Once Upon A [Fallen] Time

by Samreen Ahsan

  I took the phone from Tyler for the article. The pictures were scratching my festered wounds. If even half of London had read this news, people would wonder about Myra. What if any other relatives read this news and tried to find out the truth? What would we say? Why had her parents lied when she had no aunt from Paula’s side? Then again, if they hadn’t lied, what would they had said then?

  Another sip of drink was a remedy and a blessing at this moment. “What do you think he is doing with her?” I asked Tyler, changing the topic.

  He knitted his eyebrows at me. “They must be sleeping at this hour. It’s past midnight and apparently, they didn’t have Friday night clubs in Medieval England.” He typed something. “And according to Google, it’s a Monday night there in the fifteenth century,” he said. “Well, if she has travelled exactly the same year.”

  What kind of bizarre conversation are we having?

  “Do you think he’d harm her?” I didn’t want to use words like rape and molest. It was already disturbing enough to think that she was with another man whose bloodline had a history of sadists and perverts. Edward was no exception.

  Tyler watched me. “What do you want to hear, Steve?” I didn’t respond to his question. “You remember what that old man told you? Edward loves her like no one has ever loved. So, if he loves her, why would he hurt her?” He took a deep breath. “A man who is capable of killing in order to protect his love, a man who is—”

  “Was…” I corrected him. “He was capable. He is history.” I repeated the same words I had told Myra once when she had finished reading Edward’s book and cried for him. Why the fuck did everyone have to bring him into the present? “You know… when I first met her… I thought she’s just like a typical girl next door… vibrant...naive… into books …falling in love with fictional men all the time.” I was looking at the dancer. “And then, out of nowhere… her favourite Mr Darcy comes out of the book and asks her to join his dark world, in his personal Pride and Prejudice.” I chuckled and shook my head. “If only I had known that this fucking Mr Darcy had existed six hundred years ago. Who knew that history could become all real?”

  Tyler took another deep breath. “Steve, he is not history now. Let’s face it! You have no other choice than to believe that, although Edward existed six hundred years ago, now he is in the other dimension,” he said, reminding me of what Bakr had told us—his new theory of fucking dimensions. “And she is with him because they wanted it that way. Admitting it won’t make you the villain in this story,” he continued, “You’ll have to accept that she has always wanted to meet him.”

  “Then what does it make me?” I snapped. “A side character? A supporting cast? Fuck it, Tyler. I’m not going to give up.” I stood up from the booth. “Let’s head back to London and cancel the deal for now and, then we will come back again to where we left off with Bakr.”

  Tyler dragged his tired body after me as we left the bar. I planned to sleep during my flight to London. I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring for me, but for now, I had to clear the mess she had created by just fuckin’ disappearing.

  “There is always some madness in love.

  But there is also always some reason in madness.”

  ― Friedrich Nietzsche

  CHAPTER 14

  EDWARD

  JUNE 13th 1415

  She is locked inside an iron cage, her body trapped in a pillory—stark naked. The cage is kept in front of the dead tree. Her head is bowed down in submission—eyes shut in pain. That is not how I am used to seeing her. I have always seen her carrying my unsheathed sword, looking at me with hatred. Nature has always surrounded her, mesmerized by her beauty. Now, it’s a barren land—cold, dry wind blowing everywhere—there are no more flowers, the tree is dark and lifeless, as if it’s weeping behind her. The air is extinct, mourning with the corpses that had once lived here. I walk towards her pale, trapped body, showing the torture she has endured.

  She is broken, defeated…and dead.

  I woke up with a jolt.

  What the hell was that?

  My heart was pounding so loudly in my chest that, for a moment, I thought it was out there, lying somewhere on the floor. Why did I have these nightmares? Before I had met her, my dreams had been filled with beautiful memories, but ever since yesterday, since she had entered my life, I had only seen nightmares.

