The Eternal Souls

Once I closed the door to our room, Alijah stopped being as docile. In an instant, I found myself pinned against the wall. He wouldn't let me escape unless I answered all his questions or ordered him to.

I expected as much since my dreams. It was rare for you to be out of words.

Luckily, before he pounced on me, I had turned the sigil, a magical artifact that made the room soundproof to the outside world.

"So... Rem. You'll tell me how to break this stupid bond you've forced into me. I think we've wasted enough time in this charade." He held me in place.

I gazed up at him to meet with his contact-covered eyes, noticing a light shine come from them.

Will those eyes ever soften up for me? Never, right? I'm still not used to you looking at me like that.

Trying to ignore the other chatters from the floating orbs around us, I cackled at his words.

"For what? For you to kill me and go off with the world, too? Please... all you had before now was time. So, buckle up. We are going to waste some of it." I smirked.

His eyes narrowed, and his lips formed a defined frown before he flashed his fangs. This man wanted me to crumble at his power—something that would never happen because I didn't fear him.

"I'll enjoy ripping you to pieces, little Rem," Alijah scowled, gripping my throat.

A soft sigh left my lips as I cupped his cheeks, gently smiling. Even though his threat of violence was real, it didn't faze me. If only he could rip me into pieces. Out of my brothers and sisters, I was the wild card of the quad—the one he had to fear, but of course, I wouldn't tell him that.

He couldn't know I was from that family if I hoped to save his heart.

"I want to see you try, Alijah-tan," I whispered, caressing his cheek softly, only for him to grab my hand and tug it away from his skin.

This wolf didn't know what to do with me. I wasn't sane to him—something out of the ordinary.

"You aren't afraid of me? You must know who I am," he asked, staring at my hand.

No one had shown him kindness in all these years. That alone was sad—sadder than anything else I could think of. Even though he was beautiful, his heart was shattered and broken beyond salvation.

Or at least that's what Mom thinks.

On the other hand, I believed his heart could be glued and patched up with time. We were resilient and could heal from the worst life had to offer.

Isn't that right, Mom? You could do it, so why not allow him to do it, too?

"Because to me, you're harmless." I giggled, knowing no matter what profanity or threat came from Alijah's mouth, it would never come to fruition while we were bonded.

He slowly turned his gaze back to me, eyes shimmering again.

"Hah? Harmless?" Alijah mumbled, eyes widening.

He probably never thought anyone would call him that. After all, in the past, he threatened to destroy every living thing other than my mother. I shook my head, poking his nose.

If I treat you like this… I won't fall deeper, right?

"You heard me. You're harmless, Alijah-tan." I tried to provoke him.

He took my bait faster than I could realize, pinning both hands onto the wall behind us. He was trying to look like a big, tough guy, but I only saw a hurt boy underneath it.

Ah… Why did you have to suffer like that? Why did no one want to help you? Crap… why wasn't I born sooner? Don't worry... Alijah, you have me now, even if you don't want it.

"I've got other ways to hurt you besides physical violence, stupid girl." He declared, leaning closer.

I cackled at his real threat, leaving him with his ears twitching as he couldn't figure me out. Nothing he tried got the reaction he wanted out of me; instead, the weirdest things came from me. Thanks to this wolf, I couldn't concentrate on the surrounding ghost, who made snarky comments.

Come to think of it, when our skins touch, I barely notice them. You're stronger than Dad, even though I'm still suppressing your power. A real danger…

"Oh yeah? Well, I'll only break this bond if you show me you changed. So, harming me is the last thing you want to do. Well, unless you want to be bonded to me forever. Until death does us part, hubby." I smirked.

Instantly, Alijah released me, scowling.

To you, I'm no better than those who imprisoned you, and that's fine for now. I'll show you otherwise in time. I'm your only ally for now.

I was the only one who didn't want to harm or use him, like the witch that cursed me.

Oh, you tell him, girl! A ghost cheered from the side, triggering me to twitch my eye.

Shut up…

"You're hilarious. If you expect me to change, you don't know half of what I've gone through." The black wolf growled.

Change would never come easily for him, but it needed to happen. I wanted it to happen.

It has to be done!

"I don't know what you went through, but I have a rough idea of what it was," I sighed, not wanting that thought to linger in my mind.

