And as scared as I am by the look in his eye, I am his. I can feel this to my core, and it makes me sick. Sick of who I would become for this man. Sick of who I became in all my other lives for him until he eventually became my undoing.
If I learned anything from those memories that filled my head just moments ago, it’s that sometimes, love won’t set you free. Sometimes, it will bind you to a life of confusion and self-loathing. A cage of toxicity making you question every aspect of your being. And this is a love like that.
Without warning, Ry’s lips are on mine. I feel a sharp pinch, along with the taste of metal in my mouth. His eyes go wild, hungry, savage. I am terrified, and he can tell. He is feeding off my terror.
For her blood is the blood of the trees, and every Being wants a taste.
The sentence burns into my consciousness. Whose words haunt me now? Mine? My mother’s? All I know is that this is too much.
“Ry stop,” I gasp, “I’m afraid…you’re scaring me.”
Ry lets out a low chuckle, and his eyes spark, turning from sea foam green to an ominous bark black color. The color of roots smothered in the earth’s soil, growing stronger in darkness.
“I know you’re afraid, Jade. I can feel it. Fear is nothing new to me. Everyone fears me.” He caresses my skin with his dark words.
“Whatareyou?” I say in a fast, shallow breath. Still pinned to the door.
I don’t think I saw everything there was to see in those visions. Things are missing. Important things. Ry smiles then. It’s evil, and I see his markings solidify.
The scars on his head move as if they are hiding something beneath. More of the same deep markings now grow around those scars, which form what can only be described as a shadow of tendrils, much like the roots of a hickory tree—then he speaks.
“There are some who would consider us demons, some of us who act more like fae, and some who would argue we behave like the gods. But we are more than that.” He bites the words into my ear.
This I know. I’ve felt in my essence all along. My connection to the trees. My connection to him. But I ask anyway.
“And what isthat?” I’m afraid of his next words. I shouldn’t be, knowing that they are a part of me. His eyes twinkle with dark magic.
“We are the Beings beneath the roots,” he answers, as if this knowledge is known to all.
I act as if I know, not wanting to let him feel as if he has the upper hand.
“You aren’t the only one from whom I’ve felt fear, my sweet succulent. I’ve felt it my whole life.” He breathes me in, using my terror as a life force. I wriggle against him, trying to gain some leverage to decide my next move. Flee or stay.
“A life that has lasted longer than I care to admit. A life so long that I’ve stopped caring about anything that isn’t this anger swarming inside of me.” He looks at me, and I would think he was concerned with this declaration about his life. His aggressive facade falters before he says more.
“Don’t you see, I am feared because I don’t give a shit.” He slams his palm against the door right next to my head. “Make me give a shit,Jade. I dare you.” His words are angry and speak of violence, but I can feel in his tone, a misplaced bitterness. Sorrow for what he has had to become.
I am about to go where I know I shouldn’t. Into the depths of his gaze, wanting to wrap my fingers in his hair, but wanting to run away at the same time. Looking into his magnetic, otherworldly eyes, everything seems like a dream. Or a nightmare—which one it is at this point, I can’t tell.
Have I really lived one real moment since I put the ring on? But the metallic blood on my lip is a brutal reminder that this is true. My feelings are true. However, I trust nothing and noone right now.
I am saved by a knock at the door. And Ry looks at the clock on the wall. His eyes flash with frustration as he tries to calm himself. He steps back from me, returning to a cool, thinly masked demeanor as he opens the door.
To my surprise, an older gentleman stands at the door and gives us both a nod.
“Good morning,” he says brightly. He looks me over. I know I must look like hell, so I smile back and politely excuse myself. Fast and calmly, I grab my purse and shoes.
Ry and the older man seem to start in a deep discussion, so I use this as my excuse to sneak past them. Ry eyes me, not wanting me to leave, but I know I need to get away while I still have the chance. The older man looks at me again kindly and continues talking, showing no signs of letting Ry out of their conversation.
Taking a strained walk back to the main road of the town, I can finally catch my breath. I look down at my finger adorning the ring, and it shimmers, feeling at home once and for all. Too bad it’s a broken home.
I can’t help but think about the other ring spot in that box I found. Where and to whom does that belong? Why didn’t I see anything regarding that?
I move faster, putting as much distance betweenme and Ry as I can. I feel so full of memories of past lives. One knocking into the next. I need the answers to sort out this mess in my head, and I know just who to ask.
There were two other people in those memories of lives lived I trust with all my heart. I need to find my way back to them to unearth the truth. Even if it means questioning all that they are to me.
26
