Like magic, I was sucked out drastically from the journal's 2010th memory. It was enchanting, but since I wasn't used to soul traveling magically, I was panting and sweating. It made me dizzy when I sat up, but it's tolerable. I retook the journal, attempting to read it when I felt a hand near me. My eyes narrowed, and my reflexes won the best out of me, and I flipped whoever was trying to touch me without my consent.
I was even ready to punch it when I heard her voice. "I see you awake now," I snapped. As soon as I saw her, without thinking, I straddled her lap. Feeling her real body against mine, I relaxed. "Okay, I miss you too," she said skeptically, confused. I didn't say anything. Instead, I pulled away and slapped her firmly. She was shocked and confused, but she calmly asked, "So, tell me what I did for you to slap me like that?"
Without preamble, I bluntly asked, "Why didn't you tell me that I proposed to you when I was five?"
"What?" she asked, confusedly.
I glared. "Don't act like a stupid vampire when you're not," I said annoyingly, and I grabbed her collar, pulling her closer to my face. "You knew, and you never forget. You sealed my memories when I was five. It's our first meeting—my first meeting with my real mate. How could you?!" I was crying, hurt, and relieved that I remembered, and she was still looking at me with the same tenderness. Then I leaned my forehead against hers, saying, "Gosh, you were softer back then. You're even sweet and gentle, but a disaster in the kitchen."
"Sorry, if cooking is not my forte," Mirxalyn said softly as she tucked my hair behind my ear.
I frowned, hitting her chest lightly before glaring, "That's not what I'm trying to say."
"I know, and welcome home, my love." She chuckled softly and pulled me into her arms. It was tight but secure, the same as I had remembered.
"YOU!" I grumpily reacted, but I was melting. "You're stupid," I weakly muttered, snuggling more into her arms. Then I asked, needing to know the truth, her reason, "So, care to tell me why you sealed my memories when we could just stay?"
"And risk your freedom?" she countered gently, shaking her head. She sighed before explaining her side, "Bernila, I sealed your memory not to break our bond. It's because it's too early, and I knew we could go through the process, but something happened."
"The sudden war. I know. I remember." I understood.
"I didn't seal your memory because of it," she corrected, catching my attention before she continued, "I sealed it because something is awakening in you that you're not ready for."
My eyes narrowed before sharing my guess, "You mean the changes that I am facing now?"
"Yes, do you think you could have handled it when you were five?" she asked, making her point, and I was quiet before she added, "See, that's why I sealed it. And now that you know, what are you going to do now?"
"Hm, how about you train me like how we bonded when I was five?" I suggested, as I missed the moment when we bonded when I was five.
"Sure," she smiled, placing her hand on my head, gently caressing it before asking, "When do you like to start?"
"As soon as possible." I grinned excitedly.
"Sounding like you want to prove something," she guessed, but I shook my head.
"I'm not. But if there's something I had been trying to awaken when I was five, maybe this time, I might be able to pull it through." I clarified, looking at my hands before looking at her with determination, and asked, "I want to try. Would you help me with it?"
"Are you sure? It might endanger you?" she asked, studying carefully.
I smiled, leaning my forehead against her, saying, "I know, but you'll be there."
"Okay, before we head to bed, I'll take you somewhere," she said as she took my hand, lifting me from the bed.
I blushed and guessed. "Like a date?"
"If you want it that way, it's fine," she answered, putting her coat around me. "Let's go; I already made a call, and she's ready to meet us."
My brow furrowed curiously before asking, "Do I know who this person we're going to meet is?"
"No, but she's a witch living in Etherea Gaia," she answered as she led the way to her sleek black classic Bentley car, and her trusted driver-bodyguard, Andy Marquez, opened the door for us.
"That's the human realm, right?" I wondered, trying to ensure that she meant the same realm that I was thinking of when she mentioned the name.
"Yes, but there were some creatures that lived with them," she answered as the drive started. Then she grabbed my hand, squeezing it gently, before reassuring me, "Do not worry, for I am with you." I leaned on her shoulder, but I was still thinking, and she noticed it. "Don't ask what life they had there. Some were good, and some were bad, and there's nothing we can do about the life they had chosen for themselves."
I sighed because I knew she was right and didn't say anything more. I watched the scenery from the window, which had shifted. I was stiff and tense because this was my first time leaving the entire estate. I began to feel nauseous, but not to the point I truly needed to throw up. I was dizzy due to the new scents, unfamiliar sceneries, and random intentions coming from anyone living in the Etherea Gaia. They were all new to me, but being with Mirxalyn on this night drive to Elyndor City, I don't feel scared. I'm rather excited.
The drive was peacefully typical, but when the streetlights sparkled in the city, I was in awe. I even pressed myself to the car's window, making Mirxalyn snicker. "You can open the window, wifey."
I wanted to vanish, feeling embarrassed. "Spare me. I had never been able to get out of the pack or go anywhere around the estate without fearing I would die within five hours." I refuted, sharing a part of me that only the family knows about. But I was blushing and excited by the glittering lights on the street. "They're beautiful, hon..."