  My eyes fell on the rumpled sheets on my bed. The drapes around the bed were apart. She wasn’t there anymore. Where could she have gone? I had told her not to leave my chamber without informing me. I never had a deep sleep. I could always sense who came and left the chamber. But today, she had disappeared so silently I hadn’t even noticed. I rushed to the lavatory, cursing in my head, and as I reached the door that opened to the bath, I heard her melodious voice. She had sung beautifully last night. I had never heard that song before, but the words she had sung were the epitome of my life. It was as if she had been singing through my heart.

  Yes, I wanted to be free, too—fly like a bird and soar high in the sky. Now, she was singing the same song again. Was it her favourite? Did they teach that in her school where she came from—perhaps six hundred years ahead of our time? Who had helped her inside the bath? I hadn’t heard anyone coming and preparing a bath for her. Or was she using the bath they had prepared for me? I could not hear any sound of any other woman. Or was there a male servant helping her? No! She’d never do that. The door was shut so I decided to be a gentleman and wait for her to come out.

  After a few moments, she came out, singing, a towel wrapped around her body. I was standing at the doorway when her half naked body collided with mine.

  “Shit!” she shouted. “You scared me.” She backed off. The towel that had been wrapped around her wet hair dropped to the floor while her right hand was on her chest, clutching the second towel tightly, which was only covering half her thighs. Her beautiful wet hair draped seductively on her bare shoulders. She had flawless skin, as if she had been carved out of marble. She didn’t have any marks on her bare legs from any childhood disease. I had not seen a woman so immaculate, the hair so beautiful, the eyes so bright, the lips so irresistible. I wanted to run my fingers through her wet hair—wanted to feel the softness and the spell that had bound me with it. But I wanted to protect her from my curse. Anyone I had loved in my life had left me. I didn’t want her to leave me. I knew I had been harsh and rude to her ever since she’d entered my life, but when she was here in my chamber, it felt like she had always belonged to me. Like we had always lived here together. Time had stretched and frozen on us. It didn’t feel like she had just come two nights ago.

  She was looking at me intently, her warm gaze disarming me as always. She turned around and opened the drawer to take out the underdress.

  “Edward, I need some privacy,” I was still dazzled; completely mesmerized by the fresh jasmine fragrance she carried. Her hair was dripping water, but she didn’t bend to pick up her towel. When I didn’t respond, she turned around to look at me.

  “Edward, you need to go out. I want to change.” But I kept staring at her flawless beauty. She was indeed the most beautiful woman I had seen in my life but observing her right now, in her vulnerability, when she was wearing nothing more than a mere towel—it was creating storms of emotions inside me. I had seen and experienced her body dead in my dream, but now, as I saw her alive, breathing, talking—it gave me a new life. I had never been so much scared like I was today but seeing her talking to me—I wanted to touch and to make sure she was indeed real and alive. I had always seen her in my dreams, hating me—but at least she had been alive. But today, that dream—she had shaken something deep inside me. I wondered if she was controlling my dreams, or was I losing my time on her that one day she’d disappear again through the mirror. I didn’t want to end up regretting that she was here for me and I didn’t even touch her. I didn’t care if King Stefan or my forefathers had been haunted by her and still fascinated and lusted for her. This was my dream to pro
tect.

  I bent down—my eyes never leaving her stunning face. I picked up the hair towel and handed it to her. She didn’t take it. Instead, she turned around and shuffled her hair gently as more droplets fell on the ground. She was giving me some message I couldn’t read, but my body sensed it. I closed the distance between us. Her body had always acknowledged my presence—it was my goddamn cursed body that was too afraid to touch her.

  Her right hand was clutched to her body towel and the left hand held the edge of the wooden drawer. She took a deep breath as I killed the space between us. I held the towel and dabbed it on her wet hair gently. A moan escaped her lips. No matter how much we fought in a day, when we were this close—our hearts had always beaten at the same pace. Our hearts never cared about the world, the curse, the sorcery, the lies, the secrets, the battles—all they knew was to find each other. We both wanted to win this battle—yet we were both unshielded and unguarded. The closeness soothed my festered wounds. I had to find a way out to end this awkwardness. We needed to settle on the terms where we could both define our territories and stop battling with each other when we knew we were in the same legion.

