forum Blood Oath (O/O CLOSED)

Started February 21, 2019 by Deleted user

tune

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“It’s a bit late, I know, but congratulations on your bonding.”
The moment those words were spoken, I was drowning in relief, my tense shoulder going slack, the barest hint of fear dissipating from my eyes. I hadn’t been discovered again. Scylla wasn’t going to die. I wasn’t about to meet my end.

The question was—why? Colton was clearly seething, smouldering with barely controlled rage, but he hadn’t ratted me out. Was this some kind of test? A ploy to blackmail me? Nausea twisted my gut. He could make me do anything he wanted, anything at all. And I would do it to preserve my life and the life of my bondmate.

After the realization hit that this wasn’t a premature trial, I was able to focus on what the King was saying. And good God, I was struggling not to unsheathe a guard’s sword and sink it into his chest the whole way through. By the time he was finished listening to the sound of his own voice and it hit me what he was proposing, my disgust and spite towards him only grew.

Fantastic.

I was being saddled with the very person who despised me the most out of everyone in the kingdom. But I could do nothing but nod when the King questioned me, finally pulling my burning eyes from those of Colton.

“That’s a very good idea, sir.” My smooth voice betrayed nothing of the inner turmoil I was currently experiencing. “Thank you for your generosity.”

I took deep, rapid breaths, closing my eyes. The second I did, I heard her voice again.

Breathe, Colton, Breathe…

My body obeyed without questions, discarding the anger I was feeling with just the memory of her voice. I was afraid. What was she doing to me even after I escaped her clutches?

“I’m glad you think so,” the king smiled. “As a Type A, people are bound to attack you. They might think of this as a bad sign. My son will protect you as per his duty.”

No, I won’t.

Yes, I will.

“That is all,” he finished. “Both if you are dismissed.”

Hearing that, I stood up immediately, desperate for a release. Desperate to flush her out of my system, to release myself. I knew, though, that no matter what I did, no matter how many times I hurt myself, what she did would never disappear. The damage was done. All I needed to do was *keep her safe keep it in.

I couldn’t leave the throne room fast enough. Sagging against the wall of the corridor, I wiped my clammy hands on my trousers and held them up to the light, watching them tremble. Beneath my feet, the pipes creaked and groaned from the rapidly increasing and decreasing water pressure, and had I been closer to the kitchens, water surely would have come rushing out the door.

Holding a tremoring Scylla in my hands, I pressed a sloppy kiss to her forehead. “We’re alive,” I communicated, limbs finally thawing, “We’re alive, Scylla!”

But my victory was short-lived. No sooner had I conveyed those words that the throne room doors swung open, and out stalked none other than Prince Colton.

I shook my head rapidly, trying to blink away the darkness from my vision. Each step burned. Even after I was healed, I couldn’t move without the pain.

Key joined me the second I exited the room, nuzzling my cheek. I responded by patting him on the head.

”I’m okay,” both of us knew that was a lie, but we pretended it wasn’t for my sake. To prevent myself from falling further into insanity. I needed to clear my head. Needed to flush her out. Needed to see her.

Then I looked up, meeting the eyes of the girl holding her bondmate in her hands. She definitely looked feminine. Why hadn’t I realized that before? It was painstakingly obvious. Now that I knew who she was, her feminine features just rang in my head.

Turning my gaze away, I began to walk away, hands in my pockets. We were done. There was nothing I wanted to do with hi—her anymore.

And that, too, was a big lie.

He looked awful. Ruined. Like he’d lost all hope. What happened to you while you were gone, Colton? The question sat in my mouth, heavy and sour, but I didn’t dare voice it. Instead, uttered a single word.

“Why?”

No other specification was needed.

Why had he not told the King about me? He clearly hated me, so why keep my secret? Was he holding me aside for blackmail? To be used?

Meanwhile, Scylla had fixed her eyes to Key, trying to establish some form of communication.

I stared at her right in eyes, quirking an eyebrow. Why what? Why hadn’t I told the thing about her? Why hadn’t I?

The answer was so damn obvious. I still cared. Even if she didn’t, I did. There’s no way I would sentence her to her death.

Instead, I gave her a cold stare.

“You’re a Type A,” I answered with a shrug. “Why would I sentence someone like that to death? If the public found out, there would be in an uproar.”

Lies. All lies. Those reasons never even crossed my mind. All I could think was the light dying in her eyes and becoming nightmare to me.

Oh, Colton…

I gritted my teeth, clenching my fists. Shut up. Get out of my head. Shut up already.

“Shut up,” I whispered out loud, shaking my head. Get out. Out.

Key looked at me with worry, trying to ignore Scylla. The younger creature was trying her hardest, but Key wouldn’t respond. Because of me.