I stepped away from the wall when my words caused him to turn back to me.

"Oh? Who told you?" he asked curiously.

I placed my bag on the floor by my chosen bed. Two were in the room, even though the tavern owner wanted to sell me the single bedroom.

How can I make Alijah see me as something else other than his captor? Perhaps a little truth?

"M..." I stopped, realizing I was going too far with that.

No… not that much.

"L-Lilith," I answered.

I usually called her Mom rather than by her name, though she called herself Lily to her friends.

"Lilith told you about me?" Alijah questioned, biting his lip before wincing.

You're still hurt by what she did to you twenty years ago.

Twenty years to her, but to him, it was less than a day ago. Tricking the wolf was the only way she found to stop him from going on a rampage. However, this time around, she wanted to put him down on the ground after failing to find a safe way to save him through her years of research.

I know Mom tried everything to save you. Well, all but one.

She shot me down when I presented my idea because it would be too dangerous.

If only she knew, it would have worked. Would she have let me near you? Doubtful...

Ever since my accident, all I was to my family was a liability—a danger to be contained.

Then again, that doesn't make me much different from you, does it?

"Yes... she learned your story from the elders and filled the rest with what you told her yourself." I continued to answer his questions.

Though they kept coming, once you opened the jar, it was hard to keep it down, especially when it had to do with the woman he loved—the reincarnation of the beloved that he lost before he was imprisoned.

"So, this is her plan?" Alijah's query continued.

However, his tone was low and breakable. In his eyes, no one would ever care for him how he wanted.

You're a hurt child who only wants to be loved, like me, right? I'm not hurt, but I want to be loved if you could love me too. I'm not enough, and I know that.

"No, she wanted to kill you by the time you showed up again." I sighed, remembering Mom rejecting my plan when I came to her.

Why couldn't you have listened and trusted me, Mom? It turned out fine. Well, kind of...

"Then why are you here, Rem?" Alijah's voice broke upon hearing my mother's intentions.

His tone made me want to hug him, but he could never know how I felt about him.

Not for a second.

Sitting down on the bed, I gazed away from him. I carefully maneuvered my way through this, even though it hurt to see him like this.

In my dreams, you were much happier and less cranky, too. However, you started like a grump, much like you are now.

I probably would've felt the same, even without these dreams. It seemed he was my fated soul, even if I wasn't his.

Though, if I were Alijah, who was raped, battered, and a prisoner for two years straight, reliving the same every day. I probably would've wanted to kill the world, too, but all the people you wanted to hurt are long gone.

They were nothing more than ashes in our present time.

If I could show you that, would it be enough? Please... find a cheerful place in this era.

"Because I don't want you to die, Alijah," I announced, refusing to gaze towards him.

Why am I so weak? Come on, Rem. You can do better than this! Look at him and tell him straight on. Don't break just because he's here and is looking pitiful. He's here! That's what you wanted. Right?

Aw... cute! You love him, don't you? An orb commented, followed by another. Girls always fall for the bad boys.

You screw heads are always so noisy, never silent, and know nothing!

"Why? You don't know me. Why care?" Alijah mumbled, shaking his head.

No one had cared for all those years he spent under the lycan elder's iron fist.

It must've been lonely, but I'm here now. I won't let anyone else hurt you.

At least they would have to go through my dead body to do so, which would prove difficult for them.

"Because I just do." I simpered, gazing back at the troubled wolf.

My words caused him to growl deeper than ever before. He would never understand why I cared without reason, but I had a motive, just not one he would believe. He was the key to my freedom, even if I didn't feel how I felt.

A lot depends on this. Ultimately, you'll be happy, and I'll have my freedom. It's a great payoff, right? I can't tell you, so keep looking at me with malice. I won't be scared off that easy!

"Oh... I hate your kind. Those who want to save the world without knowing anything about it." Alijah snarled, suddenly pinning me onto the bed.

The moment my eyes met with his, all I could see was the hurt that was spilling out from him. He wanted to harm me. He really did, but the bond prevented him from doing so. Instead of feeling intimidated by his hate, I sat up a little to get closer to his face.

I want to tell you I'm here for you and only you, but you'll use it against me if I do. Won't you, Alijah?