by CC Solomon
Joo-won stood up. “I don’t think you’ll be able to change my mind, Butterfly. But I admire you for thinking you can. I’ll come back. I won’t allow you to stay in here much longer.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
He walked to the bars. “Of course, I do. You’re a sitting duck, as they say, in here. And we wouldn’t want Misandre to try to hurt you again. Also,” he turned back to face her with a look of mischief in his eyes. “I need my kidney.”
And with that, he disappeared before her eyes.
Another week passed and Lisa got a new visitor.
Faith.
She stood on the outside of the cell, her tattooed arms crossed over her chest and her violet eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“Erik’s letting me have visitors now?” Lisa asked with a spark of hope.
Faith snorted. “Uh, no. He doesn’t know I’m here. I had to flirt with the receptionist to get through,” Faith said, uncrossing her arms and running a hand through her stylish short, dark-blonde hair.
“Oh, I recall her having a husband.”
Faith shrugged. “She does.”
Understanding hit her and Lisa nodded. Faith was a succubus with the gift of seduction. She could charm even the grumpiest person. Lisa was pretty sure Faith could have just asked Erik to allow her to visit Lisa and he would have said yes.
“Look, Lisa, it’s been two weeks. How long are you going to ride this out? We need to get Amina back.”
“I can’t!” Lisa exclaimed, throwing out her hands. “I don’t even know where she’s at. Queen Arwa made me forget so I wouldn’t waiver. It’s out of my hands now. I told Erik but he’s lost his damn mind.”
“He’s lost his woman and it’s making him crazy.”
“It’s making him scary.”
Faith shook her head. “You don’t know, do you? No, of course you don’t.”
“What?” Lisa stood up and walked closer to the bars.
“They are mates, Lisa. Not just boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“I heard mention of that.”
“Well, do you know what that means?” Faith didn’t wait for an answer. “If a were loses their mate, they can go loupe. Meaning they can go all primitive and crazy. Or they can get suicidal. Mated wolves aren’t meant to lose their mates. They usually die together.”
“Are you kidding me?”
Faith frowned. “Why the hell would I kid about that? That would be a sucky joke.”
Lisa crossed her arms and began to pace. “Okay, okay, well she’s not dead. They’re just apart. Mates can’t live apart?”
“They can, but not in the early stages.” Faith ran her hands through her hair again. “Look, I don’t think Erik is going to die but I do think he’s going to crack up and get physically sick.”
“I can believe that. He’s already looking like he hasn’t slept since the day I returned. I had no idea he would be affected like this.”
“So maybe you want to go back to this Queen Arwa lady and tell her to jumpstart your mind again.”
Lisa scoffed. “Yeah, like I have that kind of power over her.”
“Well, there is no other way! The Hagerstown witches have tried every type of location and conjuring spell they could come up with and nothing has worked to bring her back.”
“And none of their recovery spells have helped me gain my memories.”
“And the witches here aren’t helping us. Erik’s about to round them up and lock them up here with you.”
Lisa raised an eyebrow. “They really are supporting what I did?”
Faith nodded. “Yeah, but the pack’s not caring. It’s causing some trouble.”
“The pack is making a big deal about this?”
“Uh, yeah. You sent away one of theirs. Once Amina got mated with Erik, she became pack. Seth isn’t her biggest fan but he’s faking a look of support. He’s kicked the witches out of their nice high-rise and had pack take it over. Phillip’s gonna be pissed when he returns.”
“He doesn’t care that Phillip is gone?”
“Well, since he’s running things in his absence, I’d think no.”
“So, I could have started a civil war between the witches and the weres?”
“I don’t think it’s at that level yet but it could.”
Lisa stopped pacing and put her hands on her hips. “Are you trying to scare me?”
Faith gave a nonchalant shrug. “Maybe but it’s all true.”
“How’s Felix?”
“Sad. He’s such a big baby. He really wants to see you. I told him I’d check on you first to see how hard it’d be to get in and then he’s going to come.”
