The ceremonial preparation ….
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When I woke again , I was still at Xander’s house and had lost track of time .
My eyes slowly opened , adjusting to the dim lighting of the room , my body was too weak to move , too weak to fight anymore .
Although Xander was not in the room with me , I could feel his presence .
I noticed the soft towel resting on the chair beside my bed .
“ How long have I been out ? ” I murmured to myself trying to sit up .
What was I supposed to do now ?
My mind reyed the events of thest few hours , trying to make sense of everything .
Xander’s
but wanted confession about being the Dark One , his insistence that he didn’t want my powers
me how could any of this be real ? And yet , deep down , some p
– of me felt there was an
element of truth in it all .
I closed my eyes , willing myself to stay calm .
There had to be a way out of this .
There had to be some way I could escape and return to the life I had once known , even if it meant running forever .
But just as the thought crossed my mind , the door creaked open and Xander stepped inside , his face unreadable .
He had on something that looked like Ceremonial attire .
The rich fabric was embroidered with intricate red patterns that seemed to shimmer and move in the dim light .
“ You won’t leave , L ,” he said quietly as if reading my thoughts .
“ Not until you understand who you really are … and why we were always meant to be together .
”
He approached my bed , carrying something in his arms that he set on the space beside me on the bed .
“ If you had drank the Chamomile tea , you would have felt better than you are now .
What do you take me for , L ? ” he scoffed , shaking his head .
How did he know that I didn’t drink the tea ?
“ You think I’m some weak , magical being with a little power here and there .
I’ve told you severally , if I wanted to force you to do whatever I want , it’s the easiest thing to do but I don’t force anyone and certainly not the woman I love .
“ But here I am being held in your house ! ” I fired back weakly , “ Some love , Xander ! ”
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“ Because you left me with no other choice and I’m tired of exining myself over and over again to you .
All these months , I’ve been nothing but a solid ground for you and this is how you choose to repay me ? ”
“ I guess we’re not meant to be even in this life too ! ” I snickered .
“ You cannot force me to ept your nature .
I liked you as Xander – I might have even loved you but this ! ” I shook my head “ I didn’t sign up for any of it .
I’d rather die than get embroiled in anything that had to do with people of my kind .
I already left that life far behind .
”
“ You’re not doing it for them , Xander sighed .
“ Once you choose me , you don’t have to bother about them .
This is about revenge , right ? Do you want to get them back for all the things they
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54 The ceremonial preparation ….
did to you ? I can help you .
”
I gave him a weird look .
“ No ! ” I said firmly .
“ Why would I want to do that , Xander ? Revenge is messy , do 1 look like I have the emotional capacity to pursue something like that ? I barely can manage my life .
I’m not interested in any of your schemes and all this talk of a new world shenanigan , okay ? ”
He didn’t say anything , he just gave me a contemtive nce and pointed to the clothes on the bed .
“ I need you to put that on .
”
I nced at the clothes .
They had the same strange designs on Xander’s outfit .
Panic fluttered in my chest , but I kept my expression as neutral as possible .
I picked up the garments , feeling the soft material between her fingers .
“ What is this ? ” I asked .
A smile yed at the corners of Xander’s mouth , but it didn’t reach his eyes .
“ Tonight is the full moon , ” he said quietly .
“ We need to take advantage of it .
We won’t have another opportunity like this for a long time .
”
My heart skipped a beat , fear creeping into my voice .
“ What are you talking about ? ”
His smile widened , but it didn’t put me at ease .
“ We need to be joined tonight , L .
We’ll take the blood oath that will bind us together for life .
Once we do that , it’ll be easier for you to ess the Ethereal realm .
With my help , you’ll be able to unlock all of your potential and then use it to create a new world .
” a
My chest tightened as his words sank in .
Blood oath ? Binding for life ? Ethereal realm ? It sounded like something out of a twisted fairytale and the thought of it happening to me felt unreal .
I let out a shakyugh , hoping to mask the terror growing inside me .
“ I’m not interested ,” I said coldly .
“ Whatever you’re offering , Xander , get over yourself .
I’m not doing it ! ”
He sighed heavily , reaching for my hand .
I tensed but didn’t pull away as he pressed tiny , reverent kisses to my knuckles .
Before looking up at me , his eyes boring into mine , filled with longing .
*** I
?
“ I love you ,” he murmured against my skin .
“ More than you could ever imagine .
If you’d just let ΠΕ I’d show you how much I do .
”
I felt a lump rise in my throat .
He wasn’t lying … I could see it was the truth with the way he held me , in everything he did .
Heid his head on myp , his hair spilling over my legs .
When he looked up , I saw sadness in his eyes .
“ I’m not after the fact that you’re a Moonsinger , he murmured .
“ That’s not why I’ve sought you out .
I’m just … I’m just happy that we can finally be together and I don’t know but soon you may get your memories back and you’ll see why I want to do this .
”
“ It doesn’t matter , Xander ! ” I sighed .
“ Fine , we can still date … I still love you but I don’t want any of the other things .
I just want to be a normal girl .
I’ll be in senior year soon and graduate , get a job and maybe find someone who will love me enough to get married to me and I’m not having children .
I can’t have my child on through this crare But that is nretty much my dream Not
54 The ceremonial preparation …
saving anyone .
”
“ L ! ” he chuckled softly , running a hand on the soft mound of my breasts , peaking from the blouse I had on .
“ Waiting all those months , acting like I didn’t want you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do .
But I’ve been waiting for centuries , I figured , I could wait a little more and I did .
We made a promise and it’s my duty to ensure it’s fulfilled ”
My heart tightened , not with affection , but with a strange mix of pity and fear .
I took a deep breath and mustered the courage to ask the one question that had troubled me since he revealed his identity .
“ But … you’re supposed to be dead .
Thest Moonsinger killed you .
Isn’t that true ? ”
He shook his head slowly , an amused smile creeping up his eyes .
“ I told you , I’m invincible and all the Moonsingers , except Neriah none of them were strong enough to kill me .
Neriah was the only one who tapped into some parts of her abilities and took away some parts of me but still – couldn’t kill me .
But … ”
He sat up .
“ They weakened me .
Thest Moonsinger was a man .
He weakened me and locked me away before he died .
But over the years , my followers you see , they’re scattered across the world .
And slowly , they began to regroup and to prepare waiting for my return , his gaze darkened slightly .
“ Your birth L , released me from my prison .
”
I stiffened a cold chill running down my spine .
“ My brith ? ” I whispered .
“ How is that even possible ? ”
“ That’s how it’s meant to be .
As far as I am stll alive , the birth of a Moonsinger weakens the bonds used by the previous one in trapping me .
If you kill me … ” he paused , chuckling “ Which I know you won’t- the birth of another one of your kind would awaken me .
I waited for you for 10,000 years , now I know why the universe was preparing the woman I loved .
”
My mind raced .
Could everything he was saying be true ? Could I really be tied to something this ancient , this powerful ? I didn’t want to believe it , but his words stirred something deep inside
me .
No ! I had to stay focused .
Whatever Xander was and imed to be , I had to survive this .
If I can leave this house , it’ll be esaiser for me to attract help .
So , I’ll just y along .
“ Alright ! ” I said softly , hating the way , his face lit up with hope .
“ I’ll put on the outfit .