn’t just given into her curiosity years ago and went to bed with that jerk back in high school. What was his name again? Brad? Brock…? Nope, it was Brad. Although he had been a giant buffoon who smelt like her neighbour’s mutt of a dog, she was pretty sure that she could have held her breath—maybe closed her eyes too—and allowed the initiation to proceed. At least he was interested in her. No guy seemed to favour a long-limbed bony geek with no plans on the future. So instead of taking up Brad on his offer eight years ago, on the backseat of his car, she had none but landed a hard uppercut to his balls and fled the vehicle like a mad woman.
“I think I’m going to go to bed,” she muttered and grasped her empty mug. “And think about getting a day job. I’m starting to feel really creepy about being at that store at nights.”
Ten minutes later, Amelia was warmly tucked in bed, covers pulled al l the way up to her chin and the lamplight dimmed. A cat meowed somewhere below her window. Then silence. A dog barked and a few trashcans were toppled over. The cat screeched. It was a typical bedtime song on a typical night. The small window across the room and opposite to her bed was slightly ajar, making up for the air-conditioning they lacked in the dissipated building. Cold air wisped its way to her, chilling the top of her ears and forehead. Amelia pulled the covers to her temples.
Reminiscence was not something she found appealing; at least not when the past was as nasty as hers. She could find one word to sum up her experiences, her losses: hilarious. Okay, maybe not ‘hilarious’ in the true sense of the word but instead of crying about it, she might as well find the humour in it all. As far as she knew, or what she was told at the foster home, her parents had died in a car accident while she was under a nanny’s supervision as a babe. A typical story, wasn’t it? And Amelia had accepted it not because she wanted to but because the heartache of questioning it was far too much for her to handle.
A sudden lightning bolt snapped, casting an orange-ish hue across the walls. It lingered a while… and then disappeared. Her eyelids sagged and a yawn forced its way pass her lips.
Sleep brought her to serenity…
…The beautiful white carnations swaying in the gentle morning breeze always had given her a tranquil feeling. She sat, the light peach skirts of her cotton dress circling around her on the flat grass of the gardens. Amelia smiled to herself and leant her back against the front of a bench. She loved her home; the beauty of it never ceased to captivate her senses, which was why she would awaken early every morning just to catch the rise of the sun and revel in its warm kisses on her face.
A monarch butterfly fluttered by her face and then dropped to a perch in her lap. Her heart swelled and she sighed contently. Across the lawn, she saw her mistress heading in her direction. Amelia wove a greeting and the woman smiled. She’d always admired Lady Marza. The elder woman’s poise spoke of genuine grace and elegance. And her beauty was strikingly flawless. No wonder so many men could barely keep their jaws intact whenever they saw her.
“Amelia, must you ruin all your dresses?” Her voice was clipped but her eyes ever so comforting.
“I’m sorry; Lady Marza, but I simply could not resist this sight. It’s rather too beautiful to pass up on.” And Amelia gave her sweetest smiles.
“And somehow I always end up forgiving you. I might as well get on my way… I must prepare for your initiation next week.” And Lady Marza walked away
Her initiation… She had almost forgotten. She was to be eighteen in three days. And in Maruj, a girl’s initiation occurs on her eighteenth year after birth. A shudder ran through Amelia. She had always anticipated the day but now that she was in its extremity, she felt unbelievably giddy and a bit nervous. For it is on this day that a man—a wealthy man will choose her as his own and they shall be bound to one anot
her for eternity; Amelia swallowed down the gulp in her throat.
She’s heard stories of girls who’d been chosen by the most despicable of men, the sweetest of gentlemen… and then some in her class who were hoping to be selected by the lord himself, Hadaen Maruj. She shivered. Lord Hadaen’s family had been the first rulers of the kingdom and was continuing to do so. She could tell why; he and his brothers all had an aura that seemed to radiate dominance and power. Amelia frowned. She had no doubt in her mind that she couldn’t be even near as lucky to gain Lord Hadaen’s hand in union. She was a simpleton—a girl who was commonly pretty and no special traits.