My gaze hardened and solidified, sharpened until it carried a bite. Of course. Why had I ever allowed myself to imagine that a part of him might care? That he didn’t want another woman to die? I was nothing more than a scientific point of interest to him, something to be observed and experimented on.

“Shut up,” he whispered weakly, and I narrowed my eyes—I hadn’t spoken aloud. That’s when I saw the expression scrawled across his face. He looked terrified, desperate. Broken.

Finally, I dared to speak, tapping the top of Scylla’s head to calm and quiet her. “Who are you talking to?”

I covered my face with one hand, taking deep, harsh breaths. Eyes flickering, vision blurring, voices flooding in. Absolute control. I needed to have control. I needed to submit. I couldn’t let her in my mind.

I needed to let her.

“Who are you talking to?” My eyes snapped towards Elliot who unknowingly pulled me out of that daze. I realized if I wanted to keep this a secret, I needed to keep a better control over what I was doing. Nobody should know. If they did, they’d have no use for me. What good is a pawn if he’s defective? If they find out about the voices in my head, about her…

“I suppose that’s none of your business, is it?” I tried to be harsh. “You’re alive. Be grateful about that.”

He was trying to be hard, to be cold, but he was too far gone. Falling apart, piece by piece, right in front of my eyes.

What on earth…?

“Wow, we’ve hit a new low,” I said sarcastically, shoving my hands into my pockets to prevent myself from reaching out to him. Now that it was just to two of us, I let my posture soften, my hips shifting into a more comfortable, feminine position. “Apparently, you’re going to emotionally manipulate me with threats on my life until I’m grateful that you haven’t sold me out to your father.”

I felt myself slip under the icy cold water and Key immediately retaliated, nudging me with his head. I patted him on the head, taking a deep breath. That’s right. Breathe. She can’t get to you from here. You’re safe. She’s just in your head.

“It appears you don’t know me that well, after all,” I quirked a false smile. “Taking that into account, I take it you aren’t grateful.”

“Of course I’m thankful that I have my life,” I responded sharply, squinting at him. What was going on? Why was he so…. broken? “I’m not particularly happy that you seem to think my lie was something monumental and worthy of breaking your precious trust. And I’m not happy that I’m now completely at your mercy.”

I furrowed my eyebrows, letting a chuckle escape my lips.

“Oh, that’s something you don’t have to worry about,” I said, ignoring her first statement. “There’s nothing I’ll gain from ratting you out.”

There’s a lot to lose if I do.

“Now if you’ll excuse me… I’ve got some business I need to attend to,” I turned towards Key, who was slowly beginning to talk to Scylla. “Come on.”

I fell silent, clenching and unclenching my fists until there was a row of red crescent-moon marks in each palm. Scylla pawed at Key’s leg, looking up at him with huge eyes. ”Please,” she implored. I reached for her, but she moved away.

”I have to,” Key responded sadly, looking at me. ”Cole needs me.”

I sighed heavily.

”Stay,” I finally said, shaking my head. ”I’ll just get her voice out of my head.”

Without hearing his reply, I turned my back towards him and started walking away, finally letting the pained expression smear across my face. It hurt. Refusing hurt. Rejecting hurt. Everything hurt.

You just need to ask, Colton…

Do what I say and I’ll help…

”What should I do for you, my Mistress?” I murmured in a low voice, sinking deep into the icy water she poured for me.

Elle’s POV:

I held a tentative hand out to Key—did he hate me too? Scylla butted her head against his leg. ”Don’t tell the King about Elle.” Her voice was strangely commanding for a bondmate of her size and age.

Meanwhile…

Sitting alone in the darkness, the woman’s lips curved up into a smile. “Colton… I knew you’d learn…” she whispered, “What is it you need?”

Key looked at Elliot—Elle’s hand, reaching out to sniff it gently before nuzzling her hand.

”I won’t,” Key responded. ”Cole would kill me. And I don’t want you to die.”

Colton’s POV:

When I looked at my reflection, my eyes were pure black. I couldn’t recognize my old self.

Slowly, my lips twisted into a smile.

”Something to do,” I answered. ”To help you.”

Elle’s POV:

I almost melted with relief, slowly coaxing Key to me. While stroking his head, I drew my brows together. “But he hates me,” I said aloud. “He wants me dead.”

Her laugh was sharp and cruel, ringing in the air until it slowly faded away. “Just watch… and wait. I want information.”

I responded by bowing my head, imagining my Mistress in front of me.

”I’ll make you proud, my Mistress.”

Key rolled his eyes dramatically, shaking his head.