“Is he mad at me?”
“He’s confused.” Faith crossed her arms and lowered her head. “Now ask me about the person you really want to know about.”
Lisa sighed. “How’s Charles? How’s he doing as a vampire?”
“He’s an ass. Still getting his shit together in the whole vampire thing. And he’s pissed at you, but you knew he would be. He’s hurt. But you need to figure out a way to right this because…” Faith paused and looked away.
Lisa narrowed her eyes. “Because what?”
“It’s been a long time since you were gone and then you come back and do this.”
“Spit it out, Faith.”
“Blake’s been spending a lot of time with him. Trying to guide him in the vampire way. The closer they get, the—”
“What the fuck, Faith,” boomed a voice behind the woman.
Faith jumped and turned to her right. “Dude! You scared the shit out of me!” she shouted.
Erik stormed towards her with fire in his hazel eyes. The tall, tanned man looked scruffier each day. His hair was growing longer and he was getting a beard again. Bags hung under his eyes and his skin was dry making him look older than his actual age which was tough for slow aging paranormals.
“I said no visitors until she brings Amina back.”
“I heard you but your way of isolating her and asking the same question each day isn’t working.”
He stood inches from Faith, looking down at her. “Yet, isn’t working yet.”
Faith rolled her eyes, maintaining her ground. “I know you used to be a super solider back before the world went to shit but that’s not the case now. Instead of talking to Lisa, maybe talk to that fairy queen. You can’t keep Lisa like this. Amina wouldn’t like it.”
Erik glared at her. “Don’t. Lisa, do you think I do this easily?” He looked over to her and she shook her head. “Good. But I’m trained to push my emotions aside to complete the mission.”
“This is not war,” Faith countered.
“Shut it, Faith.” He put a hand up to hush her.
“Asshole,” Faith muttered but stepped back.
“I’m doing this for your own good, Lisa. The Fae have poisoned your mind. They are deceitful. We need to reset you. Get you back to who you were. And if that means keeping you here until you get right, then we will. We will find someone to get your memory back of where you sent Amina and when we do, you will bring her back. Until then, this will stay your home.” Erik looked to Faith. “Let’s go.”
Faith looked to Lisa and mouthed the word “sorry” before following Erik out of the cell.
Lisa gave a pitiful sigh. If she couldn’t remember where she sent Amina, how would she ever get out? She hoped Arwa came to help her soon or she would go crazy.
Chapter 13
One month passed and Lisa was still in prison hell. Faith and even Felix snuck in visits and gave her books to read and treats. Erik continued to interrogate her and deteriorate in appearance. He was missing Amina physically and mentally. Lisa began to wonder if Erik would really die.
After the first month, someone had convinced Erik to move Lisa to an apartment as a prison. Rumor had it that he was able to communicate with Amina in a dream state. Lisa assumed this interaction had softened his heart, getting him to agree to her new residence. Not only did she ha
ve an apartment now but real food.
Almost two months into Amina’s banishment, Queen Arwa had still not returned. Apparently, Amina and Phillip still weren’t bonding. However, the rest of The Six were spending more time together, or at least in the same town. This, in turn, strengthened their magic. When they were somehow able to telepathically reach Amina and share their powers to help her fight a Fae attack in some unknown place, it was all too clear their powers had grown. Erik was convinced Amina was Europe. Lisa wasn’t sure but she did know that Misandre was there and she couldn’t get to the soulmates. She had to get in touch with Arwa or Bella and let them know of the danger.
Luckily, The Six were doing what they were meant to do, helping the soulmates stop the bad guys. However, being so far apart put them at a disadvantage. After the battle, Erik, Faith, and Felix came to visit more and, with the help of the witches, worked on strengthening their magical bond.
However, Charles was still a no-show.