"Indeed, it does." Mirxalyn's voice was low and honest, and I shivered. I glanced over my shoulder, and her expression was soft. My heart throbbed hard, and with a pout, I closed the car's window, making her confused. "What's wrong?"
I didn't say anything, but I snuggled up to her. I even guided her arm draped around my shoulder before saying softly, "I love it here better."
I heard a beat from her heart as she pulled me closer, sighing, "You should be."
It wasn't a long drive around the city when our car stopped in front of an establishment. Then Andy announced. "My queens, we're here."
Mirxalyn nodded and pulled away before getting out of the car. I watched her circle the car and open the door on my side. She offered her hand, which I didn't hesitate to take. When I got out, I gasped because the structure was a modern industrial one. It was cozy and refreshing like an airy cafe.
"Welcome to our family restaurant, Gourmet Syndrome." Mirxalyn welcomed me and led me to the restaurant.
My ears twitched. "Ours?" I asked in disbelief as we entered the restaurant. "You mean the Knightrose family owned this place?"
"Yes, for business purposes. We had more, but that's not why we're here." She chuckled as she led me to the VIP area, where we saw a woman having a wine with someone. The woman felt dangerous, but being with her companion, her edges softened. Then I was snapped from my thoughts when I heard my wife say, "Ah, there she is."
When we stepped into the VIP area, the strange woman looked at us knowingly. She stood up formally and greeted us with familiarity. "Finally, you reached out." Her voice sounded like Mirxalyn when in command until I felt her eyes on mine, smiling gently. Then she said, "And you must be the wife of this war freak? "
Mirxalyn's jaw clenched again before reacting, "Hey, I'm here."
"I intend to." Lauryn grinned before gesturing to our seats.
"Yes, I am, and you must be Lauryn Garcia that my mom mentioned in her letter," I answered, and we settled across from them.
"Yes, I am her," Lauryn answered, grinning before she turned to her side and back to us, introducing her companion. "This is Andriel Smith, my chaos."
"Ryn, you don't have to tell them the truth." Andriel sounded like she was whining at Lauryn, but didn't sound offended.
"I'm just giving them a heads-up in case," Lauryn reasoned, and somehow I saw something flickering between them, mates. But there's something else, a monster and a lover.
My eyes narrowed, immediately placing my hand on Mirxalyn's under the table. But before I could choose to stop, my mouth was already saying what's on my mind: "You've been through a lot, both of you, and still haven't shared it."
Andriel jolted, looking away, and Lauryn smiled before she responded. "Yes, because none of us were ready enough to confess about it. Just like you two."
"Is that obvious?" I asked playfully.
Lauryn grinned before answering, "To a witch like me, yes."
I liked this woman. She's honest and true to herself before telling her what I had sensed about her chaos, her lover. "But I think she'll love it once she learns about it."
"You think so?" She wondered, glancing over her shoulder, and checked on Andriel, who was busy eating and listening to us.
"You could say it's intuition, but yeah, I could sense things that nobody does," I replied, making her chuckle.
"Then I'll take your word for it." She winked at me.
Mirxalyn coughed fakely before asking, "Lauryn, where is it?"
"Here, but it's..." She showed a wooden box. I was staring at it curiously when I heard Lauryn's questioning voice, "Want to check it?"
I jolted, nodding before saying, "You don't mind?"
"Not at all." She shook her head and handed over the wooden box. I knew it was a jewelry box, but there was something else in it. Then Lauryn shared knowledge about the necklace: "That Eternal Cross was crafted by the Mugen family, who had been the royal family's goldsmiths—jewelry makers—since the 1560s. Legend says one of the royal family had mated with a beast, a rogue werewolf, and had requested that the Mugen family create the necklace to tame it, not control it, but to calm it from its rage."
I nodded. Mirxalyn asked carefully, "Where did you get that?"
"From a friend, a collector like me," Lauryn answered.
I was being careful around the box, examining it before opening it. I was dumbfounded. Noticing my silence, Mirxalyn worriedly asked, "Bernila, are you okay?"
I nodded, but I could not take my eyes off the jewelry. "Yeah, it's just...I...I know this, even though this is my first time seeing a meticulous craft..." I answered, studying the peculiar aura swirling around the necklace. It has triple protection stones and a moonstone, and it was calling me. Then I turned to Lauryn, wondering, "Can I have this?"
She smiled, suggesting. "Ask your wife."
I turned to Mirxalyn and asked, "Hon, can I?"
"Are you sure you want it?" She asked gently, and I nodded firmly. She smiled, sighing. "Fine, you can, but—! " She was about to say something, but she couldn't finish it. I suddenly hit my head on the table when I lost consciousness as I tried to touch the necklace. The last thing I heard was their worried voices calling my name. "BERNILA!"
***
'Wake up, little one.'
I stirred up because I knew that voice. I groaned because my head was still spinning and aching, and when I tried to get up, I lost my balance before feeling the fluffy fur from the same Fenrir I had been talking to.
"So, I'm here again." I sighed, letting myself rest on the comfy presence of Fenrir.
'Yes, you are, because you need to know something.'
I frowned, but I was curious, so I asked. "Something? Like what?"
'It's about your awakening process.'