”He doesn’t. He doesn’t hate you,” he knew she couldn’t hear him, but he knew Scylla would deliver his message. He purred under her touch before tensing up, his ears twitching. His bondmate’s aura felt different. It felt weird… corrupted.

His eyes widened. Of course.

”I have to go,” he said to Scylla hastily. ”Cole… something’s wrong with Cole.”

All of a sudden, Key tore away from my arms and down the hallway, leaving both Scylla and I in the dust. I stared after him, features twisting into a look of bewilderment.

”He said that Cole doesn’t hate you,” Scylla tried to explain, ”And that there’s something wrong with him.”

All of a sudden, Key was beside me, taking hesitant steps towards me. I quirked an eyebrow.

”What’s wrong, Key?” I questioned, walking over to him to pat him on the head. He ducked, hissing, teeth bared. I looked at him coldly, dropping the warmth I’d pulled up. ”Behave, Key.”

I took my eyes off of him for one second only for his tail to slam into me. I crashed into the wall, biting back a hiss of pain, memory going blank.

When I came to, I was on the floor, back aching madly. I looked up to meet the aggressive eyes of my bondmate.

”What?” I hissed, pulling myself to my feet. ”What the hell just happened?”

Key immediately relaxed, trotting over to me and nudging me with his head.

”I’m worried about you,” he said softly. ”We should tell someone. What if that witch did something to you?”

I scowled.

”Nobody needs to know,” I rejected his worries. ”And you’re not going to tell anyone. I’m fine. I thought you were with them.”

Key didn’t respond. He simply wrapped his limbs around me, laid down and covered me with his wings. His warmth brought me peace for the first time since I came back.

[TIME SKIP - Elle's POV, three days later]

"Focus," Scylla's voice instructed me as I stretched a hand over the large tub of water on the ground in front of me. "The water…. it's like a part of you. You're not bending it to your will, you're.. flexing a muscle. Lifting a limb."

I nodded, inhaling deeply. Unlike I had before, I didn't command the water to drift out into my open palm. I drew it up as if executing a battement, getting ready to dance. At first, the surface only trembled. But when I closed my eyes, envisioning a cold blade against my throat, it surged upwards. Somehow, I managed to catch it at the last moment, tugging mentally at the wobbling, shapeless, levitating blob until it formed a long, thin rod.

Scylla and I practiced manipulating it, spinning it around like a baton while maintaining its shape. And for a while, it worked. I focused on channeling my emotions, suppressing them just enough for the movements to be controlled, but at the same time using them to shape my magic like a potter to clay. After roughly half an hour, I began to mix it up. Stopping the movements of the baton, I flicked my fingers to the side. The top three quarters flattened and stretched until I had a slowly shifting broadsword in front of me. There was water left in the tub, so I made a second and a third.

"Just like juggling…" I muttered to Scylla, who formed a sword of her own. We sparred back and forth for a bit, but my concentration began to slip. Sparring—I was supposed to be doing that with Colton. My mind flashed back to our most recent session–he'd taken off his shirt–and my stomach twisted. Another mental image appeared, once again featuring Colton. Only thi time, it was the enraged, betrayed expression I'd found him wearing just four days ago. And all of a sudden, I was reliving my nightmare; smoke curling around a wooden post, flames devouring my body, my screams shattering the air.

And all three swords turned on me.

I found myself backed against the wall, panic coursing through me as I dodged slashes to my throat and chest. I ducked beneath them, terror spurring me on, and ran for my rapier—just as pain exploded between my shoulder blades.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. Three days. Three days since I discovered Ell—Elle’s, as Key informed me, identity. Three days since we last talked.

Thankfully, the whispers in my mind went away. They didn’t surface, she didn’t surface. I didn’t know what she was planning, but whatever it was, I wasn’t going to complain. I was finally free of the insanity plaguing me. I hadn’t pulled myself out completely, but I was better. No more screaming at myself. No more trying to hurt myself to get rid of the voices.

Forming tiny balls with my fire, I twirled my finger as they began to revolve around in the air. That’s when I heard it—the scream. Elle’s.

I didn’t know what I was doing until I was already on my feet and towards the door. I took a deep breath and opened it to find water everywhere with Elle on the floor, blood soaking her shirt. My face paled.

I was at her side immediately, pulling her gently in my arms, careful not to pull at her too hard. That idiot. What was she even doing? Was she purposely trying to get herself killed?

“It’s okay,” I murmured soothingly. “I’ve got you.”

I carefully held her in my arms before standing up, blood soaking my arms. I didn’t mind. I couldn’t take her to the Healer. She was injured on her back and the Healer would realize she was a female. And he would tell the King. I couldn’t let that happen, so I decided to take her to my room.