Lisa looked out of the window at the first start of their supernatural six-month winter. The town was blanketed now in a thick snow. She hated this time of year. It grew colder and darker for longer and longer. Depressing. And now she was in confinement, in the cold. She was lonely and sad with no end in sight. If Amina and Phillip didn’t bond, would she ever get out?
She heard a knock at the door. She got up and opened the door without looking through the peephole. She didn’t really care who it was she was, she was just happy whenever she got a visitor. Even Erik, who seemed to look worse and worse every time he appeared. He was now dropping weight so besides not sleeping, he wasn’t eating. Lisa often wondered if Amina was in the same state.
When she opened the door and saw who it was, she sucked in a shocked breath.
Charles.
“Can I come in?” he asked in a quiet voice.
She didn’t speak, only opened the door wider for him to enter. She closed the door behind him as he went to the living room and sat on the couch.
“Can I get you anything to drink? I only have water but—”
“I’m good,” Charles said curtly.
She sat down at the other end of the couch and bit her lip. Seeing him made her happy and sad at the same time. That face she’d been trying so hard to remember while in Fae world was still handsome. Soulful, big, brown eyes against dark caramel skin. His curly, dark-brown hair was growing out and now he had a mustache and goatee.
He was different now. Still tall and a bit lanky but…harder. There was an edge to him that hadn’t been there before. A lifelessness in his eyes she didn’t recall.
“You want me to bring Amina back,” Lisa said more than asked. “I want to bring her back now, too, but Queen Arwa decides when the time is right for that. I know it’s been two months and—”
“I slept with Blake,” Charles stated in a deadpan voice.
For a moment, Lisa could not breathe and soon devastation boiled in her gut. How could he? They were in love. No, that had been months ago. She’d disappeared for two months and then there’d been two more months of her being locked away from him. Four months since they’d been any kind of couple. During that time, she’d grown close to another man, Joo-won, who continued to sneak in visits with her. And while Lisa had been apart from Charles, he’d grown closer to Blake, who’d taken her place. It made sense. They were both vampires. Blake was the head of the Silver Spring vampires and powerful, beautiful and smart. Lisa was just a superficial backstabber. What did she expect from him?
She looked down at her lap, out of words.
“We haven’t been together in months,” Charles continued. “Blake was—”
“There for you,” Lisa finished in a whisper.
“I care about you, Lisa. But after what you did…”
“You didn’t talk to me. Not one on one.”
“Erik had a ban—”
“Felix and Faith found a way!” Lisa said, suddenly angry. She got up and walked to the living room window. He had moved on. Fine. She didn’t want to hear excuses. She just wanted him to go. Their brief love affair was over. She would make it through. She’d been dumped before. Perhaps she should take Joo-won up on his continued offers.
“They did,” Charles agreed, nodding. “And I should have come here sooner to practice the bonding magic. It was hard for me. I was, am, angry with you and the Blake thing made it more difficult.”
“Fine,” Lisa replied, crossing her arms. Her throat felt tight and as she spoke her voice began to waiver. “I get it. You’re in love with Blake now. You thought I left you and betrayed you. I’m not surprised. I’m hurt, but…” But she understood and still cared about him. This wouldn’t be something she could just shrug off.
She soon felt hands on her arms and she jumped. She didn’t hear him get up and move towards her. He was a vampire now and moved without sound. “I’m not in love with her. But I did love you,” Charles said in a gentler tone. He turned her to face him and for a moment, in his eyes, he looked like the old Charles again. Kind and giving.
“I loved you, too,” Lisa whispered, her eyes watering. Darn it, she didn’t want him to see her cry.
She looked up and wiped at her face before looking to Charles again. This time his eyes looked pained.
“Shit, you’re confusing me,” he whispered and before Lisa could say anything he leaned forward and kissed her hard. His lips on hers felt familiar and warm. He deepened the kiss. There was an almost need in his lips that captured her breath. She responded in kind, pressing closer to him. He moved his lips to her jaw and then neck.