  I kept drying her hair gently as our breathing accelerated with our touches. I didn’t care if I’d get more cursed right at this moment—right now, I wanted to feed my beast that had been starved for so long. Shit! How could I not listen to my beast that I’d tamed myself when my body ached for a little taste of her lips? I wanted to devour this woman, lick every droplet of water off her skin—I had never felt so much thirst in my life. To hell with the curse, and to hell with her vulnerability. All I knew was that I had always desired her and now that she was in front of my eyes where I could touch her, feel her, and make love to her—why was I holding back my emotions?

  Drying her hair was just an excuse for both of us to feel each other this closely. I knew she craved my touch as much as I did. We both wanted to break this barrier.

  “Edward,” she called my name softly. “Your heart…” she paused, “it’s beating very fast…” she took a deep breath, “are you all right?”

  I clutched the head towel tightly in my palm and chuckled.

  “Really?” I dabbed her hair once again. “I thought it was your heart beating this way.” My touch was gentle, yet I wanted to be rough on her. But I was afraid to break her fragility. I wanted to feel her skin and make my heart believe that whatever I dreamt was nonsense. This was real—and not the nightmare that had turned my world upside down.

  I dropped the head towel on the floor and wished she could do the same with her body towel, her body stiff, her beautiful rear facing me. I held her long wet hair and moved it over her right shoulder. Her back straightened as my hands touched her bare shoulders. Her body was trembling but warm to my touch. This was the warmth I had wanted all my life to heal me. She was my ultimate prize after losing all the battles. I closed the distance between us and nuzzled her left shoulder, inhaling her sweet and intoxicating fragrance. Jasmine had not smelled this exhilarating before. She hummed under my touch. I wanted to say so much to her, but right now I chose to enjoy this closeness.

  My palms rested on her forearms, helping her stand steady. I knew she was feeling giddy and equally drunk at my touch, but I wanted her to stay strong and go through this with me. It was my battle to fight. I had to cross the line to see if I could win and come out clean without getting more cursed. I knew falling in love was a curse on the Hue men, and showing my love to her would mean losing her, but right now—I wanted to fight this battle. Her right hand that clutched her body towel slid up to her neck, bringing the towel up to her front but at the same time, it was sliding down from her back.

  My knuckles grazed over her forearms and then to her back, noticing each mole on her flawless skin. My thumb stopped at a mark on her back. It was written in very small-sized letters—yet too sharp—like an ink stamp on her skin. I had noticed this mark last night but wasn’t sure what it was. I shifted to my left and let the daylight enter from behind me. I hadn’t seen it last night; it had been too dark to notice. I focused intently on what was written and read it softly. “M-Y-R-A.”

  Her body stiffened again.

  “Myra,” I repeated softly, grazing the mark on her skin. “This is your name,” I didn’t ask her. I had a feeling it was nothing else but her name. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

  She didn’t respond.

  “We’ve been fighting since you came into my life. I know I was harsh on you.” Shit! This confession was more difficult than I had imagined. “But you must understand that I did it to save you from the animal inside me.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent. “There is too much darkness in me.” My fingers kept stroking her back. “If I took you there, you’d be lost forever.” I held her forearms again. “I have lost every person I loved in my life. I don’t want to lose more.” I rested my forehead on her shoulder. “You came into my life just when I had lost all hope. Yet, no matter how hard I try to hold up my defences,” I took in her sweet fragrance again, “I’m always disarmed and unguarded in front of you.” My fingers grazed over her smooth skin. She was indeed heaven. “I’ve been asked to keep an eye on you—find out what you have in mind though I know you’re here because of me. Yet, I cannot find the strength to stand against my father, because he has manipulated me all my life. You must understand that he should never know we are standing in the same line on the battlefield.” I took another deep breath. “I am not as strong as you are, but I will never take away your power.” I pulled my face from her nape. “But you need to realize that I have my no-entry zones where no one is allowed to enter. They are my dark paths that you should never cross.”

  “Why?” That was her first word I heard from her from my confession.