I was drenched in water and blood, clenching my against whimpers of pain. And oh, how it hurt. How it burned. It felt as if my back was being ripped to shreds, torn apart. I whirled around just as I fell, holding my arms up, trying to fend off the swords—but I couldn’t. The second I touched them, a gash opened up at the point of contact. And I couldn’t regain control of them either. With each slash, my panic increased, and so did the fervour of the attacks.

Scylla leapt forward, but a cream tore itself loose from my lips. ”𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓎 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀!!~” The Windsong sent her flying backwards before I could stop it, and still, the swords kept slashing until I was curled into a fetal position on the ground, gasping in pain as gash after gash opened up on my back.

But suddenly, footsteps. Colton’s voice, calling out to me. My power exploded outwards. Water splattered everywhere. And then, someone’s arms were sneaking around me, pulling me towards their chest. At first, I struggled weakly, vision blurred and unfocused, but they didn’t relent, so I caved in. Sagged against their body. Buried my face in their chest.

“C-Colton?”

Key flew off towards Scylla to make sure she was okay while I laid Elle on my bed on her stomach.

“It’s okay,” I murmured. “I’m going to need to remove your shirt. And your binder.”

I didn’t wait for her response. Forming a small blade with my wind, I slowly cut off her shirt, pulling it off of her until her back was bare, littered with gashes and cuts and blood. I swallowed thickly, shaking my head.

”Key, get me water,” I ordered my bondmate as I opened my drawer to take out my medical kit.

I cried out and curled into a tiny ball, hiding my chest behind my arms and knees. “N-No—“ I begged him, choking back a gasp of pain as fabric graze the deepest cut across my back. “Get—Get away from me—“

Scylla called out desperately, struggling against the invisible bonds that kept her pushed against the wall. I could feel her terror, her guilt, but I was unable to comfort her, encased in an inescapable cocoon of pain. “Colton—” I gasped squeezing my eyes shut. “Stop—Don’t—“

His hands were on my bare back, on my shoulders, dragging further into the void that had opened up in my chest. He couldn’t be touching me—I couldn’t be shirtless in front of him—

I could feel her panic, the way she fought against me. Didn't she trust me? No, of course not. Not after what I’d done. She didn’t even trust me enough to tell her secret.

“Elle, stop,” I said softly, trying to coax her into relaxing. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. I just want to help, but I can’t if you don’t let me.”

I tried not to use too much force. She was going to panic again. I didn’t want her panicking.

I wanted to push him off of me and scramble away, run into my room and close the door against him. But I couldn’t move—he would see me the moment I moved my arms and knees away from my bare chest. He had me trapped. For all I knew, he was going to stab me himself, drag his nails down my back. For all I knew, he was about to strip me of my innocence, deflower me right there and then.

“C-Colton—“ God, the pain. I needed to escape, to get away from it, to push it off my body, but there was nothing I could do. “Get—Get away from me—Please, for the love of god—“

Scylla broke through in my mind. ”Let him help you—“ It was not a suggestion, ”Now.”

I could have gotten to my feet. The pain wasn’t enough to keep me from standing. But I was absolutely powerless in front of him. Again.

“I’ll close my eyes,” I said to her softly once she calmed down enough. “Can you shift on your stomach? I’ll close my eyes and you can do it.”

My heart ached for this girl. It was true that she’d faked her identity, but she was still the same. She was still Elliot, but just under a different name. Her original name.

Key brought the water I’d requested, along with a clean cloth I would use to wash away the blood. God, how did she hurt herself this much? Couldn’t she have just asked me to watch over her? Or did she decide she didn’t even care enough, now that her cover was broken?

Shaking all over, I managed to roll over into my stomach. My chest heaved—I was hyperventilating, going rigid against his hands, eyes squeezed shut until blotches of colour appeared on the inside of my eyelids. A distressed whimper parted my lips.

I would rather have a back riddled with gaping wounds than his hands on my bare skin like this. I would take out-of-control powers and sentient swords over having my binder cut from my chest any day. I would do anything to get away from Prince Colton, from Key, from the goddamn pain.

But I only clamped my mouth shut as all the water in the room rose from the floor in a solid, rippling wall. I only battled it back as something in the bathroom exploded, sending water spilling from underneath the door.

“Shit!” I cursed as the water exploded. “God damn it, Elle, I’m not going to hurt you! For God’s sake, let me help. I swear I won’t touch you again after this. I swear Key and I will leave you alone. You won’t ever have to see us again, so please, for the love of God, let me help.”

I admit, I lost my cool. I wanted to be calm as if I didn’t care, but the truth was, I did. I did care. I didn’t want her hurt, I didn’t want anything happening to her. But what could I do when she practically hated me?