Lisa closed her eyes and let out a moan, throwing her head back as the touch of his mouth sent shocks to her core.
“I’ve fuckin’ missed you,” he said before moving her back against the closest wall and kissing along her collarbone
“I missed you, too,” she whispered.
Her legs were now becoming jelly, but she straightened up to maintain her stance. Charles moved to hold her arms above her head by her wrist and kissed her again before moving his lips to the other side of her neck. She pushed herself towards him, wanting him, as she felt his tongue playfully lick against her skin. He pressed closer to her as his lips continued on her neck.
And then she felt a sharp pinch. She yelped and tried to wiggle away from his grasp but he was too strong. His hand didn’t loosen around her wrists, feeling like heavy iron against her fragile bones. The pain deepened. “Charles, stop!” Lisa cried.
Charles backed away in a blur, to the edge of the room farthest from her. He placed a hand over his mouth but she’d already seen it. The blood. Lisa touched her neck and sucked in a breath before looking down at her hand. Blood covered the tips of her index and middle finger.
Charles turned his back to her. “I’m sorry,” he said. His voice sounded slightly distorted as if he had a lisp.
“Did you just bite me?” Lisa cried.
“In fairness it was only a nick, but yes. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. You, you smell different to me now.”
“I smell like food to you now, don’t I?” Lisa asked, applying pressure to her neck. “You’re like the rest. You just want to eat a fairy. Just like that guy at the bar who bit me.”
Charles turned around and Lisa took a step away from him. His eyes were red with a tiny black pupil in the center. “I’m nothing like that asshole. You aren’t food to me, Lisa. I’m just still new at this and you…turned me on.”
Lisa squinted her eyes in confusion. “You…bite people when you get turned on?”
She watched him raise his shoulders and then drop them. “When I am making out with them, I guess so. Look, I can heal you with my blood. Let me do that.” He took a step forward.
Lisa moved away and let go of her neck. “I’m a fairy. My neck is fine.” She moved her hand away, revealing a smooth neck under a light smear of blood.
Charles nodded quickly. “Right.” He looked down at his feet.
“You sure you didn’t bite me out o
f anger?”
He looked away. “It’s a strong possibility.”
She shook her head. “Are you serious?”
He looked at her. “What did you expect, Lisa? I’m not the same guy you once knew. Just because I still want to sleep with you doesn’t mean everything is okay with us.”
She gave a look of disgust. “Clearly. Asshole.”
“It’s complicated.”
“You’re sleeping with Blake and you just made out with me. Yeah, I’d say so. Now you’re biting me out of revenge. Maybe it’s a good thing we aren’t together. You’re right. You aren’t the same Charles.”
“Lisa, I’m sorry, I’m just not in a good place right now,” Charles began.
“I am sorry, am I interrupting something important?” Queen Arwa asked. She was standing in the living room, hands clasped in front of her.
“Crap!” Charles cried, jumping slightly.
“No, you aren’t interrupting,” Lisa said, still glaring at Charles. “It’s been a while.”
Arwa nodded. “I am glad to see that you are no longer in that prison.”
“Well, I’m still in confinement but it could be worse.” She waved a hand towards Charles. “You remember Charles, right?”
Arwa smiled at him. “Yes, you are her boyfriend.”
“Was,” Lisa murmured. “Not anymore. He’s sleeping with other people. Although I have been nothing but faithful.”
Arwa raised an eyebrow, face neutral.
Charles sighed. “Lisa, really—”
“Queen Arwa, why are you here?” Lisa cut in. She didn’t want to have that conversation in front of Arwa. The fairy queen had much better ways to spend her time, like running the Seelie court. “You said it’d be one month, but it’s been two. Is it time to get Amina back?”
“Yes, well, it is time to bring them back. The bonding was more complicated than anticipated. Frankly, a little more time won’t hurt, but they have bonded enough to continue building a connection on their own. There is no need to prolong the separation. What has already happened will naturally continue.”