  “Because my beast lives in those dark paths,” my grip tightened on her forearms. “And I cannot afford to lose any more warriors in this battle.” I moved my face closer to her again. “We will be defeated otherwise, Myra.” Her name tasted so sweet on my lips. But I would have to control my mouth in front of King Stefan. He should never know her name. I had always known she wasn’t Jasmine but now knowing her name had driven me crazy. I inhaled her again, her sweet scent breathing life into my soul. “I can’t touch you but I can’t turn back, either,” I stilled. “Dammit! Tell me what should I do?”

  She stayed quiet for numerous heartbeats. We embraced the silence together. I needed her to understand where I stood. I wanted to be with her, but I was too afraid of losing her—afraid my curse would ruin everything around me, including her. She had to realize that I came with a curse and she’d not live longer if I asked her to walk my dark path with me. She felt safe with me right now, but if I told her that she had been in King Stefan’s dream too and that man had desired her equally all his life—would she run away from both of us?

  No!

  I couldn’t even consider living without her now. She should never know she had lived in King Stefan’s fantasy all his life.

  “You thrill me, excite me, but…” my fingers danced on her bare shoulders, “but you also provoke the beast in me that I have been caging for so many years.” She continued listening to my confessions without interrupting. Not looking her in the eye made it easier for me to share my feelings and truth with her. “The beast is King Stefan’s slave. You must understand this. He’s been callously trained and fed by the king. He only knows things King Stefan has taught him.” My grip on her forearms tightened again as the ghosts from my past started to resurface from their graves. They reminded me of the hope Veronica had. They reminded me how much I loved Emma that I had ended up losing her. That I had lost my sister because I had loved her deeply, and they were still reminding me that if I confessed my love to her, I would end up losing her too. They reminded me that I had lost Veronica in exchange for meeting her. The price of meeting her was too high. I had lost so much in making my dream come true.

  “I’m not giving you any hope for us
because there can never be an us,” I paused. “But I’m a selfish man, Myra. Don’t ever think you’re free. You are in my imprisonment forever. And I promise I will never give you any chance to run away from me.” Her breath took a hike. “But I also promise I won’t let anyone hurt you, either. You’re mine to keep.” I loosened my grip as it was leaving marks on her beautiful skin. “I cherish you or I destroy you… you will remain under my duress.” I tightened my grip again to warn her.

  It seemed like the ghosts from my nightmares were cloaking my mind again. I was still not ready to cross the line. I was a goddamn coward warrior.

  “Don’t ever try to run away and don’t ever try to provoke my beast again.” I brought my lips closer to her ears. “Let him sleep, Myra. Don’t ever wake him up.” My voice was full of warning. She should know she was not allowed to cross the border I had drawn between us. We were indeed allies—fighting against King Stefan’s grave dictatorship—but in order to keep her safe and alive, she must not wake up the beast inside me.

  I removed my hands from her and it was almost unbearable to breathe without her scent. I had to do this. I knew I had hurt her feelings, but she had to realize that I was doing this to keep her safe. She would be doomed if she’d offer herself to me. The darkness inside me would engulf her bright soul and I didn’t want to lose her… ever.

  She turned around—anger simmering in her eyes.

  “You’re a coward, Edward. You have no balls to face your own demons.” She poked her finger into my chest. “I came here for you and you bloody know that. But remember one thing: if I can find a way to meet you then I can also find a way to leave you.” She fixed her towel. “Don’t be deluded that I give you a right to rule me. No one rules me, Edward Hue. No one!” Her sharp gaze was slicing my soul. “At least your body doesn’t lie like your mouth,” she hissed. “What you did to me in the tower, I swore I’d never forgive you, but still I did, because I thought you deserved a chance—but now… you lost it.” She took a step back and leaned against the chest of drawers. “And I don’t give you the right to own me and no authority to rule over me. I don’t give you the right to call me by my name. You hear me?” I kept looking at her, stunned. What a loud mouth she has! No one had ever denied and challenged my power in my kingdom! But this woman, with her goddamned audacity of the entire womankind, slapped me, the future king of England, right in the face.