She’s seen him many times before. A few times she was just sitting right there in the gardens and he’d supposedly stand on his balcony staring out into the unknown. Other times, she would be running off to the library to fetch another interesting tale to read and glimpse his huge form conversing with a group of men; acquaintances, she supposed. If she would admit, Amelia would say Lord Hadaen was a very handsome man—beautiful, really. His dark hair fell over his brow thickly, seeming as if to reach into the dark glistening of his eyes. Truth be told, her heart did backflips and somersaults whenever she managed to steal a glance. He was a heavenly sight.
Amelia gave herself a mental shake and scowled. She would not think of Lord Hadaen in this fashion. She must force herself to hate him for the disappointment that she was sure would come when he wouldn’t be the one to choose her, threatened to be far too consuming to her well-being. She saw it in his eyes countless times; he was not the type to love and love was indeed what she was after.
She didn’t hear the footsteps ascending towards her. But she did recognize that thick musky-male scent that managed to tease her femininity every time. Amelia held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut, preparing to melt like a puddle.
“Such an ugly scowl worn by a far too beautiful face…”
Amelia jumped to her feet, almost toppling over in the process. Strong warm hands settled around her arms, steadying her. “L-Lord Hadaen; I did not see you come.”
He chuckled, his mouth curving into a tempting smile. “Had I made my approach known, wench, would I have been able to enjoy the sweet swiftness of your blush?”
Amelia hooded her eyes and knotted her fingers within the flap of her apron. “It’s a beautiful morning, my lord,” she choked out, aiming to change the subject of the conversation. And she babbled like an idiot. “The sun is promising a delightful day, my lord. And the birds are just about in agreement with me. Do you hear them?”
Amelia almost fainted when he stepped closer, his eyes filled with purpose and desire—she wasn’t too innocent not to recognize desire! And she took two steps back. To her shock, he took three more steps towards her, slamming himself sweetly again her and holding her still within his grasp.
“Your initiation is near…” he whispered, his breath now hot in her ear.
Her eyes widened to the size of the serving bowls she was used to seeing at dinner. “I-I suppose...”
He smiled devilishly. “You suppose?” And his fingers reached up to flick a lock of raven hair from her face. “Are you a bit excited to know who your eternal lover shall be?”
Oh god! Amelia fought against hurling her skirts in her hands and fleeing from the dangerous man. She’s never felt like this before. Not ever so filled with lust and craving to the point of bursting. “Not just a l-lover, my lord. But a trusting husband...” she mumbled. Her abdomen tightened and her mouth dried. What she needed was—
“A great lover is what you need, wench; someone to cherish your beauty… and trace that gorgeous blush of yours all the way down to your wetness.”
Her mouth dropped instantaneously and she attempting to free herself from his grip. But he only held on tighter, his scorching gaze scanning her face and then journeying its way down her neck and over her breasts. “My lord, you must stop. I beg you…” She was almost near to tears, that wetness he spoke of, making itself presence known between her thighs.
Their eyes locked for years—okay, maybe just a minute—and smirked, running his index finger along her necklace. “That’s an interesting necklace you have there…”
Amelia jerked from him and clasped her hand over her treasure. “It belonged to my mother; and before that, her mother.”
“Relax; I will not harm you…or your necklace. But do listen and listen to me carefully.” Lord Hadean pierced her eyes with his own, mirroring his yearning to her; a yearning too intense to withstand the measures of. Amelia looked away. “In three days’ time, I will summon you to the Chamber. And you will not hesitate to come. Then, I will call for your mistress, Lady Marza, and request for your hand.”
Amelia gasped and managed to pull away this time. “No! You mustn’t…” Her intensity of her blush heightened.
“Your thoughts and body contradicts you words so very much.” Lord Hadaen inhaled sharply. “But I do, however, enjoy the thrill of the chase.”
“I beg you; it is not me you wish to have…”
“And when I request for your hand,” he continued as if she hadn’t even spoken at all. “Lady Marza will not deny me what I want. I will take you to my chamber and brand my mark into your lovely body until it is weak and spent beneath mine.”
Suddenly all life fell from her legs and Amelia collapsed onto the bench. She kept her head bowed; her heart pounding and afraid that if she spoke again she might only encourage his tantalizing advances. So she bit on her lip and remained quiet hoping that she might not end up flinging herself into his arms after all.
And before she could manage to turn her head away, Lord Hadaen bent and kissed her on the forehead and turned to walk away.
“Nous nous rencontrerons de nouveau,” he said.
“No!”
Amelia flew up off the bed, perspiration sticking her hair to her skin in dampened locks. Swallowing hard, she jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, her breathing rate going wild. Finally managing to splash some water over her face, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She felt like she’d been sleeping for decades. And what the heck kind of dream was that anyway?
“Calm down, Mel. It cannot be what you think. Dreams are just dreams.” She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. “Lord Hadaen” from her dream came into her thoughts. He even looked just like that man in the store a few hours ago. Amelia shook her head. There was only one explanation for what was going on and she was going to accept it no matter what anyone else had to say about it.
She was coming down with a serious case of paranoia. Yes, and that was her rational conclusion.
The image of “Lord Hadean” kissing her on the forehead and turning to walk away popped into her mind; and his silky voice muttering seductively, “Nous nous rencontrerons de nouveau….”
Amelia’s eyes widened immediately. Where the hell had she heard that phrase before? And then recognition dawned on her like a tell-tale bomb to the heart.
“Oh shit!”
Chapter Two
Her lavender scent assaulted his nostrils, tightened the muscles around his groin and had his cock standing at attention. Hadaen shifted in his position where he stood, secluded behind a heavily stacked bookshelf. His eyes narrowed on Amelia as she seemed somewhat awed by whatever she was reading from a computer monitor. Whatever he had thought was shielding her from his mind-probing that night, he needed to discover it; and quickly because at the moment her mind was a thick fog of smoke, blocking his sight from the tiniest spec of her thoughts. Grunting softly, he frowned and decided to try again. Damn. Nothing. What was she looking at? His gaze flickered over her face at that moment; the gentle furrowing of her brows and the pouting of those sweet luscious lips. He needed to taste them again.
She sat completely erect, shoulders raised and the thin fabric of her pale blue t-shirt drawn tight across small breasts. Her hair was caught in a messy ponytail and her face pale and makeup less; craft of a woman who could care less about cosmetics. He liked her tha
t way. Always had. Her natural un-powered countenance was the same beauty that had captured his attention ever since the moment he had first set eyes on her in Maruj. Her hair was shorter now though; the ends of her dark locks curled into a bob at her jawlines. Snapping his head back jerkily, Hadaen cursed at himself. Concentrate, man! You are not here to fantasize like a stupid schoolboy.
Dismissing all carnal thoughts from his mind--however hard it was—Hadaen edged closer to her, still carefully hidden from her view. The dusty scent of the old books almost made him sneeze and the silence was far too quiet, his thoughts coming loud and fast. A woman stepped around the corner before him, moving towards Amelia. He took a few steps back, watching. She was an attractive woman...and young; somewhere around Amelia's age. She was speaking. Hadaen used his inner ear, listening attentively.
"Found anything?"
Amelia looked up at the cherry blonde and shook her head. "Not much. I did find an article though. It says Maruj is some ancient kingdom that existed thousands of years ago. Says it was ruled by some powerful dynasty."
"Yeah?" The woman pulled up a chair and sat down. Damien's jaw clenched.
"Yep. I still don't know if I should believe in this stuff or why I even dreamt about it in the first place. But anyways, it went on to say that many believe that the kingdom still exists but no one has been successful in locating it."
"Really? We should go find this place," she joked.” There might be some hot guys there. You know... the type who's willing to settle down."
Amelia shook her head and sighed, leaning back in her chair. Memories of her dream faded back into her mind. She was never the type to place faith in supernatural things but she was starting to become convinced. It was so very strange yet so very welcoming that she found herself yearning for another confrontation with that mysterious man. She wondered if she'd ever see him again.
"I should probably just forget about all this bullshit, Reese. It doesn't matter anyway. What I should be thinking about is finding a job."
